DESIGN WALL SHIFTING

I decided it was time to start putting my log cabin blocks together.  Each block measure 5 1/4" (unfinished) and I will be putting them together into a queen size quilt.  My design wall is filled with these and there are still more to add.  I started to sew the blocks together and once all these are together I can probably fit more on the wall.

I took this picture before starting to sew them together and after I had looked at the arrangement many times.  As I started to sew them together, I noticed that something wasn't right, so I had to re-arrange the blocks.  Notice on the top row, the light colored diamond shaped sections should actually be dark ones.

Here's a close up of some of the blocks.  I love the way the dark and light diamond shapes work together.

I took this picture after fixing the top row of blocks as well as some of the side columns.  This is a lot harder than it looks!  I can put up some blocks, but then have to back off and look at it from a distance to make sure the design is correct.  Even then it is hard to see incorrectly turned blocks.  I sure don't want to have to take it apart if I sew them together incorrectly!

The trees are beautiful here in Oregon now.  This is a tree in my neighborhood - an ornamental cherry tree.

This dogwood tree belongs to my next door neighbor and is right next to our driveway.

Other current projects are this table topper (like one I made for our table) which will be donated to a silent auction raising money for the youth group at church so teenagers can attend a special conference.

Another scrappy star table runner top.

I hope you have a happy and quilty weekend!  

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Yes, I know it's tomorrow.  :-)

I finished this table topper this week, so now I have 2 toppers for my round table!

The quilting is a little different from the other one.  You can see them both in THIS post.

I was looking through a box of old cards that my Mom had saved and found these two valentines.  This first one is from my Dad to my Mom.  I don't know the year, but suspect it's from the 40's.  They got married in 1935.

This is a card I received in 1953!  I was just 9 years old on this Valentine's day.  You do the math if you want to.  :-)

My Mom was so good about sending cards to everyone.  A little before we got married in 1962, my parents bought a card and gift shop and sold Hallmark cards for many years.  My Mom was in 7th heaven!  She just loved it.

Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day!

TABLE RUNNER AND TOPPER

One day while looking in my closet, I noticed this zig zag table runner that I had pieced, so I decided to get it quilted.  I had bought a large stack of charm squares when we were in New Hampshire for our anniversary in 2012.

I'm going to put this up for sale in my Easy shop.

In the mean time, I had an idea for another table runner.  I like to keep one on my coffee table and I like to have several to change out for the seasons.  I'm not sure if I'm going to put these three blocks together like this or not, but I like the colors and fabrics.

We have a round table that has two leaves.  In Texas, we had a larger dining area, so we always kept one leaf in it, but now in a smaller house, we are keeping it round.  So, I decided to make a table topper that will be more suitable for a round table.  I had this pattern by Atkinson Designs that I had bought a few years ago and decided to make the medium sized one which measures  30" x 35".

I wanted to use reproduction fabrics - of course!  It took me a while to figure out how I wanted to quilt it, but I'm happy with the plan.  You can see the quilting better from the back of it - especially for the dark border triangles.

You can see the dark border triangles a little in this picture.

I'm getting in the swing of things again and it feels good!  This week just flew by for me.  I can't believe it's Saturday already.  Have a good week-end!