My Quiltathon Progress

If you are stopping by thanks to JudyL's Mr. Linky - after reading my post, you may also want to refresh my page and read my previous post to see that I actually got started on JudyL's Quiltathon a little early starting on Thursday :) I put together a quilt top for "Quilts for Kids" and it turned out really cute! Take a look and see.

So today is Saturday - what have I been up to? Well I gathered up all of the baggies of blocks that Crazy'boutquilts and I have been exchanging with one another. In recent emails, neither of us could remember exactly how many we had made for each other or exchanged, therefore no idea on how many more we need to make... :P

The kids recently found this Easter basket in the hall closet and before I knew it they had broken off the handle :( but I'm putting it to use temporarily to hold my blocks. It's the perfect size for them don't ya think? ;) The block is called "MyBlue Heaven" and we found it on QuiltersCache. We modified our blocks to finish at 8" instead of 12" like QC has written the pattern for.

Well I counted and recounted and I have a total of 89 blocks here with me. I emailed crazy - she's the one with the EQ program and she replied back saying that we each need 120 blocks to complete our design that we have planned.

So 120-89= 31 more needed ... which means I'll make another 15 to swap with her and another 16 for me :0) in the next few months. But since my Crayola quilt is at the longarmer, and my "Quilt for Kids" is on hold until I buy thread... and I already have these blocks out - how about if I start joining them into HUGE 4-patches? :)

I'll need a total of 30 of these HUGE 4-patches for the top before borders. Here's the first 7!

Oh and one more thing I got accomplished today - I cleaned out under my stitch plate. I admit it wasn't because I was trying to be organized or tidy - but simply b/c while sewing over the thick seams I BROKE A NEEDLE :( and so while changing it out thought I should take a few moments to loosen a few screws and clean it out.

Eeeuuu! YUCK! I was majorly past due don't you think? Oh and look at my little brown case - I think meant for business cards? I received it from AuntieReba last April at the Circle of Friends HGTV Retreat and I keep my assortment of machine needles in there ;) and I think of her every time I see it :)

Shown above are over a dozen more HUGE 4-patches ready to be put together... but not before pinning them! Pinning makes those points match up and I always double pin at each seam intersection! :) It may be a lot of work but it's worth it.

Did I say a lot of work? I mean a LOT of pins! 10 per block.

That's over 100+ pins y'all! :P Aren't they purdy?

I can't wait until after Mass tomorrow... we'll drive thru and bring it home for lunch and then afterward - the twins will go upstairs for naptime and I'll be skipping off to the dining room to sew these babies up! :)

Happy Quiltathon weekend everyone!

Love from Texas!

Time for a cleaning

Well with all the sewing I've been doing lately, I've lost count of how many bobbins I've changed much less how many hours I've sewn so it's save to say it is time for a new needle and some cleaning...

I wasn't sure how much lent was gonna be under this stitch plate... but thought it'd be fun to take photos of the before and after - and to also remind any of my blog visitors that maybe it's time for them to give their machines a cleaning also! ;)

WOW! That is a lot of lent and I just had it at the Bernina Dealer in April for a maintenance cleaning and he ordered and installed the main board... so I wasn't expecting this much lent! Guess I've really been sewing lately hua?

Now that looks better! ;) Ready to put back together and a new needle... and to decide which presser foot.........humm, let's see what do I want to work on next? I still haven't ordered any WOW fabrics...

How about the walking foot? :) and get back to working on Nora's Tinker Bell Chenille Blanket I started last fall? That I said I'd make a tutorial for...? oops! sorry for any of you still waiting on that!

It's really easy, just takes forever - especially for me who is easily sidetracked with other projects to work on. I really wish there was a long armer quilter I could pay to sew rows and rows and rows of straight diagonal lines..... If I could hire out the sewing part, then I could maybe use up all of this flannel I've purchased over the years.... for these chenille throws!

Well, I'm gonna work on this a little at a time all this week and see where I am this weekend... hopefully it will be finished with the sewing and ready for the slicing!!! Wish me luck... and if you haven't done so lately - clean out your stitch plate and bobbin areas on your machine and change your needle! :)


Love from Texas!