Progress on a New Project

Wanna see what I've been working on recently but couldn't show you yet... above are 4 blocks I worked on and made last week.

This isn't a top secret thing or round robin... I just didn't want to show it on my blog until Crazybout'quilts received her package in the mail from me. I wanted her to see them in person first. :) And she emailed me yesterday and told me that my blocks for her had arrived!!! Yeaa! ...and she loves them! so Double Yeaaa! now I can share! :c)

I forget when it was actually, but a while back, (I think Dec. '08) Crazy and I came up with the idea to swap blocks just between us. We both wanted something scrappy and rather easy to make. I suggested the My Blue Heaven pattern only we are adjusting it to finish up at 8" instead of 12.

I took photos of my progress along the way.. and after seeing all the photos of neat and tidy stacks of projects in blogland, it really kept me on my toes to make my work neat and presentable too :P LOL

Our pattern uses two sizes of HST's. Small ones that finish at 2" and larger ones that finish at 4". Pretty easy don't cha think? ;O) That's the plan Stan!

and I'm making mine the old fashioned way - draw the diagonal line and sew 1/4" from it on either side... and thanks to my (WORTH IT'S WEIGHT IN GOLD) Bernina Foot #57, it makes sewing them a breeze! I just line that little blade looking thing right down the line I drew and sew on both sides. zip. zip.

If you own a Bernina and do not have a foot #57 - go get ya self one! You will never regret it!

Here's a pile of the smaller HSTs. I didn't repeat any of my fabrics for my first sets of blocks. When I cut them apart they will yield 2 of the same... one for my blocks and one for Crazy's.
oops not such a neat photo - excuse all the clutter... but those large HST's already cut and ready to press are laid out pretty neat don't ya think? and that bowl to the left of them... well those were my OREO's until Nora spotted them and helped herself to them. :/

I really do miss my ironing board in here with me in the dining room... but I've been to lazy to carry it downstairs. So instead I'm making due with this travel size. I just lay it up on the table and my dining room table is large enough I can have this ironing surface and my large cutting mat on one side of the table and sewing machine and laptop on the other side.... Here are the large HSTs ready for squaring up. I do think a rotating mat of some sort would come in handy but for now I just make do with setting them all up and going one by one trimming two sides on each and then turning them all around and repeating.when I'm done I'm left with these little slivers of fabric. so I use one of these baby brushes with the fine bristles to sweep them all up into a little pile and clean off. I got this extra one at the dollar store marked down 50% from $1.00

and here below are the fruits of my labor... two blocks to share with Crazy'boutquilts (top) and two identical blocks for me to keep. (bottom)

Well, whatda ya think? Pretty scrappy ea?.......and to show you how fun they are look what happens when you thru two of them around... Ta-Da!

And a few months ago when we were shooting back and forth emails, planning and scheming up this whole swap idea... Crazy'boutquilts used her fancy smancy EQ program to draft up these sketches of what our quilts might turn out to look like.

but then we decided on this second version - of making all of the larger HSTs out of blue fabrics with mixed white and cream backgrounds... ooough - even more scrap-OH-lishious!

and apparently while I was secretly making my blocks for her last week - she was also doing the same thing!!! Because when I emailed her telling her I had mailed her a little something she replied with a "me too." So my blocks from her should be arriving any day now!!! I can't wait to see them and share them with all of you.

Love from Texas!

Calling all Quilters

Edited to add this link to take you to a photo page of the requested patterns CLICK HERE

Today I received an email from Pickle Dish Home of Kansas City Star Quilts. They are the publisher of Bonnie Hunter's Book Scraps & Shirttails and because I ordered my book directly form them I get email updates from them from time to time.

I thought today's message I'd share here - perhaps you have a quilt that would qualify for their request - if so lucky you! The chance to be published and get a free copy. I'll let you read what the email said:

In May we are planning to release a book that includes a selection of 25 of
the first patterns offered to My Star Collection subscribers. The book, titled "My
Stars: Patterns from The Kansas City Star, Vol. I," will include redrafted
patterns that were published in The Kansas City Star newspaper sometime between 1928 and 1961.

Each pattern will include templates, fabric requirements, and assembly
instructions, as well as the history of the block. But we’re missing one thing –
quilts made up of these blocks! That's where you come in!

We're looking for quilts made up of these blocks to feature in the
book. If chosen, we'll ship your quilt here to be photographed,
and back to you. You'll receive a free copy of the book, and proper
credit will be given to you in the book!

Click here for a complete list of the patterns we're seeking
quilts for. If you're interested in submitting a quilt, simply email me a
picture of it by responding to this email, or at info@pickledish.com. If you're
interested in pre-ordering the book, click here

I took a look at the list of pattern they are looking for and I think I have one quilt pattern listed. Sunbonnet Sue, made by my Momma Newt that I'll send a photo of... ;) and maybe just maybe it will be accepted!? ;) oh wouldn't that make her happy in heaven to know that her quilt was published in a book!

I'd love to know if you submit a photo to be considered, and also what pattern.

Love from Texas!

Go ahead and Push my New Button :)

I don't know much about blogger. There are a lot of things I'd love to learn but for now what little I know is enough for me. I'm trying to do better by posting more often and hope my readers have noticed ;)

Anyway while looking around my fellow HGTV Quilters' blogs... I noticed on everythingquilts' blog page - she has this BUTTON in her sidebar!!! and thankfully I do know enough that I was able to copy it and save it to my side bar :) I've always wanted all of us HGTV'rs who also have blogs to have some way of being connected.. but I do not know how to start a blog ring - nor do I want to be in charge of starting one... so for now I just list other HGTV'rs in my sidebar hoping that will help me to remember to visit their blogs and maybe send them some traffic their way.

I do have many other blogs I frequent more often and are my favorites but I don't list them on my blog. I figure they each get more than enough traffic already... and if I started listing favorits the list would be a mile long. haha ;)

so I thought I'd share this post with all of you that if you hear me talk about the HGTV boards - now you will have a quick take me there button :) over to the right in my side bar.

I don't know who created it - but thank you! :)

EDITED TO ADD - I just read my comments and everythingquilts was the one who created the HGTV button and she's also created me a special on to link to my HGTV FQ Bingo Game.. take a look :) I've added it to my sidebar too. :) :) :)

oh I feel so special! THANKS everythingquilts!!!

Love from Texas!

Question/Answer

Recently goaskmom asked me what I used to trace my redwork patterns onto the fabric. At the time I didn't reply b/c I didn't know what they were called.. but thanks for the reminder. Today I found them and now know what they are called!

I even took a photo ;)The package says: EZ Quilting Washout Pencil Vlu-Pak #882669Grea for quilting, sewing and crafts. Washes out of most fabrics with water.

Three colors, red,white and blue in one package.

IMPORTANT: Always make a test sample on exact farbic to be sure markings will wash or brush off before proceeding. Do not iron fabric before removing markings.


I haven't tested it but I doubt I'll have any problems. I traced lightly on my light box and the markings are not very dark I doubt I'll ever notice any that don't wash out - and besides nearly 99.9% of my stitches cover them up anyway.

Oh, and I wish I could say for sure where they come from... I'm guessing they can be purchased at Joann's. I think I received them as a hostess gift as they were already in my sewing room ;)

Hope this helps you.

Love from Texas!

Did he see me? Did he see me not?

I've been here in the kitchen most of the morning in my PJs (still) :P it's spring break here! LOL

Anyway, the UPS man brought a box and I didn't even hear or notice him as he left the box just outside the kitchen/gurage door...

Maybe he DID see me and didn't knock on the door b/c he didn't want to embarrase me. LOL

Thankfully I saw it sitting by the door on my way out to take a #2 diaper out to the garbage can outside.

Lookie what was inside FQs from royalboomer. Thanks for the 2 extras, you know I love 30s!!! Can't wait to see what comes in the mailbox later this afternoon.....

Love from Texas!