The 3 boxes I posted about yesterday are kept on the guest bed in my sewing room. Guess what I found this morning...another box of blocks I had put in the closet...
add to the list...
cotton reels, scrappy swappers stars, scrappy Jacobs Ladder, bright & black sampler, cowboy boot focus fabric, wild & bright focus fabric, crumb blocks, paper pieced tulips, Christmas 9-patch, even more blue & yellow's, batik & cream, black & white rail fence, and my "girly girl" RR blocks.
I figure I have enough blue/yellow/white blocks for 2 or 3 large quilts.
I have my work cut out for me....
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Swappers Anonymous
Hello. My name is Barbara and I'm addicted to swaps. Actually, I've drastically cut out most swaps. I have a "birthday block" swap I'm doing, and a few I'm organizing to get more blocks of certain kinds to go with blocks I've already got. I'm not signing up for any more 2 & 3 color- sampler blocks. I've had my fill of those and have all the colors I would ever want.
I've been going through and organizing all my sets of blocks into boxes and made a list. All the blocks and rows are now into 3 Avon boxes. Where do I start? I really want to get some more tops made. Need to give "tirane" something to do LOL. She's my good friend who quilts these for me. Of course I have some things she's already done for me that now need binding. But that's another story for another time.
How do you decide what to work on next? I have all these block sets, plus all the other quilts in my head that I want to do. All these scraps that are calling my name...I don't know where to start!
Hang on to your hats...here's a list of all the Block sets....
Canning Jars on black, Bug jars on black, 30's Churn Dashes, Christmas Friendship Stars, Amish 9-patch, Amish Baskets, Scrappy Split 9-patches, Red & Beige split 9-patches, Orange & White Sampler, Bright & White Sampler, Scrappy Tennessee Blocks, Scrappy Basket of Chips, Scrappy Bowties, 30's bowties, Kids Buzzards, Kids Hole in the Barn Door, Bright Double 4-patches, Pink/Green/Burgundy/Brown Double 4-patches, Purple Lovers Sampler, Batik Fish, Pink & White Sampler, Pink/White/Black Sampler, Pink/Brown/Cream Sampler, Fall 9-Patch, Mini Spinning Flowers, Tan/Burgundy/Hunter Green Sampler, Red/White/Gray/Black Sampler, Scrappy 9-Patches, Green & White Sampler, Black & Bright Indian Stars, Black & Bright Windmills, Christmas/Winter Sampler, Patriotic Sampler, Mocha Lovers Sampler, several sets of 6 inch 9-patches in various colors, Scrappy Starflowers, Bright Starflowers, Butterfly focus Fabric Blocks, Stitched Scraps, Halloween Sampler, Blue & White Sampler, Pink Lemonade Blocks, Pink Lemonade RR, Christmas RR, Stack and Whack Christmas, Camping fabric RR, Depression Blocks, Blue & Yellow Sampler, Blue/Yellow/White Sampler, Scrappy Spiderwebs, Kids Square in a Square, Heart focus fabric blocks, Mapleleaf blocks, Scrappy Cats, Fall Sampler, Black & Bright Bear Paws, Flower of Friendship, Mini Watermelons
Whew! Some of these blocks I really don't even care about anymore. Maybe I should pull those aside and put them in "Swappers Mall" in Quilting Forever. Some of them, I only have a few blocks and not enough to really make a top. Some of them I really like but need to make more blocks.
This list also doesn't include the stack of blocks I have from swaps where people didn't follow directions. Those will eventually get made into Charity quilts.
I'm not a huge fan of just plain 9-patch quilts, but will cut those up into dissapearing 9-patch quilts. I think I'm going to combine some of the samplers like the Pink & White with the Pink/White Black, and do the same with the Blue & Yellow and Blue/Yellow/White. The 6 inch 9-patches are blues with muslin, Yellows with Muslin, Purple with Muslin. Pink with Muslin. I think those would all look good in a quilt together.
Then theres all the sets of fabrics I have that I've picked patterns for....but that will be another entry for another day...
So now you understand why my moniker is "quiltswapqueen"....
"God, grant me the serenity to accept I cannot finish everything, Courage to not sign up for anymore swaps, and the wisdom to know what to do next. Amen".
I've been going through and organizing all my sets of blocks into boxes and made a list. All the blocks and rows are now into 3 Avon boxes. Where do I start? I really want to get some more tops made. Need to give "tirane" something to do LOL. She's my good friend who quilts these for me. Of course I have some things she's already done for me that now need binding. But that's another story for another time.
How do you decide what to work on next? I have all these block sets, plus all the other quilts in my head that I want to do. All these scraps that are calling my name...I don't know where to start!
Hang on to your hats...here's a list of all the Block sets....
Canning Jars on black, Bug jars on black, 30's Churn Dashes, Christmas Friendship Stars, Amish 9-patch, Amish Baskets, Scrappy Split 9-patches, Red & Beige split 9-patches, Orange & White Sampler, Bright & White Sampler, Scrappy Tennessee Blocks, Scrappy Basket of Chips, Scrappy Bowties, 30's bowties, Kids Buzzards, Kids Hole in the Barn Door, Bright Double 4-patches, Pink/Green/Burgundy/Brown Double 4-patches, Purple Lovers Sampler, Batik Fish, Pink & White Sampler, Pink/White/Black Sampler, Pink/Brown/Cream Sampler, Fall 9-Patch, Mini Spinning Flowers, Tan/Burgundy/Hunter Green Sampler, Red/White/Gray/Black Sampler, Scrappy 9-Patches, Green & White Sampler, Black & Bright Indian Stars, Black & Bright Windmills, Christmas/Winter Sampler, Patriotic Sampler, Mocha Lovers Sampler, several sets of 6 inch 9-patches in various colors, Scrappy Starflowers, Bright Starflowers, Butterfly focus Fabric Blocks, Stitched Scraps, Halloween Sampler, Blue & White Sampler, Pink Lemonade Blocks, Pink Lemonade RR, Christmas RR, Stack and Whack Christmas, Camping fabric RR, Depression Blocks, Blue & Yellow Sampler, Blue/Yellow/White Sampler, Scrappy Spiderwebs, Kids Square in a Square, Heart focus fabric blocks, Mapleleaf blocks, Scrappy Cats, Fall Sampler, Black & Bright Bear Paws, Flower of Friendship, Mini Watermelons
Whew! Some of these blocks I really don't even care about anymore. Maybe I should pull those aside and put them in "Swappers Mall" in Quilting Forever. Some of them, I only have a few blocks and not enough to really make a top. Some of them I really like but need to make more blocks.
This list also doesn't include the stack of blocks I have from swaps where people didn't follow directions. Those will eventually get made into Charity quilts.
I'm not a huge fan of just plain 9-patch quilts, but will cut those up into dissapearing 9-patch quilts. I think I'm going to combine some of the samplers like the Pink & White with the Pink/White Black, and do the same with the Blue & Yellow and Blue/Yellow/White. The 6 inch 9-patches are blues with muslin, Yellows with Muslin, Purple with Muslin. Pink with Muslin. I think those would all look good in a quilt together.
Then theres all the sets of fabrics I have that I've picked patterns for....but that will be another entry for another day...
So now you understand why my moniker is "quiltswapqueen"....
"God, grant me the serenity to accept I cannot finish everything, Courage to not sign up for anymore swaps, and the wisdom to know what to do next. Amen".
Friday, February 22, 2008
Progress
We need to get our digital camera fixed. I'm working on several things I'd love to post pics of. I do have a disposable camera, and I'm gonna take some pics with it, but then i have to get a CD developed and download that, so it will be next week before you see the pics.
In "Quilting Forever" we have been doing this swap where we exchange blocks from previous swaps and our partner makes us a top with them. I was given a stack of Blue and Yellow blocks to work with. I really like the sashing idea I came up with and how this is turning out. I will get this finished today and mailed. Yea. I beat the deadline (Monday the 25th). LOL.
I've also been making HST's like crazy. I have a stack of "Tennessee" blocks, but need some more, -and am also adding to my "Depression" stack and my white and scrappy and my beige and red "Split 9-patch" blocks. So I am making huge dents in my scrap bags. I think I need to make a bunch of crumb blocks though, as I still have about 3 bags of very small scraps.
Then there's the pattern for the fabric covered notebooks that is screaming at me too. I think these would be good to sell at the craft fairs.
So many ideas, so little time...
In "Quilting Forever" we have been doing this swap where we exchange blocks from previous swaps and our partner makes us a top with them. I was given a stack of Blue and Yellow blocks to work with. I really like the sashing idea I came up with and how this is turning out. I will get this finished today and mailed. Yea. I beat the deadline (Monday the 25th). LOL.
I've also been making HST's like crazy. I have a stack of "Tennessee" blocks, but need some more, -and am also adding to my "Depression" stack and my white and scrappy and my beige and red "Split 9-patch" blocks. So I am making huge dents in my scrap bags. I think I need to make a bunch of crumb blocks though, as I still have about 3 bags of very small scraps.
Then there's the pattern for the fabric covered notebooks that is screaming at me too. I think these would be good to sell at the craft fairs.
So many ideas, so little time...
Friday, February 15, 2008
I've been Tagged!
THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.
1. When I was 6, I broke my leg the day before Easter. Within 2 weeks of getting the cast off, I broke the other leg the day of my Grandma's funeral.
2. I know probably every "camp" song ever written.
3. I played Linus in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" because I was the only kid who could memorize all those lines.
4. I would rather receive Tulips than Roses.
5. I can't remember to take my vitamins everyday, but I can still recite the beginning of the Prologue to "Canterbury Tales". Thanks a lot Mrs. Albright...
6. I love horror movies.
7. I collect vintage sheet music.
I don't even know 7 other people who blog...and some I know have already been tagged....need to get out more I guess.....so I'll tag 1 person I know hasn't been yet....
Country Mouse in the City
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.
1. When I was 6, I broke my leg the day before Easter. Within 2 weeks of getting the cast off, I broke the other leg the day of my Grandma's funeral.
2. I know probably every "camp" song ever written.
3. I played Linus in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" because I was the only kid who could memorize all those lines.
4. I would rather receive Tulips than Roses.
5. I can't remember to take my vitamins everyday, but I can still recite the beginning of the Prologue to "Canterbury Tales". Thanks a lot Mrs. Albright...
6. I love horror movies.
7. I collect vintage sheet music.
I don't even know 7 other people who blog...and some I know have already been tagged....need to get out more I guess.....so I'll tag 1 person I know hasn't been yet....
Country Mouse in the City
Friday, February 1, 2008
Why did I start quilting?
When kids are 15, they dream of getting a car. My dream car was a purple VW "slugbug". I thought they were the coolest little cars. Still do.
When I turned 16, instead of getting a car for my birthday, I got sewing lessons. Think back (if you're old enough to remember)...to 1982. One of the fashion crazes of the time were the "Little House on the Prairie" style dresses inspired by the designer Laura Ashley. I loved those dresses. Being a chunky kid, they would hide my little bit of bulge, and I could still be fashionable. So that's what we decided to make during my sewing lessons. It was a cute white with Purple (of course) print. Mrs. Rousseau, one of my Mom's best friends, patiently walked me through cutting the fabrics and piecing them together. She thought I was a bit premature trying to make something that had so many gathers in it, but I was really proud of how it turned out. I wore that dress till it was threadbare. It got me through a lot of Sunday mornings and special events at school. I wish I still had the dress, just for memories sake.
After making that dress with her, I tried to make another one on my own. That was a disaster, I remember sewing pieces together all wrong. I gave up and didn't touch a sewing machine for 19 years.
Flash forward to Fall 2001. 9/11 had just happened. How to deal with stress and anxiety. My boss is a quilter. She would show me these beautiful quilts she was working on. One day I thought, you know, My Mom was a quilter, both my grandmothers were quilters, maybe I can be a quilter too. I asked my boss to give me a few lessons. She was thrilled to share some of her stash and a few tools with me. I went to her house and had a lesson on picking fabric, and a lesson on using a rotary cutter and templates, and a refresher course on using a sewing machine. That was it. I was hooked. I've been quilting 6 years now. Quilting has seen me through many rough times. I've made several quilts and lasting memories with quilting friends from around the world.
But I still want that slugbug.
When I turned 16, instead of getting a car for my birthday, I got sewing lessons. Think back (if you're old enough to remember)...to 1982. One of the fashion crazes of the time were the "Little House on the Prairie" style dresses inspired by the designer Laura Ashley. I loved those dresses. Being a chunky kid, they would hide my little bit of bulge, and I could still be fashionable. So that's what we decided to make during my sewing lessons. It was a cute white with Purple (of course) print. Mrs. Rousseau, one of my Mom's best friends, patiently walked me through cutting the fabrics and piecing them together. She thought I was a bit premature trying to make something that had so many gathers in it, but I was really proud of how it turned out. I wore that dress till it was threadbare. It got me through a lot of Sunday mornings and special events at school. I wish I still had the dress, just for memories sake.
After making that dress with her, I tried to make another one on my own. That was a disaster, I remember sewing pieces together all wrong. I gave up and didn't touch a sewing machine for 19 years.
Flash forward to Fall 2001. 9/11 had just happened. How to deal with stress and anxiety. My boss is a quilter. She would show me these beautiful quilts she was working on. One day I thought, you know, My Mom was a quilter, both my grandmothers were quilters, maybe I can be a quilter too. I asked my boss to give me a few lessons. She was thrilled to share some of her stash and a few tools with me. I went to her house and had a lesson on picking fabric, and a lesson on using a rotary cutter and templates, and a refresher course on using a sewing machine. That was it. I was hooked. I've been quilting 6 years now. Quilting has seen me through many rough times. I've made several quilts and lasting memories with quilting friends from around the world.
But I still want that slugbug.
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