Learning Time

You know how sometimes you hear that doing a certain thing is not a good idea but you have to try it yourself? I have always heard that you DON"T want to use a sheet for a backing on a quilt.

A customer made this cute 1970's looking quilt for her daughter. Her daughter wanted a white soft sheet used for the back. I had heard that was a problem but did it anyway. In a way I am glad I did it, now I know first hand what problems it creates and I also know that I won't accept a sheet as a backing again.

For anyone that has not tried it a sheet is a lot tighter weave and caused nothing but tension problems. When I finally got the tension fairly ok then the thread kept shredding on me and ended up breaking about every ten minutes. A job that should have taken just a few hours ended up taking up most of my day.

So unless you are as hard headed as I am and have to try it yourself I strongly suggest you don't try and recycle an old sheet into a quilt backing.

I am already making progress on my goals for the week as this was one of two customer quilts I wanted to get done and I also took time to get the binding on the split decision quilt last night. Now I have a nice handwork project to do while watching American Idol tonight.



Kathie

Design Wall Monday 4-19-2010

Well the same old blocks are back up on the design wall. After debating about whether to use gold or black cornerstones I decided on RED....lol I just sewed a few together to make sure I like it and that it definitely what I am going to go with.



Yesterday I quilted this soldier quilt (split decision pattern) for delivery next month. I made a committment to myself to make two for the delivery and this is the second one quilted. A friend is binding the first one for me so just have to bind this one and then make labels for both of them and I will be done ahead of schedule.



I was in kind of a lazy mood last week even though I ended up getting a lot done but feel I need some goals for myself this week. So.............

1. Quilt two customer quilts (the first goes on the frame today)
2. I had so many positive comments about our making up kits out of donated fabric that I want to cut out at least one more kit this week.
3. Get the binding on the split decision quilt
4. Quilt up several craft show table runners
and 5. continue to put the sashing and corner stones on the Christmas 4 patch quilt.

Hope you have a wonderful week.

kathie

Sunday Stash Report - April 18, 2010

A little progress this week on my numbers. I did go by a quilt shop to drop off a charity quilt the manager is going to quilt and ended up buying but only 1 yard. I had scraps left from my mardi gras quilt and bought two half yard pieces to go with that. Figure I will add black from my stash and maybe make up some bright 9 patches with the left overs.

My current numbers are:

Fabric Used this week: 4.25 yards
Fabric Used YTD: 86.75 yards
Added this week: 1 yard
Added YTD: 60.25 yards
Net used in 2010: 26.50


I was involved in a cutting bee yesterday, to bad I couldn't count those numbers. One of the ladies had about ten boxes of fabric donated to her from a lady moving into a retirement home. One lady sat and organized the fabric into categories and three of us were cutting up kits.

I cut kits for 4 charity quilts while there and another one once I got home. I also brought home several large pieces that will be backings for hospice quilts and another couple of arm loads to be gradually made into kits.

Kathie

Favorite Blogs

I love to read blogs and see what projects everyone is working on. I belong to a blog ring as part of the Heartstrings quilt group and try to take a peak once a week or so to see what everyone is up to. There are also several other blogs I love to read but some weeks I have little time to sit at the computer and get up to date.

I thought that I would mention my favorite blogs that I try and read if I really have the time or not.

http://www.patchworktimes.com This is Judy L's blog. She has written a couple of quilt books and teaches quilting and conducts lectures. I love her blog from the patterns and recipes to the funny stories about her husband and also their pets (chickens).

http://blog.maryquilts.com Mary Johnson's blog always inspires me. She is the founder of the Heartstrings group and she does more charity quilting than any two people. She also has lots of patterns for use and gets us motivated with special projects.

http://www.quiltville.blogspot.com Is Bonnie Hunter's blog. She is a very popular quilt teacher and has written two books on scrap quilting. I was lucky enough to take a class from her 2 or 3 years ago.

and lastly is http://www.alyciaquilts.blogspot.com Alycia is VERY heavy into Quilts of Valor and delivers them in person to the base. She has inspired people from all over the country to make and donate hundreds of QOV quilts every year.

I applaud all of ladies for not only their entertaining blogs but for all the charity work they all do.

Kathie

Finished Top

I pieced these blocks at the retreat and they put the top together a little bit every evening after taking care of customer things.



I like the way it turned out. This is the Take 5 pattern. I think it might be a little bit of a boring pattern out of some fabrics but with all these brights I like the results. The border fabric reminds me Mardi Gras decorations so that is what I will call this quilt.

This is a picture of a little bit of the customer quilt I did yesterday. I mainly wanted to show this fabric, isn't it cute? She said she got it at Joanns. I don't remember seeing it there but I AM NOT going to go look, I have PLENTY of fabric and am trying to make a little better headway on my stash busting.


I was also going to post a picture of the patriotic quilt I quilted the other day for delivery to a wounded soldier project next month. A friend of mine stopped by and I sent it off with her to bind before I remembered I had not taken a picture of it after quilting. I will be sure and take one once it comes back.

Another busy day on my agenda (non-sewing related stuff) but hope to at least get the next quilt loaded on the frame and a backing pieced (only a couple of seams) for the other patriotic quilt I made.

kathie

Hospice Quilt #13

At quilt guild the other night I had a quilt returned by Kathy V after binding it. This quilt was definitely a joint project. Kathy V made partial blocks and then didn't want to finish up the quilt and donated them for use in a hospice quilt. I completed the blocksm put the top together and quilted it and then Kathy finished the binding.

I really like how this quilt turned out.

I was back on a roll yesterday. I got a small customer job quilted in the morning and a charity soldier quilt in the afternoon.

Today I need to run some errands including picking up some items for my daughters english project. What is it about this time of year that every teacher seems to assign projects that include lots of research and homework all at the same time? I also need to pick up some neutral thread at JoAnns for piecing while it is 50% off.

Before running out I am going to get the next customer quilt on the frame so it will be ready to start later in the day.

Kathie

Last Retreat Pictures

Only have a couple more pictures taken at the weekend retreat. All these quilts are raffle quilts. They had a raffle boulevard of quilts from every organization in the area just about. I bought some tickets for the teal quilt, that is to raise funds for the local fire department. Other quilts were for Hospice, local quilt guilds, Project Linus and Habitat for Humanity.

This line of quilts was a mini quilt show in itself.

After being gone the last two weekends in a row I was having a hard time getting back in gear with both my customer quilting and general housework. I did get a quilt quilted yesterday and another small customer project this morning so feel back in the swing again. I need to get a couple of quilts delivered and then I think I will load a charity soldier quilt on the frame.

Kathie