What I have been doing

Well, I feel like I have made some progress.  I have the Philhaven quilt top pieced.  Just need to get it quilted.  The colors did not show up true.  Wish the photo was better.  Perhaps the picture of  the quilted version will be better.

I also have my fabrics ready to go for my next project.  I am really looking forward to working on my first promise stitch quilt.  It is the flower box pattern (hence the floral fabrics) and done by hand.  Tammy at http://treadleworksbytammy.blogspot.com/  is my mentor.  If you want to find out more about the Promise Stitch check out Tammy's 2/11/11 post.  She is working on the flower box as well.  You can see one of the blocks there.  I am grateful to all of the advice she has given me and look forward to making progress with this project.   I enjoy hand piecing and like having a portable project.  This one is perfect.  Time to get cutting.  I'll give you a peek when I get some blocks pieced.

Clarification

I need to clarify.  The photo shown in my previous blog entry was not made by me.  It is a copy of the photo in the magazine.  I will be following the same pattern for my quilt.  I apologize for any confusion.

New Quilt in the Works

My quilt guid has taken on a community service project to make quilts for patients at Philhaven, a local psychiatric hospital.  This quilt was originally on my "to do" list with Patchwork Penquin's http://patchworkpenguin.blogspot.com/2011/02/gyleen-fitzgerald-amazing.html monthly project challenge.  However, time is running out and I want to get this project going.  I had already chosen the pattern and fabric (from my stash).  Today I prepared and cut all of the necessary pieces.  Hopefully tomorrow I can make a dent in sewing it.  The quilt pattern is Squares and Stripes and it is located in Fons and Porter's Learn to Quilt Magazine 12/2010.

The fabric we were to base our color scheme on is Hancock's Challenge fabric which is a teal.  I coordinated some other fabrics around it.  If things go as planned tomorrow perhaps I will have a quilt top to show.

On a different note, my friend Lynn over at Lynn's Obsession http://cooks-patchwork.blogspot.com/2011/02/melt-down.html#comment-form has finished an overwhelming 87 quilts for the residents of the VA Hospital in Wilkes Barre, PA.  Tomorrow is delivery day and she is having a major melt down because she's afraid the fellows won't like them.  I don't know how they couldn't.  Each one is its own masterpiece and filled with an amazing amount of love from Lynn.  I can't wait to hear all about her adventure.  I am adding photos with just a few of her quilts. 













She has so many more.  Each one made by her.  The fabric is mostly from her stash.

Great job Lynn!  We are all so proud of you and are amazed at what you have been able to accomplish.

Tissue Holder Tutorial

As promised, here is the plan for making a fabric tissue holder.

Cut you fabric 5 1/2" by 8" and turn the 5 1/2" edges in a full 1/4 of an inch. I know the photo says 1/8 to 1/4 but make it the full 1/4".   Stitch along the folded edge.  I used regular thread on top and invisible thread in the bobbin.  This way the invisible thread is on the right side of the fabric and the bobbin thread is on the inside and not seen.  You won't have to change thread colors every time you change the fabric color.  If you are making several at a time this really helps with the chain pieceing.

Next, pressed the sewn edges.  (these were not pressed before I took this photo and it really makes a difference in the look of the finished product.)

Fold end edges into the center and overlap the edges a full 1/4".  Pin in place and double stitch up seam sides. Stay close to the edge on the first row of stitches so that you have room for the second row.  Use a small stitch for strength.  I used a double needle for the double stitch to save some time.

Turn it right side out and there's your tissue holder!

What I have been doing

Dear blog reader (both of you),

It has been over a month since I added to my blog.  Apologies for taking so long.  I have accomplished a few things that I would like to share with you.  As you may recall, I signed up for a UFO challenge with Nancy over at Patchwork Penquin.  http://patchworkpenguin.blogspot.com/  The first number chosen was 3 which meant I was to work on bazaar items.  This was not my first choice and had a little trouble getting motivated for it.  However, come bazaar time in October, I will be happy to have these little babies done.  My plan was to make 30 tissue holders and 30 fabric flower pins. 

Here's my progress:

This what a finished flower pin looks like.

The tissue holders are finished but unfortunately the flowers didn't quite make it.  Hopefully I will have them finished by the end of this month.

For those of you who are interested I will be posting a tutorial of the tissue holders.  http://stashslashproject.blogspot.com/2011/02/tissue-holder-tutorial.html  This would normally be a straight forward project but I managed to make a few severe mistakes along the way.  Can you say "Let's rip invisible stitches from 60 seams?"  From recently gained experience I can state that it is possible but not fun.

I also have a few "firsts" on my list of accomplishments this month.  I made my first fabric postcard and actually mailed it.  Still haven't heard if it made it to its destination or not.  It's a fussy project but lots of fun.  I will definitely be making more of these.  I would love to become involved in a postcard swap.

Joe and I made a trip to Nokomis, Florida to visit his grandmother and two aunts.  As a thank you gift for their hospitality I made two towels for them to use by the pool.  I purchased the bathing beauty fabric at a quilt shop while I was there.

I'm the lady in the green two-piece with the tatoo in the middle of my back.  I know that there is a name for a tatoo in this particular spot on the body but don't recall what it is.  I'll be mailing the towels tomorrow.  I hope they like them.

And, last but not least, I jumped into the world of working with selvage edges.  I love it.  It's amazing how those previously thought of as junk pieces become little artworks all of their own.  When digging through the selvage stash and deciding which one to use next, I found myself putting aside some "special" ones that I thought could be better used in a different project.  I even have a favorite edge.  It has "Rosie" on it.  You better believe that one will really go on something special and given proper treatment.  Here's my first selvage project.  It's a 12" bow-tie block.

This was good practice for me because my challenge for the month is to complete a selvage project.  I have one in mind but we'll see if it's the final choice.