Stars and Bars Table Runner, Under Construction

Greetings blog followers!

I have the center applique section of the table runner finished.  Here's the progress so far:

To secure the appliques, I used Heat N Bond Lite, then used a small zig-zag stitch to cover the raw edge.  The fabric and this runner has a country like feel to me, and I felt the zig-zag stitch worked better than a blanket stitch.  I feel pretty comfortable that it will hold up well...this will not see much wear and tear (I hope!).  It's main job is to cover the bare coffee table top and to look pretty!

I'll be taking a short break for a few days, but will get back to sewing again next week.  Denis and I are taking a long weekend. 

Until next time...

Scrapbooking Night, Surf's Up Papers

Hello Blog Friends,

Tonight was our monthly scrapbooking group.  Remember, my daughter Kristy is a Close to My Heart consultant, and each month, a group of scrapping friends gather to make six pages from a paper packet featured that month.  Tonight, the paper packet called "Surf's Up" was featured.  Here are the pages we made tonight:

This one is missing it's title...I wanted to wait for the pictures before I decided on one.

The colors and patterns are very "mod" and remind me of the '70's.  Which, in turn, reminds me that the Beatles movie "Help!" is being released on Blu-Ray on June 25.  As I did when it was first released in the theaters, I'll be faithfully standing in line (so to speak) to buy one!

 

Shades of 1970's....Groovy!

 

These were cute papers and fun pages once completed. 

 

Until next time...

Stars and Bars Table Runner

Greetings fellow bloggers!

I've got a new project to share with you...the Stars and Bars Table Runner.  I bought this kit from Connecting Threads (they called it Stars and Stripes, I gave it my own name).  Here are the fabrics:

I have an oval coffee table and a piano bench in my living room, both of which are naked this summer (no table runners).  By mid-July I hope to have two runners finished.  This first one is for the coffee table.  The piano bench is long and narrow, and I'll have to custom design and make a runner to fit.  The kit I purchased came with a FQ of 14 different fabrics in the collection.  I believe I will have enough fabric to make runners for both pieces.

Check out Connecting Threads website here.  They have nice quality fabrics at very reasonable prices!

Next time...a peek at the center stars section.

Dino Dreams, Quilt Top

Hello Blog Friends!

Well, I have been hard at work, trying to complete the Dino Dreams quilt top by the end of the weekend.  I'm happy to report that I've achieved my goal!  Here is a photo of the finished top.  This is a large quilt...it covers the top of this double bed!  The block I showed you in my previous post makes for an interesting pattern when joined with the others. 

Because this is for a child, I plan to use flannel for the backing, so it has a soft and cuddly aspect.  I will use black for the binding.  I have some longer pieces of the dino border stripe, and plan to use a stripe on the back also.

I ran in to some issues with the pattern (free, downloaded from Avlyn).  As a seasoned sewer, I was able to compensate for mis-labeled assembly instructions and incorrect measurements.  A beginner would have had difficulties with this.  I downloaded this pattern several years ago, and hopefully Avlyn has corrected the errors by now.

I'll be completing this soon, as Zach's birthday on July 5 is fast approaching.  This coming week I'll be taking a short hiatus from sewing.  I'll share the finished product with you soon.

Dino Dreams, Block

Hello Bloggers,

I've begun piecing the center section of Dino Dreams quilt top.  Here is one block completed. 

There are six of these blocks in the center section, and when sewn together, create an interesting pattern.  The center section is followed by 5 borders of varying widths.  There are also four cornerstone blocks in the largest of the outer borders.  Sounds intriguing, doesn't it?

I hope to have this quilt top finished by Friday or Saturday night.  I'll be back in a few days to show you the finished top. 

Until then...

Dino Dreams, Under Construction

Hello Bloggers!

I thought I'd give you a quick progress report on Dino Dreams.  Remember that yardage I shared in the last post?  Well, here it is reduced to the cut component parts that will be re-sewn into the quilt top.

I've started piecing and can show you a finished block next post.

Till then...

Dino Dreams Sneak Peek

Greetings Blog Friends,

As I hinted to in my last post, I've started a new project.  This time, it is a quilt for my grandson Zach, who will be 10 on July 5.  Here is a sneak peek at the fabrics.  Can you guess the theme of the quilt?

 

 

Yep, you guessed it, dinosaurs.  Right now I'm in the cutting phase, and I'll share progress pictures as I begin the piecing.   These fabrics are from the "Dinosaurs" collection by Michele Wojcicki for Avlyn Fabrics.  I'm using a pattern created especially for this fabric (downloaded from the Avlyn website).

Until next time...

Barn Quilt Quest 2013, part 6

Hello Bloggers,

Well, we have come to the last and final post (for now) of Shawano County Barn Quilts.  As you have seen from my previous posts, there is quiet a variety of styles and patterns, not only of the quilt squares, but of the barns themselves. 

I first became interested in barn quilts several years ago, after seeing several on one of our many trips to Door County.  Last year, I purchased and read the book Barn Quilts and the American Barn Quilt Trail by Suzi Parron and Donna Sue Groves.  This book recounts the very beginnings of the barn quilt movement, and how far it has come since it began in 2001.  I highly recommend this book for further reading about barn quilts.  You can read more about the author Suzi Parron on her website, click here.  Suzi also has a blog with more barn quilts and information.  Click here to read it. 

 

 

 

We also found the barns themselves to be lovely and interesting in their own right.  I am currently reading a great book named Barns of Wisconsin by Jerry Apps.  Jerry is a home-grown Wisconsin author who has written a number of other books about growing up in rural Wisconsin.  You can visit Jerry's website by clicking here.

Shawano County is not alone in Wisconsin when it comes to quilt trails.  Other counties with known barn quilts and trails include Marquette, Rock, Kewaunee, Door, Green, Sauk, Columbia, Racine, Walworth, and Lafayette.  You can find maps and other information on these counties quilt trails online.  This is my favorite barn quilt so far:  Patchwork Heart:

I'd like to leave you with a word of advice to you travelers who go whizzing across the countryside at 75 mph on the freeway:  Get off the racetrack, slow down and look around.  You never know what you might find off the beaten path...maybe even a barn quilt or two.  Enjoy the scenery...it's more than just a blur from your car window.

Next post I'll share a sneak peak at a new project...

Barn Quilt Quest 2013, part 5

Hello Blog Friends! 

Today is my birthday!  I celebrated by working at my job all day, but then was rewarded with a really good steak dinner at George's Steak House in Appleton.  They have by far the best steak in the valley.  See their website here.  They have great ambience and a piano in the bar.  You can sing along on Friday and Saturday nights.  A totally great place!  We go there on special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

Back to the barns.  We encountered some odd and unusual barn quilts on our trek through Shawano County:

This representation of an eagle was named Freedom.

The aptly named Candy Corn Windmill.

I scream, You scream, We all Scream for Ice Cream.

 

No doubt you're tiring of these barn quilts by now.  One last post tomorrow with my final thoughts and personal favorites.

Barn Quilt Quest 2013, part 4

Hello Blog Friends!

We are back from another successful Kindergarten graduation.  Time to resume the barn quilt quest report.

We saw a number of quilt blocks with animals as the central figure.  Here are some of our favorites:

Pinzgauer Pride.  These people love their cows.

Hooter

Fish Circle

Duck Pond.  There was indeed a duck pond in front of this barn, hence the name.

The aptly named Red Rooster.

This one is my favorite...A Horse Named Trixie.  I have a feeling that Trixie was a very pretty and beloved member of this family.

 

 

We also saw some blocks that can only be described as different, and we think they fit into our category of "Odd and Unusual".  More on that next post.

Barn Quilt Quest 2013, part 3

Hello Blog Friends!

As I mentioned in the last post, we noticed many barn quilts with patriotic or American themes.  Here are some we found most interesting:  NOTE:  I'm showing you the close-up shot on these, so you can see the detail (without squinting, that is!).

 

Americana

 Patriotic Star

 

Pinwheel Flag

 

Old Glory Chevron

Liberty Banner

Never Forget.  This one with the crossed swords was painting and hung in honor of the barn owner's great grandfather, who served in the Civil War.

Patriotic Prairie Star

 

 

We also saw some barn quilts with animal themes, rightly so given the quilt are hanging on barns in farm country.  I'll share these animal themed barn quilts in my next post.  (Probably not tomorrow, tho...I'm off to granddaughter Bridget's Kindergarten graduation.  A must attend event!!)



Barn Quilt Quest 2013, part 2

Hello Blog Friends and welcome to Barn Quilt Quest, part 2.  I don't have much to say today...I thought I'd let the pictures do most of the talking.  Enjoy.

This one is called Original Five Pointed Star.

Steps to the Stars

Sunflowers

All Star Array

This barn and its quilt is one of our favorites.  It was just so lovely with its brown painted siding and fieldstone base against the lush green foliage.  Mom and I are "autumns", meaning we like earth tones in these hues.  I just love the way the barn doors are painted to coordinate with the block.  This quilt is named Indian Paintbrush.

 

Most of the barns we saw were painted the traditional red.  Many were freshly painted, as if to spruce up in honor of the block that was hung.  We also saw, however, barns painted in white, black, brown, and some not painted at all, with just weathered barn boards.

 

American Pride was a very prominent theme.  We saw a number of blocks sporting red, white, blue, stars and stripes themes. Next post I will share some of the patriotic quilt blocks we photographed.

 

Until then, enjoy.....

Barn Quilt Quest 2013, part 1

Hello blog friends!

Last weekend (Memorial Day), Denis, Mom and I spent two days exploring Shawano County in Wisconsin.  We were on the hunt for Barn Quilts.  For those of you who don't know what a Barn Quilt is...it is an 8' x 8' quilt square painted either on the barn itself, or on separate wood pieces, and displayed on a barn.  The quilt block can be a traditional block, or something unique to the person painting and/or displaying it. 

The Shawano County Barn Quilt Committee has taken the lead in the Barn Quilt movement here in Wisconsin.  So far, they have 204 barn quilts on display in the county, and have heavily promoted their quilt trail.  And, they are pretty proud of it, as seen in the picture below.  For more information on the Shawano County quilt trail and to go to their website, click here.

 
We each had a separate important job on our Barn Quilt quest...I was the navigator, armed my maps (I am the GPS in our family...Global Positioning Susan).  Mom was the recorder, and listed the time and date we saw each one, so we could later match up our pictures with the correct name and location.  Denis was the driver.  We all worked well together, and had a great time and saw a lot of great rural countryside.

Here are a few of the Barn Quilts we saw on Saturday:

You'll all recognize this one...a traditional block called Lemoyne Star.

 This one is named Christmas Star.

 

 Snowy Morning.

Several barns had more than one quilt.  This one features Evergreen on the end and Castor and Pollux on the side.

 

Here is a striking block called Autumn Cross.

 

I'll have more from our Quilt Barn Quest 2013 next post.