Quilt Archive

Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Good, the Bad, the Quilty

Hello Blog Friends,

It's been a heck of a week!   

The Good:  Two plays, summer weather, scrapping group night!
The Bad:  Family funeral, co-worker gave notice
The Quilty:  Mini barn quilts and a great Quilt Shop

The Good.  Denis and I have been to two plays this past week.  The Lion in Winter was presented by the Attic Theater Company of Menasha, WI.  The play was exceptionally well acted and presented in the round.  This play chronicles the political and power struggles between King Henry of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, his sons, Prince Richard (the Lionheart), Prince John, and Prince Geoffrey, the King of France and his sister.  A very entertaining evening.  


Denis and I attended another stage play earlier today, presented by the Stage Door Theater Co, based at the T.A.P. (Third Avenue Playhouse) in Sturgeon Bay, WI.  Set in Liverpool,  "Educating Rita", a comedy about Frank, an aging (and alcoholic) Literature professor, and Rita, a hairdresser with a thirst for knowledge.  During the interludes between scenes, instrumental renditions were heard of songs by four famous lads also from Liverpool.  I found it fitting to hear "Long and Winding Road" just before the final scene.  This was the last single the Beatles released before the band broke up.  This was very well done.


And we have summer!  Finally!  80's and sun!  After an early morning thunderstorm Saturday morning, the weekend weather was perfect!

The Bad.  My uncle Rudy (on my father's side) passed away earlier this week and we attended the funeral on Saturday.  He was the youngest of three brothers, my dad Ed was the middle boy, and my Uncle Erv was the oldest.  He was the last brother, having lost my dad many years ago, and Erv just recently.  But, as with all family funerals, I was able to reconnect with my cousins again and reminisce.

We are losing one of our co-workers, who is also a good friend.  Our department will shrink from three to two, so that means extra hours and work for the two of us left.  It is sad to see her go, but we wish her well in her new job.  

The Quilty.  Although I didn't get any sewing done at all this week, I am still able to close this post with something quilty!  On our way to Sturgeon Bay this morning, we saw these mini barn quilts for sale along the road.  There are a variety of sizes.  How do you like the Packer on with Brett Favre's Number 4 on it?  This one is both timely and appropriate, since Brett was just honored at Lambeau Field last night in Green Bay, WI.  My favorite mini quilt, however, is the Dresden Plate.  If I was going to put up a barn quilt, it would definitely be a Dresden.  



We spent some time in downtown Sturgeon Bay before the play, and I wandered in to Barn Door Quilts, a great little quilt shop right on 3rd Avenue.  This shop is one of my favorites, and I have found both inspiration and just the right fabrics here many times.


That is all for this week's post.  Have a good week...see you next Sunday.








Sunday, July 12, 2015

Pretty Pages

Hello Blog Friends,

This week I switched gears from sewing to scrapping.  Here is my newest set of pages, all that's left is photos!  These pages were made from papers and card stock from Close to My Heart Blossom collection.  Enjoy.



On deck:  A 9" x 13" covered baking dish, (2) wooden spoons, and this fabric.  

More on this new project next week.  Till then...





Thursday, July 9, 2015

County Fair - Finished!

Hello Blogger Friends!

So sorry I am so late with this post.  It has been a crazy, busy week at work (much OT) and I've been tired at night.

As planned, the quilt named County Fair was finished last weekend.  Here is the finished product in all its glory.

I chose a simple crossing pattern to the quilting, all done in straight lines with the walking foot.  I know that this quilt is going to be one of my favorites!  I have a split level home with an upper and lower level.  Here is County Fair hanging in its place on the rail at the upper level landing.

On deck...a paper crafting project.  More on that this weekend.



Sunday, June 28, 2015

County Fair Quilt...Progress Report 2

Hello Blog Friends,

Just a quick post this week.  The quilt named County Fair is still in process, but some real progress has been made.  The 30 blocks have all been cut and re-sewn, sewn into rows, and rows joined into the main center section of the quilt.  Here is one small section showing 4 of the blocks sewn together.   I like it!



This week I will work on the inner border, outer border, quilting and binding.  Remember, the goal is to have it finished and on display by July 4.  

Tune in next week to see if I make it on time...

Saturday, June 20, 2015

CountyFair Quilt...Progress Report

Hello Quilting Friends,

As promised in last week's post, here is a progress report on my new quilt named County Fair.  

Remember, I'm using fabrics from the Moda A La Carte collection:


Step 1.  Sew two sets of matching 5" charms into one four patch unit.

Step 2.  Cut.

Step 3.  Rearrange and sew back together.

Voila, the disappearing 4 patch block!

So far, I have about a third of the final blocks done.  It is my goal to finish the blocks this weekend, and have the top assembled by next weekend.

See you then for another progress report!







Sunday, June 14, 2015

Bow Wow Blankie (Stashbuster #2) Finished!

Hello Blog Friends,

As promised, the stashbuster quilt #2 is finished.  Behold Bow Wow Blankie:


The pattern is from Folk Art Designs, " Baby's Bow Wow Blankie" by Bonnie Sullivan.  As I told you in previous posts, this is a true stashbuster quilt.  All fabrics, including the backing, came from my stash.  Finished size is 40" x 40".

I already have my next project on deck.  Here is the fabric family I am using:

Moda A la Carte 

This fabric collection has "summer" written all over it.  It reminds me so much of summer, the blues, reds, greens and yellows.  I have already named this quilt County Fair, and I haven't sewn one stitch yet!  I'm anxious to work on it.  My goal is to have it on display by July 4.

See you next week with a progress report.

Thanks for visiting...

Sunday, June 7, 2015

Barn Quilting Marquette County

Hello Blog Friends,

Well, I didn't get as much done as I wanted to on the second stash buster baby quilt.  It is still in process, but I promise to have it totally completed and ready for gifting by next week's post.

Instead, I will try to appease you with some eye candy, barn quilt style.  As you might remember, Mom, Denis and I have gone barn quilting (the past four years) over Memorial Day weekend.  This year, we set our sights closer to home (Mom's that is), and traveled around Marquette County, WI, which is in the central part of the state.  Here are some of our finds:
Aunt Ida's Crazy Quilt

Butterflies.  The side of this barn was literally covered with painted butterflies!

Cathedral Windows

Grandmother's Flower Garden

Harvest Star

Irish Ancestors.  This barn and farm has been in the O'Malley family since 1850.


In Montello, we visited a flower shop/quilt shop.  There they had this quilt on display, the blocks being replicas of some of the barn quilts we saw on our travels around the county.

Isn't this the cutest round barn?  It's at the Marquette County Fairgrounds in Westfield.

A beautiful country road.

She's looking at us looking at her.


Next week...stash buster #2 done!