{#37} Hearthside Memories Quilted

Top picture is Hearthside Memories on my quilt frame.  I machine quilted this with a smoky transparent thread.  I did it all today.  This AM was spent putting a blanket stitch around the outer 4 corners' applique.  Then the quilting was done in early afternoon and this evening.  I sewed the binding on by machine as well as the hanging sleeve.  I hope to get those hand-sewn down tomorrow some time.

It has been a challenge to get all these projects done w/o Emily knowing about them.  She left this AM for a visit to see her great Uncle and then my parents in Ohio. 

I love the sewn-into-the-backing labels.  This and the gold fabric backings are definitely my go-to plan from now on.  The blocks I wrote the label info on have a story.  I was making a couple practice blocks for an upcoming surprise.  I wondered how the log cabin blocks would look with a half square triangle in the center instead of the traditional red square.  I didn't like the way these were going (I made two so I could have a leader and an ender).  I didn't even finish them.  Instead of throwing them away, I added them to the center of my back because I ended up needing 6 more inches of length in the backing.  Perfect!

Getting up to take Susie to the airport at 5:30 tomorrow AM.  Good night!!

~Joan

Log Cabin Top Finished...Back, Too!

Bethany's quilt top and back are finished!  I pushed through and got them both done today. 

The only consistent thing about the center of the top is that I used all the same red for the center of each block (which finishes at 3/4" square).  If I had a piece left of a 1-1/2" wide strip that was too small to use in a future block I sewed them end to end to fashion a label for the back.

There were two fairly large pieces of gold in my large scrap box.  I put one on both side of the strip mentioned above and added a large cream piece in the middle, enough to write on.  I enlarged it for the last picture.  Just enough space for a memory!  This is the first time I've pieced a label right in to the backing, and I.  like.  it.

Gold is one color that doesn't work out well in my Thimbleberries scrap quilts unless it's featured as the "light" like in this snowball quilt.  It's not light enough to play nicely with the lights, and not dark enough to play nice with the darks.  So I'm determined to use up the small pieces for quilt backs like this.  So much more interesting than one piece of fabric, no?

Taking a break to get cleaned up for church tonight.

~Joan

Sixteen Blocks Finished

Just found out from my friend that her daughter's wedding shower from our church is September 4.  Good thing this is mostly finished.

I will finish Emily's Hearthside Memories after she leaves Saturday AM for yet another long trip.  God's hand of protection has been very strong on our behalf this summer...so many miles logged onto our little Honda Pilot.

~Joan

Wedding Surprise Started for a Friend

Started a little project tonight...these:

Plus these (and a whole lot more):

Will eventually be one of these (click on the "these" to see it).  One of my friend's daughters is getting married in October.  I though since I had a few minutes tonight, I'd get started on my NEW wedding gift for girls in my church that are getting married. 

I used to give a crock pot and recipes from my recipe box specifically for crock pots.  These are one-of-a-kinds!

In the above pics, the top one is after adding 3 logs to my red centers.  No hard-and-fast rules for piecing this.  I have a box of 1-1/2" strips.  I am needing 1-1/4" strips, but instead of cutting a bunch of them, I am trimming off the extra 1/4" when I square them up.

My personal rule is not to add the same log to more than 4 blocks.  There are 16 blocks in this little wall quilt.  That makes enough variety to keep it interesting.  Each new log added is longer, so the chances of getting more than 1-2 on the last round is iffy anyway.

Stay tuned!

Just Needs A Smackerel of Applique

Just needs the hearts and commas in the outer cream blocks (in the rows with the HSTs).  I am so glad this turned out well. 

I jotted down my own instructions as well as the applique shapes just in case I make this again in the future.  My oldest daughter is not yet engaged, but she has already begun putting in her "quilt order".  One of these has lived in our kitchen for so long that the kids think kitchens are incomplete w/o one.

This measures about 53" square.  It will shrink up a bit when quilted.

Off to start those appliques.  I have been on my feet most of the day, and I'm beat.  I cooked several meals this AM while I was baking cookies for Emily's wedding rehearsal dinner and for the day after that.  Then it has been run, run, run all day.  I'm ready for a good night's sleep (please, Lord?).

~Joan

Just One More Border!

What is that sticking out behind the light Bull's Eye quilt top in progress?  Those triangles don't seem to match! 

Ah...pull it back and...wait for it...wait for it...this is how I'm hiding the quilt top from Emily for the moment...I want to avoid having to press the whole thing again.

Ta da...the Hearthside Memories quilt only needing one more black outer border and the appliques in the corners!!  Well, that and the quilting, binding, and hanging sleeve!

I overheard Emily volunteer to take a friend's elderly neighbor to a town about 45 minutes away tomorrow, so that will be some more of my sewing time on this little number.  Hee hee...

JULIE--Don't Look!

My new B-friend (that's blog-friend) Julie of Me and My Stitches sent me an email telling me she had talked to Emily and that Emily did not want this quilt, so I could go ahead and mail it to her.  Hahaha...as I was reading it I nearly believed her.  Julie thinks I'm teasing her by showing pictures of this, but here goes again.  The center is finished and all I have to do is add the 36 HST around the outside and the last border.

I have it on my design wall, but have another quilt top draped over it...Emily got home from FL/GA last night.  Hope she didn't see it!

~Joan

PS:  She just came out for the first time this AM and did not mention the quilt top (which at that time was in plain view)!  She would have had to turn all the way around after coming downstairs last night to see it, so I think it remains a surprise!!