The List is shrinking

There were twenty, yes, 20, items on the list on the sidebar.... it's down to three!

I've even gotten some quilting done, but I'm creating a new list....

I've even gotten some quilting/piecing done. The two quilt tops above were done by Kathy S at our church quilting group, but I designed the layout and put them together.

I finished the Lime HS blocks with my selvedges.This was quick and easy!!

 
 I got a chance to play with the layout of my altar cloth for St Mary's church, but I have still more blocks to make, split and reorganize.And this one, is another completion done by the group and Kathy S.... I get the pleasure to put it together at home. Isn't it cozy? I've decided to name it "Homespun Warmth".

Cloth done! Just in the nick of time...

Okay, it was my procrastination at prime mode, but it always seems to work for me. I had to babysit my grandson on Sat. until 2pm, so no use trying to sew before then. (Oh, did I have time during the week? I'm sure I did, but then I'm not sure I had the energy...). Once my daughter came home and took off to run errands, I decided I needed to rest for a while....zzzzz until 4:30pm.

Oh brother ! I can't put this off any longer (why is this so hard to finish???). Up the stairs I go. I realize I have 9 more blocks to make before I can put them together. Hey, they ARE easy blocks to do. "Trading patches". I have some extra blocks already cut, but don't want to put the fabrics I have to chose from in the rest of it. I go looking through my stash... AHhh, found some funky stuff that works! Off I go.... sewing them up and playing on the design board for a while before I find the design I like ("Honey, supper is just gonna be 'thrown together' tonight! Ok?"). Good. Back to work. I put the blocks (48) together using the 'webbing' method and got the top finished...almost. Ok. I have to add this 'band' of blue and gold at the top, but I seem to remember that the top I add is too wide. I'll have to 'fudge it' for the moment. Now for the backing (I saved a piece I thought would be wide enough...NOT!) Oh crap! Okay, let's not panick... Hey, I think I'll make a band for the middle strip out of the millions of 1.5" strips that run through the diagonal on the blocks. It will work! I'll make them like a lasagna quilt. It doesn't look too bad! Okay, now to finish the panel (thank God, I don't have to 'quilt' it!). I just hand stitched the opening closing (enveloped it), and ironed it.... Don't it look perdy?? It's now set to "pin' for the altar top, and I'll have to sew it during the week...

Back panel of Altar Cloth

I have a week or two to finish the last panel for the churc's altar cloth. It can be used the way it is (three sides), but our priest-in-charge, Paul Briggs, asked if I could get the last side done for this summer. I have quite a few more squares to finish, then to arrange them and 'slap a back on' it and hopefully attach it to the top's edge. All I can seay is it's a good thing I save stuff! ( I almost put the remaining scraps in the 'orphan' block box at church to use on another quilt.)

Some quilting, some not

I really am glad I got the chance to go with my friend Marilyn to her weekly group's sewing day. They usually all do hand-work (knitting, quilting, crocheting, etc). I was the only one with a machine today. It was nice they let me join the group. I had to work on making a fourth side to our church's summer altar cloth. Here is the altar cloth with only three sides.

Our priest would like it by June 25th(?). We'll see....

I also got a chenille scarf sewed. I'll take it on vacation next week to 'cut'. Won't be able to have it 'finish' itself until I get home ande wash it.

Busy but Lurking (on myself)!!

Well, the computer has finally died.... enough at least, to make me realize that I need to get another one and have my step-son Jason, help transfer all the files over. I occasionally check a little bit of mail on my work computer, but I really shouldn't, so it's only to see if there is anything urgent to attend to. It's a sad day...

On the UP side, I've been feverishly working on an altar cloth for my church. I have made it into three panels (may make a fourth one for next summer) with a plain top. None of it is quilted, treating it just like a tablecloth. The tiles in the church floor are torquoise and it blends up to royal blue drapes with a thin outer strip of red in the drapes. There is also beautiful pecan and oak wood in the choir area and I'm trying to make each of the sides blend with each other, yet be different. I've been working on it in the midst of this AWFUL heat and humidity!! I HATE HUMID!! I get migraines and then proceed to get physically sick-- drains all my energy. Oops, sorry, .... I said on the 'up side',... I digress.

I also have been working on a quilt for a 3 1/2 yr old with C.H.A.R.G.E syndrome (for Charlotte's Garden). I have the top and back all set to sandwich, then put the ties into it. Hopefully, by next week!

I also have been enjoying my grandson, Malakai and my granddaughters, but I must say I missed my oldest (age 6) granddaughter's birthday party (hottest day of the year and a migraine), but managed to see her the Sunday before.

I also got to play!! Midnight quilters was last Friday!! If you haven't heard me discuss this before, do a search on this blog for it and you'll see what it's about. I got there an hour late, but I got one panel for the altar cloth pieced together (minus the top edge-- I'll show a picture of it finished later), and 5 pillowcases made (I use them for 'gift wrap'-- needed one for the birthday present I 'missed'.

Thank you , honey, for letting me use your computer to update my blog, but for now....Must get to work.....

Church projects progressing...

Okay, so we have progress!... I brought a number of patterns (simple ones, since he wants it soon) and a bunch of strips of fabrics (to match color wise) to church on Sunday, and after the service, I layed them out on the tiles by the altar and found great colors to go with ... teal, aqua, royal blue, red, pecan, gold....etc. I'm using the pattern 'trading patches'

and hope to make 3 panels (or 4 if I'm lucky), attached to a plain top.

I have one panel done (although I need to add something to the top 3" of space) and I'll figure a way to attach it to the plain top. Maybe HST (mini's) along the top separating it from the bottom blocks by a gold lame flange/piping. I'll play with it this week. In the meantime....

I'm also getting my R/W/B heartstring blocks ready to send to Mary J.... I may put them into a top. or not. The PbPQ's did a great job making blocks to send. I'll have them work on Brights/B&W heartstrings for the rest of the summer.

church projects....

I have a date for the Summer Block Party (see last post)-- July 26th. I also have been approached by the Priest-in-charge at our church to make a 'summer altar cloth'. I'm not sure what he's got in mind, and I have a meeting with him today, so I'll find out.

I think I'd like to do Cathedral Windows, but I don't think I have enough time to get one done for this year. I think the cloth will be 4'x4', then he wants something down to the floor, so the legs don't show. I may have to make it really simple (medallion style) with large borders. I'll post my plan as I figure it out.

Hopefully, I'll have my computer cooperating for photos, too.