Shattered

Here's what I was trying to spell last night.  The quilt challenge due in April is titled "I Am ..."  We have had a number of "things" happen to us this year.  Not appropriate to dwell on them here.  Before you get too concerned with my mental health, please remember that I am also a HUGE Rolling Stones fan and that is the title of a favorite song, too.

I have a dilemma because, when I measured the piece shown above, it is approximately 30" long.  Then I got out the challenge guidelines (it would have been too logical to look at them before!).  The entire perimeter of the piece is not to exceed 80", therefore I have already used up 60" of it and the quilt can only be 10" tall!  Ha ha ha!

The original word may turn up in something else.  This afternoon I started piecing letters again.  Here they are on the ironing board, next to the first word.  I'm trying to make them smaller, but so far they aren't MUCH smaller!  I can narrow the H and the T's and keep width in mind as I add my spacers.  Maybe it will work out.

Meanwhile, look what was going on while I wasn't looking.

Word Play

Play time!  This afternoon I finally had time to fool around!  I have an idea for a quilt guild challenge, not due until April.  I haven't made any of Tonya's letters for a while.  I needed a large piece to use as background and found this green/gray/peach batik.  Then, I rummaged through my batik scraps to find a selection of oranges, golds and peaches with enough contrast.  Just COMMUNING with the batik scraps was a lot of fun!

I know where this is going, but I think I'll let you wonder.  Here is what I have so far ...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sewing the free-form letters.  If you want to try some too, check out Word Play Quilts by Tonya Ricucci.  You might also enjoy her blog "Lazy Gal Quilting".

From Me To You

First of all, I'd like to share my recipe for chocolate peanut clusters.  Yummy and easy to make!

My recipe calls for only three ingredients: 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips, 12 oz. can of salted peanuts, and 12 oz. (half a pkg.) of almond bark.  Melt the almond bark and chocolate chips carefully, so you do not over-cook or scorch, either in the microwave or on top of the stove.  When you can stir the mixture smoothly, add the peanuts, stir them in, then drop by teaspoonfuls onto a waxed paper lined cookie sheet.    You will fill up at least two cookie sheets, approx. 100 peanut clusters.  I had excess chocolate today, so I may use a 16 oz. can of peanuts next time. 

Progress report on the craft sale:  The second (and final) craft sale starts tomorrow.  I finished stitching up my little zippered bags last night and added the beaded pulls.  No more craft sales until NEXT December.  Back to QUILTING next week!

When you "clean up for company", do you ever hide things in the bedroom?  I had several piles of fabric, patterns, misc. in progress and I dumped them on the bed temporarily to get them out of sight.  Cassie found them.

Where Has the Time Gone???

Preparing for two craft sales and working on Christmas gifts has kept me too busy to BLOG.  Oh, dear!  Did I mention an end-of-the-year sale at the quilt shop, too?  I am nearing the end of the list of knitted gifts I have planned - here's what I have so far.  Just one more scarf to go!

One craft sale down, and one to go!  Here is a sample of the little cosmetic bags I am stitching up for next weekend.  Each one will get a little beaded pull on the zipper, then they will be finished.

 Last weekend, a customer came in wearing a cute ruffled scarf.  I couldn't stand it!  Found the pattern, went shopping for the yarn (Starbella - check it out on YOUTUBE) and started to knit.  I have enough for two scarves.

I am itching to get started on some new SEWING projects.  People have asked about classes for the first of the year, so I had better get my thoughts organized and make some samples.  Oh, and I have two challenges to complete - one due in March and the other in April.  So far they only exist in my brain.  Lots to do ...

Busy, Busy, Busy

This is what has been taking up a lot of my time:


                                                   ?

Oh, do you  see a big blank?  That's because I've been working on the shop hop quilt, which remains a SECRET until February.  I've been making steady progress and only have the borders left to sew on.  I'll send it away with my good friend Lilly next week to be machine quilted.  (Lilly's Machine Quilting, Vanceboro, NC, 252-244-1988)  Lilly has quilted all of my shop hop quilts except one, which was small enough that I decided to hand quilt. 

About two weeks ago, I discovered the pattern for the Hexagon Star (designed by Kaye Wood) in an old Fons and Porter Magazine.  Here is the first one in progress.

And what do I always do?  Go crazy and cut out a bunch of them!  This is the collection so far:

I'm not just doing this for my health - I have a Christmas craft sale coming up in about three weeks.  One problem, though, is that I didn't make any in Christmas colors.  So I've rounded up a few combinations and will cut out some more this afternoon.

Here's another SOMETHING in progress.  I'll keep you guessing until next time!

As you can see, while cutting I couldn't resist trimming off some selvages to use in a future project.  I have a whole shopping bag FULL.

Hot off the Ironing Board!

Here it was at the beginning ...

Inspired by ....

The blocks are all together now and I am pleased with the effect.  The next decision will concern borders, pieced or plain?  I have more of the green fabric left over.  Julie said that she thought I should bring in more of the dull rusty orange.  Hmmm ..... will have to think about it for a while.

It's Wednesday and I put together the Dear Jane block shown at the bottom of the picture.  The other two were made last week.  SLOWLY BUT SURELY ... now I have approx. 45 finished blocks.

Sampler Quilts

Today is the last day for two beginners quilting classes, afternoon and evening.  We have had a good time together and all of the quilts are looking great!  Here is Dottie - we are in the process of basting her quilt in this picture.

Geneva's quilt is already basted and she is sitting by the window quilting.  Ann is adding her final borders.  They all did a great job!

Here's a picture of one of the hexagon stars after it was quilted and bound.  It will be a quickie afternoon class here at the store next Tuesday:

Of course, I've cut out three more and also want to make some in Christmas colors .....