When will I learn?

Ok, first off I need to make a correction to my last post. The “Love” block that I completed is by McKenna Ryan – NOT Ryan McKenna! I don’t know why I didn’t double check that before I posted!

I’ve almost completed the quilt top for the shower, I just need to decide if I’m appliqueing his name or doing it on my embroidery machine. I just can’t make a decision! I’ve got scrappy stars top made, I just need to decide on fabric for the back. It’s going to be a 24″ x 24″ pillow (once I buy the pillow form). I need to do some simple quilting to make it look more like a star before I can put the whole thing together, but it’s another item off my PhD list!

I’m teaching another set of classes at the Amherst Public Library at the end of August. They’ve recently setup a computer lab, so this might become a regular gig for me!

So to better explain todays post title, I was working on putting the borders on the tumbler quilt top and my machine was making some weird noises. So since I needed to refill bobbins anyway I decided to take the plate off and see if something was caught. To my surprise it’s been awhile since I’ve cleaned under the plate!!!! Once I got it all cleaned out and put back together it is running better and sounds wonderful!

I also have a small cross stitch picture that I finished recently for one of my husband’s employees that got married on Friday. I seem to make these for everyone we know that gets married, it’s personal, quick, inexpensive (if you can get the frames on sale) and I love making things for people!

I’ll be back later with another post, I finished the batik lap quilt!!!

New Finishes

I’ve been working on lots of different projects at the same time. I’ve quilted the batik lap quilt but still need to do some finish work on it before it’s considered complete. I took a day and completed the Ryan McKenna Love block that I’ve had sitting here for at least a year if not more. And I’ve been working on a quilt for the baby shower that will have enough blocks for everyone to write something to the baby. I’m not planning on quilting it until after the shower, it’s easier to write on the blocks if there is no batting in the way. Learned that after the quilt I made for Diane last year. I’m trying hard to get as many quilts completed before the baby is born that I can, I doubt I’ll have time to work on anything after he’s born 🙂 I officially have 5 out of 15 items from my PhD list completed. I’m hoping to get quite a few more done, especially since most of them just need to be quilted!

Yesterday I received the fabric I ordered from ebay to finish the tumbler quilt. I think Kimmie wants it and I’m planning on using the pantograph I have for the quilt frame to quilt it. This one wasn’t on my PhD list, but it’s another finish!

July Blocks

Took me a couple of days in between other projects, but I got all the July blocks completed. I’m really liking the way the colors are playing together. I can’t wait to start putting all the blocks together! From the looks of it, we don’t do that until December though!

Dear Jane Update

Another DJ update this week! I’ve been trying to work on at least 1 block a day, either applique or pieced. I’ve also FINALLY finished the first row! I do not like how block A-10 came out, but it’s a rather difficult block and I will not redo it! I’m hoping to finish the second row soon, I only have 4 blocks left in row B! (Click on the photos to see them larger).

June blocks & a Finish

I finished the June blocks pretty quickly. I cut everything out before vacation, and even got the Irish Chain block completed. All I needed to do today was put the 2 stars together. I can’t wait to start putting the top together, this is going to look so cool when it’s done!

I was also able to quilt and bind the 2009 Quilt Show BOM. However, since I never finished it (only completed month 1) I decided to make it into a table topper. Then I changed my mind and put a sleeve on it so I can hang it in my half bath that has a red, white and blue theme. It was something easy to work on during the flight to Florida. Another finish for the year!!!

Dear Jane Update

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any Dear Jane blocks. I finished 2 while we were on vacation this weekend – I-5 and one of the triangles. L-1 has been done for awhile 🙂 My applique is starting to get better and I’m also getting faster at it. I have a bunch of blocks prepped, since I prepared for vacation, but I didn’t have much time to work on them. Too busy playing with the niece and nephew!

Dear Jane Update

I’ve been busy the last few days and managed to complete some more blocks. I really think I’m getting better at the applique, at least I like how they’ve been turning out. I have a few applique blocks prepped that I might work on later. I have 63 blocks completed, plus 2 triangles – making tons of progress!!!

Another Dear Jane Update

I’ve been working on Dear Jane blocks during basketball games – both my team (Cleveland Cavs) and my husbands team (Miami Heat) are in the playoffs, so we have a lot of games to watch! I’m getting a lot better at the applique I think, I keep prepping them to work on during games. I’ve now completed 59 blocks and 2 triangles and I have at least 4 more in-process. I probably won’t get back to working on them until toward the end of the week, Dr appt this week and a funeral to attend (friends dad died over the weekend).

Dear Jane Update!

I finally got to work on Dear Jane blocks again! I’ve completed 6 blocks today and I’m going to get to work on prepping some applique blocks. Since the basketball playoffs have started I have time to sit and work on the applique. I’ve now completed 54 blocks and 2 triangles and I just want to keep moving on them.