Sewing Again

Seems like it's been forever since I sewed. I believe the last things I sewed on was altering clothing. Well, tonight I started a project that I will have to call a "secret mission". Can't explain right now but eventually. I have block #1 done but there will also be applique on this block - but that I can't show you because it will give away the secret.

Don't you just love the color? And, the unusual design? This si going to be an out-of-the-box piece.

**Sneak Peek** Ratbone Raffle Quilt Blocks

Here are the two Halloween blocks that will be included in Ratbone's 2011 raffle quilt. Stay tuned for more details ;)

Henrietta Whiskers

I've always wanted to do one of those online block-of-the-month quilt blocks and just decided today to do this one........................

...........from Bunny Tales blog. I figure if I did two blocks with lots of applique, surely I can do a little applique once a month - except that they are in month 4 and I just started at 3:30 today, lol. I'm going to try to make these blocks with materials I have on hand already. I chose fabric from my collection of homespun fabrics that I've been hoarding since the eighties. The only thing I will need to buy is thread to match some of the fabrics. Even the little star-shaped button is from my stash. Oh - and this will be my first scrappy project.

Ratbone Quilt Blocks - 2011

The 2011 Ratbone raffle quilt is a holiday theme piece. I volunteered to make two blocks. I had today off (comp time) so I was able to finish mine, and only 4 days after the deadline! lol Hopefully you can tell that I chose Thanksgivng (Eddie) and Mardi Gras (friend's dog Aka and my previous foster Jakey Boy).

Applique Block for Ratbone

I volunteered to make two of the holiday blocks for the Ratbone raffle quilt. Everyone pretty much makes applique blocks which are NOT my forte. I chose Thanksgiving and Mardi Gras.

If you are wondering what the green blob is at the head of the turkey (assuming you can tell this is a turkey, lol) it is supposed to be garnish. Every blocks is to have some medium green and I thought of something like parsley or kale.

Just as I finished the block and went to cut a thread I accidentally snipped a hole in the fabric! (cue the colorful language response) It's right above the fork. You can probably see my little patch. I need to test it to see if it still shows with fabric behind it (like when it is sandwiched with batting) and if it does I am thinking I will put a piece of "food" on the fork to cover it up. Too bad, the tines of the fork were a lot of work and I hate to cover them up.

One thing is missing from the photo. I have a little knot of fabric that I will tack on the side of Eddie's face so it looks like the bib is tied on him. Looks real cute with it but being a terrible photographer, I don't think of these details when I take photos.

Finally....Finished!

I finished sewing the last blocks today. Yippee! Thank you mom for the help.

These blocks are going to be alternated with applique blocks that represent different holidays. So, I added a few holiday/seasonal center squares to some of the blocks. I'm thinking Cindo De Mayo for this one.

You're getting sleepy............................................

Cute little Japanese bunnies...should be cute, the fabric was hard to work with. It kept stretching. Luckily I made blocks than needed so they can purge this one if needed.

Ghost in the middle of the block. This blocks doesn't photo well at all. It does look better in person.

This is a pieced star in the center square. I just wanted to use that fabric because I nothing in the teal/turquoise,aqua color and it's a scrappy quilt. The fabric looks like drips of metallic too.

And here are all the blocks lined up on the wall. Whew....now, how to mail them off to ensure they get to Kansas with no problems.

Back to Green Blocks

We're getting close! I may never use green fabric again, lol. Actually it was quite pleasant having mom to help. These things are usually solitary projects.

Applique Attempt

I took a break from making the pieced blocks for the Ratbone Rescue raffle quilt and started working on one of my two applique holiday blocks for the same. I'm a rookie at applique but am moving from the design concept to the making of the following block.

Hopefully you can tell that it is Eddie and the holiday I chose is Thanksgiving. (the paws & utensils are just paper, still deciding on poportion.

OK, you have to remember it is an "artistic rendition" and not a photo, lol.

More Quilt Blocks, 11 - 15

A girl can't have too many shoes, can she?

Groovey man, like, wow.

The center of this one is a 4 1/2" block where I paper-pieced the leaf. It looks like a printed fabric in this photo but it is pieced.

A tropical block that looks much better in person - used a batik & interesting palm tree fabric from a sample fabric swatch.

I needed to add some dark ones to the mix. Plus, I needed to add brown to coordinate the applique blocks that other people are making.

There they are! The quilt block gallery.

Blocks Seven Through Ten a.k.a. My Aching Neck

The newest four....I've used up all the precut pieces meaning lots more cutting work before I', able to make more blocks. Got these four put together tonight and I have to admit my neck and shoulders are aching. I need some PT! lol

Six Down - Nineteen To Go

Mom & I worked on quilt blocks again today. We made 5 more for a total of 6. I don't know what made me think that we would get all 25 done this weekend. Wishful thinking? Psychosis?

I'm calling this one "if a dog barks in the woods.....". I'm a miniature quilter so it's unusual for me to make these 12" blocks I've committed to making.

You can take a girl out of the miniature quilting world, but you can't take the miniature quilt out of the girl. Notice the center square? It's a paper-pieced paw print (a real score to have found the pattern free online) and is made of about 40 small pieces in that 4" square.

I used 6 of my 1930's reproduction fabrics to make the heart in the center of this block.

I'm calling this one "they eat sushi in Ohio" because it's an Ohio Star block with the center square being a sushi print fabric.

And this one is known as "high tea in Bali" because of the Bali batik and center novelty fabric.

At first I thought the center fabric on this one was Aurora Borealis but upon closer inspection, I believe it is coral.

If you need me, I'll be chained to my sewing machine, lol.

One Down - 24 to Go

Mom came over today and we spent 5 hours cutting fabric for 10 blocks. She's coming back tomorrow and I am going to sewing and she is going to continue cutting for the remaining 15 blocks. So far I've only chosen two patterns, both stars, but am considering a 3rd. Mom is new to this so I wanted to keep the patterns simple.

Last weekend I made cup cakes to take to work on Valentine's day (see earllier post). Well, I always get enough product to make twice as much for whatever I am doing just in case there's an accident in the kitchen named Vickie ;) I used the extras to make a cake for us. Been a long time since I decorated a cake but I was able to make the shell border.

I filled it with starawberries and topped it wiith sixlets. Red velvet with cocoa frosting. It was delic!

Finally, mom & I went to a sale yesterday and she bought an oil painting and I bought a new rug for Daisey. Seriously, the rug solved a problem with Daisey being afraid to jump up and requiring us to pick her up.

Ratbone Quilt Block IIII

Ratbone Quilt Block III

This is a photo of a Ratbone dog that was adoption awhile back. I believe his name was Smokey and he was in New York city.

"Made It Myself" Monday

Below are 7 purple and beige blocks I made for a Row Robin. For those unfamiliar with a Robin, you make a block, pass to another person in the Robin who adds to your blocks and passes it on to the next person in the Robin. Usually you end up with what is referred to as a medallion quilt due to most people working around your center block. With a Row Robin each person in the Robin adds a row of blocks (in this case 12" blocks) to your origional row. This was supposed to be an exchange via the internet a couple years ago but it fell apart when one or two people did not follow though. I worked ahead and made this group of blocks but never had an opportunity to send them. I'm considering making a seperate wall hanging from each block and giving them to 7 people (not telling who) at Christmas time. Oh, the patterns are FREE from the Quilter's Cache which is a wondergul site for block patterns although I have to turn downthe music ;)

1. Paper Stars


2. Shooting Star


3. South Carolina Star


4. Victoria's Star

5. Boxes and Bows


6. Florida Star

7. Old Snowflake

Photos:

#1 This block is called Paper Stars. If you go to the Quilter's Cache web site you can see it on this page . It is 4 paper pieced sections. Visitng the pattern page will show you how it would look with many block connected.

#2 This is Shooting Star 2 (there must be a #1 somewhere, LOL). Very traditional pattern. Click here to go to the pattern page.

#3 South Carolina Star is the name of this one. If I recall it is a bit more complicated but none are too hard because I managed to do them! Click here if you want to see this pattern.

#4 Love some of the fabrics in this Victoria's Star - the blueberries and the cats. I believe one would need at least 4 of these blocks to really appreciate the pattern. Peek here to see what it would look like.

#5 I used quite different shade sof purple on this Boxes and Bows. It's sort of the odd sheep in the group although in person it is quite beautiful. Here's the pattern.

#6 Florida Star. Here's the pattern. I adore the pansy fabric in it.

#7 This is Old Snowflake made with funny shoe fabric. The pattern is here.