Fun and Done!

Blocks shown are ones received from a block swap at the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild. I won these along with 14 other star blocks. Fabric used is Echo by Lotta Jansotter, a fabric line that seemed to be the craze last year. Taking the blocks received I added white frame borders and another border using Denise Schmidt fabric to add more interest.  

These blocks had been on my design board for a long time as I was not able to come up with something to pull these blocks together other than let them float. My husband walked in and I asked him if he thought it needed a tad more color and he agreed that they did. Though I was also given fat quarters along with the blocks I didn't have enough so off to my local fabric store I went look for something that would work.

I happened to have some  leftover Hobbs Heirloom Fusible 80/20 batting by Harriet Hargrave. This was perfect. Cutting the batting to match the size of the block I pressed the batting to the block. For the backing I cut a piece that was 7/8" larger on each edge and pin basted it to the block top and batting. I did this sitting down at my sewing table (backside that has a leaf) rather than crawling on the floor. That was a major plus for me!

My plan is to quilt them as I go using the Fun and Done way. I wasn't up to quilting another full quilt on my domestic machine having just finished up one. Dragging and shifting the quilt is hard work. Once each block has been quilted a seam will be sewn by having the backsides facing each other leaving the seam on the front side. The seam will then be folded and stitched down.

The picture above is pinned to show the results of the backing edges turned under. It creates a seamed white sashing.  
     
I am so happy that another WIP is moving closer to being finished!

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Sea of Red

I always make such lofty goals. I really thought I would be able to squeeze in a quilt block or two after putting together my first order of Raggedy Ann and Andy clothes this past weekend.

She wanted traditional. I had quite a few in her requested size cut out that I thought I might as well make them up in assembly line fashion. Working in this manner vs. one item at a time you can accomplish more  sewing in less time.

I never did begin the quilt that I had hoped, and didn't finish all the Raggedy clothes.

I entertained myself by watching the first year season of  Wild at Heart on Netflix.  There are a total of ten. When I am tired I found watching these shows spurred me on to keep on going. This series    began in 2006. Where have I been?  This was the first I had ever come across this show. Anyways, the pictures show what I did accomplish this weekend.

Dresses -  one is with little flowers and the other mini hearts!

Apron Bow

His and Hers in traditional style.

Once I finish the outfits I will begin with the dolls.

Recipe

Here is a recipe for one of my favorite breakfasts.
Enjoy!

1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup raisins or currents
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 container (8ounces lemon, orange or plain low-fat yogurt) My favorite is orange
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray round pan, 9 x 1 1/2 inches, with nonstick cooking spray. Mix flour, currants, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium blow. Mix yogurt and oil; stir into flour mixture until flour is moistened.

Spread dough in pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes.

Recipe is from Betty Crocker's New Eat and Lose Weight 

page 202.

Happy quilting and sewing!

If you haven't already done so check out my new Etsy Shop. :) I only have a few items with more to come with various items. Currently showing are a completed set of 25" Raggedy Ann and Andy and 3 quilts.

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Ann Meets Andy

Andy is looking quite smitten don't you think?
Ann is looking quite pleased!

Not only are their hearts throbbing so is mine. I was quite tickled how cute Andy is looking. He was finished and arrived on the scene early this morning!

Here is Miss Raggedy Ann in the beginning stages .
Further along she was looking quite pretty here.
And finished but waiting for Andy here.

These sweet lovers will be going in my Etsy Shop.

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Raggedy Progress

Making progress in spite of a spoiled Miss Cassie who has gotten in the habit of yipping to get a treat, of course while in the middle of sewing, and what feels like a sinus infection coming on I did manage to finish clothes for the 25" Raggedy Andy yesterday! Raggedy Ann is looking quite fashionable in her orange dress with aqua and peach flowers with a polka dot apron, both dress and apron are made from Denise Schmidt fabric. It feels so soft and is such nice cotton. I look and I smile! Andy is going to be outfitted in a navy and aqua plaid, Denise Schmidt fabric, with navy pants made of Kona Cotton. Also he will have his adorable sailor like hat.

 I hope to have a set in each size in my Etsy Shop! If you go look now you will find a big basket of parts (smile). All have been kitted. Oh that makes me feel so organized. I plan to have clothes for the traditional red, white and blue as well.

 The pattern I am using is well over 20 years old. There was only 1 piece missing and that was an easy fix. All have been organized in envelopes by size of body and size of clothes. There is 25", 20" and 15".

Ann is getting excited to see Andy soon! Can you tell by her big smile?
All have a heart with "I Love You" embroidered in it!

Just a brief to bring up to date.

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Hope to see you there!!

It is Finished!! Oh Happy Day!!

Craftsy Block of the Month 2013 Quilt is officially finished today!
And that makes me quite happy!!

This is the back of the quilt. As you can see the quilting is dense. It ate up 3 spools of thread.

Another snapshot of the quilt looking at it from a distance in my garden. My neighbors were probably wondering why I was taking so many pictures of all things a quilt!

I borrowed my neighbors fence to take a picture of it.

Binding and sashing. I used the Quilt Halo by Sharon Schambers in order to have more control while free motion quilting the circular design on the sashing. I actually used two halos stacked up on top of each other. I purchased my first halo directly from Sharon Schambers when she had a booth set up at the American Quilt Show in Paducah several years ago.

Mike and I thought we might make plans to go in 2014. Here it is 8 months out and we can not find available hotel accommodations. While on AQS's website I learned that next year AQS is having a show in Charlotte July 30 - August 2, 2014. It can't get any more convenient than that!

Closeup of the Chevron Block.
The busy fabric has quilted lines. I figured that anything more than  that wouldn't show. Feather roping is the quilt design in the plain fabric zig zags.

Closeup of the Modern Dresden Plate Block.
It's not hanging straight and is the reason it looks distorted in the picture.

Closeup of the Asterick Block. Each block has a feather plume
that are encased with crosshatching.
They aren't showing very well in this picture.

Closeup of the Off Center Frames has more feather roping in the lighter fabric. The center was quilted by following the circular design of the flower.

Now I can say it is done! I was happy that the slow steady rain stopped long enough for me to take pictures outside. It feels chilly outside so not typical of Charlotte in August. Feels like Fall is coming. It was a great day to sew and quilt!
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