One Hour and Ten Minute Table Runner

The pattern for the ten minute table runner has been floating around for some time now, and the other day I made one.  Only exception is that I decided to do some applique and it turned out it took quite a while to do the three snowflakes.  They look so simple, but there are five little extensions on each arm of the flake so that was lots of stopping, turning and going again.  I did some of those on runners a couple of years ago and now remember that they were pretty tedious.  However, a simpler flake could be used.  Another thing I would change about this is the length and the width.  It's kind of short and stubby.  The fabric is to be cut width of fabric, but I wanted the rows to go up and down and I only had a yard of the striped.  Therefore, instead of being approximately 42 inches long, it was 36.  The main fabric (in this case the red with the appliques) was to be cut 10 to 12 inches wof.  I cut it 12.  Next one it will be 10.  The printed was cut 18 inches wide and I think I might cut that a bit smaller, also.   If I had not appliqued, it really would have been super fast!  (Click to enlarge)

Winter Work - Love It

Every year Janna, one of the gals in our guild, sponsors a retreat at a college here in town. She actually has two of them this month. I am signed up to go but will just go for the day and come home after dinner then back next day. I really don't like hauling my sewing machine and all that goes with it so decided to just do hand work.   Kathy, who is going also the same weekend, said she is bringing along everything necessary to fuse some applique blocks. Great idea!! Me, too! The above two pictures are what is swirling around in my mind.  I have been following the blog http://gloriousapplique.blogspot.com/ for some time now and just in awe of all the beautiful quilts being made and the progress posted by the various quilters. They are all working on quilts that have been designed by Kim McLean. They are all her version of some very famous old applique quilts and in the folk art style. Just gorgeous. I am not wanting to make a big quilt, but I am ready to do another smaller wall hanging with Kaffe Fasset prints. The second picture is one group of patterns I could use, but I also have two others that I like so will make that decision soon. I am wild about the piece of fabric I picked up the other day at the new quilt shop. It is the stripey dots - isn't it splendid? So for the retreat I will cut out some blocks, pack up fusible web, fabric, iron and ironing surface, scissors and just join Kathy in being regular cutups at the retreat. I can also take some embroidery along so won't even miss my Bernina. All my life I have always liked January and February and being in where it's cozy and just doing my thing.

 

 

Here's the Merry-Go-Round table topper pieced and ready to be put in a quilt sandwich after pressing.  I said it was easy-peasy, right?  Well, not quite right!  Putting it together in rows was kind of dicey but I am not the best piecer among quilters and piecing isn't my favorite part of the process.  However, it's together and looks just fine and I do like it.  Was discussing the binding of it at our little group that gets together several times a month (that's a lot of fun) and my friend, Kathy, suggested making a facing for it.  How cool is that and much easier than binding!  That is what I will do.

I got to thinking about backing fabric and found this down in my stash - there is a lot of it and it looks to me like it will be just about perfect.   Keep warm!  (Click to enlarge)

 

Merry-Go-Round Blocks

I'm just fiddling around today - have been playing with a jelly roll I ordered quite some time ago.  There is a quilt I have seen on the internet that I really like and found out it is called merry-go-round.  Looks like hexagons set together and at first glance appears to have lots of intricate piecing.  However, it's easy peasy!!!  Done in rows, it is easy sewing.  I have decided, though, that this fabric is not the look I am going for so this will be a very nice, bright table topper.  

This will be the size of it approximately but I may change out a couple of the blocks.   Looks nice and springy especially on a snowy day.  The only drawback I can see is binding!!!!!  I imagine it will have to be bias binding and lots of nipping and tucking to get around the edge.  I could add pieces to make it straight but I think I will just go for it and give it a try.   Later on, I plan to make another one using this same block in a smaller size and in sweet little Aunt Gracie fabrics.  That should be cute as a button.  (Click to enlarge)

A Quick Little Tablerunner

I'll ease up on the ruffles for a bit! I do have one or two more bags that I want to make, so will probably be showing more soon. I am thinking Kaffe Fasset fabrics for one. On http://www.modabakeshop.com/ there is a "recipe" for making the little ruffle quilt and you might want to check that out. I also want to do two more of those later on. In their directions you do all the piecing, then the layering, the quilting and after that is all done the ruffles are sewn on and it is bound. With the gathering foot, the ruffles are a breeze. And it's so fun to see them fly out from behind your needle

Here is a tablerunner that I found the how-to on the internet (so much great stuff out there!) and it said it was quick. It is. I just quickly picked out some fabric and put it together. It looks really nice on the chest in my dining area. (Click to enlarge)

Tired of Tablerunners?

Two more finished - the first one is almost a duplicate of an earlier one but the one with the ornaments is different. Still have to put the binding on the two short ends but, hey, it's almost finished for sure. There are a couple of projects that I have to get done by Tuesday when we have guild, so I spent part of today working on the trading cards and the round robin. The ATC is figured out, printed and waiting to be put together. The last two months my cards have looked alike but I think this is pretty neat. Can't post it now as I know that at least one of my buddies checks out my blog (I love it when people tell me they have seen something on my blog and I also love comments!) so I will wait to post all of them together. As for the round robin, I have it figured out, also, and some blocks ready to be appliqued - so it will be ready to go, also. (Click to enlarge)

Two Down, Two to Go

These are finished. Very happy with the way they turned out. I have some blue marker to spritz out where I marked the center of the colored blocks so I knew how far to take the quilting motif.

This one is being appliqued right now. I will embroider a hook on each ornament. Tablerunners go together quickly and are a good way to practice machine quilting. Have laid out the start of another one on the table downstairs. Plenty of fabric left! Oh, well, as we all know - you can never be too thin, too rich or have too much fabric. Need to work on the first two things!

(Click to enlarge)

Little Project

Working on a tablerunner with the fabrics I bought Saturday. Scarcely made a dent in them with this but have some others in mind.

My quilting on the back is looking pretty darned good - maybe there's hope for me yet.
(Click to enlarge)

Kind of a Little Hodgepodge Today

You will see my Christmas cactus that will be in full bloom around Halloween time! This plant is probably 15 years old at least - and is actually two plants that I finally put in the same pot several years ago. Last year it started to thrive and had a lot of blooms on it, but this is year it is loaded!! My daughter's cactus is going to bloom for Halloween, also.

Have been putting together a mod Christmas table runner that was in the Quilting Arts Gift edition. Really don't know what I will do with it, but wanted to make it and maybe one of the granddaughters will want it. Have another one pieced but not appliqued. Might put some snowmen on that one. It is pretty cool. So, here it is ready for quilting.

Then, the next pictures are of some fabric I ordered from Hancock's of Paducah - all on sale half-price. Have no idea what I will do with it but just decided to go shopping one morning. Sometimes when I send for fabric online, I am a little disappointed. However, these are really neat and only three of them look a little out of place all lined up. There are so many really cute patterns out there now for quite simple quilts that have tons of fabric in them - I know I will come up with something eventually. Right now, I am thinking about that lovely toile that I got at Joann's. Have an idea for it but it would never be done for this Christmas! Isn't quilting the greatest way to spend your time - and money, too!! LOL! But it's so worth it. (Click to enlarge)

My Tablerunner is Done

Finished the batik tablerunner that was posted earlier. I like the way it turned out. Still have a long way to go on my machine quilting, but it is getting better. Two of the girls in the guild will be hosting a machine quilting class in two different sessions at the Civic Arena the first two weeks in November. They have DVD's that we will watch and then work on our quilting. Looking forward to going. Okay, so here is the runner - let's call it A Prelude to Wine.

(Click to enlarge)

Coming along on the Tablerunner

I'm getting this one together - have fused the grapes and leaves down ready for applique. Have decided I am going to try using the same green in the vines of the center block for the grapes in the outer blocks. Will also cut leaves for the outer blocks that do not have much light color in them so that the vines will stand out more. Will post that when I get that part done. Think I really like this little deal! It will probably go on the chest in my dining room and the chamber pot above will sit on it. (Click to enlarge)