TIRED!!

We are ready to head back into hibernation. Yes, the Northeast is still cold and with more snow predicted for the next couple of days - UGH - tired. Sorry the Queen doesn't sleep in the most lady like poses.




EVENTS

A shout out for:
Quilt Gallery - Fabric Basket Swap - see button - April 4th deadline for sign-up
Zip Bag Swap - Sandy @ Cookies&Cream Craft - see button - April 12th deadline for sign-up
Once Upon A Season Swap - Cheryl @ Gone Stitchin' - see button - April 15th deadline for sign-up
May For Me - Marcia @ Marcia's Crafty Sewing & Quilting with Tonya @ Hillbilly Handiwork have planned a special time for quilters on how to schedule and plan some ME time as well as May projects just for us. Quilter's seldom make for themselves - May is for you. If you would like to be a blogger who contributes - pick the button and sign up - we could all use some ME tips.

I was re-organizing, sorting piles and putting things away - didn't you see that Jelly Roll jump right into my hand? Yes, something new. Using a pattern from Maryquilts.com - boxed boxes with a jelly roll that uses the maximum of all those lovely strips. Will do blocks inbetween some hand work.

I decided to quilt up the 'Let's Play Marbles' and just have to finish the binding by hand. I think I am very tired of green.

I pulled a small UFO to handquilt - a peek at some whimsy. I need a little whimsy and some handquilting. Maybe some fun embellishing on this, too. And - it's not green.

I wanted to share a lovely card I received from Kennedy Krieger Institute in Maryland. Another blogger had made a request for quilts for kids for this Head Start Center. They give each child a quilt and new book to take home to help in the Literacy Project of reading at home. It's wonderful to know your quilts are not only being cuddled by a child, but warming a home. That little bag was from the Quilters Gallery Friendship Bag Swap - to keep all my cards, notes, and postcards.


'A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars' - anonymous

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

A Finish, A Flimsy, and Fun

I am happy to say I completely finished the Happy Quilting quilt along piece. Just simple straight line quilting. The sashing is actually a creamy, yellow with tiny yellow flowers on a thin green vine. I think this one is going in the X-mas box. The side of the workshop was gracious to hold my quilt while I photo'ed, but wow - it was like 10 degrees and windchill ? My hands froze and then the camera seized - only one picture, but luckily it was this one.






SQUARED UP

All those pretty disappearing 4-patch blocks done and layed out. I worked a few blocks inbetween the quilting of the green quilt - suddenly they were done.

All sewn into rows, then together, and a really good pressing. Just to show that this was pressed with seams open - I found the moda pressed flatter this way as well as helped eliminate the bulk in those tiny spaces.

This is the 'Girlie, Girl' line and just so cute. I used the yellow daisy layer cakes in this pack for the border. I think a soft yellow flannel for the back and a pink with white dot binding will make a nice finish. This was fun to work on and went so fast. This D4P block is something I will definitely be using again.






FOR FUN

I pulled out those strip blocks and my reds again and I decided some play time was deserved. 20 more blocks done so now I have a pile of 60. I like to work 10 at a time and then pin them together. These are 6.5" unfinished blocks and not sure yet just how many I need as I'm not sure what size quilt I will make. But there is still lots of red, so I will keep on.


I ,also, sent out charity blocks, charity quilts, relief quilts and I feel good about that. Remembering all those in need with this anonymous quote:
'Those who sleep under a quilt, sleep under a blanket of love.'


Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

Everyone hop over to Michelle's (Shell) Raspberry Rabbits blog and wish her a happy, hoppy Birthday today. Love ya Shell and a very Happy Birthday.

Floating Like a Feather

Do you feel like you are just floating around like a feather in the wind? Oh, I do. Not winter, not spring - ugh, we have snow again and for the next 3 days. My monthly goals are met and I really don't want to start on the next month's list. Quilt Alongs are finished or about to finish. Do I start something new - something small - something big? Floating.....

I decided to play with something a little whimsical. A 'Girlie Girl' layer cake. We just received word that a new baby will be joining the family. My nephew and wife, still early to know boy or girl - hopefully a girl so this little quilt will be ready.

The disappearing 4-patch is popping up all over and I have wanted to try it. I think this fabric just calls for it. ** I cut the layer cake into quarters, thus using 5" squares to make the 4-patch**

I cut 1" from the seams so I will have the skinny strips and middle 4-patch. I'm using the cute little girlie prints with dots in the 4 color ways - the daisy prints I'll use for a border.

And I picked the cross stitch back up. It actually is about 3/4's done, so this could be my filler of time while I'm floating.








Have you ever chased a feather floating down from the sky? Or stomped puddles?
Have you wondered why children enjoy life more than adults do? The answer lies in the fun element of life.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Cuddly Kitten Day

Super Moon

Have you been watching the Harvest Moon - or Super Moon? This moon is the closest to the earth and happens once every 20 yrs. My SIL and I share the love of the night sky. We watch for meteor showers, try to point out the constellations, look for any planets that appear in our path, lunar eclipse, and now this lovely moon.

FINISHES

I finished the Noah's Ark for Judy's UFO Challenge. This is larger than any other youth quilt I've done and I used a medium loft batt and flannel backing. So it is rather heavy - a good winter quilt. I will put it in the charity tote for when they are looking for warm quilts at Christmas for families in need.

And the Cherry picnic quilt is done. This had me in the picnic mood - even made burgers and potato salad for dinner. And treated myself with some potato chips, which I seldom have in the house.



FOR FUN

I played on National Quilters Day with the Jelly Roll Race project. I used a Moda - Fruitcake roll. I have batt and backing waiting their turn. This will make for a nice gift. Yes, I am getting my Christmas done along the way.




SQUARED UP

I put together some blocks for Beth (LoveLaughQuilt) who is asking for ONE block to help in the Quilts for Japan. Yes, I noticed I had a block wrong, that is fixed and they will be mailed out Monday morning.



INSPIRATION

Since all my March goals have been finished, I am looking forward to April. What better than all the lovely yellow flowers soon to emerge - daffodils, crocus, tulips, and forsythias. I know, one more week in March, but I have very little yellow fabrics in my stash. So this gives me time to gather some goodies and play with yellow in April






I have Melissa's quilt along flimsy I could finish next. The BlockaPalooza will be showing setting finishing, but I will save that for April. The marble quilt and stretched star quilt are on April's list. Oh, I have those red string blocks I can play with. I have a week of fun sewing play time - I hope you allow yourself to just have some FUN.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

The Winner Is - - - - - -

First I would like to thank all my followers - WOW - look at all the new followers - hope you drop in more often and leave a comment too. I had my MOM pull the name this time

Tonya (TonyasSewingRoom) I will need your snail mail address so I can send this bundle of lovelies to you. Do not fret ladies - there is a Birthday coming, and I'm giving something special. I get one and you get one

Congratulations Tonya
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

National Quilting Day

I hope you get to enjoy at least 15 minutes of quilting play today. I am going to have some fun and try the Jelly Roll Race quilt.
http://blog.heirloomcreations.net/?p=1897

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Photo Shoot

The photos are all sent to their respective contest(s) and since they are in my Flicker pool for all to see, it is time to share what I have been teasing you all with.

Project Modern #2 - Monochomatic

I wanted to make a tile pattern look so chose a stretched (or off-set) 9-patch block. THe fabric is a Karen Combs 'Shades Cascade' in Butterscotch (2003). While working on the piecing, it reminded me of my Granny V's tile floor that we loved to play hopscotch on. Thus, it is named Hopscotch Butterscotch.

I machine quilted with a variegated cream to brown thread (YLI) - 40/3ply 100% cotton. Two rows vertically and one row diagonally to add to the pattern. And I used Quilters Dream - Request Loft (1/16th"). The quilt is 46" square.



Moda Bake Shop - Charms

I chose (P.S.I. Quilt)Rachel Griffith's X-mas Table Topper pattern. I have always wanted to do a D9P pattern. I wanted a summer looking quilt so used Breakfast at Tiffanys' charms and Bella Ivory for sashing. This quilt is 50" square.

I used one of the brown lines from the Breakfast at Tiffanys for the backing. It was also what was used to decide on the quilting patterns. The lovely fern green from this line was used for the binding.

For the D9P blocks, an open leaf and pansy shape flower pattern was used to mimic the small flowers in the backing fabric.

And a scrolling vine and leaf resembling the leaf pattern in the backing was used in the sashing. Again the Quilters Dream Request Loft was used and a fern green thread used so the quilting really shines.



See, I can make something other than scrap quilts. Two very different styles, but I love them both.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Irish Eyes Are Smilin'

I'm not Irish and I just can't fathom eating or drinking anything green. Although I will wear a bit of green to visit my local quilt shop - you get a lovely discount!

I said I don't bake, but I pulled this recipe (an old label from a can of Lucky Leaf pie filling)from when my kids were little and it was a favorite of theirs:

POT A CAKE
1 21-ounce can LUCKY LEAF Blueberry Pie Filling (or any brand)
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 4-serving size package (3.4 ounces) French vanilla instant pudding mix
1 1/3 cups whipping cream
1 17.4- to 18.3-ounce package cinnamon streusel quick bread mix
2/3 cup water
2 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350°F. Divide pie filling among eight 10-ounce custard cups or ramekins (for one dish recipe see below). Set cups on a large baking sheet; set aside.
2. In a large bowl beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in pudding mix. Gradually beat in whipping cream until well combined (mixture will be thick). Spoon evenly over pie filling in cups.
3. In another large bowl combine quick bread mix, water, eggs, and oil. Stir until combined but slightly lumpy. Spoon 1/4 cup of the batter over the cream cheese mixture in each cup. Sprinkle evenly with all but 1/4 cup of the packaged streusel mixture. Spoon remaining batter over the streusel (batter won't cover the streusel layer). Sprinkle with reserved streusel. (Note: Cups will be full.)
4. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into top portion comes out clean. Cool slightly. If desired, drizzle tops of cakes with icing* before serving. Serve warm.

*Icing: If your quick bread does not contain an icing packet, in a small bowl combine 3/4 cup powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons milk, and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla. If necessary, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, to make drizzling consistency.

One Dish Method: Prepare batters as above. Spread pie filling in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Dollop pudding mixture atop. Spoon on about 1/2 of the batter and sprinkle with all but 1/4 cup of the streusel. Spoon on remaining batter and sprinkle with reserved streusel. Bake in a 350°F for 40 minutes. Cool slightly and drizzle with icing.

Makes 8 servings ** Apple or Cherry Pie filling could be used instead.

SQUARED UP

I spent the last two days playing in my red scraps since they are overflowing. This photo doesn't show the box dumped on the couch or the 18 gallon tub under the table - yes that much RED! This is how I work scraps, so I try to keep to a day or two and then clean up.

And this is what I'm playing with. String blocks galore. I like to use old phone book paper. You just have to check that the print won't smudge off onto your fabrics; and I always cover my ironing board with an old towel to protect it. These are 6.5" squares and I managed to get 40 blocks done before clean up time.

I know - another red project , but I've already worked on so much green. I made up 3 dozen of these ornaments since my scrap bins were out. The tops were already paperpieced, I needed to just finish them off as part of one of my UFO Challenge Lists. Now some of my Christmas items are done. Christmas on St. Patties Day? Are you confused?

The Noah's Ark is machine quilted and ready for it's binding. That will leave just the Cherry Picnic quilt to finish for my March goals. The sun is suppose to shine today, so I hope to get those other quilts photo'ed outside. And to play a little bit in the flower beds.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, May the luck of the Irish be there with you”
** Irish Blessing

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Fifty/Fifty

Def: being equally likely or unlikely

COMMENTS CLOSED - WINNER ANNOUNCED 4/20/11 12:00 EST

Fifty posts and fifty followers, plus half of my March goals are already done. It sounds like a raffle. Well, instead of a pot-o-gold I am offering these:

A fat 8th bundle of lovely Antique Fair. Aren't they just yummy? So to my faithful followers this is for you - leave me a comment and I will throw your name in the hat. And you will get 2 (two) chances - one for the comment and one for following, but you have to comment to have your 2 chances. I would like to thank the lovely Kelly (Charming Girls Club)at Cotton Charm Quilts. I love shopping at her little shop, and very quick with orders that arrive so nicely bundled for protection. Yes, I treated myself too.

BlockaPalooza
This is Ryan's (I'm just a Guy Who Quilts) block from Thursday. I love this block the most and can see a whole quilt from this one block - turned in different directions, geese flying everywhere. I can't believe that this week will be the end of the blocks. I will have to add this one for finishing on my April goals - it's not going to be a UFO!

I made two blocks and mailed off for United Notions/Moda's "One Star Project". They are asking quilters to donate a star block (pattern on site) for quilts to be made and given to returning soldiers. http://www.unitednotions.com/LA_just_one_star.pdf

And these blocks I mailed off to Colleen at Lucky Duck Dreams blog - she asked for star blocks (cancer)that will be made into a quilt for raffle "Relay For Life" .



SQUARED UP

Ta-Da! Here is the "Let's Play Marbles" quilt top with those snowball blocks. I will let it hang a while to decide if I need to add 1 or 2 borders. Or I may add a flange with border - need to think on it.

And the "Picnic Cherries" quilt top is ready for quilting. It's 40" square, which I like for this type of quilt. I have a cute cherry blossom fabric for backing and a green for binding.





The Moda Charm quilt is done as well as the Monochromatic, but waiting on some sunny weather to do an outdoors photo shoot. Once I know the photos are locked into their respective compititions, I promise to show them.

Remember the 50/50 - I will draw the winner on the first day of Spring - March 21st Ancient Proverb: Luck Never Gives, It Only Lends.

Sewingly Yours
Sharon

Mad as a March Hare

To be as "mad as a March hare" is an Old English phrase derived from the observed antics, said to occur in the breeding season (March) of the hare. That the hare will behave strangely and excitedly throughout its breeding season - This odd behavior includes: boxing at other hares, jumping vertically for seemingly no reason and generally displaying abnormal behavior. Although the phrase in general has been in continuous use since the 16th century, it was popularized in more recent times by Lewis Carroll in his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which has the March Hare as one of its main characters.

Is this why we have March Madness? Does it apply to 'Cabin Fever'? Maybe it explains why I have this urge to jump vertically for no reason - well, from one project to the next; I don't jump. Some 'Quilting Gods' tell me that's abnormal behavior. As long as all my planned projects get done for the month, I will be happy.

This is block #13 for the BlockaPalooza. Wow, getting close to being done. I changed the center 9-patch to smaller size and set it on point - oh, the math made my head hurt. There's me jumping abnormally.

And block #10 for the Layer Cake Quilt Along. Another project nearing it's end. I behaved on this one and did the designer's pattern as written. Maybe because I did it after my morning's coffee - and a day late.

I am so excited and jumping up, down, sideways, and backwards. My dear sweet longarmer did my Charm quilt before another customer because she knew how stressed I was on having this done on time. She did a wonderful job - we planned the quilting together and she so, sew did a beautiful job. It is quilted with a lovely lightly verigated linen/grass green thread. There will be more photos, but I have to get the binding done.

SQUARED UP

Traditional March games in history during the Lent Season are jumping rope and marbles. Gosh, does that go with the whole March Hare theory? Jumping and losing our marbles?

My marble playing will be snowball blocks. Since I am using charms (actually I cut all my charms from scraps), my squares are 5" and the corners are 2" squares. My snowballs will have a little 'odd' shape with these cuts, but remember it is March Hare Season. With small setting squares I usually 'aim and shoot', but you can draw your diagonal line and then sew. I work a few blocks at a time, chaining them- then trimming corners - then pressing. It's some hopping, but then I don't get tired of doing all those blocks at once - after all , there are 100 squares.

Here are a few blocks laid out to see how they set together. Odd shape, but interesting. Not the normal snowball, but I like the 'Let's Play Marbles' look to them. That's my new quilt's name. I know, there are a few other quilts in stages before this one, but they will all get done in their (ab)normal time.



Do you act like the March Hare this time of year?
Sewingly Yours
Sharon