Thread Tales From A Scrappy Quilter

Almost done!   Very productive day in the sewing room.  Step 1 is almost complete and I will be on schedule for the next step on Friday. Step 1 almost complete, about 30 more sub units are needed. And a sneak peak of the little landscape quilted piece I am working on: Sea Grapes

No pictures to load but I did stop in the fabric shop a few days ago.  I discovered this great piece with my plaids that I have stacked for Brandon's quilt that looked perfect for the constant with the fabrics I had pulled from my stash.   Unfortunately, I only had 1/2 yard and it was suggested 1 3/4 yards PLUS more if we want to use in our borders.  When I walked into the LQS, one of the girls said that to me that she hoped I did not  need much of that one, she had just purchased almost all the remaining bolt for a border on one of her quilts.   Ugh.  I searched the store and nothing worked as well as that piece.  There was about 1.25 yards on the bolt which I bought so hopefully I can get the main body of this mystery quilt done but will need to find something else to use in the borders.    I've admired the fabric sitting with my stack and I'm tickled that I did get this, it just makes the fabrics look right....

I've got my fabrics pulled for Bonnie's newest Mystery quilt Roll Roll Cotton Boll .   I also have almost as many pulled that are not in the picture too!   This is all from stash, I would love a brighter cherry red for my constant fabric instead of that brownish red  but I did not have enough of one yardage on hand to meet the requirements.  I really, really, want to shop and get that brighter fabric but on the other hand, it is so nice to pull from stash and use up what we have.  We will still need some additional fabrics for borders, these scrappy quilts sometimes can be difficult to shop for and also backing fabric may have to be purchased.  Unless an opportunity presents itself to shop prior to the first of instructions being posted, I am making peace with the project and working from my stash.  Looking @ that pic again, I think I need to toss a few more of those darker and brighter pinks in there too. And here is a...

No school this past Friday which of course was a perfect time to plan a 3 day weekend to celebrate no school and Mickey's 12th birthday.  We had beautiful weather and a great getaway to Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, FL.  This is one of only a few beach front parks in FL, the campsites are all heavily wooded and do not offer a view of the ocean but you do get the sound.  The beach is just a short drive or bike ride away.  We took along bikes and kayaks and put both to good use.  We also had to visit the Alligator Farm again too.   Just a few pics to share: Hot rolls and birthday candles don't play together very well! kayaking the Salt Run, St. Augustine Light house Quilt is DONE. Designs from backside party feather back and front Also, I learned that Sudoku DOES have repeats in the 9 grids - in the 3X3 sections, the rule is just each row across, down and within each single 3X3 grid there can be no repeats.  Woohoo!   How...

It is off the frame and the dimensional aspect of the quilting is very pleasing to me when you let the light play across the front or the back.  I'll have more pictures after all is done but for now, I'll let the quilt inspectors tell you about it.   Tigg just would not leave me alone and wanted in the quilt as I was stitching down the one side of the binding.  Carried it camping with me this weekend but spent less than 1 hour on it Saturday night however Tigger loved snuggling inside it as I stitched so it was a good thing I brought it along.

I am so near the end of quilting Brandon's Sudoku quilt but I discovered a problem and just have to stop and blog about it!   Brandon worked this puzzle a few years ago.  We decided it would be a fun project to work up into a quilt, many people were doing this.   Brandon chose a color scheme and went through my stash and selected fabrics.  He cut each square and completed blocks 1-6.  That's when I discovered he had made an error working the puzzle.  The idea of frogging and re-doing the blocks was just too much for Brandon and I could never interest him in the project again, even though it is a FAST and fun project.  I pulled the answers, marked the sheet and it sat for maybe 2 years (remember 10 months in Hawaii).  After getting my long arm, I decided this would be perfect to finish and work my 3P's (practice, practice, practice!).  A quick re-do for a couple of Brandon's blocks, whipped out 7,8 and 9, cut and sew the sa...

I have had a blast this week with a dear "quilty" friend from Iowa.  She found a super low price on airfare with Allegiant Air - Yeah Allegiant!  We've held our own little shop hop checking out the quilt shops in our immediate area, sampling some tasty food, enjoying the evening air by the pool and holding our own little mad dash sew-in trying to get a project completed while we were together.  We also scheduled some time for a little pampering at my favoriate spa, "Face The Day" and we spent one entire day at a quilt show in Jacksonville.  Beautiful quilts on display.  Vendors with oodles of things to tempt us.  Both of us did show great restraint on our purchases but my mind is still racing thinking about a few things that I really should have bought....  We got the cutest little quilty charms that slide onto a bracket that attaches to the back of any pin (The Pin Peddler was the name I believe), some beautiful batiks, patter...