Mystery quilt and a birthday!

So are any of you joining Bonnie Hunter in her latest mystery quilt, Easy Street?  This is my first mystery quilt, and I am really excited to be participating! 

 

My first blocks are finished... here is a glimpse of a few of them.  I made a few extra..... at last count, I had 198 of them.  We will use 192 of them in the quilt.

 

 

If you haven't already started, it's not too late.  Or, you could print off the directions and save them until the holidays are over and you are looking for a new project in January!

 

On another note, it's my dear husband's birthday today.  And perhaps you know my friend Julie.  It's Tractor Joe's birthday today, too!

In honor of DH's birthday, I tried a new recipe, Apple Cheesecake Crumb Pie.  I found the recipe here.  And it was delicious!

 

I should have taken a "before" pic.  Oh well.... 

A Bag

I finished a bag this week.  It's for my sister...... a birthday gift.  Her birthday was the 20th, so I'm just a few days late.  Anyhow, I used the quilters grid, which is made by Pellon.  It's basically fusible interfacing, with a grid on it.  I cut 2" squares, and ironed them on the Quilters Grid.  I guess I should have taken some pictures during the process, but I didn't....

 

I improvised a lot on a pattern I have.  I have made Simplicity 2274 a few times.  It's a nice big duffle-type bag.  You can see it here and here and also here.  Anyhow, I decided I didn't want the bag to be quite so big.  I also wanted it to be sturdier - a little stiffer, I guess.  So, I tried to copy the way Elizabeth Hartman constructed her Weekender bag, but not using that pattern.  Does that make sense?  Anyhow, this is what I came up with.  Not a huge bag, but it should work for overnight.  Oh, and I lined it, too.  And added interior pockets.  I quilted each section, using cotton batting and a heavy weight cotton duck for the backing.  Then there's the lining layer on top of that.  Sorry, no pictures of the lining...

The straps are nice and long..... and I didn't make them out of jute webbing this time.  Just black fabric, with a layer of interfacing.  I really don't like the way the jute webbing smells. 

I'll be sending it off to Colorado soon.

And it's ok..... my sister doesn't read my blog.  :)  I'm not sure she even knows I have one.......

I'm linking it up to Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday.

 

 



Atomic Dot

Yesterday I had to go to Des Moines, for a training session for work.  I left home at 5:30 a.m, as I needed to be there by 9.  I made it in plenty of time - with a little more than a half an hour beforehand to spare.  I guess you never know how traffic will be.  Anyhow, I was done by noon, and decided to stop and do a little shopping on the way home.  I stopped at a great quilt shop, the Quilter's Cupboard in Ankeny.  I have shopped there before, and actually purchased my sewing machine from them at the Des Moines Quilt show a few years ago.  Anyhow the Atomic Dot quilt had been on display at the quilt show.  I decided I need the kit, and bought it.  Last night when I got home, I cut it out and sewed it together.  It couldn't really be any easier.....

 

 

Here's the top.  I'm linking it up to Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday, just because I can!  :)

 

It will go to the quilter on Monday, and I am hoping to have it back in a few weeks, to give to someone special for their birthday!

 

 

 

A Big Finish

I'm always happy when I am able to share finished projects here, and this is a big one.  I believe it was back in July when I was asked to help with a quilt for one of our local churches - to be auctioned off at their bazaar in November.  Well, back then, November seemed so far in the future!  The ladies had already picked out the fabric for the quilt and purchased it, and one of the members had donated some hand-embroidered blocks that her aunt made back in the 30's or 40's.  Julie came up with an idea and drew it out on graph paper for me.  I did the cutting and sewing, and then took it to my local quilt shop.  From there it was sent out to a long-arm quilter.  Well, I just got it back a few days ago, and here it is......

 

Julie has the perfect spot for taking photos of quilts - especially one this large.  It measures 97"x97".  Works great on a queen-sized bed.

 

Here you can see some of the details a little better.  The quilter did an amazing job - it's hard to capture all the details in the photo, but she out did herself.  She quilted around the embroidered design with a white or very pale thread, and then quilted pink flowers in the large green squares.

The owner of my favorite local quilt shop donated the batting, and the quilter seems willing to donate her quilting, but I don't think I can let her do that.  It just wouldn't feel right, and I certainly did not expect that.

I am linking this up to Crazy Mom Quilts "Finish It Up Friday".  Just in case the link doesn't work, here it is again:

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/11/finish-it-up-friday-11212.html

The quilt is off to the good people of the United Methodist Church.  It will be on display this Sunday - the bazaar is a week from tomorrow.  I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!  :)