Are You Kidding.....???????

When I sat down at the sewing machine this morning, I was certain I'd finish all the sashing for this quilt. I had all the strips cut and ready to go. Once I started sewing and cutting, I soon discovered this......

See how the left side is a little incomplete?? Yep, true....I am out of that pink sashing fabric. I started with 3 yards and really thought it was enough.....nope.....4.25 inches short. **Good Grief**

I had looked for this same pink fabric from the Sweet Divinity by Riley Blake on line a couple of weeks ago and there were several shops that had some still in stock.....tonight.....after much searching...I found one shop that had it......ONE.....I ordered two yards. I know it is more than what I need, but I have not decided on binding or if I need extra borders or not.....better safe than sorry.

What do you think?? Does this need borders or just let it stand on its own? If I scrap the border idea, what to use for the binding??.....as always decisions, decisions....and please tell me I am not the only one to get this far in a quilt and discover one has used up all the fabric they had on hand and not having enough to finish. Please tell me I am not the only one to have to frantically search online for fabric to finish.

On a side note: my husband said I had plenty of pink fabric, just find something I had in the closet that sorta matched and use that.....um.......thanks, but NO........that will not do!  :-)

I can not believe I ran out of fabric, and more, how much of that pink Sweet Divinity fabric it took for the sashing.....I am going to go sew that last that I have into sashing now, and wait till the end of the week to finish all the sashing strips. It is almost the end of January, and this is not finished, and the other quilt has not even begun to be put together or finished. My goal is to finish both by my Birthday in March....I don't know about making it....I am sure gonna try.....after all, I did not spend the whole last year piecing blocks for both of these Jubilee quilts to stall now at the finish....I have got to get busy!

My Politically Incorrect Quilt - Tea & Friends Quilt

Earlier this year, my blogging friend, Anne asked me to help her with a project making a quilt block for a sick little girl....you may remember the story about Shannon and then baby Crew needed a quilt too and we were able to make two quilts and share them with the families. I pieced the quilts and Sue quilted them and with the efforts started by Anne, we were able to get them to the families.

During the process, and one of the emails back and forth to my friend Anne, she made the statement that she knew the families would treasure their quilts. She also said that she had a quilt from Walmart (help us all) that she used to snuggle with and she knew someone put time and effort into making it special too. Sorry....Anne... but I just don't buy that! So I started brainstorming and trying to find a pattern that I could make Anne a quilt. Not a quilt like you would buy from... ahem...Walmart but a quilt made with love and one she would think it to be special when she received it.

                                                        (Click photos to enlarge)  

One day while out thrifting, I found this book, and honestly did not even know if I could make the blocks in the book or not.Nonetheless, I purchased the book and thumbed through it. I soon found it had a tea cup block and was thrilled to discover it had a tea pot block too! The last photo in the collage picture shows the books diagram of how to make the blocks work together.

Now, it just so happens that Anne collects tea pots and tea cups and loves all things tea! So the plan was formed and I decided to try and make the blocks.

The blocks turned out to be rather easy and I was proud of the fact I was able to make them. One day, I posted the pictures online in a flicker group and stated I was making a quilt for my friend who was a collector of tea cups and tea pots. (This is where my politically incorrect statement comes in)

Shortly after posting pictures of my blocks, I received an email from a lady who rather abruptly told me that if my friend was indeed a collector of all things tea, then she would surely notice that these are not "Tea cups" but more like plain ole MUGS. Seriously, I see tea cups and saucers, she saw MUGS, but then again I am not a collector. She also told me the blocks were politically incorrect and any collector would know the difference. Okay...well, Thanks.

Wow. wow. wow. I was really disappointed in my efforts as I started doubting myself.  First I questioned the blocks and was sorry they did not look more like dainty English tea cups. Then, as there was no plan or pattern for the quilt, I had to make everything work....and a math wizard I am not...so it was lay it all out and MAKE IT WORK for me! I really was worried from that point on about my abilities to finish and it be "correct" if not Politically anyway.

 I responded to that lady, who was not very nice with a simple email that said my friend would love her quilt and further more...my friend was not very worried about anything being politically correct, least of all the tea cups on this quilt. Then I hit send and hoped I was right in my efforts and thinking.

I finished the top, and sent it off to Sue to do the quilting. She agreed to do the quilting for Anne's quilt and it really for me added an extra touch of specialness to the quilt that I was hoping for. I felt it fitting since we worked together on Anne's projects together earlier in the year with the other quilts.

The quilting is so pretty on this quilt, it is so hard to get it to show up in these photographs.

I used nothing but scraps for this quilt and thought it turned out great. I represents for me the blogging world and how we are all so different, but when we decide to do something together, it all turns out beautiful. And sometimes, you just have to ignore the ones who want to rain on your parade!! Best just pour yourself a cup of tea and shake it off!

Once the binding and the label was on the quilt with the label, I mailed it off to Anne in Colorado last week. A quilt made by two of Anne's Texas friends to warm her heart and to keep her warm this winter!!

When Anne received her quilt she emailed me and was thrilled!! And guess what....she never mentioned the fact the these tea cups looked like mugs....thank goodness!!

Tea and friends are a great combination......and I am glad Anne now has a quilt that was not made specifically by an unknown working for a company that supplies Walmart!! This quilt was made by special blogging friends who wanted to surprise their friend, and did it in a big way.

                                               Anne, my Aunt Lavoice, and Me

This photo was taken when we met Anne for the first time last fall! That was a special and very unforgettable day!! We had such a good time!!

This quilt is now at its new home in Colorado with Anne, and hopefully warms not only the body this winter, but the heart as well every time it is used!! Surprising others is what makes my heart sing!!! Thank you Sue for all your hard work in helping to make this come together!! It turned out beautiful, just like our blogging friend, Anne.

Design Wall Monday: Jubilee Quilt Blocks To Date

On my design wall today is my last six blocks in the Barrister Sow-a-long. I seem to be always running behind, but am all caught up until Wednesday...when the new blocks are released! Oh. Well. It feels good for a couple of days anyway to be all ready for the new ones! I am making the same quilt in two different versions for my Jubilee quilt.....the year I turned 50.....ahem...anyway!

My two Jubilee quilts are growing with each new block.

Here are the six blocks in everyday fabrics.

And here are the blocks in the Christmas fabrics! I love the block in the top right corner. But after making TWO of those blocks, I can safely say, I don't want to have to tackle that block again!! The smaller  pieces sure set for pretty blocks, but they are a headache to sew!

Here are all the Christmas  blocks to date before adding the last six!!

I am sure I will sash both of these quilts and use corner stones! At least that is what I am thinking at this point. I am not sure how many total blocks we will be making, but that idea could change as it progresses!!

Visit more great design wall links over at Judy's Blog!! Have a great day!! Sew something fantastic!!!

Progress on My Jubilee Quilts

I'm afraid I stay behind and can not seem to keep up with the Barrister's Sow-a-long over at Randy's blog. But.....I am trying!! I most likely, would have not had such a hard time of it had I not decided to make an extra quilt in all Christmas fabrics.

Both of these quilts are my Jubilee quilts, made in the year I turned fifty. I can honestly say, I would never have believed I would have completed all of these blocks and continue to stay sewing to complete these quilts. I guess my motivation is "turning 50" and needing something(s) to commemorate that event!

To get a better look at fabrics...click photos to enlarge

I decided to lay all of the blocks out and take a look at how they were coming together.  So far, I have completed 39 blocks for each quilt.

Here are the Christmas fabric blocks. At this point I am not sure which set of blocks I love the best!!

And speaking of behind.....I am six blocks behind before the new blocks are released on Randy's blog.

But if you do that math....that translates to TWELVE blocks behind.....six blocks for each quilt!!

I have all the blocks cut out....and if this looks like a gillion pieces...well believe me it feels like a gillion times ten to me!!! I need to get these sewn together today if possible, or at least make a good dent in these blocks....there are tiny pieces in here.....so wish me luck!! I think the new blocks come out this week....so I need to get busy!!!

Have a great day!!! Sew something fantastic!!

When My Husband Recites My Words......Good Grief

I spent the day finishing the pieced back for my Ugly Fabric Quilt challenge. I used the left over pieces of squares for the back...every last one of them. The rest of the backing fabric is some I had in the stash and thought it would work well. I had just finished sewing and trimming the back together  and was starting to press all the seams........ when I had a horrible OCD moment and was stopped in my tracks..

What the HECK.......See that short pieced top row? I sashed the sides with the fabric that I used for the rest of the back...it was not until I started pressing that I had this MISTAKE staring me in the FACE........good grief..............

Just look................I was so upset.....talked about ripping all the seams out and seeing if I had enough fabric to recut those pieces.....the flippin' stuff is not going in the right direction.....oh. this. drives. me nuts.

You know what is worse than this mistake??? Is hearing my words thrown back at me by my husband who I swear never pays attention to what I say......Here is how that conversation went.

Me: Good grief, I am going to have to rip all of this out.....that fabric is going the wrong direction

Husband: No you don't, it is just a "FOCAL POINT". 

Me:  No...it is a mistake.......

Husband:  No...it "OFF SETS" the rest of the back.....stands out.

Me:  Be quiet....you don't know what you are talking about.....

Husband:  It is a "GOOD CONTRAST" to the rest of the back.....shows - "ADDED INTEREST"

Me:  No it is not....and does not.......

Husband:  It won't matter when we are snuggled up underneath the quilt this winter....

Me:  Huh???  Be serious...... Are you crazy......this will drive me nuts.

Husband: It is a QUILT.....does not have to be perfect.......just act like you planned it that way!

Husband:  A quilt is a quilt......no matter!

He pays attention more than I thought...now if I can only convenience him to set at one of my machines and sew....I might could get all my unfinished projects finished!! He certainly has the lingo down.....ugh! Guess I will leave it, after all...after all it is the back and a quilt is a quilt no matter what!  Besides that...he thinks we are snuggling under this one this winter....Ha!

Would this drive you nuts?? I hope after it is quilted, it won't bother me as much!!

In The Bag - Ugly Fabric Challenge Complete - Butterfly Quilt

I am so behind on everything these days! I have lots of things to show you and talk about, but it seems day after day goes by and well.....I am still not showing or talking very much!! ahem.

Many of you know about "In The Bag - Ugly fabric quilt challenge" and it has been so much fun looking at all the progress on the blog set up just for this challenge. Here was my inspiration for these fabrics. ( As always, clicking photos makes them larger)

From the Hancock's of Paducah spring catalog

I received my fabrics in May.....and figured out right away what I was going to do with them. I got a spring mailing catalog in the mail from Hancock's of Paducah and there was a quilt kit for a similar style quilt, and I decided to take that inspiration and make something of my own.

Here are the fabrics again, that BJ from Arizona sent me!!  Not a bad group, but they certainly were out of my color range and element of comfort. The challenge is to make a quilt or something quilt related with the fabrics sent, using 90% of the fabrics. You can add any from your stash and only purchase one other fabric if needed for  your project. When I saw those fish staring at me, I was really worried how in the world I was going to use those!!

Here is the finished quilt. This measures 62 X 62. Let me say first off, I am not a big butterfly person at all, and I am  not a square quilt kind of person either....go figure!!!  I really like how it all came together.......and all with "ugly" fabrics.

Here is how I used most of the fish fabric. The fabrics out of my stash were the brown and the green used for the borders. The light fabric that is throughout the quilt also from stash.

That light greenish fabric that is used throughout the quilt is what BJ sent me as well. I ran out of that and tried to buy some more...I ordered a half yard of what I thought was the same thing, but it was not. Thankfully, Ros traded me a swatch of that fabric that she had, for the fabric I mistakenly ordered.  With that bit she sent me I had just enough...I used every smidgin I had of that ugly light green fabric.

Here is some of the coral fabric in blue...with more of that fish stuff!!!

These butterflies are a block I saw online, I had no pattern, I looked at the block, and tried to figure out how to make it. They turned out pretty good and I was shocked I was able to actually pull that off. I seem to work better without a pattern. If I have a picture to look at, I can usually figure out what I need to do to acquire the finished block.

Here is a closer look at the fabrics in the large butterfly. The orange, light blue  and the purple floral and green/red floral were the challenge fabrics. The blue fabrics in the large butterfly as well as the yellow and small red dot were fabrics from my stash.

I am using the last of the blocks from the center of the quilt and the left over butterfly blocks on the back with a backing fabric from my stash. I have cut the orange, blue, and florals into long strips to be used as a scrappy binding.

I purchased no fabrics for this challenge, with the acceptation of the piece I swapped for which was the light green. Not bad for a few "uglies" and clearing some untouched fabrics out of the stash, huh???

Here is the scraps that are left over.....I have all the blocks ready to sew for the binding and the back...once I have it quilted I will post finished pictures of the back and the quilting.....I just feel good to finally have this one off the design wall....now I have to hurry and try and work with the fabrics Gun from Sweden sent me...but I at least do have an idea for that one too!!  Stop by the Challenge blog and take a look at all the inspiration that is there. All projects are created from "ugly" fabrics. You be the judge on the ugly part!!!

Everyone is like a butterfly, they start out ugly and awkward and then morph into beautiful, graceful butterflies that everyone loves.  ~ Drew Barrymore

Do you like a Mystery.....do you like to make quilt blocks????

I love a mystery!! Not only do I love a mystery, but I love to lend a hand when I can!!

There was a blog post and facebook status yesterday from a quilter,, fabric designer, Thomas Knauer, whom I follow. Thomas was asking for help with a new quilt project. He is an amazing quilter and his fabric lines are a breath of fresh air. If you have never visited his blog, I would recommend that you pay him a visit. His work is refreshing and I really am inspired by his quilting.

He asked a question on facebook yesterday about asking for volunteers to make a block.....He was not sure he would get enough support and it is a all or nothing type of project. He was encouraged to give it a shot and lots of folks have agreed to doing a mystery block. Thomas assured it was very easy to do. He needs 225 DIFFERENT folks to participate or this won't work like it needs to work. The fabrics will be sent and the pattern and you add a piece or two from your stash and complete the block. Easy Peasy!!

Stop by his post HERE and read the details. I signed up and hope you take a moment to do the same...I really LOVE this type of thing and being a part of something that a quilting community does together!!

Won't you join us....he still needs lots of help with this project and quilters always come through for each other!!  It is JUST one block.....fast, done and leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment in helping to see a project completed!! Plus....it is a mystery......in a way!!!  LOVE IT!! Stop by and sigh up....Tell Thomas I sent you!! Lets do this together!

Finished For Friday - Quilt Blocks for Jubilee Quilt

This week, I was able to finish the new blocks for the Barrister's Sow Along and in doing so, that keeps me all caught up and up to speed for the next blocks to be released.

Here are the four blocks all done.

And here are the same blocks in the Christmas colorways. I am loving how this is coming along. Lots of fun here...

I received my package for the In The Bag Ugly Fabric Quilt Challenge. These came from BJ in Arizona. Click here to see the post on the Challenge blog. I am so excited about what I am going to do with these fabrics.

Lastly, I thought I'd leave you with this thought for the weekend....maybe something to remember next time you happen to be in a fabric store with your husband........

......these are SO going to by my words when he asks about how much fabric I am buying!!

Have a great weekend!!!! Sew something fantastic!!