Back to the drawing board!

Hello again, friends, after a very long vacation!

Sorry I've been living life instead of helping my dear quilting friends improve their quilting skills.

First of all, let me tell you that I am back to handquilting at least an hour a day!  That is sooooo rewarding to my psyche!  I now have a precious little new puppy, named, "Precious the III"  (would you expect her to be named anything else?  ha.  She is a little Havanese puppy that I got when she was 6 weeks old.  She is now my constant companion..  She loves it when I am quilting, as she beds down right beside me and watches me intently to be sure to catch anything that I might drop.  Fortunately, I haven't dropped a pin or scissors, yet, as she would have them in a heartbeat and take off with them.  I could not catch her as she runs like the wind  The only way I get back what she has grabbed is to sit down and rattle her treat sack.  Then she drops what she has and comes running.  Once she has her treat, I grab my dropped item and swear to myself that I will never drop anything else when she is around.  Here's my PRECIOUS III:  It is a painting that I have done of her. 

 

Back in 2012-2013, I started an applique quilt of North Carolina flowers.  I got it all together and had started quilting on it when my husband became very ill.  I put the quilt in my quilting closet, and did not touch it throughout that long period.  It will be fun finishing the quilting, now, as I have plenty of time to do so. 

Hope you will enjoy seeing the finished quilted squares on the quilt.  Remember that each stitch is done by hand.  Not machine.  It is truly a labor of love.  The flowers in NC are awesome in the springtime, and I have just gotten to see them again and renew my love for that part of the world.
Hurry back to my blog to see what's going on in my life this summer!

Ford Model A Quilt

Ford Quilt is made of by machine applique.  Each Model A Ford is made to statistics.  Lots of work, but lots of fun!

Aloha

Aloha, dear friends,

Sorry it has been some time since I posted on this site, but Mercy, life seems to get into the way at times! 



ALOHA!!

I am so excited about the success of our Work Your Heart Out Day for Hospice on Feb. 11th.  We made over 600 heart shaped pillows in that one day!  Actually, we stuffed that many and delivered them to the Hospice center on that day.  My quilt Guild, Ocean Wave Quilt Guild cut and sewed the heart shaped pillows throughout the past year in preparation for this great event.  They had them sewn together and ready to flip and turn and stuff, so the stuffing was the big finale.  Over 60 ladies showed up to help stuff the pillows.  We made a two page story in our local newspaper.  That was exciting.  This helps us to get more new members in our Guild to help with our Hospice projects.

Since I talked to you last, I went to Hawaii.  It was truly an awesome event.  I visited Quilt shops and got all excited one more time about Hawaiian quilting.  I have given two lectures already about this subject and will give another one in March at a Rotary Club meeting.  Quilting is certainly alive and well in my part of the world in North Florida.

I am showing one of my Hawaiian quilts that I made a few years ago using batiks and wild colors.  Most Hawaiian quilts are made using two colors.  White and a primary color such as red, blue, green, etc.  I have to be different, of course,  ha.  My background is dark green instead of white.

I am showing how the folding is done to come up with the center designs.  It is very simple actually if you are not dyslexic, as I am.  mercy!

have fun with this!  I used Freezer paper applique to applique the designs down. 
Directions for that will be forthcoming. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU STITCHERERS OUT THERE! 

Have no idea where time flies, but it surely does.  I keep thinking that I need to add some things to my blog, and then my life gets in the way!  Thank goodness, I have the life to get in the way.  Not too crazy about the alternative! 

I have started so many new projects in the last two months, I don't know where to start.  I hope you have kept up with the crazy quilt using florals, as that is such a fun activity.  I shall work on my in earnest in January.  Right now, I am busy trying to get the Mystery Christmas Table runner directions to you.  Here is a picture of the finished project, as seen from my computer.  I plan on quilting this after Christmas when things are less hectic.  I'll have it finished for sure before next Christmas.  In the meantime, this project is also pretty to be done in RED WHITE and BLUE for July 4th tables.  Making the stars a bright YELLOW will be nice.  I can envision this project in many colors for many different months of the year.  While you know how to do it, DO IT.  ha. 

I did not put in the stars that are made when you use my "fancy sashing."
Directions, etc. will be added this week.

Crazy quilt beginning with decorations

Press and seal in grocery store with foil and wax paper.

Crazy quilt pieces using Press N Seal without having a sew them together.  Just butt the pieces up against each other, then press and seal the sticky side down to hold them,, and then featherstitch the pieces together on the machine. Rip away Press N Seal.

 

feather stitched together and Press and Seal torn away. 

Forgiveness

For ones of you starting the Forgiveness project.  Here are the pics thus far.

 

Notice that there are lights and darks.  It does not matter which one you start with.  I shall use some larger florals interspersed in the quilt, as well.  This next week I shall be showing you how to start and a special product that you will want to get to use to save a lot of time.  Look at your grocery store in the foil and wax paper section, for a new product called PRESS AND SEAL. I'll show you how to use it!  WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PRECIOUS IS ALL FINISHED.  SHE LIVED TO BE 16 YEAR OLD.  A TRULY PRECIOUS DOG  SHE WAS BORN IN 1976 AND DIED IN 1992.  THIS IS ON THE BACK OF THE WALL HANGING.  THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN OUTSIDE ON MY PATIO IN FT. WORTH, TX.