The final finish of summer

Yesterday I finished this twin size quilt. Tomorrow I'll take it to the long arm quilter along with the last one I finished. They use some of the same fabrics and will, hopefully, compliment each other in the same bedroom. I loved making this quilt top. (Being the lazy person that I am, the pattern is downstairs in my sewing room so I can't tell you the name right off.) I would gladly make this one again but with one change. I seriously didn't pay attention to the fact that directional fabric would take some concentration and different cutting. DOY! Thankfully, I caught that little detail while cutting all those yards of sand fabric and made the appropriate adjustments. Half the squares had to be facing one direction and the other half another.



It will take until January or February for the quilting so they won't resurface until then.

Today is supposed to be the last hot day of the season. I will be happy to see the end of the heat. Ugh. The weatherman said it was the hottest summer on record for our area. Good riddance, I say.

I'm holding off on getting out fall decorations until next week when the kids head back to school. I'll let them enjoy their last weekend of summer vacation, although the trees are changing and the temps are to drop more then 20 degrees by tomorrow.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend.

The Queen Bee

A new WIP

I felt it was time to start something new so I took a look in my basket and pulled out this pattern. I loved this La-D-Da pattern when it first came out so I bought it along with the recommended WDW fabric and NPS fibers. Song of the South was the very first movie I ever saw in the theatre. I understand all the controversy that surrounds the movie but that doesn't change the memories I have of the movie and the music.

Next, here is what I'm working on in my sewing room. This project was spread out along my ironing board when I set out to take the above picture so I snapped a quick picture.


There are 30 squares that make up the quilt. Currently I think I have 18 finished. I expect to finish the entire thing in the next week or two.

I will try to resist the temptation to change my background every week. This is the one I really wanted but was having trouble getting the font color so it could be read. We'll see how this works out.

(And clearly, if you had the misfortune of stopping by while I was messing with the background I'm not having any luck because currently there is no background.)

Until next time, I'm off. Thanks for stopping by.

The Queen Bee

Another project done

I am starting to sound like a broken record, but here goes another story of how a project got started years ago only to resurface this summer. Just over 6 years ago a favorite quilt shop offered a table runner of the month program. Each month another kit showed up in my mailbox for a seasonal table runner. I started off keeping pace with the mailman but then one thing or another happened and they fell to the way side. We moved, built our house (in that order) and I didn't have a functioning sewing room for a full year. Which doesn't exactly explain how this kit languished in my 'waiting' pile for 5 more years but I can't really offer a believable excuse so I'm deflecting from that by telling you we moved a few times in a short period of time.


In my quest to complete anything older then my house, here is November's table runner. I finished it last week. Now I only have December's to get after. And, by operating under my theory that anything older then my house must be finished, we moved into our partially constructed house on December 23rd.... and it was December that I received that kit so maybe it's not older then the house and I don't have to finish it any time soon!



What a relief. It's all in how you look at it.



The Queen Bee

A 2 fer

2 projects for the price of one picture.

Today's post includes a picture with 2 projects. First, on my recent vacation, I started and completed LHN's Rose Sampler. It's on top of the little travel bag made to match. This will be an easy piece to finish and apply to the bag. I'm just not sure if it goes on the front or the back. I think on the front. That way the cute little bead and the stitching will show. The second project in this picture is a table runner I finished last summer. It happens to be on the table and maybe not in my album. I've become a true slacker when it comes to keeping my album up to date. I really need to take some time and post pictures in there.

While on vacation, I finished this Philippa Gregory book. I liked this series about the Tudor period. Even though they're fiction, there is a lot of accurate information about King Henry's reign. Also, the details of court life are fascinating. Most of us can't imagine living with the threat of death that people lived under in those days. While the books are loooong, the stories are interesting and not smutty.... as I was advised they were. (And, NOT, why I chose to read them, I might add!)

Funny vacation story..... we visit the same location several times a year so have become familiar with other folks in the area. Initially, Buttercup and I went alone and were joined by my husband on Sunday. On our last night when returning from dinner out I spotted a neighbor that I hadn't seen yet during this visit. We'd only met briefly last spring but their kitchen window overlooks our parking spot so they see more of us then we do of them. My husband went to open our front door for our daughter prior to joining our neighbor and I as we stood chatting on the front sidewalk. My neighbor said: I thought that was you but that isn't your husband, is it? I said, that yes, indeed, it was my husband. A few minutes later she popped into her house to grab something and I heard her yell to her own husband... 'yes, it is her husband'! We are still chuckling over that. What did she think I did.... pick some guy up at the beach half way thru my vacation?! Too funny. (Even funnier if you know us!)

Hope everyone is enjoying the final stretch of summer.

I have one more vacation finish to photograph and post.

Until then, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

The newest quilt

Hmmm. Not sure what to do to make this photograph better. I've taken 3 batches of pictures and this is the best. In real life the colors in the big squares match the other squares better. This quilt is from a pattern called 'Just Can't Cut It'. It is twin bed size and the tropical floral squares are 12 inches. I don't think I've ever made a quilt with such big pieces. I like little pieces. The smaller the better but this was fun to make and only took me a week. I'll take it to the long arm quilter and see what kind of magic she can work.

Now, back to outlining Holiday Express. I'm almost done. Then the beads. Seems like there is always just one more step.... but really.... it's ALMOST done.

The Queen Bee

A classic cat moment

The second I flipped on the camera my 'helper' took her spot... smack in the middle of the quilt. Such instinct wasted, no less, on a cat. Why don't kids pop into place the second you want them to? No waiting for anyone after practice..... the list is so long it's a waste of time to think about it.

So, anyway, this....



is what I was taking a picture of. My latest finish. A wall hanging from the May/June 2009 issue of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting. It's called Sailing by Lori Hein. I purchased the fabric kit sold thru the magazine. It uses batik fabrics, which are fun to work with. Usually there isn't a front or back to the fabrics and they are a little stiffer then regular cotton but they piece nicely. Also, they come in the most fabulous colors and patterns.

This is the quilt I wanted to quilt myself using the Fab-u-motion attachment for my Pfaff machine. After practicing on various small projects I finally took the plunge and got to work. Each border is done in a different free motion pattern. I think I'm really going to like the machine attachment, but for small things. It's a lot of work pushing and pulling that fabric thru the opening of the machine. I have several other small wall hangings or table toppers I'm going to get at now that I feel like I've taken the plunge and learned how to use the thing.

The kids have left for another week at camp and Buttercup goes this afternoon for her first week at camp. I'll have the house to myself..... I haven't been kid free in a few years! I'm sure the week will race by and I'll only accomplish a fraction of what I'm hoping to get done.

In the mean time, I'm off to switch some laundry around.

The Queen Bee

Monday, monday...

This is the last Monday of The Boy Wonder's junior year. The wandering daughter is home from Mexico... as of late last night. She had to run to make her connecting flight... and naturally her bag didn't run as fast. Luckily someone drove it the 2 hours from the airport in College Town to our house so we didn't have to drive back that way today. So, anyway, the end is near for any peace and quiet I get around the house. Buttercup still has 2 weeks of school. She's the quiet one, though. It's the older two that will be fighting, or I mean, working out how to share their car. The Boy Wonder isn't use to sharing and The Scholar still remembers when she was the only driver. Anyone remember when we had to share the family vehicle amongst all the drivers in the house???? I will say that it is a huge help to all involved when the kids can drive themselves to their many, many sports and social events... especially since we live where everyone is so spread out... there isn't a parent ready and willing to drive so far out of their way to drop an extra kid off. And, in the Boy Wonder's defense... he's a huge help with driving Buttercup where she needs to go.



Any who.... the real reason you came here was to see what I've been working on.





I finished Shepherd Bush's Halloween Night. This was cute and fun to stitch. I received it as a gift so I don't know the fabric... but it's a large count even weave. I used the recommended threads and the button pack that was included. It will now go in the 'to be framed' pile.

Next,


this table runner is made using a pie shaped ruler with 60 degree angles. It was so easy to cut and put together. I see the obvious distortion from cutting the pictures at an angle and sewing them together. It's near impossible to avoid that. It's still really cute fabric and will be a pretty table runner no matter what. There is enough fabric to make a second one so I'll do that and see how it comes out. I can choose which part goes in the center by flipping the fabric before cutting. That will give it an entirely different look.


Over the weekend we went to see Killers at the movie theatre. What a good movie. So funny and who doesn't love Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher? The Mother-in-law played by Catherine O'Hara was hysterical. Tom Selleck wasn't so bad himself. I rarely want to see a movie a second time but I'd gladly sit thru this one again. And here's another perk to the kids driving..... we all went out to supper, but since the kids didn't want to go to the movie, we took 2 cars and they drove themselves home!


I am going to a dish to pass supper so I'm working on my dish to pass. I've put dinner in the crock pot for the family so I will be spending my afternoon in my sewing room. Lucky me.



I'm off.


The Queen Bee

A new quilt.

Today I picked up this quilt from the long arm quilter. I posted a picture of this one just before taking it to be quilted on February 20th. And now here it is all finished (minus the binding)....with a little help from the cat. Anyone who has a cat knows that once they decide they're going to be part of the action they aren't going to leave. She looks like she's about to jump at something but that is really her 'I dare you' look. She's daring me to make her move. I'm not even going to fight her, otherwise she'll think this quilt is something special and won't ever leave it alone.

It is gray and miserable outside again. I saw Loons on the lake..... something I've never seen before. I bet it's too cold up in the mountains where they usually summer. They're probably just stopping by until it warms up. I wish I'd had my camera.

Now I'm off to see which sewing project is calling my name.

The Queen Bee

Some answers

Let me answer the questions people have asked about the last posts.

First, Heart and Home is designed by The Quilt Company. Their website is http://www.quiltcompany.com/. I've seen this pattern offered as a block of the month in various quilt magazines. My local quilt shop put together kits and offered a 6 month class. It was so different then anything else I've ever made. Maybe I was drawn to it because it is similar to Little House Needlework's patterns. I hadn't thought of that, Lee, but it's probably true.

The purse patterns are both from one local quilt store or another. Purses and totes are hugely popular in quilt stores these days. The Bow Tucks Tote (mine is the larger one) is by Quiltsillustrated.com. I'm not sure what quilt store I bought it at, but I've seen it at many stores. http://www.quiltsillustrated.com/ has it.

The smaller purse is from the Ellen Medlock Collection. The website is here with tons of bag patterns. Mine is called The Interchangeable Bag. I bought it at my local quilt shop.... the pattern came with the handle. I think there is even a larger set of handles but this smaller one was cute. I liked that I could make a small bag that matched a coat or an outfit. I like a very large purse so I knew I wouldn't be making a purse for every day use no matter how big the handles were!

Thanks for stopping by and asking.

The Queen Bee

Photo success..... sort of.

Despite looking like I stood on my head to get this picture, it's the best of the lot. I was standing on a chair looking from the top down. With a quilt like this, it's hard to give each part it's due in a photo. I can't get in a position to take a straight on photo. Anyhow, here it is. Heart and Home. It was a 6 month quilt class at my local quilt shop. It was really fun and very different from anything I've ever made. Tons of piecing in the houses and the border.... I can't even tell you how many pieces are in that heart and ribbon border. A gazillion. I took it to my quilt guild Monday night for show'n'tell and someone asked me how I did the applique and I said there wasn't much applique. Duh.... I guess I completely blocked out those sections with the trees, bunnies, and leaves. I worked like mad to have that done between classes so I'd stay on schedule. I'm not sure where it will hang, but I'll find somewhere.

2 posts in one day. You're going to wonder if I don't have anything else to do. Mostly I'm finding other things to do instead of the errands I have to run. I have to go to the bank and buy Mexican Pesos for the Scholar. Can't say I'm excited about this trip but I have to trust the organizers to know what they're doing. Plus, I'm sure I've mentioned the Scholar's love of travel. No amount of argument is going to keep her from seeing the world. Brings back memories of my own college days when I spent 6 weeks in San Salvador in the Bahamas. Oh, Lord.... I should stop right now or I might have to 'accidentally' misplace her passport. Just kidding..... really....

I have to keep reminding myself that my niece, who is a year ahead of the Scholar in school, manages to find trips to places like Africa and India. India for her semester abroad! Yikes. I'll take Spain, which is where she's planning to go next winter.

The Queen Bee

I did indeed

visit the quilt store to check out their 'fat quarter event'. I managed to find 20 fat quarters to add to my stash. I have numerous patterns that are kind of scrappy and just call for fat quarters. One of these days I'll have a nice selection.

I also got a couple cuts of green to help add some color variety to my red/blue/neutral stash.

The pink fabric is for a shoulder bag. I'd like to think I'll get it made before the summer is over, but don't hold your breath.

The kids are on spring break next week. We're supposed to start break with cold and rainy weather. It really was too much to hope that the warm weather was here to stay.

Alas, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

A project from

my recent quilt retreat. One of the projects I worked on was this wall hanging. It was a kit I bought 5 years ago at the same retreat! Why rush? It will get done sooner or later.

I changed the letters on top to spell 'Summer' rather then 'August' since the only other one I have says 'Spring'.

I machine appliqued the crow and letters, and machine quilted it. The watermelon seeds are beads. Now I just need to find a means to hang it. The metal hanger I thought I was going to use isn't quite wide enough.

Tomorrow I'm planning a drive to a quilt shop about 45 minutes away where they're having what they're calling a 'fat quarter event'. Fat quarters for $1 if you buy 20 or more, or $1.25 if you buy less then 20. Anyone who knows good quality quilt store fabric knows that $1 for a fat quarter is less then half price and worth driving 45 minutes for!

We'll see if I get anything photo worthy.

Until then, I'm off.

The Queen Bee

Here are 3

of the little wall hangings I made this past weekend. They are all Patch-ability kits. They make up pretty quickly and can either hang on the wall or lay on a table. I have quite a few of these..... both finished and in my 'next' pile. They're hard to resist when I see them all stitched up at the quilt store.


I need to make my other projects more presentable before I can take a picture. Everything has been folded up and packed away since the weekend. I have to figure out how to quilt the table runners and I still need to put the finishing details on another wall hanging.


So, back to work.


The Queen Bee

The Mysterious

wallhanging takes shape. A mystery quilt can be fun, but not knowing what the end will look like, makes it tough. If I'd known, I would have made the stars red and green so that they really popped out. But, when starting a project like this, we don't know what is what. So, anyway, there it is.

I have an extra busy night at work so I'm off.

The Queen Bee

An even swap....

sort of. I took this quilt top to the long arm quilter

and picked this one up.

The first one is spread out on the pool table for measuring. (Which explains the funny dips around the edge.) There are 42 blocks, each with 36 pieces. That's a whopping 1,512 pieces.... not counting the 2 pieced borders! I started it last March and my goal was to finish it by this March. As always, with such a huge project, I'm sick of looking at it and won't miss it for the 3 months it's gone. When it returns I'll be happy to see it again.

The second quilt is the 2009 Thimbleberries Club Quilt. I've never done a Thimbleberries class before but it's a year long program hosted by many quilt shops where the fabric and patterns are released throughout the year first to the quilt club members and then to the general public.

The fabric had 3 different color ways. Traditional, Bright and Light. Mine is done in the Traditional colors. In real life, it's much browner. I chose Lights but not enough other ladies signed up for Light so the shop didn't buy that line. I can't say I like the browns but it was a very fun project. We met once a month at the shop to work on blocks. I met some new ladies and got a chance to keep up with others who I see occasionally at quilt classes and retreats over the years. I still need to sew the binding on but that won't take more then a couple hours.

Now.... my next post will include pictures of my newly framed cross stitch so don't go far.

I'm off to take some more pictures.

The Queen Bee