Dish Towel finish

My two dish towels are now completed.  What fun I had stitching out these little designs.  I also love that they brighten up a useful item.  There are a dozen designs in this packet of transfers so I can see myself getting some more dish towels to embroider.

But, I really need to finish preparing my trailing vines for quilting.  I have finalized the design I will use on the final two pink strips.  I have one marked and hope to get the other marked today!  Then it will be on to basting the quilt.  I find that it goes pretty quickly so hopefully by next week, I can start stitching on this quilt.  I hope that the designs come out as good as I envisioned in my head.  I am going to also take some practice stitches.  This is something I used to never do, but each time I start to quilt a quilt, I always think it would have been good to get a few practice stitches under my belt.  Do you take practice stitches or do you like to dive right in?  

This is a sneak peak at how I will mark the outer two strips

Slow Piecing!

I can't believe another week has passed. Sometimes I wonder where the time goes.  Reflecting back over the week I do realize I got quite a few things done.  I first tackled my king size medallion quilt. It needed a border, fabric was ordered, and this week I was able to cut the border and get it sewn on.  This will be added to the line up of quilts that need to be quilted.

I also pulled out my version of the trailing vines quilt. It took me a while to applique the five strips But I think it took me longer to decide on what color I wanted to use as the alternate fabric.  Pink was used in the original quilt made by Susan Mc Cord.  I thought I would use a green as it's my favorite but after lots and lots and lots of shopping I decided it needed to be pink.  Then there was lots and lots of more shopping to find a shade of pink that would work for the quilt and my taste.  My version of the quilt will be a strippy quilt. So, I cut the alternate strips this week.  Hopefully it will turn into a top next week and join the others waiting to be quilted. I have always loved finishing quilts more than starting them. Although, these are not finished getting them to this point is like reaching the summit of a mountain, it's down hill from here. The quilting is thrilling and my favorite part of making a quilt.

Each eveing this week I have spent a bit of time hand piecing my HST's.  I have over 100 completed so far.  I kitted up my box with 100 more to take with me on vacation the second week in March. Since we are driving, I will have time to stitch here and there. Today I will linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday and visiting other bloggers to see their slow stitching progress as I hand piece a few more HST's. 

Trailing Vines

I really need to get back to my applique project!  My poor trailing vines will never get done unless I put in some time.  I have three out of the five panels that I decided to make finished. Half down the fourth so it's time to give it some attention.  The original quilt is quite large and if I remember right it has thirteen panels of leaves.  I decided from the start that I wanted to make mine with the fabric panels and the appliqued panels the same width, more like a strippy quilt.

Yesterday morning the northern winds brought Texas some cold weather. The temps got down to 32F and we had a light frost. The lawn sprinkler ran at 5am and maybe that helped.  But those north winds get me thinking about my next hand quilting project.  I am thinking of quilting my star quilt but I want to use a wool batt and right now I don't have one. So I will have to see if I can get one locally or get one ordered.  Looks like I need to concentrate on my applique till then.  I know I may sound a bit hesitant and to be honest I am.  I love to hand applique but the prep work sometimes gets me down.  It makes such a mess and then cutting and pressing all the freezer paper templates and cutting out each leaf takes a tole on me.  But, I perservered thru Baltimore Garden so there is no reason I can't get this one done.  I find looking at a completed panel inspires me to move on. So I have hung them on the closet door for inspiration!  So today I will be stitching down some leaves as I watch the Cowboys play the Redskins.

Slow Stitching Sunday!

It is hard to write new blog posts these days as the two projects I am currently focusing on are slow long term projects.  The progress is slow and pictures could get pretty boring. I haven't made a lot of progress but they are moving along. The fall weather has been calling to me daily but it won't be long and the cooler temps will keep me inside.  That should help with my progress.  I am still
working on panel #3 on my version of Trailing Vines.  I ran out of prepped leaves about a week ago and finally got more prepped, so hopefully a few more will be added.


The hand quilting continues on Baltimore Garden.  I have the middle five blocks completed and started number six on Thursday.  I hope to finish it up to day and move on.  It is such a good feeling that what I have done so far is working out as I had envisioned it in my head.  So many more stitches to do, but this is my favorite part of making a quilt.

I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Slow Stitching Sundays.  Like Kathy I love to take a break from stitching on Sundays and enjoy seeing what others are stitching. Hope you can enjoy some slow stitches today and join us.

Leaves, leaves, leaves!

We have had the greatest fall weather this week. A bit of rain, not enough as we are so dry. The leaves have started to fall because of the drought. So sad to see 60 foot oaks look so sad.  Fall colors are just starting here with the sumac. But I don't think we will have much color this year since we are so dry.  So I am enjoying stitching on Trailing Vines.  Each branch is a like it's own little project. Since I use the freezer paper on top method of applique, it a nice little surprise as I uncover each leaf as I applique them down.  Then as each branch is completed I hold up the strip and admire how the vine has grown. This week I completed four branches.  I applique a bit each morning as I sip my morning coffee and  finish each day with some applique. This is a pic of my second strip.

Last week I finished three branches and had started the fourth!

This week's progress with seven branches completed!

During the afternoons I have been trying to get in some hand quilting stitches.  It is so nice to sit and enjoy some stitches once I get all the "have to" things done around the house.  I have one block completely done on Baltimore Garden and have marked another so there is plenty of stitches that needs to get done this week.

I hope you can enjoy some "me" time and put in a few slow stitches.  I think it is so important in this busy world to take some time for ourselves.  I am linking up to Slow Stitching Sunday where other slow stitchers will link their wonderful projects. I love taking time out of my stitching to see what others around the world are stitching! Hope that you will join us!

Stitching Weather!

I am not one that quilts all year round.  I sometimes wish I could but I live in the south in a very hot and humid climate.  So I keep busy in the summers with machine work and applique.   Sometime around mid September I start really getting the urge to do some hand quilting and I look forward to those cooler days so I can cuddle under a quilt.  That change in weather happened this week.  I actually had to pull out some jeans and had to put on a windbreaker this morning to take Max for his walk. Yes, hand quilting weather has arrived!  Being an early riser, as I sipped my morning wakeup coffee, I pulled out panel 2 of Trailing Vines and added a few more leaves.  This week I finish three branches!

But this afternoon, I will be under the quilt hoop working on Baltimore Garden.  I finished placing some floral motifs around the center block and decided to figure out the background quilting before I went any further.  I have always been one to finish each section before moving on when I quilt.  I know some anchor seams by stitching in the ditch or finish all the motifs and then move to the background work.  But I like to finish as I go!  My original thought was to add heavy line work much like the original quilt. The thought of not marking and being more of a free spirit is intriging.  But, than my inner self that likes things planned and organized takes over and I realize its just too scary.  I really like following that marked line and I like to know exactly where I am going. So I settled upon a half inch crosshatching set on a 45 degree angle.  Now its just a matter of putting in a few stitches each day until it is complete!

For the love of slow stitching!

Boy it has been on crazy day!  I finished my first panel of Trailing Vines on Saturday and woke up this am thinking " I don't have anything to slow stitch today! "

  So I got out the next panel and pressed a few more branches and started glue basting them in place.  I have never been a big fan of using glue, but I do like it for basting these long strips.  It really made for the arduous task of prepping so much more bearable!  It was quite time consuming and when I got the stems done I realized I still wasn't ready for any slow stitching!

So that is when my eye caught a glimpse of Baltimore Garden all basted and draped over the quilt hoop. I really could use a break after all that prep work, so I got out my quilting templates I had made and started thinking about what I wanted to do and it all seemed to come together.  It didn't take me long to trace around a few templates so I sat down to put in a few stitches.  I am thrilled that I have gotten over the hump of just starting!  At least now the decisions have been made and I can sit and stitch a bit here and there when the mood strikes.  Since I prefer to hand quilt by the light of day, I still needed some hand work  to sit and stitch this evening!

 Indian Summers is starting tonight on Masterpiece Theatre and I really like to stitch as I watch.   So, it was back to prepping the leaves for the first branch of panel 2 glad to have all this prep work behing me. First I am heading over to Slow Stitching Sunday with Kathy and the rest of slow stitchers to get inspired as I sit down and finally get to enjoy some of my own slow stitches.

On the right trail!

I know as quilters we are always having to make decisions.  I think one of the hardest decisions is what our next endeavor will be. There are a lot of factors that go into making that decision.  Since I quilt for my enjoyment, I am always looking for that perfect next quilt pattern. I guess that comes from knowing there is no way one can make every quilt their heart desires.  I do know the process of making that quilt really comes into play.  So often I see quilters jump into a project and find themselves losing interest in the project.  I find not enjoying the process is probably the biggest culprit.  

Robert Frost poem The Road Not Taken came to mind.  It really explains how I feel when choosing my next pattern.  I tend to always take the road less traveled. I stopped buying quilt magazines when they were all about "Quick" quilts.  It's not about "Quick" for me!  I love the process and simple shapes and if they come from nature, count me in.  

So while some think that making this quilt would get quite boring, for me it is the perfect choice.  I love applique and playing with scraps.  I love that a simple design taken from nature used over and over has the ability to turn into something so grand.  I have only been working on this quilt for a week, but I am very happy with my choice.  So glad that I followed my heart and I have no regret on the trail I chose.  If you like to slow stitch, I hope you will join us over at Slow Stitching Sunday and share the trail you have chosen.

July's update!

Where does the time go?  It definitely is time to update the blog with what I have been doing!   My focus this month was to finish up my Tribute to George quilt.  I was able to use all of my blocks except the embroidered cherries and I have decided it will become the label for the quilt so it will be included it will just be on the back.  I am pleased that my challenge to make some blocks and bring them together into a quilt top was successful!

Tribute to George will move into the closet waiting it's turn to be quilted.  Which brings me to thinking about pulling Baltimore Garden out to prepare it for quilting.  I worked on some templates of shapes that I will use in the open background areas.   I love that Barbara Burham included the quilting designs on the pattern.  The plan is to fill in with some closely quilted lines or echo quilting. So this one is going to take a while but should be a lot of fun!

I have decided on my next project.  Trailing Vines a quilt first made by Susan Mc Cord from Indiana.  Her quilts are just amazing!!!!!!!!  Janet over at Quiltsalott did a sew along a few years ago and generously offered her rendition.  So that is where I will start!

First a lot of tracing needs to happen

I have prepped the stems on the first panel so now on to prepping the leaves.  I hope to use up the small bits of fabric leftover from the previous scrappy quilts I have made.  It will be my go to project for a while when I want to put in some applique stitches.


TATW is still hanging around. Row 24 is finished and I have two sides done on Row 25.  I know that Row 30 is close at hand, we will see if my stash can get me there.  I am very close to 50 inches square which makes for a nice size throw.

I have spent so much time working on tops that I really am missing my favorite part of quilt making and that is the quilting.  Last year I took a craftsy class to help me with my machine quilting skills.  I did some straight line quilting on my granddaughters quilt.  This time I am trying a spiral quilting pattern.  This scrap quilt was a Moda Bake Shop pattern called Woven.  I made it for my husband and am naming it Country Road!

Starting was the most difficult part!

Day One !  The first bobbin got me this far!

Day 2 Bobbin two!

Day 2 Bobbin 3

Finishing this one will be my focus next week!