Oh My Stars!!

Over the past couple of days, I've added the background pieces to my large EPP stars.  I'm using this lovely toile' (what else?) that has flowers and birds.

I think I'm going to stop at 9 stars and here they are:

 Here is how I plan my fussy cuts on a large piece of fabric.

I made pattern pieces with manilla folders for the corners and 1/2 squares.  I machine baste them, before hand whipping.

Since I'm catching up on sewing room TV, I machine basted the diamonds too.

My friend, Jill, shared this great tip.  After you lay out a block design, take a photo (it lasts longer).

This way if your pieces get moved or you have to pick them up it's no problem.  Brilliant Jill!

Speaking of stars - I want this Guy

To do less of this:

and way, way more of this:

Don in all his badness will return March 25 with a 2-hour premier.  Here's a little something to tide you over....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-fIFeMVMso


Have a Fun Week!

Happy Birthday Mr. Presidents

In honor of President's Day here in the U.S. I thought I'd share some of my collected Washington and Lincoln fabrics, quilts and china -

This is a quilt I designed, but never made-

Fabric I haven't used yet, but Love!

A GW silhouette

A GW sugar bowl

A wonderful little doll quilt from my friend Mary C. in 2008.
(it's about 8" x 12")

Lincoln S&P shakers

 I love, love red transferware dishes -

Best Plate ever -

A pillow-

A little Lincoln reading -

A chair I recovered -

Remembering Abe, which has been accepted to the 2012 AQS Quilt Show in Lancaster, PA.

A GW nine patch quilt that I have started and is on hold at the moment.

The back of a little quilt I sent to Sheila.

Believe it or not, there is more, but that's enough for today.  I love the history of these 2 great Presidents.

Happy Birthday Abe and George!
xo

Pink Lemonade

Happy Friday!

I finally finished the Pink Lemonade quilt along that Lori hosted.  I wanted to make 2 so I made a smaller version.

Here is the first one

The back

The second one, which I changed up using the little shirting print.

And the back.

Since I used fabrics on the back that both had a china them, I decided to quilt the tea cup design.

I used this template.  It was a little large for the size of the quilt, but I thought it worked well enough.

The thing I love about this design is that it appears circular, but I machine quilt it with my walking foot.  Here you can see by doing serpentine lines, you achieve the circle.

Thanks again for a fun quilt along, Lori!



Have a Fun Weekend!
Go Oscar!

I Tumble For You

I'm so happy to report that after about 12 years, I have finished my hand pieced tumbling block doll quilt.

I had a little photo shoot with my AG doll, Annie, by the fireplace.

I made this little pillowcase to go with the new quilt.

The back is just a fabric that I thought looked old and humble.   I hand quilted the horizontal lines.  I will put a label on it this week.

Here are the steps I use to make a single binding, which I think really looks good on these little quilts.  It helps keep the scale of them correct, I think.

I cut fabric strips 1 1/2" wide by the length needed.
I pin then sew the strips to each of sides of the quilt.

After sewing I trim away the top and the batting 1/4 from sewing line.  I then press it about half way (a little less) to the raw edges.

I fold it over the edge and give it a really good press.

I pin the side bindings down on back side, then line up the bottom and top binding strips.

I pin, then sew these strips on.  Trim and press as for sides.

For the corners, I fold in to line up with the edge and press.  

Then I turn down the top and press again and pin into place.

As you can see, this is for a 4-piece single binding, which is in keeping with the age period I was going for.  You can also do mitered corners with a single binding and I'll show that the next time I use it.

The Jubilee Quilt Project Blog is up and running and you can visit us here.  There are about 20 of us and we'll be adding to and refining the blog as we go along.  I'll be posting later this week, I've hit a speed bump on my project and I'm trying to find the right muslin.....again :(

Join the Jubilee!

After posting about my new project here, several friends and readers have shown an interest in making their own Jubilee quilts!  How wonderful!

Lori, of Humble Quilts, and Regan, of Floating on a Quilted Cloud, are also turning 50 this year and will be starting their own Jubilee Quilts.

We are planning to have a Jubilee Quilt Project blog and letting anyone working on this project  post updates of their work.  Lori already has several readers interested in joining the fun.

The main idea of the project is to make a quilt by you and for you.  You don't have to be having a big birthday this year, you can be jubilant about any milestone in your life, past or present.

Email me at barb.vedder@gmail.com or leave a comment.  Even if you responded to Lori, let me know too.  The more the merrier!


This is a test, this only a test........

I recently purchased 2 bolts of moda bella solids from Thimbleanna for an upcoming red & white project for my daughter.

I did a pre-wash test and here is how it went:

don't be alarmed, I always wash my quilts in regular detergent.

I used warm/cold, as you never know who will wash it one day.

I used 3 of these.  They seem the same as color catcher.

All together now...

I like to buy a cyclamen every year about this time at the grocery store.  The best $10. value.  They bloom for weeks.

I purposely let it sit for a while overlapping each other.  I was really testing it here....

I pulled it out and it looked good!  the color grabbers grabbed a little of the red, but not much.

Into the dryer with 1 sheet of bounce and set on medium.

and Viola'!  After pressing, it look exactly the same as the fabric on the bolt.

Great news for me, as I would much prefer to piece with unwashed fabric!  Hoooray for Moda Bella Solids!!!  I give you an A+.

Think about a Jubilee Project, there isn't a deadline to join us and you don't have to have a blog either.  Just drop me a line.