QUILTS FOR CHRISTMAS

Wow, can you believe that Christmas has come and gone and 2016 is right around the corner?  And, I'm sewing again after a couple of weeks with no time to sew.  But, here are some quilts that made it in time to be Christmas presents. 

My grandchildren in Florida's quilts.  Top left is Lauren's "Bento Box",  Top right is Madeline's "Zen is In"; bottom left is Kalani's "Churn Dash", and bottom right is Noelle's  quilt that I named "It's A Hoot" (because it has owls).

Today I'm going to bind a quilt that is a late Christmas gift.  I hope to deliver it today or tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

Hope you have a good week and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

SOME ALMOST FINISHED

I have a ton of flimsies. But, thanks to Sue Salinger and Bear's Quilts and their long-arm businesses, I am down by seven.

Now to start binding. With seven to bind,  I may use the faux-piping method.  Besides, none of these are meant for a quilt show.  You can see the tutorial for the faux-piping binding here:  

I found this a few years ago on the internet and have been using this method ever since.   I heart it!

Hope you are enjoying your week and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, GOOD NEWS

Good news is that I finished the Lattice Patch quilt top I had started while with my sewing buddies in Temecula.

 

Bad news is that it makes number seven in my to-be-quilted pile.

 

Good news is that I found a really cute container in which to store my to-be-quilted tops.

 

Hope your are having a good week. Enjoy and

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

PRESIDENT'S QUILT

As with most quilt guilds, Quilters by the Sea Quilt Guild gives the president a "President's Quilt" when their term ends.  And, it is the past president who makes the quilt.  As the 2011 QBS president, it was my job to make a quilt for our 2012 president, Susan Contreras.  I handed out directions for cat blocks and the black and white dot fabric.  Our quilters then got creative. 

I assembled the handed-in cat blocks and named it:  Oh That Cat.  Sue Salinger quilted it.  We presented it to Susan at Thursday's meeting (Jan 10, 2012).

Thank you for your service to QBS Susan.  I hope you

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

VISITORS & QUILTING THERAPY

My granddaughter and her friend spent their spring break from college with me this week.  It is always fun to pick something new to do with company.   On Monday evening, we took in an olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting in Pasadena.   Of course all of us forgot to pull out our cameras.  It was a great event and we left with some uncommon “California” gifts for them to take home.

They did the usual trips to the beach (even though it wasn’t all that warm) and shopping at the shore.  They even drove themselves into Hollywood to walk along the “Walk of Fame”.  Yesterday we spent time in Downtown Long Beach to see the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village.

Then on to my favorite haunt for dinner.

Isn’t it pretty with all the fairy lights?

This morning they took off early dark early because they have a long drive ahead of them.  I already miss them.  And since my therapy is quilting, today I am getting out that half-quilted quilt, and just maybe I’ll get it finished.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn 

ANOTHER FINISH

Wahoo!  It's done.  The Gee's Bend quilt.  If you are not familiar with this style, you can read about it here.  I know this is not every one's cup of tea; but, I love this one and I am keeping it.  And, it fulfills one of my challenges for  QBS.

Don't you just love that backing?  Ikea; and, it fits without piecing.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

ANOTHER FINISH

Baby Rudy has arrived.  Her name is LAUREN ANNALISE.  Beautiful name.  And, the quilt is finished and ready to mail in the morning.

I like to machine stitch the binding down for baby quilts.

Here is the back.  I say good enough considering the three Ps.

Congratulations to the Rudy's.  And, I can't wait to meet you Lauren.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

TA DA!!!

Last June my youngest granddaughter, Noelle, was here for an extended vacation. 

While here, she designed her very own quilt using her Leapster Pad. 

OK, so it's blurry; but, you get the idea. 

Showing it to me she said "Grandma, I want you to make this for me with six snowmen".  What would you do?  Yes of course you would.  Her birthday is December 16.  So with a little quilter's license, here is Miss Noelle's Quilt.

Maybe she needs EQ for Christmas.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

GETA'S NEW PATTERN: URBAN DELIGHT

Do you follow Geta Quilting Studio's Blog?  It's a good one.  A while ago she posted that she needed a little help, you can read about it here.  She was looking for a name for her newest patten.  I had been following her progress for awhile and thought it had a crisp, modern look to it.  I suggested Urban Delight and she liked it.  I won!  She sent me her wonderful pattern as my prize. 

Thank you so much Geta.  I am looking forward to making it.  Read all about Geta's newest pattern here and how you can get your own.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

MY WORD

Remember that binding I was working on?

It's finished.  This is Robin's new pattern, Lattice Patch.  It is a great pattern and uses those 10" squares or Layer Cakes we have stashed away and wonder what we are going to make with them.  Of course, you can always cut your own 10" squares.  I collect word fabric and used some of my collection for this.  So, here is My Word.

CINDY'S PANDA TWIST

Cindy's 4th UFO isn't due until the October Quilter's by the Sea Guild meeting.  But, I got the top finished today.  I had contemplated adding a ribbon border.  But, I called my BFF, Robin, after I messaged her a photo, and we decided it was done. After all, the Panda is the star. A ribbon border may be distracting.

It is a classic Garden Twist pattern.  I was able to find all the blocks, including the set-in triangles, in a bag.  Cindy also had more of the black and black and white prints.   I only had to add one triangle to a corner to get all the Pandas looking at us.  Now, what do you think?  Should the binding be the black and white polka dot or use the black and keep it simple, simple, simple?

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

ANOTHER FINISH

The first quilt on the pile is now done. I decided to start on the small one to get the mojo working.  It was a kit that was put together by our Community Service group at our guild, Quilters by the Sea.  It should make some young child smile.

I really need to get to the largest one. That's the one due for my UFO challenge in August.  So, tomorrow I start man handling the monster.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

A FINISH!

I'm sure most of you have heard about the Jelly Roll Race Quilt, AKA 1600 Quilt (you can see it here).

I added a border and that extra-wide rick rack.  The green in the corners is because I ran out of the pink. I think that is called a design opportunity.  It's named Sunkissed Jelly and is for my 18-year old granddaughter, Rachel, who will be visiting me next month for a week.  I think it is a very girly quilt, don't you? She's pretty girly.

You just knew that dog had to test it didn't you?

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

OLD COMFY QUILTS

I have had this quilt for a long time.  I thought it was one of my very first quilts; however, when I started quilting I was very good about labels.  I even started out numbering each one.  That was before it all got out of control.  You know, buying fabric without projects in mind.  Finishing tops and folding up the flimsies to start another project.  Boxes, bags, or totes with partially finished quilts known as UFOs, WIPs, or PIGS sitting on shelves in the quilt room.  This quilt IS labeled and it says #10.  I have NO idea what those numbers would be today.

When my youngest granddaughter, Noelle, was visiting, each morning she would be the second one up.  I was the first who made it out to the family room to have my coffee and news.  She would leave her bedroom and walk right to the quilt rack and pick out this quilt to wrap up in.  Every morning. 

I think it may be the softest one I have.  I have some with poodles, some with zebras and leopards; but this was her choice.  Today I washed and dried it to mail off to her.  I think it needs to live with her.  :-)

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

JUNE'S UFO IS DONE

It's finished, completed and in time for the June deadline.  I'm so glad I joined in our guild's challenge to complete some UFOs.  Done is good.  Someone said it reminded them of chopsticks and sushi.
I guess it does.  So, it is now known as Chopsticks. 

My cheater label.  It's a label.  Good as it's getting at this time.  I have a busy, busy month.  Thanks for stopping by.

Quilt happy,
Marilyn

PROGRESS REPORT

I found a red that will work for Cindy's UFO.  The top is done. 

Best of all, when I went to pick out a red fabric, the gal who cut my fabric knew Cindy.  She is a member of our guild and knew I was working on Cindy's UFOs.  That really made it special.  I know I will get to know more about Cindy as time goes on. 

Now on to the quilting, and binding, and putting a label on it (and they check for that label when it gets declared finished). Can't get by with a thing these days.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn



ON THE DESIGN WALL

On the design wall today is another UFO.  Two more need to be completed by our June Guild meeting.  So, I picked the easiest to do first.  I wonder if that is smart?  I am working on Cindy's 2nd UFO.  I wrote about her here .  And I am working on this set of blocks:

So far I have this small square.  Now to start adding some borders to get it to a decent size.  The problem is that this is all of this fabric I have.  I need to find something that will be complimentary.  Not the easiest when there is no clue to the fabric line or date.  So, I will take a trip to M & L and punt.  This will eventually go to the guild.  Maybe it will be a table topper.  Or, maybe a child's quilt.  Even a lap quilt for a wheelchair-bound person.  The guild is also looking for quilts for an auction at our quilt show in October.  So the final resting place for these blocks of Cindy's is still TBD. 

Check back in a few days; maybe I'll have the top done. 

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

ANOTHER FINISH

Another UFO is finished.  I started this last summer when Lyn Brown held a Quilt Mystery.  It is a "Goose in the Pond"; but, I'm calling it the "77 Piece Block".  It is on my UFO list and due at my guild this Thursday.  Geeze, just in time.

Still deciding what to do with this one.  Maybe one of my kids would like it.  But in reality, they all probably have too many.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

WORKING LEOPARDS ARE HAPPY LEOPARDS

The auction quilt is now in Florida and Mrs. Leighton's class has seen it and approved of it.  I understand the 2nd graders spent a good 10 minutes looking it over.  How could it get any better than that?  

Mrs. Leighton frequently reminds her class that "working leopards are happy leopards".  And, that is the name of this quilt.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn

DESIGN WALL AND MORE

Today on my design wall is my Lyn Brown mystery quilt that I started last summer.  It is on my UFO list and needs to be finished by the April meeting.  Finished means complete with binding and label.

What do o you think? Will I make my deadline?

For the "More".

We had a very rainy December and my Italian Parsley, growing in a pot, decided to seed itself in my backyard lawn.  Tomorrow is the day my gardener comes and mows it down.  But I am tempted to take some scissors to it first.

Oh, there she is again.

Quilt happy,

Marilyn