Sneak Peeks, In Gerda's Honor and More

The coolness that we had here in Barryton last week is giving us warning that summer is near it's official end and that Autumn is just around the corner.  The leaves are just starting to take on their fall splendor of fiery colors and the crispness of air that I love truly makes be happy.

It has been so inspiring that I showed you a sneak peek last week of what I have been working, well I finished that project and have gone on to another one.  But I'm saving the picture of it for the "Leafs Me Happy" blog hop that starts on Oct. 1st.  So you'll have to come back to see it then. ;)   But How about about sneak peek at some other projects in the works?  Friday was a major cutting day for me and I went to town  on  my stash of Halloween fabrics.  I would have to say there is 5 possible projects on my iron board right now.  Now granted some  most of these are for my mini quilts, but hidden in the mixed is a larger lap quilt that my now 10 yr. old son wants for Christmas.  Yes -- you read that right Halloween for Christmas.  LOL. 

There's How Many Projects Here... ?

What is funny is not included in this picture in the Tracings that I have been work on for block centers.  There are a few of those too.  I think the smallest cut I have is the 1.5" squares that you can see in the right hand side of the picture that has the bright orange one on top.

So other than all the cutting I've been handquilting the baby quilt for my friend ~ Sue from my Quilt and Needle online group, finished the little wall hanging quilt from last weeks sneak peek, playing in Quilter's Gallery Blog Hopping Give Away Party that started  today and goes thru 9/3 (button on side). 

Then as I was visiting Quilters Gallery , I took a peek at next weeks "Weekly Themed Quilt Contest" for 9/27 ~~ Leaves, Trees and Flowers.    I decided to make an entry using the Challenge Mini that I was doing with my beloved friend Gerda.  We loved to challenge each other in working outside our normal boxes.  And last summer we came up with one that was to include the following:  Hand Appliqued using a Lori Smith pattern,; no bigger then 18" X 20" and had to be stashbusting.   We as a pair never got to finish the project together and she passed away 6/4/12..... so I finally finished mine and named it in her honor. 


In Gerda's Honor



1/8th" Stitching Detail -  Close Up

I hope you help me honor her memory and will vote for this small quilt  starting next Friday (see button on right side).  She was a wonderful friend, mentor and sooooo much more to so many people that we had the honor of knowing rather it be in person or through the many online groups that she was such a part of.  I Turly Believe she was an Angel that was allowed to nurture so many people in her many years on this earth.  If I happen to win, I plan to make a item to auction off and use the money be donated in her name to Breast Cancer Reseach.  Something that was near & dear to her heart.  I will keep you updated on the progress. 

Okay on a more cheerful note.... I was honored to have my Homesteading Today.com block posted on Kay Mackenzie's "Show & Tell" page this week.  it was the cat in a basket block I made not so long ago.  You can see it here: http://www.kaymackenzie.com/wordpress/ .

I'm still trying to play in the Traveling Stash with the hopes of being lucky enough to see what is actually inside one of these wonderful boxes.  For more information feel free to click on the "Traveling Stash" button. 

Whew!!!!! Sure is a lot going on this week.  LOL.  But I'm thinking that next month on the 21st I will have been blogging of 6 months and should have a little give-away.  Wow!!  Where did the time go?  I have a couple of ideas as to what I'm going to offer as a prize but for now it's a Surprise ..... you'll just have to come back and vist me on that weekend.

Now I do have a question this week as a starting point in my research for my blog hop participation. 

When looking at something that has embroidery on it, are you a "purest" as in want NO crayon coloring on it or if it adds to the piece with things like color and texture ties it all together, you find that Yes you like the look of coloring on fabric? 

Please be sure to leave your answers in the comments and know that I'm will respond to each one.  I'm looking reading all that you have to say. 

Well we have a Thunderstorm rolling in and it's time to put this post to bed for the week.  Hope to hear from you soon.

Toodles,
Tricia

Sneak Peek for Blog Hop; An Apron 1st, Black Redwork and my Friend and Finally Feedback

Good Afternoon Ya'll from the little cottage by the river here in little Barryton, Mi. Currently it's sunny day with just a hit of fall crispness to the air. We are in a nice span of cooler weather this week.  The Monarch Butterflies are flittering around and the Hummingbirds are visiting the feeder outside the river-side window.  It's a serene day for getting inspired for my fall quilting. 

Infact, I've been so inspired by the cooler weather that I have signed up for my very 1st blog hop as a participate.  "Leaf's Me Happy" will start Oct. 1st  - 10th. This blog hop will be hosted by Cherry of "Cherry Blossom Quilting Studio .com" and Madam Samm of "Sew We Quilt. Com".  So for the past week I have been working on my first piece for this.  Would you like a sneak peek?   ;)



Fabrics of Choice

What's in The Hoop?

 These yummy fabrics just whisper ''fall" to me.  The plaid is a nice soft homspun that seems prefect for this project. I love the how it blends in but allows the red stipes to give a little pop of color without shouting or taking over the rest of the colors. Would you not agree?  With this one I think that I have a good balance textures in it too. Which is something I've been trying to work with so that my little wall hangings don't appear so "flat".  Since I've only been really quilting for the last couple of years, I find that in my journey of "self-learning"; I have coming to understand what my art teachers were talking about back in school.  Funny how those lessons sneak in when you least expect it.

I was thinking that I might try to come up with a tutorial for the blog hop and thought maybe I'd ask you what you might be interested in?  I could do a nice simple example of my stitchery.  Do you like to know how to do the outline stitch?  It is the one stitch that I use the most when doing all my work.  I also like to color my little pieces with Crayolas for an extra color and texture to them.  Sometimes it could be the finishing touch for a project -- giving a little bit extra piazza.

Now I'm not sure if you remember but I had mentioned something about making practial Christmas gifts this year. Sooooo I actually got started on a "sample" half apron.  I happened to get a book through the library.  This is the book: Sewing Vintage Aprons is by Denise Clason and is chalked with some great patterns for half & full aprons along with little tidbit stories & recipes.  I think it's worth checking out if you love vintage style aprons.  http://www.amazon.com/Sewing-Vintage-Aprons-Classic-Lifestyle/dp/0981976271

So anyhows, I picked up the book on Thursday afternon, went home and got busy.  I finished it on Friday evening.  With a few changes from the pattern,  which just happens to be the one that is on the front cover;  I got a pretty trendy apron that I can really take pride in.  So here is some eye candy to oogle at. 

The Stash Raid ....

The Ending Results

For a non-quilted item, I was surprise on how this one came out since I have tryed to make a clothing item since my daughters was 5 years or so, which close just over 15 years ago.  Oh Vay!!! My oldest just turned 22 a couple days ago!!!  Now I'm thinking I might have a go at one of those full aprons in the book. 

Let's see what else have I done this week.  Oh ... I was thinking of my Friend, Gerda who passed away at the beginning of the summer so as I was sorting projects and magazines; when I came across one that she sent me in one of her little surprise packages.  I had marked a mini project in it, so it seemed to me that she was letting me know that she knew I was thinking of her and steerred me towards something to settle my mind as she knew me so well.  So after 22.5 hours, I was proud to say I finished this center that I did in Black Redwork.  This will most likely will end up as a Christmas Gift.  I haven't decided what fabric scraps that I will use to finish this but I'm sure that someone will love it. 

Black RedWork

As you look, you can see the magazine showing the finished product.  It is from the Dec. '08 copy of "Australian Country Threads"  magazine. I really like this magazine as it has a bit of everything pertaining to needlecrafts of all types.  Some quilting, embroidery and cross-stitching for example.  I was glad to be guided to this project as it had the desired effect. And if you believe in angels, mine was letting me know that she knew how I was feeling at the time and helped me find some peace. Have you had an exiperence like that yourself?  

Well I think it is time for me to go work on some tulips as I give some thoughts to what my next blog hop project is going to be.  I sure would love to hear what you might like to see for it.  I think having you select something might be interesting. Also would you like to see that tutorial that I had suggested earlier in the post?  Please share your thoughts with me.

Toodles,
Tricia

Christmas In July, Traveling Stash, My Going On's, What's for Dinner & a Promised Pic.

Good Evening From Little Old Barryton!!!! Come on in & sit a spell!

This week has been kind of busy in a way.  Lots of computer time as I bump along in this heat.  I am doing the "Christmas In July" blog hop as a way of gathering researching ideas for Christmas gifts.  I TOLD myself that I would start early so that I wouldn't be a Last-Minute-Nellie the week before Christmas like I normally am.  I mean the great intentions is there but the follow thru part tends to wonder away in several other directions on me.  Then it's like trying to ride herd on a group of cats.  LOL.  Any Hows, I have been doing the blog hop sponsored by Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt and Lesley of The Cuddle Quilter.  This runs thru July 30th to Aug. 5th so there is still time to visit all the blogs, get inspired, and enter to win great goodies.  See side for button.

On top of that I stumbled across Cherise of  "Sewingly Along" (see side for button) and got caught with a meandering mind and started reading about the "Traveling Stash"  and decided to try my luck at a couple of those semi-mysterious boxes. I'm trying for box #1, the "leap year" box and the " 2 sisters" box.  With luck I might be a winner in one  of these.  Cross your fingers for me.  ;P . If this sounds like something that might be interesting -- be sure to check it out!! The Traveling Stash Box is just a click to the right. 

Okay for this weeks happenings......
I DID remember to upload pictures for this week to share with everyone.  Hope you enjoy them!!
This week I think I got quite a few things finished.... like for instant.  I finished the Honey Fork Contest block albeit after the contest deadline.  I'm not sure if they would except it though ..... some of the edges of the rounded ends of the tulips started to unravel.  The center of the tulips was the "ugly" fabric. 



Honey Forks "Make Ugly Beautiful" 

Then since the boy child went home to dad's on Tuesday, we spent part of Monday afternoon finishing Our "Study of Japanese Sashiko" just in time to give dad.  We made a skinny wall hanging that finished out at to about 11.5" x 24.5"


"Study of Japanese Sashiko" top





The End Results

From there I finished my 25 ~ 3.5" Q&N Signature Squares. I even used the little leftover HST's from those and used them in my SQT's July Monthly Mini Challenge Quilt.  It is in it's finishing stage but in the picture you can at least see the finished center of 6.75" x 9" and the fabrics that I matched it with.  It's based on the Kathy Tracy's "Hourglass block" that she used in her Indigo & White mini quilt in her book "American Doll Quilts".  Those HST's are smaller @ 1.5" then what is in the pattern.



SQT's July Mini Monthly Challenge



Q&N Signature Squares











What else is going on....... oh ... I got to go to JoAnn's last night.   {{Doing Happy Dance}} I got to use coupons and everything!  LOL!  Here are a couple photos of my small purchases.  The 1st pic shows some fabric for Christmas Wall Hanging. The lady who saw the Blue & White Santa wall hanging at my little show in Barryton this past June was wanting one done almost the same but instead of Silver she would like Gold.  I was able to find a blue snowflake for the background and 2 gold snowflakes for the trim.  Which actually was kind of tricky to do.  But anyways, I want to make it ahead of time, instead of waiting to the last minute.  And with crossed fingers, she call me to place the order.  If not, I guess I'll try and sell it someplace.  The 2nd pic shows the rest of my goodies. This includes a big glue stick along with the thread for the Tulip Challenge.  I'm almost ready to start appliqueing them down.  YEAH!!!!!  The yellow remnant  is a self challenge.  I don't normally work with yellow so this was an economical way to force myself out of my zone.  I'm thinking of using it in my mini hexagons for a mini challenge coming up in Oct.   The rest are for future minis as they look like they should blend in with some of my other CW fabrics. And they were on sale ~~ So BONUS .  

Christmas Fabrics For Possible Custom Order

The rest of the Bounty

Well today I went and did a bit of grocery shopping.  I was able to get a special treat and got the makings for my Berry Chicken Salad. Then I found a prefect new dressing to go on it.  The salad was easy to toss together. 

Fresh Berry Chicken Salad...... approx. measurements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2 c. mixed lettuces,
1 c. leftover baked chicken breast,
1/8 c. chopped cucumber,
1/2 c. of fresh blueberries,
5/6 medium fresh sliced strawberries,
1/8 c. chopped pecans,  
2 T. Shredded Mozz. cheese
Couple dashes of the Krafts Strawberry Balsamic Vingerette

The Fixings

The End Results

Ohhh  Sooooo Goood!!!


Then I am still working on my 40+ Nine-Patch blocks for my Homesteaders group.  I'm at the point of ironing all the seams on the single rows so that I can start pinning the blocks together. This is the worse part of me...as I can't stand for long but thank goodness I have almost a month left on them. Speaking of HomesteadingToday.com, remember back on July 13th when I said I was working on that applique block from the selected focus fabric.....?  Well it is finished, mailed and pictured.  So without much ado..... ;)

"Pretty in Paisley"

I used Kay Machenzie's  "Sitting Pretty" block from the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks vol. 5 for this "purrrr-fect" buddy.  It is block #410 on page 28.  Yes..... mine is backwards.  LOL.  But the basket is made from the "focus" fabric for this 12.5" (unfinished) lottery block and all hand appliqued using a blanket stitch.  I have to say I'm REALLY REALLY Happy with this block.   Hope you enjoy it.  There just something about cats & quilts that go hand-in-hand don't you think.  Maybe it will inspire you to grab your copy of this wonder magazine & make 1, 2 or 15 of these furry friends.  Maybe the that special someone for Christmas.

Well I've done rambled on a bit, so I guess I'll let you go for now.  I sure hope you enjoyed all the eye-candy and what-nots this week.  Please know that I LOVE comments, questions & such things, so feel free to drop a line. I try to answer them all. 

Toodles,
Tricia