Slow Going

My last post said "each day" but that was far too ambitious. Since then, a heavy course load has kept me at the computer instead of the sewing machine. Here is what it looks like now:

That dark piece is a camera trick - it will also lighten up when I quilt it as there will be some vegetation there. This one keeps calling me, but then there are those deadlines...

Lighthouse Progress

The lighthouse is progressing. I put the details on the very top, but need to add some windows. The quilting will add more detail. Each day, the bottom part gets another layer of rocks, grass, etc. Again, the quilting will add more definition. This one is great fun. It is 48" wide and about 72" high. (Just noticed the puckering in the sky... about a five-minute fix, sigh.)

Also, I've got 11-12 patterns now for a "Hobbit" quilt. It is foundation paper-pieced in 7" squares, but I've decided to do those with tiny pieces in 11" blocks. That size will work with the smaller ones if I use 1" sashing. This will be fun and I've a boy in the family that says he will "sleep under it for the rest of his life." The patterns are available through Regina Grewe.
 

Cherry Tree Progress and Lighthouse Start

It is raining here today and we are glad. Our part of the world has been dry and dusty, with wildfires threatening several towns. 

Kali's Cherry Tree: So far the tree is nearly quilted. This was taken with overhead lights so is not as 'pink' as the picture on the right. It is densely stitched with a curly, loopy ribbon design. My hubby says it looks even more "like a bird could fly through it" which makes me happy! Next to quilt will be the grass and sky. This one has been my favorite for a long time, but when it is finished, it will be framed and given to our darling granddaughter. She is a very mature 20 year old who plans to treat it as a heirloom. That helps me to let it go!
 

Close-up of quilting on Japanese Cherry Tree

No name yet: This lighthouse is a new project (and I hope my DIL is not peeking). She knows it is started but does not know the subject matter, etc. The area below the 'floating" lighthouse will be rocks, grass and a cliff, so there is much piecing left to do. I also will be stitching lines for glass and railing etc. at the top of the lighthouse and putting at least one window in it. 

The sky is in strips using several "sky" fabrics, as is the water. I'm really happy with both so hope I can find just the right fabric for rocks and rugged-looking bottom part. The rocks are more like exposed layers of mountain and will come up over some of this water, especially near the lighthouse. They will extend to the bottom of the paper pattern it is pinned to. It is 48" x 72" and will go high on a living room wall stairway, very open to view from the loving room and the loft above it. 

Beginning of lighthouse quilt

Happy quilting...

English Country Garden - Finished

Plugging away, a little bit here and there as I study to finish a Masters degree and use quilting as "recess" when my brain starts to hurt!

This one was started in 2008 just to use some floral charm squares that someone gave me. It is not quite 40" square and will likely find a home on someone's knees in a nearby senior's care facility. 

I'm also quilting the cherry tree (on the right) with lots of quilting, so it is taking lots of time. I'm doing it on my Baby Lock because the quilting is more intricate than my skill level on the longarm. It will be good to have it completed as I've procrastinated long enough. I finished the top 2 1/2 years ago. Granddaughter Kali has so much patience with me!

Several other projects are in progress, but no time to take photos. I'm reading blogs though... :-) 

Ocean Waves

This is a simple pattern to use up my over-stuffed stash of blues and greens. It is on the design wall in this photo, only has blocks stitched in the top row. Oh, there is not to be a hole in it... that block fell off and I didn't notice... :-) 

It will likely go to Quilts of Valour as it is about 80" square, a good size for a wounded soldier to curl up in. I've the top half-sewn and will post pictures after it is done.

We just returned from a lovely two weeks in South Carolina visiting our D and SIL. Didn't sew at all, or do much of anything. However, there is a great fabric store near Charlotte, NC. It is Mary Jo's Cloth Store in Gastonia, NC. Vast collection of blending fabrics and novelties. I had to be disciplined and only buy what was on my list.  

Sunrise

Not getting much quilting in these days, but do have another finish. This one is off my usual path because of the colors and because I used a pattern. It is called "Antique'd" and is available at Prairie Quilt Mercantile. I shortened the name to simply "Sunrise." It is 66" x 77" and was simple to make.

I'm not a big fan of these colors, but it used them up from my stash and was fun to quilt (on HQ 16). I drew my own pantograph design and found a good way to print it using a software that does banners. 
 

Peaches & Cream Sunrise

The name is based solely on the colors. It is a simple quilt with log cabin type blocks, 66" x 77" and about 2/3 quilted. 

I'm using a panto that I made up. So far I've learned that it is possible to do a design like this if I position the needle and the laser before beginning each block, and also for each 'sashing' design. I need to walk from the back of my HQ 16 to the front each time, but need the exercise!


Of course I cut too many strips. Since they are only 1.5" and too narrow for binding, I decided to just sew them together and make a table mat or maybe cut them into mug rugs. They are about 19-20" long.

What is bugging me is that the colors do not photograph very well. Try double-clicking? 

Anyway, it is nice to have something to work on. I'm taking some online courses (unrelated to quilting) and really need an excuse to get off my aching sit-me-down and move around. I've no plans for this quilt. We have a world-class children's hospital in our city, so it might wind up there.

One more almost finish: The pattern created for "When God Became a Man" is almost sold out. I have one left! If anyone wants it, quickly go to my Etsy site and make your purchase. The link is on this page.