Stashbuster moving along

Here is the next step of my stashbuster...I'll give a hint. We don't live far from the beach.

Today was a hot day -mid 90s - so I didn't venture out much except to check on the tomato and pepper plants. Later this evening I'll probably sit out on the deck and feel the breeze. Actually, I didn't do much today because I am such an old movie nut that I stayed up most of the night watching movies...started with The Thomas Crown Affair with Steve McQueen. Hadn't seen it for years!

Stashbuster continues...

I am attaching another snapshot of pieces of my latest stashbuster! Any ideas about what the project is yet?

An exciting email came yesterday from the co-author of the book I have coming out this summer (Reading, Writing, and Inquiry in the Science Classroom - Grades 6-12). She got a flyer from the publisher about the NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) 2008 Conference. The book was advertised in the flyer! Great feeling!!!

stashbuster hint

Here is a hint about the pattern I am making for my next stashbuster. Any ideas what it is going to be? You'll have to wait to find out!

Also, Ann Marie mentioned in her comment about my log cabin stashbuster that she hadn't seen log cabin blocks arranged in the zigzag before. The idea came from a great book, Log Cabin Quilts Unlimited by Patricia Cox and Maggi McCormick Gordon published by Creative Publishing International in 2004. The book has many creative ways to work with log cabin arrangements and block designs (rectangles, octagons, triangles, etc.) I have had this book for a while and love looking at it but this is the first time I actually made something from it.

Stash buster challenge

OK I have become obsessed. I decided that since I had already finished the log cabin wall hanging stashbuster and completed the UFO from an orphan block with scraps in my stash, I should keep at it. So I have decided to do another wall hanging. You'll have to wait to see what I plan for this assortment of colors!

More Fabric!

I know I already blogged today but I just had to talk about a new quilt shop I visited this afternoon with one of my good quilting buddies. The shop had its grand opening today. It has a great atmosphere. The building was originally used as an antique shop so it has that homey feeling. The owner has a nice selection of fabric and is getting more in everyday. She also has books and other supplies. It is really a great set up with a great big room upstairs to hold classes!


The shop's name is Serendiptity in Dagsboro, DE.


Of course, I can't leave a quilt shop without fabric. I don't know what I will do with it yet but I bought plenty! The picture doesn't do the vibrant colors justice.

Challenge Block

I am attaching some pictures of my summer challenge project.

First, I cut colored strips from scraps. I made these primarily dark or medium strips. The red center blocks were cut from a fat quarter I picked up somewhere along the way. Then I cut the beige strips from some fabric I had left over from another quilt (I bought much more than I needed.)










Then I put the colored strips in a bag according to their size and pulled out strips randomly as I needed them. I kept it random unless there would be two of the same design in the same block.




I laid out the blocks in many arrangements on the living room floor and then decided on the zigzag arrangement because it reminded me of waves.







There are six 8 inch blocks in a row and 10 rows. I am putting a narrow black border around the arrangement because I think I will use this as a wall hanging.

summer challenge

I just found the greatest "for fun" summer challenge. I was just doing such a self-imposed challenge so it fit into my summer plans! I am using up scraps from my stash and making log cabin blocks. I am arranging them in the zigzag pattern as suggested in the book Log Cabin Quilts Unlimited by Patricia Cox and Maggi McCormick Gordon. I am doing the zigzag because the pattern reminds me of waves..

What a week!

The last week has been hectic. I picked up a special quilt from the longarm quilter on Tuesday and then had to hurry and do the binding because it was a gift for a dear friend that we were going to see in PA over the weekend. The quilt block is based upon the Children's Delight pattern found in the Quiltmaker's Gift book. The fabric has butterflies to symbolize change and the colors are blue and yellow (gold) for Lycoming College where we both worked together. The woman who did the quilting did a beautiful job and worked with me to choose just the right quilting design. The design has butterflies and flowers and is done with metallic thread to match the butterfly fabric.

It was a very emotional time because my friend, Rachael, just had extensive back surgery and is finally able to get around a little. She is getting ready to move from her lovely big house into an apartment that is on just one floor. If you look carefully at the bottom picture, you can see the tail of her 15-year old cat, Woofy, who was very curious about the quilt. I don't miss working and I don't regret moving to DE, but I do miss my friend.

Rescued Orphan

I finally finished the Wizard Quilt and it is ready for the longarm quilter.

Then I decided I should get busy on one of my orphan blocks...for two reasons 1) in my guild UFO contract I said that I would finish two and I haven't done any yet and 2) in a couple of weeks I am going to be a garden quilter in the Lewes garden show and I need something small to work on. This was a sample square I did several years ago before I did a big quilt. Here it is before

I decided to add some borders...glad I saved scraps! I will hand quilt it and make it into a wall hanging. Maybe get fancy and do some embellishments.

We are in the middle of a heat advisory...high 90s today so I think I shall just stay in and quilt. I do need to run to pick up a quilt from the long arm quilter when she calls today but other than that the AC and I will be good friends. I did my daily walk this a.m. at 7:30 and by the time I got back I was very sweaty!

A Network of Quilters

Thanks to my link to Connie's blog I found this great site Quilting Bloggers. It is a great place to get ideas, find other quilting bloggers, and other stuff....check it out.

Inspiration

What a busy week I have had. Our 2 1/2 year old grandson was with us from Friday night until Sunday. We enjoy having him here so much. My family is such an inspiration for everything I do! Here are some pictures....note how he is helping Pop-pop!

Monday, I went to my quilting guild. This was the annual "Treasures" auction. Members donate quilting/sewing/fabric related items for the rest of us to bid on. I got some real bargains...some templates for diagonal set triangles and square in square blocks and some great fabric. The fabric was just what I was looking for. I had been searching some catalogs for fabric to make a quilt for our bedroom and the colors at the auction were just right! Of course, that quilt is one of many on my to-do list!! Then we finished the auction off with a great luncheon...what a wonderful day to spend with friends.

Today, I spent time with my writing group...a sub-group of the guild. It is so inspiring to see the work of others in progress (some are writing novels and short stories) and to get feedback on my creative efforts. I think one thing I have learned from working with this group is that we all struggle with our writing and no matter where you are in your writing development, there are others who have "been there, done that, agonized over that" and have survived!

Now to put that inspiration to work....what should I do first?