A few finishes early in the month

I hope you had an enjoyable 4th of July. We had storms so we stayed home and watched World Cup soccer games. Of course, I found some time to quilt. Today we got up to cooler temperatures - at last! It's been way too warm. 

You may know about my big clean out/use it up fabric thing. I am trying to make lots of quilts (maybe 40) this year to use up leftover fabric. I'll have more space and more quilts will be donated. Win-Win!!!

Early on, I decided to cut some 8.5" squares from leftover backings and pair with something complementary. After kitting fabric for 3 - 4 quilts, I decided that I would call them Simply Squares. The number of these are growing and I have 3 finishes to add.

The first is Simply Squares - Black with Colored Dots and Orange. The first picture is indoors and it doesn't look like orange.

This photo, taken outside, shows the true colors and some of the quilting.

I had this backing, a turquoise fabric, in my stash, and I recently bought the exact same fabric for more backs.

It was so nice to get some photos outside. It's gorgeous today although the grass was still wet when I was taking photos.

Size:         56" by 56"

Thread:    Glide 50-wt, top - Autumn #50172

                 back - Lt Turquoise #32975

Batting:     Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:    Double Loop

Simply Squares - Red and Blue with White Dots is one of the larger quilts in the series at 56" by 72". The amount of fabric I have is dictating the size.

You can see the quilting in this photo.

The back almost matches the red on the front, and it has tiny blue dots in a grid pattern.

This is my favorite quilt from today's quilts but it and the others will all be donated.

Size:         56" by 72"

Thread:    Glide 50-wt, top - Blueberry #30281

                 back - Cardinal #70001

Batting:     Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:    Large Loop de Loop

Simply Squares - Black with colored Rings and Yellow has a surprise turquoise back.

You can see the quilting here. I enjoy doing loops and it makes quilting these quite fast.

Size:         56" by 56"

Thread:    Glide 50-wt, top - Lemon Ice #80607

                 back - Lt Turquoise #32975

Batting:     Dream Cotton                                           
Quilting:    String of Loops

Am I getting tired of the Simply Square quilts? Sometimes, so I just switch and work on something else. There are lots of works in progress..

2025 Fall Trip Part 3 of 3

First, I need to remember that we shouldn't be driving distances on Mondays - too many quilt shops are closed! On this trip, we traveled on three Mondays; thank goodness I still found some open shops! I even found more than the items on my list.

Our first stop was a return trip to Nancy Zieman Sewing Studio and Quilt Shop in Beaver Dam. This store has lots of brights which I love. I was able to find two backs for quilt tops I've made. 

backs with finished tops

 

Our second stop was at Quilting Legacies in Fond du Lac. They had a long arm class going on that I was invited to attend (but didn't since we were traveling.) We were able to look around in the store but there was no one to help us. I'd like to stop another time - it was a nice shop.

On Washington Island, we stopped at Sievers School of Fiber Arts. They have a shop where they sell a variety of art and supplies. They had a little fabric and I found a couple pieces for my stash.

In Sturgeon Bay, we found Barn Door Quilt Shop. The owner was really nice and I was amazed at the variety of her stock. I remembered to take photos outside her shop but they aren't good. I'll definitely stop the next time I'm in the area.

I found two backs that will go with my scrappy two-inch squares. There will be four of these quilts total so I now have 3 backs.

backs with a finished top

I've been to Plum Lake Quilts in Sayner before. They carry lots of wool and muted colors. This is a place I love shopping for things for us.

I left with four kits. Ray was quite interested and all of a sudden, I had four kits instead of two. Yes, my husband is an enabler!

A wool Santa wallhanging

A quilt kit that I've looked at before

A cute wool pillow

A wool table runner

We found the Fabric Patch in Ironwood, MI

  

This is a superb shop with a large selection of fabric on two levels. The lady working was related to the owner; she was very helpful and friendly. I found fabric for 3 backs.

The red will be the back of 
the blue and paint splotch quilt.

The fourth of the 2" square quilts, scrappy nine patches
with red sashing will look nice with this navy back.

Finished top, binding, and new backing.

Quilt Elements is in Ashland. I found this shop many years ago in Bayfield, when it first opened. A mother and son worked together and after she passed 9 years ago, the son moved the shop to Ashland, renamed it, and expanded. Since the items on my list had all been checked off, I decided to go with a new quilt. The sailboat fabric spoke to me so I added the darker blue and the red. The fish fabric is for the back. The design is still a bit sketchy and lives in my head.

The last shop on our trip was new to me. We found A Little Piece of Mind Quilt & Yarn Shop in New Richmond.The friendly fellow working was a quilter and a knitter. He was working while the owners were at a quilt show a ways away. There was a large, great selection of fabric and yarn.

I loved the print below - I think being around water for the last 2 weeks has influenced my fabric choices! I thought I could use it with the leftovers when I make the quilt from the last shop. Of course I now know they aren't the same color so I'll find something in my stash. The solid fabric is wide backing and may be used with the print or just stay in my stash.

This was a great trip. Now it's time to sew!

Tom's T-Shirt Memory Quilt

My oldest brother, Tom, passed away in January. One of my nieces kept some of his t-shirts for a quilt and I offered to make it. When I found out that there would be a large gathering on Memorial Day to celebrate and commemorate what would have been his 80th birthday, I put the pedal to the metal and finished the quilt with a couple of days to spare.

Tom was a Navy Seabee and served in Vietnam. He was exposed to Agent Orange which was the reason he lived his later years disabled.

The red/white/blue borders on each of the smaller t-shirt pieces, and the inside quilt border are also from one of Tom's shirts. 

My niece gave me a rather rough layout that she thought would work and suggested gray for the background. I was able to draft a pattern from the layout but couldn't imagine gray for the background after auditioning every gray in our house. I went to the Quilt Peddler in Fennimore, WI and Jen, the owner, took one look at the t-shirts and showed me the perfect gray! She only had 2.5 yards, so we decided on a navy outer border, Stars of Valor Navy Flag Texture from Wilmington Prints. I ended up buying the coordinating Stars of Valor Red Flag Texture for the backing.

I decided a simple meandering would work for the quilt and not take away from the shirts. I did add a few hidden words in the meandering - Tom, Dad, Gramps, Fuzzy (his nickname), and Santa (his other nickname). 

I used Dream Poly for the batting - a big change for me since I always use Dream Cotton. I did not want this quilt to pucker so much; I wanted the t-shirts to be readable. I used Glide #1BLK3, Shadow thread on the top and #70187, Ruby thread on the back. The quilt is 65" by 85".

I had four extra shirts and made 16" pillows with them. The pillows are lined and have an envelope closure. It really helped that the shirts were a large size so I had plenty of fabric to work with. Here are a couple:

We had a great Memorial Day - watching the parade, visiting with family and friends, eating some of Tom's favorite foods and treats, remembering and celebrating Tom. People loved the quilt and it went home with my sister-in-law. I'm really happy that I was able to get it finished. Making the quilt helped me - I've never cried so much making a quilt. Now I hope it and the pillows will bring comfort to Tom's family. 

Made with Love

Quilt Updates

I want to share photos of some WIPs. First the Two Colour Mystery QAL - this week we are putting all of the previously made units together into blocks. It's too late to join the quilt-a-long but the pattern has been released for purchase. It's called Half 'N Half.

At the recent retreat, I began sewing units together to make the blocks. I was more than 90% done when I stopped to measure a block. Oops! I forgot that I didn't have a 1/4" foot on my Featherweight so my block was too small (seams were too big). I just put everything away and Monday I began ripping. I have now finished the ripping, the pressing, and the sewing so I have all of my blocks made in the correct size. Whew!

I think you'd be able to see the pattern better if I had used two plain colors. I'm looking forward to put the whole quilt together - maybe next week.

The top of the hockey quilt is done. My design wall isn't big enough so I took two photos.

First Half

Second Half

I put the quilt on the floor and took another photo. It is flat; I just didn't get on the floor to straighten it out.

The numbers going around one corner are the recipient's all time favorite Blackhawks. The opposite corner has the numbers of his current favorite Blackhawks. When I quilt this, I plan to put in the players' names and more.

I learned about Potato Chip blocks from Joy at The Joyful Quilter.  While at the retreat, I enjoyed making a large potato chip quilt with a Thimbleberries bundle. The pieces were 6.5" by 12.5". 

I also made some 12" Potato Chip blocks. I now have 16 blocks done with scraps from a quilt top that's in the to-be-quilted pile. One of these days, these blocks will become a quilt. It's really fun to sew potato chip blocks.

We had bad storms go through last night and received lots of rain with strong winds. Today the temps are in the 50s but it is very dreary. It's a good day for quilting! Of course everyday is a good day for quilting.

Busy, Busy

I haven't been slacking since we arrived home 2 1/2 weeks ago.  

I think I have taken care of all of our 'local' produce for the coming year except apples. That is much of the produce we'll eat at home in the coming year. The freezers are full and the dehydrator is temporarily put away. Whew!

We've been to some of our Illinois grandsons' sporting events, had a few appointments, and dealt with the everyday stuff - the worst being a refrigerator/freezer that wants to call it quits. We hope to know in a couple of days whether we need to buy a new one.

I have been sewing almost everyday - sometimes a few hours a day! And there is progress being made. 

I am hand sewing the binding on this quilt. I attach the binding by machine and hand stitch it to the back. (The binding doesn't show in the photo.)

This group of five needs the binding hand sewn.  I pieced the first quilt  since vacation and I finished piecing the second. I've quilted the first three since our return. I've made and attached bindings to all five this week.

I'm in no hurry to get the bindings finished since I have a retreat in November. There is no way that I can sit and sew for more than an hour without a considerable break so I'll take handwork along and get some bindings done. Of course, I can only finish  so many quilts while I'm there.

I have a quilt on the longarm that I pieced since returning. It's more brown than this looks - I just took all of these pictures in lamplight.

I have tops finished that need to be quilting. I've pieced the first three since our return.  

As I finish quilts I'll share better pictures without shadows. I'm pushing to get quilts finished so the piles of fabric around here disappear - I might have come home with a lot of yardage. Some of the quilts I'm making are in memory of my friend Colleen, using her fabrics. Yup, I need to get those piles of fabric used too. 

If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, 

you'll never get it done. 

~ Bruce Lee