No Sewing Today, but...

Today we made our annual summer visit to the Aquarium in Riverhead.  They have added a butterfly/exotic bird exhibit that was really fun.

I managed to snap a picture of an Isabella Luna moth.  You may be more familiar with how they look as a Wooly Bear caterpillar.

A butterfly tried to hitch hike out of the exhibit on the back of my husband's shirt.

We were able to hold a bird.

Pieceful Quilting is a great shop just down the street from the Aquarium.  The ladies who work there are really friendly and helpful.  I wandered through, but I only found one fabric that interested me.  At $11.25 a yard, I was able to resist.  I was not able to resist the fabric by the pound bin.  I found two bags that were an incredible bargain at $6.95 each.  They both contained several slightly less than 1/2 yard cuts, with lots of smaller pieces and some strips.  This one had several cute prints including fabric from "The Hungry Caterpillar" line and a beautiful seashell print (the $11.25 fabric was from the same line).  There was also a quilt block. 

 The green pack has a really lovely sea themed batik and even had a few 2 1/2 inch squares tucked in.

It was a great bargain.  All of it is quality fabric and will come in handy.  My only regret, is that I didn't buy another bag.

It's a Gold Mine in There

 "Nothing [is] so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task." 

--William James

William James must have been a quilter describing his relationship with his UFOs.  Despite my attempts to make friends with my UFOs, they continue to taunt me and refuse to be tamed.   I have decided to ignore them and go on to something new.   While I was looking through my collection of 5 inch squares in preparation for Debra's Quilt Smack Down, I discovered some hidden treasures.

I remember buying a Tumbler template for 5 inch charms from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. awhile back, but didn't remember cutting out any shapes with it.  For those of you who don't own a shape cutting machine, this is a lovely template.  If you have charm squares already cut, you can turn them into a pile of Tumbler blocks in no time.  I also works well with 5 inch strips.  I don't know when I'll get time to work on it, but I created a kit that I can start on when I'm just looking for something to sew.


In June 2010, I completed this quilt called "Quilter's Bounty." 

 I must have really enjoyed piecing it because I found the pattern packed in a baggie with enough of the sewn strip blocks and 2 1/2 inch squares to make another one.  All I have to do is cut the setting squares and strips and I'm good to go.  It's an older pattern so the instructions are not written to be used with a jelly roll , but it would really work up fast if you used one.  The finished quilt is very deceiving.  It looks as though you frame four patch blocks and alternate them with strip blocks.  I'm sure that would be an easy way to go but the pattern offers a quick alternative that works very well..  One more quilt added to the list.

Charity Quilt Smack Down

After finishing up the H2H Charity Challenge, I decided I wasn't going to sign up for anything for awhile and just concentrate on my UFOs.  That was before Debra at Debra's Design Studio  lured me into signing up for a Charity Quilt Smack Down she is hosting on Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28.   The reason she was able to reel me in without a fight was because the quilt she will be making is super easy, uses a ton of scraps and will go to a Veteran's group.  As if that isn't enough, you can send it to her and she will quilt it.  Since I like to piece, but dread quilting, this is an answer to my quilting prayers.

The pattern she will be using is from Barbara at Thinking Out Loud
 
Debra had a Pyramid quilt Smack Down last weekend that I was unable to participate in, but I'll certainly be using her method in the future.

I've already pulled some fabrics from my stash.

Go on! Take a look!  You know you want to do it.

Hands 2 Help Challenge completed

Today is the final day of the Hands 2 Help Quilt Challenge.  Visit Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict to see all of the quilts made by the 47 participants. I  completed 2 of the 3 quilts I started for the Challenge.  I tried 2 new to me techniques on the red, white and black quilt. It was the first time I used a flange on a quilt and my first attempt at sewing a binding on completely by machine.  I was delighted with the flange which added a narrow punch of solid black to the border, but less than excited about the machine sewn binding.  I actually like hand sewing the binding to the back of a quilt.   I find it to be very relaxing and a great way to keep my hands busy while watching television or when I am a passenger in the car.  I decided to try the machine sewn binding because it has been so hot here this summer.  The week I was applying the binding, temperatures reached 100 unairconditioned degrees.   The tutorial I followed recommended using a blanket stitch.  Although I like the quilt, if I machine bind a quilt in the future, I will try a different method.

The back of the quilt looks washed out in the photo.  The middle stripe is Kona cherry, while the 2 side stripes are from the fabric below.

The second quilt I completed was made using the fabric sent to me by my challenge partner Jamie.  I really like the bright colors against the crisp white.  While I was finishing up the quilting, I realized that I reversed a few of the blocks.  I was disappointed that I didn't pick up the error in time to correct it, but I still love the way the quilt looks.  If you find the errant blocks, please don't tell me, it will definitely burst my bubble.

 

I used a pretty pink floral for the backing which is actually much brighter in person.

I wasn't able to put together the blocks I made for the third quilt so I will complete it and use it for a different charitable group.  The fabric was leftover from the same UFO that spawned the first red/white/black quilt.  I think it will make a cute quilt when finished.

The quilts will be taken to Romania along with food and school supplies by the husband and father-in-law of Judi of Green Fairy Quilts.  If you would like to see a video of one of their mission trips visit the Green Fairy Quilts blog Thanks Sarah for hosting such a fun and worthwhile Challenge.  I hope this will become an annual event.

UFO Conversion

I have come to the realization that the primary reason I have so many stubborn UFOs hanging around is because I have ceased to like them.  It's hard to devote the time to finishing something you really don't care about.  I first blogged about my black/white/red quilt back in March of 2010.

First I decided the red batik I chose for the sashes and border had too much black in it.  Then I thought that the stripes looked boring.  In an effort to save the project and avoid wasting the fabric, I bought a brighter red batik.  Then I decided to take the strips apart and turn them into 4 patch blocks.  Today, I completed the top and like the results.  When it's finished, it will be traveling to Romania as part of the Hands 2 Help Challenge.  The colors are more vibrant in person, but it was too gloomy outside to take pictures today.

I still have lots of strips left over to make another quilt with.

My Baby is All Grown Up

I've been having computer issues with photo retrieval so I haven't been able to post my happy news.  My baby (the Viking Princess) is all grown up.  She graduated from college on May 27th with a major in Psychology and a minor in Computer Science and has now joined the ranks of the unemployed.  She's pictured here  with the President of the college after the Baccalaureate ceremony the day before graduation.  She was one of the student speakers at the Baccalaureate ceremony and I sobbed so loud I could barely hear what she was saying.

We were not able to take many pictures on Graduation Day.  It was very hot during the LONG ceremony and the area where my daughter was sitting was in direct sunlight.  After the ceremony she didn't feel well so we gave her the opportunity to rest and cool down.  We got a few shots before the day was over, but not nearly enough to make me happy.

Her college adviser told her it was better to work a year before applying to graduate school so that she could be sure of the area of psychology she wanted to specialize in.  Unfortunately, she neglected to advise her where the job would come from.  

Last week, she  interviewed for an assistant teacher position.  She was cheerfully told that if she didn't hear from them in 2 weeks, to give them a call since they received over 500 resumes for the position.   While she was at the school, there were 2 other young women waiting for their second interview.  Both of them are already attending  graduate school so the competition is tough.

This week she felt positive about a phone interview she had for a psychology research assistant position that is exactly what she wants.  She won't know if she is in the running for the job for at least a month.  They are still waiting for the grant to be funded.  A summer research position she was offered was reneged when their funding was cancelled.  The job market is really frightening.  People with Master's degrees and Phds are competing for entry level positions.

She has great credentials and attended one of the top Liberal Arts Colleges in the country, so hopefully there will be something on the horizon.  In the meantime, it's great to have her home.

Halloween In June

Sorry, these items have already been given away. I will be having another giveaway next week.


Jana over at Adventures of a Cross Stitch Drama Queen  is encouraging quilters to work on their Halloween projects in June rather than later in the year when everyone seems to get busy.  I think it's a great idea.  Unfortunately, I don't have any Halloween projects ready to work on at the moment.  I do, however, have some Autumn/Halloween panels that I bought as part of a "Panel Surprise" sale bag from the Fat Quarter shop a while back.  They are calling out from my fabric closet and begging to be released.  If you would like to celebrate Halloween in June by making something with one of these lovely panels, please leave me a comment and I will mail you one.  Sorry,  I will only post to the US or Canada.  Please make sure you are not set as a "No Reply" blogger, if you are, leave your email or I will not be able to reach you.