Quiltathon Saturday

It may not look like much, but this is what I accomplished on Quiltathon Saturday. I used my DSM as I am still not into fine details on my Voyager (I need more practice). I basted the batt to the top of my challenge quilt with water soluble thread and then I cut away all the batt from where I am going to be doing some tight freemotion fillers. What tedious work trimming batt can be. It took me all afternoon and most of the evening (short break for a Valentine's Dinner at church). Here's hoping it will all be worth it in the end!

The quilt is all batiks and I'm loving it...can't wait until it is done so I can see if it works out as beautifully as I see it on EQ and in my mind's eye. As this is the back, you can't see the fabrics I've got going...I'll reveal it all when it is finished :)

check out other quiltathon participant's blogs from the Patchwork Times blog.

Yes we got some snow

we got some snow yesterday.  Our back porch shows 12" of fresh stuff. The front porch has a roof :)

The boybarian shoveled twice yesterday, dh came home from work early (and shoveled), and Princess Sunshine had her theater practice canceled. It really wasn't too bad of a day!

The boybarian is outside now, ignoring schoolwork because he is "shoveling, Mom" even though the sounds he is making sound more like play!

Did you get any snow?

Design Wall ~ Feb 8

I am working on a challenge quilt. This is the beginning of three borders on my design wall. This is a revised design (my original was WAY intense) because two of the fabrics were on backorder and not due in until right before the challenge is due, I've already waited for three weeks and finally canceled my order. I didn't have enough time to do design I wanted in that short of a time, so I have simplified my design, found some alternate fabrics that make me happy, and started sewing.

I am loving the secondary design that is happening with this combination of border blocks :) Here's hoping the whole quilt looks as fantastic in fabric as it does in EQ!

This will be my obsessive quilt project this week. I'd like to get the top done and the trapunto started before a quilt retreat the 19th through 21st, as I want to focus on the quilting while with other quilters. They will give me good feedback on what quilting designs to use...I hope!

I'll also have to think of some other project to bring along that will be less intense...I hope to have Judy's book by then and can work on something from her book :)

Check out other blogger's design walls by visiting the Patchwork Times blog.

Stash Report...since I forgot last week

I forgot to update the stash report last week... so here is my update and an old quilt picture :)

Over the last two weeks I used 7.5 yards and purchased 3. So I'm still ahead of the game *whew!*

The quilt on my frame in the is picture is one I made for the Peanut. She chose the fabrics, starting with the bubble batik and she chose the pattern. It graces her bed at college :)

Time for homeschooling

On Friday, Princess Sunshine came across her first dissection in Biology class. It was a worm. There are other, more graphic photos on the memory card, but I won't share them with you.

I think this is where I am shouting :) I am SO glad for dh who takes over dissections. He works all day elsewhere and my job is to facilitate the learning going on at home, but I am thankful he steps up to the plate and takes over when I *need* him to do so. He's my favorite guy!

I am not fond of dissections. I did one frog in high school and our frog was empty...there were no organs to locate and show to the teacher. My lab partner and I didn't mind :P I'm doing my best to avoid them as an adult as well...

Quilting with children

quilting with children can be fun...or oh, SO frustrating. Last time I worked with the boybarian, he was so distractable and belligerent I was ready to tie him to the sewing chair so he could stay on task.

This week, he was easier to work with *WHEW!*

He now has the first of two borders totally sewn on his quilt. Next session he will be cutting the second border. It is directional, like all the other prints, so he will have to decide which direction the design should run. Maybe it will be every which way, like the field of the quilt :P

I am so glad I chose to have him work a really simple pattern and he chose the fabrics (boy scout, if you can't tell) so he is excited to have the quilt, it is the process that is so hard. Maybe when the quilt is mounted on the frame he will have more fun quilting it (bigger machine).

It has been a few days

and they have been busy! School, kids activities and a VBS presentation...I am looking forward to being home with my quilting!

This block and border blocks are for the guild's raffle quilt. We are more than half way done with blocks and then to get it together and quilted! I had to redo my block as I sewed it together in the wrong orientation :( But now it is all OK *whew!*

I have got the first part of my mystery quilt printed and gave it to guild members tonight. If you are interested in the pre-instructions for Waiting for Spring Mystery Quilt let me know and I'll shoot you a pdf :) I don't know how to attach one to my blog...