These three made the cut and came home from B&N. You can probably guess by now that the Quilt it for Kids is for Mom!

An outing

What could be more perfect than an iced latte and a stack of books and
magazines to browse through?

I wonder how many will go home with me?

Baby Quilts

Mom has made several quilts from this magazine that have been really cute ....including the trains and the rabbits posted yesterday and the baby carriage quilt that Mom has pinned and ready to quilt (sitting beside the stack of quilts from yesterday morning).

Back issues are available at the Fons & Porter site.

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Mom's quilts (as requested)

Not all of these were donated today but I went into Mom's computer for photos of some of her recent quilts. She really makes cute quilts and as I told BJ, I claim credit for getting Mom interested and teaching her to quilt!

You'll notice that she likes applique a lot more than I do and on these small quilts she pieces and quilts them herself on her Bernina. Her larger tops are sent to me for quilting although Deb does an occasional one for her too.

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Breakfast

Mom and I are heading out to IHOP for breakfast and then over to Catholic Charities to take some quilts. I brought a couple with me to donate but Mom's been really busy!

Did I mention

that one of the reasons for this trip was a dinner with friends from high school. I hate to actually call it a 30 year reunion because it makes me sound old but I had a great time seeing friends I hadn't seen in years.

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Pressing

I tend to do things in a certain way with my quilting but I'm usually open to learning (hence all the books). For years I always used steam to press but in the last 6-8 months I've been using a dry iron and am surprised how much better I like it.

During the piecing of the block I only press with the dry iron but once the block is finished, I give it a spritz of Mary Ellen's Best Press and press.

Another tip I learned a couple years after I'd gotten my longarm was that I didn't need to press my backs before loading them on the longarm. A little spritz of water after the back is loaded gets even the most stubborn wrinkles out.

So what tips for quilting do YOU have to share?

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Cancelled!

I travel enough that I usually take delays and canceled flights in
stride......

I'm now heading to Norfolk via Detroit and my brother insists on
driving over to Norfolk to pick me up even though I'm getting in after
11pm. He's such a good brother!

Delayed

Hoping I don't miss my Atlanta connection! Too bad I didn't get
upgraded this flight like we did on the ones last week.

Which would you pick?

I was talking to Adam the other night and he mentioned again that he'd really like a quilt for his girlfriend so I told him I'd send an email with several tops that I already had pieced and they could choose one for me to finish for Lindsey.

So these were the 5 choices I sent ..... which one would you have chosen?

(Photos will enlarge if you click on them)

They surprised me by choosing the Hearts and Strings top inspired by this quilt by Sandy Bonsib so it's on the design wall for me to measure and pick out a backing. Although I haven't made any promises, the goal is to quilt it when I get back from this next trip and take it when we see them the last week of July.

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Contest winner

I've assembled the links submitted into a list and posted it on the HeartStrings Blog and used a random number generator to pull a number for a prize. Gypsy Quilter is the winner which is kind of neat because she had sent the string tops in her link to me to be quilted and donated as Quilts of Valor. (Julia in NE helped with the quilting of these tops).

I also added the link to the list on the sidebar of the HeartStrings blog so it will be easy to find for anyone looking for some inspiration. Feel free to send me links as you come across other great string quilts and I'll add them.

After my next trip, I'll be looking through the list again myself to see if I can find inspiration for my next string quilt there -- if I do, I'll award another prize to the person submitting that link.

Thanks to everyone who shared their favorite String Quilts with me!

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Summer has arrived

It's been in the 90's the last couple days and I almost wish I was back at the beach where we had such nice breezes AND where I could just jump in the water if I got too hot.

However on the positive side, the grounds of our townhouse community are lush and green and gorgeous all without any effort on my part!

I'm puttering around with half square triangles and Pinwheel blocks and one by one, more blocks are making their way onto my design wall. I'm really liking this quilt!

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More books

I recently had questions from a new quilter asking about machine quilting, marking, etc and I thought I'd share these 4 quilting books from my collection. I have LOTS of books on quilting but these are probably the ones I'd recommend to a new quilter.

Heirloom Machine Quilting was my first book purchased that just dealt with quilting and it's a great reference book.

I love all the books from the Rodale Successful Quilting Library and the Fast and Fun Machine Quilting has lots of good information and tips.

The Easy Machine Quilting book is from Rodale too and has step by step lessions and projects to machine quilt.

Dianne Gaudynski's Guide to Machine Quilting also has basic quilting information and lots of great tips although from the cover you might think it was a book just for advanced quilters.

All the links but the one to the Successful Quilting Library will take you to an Amazon page where you can actually look inside the books.

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Vacation is great....but

It's nice to come home too. I miss Chesty when we're gone and am always eager to get home and pick him up. Keith tossed him straight into the bathtub and he's soft and cuddly!

I love being able to post photos and text directly from the iPhone while I'm gone, I enjoyed sharing my vacation photos and the beautiful sunsets almost made me wish I was living in Florida again. I have to remember we see some pretty spectacular sunsets here too -- they're just not outside my window every night although they used to be. One thing I miss about our apartment are the gorgeous sunsets over Loring Park. This first photo is from the deck we had there.

There are some spectacular sunsets on the Mississippi River too, I just have to be out walking to catch them. This was a photo from last summer taken from the Stone Arch Bridge.
I've started working my way through all my email, I read it on the iPhone while I was gone but didn't sort or respond to much of it. I'm making my list of all the links people sent for string quilts and once I'm done, I'll draw a name from those that submitted them for a prize.

If you had questions for me while I was gone, I'll try to answer them if I have an email address to respond to....so many people still don't have their email addresses enabled in their profiles.

I'm going to try and get some piecing done this week but I head out again on Friday for another long trip - a High School reunion dinner and a visit to Mom in Virginia and to Maryland from there for my brother's wedding. It's a busy summer so far.


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Do you think Chesty will be glad to see us when we get home?

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One last sunset

Viewed from our room.

Our last day

And we're spending it on the beach where I snapped this photo of the
hotel.

Sunset and a storm

Just another day before we head home and I'm starting to think about
my Stars and Pinwheels waiting on my design wall.

I love storms

And with everything we need right here we can sit back and watch it.

Minnesota pale

We're set up for the day on the beach but with lots of shade so I don't burn (more). I'm even wearing a hat today Deb!

Sunset

Deb and I had a great visit today and since Keith spent most of the
day working I was glad to have company.

Drinks and snacks in the lobby bar tonight and then dinner on our
balcony watching the sunset.

A visit from Deb tomorrow

She's going to drive down to sit by the pool and have lunch with me.
She wasn't thrilled with the idea of wearing a bathing suit in public
but heck no one knows us here!

I'll even be brave and share a photo of me by the pool today!

I finished up a Sherlock Holmes story -A Study in Scarlet -yesterday
and today have been reading a biography of Victoria and Albert.

Vacation spot #2

The Ritz Carlton - Naples. We're settling in for the rest of our
vacation.

Driving Alligator Alley

All we need are two little boys sitting in the back seat watching for
gators!

Books

You know I'm a reader, right? I try to keep my Shelfari bookshelf up to date with new books I'm reading - most of which are on the Kindle these days but I also have a large (huge?) personal library of 500 to 600 books on quilting with some embroidery, beading, knitting, and crochet titles tossed in there too.

So when I started contemplating how I'm going to bind the irregular edges of my string tumbler and the novelty tumbler quilts I pulled these two books to look for information on binding irregular edges.

And I'm still debating whether my Stars and Pinwheels quilt will get a border -- it really big already but I might as well read up on borders just in case. I just remembered I have another border book somewhere -- will have to look for that one too.

After reading the book I bought in Nebraska about their Quilt Documentation Project I pulled out these 3 to look through them again -- I love looking at these old quilts and reading about the women who made them. It's a great source of inspiration and look at the cover on the Georgia book -- it's a string quilt, I'd forgotten about that one!


I've lived in Virginia, Georgia, and Minnesota so I'm especially interested in quilts from those states but I don't have a book on Florida quilts. We lived there for 13+ years AND I started quilting when we lived in Florida so I'll have to look to see if they have a documentation project book.


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The sun peeks through

The sky's been dark and stormy looking but with the sun peaking
through I think the rain may pass us by for now.

Yesterday's book was Testimony by Anita Shreve. Today I started
reading the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan
Doyle - got to love the Kindle for that!

On my design wall

Unless I was able to complete more blocks before I left, it will look like this next Monday too.


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A lazy, lazy pool day

Dinner with family later but for now, a drink, some sun, and my book!

Computer desktop

What's on your computer desktop? I always use one of my photos and they change fairly frequently. Until recently I had one from our Ireland trip but this is the current one. I know there's snow on the ground but it's the view from my front porch and I love the colors in this photo taken early one morning.

What do you want to bet that when we get back from vacation this will change to a sunset on the gulf photo?


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First stop - Ft Lauderdale Beach

Contest #1 -- String Quilts

I want to compile a list of links with string quilt variations for HeartStrings so if you've made a string quilt or have a favorite link to a string quilt share the link on this post for a chance to win a prize. Each link you share gets you one chance to win and if you share a link that inspires my next string quilt you'll win too!

I'll start off the list with some string quilts I've made(these link to instructions for making the quilts too):

String Tumblers
Amish Stripes and Strings
Chinese Coins with Coins border
Chinese Coins - Easy version
Chinese Coins - Easy version #2
Chinese Coins ~ Uneven Version
Strings ~ Half Square Strings
Strings ~ Patriotic Star
Strings ~ Purple Project Quilt #1
Strings ~ Purple Project Quilt #2
Strings ~ Rectangle Strings
Strips and Strings Log Cabin
Strings ~ Hearts

This Coins quilt doesn't have instructions but it's based on a quilt by Karla Alexander on the cover of this book.

Here's my String Courthouse Steps quilt based on one by Sandy Bonsib on the cover of this book.

This is my HeartStrings quilt with green centers -- instructions are available here and here's my Pink version.

It doesn't have to be a quilt of yours to share the link but make sure I can contact you by email if you win. The contest will end on June 22nd when I get back to town.

Now, what are your favorite string quilt variations?


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Getting out of my rut

I've had this book by Laura Lee Fritz for a while ...called Creative Classics with continuous line designs based on feathers, fans, clamshells, etc but hadn't quilted any of them. I'd been trying to think of up a grid design to quilt on another one of the HeartStrings Happy Block tops and decided to give this first design a try.

The top was pieced at our Nebraska sew-in from donated blocks and the grid was quick and easy to quilt and left the quilt soft and cuddly just like I like them.

Here's another view, I think it's one of those designs that looks better in person but I'm pleased with the results. You should be able to click the photos for larger views.

The rest of the day will be devoted to laundry, packing, and getting Chesty's things ready for boarding -- we leave for FL first thing in the morning. I've scheduled some posts but will have the iPhone with me to share some photos with you too.


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Do you cook for one?

I don't.........



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It's all about Vicki

Well, at least this post is!

I received my order from Vicki's new Etsy shop and the two fat quarter sets of her hand dyed fabrics are just beautiful. I know this isn't the best photo of the fabric so you'll just have to visit the shop to see for yourself.

I love the labels too! I bet you've been wondering what she's been doing with all the color palettes she's been posting on her blog....


Vicki also has a new feature at MQ Resource - a topic specific Whistlestop Web Tour and this episode's topic is fabric postcards filled with links to instructions and inspiration for making postcards. You don't need to be a member at MQ Resource to check it out.


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String Tumblers

As requested, brief instructions are posted at my MaryQuilts.com site for this tumbler quilt. While I did cut this one with my wonderful GO cutter, it can be made using a template.
I realized as I was trying to draw the string blocks in the EQ that a stripe fabric would work in place of the string pieced blocks too.

Today's picture is a little better and hopefully you can see how pretty the Blue Aqua fabric is -- I feel like it's my Summer vacation quilt esp. as we're heading for Florida on Saturday and I'm anticipating lots of beach time!


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Bad photo; cute quilt

Maybe I'll try an outdoor shot of this top in the morning ....it is SO much better looking in person.
Thanks again to Kathie for her inspiration -- this one was fun to make. (And it really is cute!)

Edit: I had a question about whether I planned to post an instruction sheet for this quilt and while I did use my GO to cut mine out, it can be made from templates too so I will post a quick instruction sheet for anyone wanting to try it out.


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Quilt requests

It seems that everyone (Keith, Adam, Chris & Becky, even Adam's new girlfriend) wants a new quilt.

Chris tried to claim the string Tumblers but wanted it bed size so when I chose the turquoise that was out of the question because I only had 2 yards of it. So now he's trying to talk me into another quilt and talking to Becky at the same time to figure out what color scheme they want -- brown and teal (turquoise?) are what they've agreed to although I certainly haven't agreed to made another quilt (yet).

Keith wants a flannel quilt before the winter -- a big sofa (twin size) quilt to wrap up in during our long Minnesota winter. He has one already but he's not fond of the colors -- of course I'm going to make his and have even bought the flannel.

Adam's Boxed Squares quilt is in progress -- he wanted a lightweight quilt he could use in the summer or layer on his bed with his others during the winter but he just asked me how long it would take to make a queen size quilt for his girlfriend..... sorry Adam, girlfriends are eligible for a lap/sofa quilt ONLY, bed size quilts are reserved for wives.

It's nice that they all want quilts but none of them should hold their breath!


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A good day for the library

No time for cleaning...

This is one disadvantage to going off in multiple directions...I've got piles everywhere and don't want to put stuff away because the projects are still in progress.
I'm in the process of assembling the String Tumbler (inspired by Kathie) so I CAN put away the strings for now. Once that top is done, I'll be back to work on the Stars & Pinwheels. I keep thinking the solution is more bins but that doesn't seem to be working for me!


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What's on your design wall?

It's Monday again and Judy will be asking what's on your design wall. I'm still working on the Stars and Pinwheels blocks but I'm also working on the string tumblers and during the night they starting taking over the wall.

Someone dragged my quilt off the ottoman so he could sit on it while he played with his toy -- doesn't he have a guilty look on his face?


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Stars & Pinwheels

I added the instruction sheet for this quilt to my MaryQuilts.com site for anyone interested.

Please keep in mind that my quilt is made with 4 inch finished half square triangles (4.5 with seam allowances) and finishes at 80x96 without borders. I included measurements in the Quilt Note section for creating a smaller version using 3 inch finished half square triangles (3.5 with seam allowances). As always, if you make a quilt using one of my instruction sheets, I'd love to see a photo.






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I crashed...

Keith left for St. Louis around 7 this morning and I slept from then until 5 PM, yes you read that right, 5PM!

My sleep has been disrupted even more than normal this week and I've been exhausted. Yesterday was rainy so we just puttered around the house, a movie, reading, some Scrabble....the only thing I did was cook dinner...and as tired as I was, I still couldn't sleep last night.

With Keith gone and me being well rested now, I should get some piecing done this evening.


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String pieced tumblers

I had a few question about how I was piecing the tumblers.

I used short strings to piece a square - no foundation

iron seams up

place the pieced fabric on the die

and cut. I usually layer 3 or 4 pieces at a time.

By the way, a lot of people ask about how much fabric is wasted on the GO. The blue triangle pieces in the above block are leftover from cutting my Kaleidoscope quilt. I sewed two together to get a rectangular strip and used many of them in the border of that quilt and am using the leftovers in these blocks.


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Flexibility

I thought I'd alternate my string tumblers with multi colored ones -- yuck! Too busy.
So I decided to try a kind of mottled solid -- much better (even better than this photo shows) and surprisingly as I put the other pieces on the board -- I'm liking how they look together so I guess I'm making two tumbler quilts. In quilting it pays to stay flexible and change things when they're not working out like you'd like.

AND, I'm continuing to make half square triangles and assemble blocks for the Stars and Pinwheels and I'm really liking this one too! I have about 11 of the 30 blocks done.

Framed rectangles

I'd been thinking about making a framed rectangle quilt for a while -- there are several patterns out there and Judy just created a GORGEOUS version so I decided to play around in EQ6 and see if I could come up with one myself that would just use dies from my GO. So using the 3.5x6.5 rectangle, 2 inch and 2.5 inch strips this is what I came up with and I like it!
Just a note about the GO Cutter. Angie had written that she has a GO and has been very upset to find some inaccuracies in some of the dies. After her email I checked my 5 inch die and found it to be slightly less than an 1/8 inch short on one side.

Apparently there's a Yahoo discussion group and some unhappiness with GO in general but I have to say I'm still VERY happy with my cutter and the dies I've used. Even with some variations, all my quilts have gone together well and I've been thrilled with the results. Of course, I've never been a perfect piecer so I'm used to working with blocks that have very small variations.

So just one more thing to consider for those of you that have been looking at the GO. By the way, there is some discussion about ways to minimize the variation by paying attention to grain and using a piece of paper....if interested -- check out the Accuquilt Yahoo Group -- you have to join but you'll get more than one point of view there.


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I'm getting a lot of reading done

What can I say...other than puttering around with the blocks on my design wall I've spent most of this week reading.....

Title: Grave Sight (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 1)

Author: Charlaine Harris

Title: Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 2)

Author: Charlaine Harris

Title: A Death in Vienna

Author: Daniel Silva

Title: Vision In White

Author: Nora Roberts

Title: Wicked Prey

Author: John Sandford

Title: Chasing Harry Winston: A Novel

Author: Lauren Weisberger

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Puttering along

Vicki's pinks are working well with mine and as you can see, I've decided to go with pink pinwheels...so I'm puttering along making half square triangles and sewing my blocks together.

I'm almost embarrassed to mention it but for some reason I was thinking these blocks were going to be 12 inches resulting in a quilt that was 60 x 72 without borders but with 4 inch finished triangles the blocks are obviously 16 inches and my quilt will be 80 x 96 -- quite a big difference not that it matters.

Up in the corner, a quick experiment based on a quilt seen on Kathie's blog...these will eventually be alternated with a background fabric but it hadn't occurred to me to use my strings for the Tumblers.


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Dinner alone again tonight

....but it was tasty!

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Let's blame Judy

I like scrappy backgrounds and had been buying fat quarters for variety but this latest quilt is using them up pretty quickly and soon I'll be left with very little....so I did some shopping at Thousands of Bolts a site I learned about from Judy.

In this case the variety was more important that the individual fabrics so I wasn't nervous about buying them online and am really happy with just about all the fabrics. One or two I wouldn't have picked if I saw them in person but they'll work fine in scrap quilts so it's not a problem.

Not that I'm encouraging you all to enhance your stashes but the prices are really good....

My spa day yesterday was really, really nice -- I was still a bit lonely but Keith and I are heading to Florida on the 13th for 9 days so I'm focusing on that trip rather than being lonely this week.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!


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