2012 DOQ Holiday Blocks

As a member of DOQ ( my quilt guild), I like to participate on as many guild activities as possible. I think that is why I belong, so I can do quilt related activities with the group.
Every end of the year, we have a challenge to make quilt blocks with some fat quarter fabrics that we buy from the guild.
This year we have 2 fabrics, a snow man one and an African panel one.
We receive the guidelines to make the blocks when we buy the fabrics.
 In this case, we were to make a 12" block with the snow man fabric and a block that is a multiple of 2 with the Blue panel.
The 4 blue ladies were all together on the original panel, but we could separate them for the blocks as long as we did not chop them in any way. So, this is what I did, I made 2 blocks.

3 ladies in the panel, added a border with blue and white fabrics and a  coping strip at the bottom to make it an even size

1 lady panel, added the border with 1" blue and white squares

The snow man fabric was a fat quarter, so I added some of my own fabrics and made 3 blocks. They are all basically the same block with fabrics of different values. It took me very little time to make them. I used the easy angle and the companion rulers, so all the strips were cut the same size. The center block is 6 1/2".

Snow man on center of the block is the challenge fabric

Every block you make is a chance to win all the blocks our December meeting.
I can't wait to see what the talented people of this guild will make with their fabrics.

Oh, and we also have a red work embroidery block that I am finishing up.

Due to an increased amount of spam comments, I am resetting "word verification" for comments. It is also a good thing for humanity. This word verifications help more books and other documents to become available electronically.

Mug Rugs

I have a lot of people to thank lately. Life is really good when you can say that.
So, to show my appreciation for the nice things they have done for me, I made "mug rugs."
A mug rug is a fun small quilt that one can use to put a cup of the preferred beverage and a cookie or a treat. Most rugs are about 4" by 6"; but there are no laws about the size, so mine have different sizes.




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The one made with fabric salvages is about 4"X 6"; but the others are about 5 inches square.
The salvage rug was made with a modified sew and flip method, since one side won't ravel, that is the side that stays on top, no need to flip.

I have made the cup and the apple ones using a paper piece method shown by Marjorie Rhine on the November 2012 issue of American Quilter Magazine (page 70).
Using her method, there is no need to remove the paper later; and at the end, the foundation is intact and can be reused.
I have to admit that it is a lot more fun not to have to make many copies of the pieces and most importantly not to have to remove the paper later.
Rhine suggests that one should add pins as one goes to keep the accuracy of the task. This is very important.
I also would like to suggest that you use this method with larger pieces. I have some pieces that were about 1/4 inch finished and those were very hard to keep in place with this method. But after a few trials, like anything else, it became really easy.

 These are my foundations. The apple, I had to make in 4 separate parts; So I cut the picture in parts A to D and than re-assembled; but the cup is the same paper foundation that I use for the mug rug above, it has some pin marks but it is good enough to reuse.
The apple was also the first foundation that I designed myself with an inspiration from an apple I saw on Madame Sam's blog. The cup was a free download that I can't find the source now.

 

I have a new computer with Windows 8. I am very happy with it; but the learning curve is high. So, no editing photos or retrace my downloads possible. Soon, I will have a class on how to use this new computer. No promises of improvements.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Quilts for Hurricane Sandy Victims

Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of devastation to many lives as we all know.
Around North Carolina, many quilters are getting really busy making quilts to help keep the affected people warm; and to let them know that we care and feel their pain.
I have donated this star quilt last week via a local store called  Wish Upon a Quilt. This lovely store was collecting quilts to mail to New Jersey.

close up of the blocks

At the same time, I was busy finishing up this other quilt (see below), that I started on a retreat  last year.
The original idea was to make a "Lego Quilt" with 2" strips. After several blocks were made, I can honestly say that it was the ugliest thing I have ever seen. I had made 10 inches block with any fabric that I took from a pile of strips. Not a pretty picture.
So, plan B came to fruit.
 I cut all the original 10" blocks in half once; and I did sew the halves again as a long strip.  I trimmed this strip to 4 1/2" by 82" and alternated the pieced strips with a bright red one.
The finished quilt is a twin size quilt. It is 61" by 82".
My friend Diane H. did the gorgeous long arm quilting.

I hope the person who receives it will enjoy the warmth we are sending his/hers way.

DOQ 2012 show

The 2012 DOQ http://durhamorangequilters.com/  quilt show was a really great show. We have a biannual show and it is always a treat to see all the work from this talented group. Unfortunately, my photos are lost, I will try to get some photos from friends to post here. Meanwhile, this is what I can post:

First place for pieced large quilt. One of my favorites

These little treasures are quilts that were donated for a silent auction. This year the benefits from this auction will be given to the Make a Wish Foundation.

Here we have some of the miniatures and small quilts. All so pretty.
There were almost 300 quilts at the show. Hopefully, I will able to get more pictures soon.

More NC State pictures

Here are a few more quilts from the NC State Fair, 2012.

The Lone star quilt below is mine. It does have a red ribbon. :-)

This is how the quilts are displayed at the fair. It is efficient; but not too fun. There were ladies there to flip 

the stands so we could see all the quilts.

My Star of Lisboa quilt

One of the ladies that showed the quilts. She did a awesome job of describing the quilts and the techniques.

Nice applique quilt

A lovely Cathedral Window quilt