DOQ work day

The DOQ (my quilt guild) had a serviced day on January 12, 2013. We got together and made quilts for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. You see, North Carolina is frequently hit by hurricanes, so we get it.
Our local paper sent this awesome reporter to cover our efforts. And here is the link.
I wish I had combed my hair; but it was some intense sewing, and only after the fact, I thought of the hair. But DH thinks it looks just like me. So I guess the crazy hair is OK. Check the link below if you have some time.

http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2013/01/19/74608/area-quilters-come-together-for.html

BTCT Progress

I have been "computerless" for quite some time. 

My brand new computer (2 weeks old) had to be returned to the manufacturer because some serious malfunctions (yes, with an "s"). They kept it for 1 month. The excuse was that they were waiting for a part to come. 

When I got the computer back, it came back with the EXACTLY same problems. The first message when we re-installed everything and ran a diagnostic test was: "Fatal error." How about that!

Thank you DH, who did not put up with any more of this nonsense. He got very busy on the phone with many levels of employees; and after a couple of hours, I have a new computer. Knock on wood, this one is great.

Enough of sad stories. This is my Beyond the Cherie Tree blocks as of 12-12-12. I have finished a few more blocks since; but I have been too busy to set it all out and take pictures. 

It feels good to blog again.

Now back to learn how to use Windows 8. Wish me luck!

BTCT  Blocks

Christmas 2012

"Feliz Natal e Prospero 2013!"
Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2013!


With lot's of time to create in the new year.

I am unable to add pictures to my blog for now. I am waiting on my new computer. The one I bought had to be returned to the manufacturer and I still don't know what will happen to it. But I  keep quilting and knitting; and soon will post more.

Museum of History

The North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh ncmuseumofhistory.org, has a wonderful collection of quilts. Some of them are in permanent display throughout the museum. In the previous post, I featured the Cotton Bowl quilt that is on the third floor with some amazing furniture made here in NC by Thomas Day.
But back to quilts. The one below is made with "feed sacks" You can also see some of the fabric in the center of the picture under the quilt. Everything in this display is made of feed sacks.

Feed sacks

Now, this next quilt will break your heart. It was made during the American Civil War. The caption is below. I did not know my flash was on. Sorry about that. The camera was in auto.

Tar Heels is the nickname for a North Carolinian.

Details of the quilt above

This museum is one of three in the same block. They are free admission, except for special exhibits. If you go leave some time to tour the old capitol and also the Science Museum. It will be a very fine day in your life. Specially if you bring loved ones.

Silent Sunday Dec.2 2012

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.




http://pinterest.com/










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!