Ruler work

A couple of years ago, I purchased a set of Sew Steady rulers and special Westalee foot to do some ruler quilting with my domestic sewing machine: not a long arm. 

I was anxious to try something new and the demonstrator made it look easy. She ended up being in my new quilt guild and gave another demonstration at  a meeting.  I wanted to know more.

So she gave a hands-on instruction class at my local sewing machine store and I took both the intro and now the  class with instruction sheet and book.  I lugged my machine and plastic table there and spent a morning experimenting with them; her guidance was exceptional. 

So here are my samples: using all of the variety of rulers: a total of 6 of them. 

There are some use use to make lines and others you use inside to make designs.

Don't look too closely at my work, I really need more practice to get the hang of it.  Practice makes perfect. But I had fun with a variegated thread and am looking forward to quilting with them. 

Patriotic table runner

I finished the table runner which is going to a bridal shower tomorrow.  I used a pattern from American Patchwork and Quilting.  It went together easily.  My issue was that one of my blocks got coffee on it.  And then while getting the stain out, the color bled.  So I washed all the blocks and restarted from there. 

But it turned out very well. It was easy to quilt, my seams lined up! Hooray!

The back is all white; I couldn't find a bright patriotic print in my stash. I just hope she likes it. 

My row by row is back

After 8 months and working on rows for 4 other quilters, the big reveal for all of us was at our last quilt guild meeting.  The row I provided for inspiration was the top one.  I had originally made the blocks to replicate a Carrie Nelson quilt in American Patchwork and Quilting magazine that you can get online. Link here

But I was unable to use them for the project intended and put the large and small blocks  together in an unusual setting

.  I am so impressed with the additions of the other quilters.  I may tweak the last row.  I am also going to add some wool accents: trees, cats, cars, etc around the buildings.  It really is amazing. If you look close you will see a cool car on the third row.  So exciting!

As for my quilting, I am making a table runner for my nephew's bride to be. There is a shower in Indiana later this week.  I need to cut and add sashing to these three blocks then sew them together, quilt and bind it.  It shouldn't be too hard if I stay the course. This is also a pattern on All People Quilt.  Link here

This is a project to go with our guild's raffle quilt.  There were 5 extra blocks after putting it together.  As we were organizing all the leftover fabrics from the last several raffle quilts to add to our bargain room, there was a yard of a beautiful orange/ rust batik that went with it.  I volunteered to make a small project out of these.  So far all I have is the connecting blocks and the sashings cut. 

Lastly, here are my two grandkids with matching shirts when we went to the library and had a Grandma day!  

Jensen's quilt top

So I was Queen for a day.  O.k, I was queen bee for one month for Stash Bee and that was May. I had my worker bees each construct one of these blocks.  I received my last one a week ago.  11 blocks from them, 4 sample blocks from the tutorial and another 30 ish blocks of my own with a huge assortment of bright crayon colors. 

For the last couple of days, I laid it out and pieced the rows together. (I so hate borders.)  And between measurements and extra lengths it is my least favorite of all jobs except piecing a back. 

But It Is Together!  Alleluia! 

Total 58 by 91 inches. 

I have a gorgeous stripe for the binding. 

And it is going to the quilter as soon as I get my batting... and the back pieced. 

Here are the 2 grandboys for Father's Day. They were inhaling food after shoveling and shoveling sand into the lake. Jensen is the one on the left and this quilt is for his big boy bed.

Now to finish Jude's quilt, the other grandson.  And his was started last May.

Row by row

Tomorrow is our guild meeting and we will have the big reveal of all the quilts in our row by row challenge.  

Here is the last one I just finished.  It was real easy. We were given the fabrics and the first row as a model with the sashing precut.  Then we each selected 4 squares from the assortment in the book by Jeni Baker using the beautiful bright fabric and the Kona white background. 

And here is the finished product. My row is the very bottom one. (I didn't realize I made 2 similar shapes of blocks.) These were Kim Schaefer fabrics:! bright and fun! Each block is 8 inches finished a 1 and a half inch lattice around the blocks bringing the row to 40 inches total. 

Trip to North Carolina

In retrospect, I wish I had gotten some photos of the back woods where we stayed.

Oh, I digress... My spouse and I went to a destination wedding. This time near Silva, North Carolina in the very westernmost part of the state. And near is a relative word for any of you who live in the Appalachian Mountains. It takes 20 minutes to go a mere couple of miles.

 I have NEVER driven on such curvy, steep and precarious roads. I am not complaining, just sharing the difference between where this Midwesterner lives and is used to. It is absolutely beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful. But you could look down 5 stories of wooded steep hills to a valley and then go up and not see the road either up and over or even around a corner. I don't think I ever got to a peak or even the depth of a valley and look up.  I would love to see it from up high and get a feel for the topography.   The images in my mind are indescribable and something I will never forget. Next time, it might be easier to arrive during the day.

Crossing the Appalachians for the pioneers is unthinkable in historical retrospect. I don't even know how they got from one mountain to the next and that is with the ease of perspective from interstate highways.

And don't laugh. But now I really understand the meaning of "Smoky Mountains". There were still patches of fog or low lying clouds at 10:00 in the morning on a sunny day.



So our niece on my husband's side was married in a barn/ outdoor service. Small family wedding with no more than 30ish people in attendance. She was beautiful and he was in awe. And they really are a great couple together. Other family members were pregnant or had a 3 month old little one. And I got to have fun with the 3 and a half year old. So special: the whole weekend.

We so enjoy being with family as these are spread over many states.  Just hanging out at a brewery or chilling by a pool is a great time. We had a fantastic home made brunch the next morning.

We had weather from the high 80s and hot and sticky in town to cool and damp in the evening or early morning.

We flew from Milwaukee to Atlanta to Knoxville and then drove 2 hours to the "resort" where our houses were. Wifi was spotty at best. In fact, we couldn't message/call each other in the house next door. And it was straight up/down the steepest hill to get there. I had to stop twice during the walk there to catch my breath.

But on the way back I had mapped out a quilt store in Schererville, Tennessee called the Cherry Pit.  It is somewhat near Knoxville. Very worth the trip! I highly recommend it. The staff was fantastic and the inspiration and quilts were wonderful. Such bright combinations and a good sense of color. Lots of fabrics spread out over 2 store spaces joined together. I forgot to take more pictures.



  I found some fabulous prints for the baby quilt to back and binding for my grandson and a trucks one.

Let's get this summer started!

It is almost half way through the year. And I have hardly even touched my UFO list.  UGH!

SO  I am really setting goals for this summer.

A short project is to assemble my 4 blocks for the row by row.  Easy, peasy... just 5 sashing strips and one row .

First up is to assemble my one grandson's quilt.  I have the fabric for sashing. Just do it.



Then there is the foxy baby quilt.  Shouldn't be too hard. Smaller projects.




And then I really need to get my 30s quilt done with the quasi log cabin hearts.
The vertical rows of hearts are done:  5 rows of 10 blocks each.  And I have many strips assembled to put in rows between them. Now for the finish.  I would love to take this to my mom in July to replace a quilt I made for her in the 80s. It was my first bed size quilt done in the blues and mauves of the time.

School's out for summer!

Today was my last day of school for the year. There is a half day for everyone else tomorrow.
It is so hard to see some of my seniors for the last time even some of my younger kids that I have enjoyed working with for the year.

However, my spouse and I are leaving for North Carolina for my niece's wedding. So I am not going.

And yes, I did get the tree skirt completed... even the label.  O.K. I ironed it on.  But that counts, right?  Hooray!





And now the fun begins.
We look forward to getting all the family together. But it will be a little bittersweet with Grandma Huber now gone. And one sister and her spouse can't attend because they will be at the  Mayo Clinic for some tests.  But having a wedding is special. The bride is the same age as my daughter and a really neat girl.

But it will be hot and  in the Smokey Mountains and a great getaway. I'm leaving on a jet plane!

And then,  project time:  quilting, cleaning and more.  I am really looking forward to it.

Summer!  Funny,  we teachers enjoy the break for summer just as much as the kids!

Fox baby quilt

As I am already making a Christmas tree skirt for one niece, I asked if the other one, her sister, wanted a baby quilt ( precious little one due mid September).

She, of course, said yes and was thrilled with all the fox options I found for her theme. She selected the Elizabeth Hartman pattern.Link here.

So I was bored with the tree skirt and started the blocks for this one.

Here are 2 versions. One with green foxes. One only with orange/rust ones. What do you think?

Also made this Stash Bee block:  

It was nice to be sewing again.