More Expo Pictures

More quilt pics from Quilter's Expo

Retreat

This weekend my mother paid for the two of us to go for a quilt retreat weekend. More pictures on that will follow in the next few days, plus a bit about my new friend Mary (oh, my stars).

Anyway, here are some quick pics from the NW Quilt Expo, where we stopped on Friday.

Blcoks 11 and 12 done

Okay,I'm officially ready for quilt retreat - I have all 12 blocks completed. I hated 11...the instructions were backwards, so I cut 3 sets before I realized it wasn't my cutting it was the directions...argh! And the points...oh, I was so careful on the others, but this one I just cried "Uncle" on and left them.

9 and 10

okay, blocks 9 and 10 are done...at this rate, I can take all 12 to retreat already completed and focus on the "cuties"...

Lizzie says, "wow, those are busy...". Jerry just says, "wow". I'm interpreting it to mean the same thing. I'm thinking that I'm going to have to find a setting that will tone the noise of this quilt. What I was thinking of doing might be too busy.

8 done!

This one went together quickly. Unfortunately, the background fabric that came with it makes the points blend into the geese triangles...fortunately, on a couple, this is also the case (if you know what I mean!).

7 blocks done

Okay, my mom gave me these for my bithday. not this year. I'm not even sure it was least year...

So, I'm going to take these to retreat. There are 12 (Marti Mitchell blocks..lots of little teeny tiny pieces), and this is the 7th completed.

I'm planning to mix them with some of these little cuties...any ideas?

Poor Dog

Anyone feel really bad for this guy? I do...all the time. Poor Dexter. After this, I gave him a small piece of steak - it was the least I could do.

Star Block #4

Here is the BOM#4. I really like this one - very easy to go together, like the rest, but a very different center. I could see a whole quilt of these...what do you think?

Messenger Bag (again)

Okay, for me...messenger bags are like the perfect little black dress...I am always searching for just the right one. I bought a pattern the other day for Valori Wells' messenger bag. The picture on the front didn't do it justice, but there was one made up at Greenbaum's, so I thought I would take a chance. I like it. However, she only suggests using fabric (60" wide, which made me suspect she intended for decorator fabric), no stabilizer, batting or fusible webbing. HMMMM...

So, I found this great piece of decorator fabric I bought at JoAnn's on the super sale table when it was an additional off...so, maybe $1 a yard or so...how can you go wrong? What's the worst that can happen? Then I found this plain orange that I'm sure I bought for a purpose, probably again on some ridiculous sale, that I could use for lining. I fused fusible fleece to all the orange pieces, including the pocket linings...so the bag is pre-washed decorator fabric and regular cotton with fusible fleece. Overall, I'm pleased with the pattern - lots of pockets - there is even one on the outside on the back. However, I'd like it to be just a little stiffer. Lizzie has already claimed this one, so I'll make one for myself later - honestly, this fabric is way more her than me.

But, overall I can recommend the pattern...

Greenbaums' challenge

Greenbaum's (LQS) every year hosts a monthly quilt challenge - they supply the pattern for a simple block and one single piece of fabric to be placed where they suggest. Then you add your own fabrics. This year all the fabrics are "rainbow brights" ... the first month they supplied the blue. I had a good chunk of the green dot and the red dot on white, so all my blocks will have those. The other piece was just contrasting.

Okay, what is up with this?

I have decided to really go through stash. I have some of those clear drawer cabinets, to organize things in (yeah, right - it's really just to hold stash). I thought I had a finished top inside a drawer and yet I found...unfinished quilt blocks. And not just a few...look at this! This is one...I have enough to make like 80 (I kid you not - there are at least 50 and that doesn't count the ones not together!) and they finish at 8". I know they were originally intended as pieces to more complicated blocks, but I put this together quickly to see the pattern and the size...what in the world am I going to do with these???!

I was going to set them alternating with hourglass blocks, which makes them appear to float (if anyone knows how to calculate the measurements to make an 8" finished hourglass I'd be so appreciative...), but this would make 2-3 queen sized quilts...argh.

New Project

So, in the current issue of Quilt Home (which is quite entertaining, if you've never picked one up) there is a pattern for this "Propeller" quilt (Jerry calls it some form of cross, a Maltese I believe - whatever. They look like airplane propellers to me)...only the pattern there calls for the use of selvages...which is clevar, but I wanted to get rid of some of the narrow strips I have...particularly 30s. So, what do you think? The blocks are huge..and it calls for 9 of these total to make a square quilt. I think it will be quite fun and use up some of those skinny leftovers. What I really love, the pattern purposely intends that things don't match perfectly...

Braid quilt

My mom bought me a book for my birthday that focuses on using jelly rolls - 2.5 inch strips. This was the pattern done up in the shop in Mary Englebreit fabrics - which I told my mom I really already have enough of...(of course the other Mary's are now coming to me too, but that's another story). I had this set of Building Blocks/Look and Learn to use up so I tried it. Unfortunately, the rows are supposed to be longer, and less rows. Somehow I misread, and just went with it. I like the pattern...maybe I'll do it in fabrics that will be more dramatic.

I did this a few weeks ago, when it was raining, so am just posting it now.

Star BOM #3

Here is number 3...really like it, but my least favorite for my fabric choices so far. Hopefully I'll like the color choices better when all the blocks are done.

Overall, I love this mystery...the blocks are very easy (except of course those of us who are math challenged need a little help locating "3/16" on our omnigrid).

Too little color?

I can't decide what to do about borders - if anything. I may just quilt and bind it, since it's HUGE already.


Okay, here is the 4th step of Bonnie Hunter's OTR mystery...kinda bright, huh???

Step 3 Finished

Here is Step 3 of Old Tobacco Road. Oh, my it is really bright - on to Step 4 and laying out the top...