Stars DONE, and Hugs and Kisses DONE

This one is DONE - here's the back, shown previously.  We are having the deck painted, again, so I am also showing slow painting progress for my own use.  The quilt design is originally from Quiltville.com and Bonnie Hunter calls it Maverick Stars.  I've made MANY of her designs - thank you Bonnie!

Swirls go fast and are not difficult for quilting on a DSM.  I sew/quilt on a Janome MC 6500.  LOVE that machine!

 I DO enjoy seeing my finished quilts on the deck rail.  8-)))  Pretty against the deck primer.

Below is Hugs and Kisses, a Linus quilt - so easy!!!  The design would also be perfectly wonderful in blues and purples, or greens and blues or very scrappy.  I was not sure how to handle the giganto  rick-rack.  I sewed the rick-rack down the center.  I tried NOT to sew down the points but leaving them loose, seemed kinda sloppy - couldn't have it both ways so they are sewed down.  Each border corner miraculously "turned" perfectly!  

I had a LOT of this backing for Hugs and Kisses, so I made a pillowcase to be included.  Dig that YELLOW!  --no more pink.  Those are silly "cat" cartoons on the back.

Overall quilting was big and similar to "dwirling" - this went fast.  The finished quilt is about 51" x 51".  The quilting thread is a variegated light pastel, that I've used for MANY quilts when there are a lot of colors.

Every unit is made the same - similar to snowballs.  This would also be a an excellent totally scrappy quilt if arranged differently and the blocks can be any size.  It's simply squares and quick corners.  I saved the cutoff corners for .. for ... uhhh... something.  8-))

Friends Visiting, more Quilting

A while ago, "someone" brought a big box of unused threads to our local quilting group.  Some of us grabbed it, wondering what those threads would turn into.  Well, here are my 2 beginnings of "something" ... it looked kinda jewel-like, as some of the threads were glitzy.   We layered a LOT of threads over batting that was laid on a backing, then threads, then tulle and quilted a LOT over it all. The brown/pink one was machine quilted with invisible thread, and turquoise one was quilted with regular thread, straight lines.  I didn't like the obvious lines as much as the one quilted with invisible thread.

Remember my owl?  I always thought he looked kinda jewel-like - so little, perfect, almost impossible to see.  Our local group is meeting soon and we said we each had to make "something" with our thread project.   

Here is my project, not yet finished, needing some dimensional leaves or ??? .  Yes, his head and body and wings were made from my thread project above.  His feet was tiny flowery fabric - perfect!  The pine branches are just for effect.  I plan on hiding little owl behind leaves, but I don't think I am able to replicate pine needles - might have to make regular leaves.  I've never done anything like this before - it was kinda fun - can't say it's very "arty" but it was an interesting start.  

Friends from Illinois visited last week and THEY liked the (real) owl as well.  

I HAD to bring my friends to Carhenge, our only tourist attraction (?).  While the cars appear to have been "arranged" after a family wild party, they actually ARE arranged reminiscent of Stone Henge by a former land owner who is not only highly educated and brilliant, but is a world traveler and was very familiar with the real Stone Henge.  mmmmmmm   It's surprising how many tourists visit this quirky stop.

Don't take my picture!!!!

Back to my quilting - here is the back of Bright Maverick Stars.  Even the back has patchwork on it!

The day was warm, I could hear birds singing -- what a nice project.This time I did not put the extension on the table legs and just sat down and basted.  Worked fine.

 Here are the heavy orange clamps I use to simply weigh down the backing.  They are waaaay too hard for me to use for clamping on the table, but the weight of them holds the backing just taut enough -- best solution so far!

 Happy Quilting!

Maverick Bright Stars

Here is another Maverick Bright Stars - I had given an earlier one away, and missed it!!  So, here is another.  My friend Jody gave me that border and a lot of bright solids for this project - they just HAD to go together - thanks Jody!!!  The block stars are made with solids, and what appears to be scrappy stars is really the sashing.  

I added the little black flanges to each side of the little patches - it seemed to help define that space.  That border fabric is just plum FULL of fat Ladybugs - perfect for a child.  This quilt might be a donation to the Guild Silent Auction, if I can stand to part with its cuteness.

This was a gorgeous day, (below) so I quick snapped this photo.  Today, Mother's Day, we are kept indoors with snow, wind, rain - awful weather but we are grateful for any moisture.  

 We are having the deck repainted again - here it is primed, but work came to a stop with bad weather.  The quilt looks nice hanging there. 8-))

And here is the backing for Maverick Bright Stars, made with more donated brights.  These squares are cut 8 1/2 inch.  I pieced some, and here are still a few "holes" needing filling in.  

I am waiting for a nice WARM spring day so I can sandwich this cute quilt.  

GFG repairs, and Benefits of Procrastination

Here is my first almost-finished repair.  I had to go all the way out to the creme/white on this one.   I'm hoping the existing cream will brighten up when I wash it.

Below, it's nearly done, except I have some big basting stitches through it holding some batting on the back (yet to be determined how do to THAT part!)

Here is the second rosette - again, I had to include 3 cream pieces.  Also, more big basting stitches to hold it all together until I figure what to do for the back.  Since all the damage is along fold lines, I might just put one wide blue piece across the whole thing.

My issue has solved itself

Sometimes waiting to solve an "issue" is the best choice. Expressing one's opinion when one is upset, or obsessive is not always a bright idea, when one feels wronged.  My "issue" with the Sidewalk Parking Lady has resolved itself without one word - she has moved.  

Previous paragraphs and photo have been removed. What a wimp I am, but glad I stayed silent and tried to think of all reasonable possibilities.  My heart is lightened.