Whoa! It's been awhile...

I can hardly believe it's been sooo long since I've added to my blog!  Sometimes things just happen to make life go by so quickly..

I've been making lots and lots of aprons for Mindy and Kyle's restaurant - fun!  Some have been for the wait-person (Connor) but most have been for Mindy and Cheryl.  Actually, I haven't stopped yet!  Yesterday I put 4 full aprons up on my Etsy store - had real problems taking photos (my phone actually took better photos than the camera!). 

I'd like to say I'll have the occasion to try to sell them at craft fairs this fall...but I doubt that will happen.  

Mom has been doing well and keeping us busy.  Stefani has been taking time off here and there to have some fun but will be doing some Wednesdays in the next couple weeks to make up the time.

Here are photos of the aprons I placed on Etsy

I actually cut out a couple that will be made from oilcloth I purchased at Craft Market yesterday.  They'll be for washin' dishes and I think they should work well...I'll keep my fingers crossed. 

I also found a cute, bright vegetable/fruit fabric there and cut a couple aprons out from it today, too.  I'll have to get back to quilting soon but for now this has been a great "break" plus I haven't really had time for much quilting.  More later - 

Another few finishes....

How time flies!  I've been busy with Mom and other things lately but I've finished up 3 more pieces.  This first one is for Stefani's sister for her 30th birthday (oh, how very young that sounds!).  It's another string quilt ( like Amanda's) but we centered each square with a strip of red ladybugs on a black background for this one.  Ladybugs have special meaning to these girls, reminds them of their Dad who passed away a few years ago.  I quilted it with a black/red variegated King Tut thread and I love the way it looks.  

My photos are terrible...especially the one of the overall quilt - I'll try to take more when Stefani is working on Thursday as I really need to take them outside!  The red looks black!!

I already know I MUST do another of these string quilts - and in black and white - they are so striking!  This one measures 60" x 76".  A great lap quilt.  I hope Sabrina will like it.  

These next 2 quilts I made with the leftover fabrics from Zach's quilt.  I used the same pattern but one is made with 4.5" finished center squares and the other is 3.5".

This is the smaller of the two - it measures 44.5" x 53.5".  A great lap quilt.  I think I'll also advertise it as a wonderful wheelchair size. 

Here's  the third.  It measures 55" x 66" - just a little larger but still a great lap quilt or "cuddle up with a good book or movie" quilt.  I really love the back of this one.  I used a great "autumn trees" fabric I found last Christmas time.  I made Mindy a totebag with this fabric but still had lots left over, almost enough for the back of this one. You can see from the photos I needed to add a strip to the backing fabric - I used a burnt orange piece I had from ????  I think it finishes well.

I've also been doing some aprons - both full aprons and utility aprons for Mindy and Kyle to use at their restaurant!  I'm having fun making some different things and Mindy and Kyle are liking them and they should get lots of use!!

I'll try to post photos of some of them soon.  

Summer Bouquet quilt

Just finished yesterday is this quilt top I started a few years ago, finished the top and set it aside until I had the "funds" to have it professionally machine quilted - or I'd have to hand-quilt it myself!  I  found it yesterday in a pile of tops completed - but not quilted.

So...since I'm such a great meander quilter now, I thought I'd give it a try and finish this one up.  These photos were taken in the living room/cutting room this afternoon and the sunlight leaves a LOT to be desired.  However, I thought I'd post the photos anyway as it IS a finish. 

I still LOVE this fabric!  My friend Linda's Mom pieced a top and had it quilted by her church quilting group.  It's on my bed today.  This is also a fabric we used LOTS when were in the business.  I have lots of quilt designs in our boards using this fabric.  Someday, I'll use them to decorate my bedroom.  It's so feminine - so ME!  haha

Today I finished the top for Stefani's sister - I used the same pattern as for Amanda's quilt although not nearly as large and we used a black fabric in the middle crosses that has a ton of ladybugs on it.  I should have photos to add showing it in a few days. 

After that, Amanda says I need to make more quilts that will be for sale.  Well, if you know anyone interested in one of my quilts, please let me know!!  My ETSY store is awaiting me!!

Zach's Finished Quilt - and a wall hanging

Boy, have I been sidetracked!!  Lots going on here and by the time I get to the computer, it's too late for me to concentrate.  I know those of you who know me know that's NOT easy for me on a good day!

Here are photos of Zach's finished quilt!  I'm really proud of how the meander quilting came out on this one - hardly ANY skipped stitches - I guess I should know the secrets after so many quilts!

I've made two extra tops (not as large of course) from the leftovers.  I think this combination is very masculine - all of those earth-tones.  I'll finish them up soon and probably add them to my Etsy store. 

While cleaning the other day I found an entire stack of pieced tops - not sandwiched or quilted yet.  This wall hanging was among them.  It was actually finished but I had only done a few straight lines of quilting and the entire center of the quilt (my only attempt at watercolor quilting) was un-quilted.  I had never been too fond of this one so I simply put it aside.  The other day I meander quilted the white areas with a small meander stitch and added larger meander quilting to the wreath.  Now it's hanging on the wall above my ironing board so I can look at it often.  I really like it now.

Margie (our O.T.) has a new project for me.  Her son is getting married this fall and they LOVE Harry Potter stuff.  We found some VERY EXPENSIVE out of print fabric, she ordered it, and I get to design a table runner.  Look for more about this soon (I hope).    She found the fabric on EBAY and because it's out of print, the pricing was outrageous.  It was printed by Spring fabrics so it's probably in lots of Walmart stores for a really cheap price.  But then, we really don't want to know!!

I'm also working on the quilt for Stefani's sister and hoping to finish my birdhouse quilt (the squares given to me by Connie and Teri when we moved into this house in 2001).  It'll be wonderful finishing it up and I plan to use the other wool batting I bought inside it.

That's it for today.

Another finish...

I forgot to include this finish from last week.  My Celtic Solstice is finished!  This is a mystery quilt project I followed on Bonnie Hunter's site last winter.  It was such fun doing each week's "chore" and I was thrilled with the final design.  Couldn't hardly wait to see what the next week brought with it!!

I used one of my wool battings for this one, Cathy will be happy about that!  I gave it to Don as he has been complaining recently about the number of quilts I make to give away and the fact he has none.  (Not really true, but he DID give the last one I made for him to Zach because it was too long for him!??)

I quilted this one with an overall meandering stitch using a variegated thread from Superior Threads.  I LIKE IT!

I've also, I think, mastered the problem of skipped stitches with my Brother 1500.  Stretch needles, feed dogs down all the way, and  set the stitch length all the way down.  Works much better!  Thanks to Google for the lead to the information I needed.

The quilt is certainly NOT PERFECT, I learned a great deal - especially about making sure my seam allowances were perfect (not quite there yet).  I'm hoping my next mystery quilt will be more perfect!!

More of Amanda's Quilt

Here's a closeup of one of the squares.  Lots to see here, this could be an "I Spy" quilt!!  Purses, high heels, music notes, even letters (Amanda is Graphics Designer).  Even "moo's", as she's called cows since she was a little girl!  

 I meander quilted this one through the black and white areas and then straight stitched an X and + in the white sections.

I hope you'll like it Amanda - Nan says if you don't, she loves it...but I say, she'll have to fight ME for it!  Oh, how thoroughly full-filling quilting is!!
 

Oh My....

I'm sooo excited!  I finished Amanda's quilt this morning - and she should be here this weekend sometime and I'll get to see her face when I give it to her.  Don't you think she'll just LOVE it?  I do!!

Here it is, on my bed, over my own bedding.  I'm so thankful to Sharon for gifting me some black and whites...and for Liz finding so many wonderful pieces!!  What a deal.  I still have lots more and will making more black and white soon.  I love the extremes of this combination - it's so clean and fresh looking!

      Amanda's Quilt!