cheese - the Swiss kind

did someone mention cheese?

Well, maybe the Twister/fabric
kind of Swiss-ness.

I love the left-overs after using the Lil Twister ruler.

I'm planning on quilting today -

maybe cutting some more cheese!

Ooops - that didn't sound right...
Cutting some more fabric into holey Swiss-ness.

There, that sounds better. :)

Happy Saturday
and hope you can stitch a little if that's what makes you smile!

quilts!!

It's been rainy, overcast and quite chilly here lately -

like October weather almost. 

Certainly not late April.

So, since it's not warm enough

to be outside playing in the mud flower beds,

I've been doing just a little quilting.

 

First - check out this cute table runner by Sharon:

I think it's from the book "Civil War Quilts".

Isn't that a great one for using up scraps?

 

Next, Janet did this great "quilt of valor":

(sorry, again, can't turn it right side up)

Here's a close up of some of the quilting.

Janet did a great job - I love quilting for her as all of her work is perfection!

And, finally, a picture from my house...

Two things wrong with this picture:

One -
what is that bright, shiny, glaring something back behind the barn?
Could that possibly be what is called sunshine??!!!
Is that what it's supposed to look like?  I kinda' forget :)

Two -
see that huge schmear smear on the glass?
Think the grandbaby had a snack
that he probably wasn't supposed to be having
with GrandPaPa aka Sweetie?  :)

Happy Thursday!
and here's wishing you sunshine and clean windows! :)

POTC - Lucy Boston blocks & April showers

April showers bring spring flowers!

April showers also makes for more

 indoor stitching time!

See these 2 1/2" strips? 

That's wide-back muslin at 108" wide...

and right below the strips is my 1" honeycomb template for Lucy.

From each strip I get 40 or so honeycombs, so

I'm ready to attack!

Almost another couple hundred border pieces

ready for my Patchwork of the Crosses/Lucy Boston blocks!

 

Yep, April showers and more POTC block working time!

 

What are you working on this Spring?

International Quilt Festival sharing

Don't you just love house quilts?  This one was a beauty!!!  I stood in front of these houses for quite a while admiring all of the character in each one.  It made me want to go visit Switzerland to see if I could find each and every one of the houses.

This feathered star quilt (made by Cyndia Berner/Indianapolis, IN) had a great mix of block styles that drew me in.  It was a reproduction of an antique quilt - no wonder I was sucked in :).

And finally, this bright, sunny and fun one:

It was made in a guild exchange (Barb Zapp, Duluth, Minnesota).

Each member made a whole sunflower block, then quartered it and exchanged the quarters. 

Wouldn't that be fun?

Well, that's the last of my pics to share from

IQF - Cincinnati, Ohio 2013

(I could have taken a whole digital memory card full of pics,

it was that good of a show of quilts.)

If I let it,

a show that good could make me feel lacking in quilting skills :)

Instead, I'll take inspiration!

So much inspiration, so little time.



My International Quilt Festival (IQF) trip was fun!
Just a little "haul" -
haul as in a two hour drive each way. 
And haul as in a few acquisitions :)
I found some poisons -

poison green that is.

The pre-cuts (charm squares & little thimbles) 
on the left were from Primitive Gatherings.
Top & center, blue fq's from Backdoor Quilts/Indiana.
Center:  poison green half yards.
And on the left: a pattern (: that I didn't need:)
and some conversation prints from Judy Rothermel.

Those poison green fabrics are "Charleston 1850"

by Newcastle fabrics.

Aren't they great???!!!

I also strolled the quilt show...
and enjoyed seeing all of the fabulous workmanship, and took a few pics...
First thing I walk into:

LUCY!!! -as in Lucy Boston, Patchwork of the Crosses
 
 This Lucy/POTC was done with paper pieces about 3/4", not the 1 inch pieces that I'm using or that the original Lucy used.  Beautiful workmanship!

 Then I saw this applique and trapunto beauty that was all done by hand!!!  Just lovely.  The colors just pulled you in!

 

Of course I had to take a pic of some embroidery!

Red work embroidery with yo-yos!

 

It was a beautiful show.

I thought the number of vendors seemed down from last year, but I didn't investigate. 

Also, I thought the number of attendees was low while I was there.

But I was there on a Thursday afternoon,

so hopefully for the sake of the show and vendors,

it was packed with shoppers on Friday and today!

International Quilt Festival

Haven't seen ANY advertising, so this event almost passed my by...
The IQF is in Cincinnati, Ohio this weekend!!!

It's usually a great show.
I'm going to have to look at my schedule.
Cincinnati is just a little over two hours drive from me,
so maybe I can get it in.

As I looked at the IQF website,
they did have some schedule changing going on...
Maybe I'll be able to let you know how the show was later this week.

If you are going, let me know.
And Happy Thursday!

POTC/Lucy Boston blocks for March

The month of March sure flew by quickly!
(I know, I know, it's almost mid April)
Our March, here in central Ohio,

had big snow, winds, ice, and more big snow. 

Peeks of Spring - sunshine and slightly warmer winds - occasionally, and now it's April.

With all of that down snow time,

I'd think I'd have more quilting to show for it,

but that's just not the case...

 

My hand stitching for March,

including the Patchwork of the Crosses/Lucy Boston March blocks

was woefully lacking. 

Anyway, here's proof, or lack thereof:

my March blocks:  Lucy Boston, Patchwork of the Crosses
mylifeisastitch.blogspot.com

Only one completely done - the top left.

The top right has eight honeycomb pieces left in the outside border.

Then the bottom two blocks...

24 more border pieces are needed on each of them.

 

It's so much fun choosing the fabrics and the fussy-cutting,

and playing with the fabrics!

 

Maybe that's where my problem lies...

less playing with the fabrics and more stitching needed!  :) 

(: Told you that March sped through town! :)

 

Back to playing with fabrics, err,

I mean, stitching.

Hope you have some stitching time, too.



 



I found a way to get more quilting time!!! & recent quilting

OK - not really -

I DID NOT find a way to get more quilting time.

Only dreaming.  
Or an April 1st joke. 
But it would be nice, wouldn't it?

Unlimited quilting time and projects?

This subject come up because of all the CUTE, GREAT QUILTS I get to meander over.

As an example:  Sharon's little hand-stitched piece from a pattern from Primitive Quilts and Projects Spring 2013 magazine:

 (sorry, I tried three times, and this pic does not want to be right side up.)

The next piece I got to quilt is a shop sample for Good Wives Co.:

(four blocks for a table topper finished at about 50" square)

Wouldn't this be great - maybe four blocks by four blocks,

summer weight and tied for a MY bed??!

I know, *I DO NOT NEED another project*,

but (:there's always a but! :) 
this one would be a fast and easy finish!!

Another finish by Sharon:

"Spring Steps" (a Good Wives pattern and kit)

I love the colors of this... may have to add this to my project wish list.  I know, I know... *, see above* :)

Last on the quilting list for the past couple of weeks:

(sorry again! this pic does not want to be right side up, either.)

Karen finished up this Ohio State University quilt - it's 57" by 62", and she seemed to have it done in no time at all.  The pattern is by AD Designs - Alphabet Soup Quilt Patterns.

I DO have one of these OSU quilts in the works for a gift...
but only about half of my pieced blocks are made,
so I should get right on this, shouldn't I?

Every quilt that I get meander over makes me want to start another project!!
Is there a way to make more quilting time???

Happy first week of April!
(and please let me know if you come up with a way to get more quilting time!)