Stitcher's Garden Layout

Last Week

We received a couple of pages of sketchy directions for putting the blocks together.  They are sewn in sections.  The center will be about 30" wide and the two outer rows will each be 16" wide.
 I need to cut some borders for the outer rows, and make some pieced borders, before I  can continue.
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Updated Version 

Yesterday

It took a friend's visit yesterday to get me started sewing this together.  She brought her blocks and fabrics and we both got a start choosing borders and sewing them to various blocks.

  (Her's is going to be gorgeous - black and white backgrounds and Kaffe Fassett prints)

Today

 I replaced the border on one of my blocks as it stood out like a sore thumb. It took all afternoon and into the evening to get this far. It's kind of a HOT MESS to use one of my daughter's phrases.

 It is 62 x 70" and it weighs a lot because of the batting behind the appliques and the layers of applique.

 The pattern calls for several borders but I don't want to make it much bigger so will have to ponder that for a little.

Stitchers Garden Again

Up with the birdies this morning so I had enough time to finish the last of my stitcher's garden blocks.

There are 6 little 5" blocks.  They are finished with # 5 Perle cotton used in the bobbin.  Now when Sally is ready with her blocks , we will have to have a session to figure out how to put all the blocks together.  We did get a set of instructions with the pattern. 

And Saturday I got these two ready to add to"My Quilting Queue".

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 Just time for another cup of coffee before Monday Morning Bible Study.   We have been reading Deuteronomy and will probably finish it next week.  Then we will switch to I Timothy.  MMBS has been a  mainstay in our church for over twenty five years.  Mary Charlotte R. organized it and it met at her house until about 3 years ago when she needed assisted living care. There have been just two leaders over the years - Alta Ruth S. and Randi McG.  We meet at 10 AM every Monday for 1 hour from September through May. We start the year with an old testament book and follow up with something from the new testament as time permits.  I look forward to it and admire the dedication Randi in preparing for it each week.  She recently moved and is traveling over an hour each way to continue with the group.  God Bless Randi and safe travels for her. And good wishes  and love to Mary Charlotte and Alta Ruth. 

Progress Report

Last week I finished the third top in the Baby Dresden Series.  I still have quite a few blocks.  It measures  50 x 50".

Tuesday was Stitch's Garden Class at Thistlebee in Goldsboro.  We had a bonus block this month too!

Wow, I can't believe I have already finished this top that I started just a few weeks ago.  Thanks to insomnia! The center is 70 x 70"so I added 3 - 2 inch boarders on the sides and 3 - 3 inch borders for the top and bottom.  The top is 82 x 88".

Of course I started another project.  I am cutting scraps for a smaller block version of the Arrow Star quilt.

I need to sew a label on a quilt that I picked out to give to my niece for her wedding this Saturday.  Happy quilting!

Stitcher's Garden - August

The focus of the August block was to add piping between the block and the first border and also between the 2nd and 3rd border.  My block turned out a little smaller than it was supposed to be so I will have to adjust when it comes time to stitch the blocks together.

Sewing Update

A table runner I started Sunday afternoon and completed Monday morning. Pattern is in the latest issue of McCall's Quilting, called Zippy Strippy.  Very easy and fun to make.  It will be the gift to the person who sold the winning ticket in our Woman's Club quilt raffle.  The Arrow Star quilt that will be given away can be seen here.

 The drawing is Saturday morning at the clubhouse.

This is the back

This table runner I made a few weeks ago and it will be given to the Woman's Club member who sold the most raffle tickets. 

Backing fabric.

Extra Block

My Stitcher's Garden block for June and above is the extra block we were given in May.  We have two to do for July also so I can't wait until the last minute again. (one is another extra block)

 

 

Lastly I have been making some Dresden plate blocks with all the plethora of 30's fabric that I now have.  I cut enough wedges to make many, many blocks------tooo many I fear.  Planning to make a couple of baby size quilts rather that the big one I made here.

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We're still getting plenty of rain in our little corner of the world - I haven't needed to water anything yet this year except the porch pots.  John put in an underground water pipe to go to the far backyard so he could water the blueberry and raspberry plants he planted last year.  He'd be happy to see that they are thriving (except for the blueberry bushes that the deer have been munching on).  No wonder he felt he needed to plant several bushes.

Raspberries were John's favorite  - He loved raspberry anything.  Our friends in the Adirondacks, his sisters, my sisters etc. always made sure they had Raspberry Jam for John.  That and sweet corn on the cob when it was in season. 

Marcia made a remembrance arrangement for him for Father's Day and put in raspberry branches and flags.  It was so fitting.

 

Catching Up and Prep Time

 

A rainy day here in central North Carolina.  A perfect day to catch up on some of my projects.  I have been doing a  " A Stitcher's Garden" Block of the Month at Thistle Bee Quilt Shop in Goldsboro along with Sally.  We prepare our background by stitching a background design and fuse our flowers before class.  I finished one of my blocks last month but had barely started the second.  This morning I finished the block on the right and prepped my blocks for this month.  I also have an extra small block that I need to fuse and stitch to be entirely caught up.  Maybe tomorrow.

 

These are my blocks so far.  I haven't added any yo-yos or buttons as I like to add them after quilting.  Sally's blocks look entirely different as she is using black and white backgrounds and Kaffe prints for the flowers.  They are really stunning.  Some gals are using traditional fabrics, some brights.  Fun to see how different they look.