Quilting Queue

Still working on getting my UFO's ready to quilt.  Insomnia helps sometimes.  I finished sewing the quilt top on the right, added borders and made the backing one rainy morning a while back, 

 The center quilt got borders added (backing and binding ready to sew

And the Everyday Best is in Delay Mode (I have the fabric but need to get in the right frame of mind before I tackle it).

This is the Angel Trumpet bush out by the shed. 

 My friend Ella gave me the cutting that she rooted from her plant. 

 Her's isn't blooming this year so this picture is for her.   

The plant is very late flowering this year and has a lot less blooms that normal but the blooms it has are huge.  Our summer wasn't as hot as usual - perhaps that had something to do with it.

One Quilt Finished and Another Ready to Quilt

I was glad to get this quilt finished for the Veteran's Hospital.  It is 63 x 72".

The Exquisite Star pattern is one of my favorites and  I'm sure I have used it more than any other.

The backing is white with red and blue. 

This is a Liberated Star quilt that I made this summer. 

 It was so much fun to make these blocks.

 It has multi-piece green border and a cream striped inner border

.  I'm slow at getting the quilt loaded on the machine.  But hope that I will improve with practice.

Now for some quilting inspiration!

More Triangles

I love to look at this on my wall when I come in the back door. 

 I found the book that the pattern was in and I guess I forgot that the direction pages that I copied had directions for a 90 x 90 quilt not a wall hanging. 

I may have enough triangles for two quilts!

Organizing and Quilting

Getting my finished tops together with backing and bindings so I can take them out to the quilt hut and get started on some quilting!

I had five ready to go out.   Still have 3 more tops that need borders etc. 

 

I carried them out and put this one on the machine.  I'll give it to the Veteran's Hospital in Durham in November.

The back yard is beginning to show it's fall coat.  I enjoyed it while I painted the porch railings.

A Visit to the Lake & the Hunting Camp

Wednesday, Al, Shawnee and I went up to the lake.

I painted the steps to the back and front steps (They looked pretty faded after the pressure wash guy cleaned them a few weeks ago.) while Al painted one of the bathrooms.

The weather was perfect and we enjoyed lunch on the porch.

We left fairly early in the afternoon so Al made a detour on our way home to take us on a tour of

 The Hunting Camp!

Al goes deer hunting every year.  He and his buddies start getting ready long before hunting season starts.  Al has been coming up here for years (John used to go up once in awhile too)! He and Al also had another group that they belonged too but that one had no building.

Shawnee and I had never been there and I never knew exactly where it was located.

When you enter the main room, there are bunks all around the room.  I lost count but I think Al said there is room to sleep 28 men.  Also a few bunks upstairs. (now I know why John never spent the night!

  Some of the guys used to play card real late - now that they're older - they have a cabin out back for the card players.

Al & Shawnee at Hunting Camp

Bunks

Heating unit

Kitchen tour

 Shawnee and I said we would definitely not be joining the hunting club! (Not that we were asked)

Mindless Sewing 2014

On and off during the past few months, I have been making half square triangles (HST) when I just felt like sewing something but didn't want to get a big project out.

The pattern requires lots of HST in 3, 2, 1.5, and 1" finished sizes. 

I finally had enough of each size to begin making some blocks Sunday afternoon.

The portion pictured measures 24 x 36".

Lots more HST's in the future - about 1800 total.

Now I really need to get back to my UFO's and make some backings and bindings.

A Finished Top and A Sunrise

I laid out all the blocks on the floor in the late evening and arranged them as best I could so that I could have them ready to sew before I went up to the lake.  

Here is the top sewn together.  Not sure if it will have a border yet.

On the way to the lake, I stopped at the quilt shop in Warrenton and I found a batik that I may use as a border for it.  Will try it out later in the week and get opinion from other eyes too.

Got up early to see Tracey and Paul off to Portsmouth to pick up Evan.  He has been out on patrol with the Coast Guard these past few months.

We were treated to a beautiful sunrise.

Table of Grace report:  The men grilled 60 chickens and made 3 pans of baked beans.  We made slaw and desserts.  We served about 90 people and were able to send out lots of take home plates with what was leftover. We had lots of help and volunteers to clean up and set the fellowship hall back for early worship Sunday.  

I think I drank the tea that wasn't decaf as I was awake most of the night. Think I'll just drink lemonade or water next month.