Another Scrappy Project

This is certainly not what I had thought I was going to make but I kind of like it,

I has envisioned in my mind that I was going to have the triangle strips arranged like stair steps but somehow they just didn't work that way.

Well I did finish the top and it is out on my quilt tree (used to be a hall tree) ready to be quilted hurrah for me.  Actually I lost count when I was making blocks and just found several more blocks yesterday when I was cleaning up in the sewing room.

Some interesting blocks that I sewed for Ladybug shop awhile back.

I did a demonstration on the technique to make them in early October.

The blocks are 15"

The Llama/Alpaca Farm in August

They are just so cute and each face is different.  Actually only one was a llama.

Shelly fed them well and took about 300 pictures.  Just before we were getting ready to take her back to the airport she went out to bid them farewell. 

 She called me over and said she thought something was wrong with one of the little ones.  "It just won't get up and has flies buzzing all around it's head."

All kinds of thoughts went through my head, I even wondered if she had fed them too much and who in the world should I call to look after it.  

But then after a closer look it dawned on me - it was a newborn - and sure enough after a few more minutes it did get up - a little wobbly but good. Three cheers!

I hadn't noticed until then that alpacas don't lay like cows but lay flat on the grass with their feet extended. That had me a little worried when we were looking at the little one.  They had all been on their feet at the fence when we held out feed for them.

The weather couldn't have been any nicer - very warm but I'll take that any day.

 Shane enjoyed the archery range out back.

Loved the blue skies and the quiet.

The house was eclectically furnished  - fun conversation starters.

  My favorite thing was at night there were no outdoor lights,  Each evening I would pull up the blinds and watch the stars no need for any other entertainment.

I see that Oxford has snow predictions for today and tomorrow. 

Glad I'm  back in NC where we are in the 70's.

Reunion Quilts

Before the reunion guests arrived a few of the younger adults laid out the quilts on my sister's back lawn up near the meadow.

Then after lunch and before the hayride, the nieces and nephews went up to find which quilt had their name on it.

Peeking under the corners.

A few were labeled a little creatively so I had give a hint or two.

 Lots of Hugs -----

Now for the Hayride----

And a horse ride too!

Sewing on labels

I have been choosing and labeling quilts to take to some of my nieces and nephews when we have our family reunion this month at my sister's farm.  It took me a few days to decide which quilt would fit which recipient.  I wrote directly on the quilts that had fabrics that were conducive to it.  One was already labeled so I wrote additional information on it and the rest I added labels to the corners by opening the binding a little to insert it there.  I have 11 ready to put into tote bags.

I have a few more that I want to label and give.  These will go to John's side of the family. They will be a project for when I get back.

This is one I wrote directly on the quilt.

I used to label each quilt as I finished it.  I don't remember when I stopped doing that but perhaps I should at least sew on a blank label.

Split Strips

Cleaning up and cleaning out in the sewing room always leads to another quilt.  May of these pieces are from trimmings from backing fabrics that I had cut into strips.  

I'm sure someone some where has a name for this pattern but I don't know what it is.  I have seen it made here and there but I don't think something this simple needs a pattern.  It's kind of like making a nine patch block.

And it so easy  -  Pair up two fabrics and  cut four 8" x 2.5" pieces of each.

 Take one piece of each fabric and cut in in half lengthwise.  Use the narrow strips as the contrast in the block.  Sew them together and you have two blocks.  You could make a little larger block by using 10 x 3" strips.

I made 80 blocks and I think I have them the way I want them when I sew them together.

Back to Sewing

I wanted to start another patriotic quilt and my friend S had made one from a pattern on Quilters Cache called Indian Mats.  My patriotic fabrics are pretty busy!

Two  12" blocks done the day I cut out the fabric.

After a few weeks I finished sewing the blocks.  They they definitely need some sashing. 

I also made this table runner from a pattern called Tea Leaves.  It was easy and fast to make.

I quilted it and then added the binding by machine too.  I think I finished it in two days.

It was a sample for Ladybug quilt shop.

It is so hot here it is a good time to catch up on some reading and also to watch a couple of tv series that I have been wanting to see.  I watched  the first 2 seasons of Outlander which I loved.

I am now watching Endeavour which I also like very much.  Only with Endeavour, I have to pay attention so I don't miss anything (lots of possible suspects)!

Turning the Page

Last morning cup of coffee on the porch.

Locking the door

Leaving the keys for the new owners.  

Taking all the wonderful memories and wishing the new owners the same happiness here!