WRAPPED UP IN LOVE - FAMILY ROUND ROBINS, FAMILY BLOCKS!!

Some of you asked how our family blocks worked, I will give you as much info as my memory will allow.

This first one is the first one we did as a family.  My mother, myself, and three sisters.  I believe we did this one in 2005

We each chose a middle, as you can see, mine is a basket.

Jeanette sent out a list of how we were to send our middles around and the instructions on how the rounds were suppose to go (either by size or style, see my memory is gone).  This was so fun trying to figure out each round with the instructions and the unfinished quilt going around.  My mother had a huge star in her middle.  I think my sister Beverly had hearts...the rest is blank.

This one was where we each made two blocks.  I bet you can't tell which one was mine.  I can't remember who all joined us but I know a few nieces joined us at this time.  I believe the blocks were 12 1/2 inches and if I am thinking correctly we sent the fabric we wanted???  I think in the future I need to label the blocks so I know who did what.

This one was where we sent around a grid (I still have the grid somewhere) and each person made a block or two  and just pinned their block to the grid, that is why you get several sizes.  I sent fabric around with mine and that was an option.  I still need to finish this one.  This one was done the year I went to Samoa.  You were not allowed to unpin someone else's pin...only the original owner could do that. I believe that my sister Jeanette, myself and three niece's did this one.

We took about a six year break

My sister Jeanette and I were the ones who started this.  This year I started it up again with much support from my sister Jeanette and my niece Beverly.

Here are some of the blocks for this years Family Blocks of the month.  I forgot to take pictures of some of them (slapping my hand as we speak)

So this is how we did this one.  We had eleven people want to do this, one sister was too busy.

We put everyone's name in a basket.  Each month we would chose a name (my mother usually was the picker) and that month the person's who's name was picked chose a block and everyone in the family did that block in the colors the person wanted.  By the end of the month we were to have it sent to that person, then the next month we would chose another.  Since we have eleven people we needed one more block and so we each just made two of ours or a niece (Jennifer) would make two.

Next year my niece Beverly will be deciding on what we do and maybe by then we will have even more join us.  I know my son is about to be married and his wife quilts, she will be joining us.

I have to say that these quilts are my most prized possessions.  These quilts I will not give away except to a family member, when I use one I truly am wrapped up in love!!

ZAPPY SCRAPPY STRIPY KIND OF DAY!

I showed you these strips that Island Batik sent to me and was trying to decide what to do with them.

Well...

What I didn't realize is that some of the strips were folded...which made 3 1/2" strips....changed the whole playing field.

Made a rail fence.  The outer purple border is from the fabric line "Strawberry Fields Forever"....just love this name Island Batik picked out for this line.

As I was sewing these strips together...I just kept saying to myself  "I just love Island Batiks...I just love Island Batiks"...as I was cutting them.

The last of the family blocks...    You can find this basket pattern here called"Basket of Chips"

You can find this pattern here  called "Love in a Mist"

I used my scraps from Island Batik for this block from the line of "Raindrops"...gosh I sure love the names they pick out for their fabric lines.  The white background is just some random scraps.

Since there were just two names left in our family we decided to just do the two blocks in one month....so I am done for the year....  Next year my niece will be in charge of what directions we go in this Family block of the month.

A TIME TO PAUSE AND SAY HUMMMMMMMMMM

My son is visiting before he heads to Ft. Bragg and who know where ever else he will be sent to but he came in and asked me about my flower beds.  I had to pause and go Hummmmmmmmm...

He asked me what plants I wanted....once again Hummmmmmmmmmm

He asked if he could do what ever he wanted to the gardens and I told him he could do whatever since I haven't been doing much with them.  They are a source of frustrations to me.

This is what he came up with.....he took out the rotten lumber, bricks...etc.  I have since been out there and dug the bulbs up and cleaned it out to just dirt...it looks great.  Now what to put in them.

Hummmmmmmmmmmm

Finished the first of the two quilts.  Can I just say how much I love this?  

Now a time to pause and go HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM  ....  Island Batik sent me these 2 1/2 inch strips and I am going Hummmmmmmm

 what can I make with these....stay tuned!!!

OOOPSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS...SOMEONE DID NOT PAY ENOUGH ATTENTION IN MATH CLASS

NOT ONE!!!

But TWO  (this one is not ironed)

I say, I say, OOOOOOOOOOOPSSSS!!

Have any of you ever done this?  I even drew it out on paper...went looking for my crude  drawing but couldn't find it.

As you can see, these are only half square triangles.  EASY!!!!

You can use one charm pack of white for this and then depending on what you want your dominate colors but for the sake of a picture.  In this picture the dominate color is gray...so you will need 24 five inch squares and 16 yellow.  

Mark a diagonal line across the back of each white and then just sew 1/4 from the line on each side of it and then cut down the line.  Giving you two blocks...yep this is where I messed up....I counted the squares I needed and then skipped over the fact that when you place the two squares together and sew and cut you have two squares instead of one..thus giving me double the blocks.  Am I making sense or just driving you batty?

This makes a 34" x 42" baby quilt and if you want to make it larger, just add borders.  I think I am going to pass on the borders.  I have a cute backing I want to make and will show that to you when I am done.

This is the family block this month....no dimensions....I was so afraid to do this one but once I got going it took no time at all.

Here  is the tutorial if you are interested

STICKY SUBJECT

First off, I wanted to show you the finished quilt!  YEA ME!!!   I had originally done a middle but didn't like the shoes, looked to babyish as you see in this picture.  

For some reason I just couldn't continue on with this quilt because it is not a baby quilt.  So it sat for a few weeks while I thought....and thought...

Finally I took it out and came up with these shoes and I must say I am so much happier.  Quilt has been folded up, forgot to take a picture when it was finished, therefore wrinkles.

 We will get to these Lapel sticks in a minute.

 Finished this baby quilt using the panels and last border from Inchworm Fabrics.  I am not really a fan of panels and w  I cut them apart, added the sashing and the rest is history.  My sister Beverly gave me the ABC's and I found the ABC border in my stash...whohoooo  that was a true happy dance (did you feel the earth quake)?  Now I feel differently about panels...I went in search of more in my stash...

Back to the Lapel Sticks, want more information hit the word Lapel Sticks and it will transform you to a wealth of information.

I had not heard of these sticks before until Gene posted on his blog about them, once again....just hit his name and you will be transported to his take on the sticks.  I was so interested in his post that I contacted Gene about these sticks.  Then he hooked me up with Keith, president, of the company who makes them and he sent me some to try.

Here is my take on the sticks.  I use the glue stick to bind my quilts, I sew the one side, glue the other and then sew...makes is to easy

Here is what I found:

1.  Don't use steam with the Lapel Stick.  I use steam with my glue sticks, found it works best that way.  So the Lapel Stick goes easy on the fingers....no steamed needed.

2.  As far as mess, the lapel stick wins hands down....usually when I use glue sticks I have a mess all over the fingers I am using.  With the Lapel Stick I have less mess and it takes me less time to wash up or if I have to wash up at all.  I know, there are some of you out there that are not messy...pooey on you (smiling)....I can't do anything without making a mess so this is an issue with me.

3.  I really wanted to try this product because I go through a lot of glue and am always up for a different type or something that will make my life a little easier which I have found that these Lapel sticks are a pretty smart idea.  

Thanks Keith for allowing me to try this product and Gene for introducing them to me.

MAKE LOVE NOT WAR!!

This is what I am working on today.  Just got it pinned, now ready to quilt.

I know you are asking me what does this quilt and me quilting today have to do with war.

I remember growing up at the tail end of the hippie era, wasn't old enough for Woodstock but young enough to wear bell bottoms (ha!!).

Well...I have a son visiting.  He is in the army and I am afraid he will soon have to go to Iraq or Afghanistan much to my displeasure.  I do keep thinking of all the wives out there who have children that will be missing their fathers and so to comfort myself I say....he only has me to be sad he is gone, I don't have children at home missing their dad.  Oh, I am sure there are family members that will be sad and will worry but right now it is all about ME!!  One minute they are babes in your arms and the next they are grown and going to war.  Why not make love instead of war.  I say put some of us moms at the head of this country (Hillary doesn't count)...and we can send everyone to their own corners and not come out until they are happy.  Don't ya wish it was that easy.

So....he is outside with his dad and I am going to get me some quilting time.  YEA me!!

MY PUMPKIN RUNNETH OVER

Here is my new pattern using Island Batik fabrics.  The background fabric is from the Latte Foam line.  I even flipped to the wrong side of the fabric for the candy corn tips.  One of the many reasons I love batiks.

The main line of fabric is Witch's Brew.  Can I just say how much I love these fabrics?  The colors are so vibrant and fun.

This pattern was actually fun to make from start to finish.  

You can find the pattern here

You can go online to Island Batik and find the store locator and it will tell you the nearest store to you that sell their fabrics.  

Have a fabulous week-end, it is finally raining here which cooled things off here in THE GREAT STATE of TEXAS!!!!