KatyQuilts

I was able to finish the 16 patch blocks and get them sewn together before work yesterday. I am going to add 6″ white borders yet.

I really wish I had a place to get a picture of the full top.

I also made progress on quilting the QOV. I would really love to get this off the frame today but I do have that day job.

I am linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday and Esther for WOW (Work in Progress on Wednesday). Click on over to see what others are working on today.

Well I got loads of cleaning done yesterday but not as much sewing as I would have liked. Early this morning, I finished my 16 patches.

This picture shows one of each on the design wall. I actually have 2 from each fabric.

These are 12″ blocks and they seem huge to me. But they made efficient use of my FQs and I need this quilt done in a hurry.

I also started quilting the QOV.

I am doing a piano key border and using rulers and templates on the blocks. I have had to do some ripping,,,,grumble, grumble…

I have errands to run before work at 1:00 so I am not sure how far I will get. I was hoping to have this off the frame and the 16 patch top done by now.

Maybe by the end of the week?

I am linking up with Connie at Free Motion By the River.

Happy Tuesday!

I got a bit of work done before church this morning. I finally got this QOV loaded and I am pondering how I will quilt it.

I also got halfway through my next set of 6 blocks for this quit. It won’t take long to finish this set.

And I thought I would leave you with this:

The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.” (Isaiah 40:8 HCSB)

I’ve been MIA the last few days due to a nasty migraine. Tonight I am starting to feel like a real person again.

This week is I finally managed to get borders on this QOV.

Tonight, I made a few blocks for hubby’s coworker’s quilt.

And if I feel okay tomorrow, I am all set up to sew some more.

Now I am off to bed!

I hadn’t intended to post twice today but Gemma over at Pretty Bobbins created such a thoughtful post that it made me thoughtful! She was looking back at the growth in her journey as a quilter. I have to say, she started this whole deal WAY ahead of me!

Since I post nearly every day, you probably have a good idea of where I am now so I thought I would get real and show you my first ever quilt. You might want to look away now.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

This picture is not good. But that may be good for you. It is bad. Are you ready? Brace yourself!

I made all these counted cross stitch blocks while pregnant with my first born. I knew I wanted to make a quilt but had no idea how. I got library books and watched a quilting show on PBS. There wasn’t nearly as much info available back then. Have you recovered enough for some close ups? Here goes.

Are you still with me? LOL! Those are some honking big stitches! I could say I invented big stitch quilting but if I am honest, that was NOT my intent! My husband had recently taught me to use a second hand sewing machine and this was all cut with scissors. I made a twin when dear son was still in a crib because I figured it would take a lifetime to finish. It took 6 weeks and I thought I was fast!

However, this quilt started a passion for quilting and creating that has never died. As ugly as it is, this quilt was my first and that is important. Will I pass it on to my grandson? Hmmmm. Maybe, maybe not.

It is good to look back and see how far I have come. It also reminds me that my hubby is my biggest cheerleader. His grandma was a master quilter. He KNOWS what a good quilt looks like. If he had told me how bad this quilt was, it might have been my last but he always believed in me. Even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thanks, love.

Now head over to Gemma’s and read the stories of others quilting journeys!

And if this is your first time here, please look around and see that I have actually improved!

Clever title, eh? Feeling kind of yucky this week so the brain is a bit low on power. Daughter #1 have me the Farmers Wife book for Christmas a couple years ago. I made 62 blocks and stopped because I want to hang the quilt in my front hall so I didn’t want it too big. I loved making these out if favorite scraps. I even made a box to keep my blocks in!

Here are a few if my favorite blocks:

I really wanted to get these together before Christmas this year. But things are getting busier every day.
Hubby asked me to make a wedding gift for a coworker and I have decided to use these fabrics to make a nap quilt.

I have the day off tomorrow so we shall see how far I get. I also have two QOVs to quilt and another needed before Christmas that is not yet started.

I guess those Farmers Wife blocks will have to wait a little longer….sigh.

I am linking up with Kelly for Needle and Thread Thursday.

Yesterday morning was mostly spent doing laundry and playing catch up. I did make a little progress on this QOV though.

I just need to add the outside border. I will use this fabric.

While working, I listened to this:

I still miss Reagan.

I also received swap blocks from the Small Quilt Talk group.

Aren’t they lovely?
And Daughter #2 sent this pic of grand dog enjoying a quilt I made for her (my daughter, not the dog).

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my small quilts! I so appreciate them but I am quite behind on responding and for that, I apologize.
I am linking up with Lee for WIP Wednesday.

Daughter #3 and I had a great trip but it is always good to be home. My sisters and I always check out the treasures at Good Will when we get together and this trip was no exception. I found this partially finished cross stitch quilt top.

Only this row of the middle section needs to be finished. But all of the border stitching is left to do.

I also found this unused vintage cotton sheet.

And this king sized duvet cover.

My greatest treasure though was free! My sisters MIL has been cleaning out her mothers home. She gave me this enamel top table!

The wooden parts need to be repainted but I just love it! I have another one that I use for my studio cutter.

I leave you with a couple photos I took while crossing the Mackinaw Bridge on the way home yesterday.

Back to work today!