Festival of Strings

Rachel over at Stitched in Color  is sponsoring a Festival of Strings to "celebrate the beauty and joy of scrap quilting." I do love a good scrap quilt. The blocks for this one have come from a few different virtual quilting bees (Lovely Linen mostly). I've had them for a year or so now. And while I've been knee deep in projects that I really needed to get done (as in some one was paying me to do them) I went ahead and procrastinated and finished this one up. And, lucky girl that I am, 2 weeks after finishing it, an invitation for a baby shower arrived in the mail. Cousins Scott and  Heather are having a girl!
Gift? Done. (If I were the kind of gal that said "boom", I'd say it now.)

Finished Size Approximately 36 x 48

Close up of Vintage Sheets

Pieced Backing

Gingham Binding

Uh, where did April Go?

A blur. That's what the last month has been. It seems like there has been activities every weekend, with no let up until June. Not that I'm complaining (well, maybe a little bit.) I like being busy. I just wish I had more time to sew. I've got a couple of projects due, one June 1st, one July 1st. The first one is a t shirt quilt for a graduating Senior. I did one for his brother last year and the family loved it so they're continuing the tradition. I really do like making these. The quilting is a workout, though. Imagine trying to jam 30 t shirts plus batting through your sewing machine. If you've not tried one, I'd say go for it. I'm using a different fusible this year, which gives the t's a little more body and a lot less stretching. Email me if you want some tips!

I did some catch up on my bee blocks too. I'm only in one bee at the moment, Bee Vintage, the one that I host. The Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild has an ongoing bee, but I'm taking a break for a few month so I can catch me breath a bit.

For Emily

For Monica

For Pam

For Jodie

Project #2, due in July is super secret, and I'm super excited about it. More later!

So, Hi Again...

When bloggers take a break, be it a few days, weeks or months, there's the obligatory, Sorry I've been away, and here's why....

My why: I got a job. One that requires me to show up at 8 every morning, and stay until 5 ish. I tell you what, working takes up a LOT of time. And leaves very little time for sewing. And even less for blogging. Those bloggers who work outside the home, have kids and a life, and who also manage to blog on a regular basis: I tip my rotary cutter to you. You rock!

Some sewing has been going on. I participated in the Madrona Road challenge with my Baltimore Modern Quilt Guild. I'd show you the quilt, but I think I left it at work. Next week for that one. I can show you this though.

Yeah, I did it. A scrappy trip around the world (although, I set it in more of a chevron style.) I wasn't going to do this one. I have plenty of projects. But a few weeks ago I and a few friends from the guild taught a Modern Quilt Sampler workshop, which meant plenty of downtime while the other gals were teaching. I wanted to sew something relatively mindless. This was just the ticket. I ended up doing 20 blocks. I don't really love this. I don't hate it, but I don't love it. Up close, it looks like a hot mess. It really needs distance to get it. But, I'm glad I made it for two reasons: I found some great fabric combinations along the way. And, I realize I haven't got nearly enough lights in my stash. I'll need to remedy that asap!

The 2013 Bee Vintage group started up this month. Linda asked for Lady of the Lake. Lots of hsts! I think it will make a nice quilt.

Liz asked for a granny square block. This is the perfect block for vintage sheets!

So there. I blogged. Hope I can make it a more regular thing!

Sewing with Vintage Sheets

I did some catching up with Bee Vintage this week. Since I was late with July, I decided to be proactive and knock out August as well. Whenever I sew with my sheets, I always take over the sewing room and make a royal mess. As I was working with them this time, I decided to tame the beast a little. I went through a bunch of scraps, and cut them into layer cake sizes and for those that were too small, charm sizes. The rest I tossed. I'm still deciding what to do with larger pieces. Whole sheets, I either save for quilt backings, or sell in my Etsy shop. Others that may have a rip or stain, I'm thinking of cutting into yard size pieces, just to make them more manageable. We'll see.

Here are this (and last) month's blocks:

Pam asked for Garden Fence

Linda wanted Wonky Stars

Liz wanted Bow Ties

And finally, Emily asked for a Dresden

In the last round of Bee Vintage, I also asked for Dresdens. I found all the blocks I had received, and realized I only needed one more block to make a top. Then I found my Ziploc of Dresden making supplies and found I had most of the blades already made ~ enough for Emily's block and one more for me. So, one for Emily, one for me. At this point, I couldn't put this quilt away again, so I plugged away and now have this top!

My latest stack of tops needing to be quilted stands at four, with another 2 in the works. Sigh. Might be time to visit my friend Maria.