Out for delivery

     Once again, I got a call for a comfortquilt that had to go out of town with someone who was flying out Labor Day. I have a lot of tops to choose from, but not quilted. I pushed myself to quilt on the longarm, get the bag put together, the card, the book and the pocket quilts. After washing and sewing the label on, I delivered it to the person who will ferry it along. I don't know where it is going, but it is to a woman who does not have a very good cancer diagnosis. I hope the exploding squares and quilting take her mind off it for a bit and let her gather her thoughts.

I just love striped bindings. Hard to find stripes, buy them when I see them.

Next squares explosion

     I hurried to finish quilting this exploding squares top as a comfort quilt because I received a phone call from a friend whose daughter in law has breast cancer and had a double masectomy Wednesday. She has two young children. I was able to finish it in a couple days, pack it up in the bag with a book and card, and get it mailed to Winston Salem, NC by Friday. I used Graphite Glide on top and prewound Cream PremoSoft in the bobbin. 

In the sun

In the shade

The back

Back detail

Trimming up, stacking up, go!

     When I first started quilting, I did not know (care) about trimming blocks when putting them together. The patterns I used did not mention it. However, after wrestling fabric into a top and losing, I started trimming. For HSTs, the Bloc Locs were wonderful. For squares, the Stripology Ruler makes it work. I am on the last round for another exploding squares quilt. I started with 4" squares. The last squares is 8".  I trimmed every sewn square before I put on another square. 
     My mom can sew the 4 edges, but I cut them open and trim and layer. I use washable Elmers glue in the 4 corners to hold the layers so there are no pins and so my speed demon mother cannot get them out of whack in the corners (I keep saying they are FEED dogs, not PUSH dogs to no avail).
     Anyways, I gave her the last round on Thanksgiving and you can see the slight slivers of fabric left which make a huge difference when I sew the blocks together (will need another last trim).

Work, work, work retreat

     Our guild has two retreats per year from Thursday to Sunday. Last weekend was one and I spent a lot of time packing quilts that just needed assembly. I also cut 8 pillowcases and sewed all. I had a little project I called Phony Dresdens for the participants, another woman did hanger covers out of fleece and another did zipper pouches. So, lots to do. Someone cooks the food and cleans it up. It is of cafeteria quality, but I am not there to eat. There is always our snack table...
     I have been having issues getting photos off my camera card in the laptop. I have to keep taking it in and out many times before it registers- doesn't matter the camera card. I also miss Picmonkey since it went the pay monthly route and have been using Pixlr which does not have a white balance. I need to find a good editor with just the basics. So, doing the blog has become frustration. I was not able to get the pillowcases or projects off, so another time.
    First, the exploding squares. One quilt started with 6" center squares, the other with 4". When I got the 6" one home on the wall, I thought it needed a border and put one on. I think the 4" one may need another row although I have no more right now.

4" center square start

6" center square start

With 3" cut border

     I had some leftover squares from a MSQC pattern, Disappearing Hour glass, so I added some sashing and a border for another comfort quilt. I brought border fabric which did not work, but a visiting quilt store brought some yardage with a demo and I found the right one.

     The diagonal variations also was sewn and I decided to stay stitch 1/8" around the perimeter to help it stay truer when I put it on the long arm. Hope it helps.

     Alas, I could not assemble Sapphire Stars because I was short two blocks with yellow triangles. I know I made enough as I recounted them, but nowhere to be found. I made the two blocks last night and sewed the large large block so I can start sewing on the sashing.

RWB exploding sqares version I lost track

     The RWB exploding squares that I trimmed on vacation were laid out, then sewn, then two borders were added to make it big enough. Guild members had cut a kit for this, but I was unsatisfied with the fabric chosen for the last round, so I dug around to find some other prints instead of the solid white. Then there was not enough for the red border, so I changed that also. Anyways it is all sewn together and I bet the backing is not big enough for my long arm. I took a photo in the shade and in the sun where it was windy. I have made I don't know how many of these exploding squares. This one used 4 patch orphan blocks for the first square.

Layout

Sewn

In sun

In shade

Another one in the rear view mirror

     A Red, white and blue exploding squares quilt went to its new home yesterday. I had finished this quilt top a while ago, but just finished the quilting. I had this great backing fabric that seemed perfect for it. Through a support group at church, a quilt was requested for a man who is battling colon cancer. I had nothing available then. All I had was this recently completed RWB quilt, which I am not sure would work for him. When I asked about him, I was told he was a vet! So, of course the quilt was washed, labeled, and put in its tote, then bagged in an XL zip lock, and given to the contact person. 

     Now to get some more comfort quilt tops done with an acting up long arm.

The quilt is not yet washed, it fluffed up quite nice. As soon as a quilt is washed, it goes in the bag for chemo recipients.

I love the quirky patriotic fabric- had to keep it in one big piece

Another explosion- of squares

     More exploding squares- such a great scrap buster! All the blocks, 4" center start, were on the wall and it took a whole lot of moving things around so one area did not look like its own quilt. Final decision made and all the blocks are clipped by column ready to sew!

One of many movings

Final decision

More squares exploding

      Another in the series of exploding squares I have made. They make great use of scraps and are wonderful comfort quilts. The last one shown has already gone to comfort. This quilt was started with 2- 4" squares, then 5's and then so one. I did do a tutorial on this pattern a while ago on Confessions of a Fabric Addict. 
      It needed a border. All the quilting is done free hand on my Nolting long arm, although I do use some chalk marks to keep myself on reasonable track. I take all responsibility for the wobbly lines. 

Back detail

Back

More Exploding Squares- on the fence

     I have made dozens of the exploding squares quilts with all different starting sizes and scraps. This one uses thin sashings- 1 1/2". I thought the squares were so busy that they needed some relief and I think I was right. I bought a large piece of fabric back at our quilt show in the fabric pool and it was perfect for the back. Someone just gave me a hunk of fabric last week that was perfect for the binding. Quilted with Glide on top and Omni in the bobbin.
    First the beauty shot- I draped it over my little rail fence and took advantage of a rare sun moment. Then I went to my neighbor's fence and shot the whole quilt, front and back.

     I have finished all the string blocks for the RWB zig zag lightning quilt. I used the Robert Kaufman app to figure out the size of the setting squares and corner squares and will be cutting them out of a blue mottled fabric.

Why I need quilt retreats

     I am aware that there are some quilters who think it is silly to pay to go somewhere to sew. However, I know that I need to. Last weekend, 10 of us rented an used convent in the country, and sewed for 3 solid days. Meals were split up between us and we were able to use the kitchen and dining room, yet leave the sewing machines up. Eating meals together was also a good time of sharing, trying different tools, seeing other techniques. Twice a year, my guild goes to a retreat center for 3 nights where they make and serve and clean up the meals- even more time to sew.
    Since this old convent is small, I try to take projects that just need assembly or block sewing as cutting and laying out is tight. I was able to sew together three tops and start working on three more. I will show the quilts here now, and new projects in another post. I used my new display stand that my daughter and son-in-law bought me for Christmas. It is fantastic, folds up and goes into a zip duffle. What an absolutely terrific present! I will use it all the time for photo shoots.

Exploding Squares laid out at home, numbered columns

Sewn and bordered. I started with 4" squares

Disappearing Hourglass (MSQC) quilt sewn

Exploding Squares starting with 6" squares, added thin sashing
as blocks were a bit busy

My new display stand, Woo-hoo!

It all goes in this zip bag!

Cock a doodle done

      Although I am not sure what to do now that the rooster is pieced from the Ann Shaw class, it is all together. I was thinking a black and white checkerboard border and maybe some other blocks before a border. I would like it to be at least 30 x 34. The method does work, but will I be able to figure it out drawing my own landscapes?

     Also done is an exploding square, Red White Blue for a vet. I don't know who will get this. My guild made up the kit, but I had to switch out the border from a dark red solid narrow to this more lively blue print. Now to get a backing done.

Kids Exploding Squares

     I finished quilting the B&W exploding squares kids quilt. I am going to send this to the Hands2Help Challenge in May. It needs binding yet, but it seems very happy. I did not use the ruler on the square spirals as I thought the quilt could hold a little line wonkiness.

Wonky line diagonal center

Back 

Back to sewing

    Last week was our annual family vacation in the ADK, around Old Forge, NY. We have been going there for a week for about 20 years. Now, my kids are grown and married but still come. My grandkids, 3 and 5, came with all my husband's siblings and their families. We canoe, hike, eat, shop, and get real tired. Internet and cell phone coverage are rather spotty. I could keep up with email and reading blogs, but that is about all. 

Part of family paddling the Moose River

My all time favorite- the water lily.
Very small and sparse this year.

   I took my Featherweight and cut bags of projects to sew and put together. Two projects were all done except for borders when I got home. Some other chain piece projects had progress made on them also.

This one was made from blocks given to me.
I added sashings and border.

An exploding square quilt, black and white with kid's prints. Yellow polka dot border to make it big enough.

Couple of finishes

     Among all the other things I am trying to move ahead on, finished the binding and everything on a Laurel Burch jungle panel and another exploding squares comfort quilt. Both long armed by me (not great).

Back

Front

Just needs sleeve to go to grandkids