Globe Trotting Block 4

My fourth block for the Mystery Boom, and I have to say I just love looking at everyones block in the flicker group here. I wasn't quite sure how I would feel about it being a mystery quilt and not quite knowing what the turn out would be, but I have to say I look forward to the start of each month and seeing a new block.

AND I don't consider this a WIP quilt either! I can't work on it if I don't know what the next block will be!! So it's not really my fault it is a unfinished product! 

Next up is the aura fill block

This one is on my list to finish as well, I love the bear paw look, and it looks so good in so many color ways! (flicker group here)

March BOM all done on time!

 This week has been a unproductive sewing week! But I did manage to get the 3rd block from Pat Sloans Mystery quilt block finished! So that means I'm not falling behind!

Between the beautiful weather (and studying) staying cooped up in the house is the last thing on my mind! Does that happen to you? The nicer it gets outside the less you want to be sewing inside! 

I also put this one together with my green, red and aqua colors. I decided to add a bit of gray as well to this set.  It does measure a bit larger than my fist block

But that is nothing a bit of sashing can't fix! 

I hope everyone else has had a more productive week!

Call for help Auction projects?

O.K I am putting out a call for help from the more experienced quilters out there! 

My son is part of a 4-H group and every year they have an auction. This auction raises money for the local 4-H, FFA, and FBA to host the local fair. 

During his last meeting there was a call for donated crafts, especially quilted items. 

Apparently they do quite well at these auctions. 

The issue is, I'm a bit of a slow quilter, and considering that the fair is in just 2 weeks, that doesn't give me quite enough time to put together a whole quilt. So I need a bit of help.. Has anyone ever donated quilted items for auctions before?  AND has a simple, easy and most importantly FAST project that they use for these kinds of events? I have never quilted for anyone else before, it's always been for myself or my family so I am at a  bit of a loss as to what goes over well. Perhaps a table toper? or a wall hanging? Any Ideas out there? They would be most appreciated on my part ( as well as my son who doesn't understand that I can't just " whip up" a quilt over a weekend!) 

Now I don't intend for one of mine to bring in $9,000 Like This one did last year

But Every little bit helps!

Auriful BOM March Block Complete!

While deciding on my next project, I have been puttering along with a few BOMs. 

Its quite amazing to realize how fast the year as gone, this is already the 3rd block for this years Auriful BOM! 

They are all finishing at about 12 1/2 inches, so by the end of the year these will make a nice sized quilt I'm thinking!

I have also been playing with some aquas, reds and greens as well.

 I would love to make this as a small wall hanging, but I have no plan! 

I simply browse all the lovely quilting blogs out there, and when I see a tutorial for a block that catches my fancy and finishes at 12 inches  ( and will look nice in these colors), I'll add it to this block. 

And finally my leaders and enders is at a stand still. 

I ran out of 2 1/2 inch blocks! So I will wait by the mail box until the post delivers my next set of 200 with the swap I have signed up for. 

I also signed up for another swap as well. 

Last month I received such a lovely package from the secret pals swap that I signed up for this month to! So, that means another trip to the fabric shop is in store for me this weekend to get a quilty package together for my pal as well! 

Simple + table toper pieced...

Don't you just love the photos of a beautiful kitchen table. Complete with table runners, table cloths, and the like. As much as I would love my home to look like that, it's just not possible. As a matter of fact my kitchen table is so embarrassing I don't even want to post a picture of it! 

Jackets hung over the chairs, paper work, spelling words, math papers, other forms of homework ( both mine and the 1st and 5th graders!) along with various other things are always strewn across the kitchen table, no matter how many times I pick them up.

 It's as if when I clear of the table, it screams at people to place stuff on it! So I have come to the realization that it will be several years until my kitchen table is photo ready, and I am OK with that! 

However it doesn't stop me from loving all the beautiful table topers that I see on everyone else's table. Who said they had to only be for the kitchen table! 

This small roll around kitchen block needed some love, so using 2 1/2 inch squares and 2 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch rectangles I made up this small + table toper. Right now it's just 14" square. I am thinking I will quilt it with some nice waves and bind it with a charcoal gray or gray and white binding. 

If it is going to stay here, I really think the gray will help tone down the colors and bring it all together!

That, or I may just have to change the vases!

Churn dash Quilt Together!

 Yesterday in-between homework I was able to piece together my churn dash quilt. I have to say now that it's all together I like it much more than I did as individual blocks!
The colors are so scrappy and yet they go together pretty well.

Little chickens were not to impressed with it, as you can see. They think just because I come outside I'm going to give them treats! And while most of the time that is true, today I was not and they were protesting, so it may not have been the quilt top they were disapproving of, so much of the lack of treats!

The whole thing is just large enough for my bed. 6 blocks up and down, measuring at 12" each. 

I am thinking a pretty vintage sheet would look nice as a backing, but I'll be putting this top away for a bit until something speaks to me for a backing!

And of the 100 2 1/2 inch squares I cut for my leaders and enders when I started this quilt, well lets just say I need to get cutting, I'm out! Just one more thing to add to the list of things to do!

Leaders and enders block

I have recently found the joy of Leaders and Enders. I originally started because after some reading I found that quilters change their bobbin less often when they use leaders and enders. I am happy to report, this is completely true! It seems like I am winding my bobbin much less since I started using leaders and enders!  

I decided it would be a waste to just use a scrap pice of fabric so perhaps I could make a quilt with the leaders and enders. So I sat down and organized my scraps, cutting lots of 2 1/2 inch squares. I quickly fond that I had a relatively small range of scrap colors. So I promptly signed up for a 'Candy swap" where we all exchange sets of 50 different 2 1/2 inch blocks. SO 200 + blocks later they are all bagged and ready to be sent out. 

At the end of each block I was making for my churn dash quilt, I just fed in the sewing machine 2 of the 2 1/2 charms. They quickly added up. 

I am hoping to do a scrappy around the world kind of block. The white will be the focal point with all the scrap pices adding a bit of color to the quilt. I don't plan on having this one done anytime soon, but I do like how it is coming together. 

The trick is to keep this a leader and ender quilt! I am really liking how easy it is to simply match the pieces once they were all cut. There is no thought to putting it together, just as long as two of the same colors are not side by side I am happy.  I don't pin either, just go slow to match up the seams and it works well. This block is 25 blocks, finishing at a 10" square.