Pin It Weekly #261

Here's hoping that it doesn't take as long to get past the 260s posts. Those ten numbers in the 250s took much too long with all of the interruptions. For 261 I thought I'd show you what I've pinned lately. All quilts. All modern. All the time. 

"heart, quilts" is the place.

"Under the Haystack Fast Asleep" ~~ Finish

I've been on a tear in an attempt to use up some of the blue fabric in the stash. It's beginning to become a burden. Actually it's more like seasickness. But I'm determined. I have one more quilt top complete and ready to go on the long arm for quilting. This one, though, is complete and ready to go to a baby boy.  I'm calling it "Under the Haystack Fast Asleep."

Did you notice the green chair. It's part of the set with this orange chair. 

 For this quarter square log cabin, I decided to make the blocks wonky. Talk about add some movement! It may be the reason that I'm sick of working with the quilts. 

Of course, I could just be sick of the weather. Tropical Storm Cindy is doing her job very well. Thunder rolls with very little time between each burst. The puppies are getting hoarse from barking at the thunder.

And in case the weather and the puppies are not enough to entertain, we have an incessant red bird attacking himself against our windows. Now we get one every year (I wonder if it's a family trait) but those have always chosen one window. This guy will attack any window: the bow window in the living room, the window near the long arm, the kitchen window, the window by the machine. 

Quilt Stats
Name:	Under the Haystack Fast Asleep
Size:	40" X 40"
Fabrics:	Variety of blues from stash
Background:	n/a
Binding:	scrap fabrics left from blocks
Pattern:	Wonky Quarter Log Cabin
Quilting:	practice quilting / variety of motifs

It's all well and good to have an extra quilt or two for those times when you need one quick, but you know, I needed a little diversion. That said, I made a pincushion. I bought a new ruler--one for making hexies. It allows measurements for 1" to 5" hexies. So I cut out two 5" pieces, sewed around the block, leaving an opening of course. Then turned it right side out and stuffed it with walnut shells. Easy, easy! I didn't quilt it because truthfully I didn't even think about it. How silly is that? (Maybe don't answer that question. hehe)

Linking up with

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Crazy Mom Quilts 

My Quilt Infatuation
Busy Hands Quilts
TGIFF at Slice of Pi

Start with blue and ask questions

If you've read my post from Sunday or Monday, you know that I have been sick. I still don't know what that crud could have been, but thank goodness, it's gone. Just in time to help Rory and Meggan with the girls while she recovers from a procedure.

However, I did manage to get into the studio for a little while on Tuesday and Wednesday before coming to Rayne. 

A few days earlier, I visited Cynthia Brunz at Quilting is more fun than Housework... and saw her green quarter-square log cabin project for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I fell in love with the simplicity of the blocks and it uses lots of scraps. 

We chatted via email. Cynthia was helpful and encouraging, (thanks for the advice, Cynthia); and I got going as soon as I felt well enough to stand. By that time, I remembered that I had an abandoned WIP with some blue strips already cut. I pulled those and jumped ahead an hour or so. Isn't it amazing how much time cutting fabric takes?

At the end of the day on Wednesday, I was almost at the flimsy stage. I need to choose a layout. However, it's a baby quilt and the blocks are large at 10", so there's not much wiggle room. These are my favorites:

Maybe I should call this The Question Quilt because I surely have asked many questions. Here's another. Keeping in mind that I can still move blocks, which do you prefer--the top layout or the bottom layout? 

Linking up with

Crazy Mom Quilts 

My Quilt Infatuation

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Quilting is more fun than housework

A Not-so-New Idea: Pictochart

I've seen, and pinned, these charts lots of times.  Today I decided to find out how to create my own.  Of course, I had to make one for a quilt block!  By all means, share with your friends, especially new quilters.  Oh, and since I'm doing this on the fly, let me know if you run into an error...fixing those is easier than it looks.

Finally, tell me what you think in the comments.  I really would like some feedback!

Quilting Gallery

I finally entered one of my quilts in the weekly themed contests at Quilting Gallery.  I've said several times that I would just for the fun, but life gets in the way of so many good intentions.  Finally!  I've done it.  Since the theme is Log Cabin Quilts and I've made a few, I thought now would be a good time.


I entered Rory and Meggan's quilt, "Louisiana Bayou" which I gave them when they married.  She chose the quilt one day while looking through the ones I'd completed and fell in love with the greens, golds and browns of the bayou quilt.  Since she also loves red tulips and this quilt has small red centers in each block, it was perfect for them.


For his part, Rory was partly the inspiration for the quilt.  He was working for a gentleman who makes handmade furniture, including a fabulous bed he designed and named the Louisiana Bayou Bed.  Richard and I took a tour of his studio and I fell for the beauty of one of the beds on display.  Rory explained the background of the bed and my mind could not stop thinking of the kind of quilt that such a beautiful bed deserves.


Unfortunately, I couldn't make a quilt big enough for that bed.  At the time I was quilting everything on my Bernina since we hadn't purchased the longarm yet.  It's very difficult to make a queen size quilt......a large king is impossible--at least for me!
Here's a close-up of one of the blocks.  All these photos are of the quilt on my bed before Meggan and Rory got it.


I'm supposed to encourage you to vote by clicking on the button on the left of this page.  I'm not sure exactly what will happen but I think you'll be taken to the Quilting Gallery site where you'll get to see all the quilts and vote on your favorite.

Before you do that, though, leave a comment and let me know what you think.  Have you made a quilt that someone loved so much that giving it away was a pleasure?  That's how I felt about giving this quilt to Meggan and Rory. It was a pleasure to see her face when she opened the gift, and I am especially happy to know that they use it.  Do you get the lasting pleasure of knowing that the quilt you gave away is used and appreciated?  Isn't that the most wonderful feeling for a quilter?

Lastly, if you're reading this post on Friday, it's the final day to enter the giveaway.  After midnight it will be too late to enter.  I'll choose a winner on Saturday morning, email the winner then post the info for everyone to see on Saturday sometime in the afternoon.  You will find everything you need to enter here!