Exchange Blocks Done

They are done. My exchange blocks are done, at least the ones that I will give away. This is a picture of a few of the blocks. We were doing a crazy quilt type block. They turned out very colorful, except for the beige/tan/off white ones. Those are very muted and soft. I like the all purple ones. Does that surprise you?

There is another exchange that I must work on. The deadline for those blocks was postponed, so of course I have postponed getting them done. But I like this feeling of "finished". So I shall start on those tomorrow, I think. I also want to get some samples done for a workshop I am leading for our guild. I want to make some Heartstring type blocks (string pieced). They are so easy and fun to do, and use up lots of scraps.

Speaking of scraps, I went to work with the Community Quilts group yesterday. They were making crumb blocks with scraps, and tying quilts. There were six ladies sewing in the room I was in, and two other ladies pressing and cutting the sewn parts.

I went in after lunch, and worked on finishing my 10+ year old community quilt. I had the last side of the binding to sew down. I like to sew the binding on the back by hand. I finished my binding, and rang the bell (you ring the bell when you finish a block, or a quilt). I played a tune on that bell being so excited that I finally finished the quilt that I started so long ago. It is the one I posted about that has pink in it. My thought was to make a quilt for a man since we make so many feminine type quilts, and children's quilts. So, I decided that blue would be a good "manly" color. I am not sure how the pink worked into that quilt, but somehow it did.

I made the blocks for that quilt from a pattern booklet by Sharon Craig. It was the first time I cut strips and sewed blocks from the strips. I cut so many strips. I don't know what I was thinking at the time. I made enough blocks to make two quilts, almost. I have several blocks left over, and lots of strips left over. I know the strips can go into my strip bins, but I must do something with those left over blocks. I want to take the tote bag they are in out from under my sewing table (and make room for another one!).

I have so many projects that I can work on that are stashed under my sewing table. There is so much stuff under my table that I can hardly fit my feet under the table when I am sewing! I also have my Singer Featherweight machines under there as well.

What started this activity was that I was looking for some black fabric for a project today, and I started moving everything that is in front of the closet door in my sewing room so that I could get into the closet to look for the fabric. I have a bolt of black fabric that I have not cut yet, and I thought that it was in the closet. Actually, I found it in front of the door, but since I had started on a quest to get into the closet, I continued moving everything.

When I finally did get into the closet (after watching a Perry Mason episode, and a Georgia Bonsteel quilt show - remember, I am still on vacation and I can still do those things), I found all kinds of treasures that I forgot about. I found a complete set of patterns (with fabric) for an applique cat quilt, a darling Santa quilt (including fabric for each pattern), and (among other things) my box of Baltimore Album blocks. I found four more blocks in that box that I had set up to be appliqued. I think I will have enough to make a 25 block quilt when those blocks are finished. In that same box are a bunch of blocks (with a heart theme) of various sizes and colors. There are enough to make a quilt, for sure.

Also in the closet (and mind you, I have not gone through the whole closet, yet), I found all the patterns for a Mama Said applique quilt. I know one member from our group who has actually finished her Mama Said quilt (I'm so envious). Then there is a complete set of the monster patterns for a quilt that I did as samples for a quilt store as an applique BOM. Lots of other things are in the closet that I do not have the interest in discovering today. Although, some of those bags and boxes have piked my interest!

I had thoughts of organizing this closet at the beginning of my summer break. Unfortunately I did not get around to that project, again. I had that same goal last summer, too.

My sewing room is a mess (more than usual) since I have all that wonderful stuff all over everywhere in there. Now I cannot even get to the bolt of black fabric to cut some for my project! I may close the door and revisit it tomorrow. In the meantime.....

Happy Quilting

FYI: DH found an article in today's newspaper. A little baby girl was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on 08-08-08 at 8:08 in the morning weighing 8 pounds and 8 ounces! Ya gotta love it!