Taught Barb to quilt

Barb came for the weekend and was going to do some projects around the house, but needed help that I couldn't give so instead I taught her how to paper piece quilt blocks. She took to it right away. She made a block for Ben's quilt and liked the color combo so well she made herself some placemats for her kitchen. She made them miniatures (which means each little block is only 2 inches bit and it took 16 blocks for each placemat). I had to help a little but the majority of the work was done by her. She really caught on quick and she's so creative with a great eye for color. I know she'll be making some beautiful quilts when she sits down to do it again. She sure is off to a fantastic start. Before this she had never even sewn. Quite an accomplishment for a weekend of work. And we had fun and fit in our own mini shop hop to local quilt shops. Life is good!

Last block

Finished my last block of a very sewful weekend. Unfortunately I don't know when I'll have another chance to sew. Too many other commitments. This one looks better in person than in the picture. It doesn't show the contrast in the photo. Not sure if I'll keep it, or cull it later. We'll see. Only five more blocks left to catch up.

Day and Night Star Flower Radiant Block

This pattern is free on Carol Doak's Web site but I had to modify it to make it fit in with all the other Radiant BOM blocks. I'm not sure I love the color/fabric placement, but it's okay for now. More to do, no time to waste. Tomorrow is a work day.

Another Golden Radiant Block

I modified the December block from the first Carol Doak Yahoo Group Block of the Month and made it in yellow, black and white to go in my Golden Radiant Quilt. Got it done just in time to wait for my new dishwasher. Life is good!

New Project

Last night I decided I needed to make something that wasn't red black and white or yellow black and white. I went digging in one of the fabric closets and found some fabric from a friend, who happens to be coming to visit this week. So I figured it would be cool to use it so when she gets here she can see it in a place of honor. I haven't made a table topper for my new house yet, so that was the project I picked. The fabric is Mary Englebreit. The table topper came out pretty good, even on the back. Bright primary colors always look so sharp against black. Took less than 4 hours, start to finish; quilted and everything. That's the kind of project I like -- immediate gratification. And it goes really well with all the other tea stuff in my dining area.

Mini Wall Hanging Challenge

Can't wait for spring.

Git 'er done

We have a challenge on my quilting group to finish started projects and do better at finishing anything else we start in 2011. It's called Get 'er done or GED. Earlier this year we had a challenge on the same group to make a quilt that was 9" x 9" or smaller and use 4 different block designs. After the challenge I put some borders on mine, making it 14 1/2 inches square. I love it! So I added it to the GED challenge and it was the first one I decided to finish. The stems on the flowers are actually done with a textile marker. I might just embroider them over top. I just have to dig out my embroidery thread. But at least it is done and can go on the wall as is. This is the first of about 30 projects I hope to finish in 2011. We'll see how that goes.

Cathy in SATX
Every day is a good day to quilt.