Hola Mola

I've been working on these blocks since last year and finally finished embroidering the last of them and got the top together.

This is a pretty dull picture. the background fabric is a dark brown. I had the flash on my camera, so I don't know how that came out. i am not a camera person. haha I know, this top needs some serious pressing.

A close up.... hahaha   I see I have the turtle upside down.  sigh!!   always something

Some large molas...

And some small ones...

I really like these designs. They are from 2 different sets, but the same designer.

I made the top and bottom border twice as wide so the top would be rectangular rather than square. It is 58x68".

Times and Seasons

Another applique project started. I know....I know....couldn't help myself.

I have many of the Piecemakers calendars and haven't done any of them yet. I believe it is time to at least start one. This one is from 2004.

This is January's block. The blocks are 10x14" finished. It is quite an unusual setting for the blocks, so I hope that keeps me interested to get this one finished.

Here is my version. I worked on it 3 nights. and, yes, i skipped the roses on purpose.

I sincerely wish pattern makers would make applique patterns backwards so they would come out the same direction as the pattern.

I found some tiny red ribbon in my stash of goodies to make the birds.

My tree is applique rather than embroidery. And some things...like the lines on the igloo....were done on the sewing machine. The snowman's hat has blue fuzzy trim because I didn't have any white fuzzy trim. This is the year of 'use it up'. haha

The snow and igloo are of felt, but it is too hard to stitch through felt...and the background fabric....and whatever piece you are sewing down, so the remaining blocks will just be fabric rather than felt.

This was a fun block....and I have the pattern for February all ready to be traced.

Northwoods....block #7

I got back to my Northwoods quilt top project. Mainly, so I can finish those blocks and get them off my design wall. If I put it in a box, it might never get finished. haha

This is the 7th block, called Day Hike

Close up of the boots.

They sort of blend in right now, but once they get some quilting they will stand out better.

Selvage Pinwheels

What to do with what seems like millions of selvages. well, you keep coming up with more designs to use them on.

This time, I made the background of selvages.....and cut out some shapes with my cutter.....and made pinwheels....or, maybe they are windmills. haha

The blocks are 12" (finished)

I'm just using any selvage pieces for the background. Mostly white pieces that got rejected for other projects.

They go pretty quickly. I made these 4 yesterday....plus 2 more backgrounds. I will make 20 in all.

I cut more 13" selvage pieces today while the embroidery machine was going, so I am going to go and sew up some more blocks.

I got the main embroidery machine back from the shop today....so I could make my railroad track pieces for the train quilt.....so I am working on that project, too.

Busy, busy

Blue Selvage Quilt....a pinterest pattern find

I finished piecing another blue selvage quilt. I can't seem to use up all those blue selvages.....the box isn't overstuffed any more, but there are still plenty in there.

This pattern was a pinterest find.

It took some concentration to keep things going in the proper direction

I was trying to do it with only 3 different fabrics for the half that wasn't selvages, but i didn't have enough, so it wound up being 5 different fabrics. but that's ok.....more fabric off the shelves.

The fabric fairies come in at night and add fabrics to my shelves. i swear, i find stuff that i KNOW i didn't buy and have no idea where it came from. haha

So, it's either the fairies or i'm losing my mind.....either solution is possible.

January's Business

Time to report in on January's accomplishments. It never turns out as we expect, does it?

I only got 3 things quilted....

Judy's Scrappy Challenge....from some years ago.

Pocket Surprise...made from men's shirts. there are toys in some pockets.

Seashells by the Seashore....quilted with a seashell panto.

Piecing always leads the pack in accomplishments.

Beach Walk... this is currently sitting on the longarm ... i started quilting it about a week ago and then have been playing on the embroidery machine since then. I would get lots of things quilted if i didn't have an embroidery machine. hah

From made fabric....inspiration from a book by Virginia Wolfe.

I Spy Hexies Squared.....i have made about a dozen of these so far.. I want them all to have the same border on all sides, so this is going to take a while to get them finished.

Prairie Point Christmas Tree.....my friend, Brenda, made this and I had to be a copycat. haha  The prairie points are 3D and only sewn on the top, in the seam.

Shirt Tags....thrift store shirts cut up into various pieces......this quilt got the tags.

Pocket Surprise ..... all quilted up

Yellow and Black Selvage HSTs.....pattern found on Pinterest...

The embroidery machine was at work almost every day in January. I was making play food for my cousin's grand babies. They should get the package on Monday. The box was full of all kinds of goodies.... I love that the designer made little pouches for lots of it....popcorn, peanuts, mac and cheese, peas and carrots, potato chips, potatoes

From milk....

To fries....

And I made some shoes for a doll for my sister to give to a friend's little girl.

And, currently, I am working on a train quilt ....8 blocks finished and 4 to go...plus track, trees and sign

That's it for January.

Got to get hoppin' for February....it's a short month. haha

2 more train blocks

I got 2 more train blocks embroidered today.

Seems like all designers want to put animals in train cars for kids. i wonder why.

The truck hauler is pretty cool.

I might try some tracks tomorrow to see how they are going to be incorporated into the quilt. i might have to make a lot of them. haha