I participated in a 12 1/2" Favorites Things block exchange with a small group of cyber friends.  I love setting exchange block tops together b/c no two ever look the same.

A couple of live-body frinds came over to play today and we (when I say 'we', I mean-"I") decided to see what we could come up with in a short time.)

I planned to do a different fabric combo but similar setting, good friend,Mary M, told me 'NO" and headed to my stash.  I had several different layouts in my head and jotted them down while she pulled material for the alternate blocks.

Special THANKS to Dawn D for also helping.  If is almost cheating to get to work with these gals on a quickie project.  What started out as a small throw it together, turn into a good size let's KEEP it quilt top.

Don't read this if you are worried about me getting in trouble for letting the good news out.

They had let us know that a spring ceremony was in the plans.  Our daughter has had the location and  weather picked out since childhood.  The groom had yet to be named until earlier this year.

They wanted to announce their plans a couple of weeks ago when all the family was in town for my mother-in-laws funeral.  There was no formal announcement but most everyone was told in private.

Today when they came to visit, it was also to pick up their wedding rings and tell us that they got their license YESTERDAY-  isn't that a little early for an April wedding?

Oh, the judge has time to sign their paper work over his lunch next Wednesday.  Raelynn and Dustin are still going to do a ceremony for family and friends later.

Good thing I already have the wedding quilt made- what a great Thanksgiving this is going to be.

My MOM currently has this scrappy quilt at her house but has promised it to Raelynn when she marries.  Hate to be the one to call grandma and tell her she has to give up her Favorite Things Quilt.  It took her many years of asking for me to give it to her in the first place- talk about re-gifting-  I think I have dibs on getting it back first!  (just kidding- we all knew it was going to our oldest daughter someday)

This butterfly rings quilt has had Raelynn's name on it for a number of years- I am glad that it will get to go home with her- quilts should get to be used not just stored for a special occasion.  I think I made this one when she was in college-

 This one was made a few years ago, I was in the mood to applique and it just kept growing.  Raelynn called 'dibs' on it but I have gotten to use it when I wanted to.  Here it is covering a bulletin board at a church ladies night dinner.

Good thing I can keep a secret, I am not telling anyone, just jotting down a post on my blog.

In my defense she spilled the beans on her Face Book notes, she said she was thinking about doing something spontaneous.  A friend of mine asked:  Do you mean like cut your hair or like get married?  Raelynn answered:  Both!   So I kinda knew a couple of days ago, I just didn't know it was this soon.

Just think when we see them for Thanksgiving Family Dinner they will be a married couple-  I think I am going to cry-  I'm getting a new son-in-law!  What a great Blessing to our family.

MAY 30 1934

A week or so ago, I saw someone had posted a scrap top and was asking if anyone ‘knew’ what the pattern was.

I was pretty sure I had seen it before. I have a lot of the old KC Star newspaper patterns laying about.

I don’t remember who I told I would send my copy to but since they were just wanting a ‘name’ of the pattern, hopefully this will help.

I have seen these tops made with every fabric in the scrap pile. Very pretty take-a-long project for the hand piece-ers to work on.

cw

My son call me this morning to say that the auction down the road had a couple of quilts at it. He also said, there was no need to go b/c it was all stuff I already had. (yeah right!)

There were a lot of people that showed up to buy mostly b/c of the antiques that were available. After seeing how high the items were selling for I resolved that I was NOT going to be bringing anything home. I watched at least a couple of dozen different ladies fondle this top and comment. I figured it would be out of my price range fairly fast. I was hoping that I could at least get a bid in to say I ‘tried’ I called our son and asked him to run by my house and grab the camera, I was hoping to at least get a few pictures to remember the ‘one that got away’ He showed up just as I won the bid on a couple of boxes of barbies. I had to they were only $2.00 for choice of box. Sadly the camera didn’t have its card in it. I decided to run back to the house and find it. When I got back the quilts were already being auctioned, I didn’t get picture of several of them but did get a few to share. I couldn’t believe how low they were selling for. I assumed it was because everyone was waiting to save up their money for this beauty of a whole cloth hand-embroidery full size top

They started the bid at $200---- no takers, 150---100—50—no one- really? I jumped in at $25- couldn’t believe it!!

I got raised and WON at $45! I am still in shock. The whole set, 2 pillows and the quilt, this is un-real. Mike asked me how much paid and I said “I am not sure, I think 45 but I might have mis-understood, it could have been 145- he said, hope it wasn’t 45-hundred! How’s that for a holiday scare.The pillow tops are in really good condition, I will probably take out the pillows and re-do the case. The quilt has some stains and is headed to take a bath- I am looking for a wall to display it on. Can’t believe how much I LOVE this quilt- I know there is no way I would have made it myself, although I am now looking through my embroidery patterns to see how many of these flowers I have.

Several other quilts and tops sold before I could get my heart back in the game. I did bid on a couple but only won one other.

I am thinking I need to hang out at more auctions, my ‘other’ find was a little less expensive but priceless to me. A Full size hand quilted grandma’s flower garden- there are a few places to patch but I have period fabric that should work. For what I paid I might not even fix it. Just hang it for display- $30.00- Oh my, the amount of work that went into these pieces- I was in the right place at the right time-

- cw

I

 I Learned something “new to me” tonight.

When laying out the Disappearing 9-patch block one needs to pay attention to directional or focus blocks! Duh……

I knew I knew that but did I do it? NO, good thing I am not ashamed to own a seam ripper!! (actually I just rip them apart by hand)

This Holiday top was made using TWELVE raw-edge appliqué snowmen (from several years ago- different story) , Twelve 12 1/2” light Christmas fabric sqs. and Three of the darker green.

You only have to make THREE of the 9-patches (the third one is sewn in a line for the vertical row) I most likely will look to add a border for this one, possibly in reds and then use it as a gift.

The snowmen were made for a Holiday Block exchange and I like them so much I did a lot of them. Pretty much everyone who participated got at least one. I have snuck them into several holiday quilts. This is their first top as the focus block.

54 x 70 (ish)”

I had the fabrics picked out the other day. I knew I wanted to do a quick raw-edge applique but wasn’t sure ‘what’

After looking through sets of what I had on hand I decided the red tulips were going to be the ONES TO-DO. I picked through the pre-cuts and found enough red ones that I didn’t have to duplicate very many. Evidently I went through a ‘RED” stage a few years ago b/c I found several packets of red Tulips.

Must have been around the same time as my ‘blue daisy’ phase b/c I found several sets of those too.This top measures around 70 x 88”. Soon as I find the right dark purple sheet for the back, this one is getting quilted for favorite Daughter-in-Law, Kelly.

She pretty much gets dibs on anything I do in purple, or pastels, or anything else she likes!

This Top was made using the D-9 concept. I started with 12 1/2” sqs. Sewed them into 9-patches, cut into quarters and re-sewed. It takes FIVE 9-patches to make this layout. You do have to plan your focus block placement on the fifth block b/c that one is then set in a row.

I don’t have a ‘design wall’ per Se but do seem to enjoy pinning stuff to the mini-blinds in the living room. There is just something about walking up from downstairs and ‘seeing’ the tops from a distance

.I don’t know why I like tweeking the colors, This is a raw edge applique on a 10 1/2” sq.

This shot is more normal size but lightened up a bit. To me it looks like a ‘controlled’ w/a little scrappy. The tulips were cut out a few years ago and I still have several sets waiting on me to do something with them.

Sometimes I sew in a series, I have one more D-9 cut and ready to work on. It will be Purples on a 12 1/2 starting sq. I just need to figure what I want to do with the large light sqs.

I have a couple of sets of ‘daisy’ flowers in blues I could add. I might go with a larger version of the butterflies and cut them in scrappy purples. I also like to do the Sun Bonnet Sues, or even appliqué Dresden Plates, I just don’t know. - cw

Sorry for the short hand on my last post.  I try to remember to write in general terms but sometimes I forget that others may read my blog.

D-9, is the lazy way to say Disappearing 9-patch (also called a Cut-Up-9-Patch or I am sure other names by now)

The idea is to sew a regular 9-patch block (three sqs. by three sqs.)  Then sub-cut that block into quarters (in half both ways, top to bottom and side to side)  Either rotate two opposite corner pieces or if using directional fabric just trade the two (spot 2 for spot 3) and then re-sew the FOUR patch back together.

It makes an interesting block and can be used in quick project quilts.  Many are using them in charity quilts because of the speed of assembly.

I have made dozens.  Our quilting group has all made several for donation quilts. Here is a link to our RW&B ones.

I usually see them made with nickels (5" sqs) or charms.  I have even seen them swapped as specific colors.  I like the scrappy but it make a very fast two or three fabric top.

I am playing around with large sqs to give myself room for adding applique.

Also on my list of TO-DO's is to make crumb blocks and use them in the corners with a solid in the middle and a focus fabric on the sides. 

I think the possibilities are endless.  cw

I have decided to add one more row to this controlled scrappy top. The original idea was to start with 10 1/2” sqs, do the D-9 and figure out something to appliqué before the top was set together

.Normally, I would pin or use a glue stick to secure the pieces. I am out of glue sticks so tape is going to have to work. If I do this again I will appliqué each flower before I sew the 9-patch. The appliqué goes a lot faster when working with just one block at a time.

  I think I like scrappy better than controlled fabrics b/c I get board looking at the same thing over and over. For this top I used a set of flowers that was left over from a project I did several years ago.

I think they give a little scrappy to the project. This top is on its way to getting in line to be quilted. Don’t know yet who is getting it but I hope they like TULIPS! cw

I was messing around last night and appliquéd 24 of the scrappy butterflies to 8 1/2” sqs of this dark pink sheet. I usually do something scrappy to set the blocks but this time decided to do a Disappearing 9-patch just to ‘see’ what it would look like.

Have to say, I am a-liking-it! Very fast- I had another sheet with similar pinks that I used for the 4 side sqs. A green fabric from my stash matched well and was used in the center. The butterflies were placed in the corners.

When I am doing these ‘quick’ projects the idea is to sew and not be stressed about the process. I do not iron but will smooth the block out by hand. I fold the 9-patch in half and then half again and scissor cut the folds apart.

There is no need to resize unless you want too. I sew by ‘sight and feel’ and for the most part end up with pretty flat tops.

This top is 58 x 78” (I have slightly narrower borders on the top and bottom than the sides.

I like to keep them smaller than 60” so I can use a twin sheet on the back. I like to pull the back to the front to bind.

It takes me a little over an hour to appliqué the butterflies- I still need to draw on the antennae. This style of top takes about an hour to cut and sew up. Not bad for a couple of hours work.

I can see doing this in other colors too. I picked up a light purple sheet the other day at the thrift shop for $1.00, bet I can find a couple of fabrics to go with it.

Today on the way home from Apple Butter Making Days in Mt Vernon, MO, we stopped at the Main & Market Flea Market to see what they had that needed to go home with us.

I have had my eye on this beauty for awhile and keep talking myself out of purchasing it b/c I am supposed to be on a self-imposed NO-BUY. Any way so much for me ignoring a great price reduction.

I was having a hard time not controlling myself at the original price of $55. When it got lowered to only $20 this baby had to go home with me.

It is in the wash right now but will be on the foot of our bed for a little keep the legs warm tonight. I just love the weight of a good double knit quilt.

This morning my grandson Lane woke me up and said that his mom had left a note for me.  She had dropped him and his sister off at our house on her way to work (No I didn't hear them come in b/c it was not my normal day to watch the kids) 

Any way he handed me a note that said: 

I read it out loud and looked at Lane (age 6)  He then handed me a zip-lock bag with a test strip in it.  The strip had TWO PINK LINES!

I then turned the "note" over and on the back it said, 

I asked Lane if he knew what this all meant and he said NO-  I said your mom will tell you later (I didn't know if they had told the kids yet)

I text Kelly to say congrats and that I will LOVE THEM.  She wrote back "THEM"?

I said of course there were TWO LINES!!!   Not funny-   I'm going to be a grandma- doing the happy dance-

She is the best(est) Daughter-in-law ever.

Different story-  When Kelly told me about the last one (Karlee 2 1/2 yrs)  She started by saying "Well it looks like Mike won the bet"  I asked what bet and she said:  "The one where he said I bet you are pregnant"

One more not about any of my grands-  good friend at church had a couple of daughters ready to deliver around the same time.  She came to church one Sunday and when asked how the girls were doing she said Daughter #1 is dilated to a 5 she should have the baby any time now. 

 I said:  "Wow, my girls never would let me check them!"

I will settle down now and go look for baby material to start some receiving blankets, I only have till spring.  cw

I have tried several times to do a copy and paste and for some reason it is not working for me. Here is a link to the original post.

I have my blocks ready to mail along with a little suprise-  can't wait to see how everyone finishes their tops!

In their defense, they know me well, and large quilts usually do NOT get quilted.  OR if I quilt them, they get folded and stuck in the closet waiting to be gifted.

This size stands a chance of both getting quilted and getting used as a snuggle under couch quilt.  (It will most likely get gifted at some point in the future too)

Typically when I do a border appliqué I do the work before I sew the borders on.  For this quilt the appliqué was an after thought so I had to improvise.

The top is large enough that I didn’t want to have to manipulate it sewing around the individual pieces in the butterflies.  My solutions was to make patches by sewing the butterflies to black and then stitching to the border.

The butterflies intended for my outer border are either going to get stitched up and used as patches for other projects OR centered on a light background and become setting blocks for another scrappy project..

  One advantage to using the patches on this project is I could move them around before I sewed them to the border.  Once I found a layout I liked I just did an echo stitch to secure the piece and then cut the excess fabric back.  The photo above shows before the trimming up.

I don’t know what is getting quilted on this top but I bet it is done in either black or variegated threads.  Top size is 74 x74.

I got the center sewn up this morning and hung it on the mini blinds (my version of a design wall).  I decided that this was a lot of sewing for a 50 x 50 ‘top’.

This project is strictly from stash and for the most part from a couple of baggies of inherited sqs.  I added a narrow 3” border from a black sheet (Yes it is stash from my buy them on sale days!)

The scrappy border is from sets that were sewn in threes (poss for a 9-patch block?)  I made two sets and cut them each in half length wise to add color.

The next border is more of the black and cut at 6”.  I was planning to be done at that point.  I still had a pretty good hand full of the pre-sewn sqs. so I joined a few more and added the larger 3” scrappy border.

This top decided it just was big enough to let me stop thinking about it.  I have enough of the black to add another 9” border all around.  So instead of a 72 x 72 I am shooting for a 90 x 90.  I can live with that.

I know you are thinking that with such large open areas in the borders that I am going to quilt really lovely stuff-  wrong!

I am a border to border gal- so I have to keep it simple.  The borders do concern me thought.  Here is what I am thinking now-  tomorrow may be something different.

First thought is to do something in the top left and bottom right corners-  Then add the larger border and ‘do something’ on the opposite corners.  Question is “WHAT”?

I am not liking how my leaves are turning out so IF I can get away with not using any, that will be fine with me.

Now that I ‘see’ this last photo I am wondering if it would look OK to just add ‘circles’ in place of the flowers- That would be easier than appliquéing the petals.  (and I wouldn’t have to consider leaves). 

I may just wake up tomorrow and decided this is finished the way it is.

Now to come up with a NAME for this ONE.-  cw

 I am missing a lot of photos that I thought I had saved but who knows where.  Hopefully Nancy saved the Mystery and we can link to it for reference. 

If I have time and she gives me permission, I will try scan the original directions and post a link.  This was a fun project and we got such different results!

Mary M.

SuePat S.

MINE!   I decided I would rather have a couple of smaller tops and split this into two lap size.  Still not quilted-  surprised?  NOT! Sue II Deb H Kelly W