Trip Around the World Quilt, quilt of valor for Peggy

 When my children were younger the youngest became fast forever friends with Peggy. She and her siblings eventually joined the army, went to Iraq (I believe ) then she went to West Point, graduated did some work as an MP, and other stuff, and JUST recently returned home from her 2nd deploment in Afghanistan. She is now stationed at Fort Knox Ky.

When the call for quilts after hurricane Sandy was put out, I did a Trip around the World (Bonnie Hunter pattern. She has a lot of them on her "Free patterns) I was finishing that one it went quickly, and thought it was a fitting pattern to make for Peggy too.

The way things go with quilter, I was also working on Jared Takes a Wife also a free pattern by BH, I had started it with patriotic colors because my daughter (best friend of Peggy) is in the Army Reserves Band. I had purchased this fabric for the backing of that quilt

But for some reason I decided it wasn't right. I did use it on the both Trip Around the World, for Sandy donation, and in the front of Peggy's quilt too. I had gotten a great deal on it at Jackman's Fabric in Il!

It was such a soft pretty fabric, at less than $4/yd, that I BOUGHT the rest of the bolt! So I easily had enough to do the back of Peggy's quilt.

 

There are a couple few funny stories about her quilt:

1) I used it as a diversion so that my DD would not see her quilt. When DD was coming over, I would cover it up w Peggy's quilt. LOL DD never saw her quilt in the making!!!!

2)We had planned on sending it to her, then she posted that she was starting to send some things home. I could see no sense in shipping it over there, when she would have to send it back! So we waited.

3) Peggy saw DD's quilt on Face book while  in Afghanistan, when pictures were posted.  She told me after she opened her quilt how jealous she was that DD got a quilt and she hadn't. She is/was too sweet to ask too!

 

4)Her mom and she were in love with the back, because  she has always talked about "The Lady" her parents took her as a child to see the Statue of Liberty, because she always talked about "The Lady". I have no memory of this, but maybe on some level I was aware of it.

 

So here is Peggy starting to unwrap her quilt.

 

I think she was surprised!

 Auditioning fabrics for the Border. My DGrandteen chose the colors and "Oked" the Combinations. LOL she has a better color sense than me.

Quilting in progress

On the frame.

Close up of quilting.I used a red white and blue variegated thread, it's hard to see in the quilt pictures though.

 The two strips in the middle are 'orphaned' blocks from DD's quilt.I think they look like Twin Towers....So she "always has her Best Friend with her in bed"

Sewing with the grands

It takes a lot of time to post a blog. Hats off to those that do more than one daily!

I've not had a "Friday finish" or been able to show anything NEW on my knitting needles. I have been sewing.

The 2 of the grands 7&10 were over this week and we made jammy bottoms. Only because of all the running around, and chattering I cut the front of one pair at a different length. So I shortened the back and tightened them up w elastic for the younger of the 2 girls.They actually did all of the sewing, w just a little assistance from me. One is a lefty, and it is harder for me to teach lefty.... I sat opposite her to teach her how to pin. My poor table, I don't think the cover is damaged, but they really didn't understand about pinning. "it's not a nail!" 

Here's the Finished Pair:                                                           and the second pair:

 

They had to be home before we finished them. I finished the hem and am waititng for them to return to work on the second pair. I thought we might be sewing today, but she has a BD party to go to. Maybe monday.... they are too busy. They both loved sewing on the little feather weight!

 

But here's what I've been working on:

It's a fabric I had for a long time, the fairies in the center of the star blocks. I bought the neutral at Rainbow's End Quilt Shop in Florida, Actually the Fairy fabric is also from there.

 This is for the second quilt similar to the first, I'm making a TON of flying geese.

 Also this is part of my Leader Ender project.

here is the main block of the leader ender project. I made one complete block, then finished all of the 1/2 square triangles. My Grandteen started me making this quilt, so I gave her the combined 1/2 square triangles some made into Flying Geese units, and all of the center squares so she can combine them for me to finish. She needs to do something on it, if not sewing it together she needs to own it some how.

I'm also making this at my senior center quilt group. It will be a teen sized by the time it is done. I saw it in a magazine and wanted to make it.... But it too is taking TOO long. I brought it home w me hoping to get the pieces pressed, and joined together. I will need borders too.

What have I been doing??

I upgraded from my Pfaff Grand Quilter on a frame, whihc don't get me wrong was a great machine! To a Nolting 17 Fun quilter.

Mike fromMemory Lane Quilting came out on Saturday and assembled the new machine, We loaded it w a couple yds of ugly fabric ( Sorry Bonnie Hunter, I didn't want to cut it up) and a scrape of batting that I had been saving for a baby blanket.

It ran great while he was here. He doodles well w it too! I even tried some feathers. I had some difficulty after I changed the bobbin out, and advanced the fabric.



It seemed to be pulling on me, like there was a burr on the needle. I adjusted the height and that seemed to help, and the tension of the bobbin. I hate messing w the bobbin tension. But who knows what thread was in there.


I wish I had taken pictures of him and the assembly of the frame. It was a 2 hr approximate task. Since I have some experience w quilting he left after some other info. I finished quilting that scrap, and am not turning it into a Dog blanket. Plan on sending it to one of my kids She can use it in the car. I've set up a second sample a little larger to practice on, but bc I'm out of batting I'm waiting to find it.

I think I might have some creme rose for Joanns. I thought it was too thin and haven't used it in a while. I prefer Hobbs 80/20 but that seems hard to find locally.


 After I finished that blanket, I proceeded to load another practice piece, and ran through the exercises Bc I was still having trouble w the stitches. It also seemed to be rough, noisy, and not as smooth as the one at the show.

I called and emailed him, but it was the week before  July 4th, I think he had said he would not be available. I had a wedding on July 6th, DH's Daughter was getting married. So he did come out the following week after the wedding.

Adjusted the machine, played with the machine, and then I tried the one out that he had as a demo at the convention center. NO comparison!

So I spent the extra bucks to purchase a newer used machine!

It worked so much better, I was able to easily do my normal doodle quilting, followed a stencil, my feathers still need to be practiced,

but so much better than before.

 

Well the computer is not uploading any more photos. I guess I'm done for the day.

And then there were 6 (Featherweights that is)

I've slowly been selling off my Featherweights. Only 2 so far. I really haven't put a lot of effort in to it. So I thought I would re post my pictures of what I have left.
All of them sew beautifully, I've re greased, oiled and fixed somethings.

She's a beautiful 1955 and very clean.

Here is a 1946 scroll face who also has been adjusted and sews great!

 She obviously needs 4 new 'feet' which can be purchased on line

Pretty little scroll face of the 1945-6 era.Her decals don't show up well, they are worn where hands have sewn for decades.

Her one draw back, is the handle which is easily replaced. and can be bought on line.

I hope you can see on this picture how great she sews. Her decals don't show up well, they are worn where hands have sewn for decades.

 

 

 

Let me introduce "Millie"  I named her, bc there is info in the box from the original owner. She must have made all her and many others clothes, bc there are a lot of attachments.

 Although this is dated 1950, her serial numberAJ192236 is from 1949. She too is really nice, sews like she is brand new.

 

My last one is AM162337

I actually took this one with me when I went to Florida and attended a workshop. She is in pristine condition.

Even her box is in fabulous condition!

Blind stitch attachment.

A close up of her decals.Most of these I was $250.00 for but this one I think is worth $300.00.                                               I have 2 others, that I am keeping. It was a hard decision as to which to sell and which to keep.                                     

Try it out Tuesday!

Well I did try it on Tuesday, even if I didn't post it till today.
I borrowed my DD's  Shark Steam Cleaner Absolutely LOVE it. I did my huge kitchen tile floor in 15 min! the mop head cleans up nicely, and I also did my steps, hallway and dining room. (hard wood)!

I also went to the Quilt Festival in Cincinnati last week and am now waiting for the delivery of my 17" Fun quilter you can see it at this link: Fun Quilter17 it's the center photo! I'm very excited, it will double my quilting space. Although it isn't what I want, I can't upgrade on that frame, but the Nolting Dealer is going to look for a used 20" and a 10-11ft metal frame. Maybe I'll be able to upgrade. Maybe I'll just love it and be happy.

I have 1 baby quilt made that I can practice on, and plans to cut some blocks to finish another one that I started. Both will be a few weeks out b4 I'll be able to do it. I think that will be good timing.

Sorry no pictures today. I have a meeting in an hour too!

A little of this and a Little of that.

After our Florida vacation, I needed to get in the garden and start planting somethings, Beans, and tomato's mostly. WEED a lot. add more compost to the garden, add some flowers, and put up the DEER FENCING!!!! I should have a pic of the garden but apparently I don't.

OMG the deer will eat all of my crops w/o a product called Deer netting. It is actually a large net, that is 7 ft by a few hundred. on fencing one can't even see it but the deer don't like it touching their heads/antlers so they avoid it. I believe that they could jump into the garden but they don't.

I planted some deer resistant plants on the outside of the garden as I have for a few yrs.
Finally a finish on my Easy Street quilt it's going to my niece
 that is going to a graduate this w/e. I really felt relieved when I finished it. It was a LARGE quilt even w/o the borders. It felt like I would never get it done.

Here's a close up of the quilting well sorta. And trimming the back and batting for the binding.

When I was taught to use my mid arm on the frame I was told to safety pin the top back etc to the muslin  rollers. When I was in Florida I stopped in at  Alma Sue's  not only do they have AMISH hand quilters, they also long arm I watched someone setting up a table runner on the long arm and she was using straight pins. Hat pins actually. They have them there, but since I was traveling I opted to not purchase them. Instead I found Joanns has some 1& 7/8  straight pins, and Hobby Lobby has some 2 " pins! I used them on Easy Street and it was so much easier to attach the quilt, and they held fine! Removal was even easier.

I also took a class at Country Bears and Quilts This is their web page, not the Newsletter where they have class lists. But they have some remarkable bears all made by Francy Gordon  @Bears: Plain and Francy  She had a wonderful class and I have a new UFO! LOL It's on the list. All he/she needs is stuffing, and closing up.

He's actually stuffed, but he has this scowling face, He looks better here w a cup of coffee

I've also been trying to exercise more as I really REALLY want to get some more wt off before my DD gets married July 6th. You think I would be working on her quilt and truthfully it is on the back burner, bc I'm not sure how or what I want to use for sashing. I think it needs sashing.... But it is sitting in a shoe box w the fabrics looking forlorn!

I bought this fabric while I was at Country Quilts and Bears too, along with this:

It is for the grand girls that we call the "Wild Women". I tried to get a better pic of it but it says is 'Star light star bright First star I see tonight" I thought it looked perfect w my little stars!

 

 I also picked some overgrown strawberries and we made 7 1/2 pints of jam. Back breaking work picking strawberries.

 

I also started quilting this lap robe for the senior center quilt group:

 

So Although I have not been blogging, I have been working.