Jelly Roll Race Quilts

Except for the turquoise binding on Cosmos, the jelly roll quilts are finished. They are a wonderful palette of fabrics for machine quilting. I used the Circle Lord template boards to do the quilting. Hence the name "Cosmos" and "Sakura".

The quilts are very fun to do, and if you like surprise endings---you will enjoy doing these as you never quite know what they will look like until the final finish!

These two were made from batik jelly rolls I found on sale. I'm sorry I didn't keep the wrapper names.

"Cosmos" is very soft pretty pastel with lots of pinks, lavenders and turquoise blues. "Sakura" is a beautiful combination of dark indigo blues, teals and purples.

I think it's important in the overall appearance of these horizontal strip quilts to finish them off with a inner sashing border, and a large outer border to frame and enhance the "jelly "centers. I can also see the opportunity to embellish them with appliqué and machine embroidery motifs. I plan to do more in different color combinations.

"Cosmos" and "Sakura" Jelly Roll Quilts

71" x 53" "Sakura" batik Jelly Roll

Sakura design with Circle Lord template board

"Cosmos" Jelly Roll Quilt 63" x 74" Batik

"Cosmos" Circle Lord template board quilting

"Sakura"

"Cosmos"

To Learn more about the Jelly Roll Race and the Fun involved in making these abstract quilts please click Here

Fleece Quilted

I finished this fleece quilt yesterday. It's a pretty soft Debbie Mumm fleece I found at JoAnn's Fabric on sale early last Spring. I couldn't resist! It finished out at 50" x 70". I used a Patricia Ritter pantograph, "Agave" with Superior Lava thread in a cocoa brown color top and bobbin. Sassy approves!

(click pic. to enlarge)
I've made several fleece quilts in the past. They are done on the long arm. Here is the link to Vivian's tutorial that inspired me to try these snuggly quilts.

Fuzzy Inventory

I've been looking for an easy to use App for simple inventorying of my long arm threads, rulers and books. One that I could upload to my iPad and have handy. "Fuzzy Inventory" seems to fit the bill so far.

Above are the thread categories I created.

I clicked on So-Fine and can see Fern is getting low. I entered that it was "low".

This is the list of So-Fine that was created in Fuzzy Inventory of all the So-Fine numbers & colors. I can list if they are getting "low", or if I have "none" or "some". I use the term "some" to let me know I have an adequate supply of a So-Fine color. The yellow bars showing next to the colors are showing me Rose Petal, It's a Girl, and Fern are getting "low". Green bars mean I have an adequate supply for the time being.

I've just started using Fuzzy Inventory, and I'm sure there are other options for listing categories and sorting them. But, with keeping it simple in mind, the "add Fuzzy Item" option works the best for me when it comes to threads. "Add Quantifiable Item" is another choice that can be used. Neat App! and it's free!

JoAnn's Quilt of Valor

This is recent Quilt of Valor that JoAnn in Ukiah, CA sent me to quilt. I think the military themed silhouette panels of fabric in the middle section of the quilt are really nice. She also did a wonderful job of adding camouflage fabric in the sashing borders. One of our soldiers is going to enjoy this quilt.

Here are some detailed pictures of the fabric panels.

(Quilted with the Circle Lord Swirls template boards)

Forever Project Finished!

As a quilter, I assume you have one of those "forever projects". You know the one you drag around to soccer games, husband is still shopping the hardware store--- you've returned to the car, dentist appointments, doctor appointments, watching TV, quilt guild business meetings, coffee clatch. Or just about anywhere you have a few moments to sit and people watch and take a few stitches. "A Patriots Dream" was one of those projects.

I love to do redwork, or any type of embroidery. To be able to incorporate it into a quilt is an added bonus. I'm sure over the years of reading my blog, you have occasionally seen pictures of this ongoing project---always listed as "unfinished". Here are some sections of the quilt. I sat at my sewing machine for most of the quilting as I did a lot of outlining of the various redwork and bluework. I also loaded the partially completed quilt onto the long arm to do some of the background fills in areas like around the cannon, or lines in the drapes surrounding Uncle Sam.

Betsy Ross

Cannon with flowers

I tried to not do too much quilting as I felt that could detract from the embroidery design.

I have been saving this tiny, tiny black buttons just for Uncle Sam's coat!

It doesn't show up in this picture, but I added a bit of blush with a paint stick to Uncle Sam's cheeks. He was looking a bit too serious!

A Patriot's Dream---Finished.

52" x 45"

Wet blocked and drying on the design wall.

Yes, I see that line of stitching is missing. :o)

(This is an Indygo Junction pattern designed by Marge Wooters.)

Sassy helped celebrate my Birthday

~Angie

I Spy Sunday

Paint Chips on Our Bed

Remember Judy Laquidara's blogging efforts to help the neighboring community of Joplin, MO who have suffered through so much since the tornado and Judy's Quilt Give Away to inspire many of us to donate to this worthwhile cause?

Judy has received $11, 470 in donations for the Red Cross as of this date! Plus some quilters sent her quilts to give to residents in Joplin.

She generously gave away 12 of her own beautiful quilts in a Quilt Give Away to people who sent in money. For every $25.00 you donated to the Red Cross, your name went into the drawing and you had a chance to win one of Judy's quilts.

We won one of the quilts! "Paint Chips" by Judy Laquidara. It looks wonderful in our bedroom!

It is so pretty! And--- If you want to make this quilt, it is one of 23 quilt patterns in McCalls latest issue of "America Quilts for the Home". We love it!

Thank you Judy for all you have done.

Update for Summer

I haven't blogged for awhile. A lot going on around here considering we live a very low key lifestyle.

We had our puppy, Sassy, spayed June 8th, and she did not do well with the procedure. We spent a lot of time day and night nursing her through it all. It was days before she would walk, or eat well. She is finally ---two weeks later---recovering.

Sassy

We had a wonderful visit from our granddaughter Holly, who we don't see often enough. Our grandaughter Amanda, who lives close by is spending part of her summer vacation with us. We are doing some gardening, and reading out under the cool shade of trees in the back yard. Summer has been in full swing here with 90 degree temps most days. But, hey---we are not complaining as it has been a cold wet Spring up until this past week. Welcome! Summer!

Bill, Holly, Angie and Amanda

Here are some results of that overabundance of rain.
Our favorite reading spot. The lawn has never been so green!










I'm sitting and quilting on "Patriots Dream". It's slow going--as compared to the long arm. But, I wanted to do a lot of straight line quilting in very small areas, and this is still the best way to machine quilt on smaller projects for me.

Patriots Dream

Hoping you are enjoying your Summer-time!

On The Long Arm Today

Actually it was on the long arm yesterday, but this is as far as I got. More quilting today as it's another rainy day.

I decided to quilt this on the frame instead of doing the traditional tying that is frequently used for crazy quilts.

The free motion quilting does not show up too well on the borders when you are looking directly down onto the quilt, but that's O.K. as it's more about the embroidery blocks than the quilting. I'm doing a bit of straight stitching on the inside of some of the crazy quilt blocks to 'tack' them down. I'm using Essential Pro Thread from Connecting threads in a light teal color. Hobbs 80/20 batting----more later.

Quilts of Valor

This Memorial Day weekend our thoughts turn to our soldiers overseas, and the soldiers who are returning home, and soldiers laying in hospital beds recovering from injuries. Thank you for all you have done. For enduring terrible living conditions, for time spent away from your families and friends. For fighting for our freedom.

As quilters some of us volunteer our time as a long arm quilters for Quilts of Valor.

"The mission of the QOV Foundation is to cover all those service- members and veterans touched by war with Wartime Quilts called Quilts of Valor (QOVs). This foundation is not about politics. It's about people, and quilters working together to achieve a common goal."

As a team: We, topper & quilter, are humbled and honored to work together to make quilts for you, our American Warriors. Here are just a few of the quilts I have been privileged to machine quilt over the years for this worthwhile cause. Meeting and corresponding with these wonderful quilters is just one of the many perks of volunteering with the Quilts of Valor organization. Thank you to all who are serving our country. God bless you and your families.

Quilt by Sheney L.

Quilt by Barbara Winkler

Quilt by Al Lind

Quilt by Women's Group, St. Francis Episcopal Church, Fair Oaks, CA.

Quilt made by Shirley and the Snowbirds, Florida

Quilt made by Deanna B., Calif.

Quilt by Linda M.

Quilt by JoAnn and Dora

Quilt by Carol K.

Quilt by JoAnn

Quilt by Southern Calif. Quilts of Valor group and Barbara Winkler

Quilt by Carla B. E, Calif.

Quilt by Judy, Calif.

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Soldier, rest! Thy warfare o'er,

Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Dream of battled fields no more.
Days of danger, nights of waking. -Sir Walter Scott

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