sew what's new?

I have something to share with you!  My crazy quilt block..... My next few blocks will have some work with my pintuck foot, braiding foot and cording foot. I think I should also do some pleating on some fabric also. I feel the urge to explore!   I have just finished putting my kaleidoscope stars top together.    I expanded my backing with left over triangles from both of the last two quilts. So Heather Mulder Peterson (Anka's Treasures) is coming to town in a couple of weeks. For our sew in with her we may pick any pattern out of her new book and she will help with cutting and her new ruler.  We just have to come with strips cut.  Her book is called Angles With Ease   Her ruler is called a " Triangler " and is a 30* degree ruler. Will chit chat later,Martha.

I have been busy making "Kaleidoscope Stars" I have about six blocks mostly put together.  I am cutting some more pieces right now, so I thought I would show you what I have finished ( no center seam sewn) . I am enjoying turning these puppies out! Such fun! I also sewed up a new pattern from Jaybird Quilts too.  The pattern is called "Rock Candy" and is a small table topper. Here is a pic of the pattern. I did mine in my 30's retro fabrics and off white where the black is  in the pic. All bound and quilted! Hope you enjoyed the pics, chatter later Martha.

I finished sewing the top on my "Kaleidoscope Hexagon" quilt top .   I then needed to do a little work on the backing as the quilt measures  approxiamately 40"  x  51" .  So I could not just do 56"-58" in one length. I had to split fabric backing to add some more width for the quilter. I don't know if you can tell or not but the backing is a lite grey and white print. You might be able to see if you click on it and enlarge it. I also got back my "Amish Revolution" quilt and have it bound now. My problem now is I was going to use star on back as my label, but I like it so much I don't want to write on it. Now what do I do? I think it would be nice on both sides to display. I feel I should put a label on it . It has circles in the quilting , hope you can tell! As Roseanna Danna Danna used to say "It's always something" Chit chat later , Martha.

I am not sure if my hexagons are kaleidoscope hexagons or one block wonder blocks.  But I am going to stick to calling them Kaleidoscope Hexagons.  I found out about them from here  . Just look on the right side for her tutorials and click on it .  Then today on Moosebay Muses blog  she is looking for one block wonders which look like my blocks also.  Look   here  for the one block wonders. I have a pic of a baby quilt which still has three seams that need to be sewn but is mostly together. It has been dark here today with snow off and on.  Hopefully you can see blocks better by clicking on them and enlarging them.  It is so amazing that they come from one fabric   ! I will stick to calling them kaleidoscope hexagons.                                                         ...

Yes I do know it is fall in Minnesota and that it is late October. It still was a rude awakening to wake up to this at 7 am ... and it is still up to snowing at noon! I didn't notice until writing this , that it took my hubby by surprise too!   I see he had to take the umbrella down and put away!      My son-in-laws b-day is next week and my daughter had suggested he would appreciate a special something.  So I made him a Green Bay Packers lap quilt as she suggested. I also put a minkee or cuddle fabric on the back, which is sooooo soft yellow fleece top I will get it all packaged up and will ship it out tomorrow!  Hope he enjoys it!Chatter later,Martha.

We have made it back home safe and refreshed! So nice to see everyone but also good to see home and no snow yet! I have gotten the laundry done and filled the fridge with necessities such as milk eggs and bacon. All the unpacking has taken place and the sewing has begun! All the important stuff right? I purchased some colorful flower  fabric with a 24" repeat, about 5  1/2  yards worth. I need six repeats so that I might be able to make my  kalidoscope hexagons. I next determined how big of a hexagon I wanted to make and from that I concluded I needed 4 1/2 " strips for 4 1/2 ",  60* degree triangles.  I cut 5 strips of 4 1/2 " before I came back around to my first cut position again .  The amount of strips will vary because of the size of strips you decide or your size of hexagon! Once you reach  your first ,from then on keep each next strip repeat together with its mates.  Lay six strips that are identical,matching edges ...

 I  have been making candle mats. I have two finished and got two ready to do the hand sewing on. Need something to do on the trip back home. So fixed up some hand work. First i will show the finished ones.... Now for the ones I need to work on.... I also have four crazy quilt coasters to do the hand stitching on. So I think I have enough handwork to keep me busy in between all the visiting and reunion business.  So I might be out of blogland for a week, will chit chat next week with you all! Martha.

I forgot my camera in the car. We were already inside the casino so hubby said he would take pics with iphone and e-mail them to me.  Never arrived!  Devices only feet apart? Oh well. I decided to steal them from his  facebook page and hope this helps. The flying geese quilt is pieced by a man and quilted by Nancy Gervais. This is my favorite. I think the gentleman's name is John Alexander but I am not sure. Fall Some fall color. A Pilates woodpecker on the deck. They are rather large, at least 12 inches. Chatter with you later, Martha.