Row 3 of Debi's Roosting Robin Row by Row

I finally finished Row 3 of Debi's Roosting Round Robin Row by Row mystery quilt. This block is called "Carrie Nation". I call it "the block with too many pieces"! LOL Just what you would expect from an applique fiend!

I haven't purchased any fabric for this quilt and don't intend to do so. My goal was to make a little dent in my stash, primarly the plaids. (I had more plaids than any human needs.) Actually, I am going through them faster than I had anticipated, so I may have to go stash diving for more complementary fabrics.

Many of my plaids were also used recently in a brick pattern scrap quilt for my DD's job coach. She presented it to him today and said, "He didn't cry, Mom, but his eyes looked very wet." He just called to thank me profusely. I wish I had remembered to photograph that quilt!

Back to the row by row--here are my first three rows. This quilt is just not photographing well! It looks so much prettier in person, and the difference between the two light backgrounds I am using doesn't seem as great. I wish you could really see all the pretty plaids I am using, but they just don't show up. As you can see, I set the third row kind of differently. I kind of liked the zigzag effect, especially since the first row also has this look. At least I finished before the end of March and can't wait to see what Debi has in store for April!

Lots of Sewing, Not Much Blogging

Lots of sewing going on here--obviously not much blogging! I got sick of looking at piles in my sewing room and decided to put my head down and finish some stuff!

Here's a set of spiral flower blocks that I hand appliqued. I wish I could credit someone for the pattern, but I've used it many times and the templates are in the bag with all of my other frequently-used templates. I have no specific plans for these blocks--just wanted to make them! I have a drawer full of blocks like that. :>( Those that know me will remember that I like to applique much more than I like to piece!

Here's another Bob the Builder quilt for Project Linus. It's the third I have made from fabrics given to me by Barb V. on the Quilting Passion Forum. I've always had a thing for Bob, and I think it's because he reminds me of my DH! I hope little boys still like Bob!

The plaid brick quilt that I started a couple of months ago is in the dryer and will go to its deserving recipient tomorrow when DD goes to her volunteer job. (Her job coach is the recipient.)

My generous friend, Debi, is celebrating her birthday by posting a giveaway on her blog, Quilting with Debi. Post a comment on her blog to register!

Loving Grandpa at Work

Guess who's coming over tomorrow? Our two-year-old angel granddaughter, Avery, is coming over; and Nana (my new name) talked Papa (my DH) into buying her a Barbie miniwheel to ride when she visits our house. Here is her sweet Papa assembling it. It's such a nice day that he can work out on the porch. Can you see his ever-present helper, Quincy, peeking under the little bike?

I hope her little legs are long enough to reach the pedals. She seems to have inherited her Nana's short stature. Once she gets the hang of this little vehicle, though, I think she'll love it. Her daddy burned up the wheels of two of them when he was her age.

My husband can do anything, so it should be assembled by the time I finish typing this. Then I get to put on the decals. I better go to bed early tonight to be prepared to run my short legs off chasing Avery tomorrow!

Edited to add: She isn't tall enough yet to ride the little bike--darn! However, she loved the little storage compartment under the seat.

SuzGuz Block 3 and Valances

Here's more progress on the kitchen front. I have made the valances and really like them! This is above the sink, and there is another one across the bay window. (That one is 20-feet long stretched out--I like them really full.) We are using this aqua as our accent color, since it is the complement to the orangey oak cabinets. I have purchased a few other things in this color, which I'll show you soon!

Jan mentioned that I probably would be glad to have my kitchen back. Well, unfortunately, I've had it back for awhile! It wasn't too torn up to cook for very many days. At this point, I just have to make sure that I don't cook things that'll splatter on the slate back splash because it isn't completely sealed.

I've also finished the third block in Susan Guzman's Block of the Month series. Her patterns are so much fun, and I am enjoying using my polka dot fabrics.

Jungle Animals and Tile Work

I'm still sewing! Here's the latest quilt for a children's charity. It will go to an orphanage in India, as part of a project on the Quilting Passion Forum. It's based on a pattern called "Wicked Easy", with a little tweaking of the fabric "recipe" and the addition of applique.

Here's DH, busy installing the tile back splash in our kitchen spruce-up project. It is much farther along now and looks great with the grout. He does such an excellent job on anything he tries. Before long I'll be able to show some pictures of the finished project.

Polka Dot Puppy

Lots of sewing is going on here, in spite of the kitchen work. We're starting to see the end of the kitchen mess now. We're in a bit of a lull because DH ran out of slate back splash tile and had to reorder. After that is finished, there will just be trim painting and window treatments to deal with. It looks like I'll be making valances, if I can find fabric I like. The room needs some color to accent all of the natural materials.

I'm having a little difficulty adjusting to my new stovetop. It's a smooth surface ceramic top, and I was used to a 30-year-old clunker. I've burned a few things! My learning curve is slow on this thing.

I finished up this "Polka Dot Puppy" quilt and will be donating it tomorrow at the hospital. My devotion to Fat Cat Patterns continues. I love Sindy's designs!

Building with Bricks

Well, the big, strong men are in the house installing the counter tops, so I've been upstairs in my sewing room finishing a quilt top made of plaid scraps in brick shapes, cut 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Since I've been quilting for 23 years, I've gone through many phases in my fabric tastes. For awhile, I was collecting plaids and working them into everything I made. Then, of course, I got really sick of plaids so they've been hanging out in a big bin in my sewing room for many years. In a stash-busting maneuver, I started hacking them into bricks, and 170 bricks went into this top. I'll show you the border after I quilt it! (It was difficult to decide on a border for so many plaids. I didn't want to use another plaid that would give me more plaid scraps!)

The backing is a flannel in a small gold houndstooth on beige.

This quilt will be a gift for a very special man who works for an agency here in St. Louis called "Paraquad". They help people with disabilities, and he is my dear daughter's job coach. He is so good with her, and we want to show him that he makes a big difference in our lives.

I'd better start dusting. I've never had granite before and had no idea they'd be cutting out some holes while inside the house. I should've covered up more things. A little late now...

Pinewood Derby Quilt

OMG, our kitchen is a mess! As previously mentioned, we are redoing the kitchen, keeping the flooring and the cabinets and changing everything else. Today the old counter tops came off, and stuff is stashed everywhere. There is no sink or stove, so we got to eat out tonight! My husband has been working SOOOOOOOO hard.

Tomorrow is a big day, because the new counters will be installed. After that, DH will set the back splash tile and grout it, and we will be almost finished. We can't come to an agreement about window treatments.

I do have one Project Linus quilt finished, Pinewood Derby--designed, of course, by Sindy Rodenmayer at www.fatcatpatterns.com

My son loved making these little cars with his dad when he was in Cub Scouts and racing them on that big Saturday in January!

I tried something different with the quilting instead of plain old quilting in the ditch. I set my machine on a decorative stitch and loaded it with bright orange thread and then quilted along all the edges of the sashing. I really like the way it looks, although it took a long time!

Little Pillow

Darling little granddaughter is going to be two years old tomorrow, and I wanted one of her presents to be handmade. I remembered the little pillows that my mother made for my kids. They just loved them to death! I had fabric leftover from making her quilt, so I made this 9" x 12" pillow and two pillow cases.

Her party is on Saturday, and hopefully her little blonde head will be resting on her pillow at nap time! Her mommy should like them because she chose all the fabrics!

I've Been Tagged

Debi tagged me, and now I have to find seven weird or random facts about me. (I'm not going to tag anyone else right now because they have been tagged already!) Hmmm....seven facts about me....

1. I'm a true Midwesterner--born in Illinois, moved to Michigan, and have lived since first grade in Missouri.
2. I have a lifetime teaching certificate in secondary business subjects but never used it, and it's now obsolete (no computer classes)! So I have a teaching certificate, but no one would hire me.
3. I was a cheerleader in high school but now can't jump.
4. I've been married very happily for 34 years, and we're now both retired, but we'll probably never have an empty nest as we have a daughter who needs to live with us.
5. My new name, "Mawmaw", is the prettiest sound I ever heard (coming from little granddaughter's mouth).
6. I am a passionate lover of cats who is being held to only owning one, and I want more!!!!!
7. I worked for quite awhile for a university registrar and kept a list of "collectible names".

Now, a well-known fact--I have lots of projects in progress. Hopefully, I'll have one finished this week to show you.

Row 2 of Mystery Quilt

This picture shows a partial view of my first two rows in Debi's Roosting Round Robin Mystery Quilt. "Road to Oklahoma" was the first block (on the left), and "Variable Star" is the second month's block.

I am determined to make this quilt without buying any fabric, so my theme is red, mustard, and dark blue fabrics in plaids and coordinates. It's a loose theme which should get looser as quantities of these scraps dwindle! I already know that I don't have enough of the light background for all six rows. This could get interesting.

Many of us who are making this mystery quilt are sharing our blocks on the Quilting Passion Forum. Members are making everything from baby quilts to Christmas quilts! Stop by and take a look.

Another SuzGuz Block

During the Super Bowl last night I finished Block 2 of the new BOM series by Susan Guzman. She emails the pattern on the first of the month to those who have signed up, and I was hanging around the computer waiting for this one. I love hearts and am quite captivated by her designs. Who knows what I'll do with the finished quilt--but that isn't the point, is it? LOL

There are lots of projects in progress in my sewing room:

1. Pinewood Derby by Fat Cat Patterns;
2. Row 2 of Debi's Roosting Round Robin Mystery;
3. Plaid Brick Quilt (I'm cutting my plaid stash into 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" pieces and sewing them into rows, offsetting them like subway tile);
4. A barn raising-style quilt using HSTs made with black and brights--needs a border;
5. Three Project Linus tops that need quilting;
6. Many UFOs in their own zipper bags that I am trying not to think about!

The kitchen project is coming along nicely, although everything stays very dirty and messy for the time being. I try to keep it cleaned up, but it is futile! Yesterday I got to paint dowel rods, which is not real easy. Why is it that my hand goes numb while painting, but it isn't so bad while I'm sewing???