10/10/11

Design Wall Monday, October 10, 2011

It has rained all week, which can mean only one thing:  plenty of time for housework.  Of course, I didn't do housework . . . I sewed. 
The week started with me completing five more blocks (that's one more row) for my "Sunshine on my Shoulders" quilt, which is Judy's Peaches & Dreams pattern.  Mine looks quite different from hers.


Here are the rest of the blocks I have completed for this quilt.  I have two rows to go before I can start adding the borders.


My goal was to complete one row this week, but I got a good start on the next row too.  I'm hoping to have all the blocks made by the time Design Wall Monday posts next week.

With that goal accomplished, I took the time to make a swap block for my swap block partner.  She requested a block that would appeal to children, and I settled on this little Scotty dog.  The center is paper-pieced, and then I added two borders to get it to the requisite 12-1/2 inch size.


I completed the embroidery for the next block in my Sew Happy Sewalong project.


And I made quite a bit of progress on my hand-quilting whole cloth mini-quilt project.  Here is the front.


And this is the back.


I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying this one.  I still don't see myself hand-quilting a whole big bed-sized quilt, but I wouldn't rule it out either.  Certainly I can see myself hand-quilting a smaller quilt after tackling this project.  It's much faster and less tedious than I thought it would be.

Finally, I machine quilted my doll quilt and put the binding on it.  I still need to hand sew the binding.  This quilt is 18 x 22 inches, and so it shouldn't take long to have it ready to mail off to my partner, who lives in Alaska.  She requested something with cats.  I just happen to have a few cat patterns and some cat fabric among my quilting things.  I'll bet that surprises you.


I thought for quite a while about how to quilt this one and finally settled on echo quilting for the inner panel and a meander for the outer border.  I hope my swap partner will like it.

Also this week, I sewed the bindings on my Winter Wonderland and Let Sleeping Cats Lie quilts.  They both need to be hand-sewn to be complete, and then I need to add beads and crystals as I have been planning to do.  It feels like a productive week.  I was trying to get ahead because we were planning to take a few days and go camping on the Oregon coast.  The weather has turned decidedly wet and yucky, however, and so we decided not to go.  It's always a risk in Oregon . . . the weather turning bad, that is.  But that just means I have more time to sew this coming week, and I'm hoping to get a lot more done. 

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12 comments:

Nancy said...

What a bright, happy quilt. I love the look of this one. And keep in mind, housework is highly over-rated. You dust, vacuum, etc. and it just comes back again. Now sewing, on the other hand, you sew and have a beautiful quilt to show for it. Is there really a choice here?

Lynette said...

Wow! Look at your Peaches and Cream! That's really neat. Love the Halloween doll quilt. She's lucky. :)

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

You have been busy! I really love the echo quilting on your wall hanging and the Peaches and Dreams is stunning.

Stray Stitches (Linda G) said...

You have had a very productive week! Love the Peaches and Cream blocks - they are so bright and cheery. The scotty and SAL blocks are both adorable.
Your hand quilting stitches look very even. I enjoy hand quilting even though I have done very little of it.
The little cat quilt is so cute! I'm sure your swap partner will love it.

Chris said...

What a busy week you have had. I love all your projects.

AnnieO said...

So much better than housework! You were very very productive in sew many ways--and your hand quilting is exquisite.

Denise :) said...

Good gracious -- you are so busy! I wouldn't mind being your swap partner, so I'm sure your offering will be happily accepted!! :)

Snoodles said...

Love the little cat quilt, and the way that you did the stitching! Cute!

BillieBee (billiemick) said...

Look at all that wonderful work and I really love your hand quilting...wow!

Julie Kaye from KS said...

You have got a lot done. And such a variety of projects. Love that Scottie Dog. And your yellow/orange is terrific.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

I like your version of the peaches and dreams. It would look great in my house, with me, on the sofa....... I'm just sayin'

Kate said...

Sunshine on my Shoulders is looking gorgeous, I love all the bright colors in it. You've been really busy. All of your projects are looking great.