Freeeeeee to Meeeeeee &&&& What's Happenin'

First let me say that I was very calm, and did not hog.....

Went to a friend of a friend's house today and we sorted and chose fabric for about 2 1/2 hours....met some real nice folks and they permitted me to add to my stash....

These will be seen in string blocks and bow ties in the future; possibly wounded warrior and Halloween....who knows what else.

 Isn't it nice to have friends......

Next, tiny steps & long time comin'.....

Here are the choices for the next two blocks of my bug quilt,,or maybe it is a wall hanging....

Inch worm on the left and Centipede on the right.....

Hopefully I can blend in the colors okay....some bugs may be colored as never before....

 Have had this pattern ....forEver!

Size  34 1/4 x 46 1/2 inches

My first real trip into Appliqueland....will see you on the other side.......If I can get finished with this, I can tackle Anything! Starting with hopefully simple blocks and climbing up the ladder to the more complex....Hope I don't fall off!

Playing.....

I have finished sewing the plaids together to make 7 rows (if you can count 1 block each as the 1st and 7th rows).  I now need to shop my stash for the right fabric for the triangles and borders..so I am taking a break, waiting for inspiration.

In the meantime, I am playing...

I found a small phone book and decided to try my hand at some string blocks...I have been keeping strings off and on for awhile.  I cut the page down a little and just started... grabbing...

 It is now trimmed to a 6 1/2" block and the paper backing is off...

This is not a leader and ender project, just one I plan to do when I feel like it. It is fun, as many of you know...

I have done a few more L/E also..please note the plaid bow ties....

I will be playing with these two blocks for awhile today....

Just because I can.....

Come back soon.

 

Trimmed and Basted...

Jelly Roll Quilt basted, ready to HQ....

37 Four-Square Blocks ready for action...I had to trim them to 6 1/4" square instead of 6 1/2"....my sewing machine had a mind of its' own...

That's my style,  always improvising....

♫ Back in the Saddle Again ♫

I have been sewing, but away from quilting...

 I'm Baaack...!

I finished cutting my squares today for my plaid quilt and am starting to put them together.  The pile on the left are the ones I am using, the other smaller pile are my leftovers, or "just in case" ones..They are sorta in order, with cream/tan squares in between the plaid ones...Now if I can keep from spilling them I will be on a roll...

I have a couple of 4-square blocks done and draped for display...bad display, they blend in well with my string of 2-squares, but maybe you get the idea...

My leaders and enders are ready in the container in back, although I won't need them for awhile...there is plenty of continuous work with my main task.

Oh, I turned my table 90°, and have placed my two main machines on opposite sides.  Now I can sew on either one, just not at the same time....


I arranged my 3 layers of jelly roll fabric and am slowing basting...if you look close on the brown strip, bottom left corner, you'll see the thread...I usually use embroidery thread, but I was successful with regular thread on my previous quilt, and it is so much easier to baste with...Now if I can just convince my eyes......

BTW, I changed my keyboard on my computer...the older  and smaller one had keys that started sticking.  This new one has a numbered keyboard on the side...I don't use it when I am typing, I am so used to using the upper row of numbers instead.  But I now can type symbols, such as musical notes and the degree sign.  A lot of you know about this, and I did too, I just wasn't able to do it on my old keyboard...

Next.....A UFO....Really, I Found One, Probably the Only One I Had.....!!?? NOT!

The previous top has been made into a quilt.  It has been sandwiched, tied (not quilted), bound (binding the same as the back; separate piece, not turned), and mailed this morning... I forgot to take a FINISHED picture, but it turned out great!

Now I am starting to sew some non-quilty items...but to keep my hand in,,,,I found an UFO to work on...Really!  To me, a UFO is a top that has been around for awhile and one that I didn't exactly lose interest in, but just say it was easy to slide it down a few notches on the unwritten list of things I want to accomplish...

During the next few days I will cut and sew the backing to (lower fabric) fit the jelly roll top, sandwich it all together, and slowly baste it.  I may try and quilt this by machine, going along the seams.... although I could just HQ it, using a meandering design that isn't really a design....

It is still a hot/warm September here in Central Texas, but quilting this would seem to be a good winter season project...

We'll see how I feel after basting....