An Exercise In Thread

I have really worked hard on getting my quilt done from Happy Quilting's Quilt Along. Each week we have been given a new step and even with school work and life I have found some time to sew. Yippee!! Things were going great until last week. The step was to applique our orange slices down. I looked through my thread, though it was older thread, I thought it might work. Then Started to mess up. Skipped stitches. Broken thread. I tried three or four different way of sewing those big blue petals down. ARG!! I was so mad. 

Then I figured it was just the thread. I switched back to my Gutermann thread and things worked like a charm. I usually only buy white or black so white it was. Here I tried a zig-zag and I think it worked wonderfully. 

 After sewing all 11 blocks this was the only flaw. 

 Bad BAD Thread!!!

Here is my top done laying on my bed. I don't have a floor big enough to spray baste it. I am not sure what I am going to do. I might have to take it up to my church to get it sprayed in the middle then bring it home to finish the edges. I am not sure how I am going to quilt it. My daughter said it looks like a tree. Brown branches, green leaves, and blue flowers. I will get a better picture of it later.

TTFN

Flowers Are Coming Up!!

I have been busy trying to get caught up on all my hexies. I have three sets done and I just need to get my March set done now. 

This set is for my November partner.

These ones are for my December partner.

These are for my February partner.

These are the flowers I received from my February partner. 

She sent me this very cool card. It has a pressed flower on it. I love it!!

I have changed my mind on how I am going to make my hexie flower garden. I am going to go around all of the flowers in another row of petals. I will set them all in black, but in between where the black paths intersect I will put a red, orange, or yellow solid hexie to break up all the black. I will show you what I mean as I get it started. It will be stunning. I can't wait. I need to figure out how many more hexies I need. I have a lot of them now. 

TTFN

Irish Chain Quilt-Along~Finished Blocks

I have finally finished the second set of block in the quilt-along going on over at Happy Quilting. I love these blocks. They are so cool. The only problem I had was lining up the two halves of the blocks. You an see how the two short sashing pieces don't line up. But after I looked and they are all like that I decided it just adds to the wonkiness of it.

Then today I finished the third block. I like this one even better. They are so fun to make. Melissa talked about in her tutorial of these blocks that if you used the fusible then the piece  would be stiff. I learned a little trick on another applique quilt I have done. If you trim out the insides of your fusible within an 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch then when you trim and iron on your pieces then the insides of the applique will not be glued down. I love doing it this way. The fusible holds the piece down until you sew it down. 

 Here are my finish blocks. They are so great. This next week will be sewing the applique pieces down. Then after that we will get to assemble our quilts. I can not wait!!!

TTFN

Hands2Help Sign-up Have Begun

It is that time of year again. Time to start thinking about those around you that need a quilty hug. I know as quilters we are already generous people but here is another opportunity to give someone in need something to hold on to when things are tough. Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge is run by Sarah over at Confessions of Fabric Addict. There are three charities to pick from. You can make one quilt, you can make one quilt for each charity, you choose. Do what you can to help someone. There are prizes at the end for completing your quilt(s). Who doesn't love prizes. So hop on over to her blog and sign up, you will feel great for helping out!!

And because I love pictures on blog post here is a picture from around Christmas time. In a town near mine they have a fabulous Christmas light display at one of their parks. So much color!!! Spring is on the way so I don't feel so bad looking at this picture any more, ha ha. Have a good Monday!!

TTFN