Freedom Isn’t Free – Memorial Day 2010

Enjoy and God Bless America.

Design Wall Monday – 5/31/10

I’m back to working on my “Forty” quilt for our bed.  I’m using my pattern “Five, Ten, Twenty” but I’m making it much, much larger.  I am making forty blocks but will only use 36 for the quilt top.  This is a picture of the extra four blocks that I will use to make two pillow shams.

 

Here’s the other 36 blocks sitting by the side of the sewing machine waiting to start sewing them together.

To see what everyone else is up to this last day of May, visit Judy’s Blog by clicking here. 

Enjoy,

A Finish – Nine Patch Surprise

Last night I put the last stitch in the binding of my Nine Patch Surprise. 

Here’s the “cover” shot.  (You should be able to click on each of the pictures to get a closer look.)

And a shot of it spread out on the floor so you can see it a little better.

No one has ever accused me of being a great machine quilter, but with the help of my “ancient”, “really old” Handiquilter and my Brother PQ 1500, here’s a close up of the quilting. 

I’m really fortunate to live by M & L Fabrics in Anaheim, CA.  They have many high quality fabrics at $2.98 and $3.98 per yard.  This is what I picked for the back.  It’s a Robert Kaufman and I think it’s perfect for this quilt.  Tortilla chips, one of my basic food groups. 

Notice anything interesting about the binding?  Yes, it’s a wonderful stripe cut on the bias, but what else?  Keep in mind I have cut bias binding many, many times in the past and I really do know how to do it, but for some reason my brain was not functioning properly when I cut this.  I ended up with half the stripes angling to the right and half the stripes angling to the left.  What to do?  I had more fabric but did I really want to cut more of it?  HECK NO, just go with the flow.  I just marched along to my own little tune, sewing right, left, right, left, not paying any attention to how long each of the strips were.  You know what?  I love it!  Next time I might even try to do it this way. 

 

Enjoy!

Quilt in a Clipboard

When I showed you my Quilt in a Clipboard back on this Blog entry, I said we had only 1 left.  My friend Sue Salinger bought it and I got a chance to see the finished clipboard Wednesday night.  I took a couple of picture to share with you.

Here’s the front with Sue’s signature lime and turquoise.  She’s also a big orange lover.	Sue’s maiden name is Cherry so she has a HUGE collection of cherry fabric.  I love the contrast between the front and the back.

Sue is a long arm quilter and plans to use this for her customer’s paperwork.  I’m sorry you can’t see the quilting on it, it’s wonderful and done on her Janome 6500????  She also plans to make seasonal inserts, can’t wait to see them. 

Due to popular demand at the retreat, I have ordered more of these and after filling my pre-orders, will have a few left.  They are $38.00 U.S. plus shipping.  If you’d like one for yourself or as a gift, send me an email and we can work out the details. 

Enjoy,

Weekend Retreat

I thought I’d share with you a picture of all the happy retreaters from this last weekends Two Wacky Women Retreat. 

Of course all of our retreats have wonderful participants but for some reason this group was one of the very best we’ve had.  Thank you everyone for making the TWW retreat business such a success.

I was of course busy with lots of things but I managed to work on a few simple projects. 

Here is a “Beach Tote” that I made for a friend, Dina.  Needless to say, she is a huge Angel’s fan.  This is one of my patterns and can be found here.

My friend Rob has two of the cutest kids you’ve ever seen, Charlotte – 2 and Jackson – almost 4.  Recently, while cleaning out my sewing room I put some pillowcase kits together.  I was going to make them and give them away but when Rob saw the princess fabric she said Charlotte would love it so I made it for Char.  I certainly couldn’t leave Jack out so I dug around and came up this this darling animal print that I think he will love.

I’m sure you all know how to make pillowcases that are finished inside and out using the sausage method but just in case you have nothing better to do you can visit my YouTube video and see me in action.

You can also find the written instruction by visiting my website and clicking on tutorials.

Until next time…….

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday – 5/24/10

Well Monday is almost over.  I’ve been very busy and am just now getting a chance to show you my design wall.  Last week you saw this laying on the floor, well I managed to get the top sewn together but it’s not quilted yet.  I was gone all weekend to a Two Wacky Women retreat so now it’s catch up time.  Hopefully there will be something new to see next Monday.  In the mean time, head on over to Judy’s Blog to see what others are up to.

Enjoy,

Quilt in a ………….

I’m pretty sure I’ve shown this before but once again, here is my Quilt in a Cup.

Of course Molly was in a hurry to get in the picture.  I use this cup everyday for my water.

Finally, today I finished my Quilt in a Clipboard.

Here’s the clip side where I used black and white.

and the back side using lot’s of brights.

I’ve had this since last July and made the little quilts last August.  Today I finally got around to quilting it and inserting it into the acrylic clipboard.  I guess I’m a little slow. 

I use a clipboard all the time so it’s about time I finished this one.

Here’s what I’ve been using for the last several years. 

My sister and I made these while visiting my niece Christina in San Francisco.  I thought I’d retire it but somehow or another it just doesn’t seem right.  It’s kind of like an old comfy pair of shoes that you can’t part with.  Maybe I can figure out a reason to use both. 

If you’re interested in making your own Quilt in a Cup or Quilt in a Clipboard they came from http://quiltinacup.com/ or check with your local quilt shop.  Two Wacky Women used to carry both but we’re down to just one clipboard and two cups so if you want one of our last, send me an email for the price and availability.

Enjoy,

9 Patch Surprise - Update

I’ve slowly been working on my 9 Patch Surprise sample for the class Melinda will be teaching in July.  The blocks are finally finished and I’m ready to sew the top together. 

I think I like it!

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday – 5/17/10

Not exactly a design wall, more like a design floor ,

but in any event here’s what I’m working on.  Molly the Cat couldn’t resist getting into the picture, she loves being the center of attention.

Marilyn and I are hosting a Two Wacky Women retreat this next weekend so I’ve been working on luggage tags and Kleenex holders for the welcome package. 

We are very proud of our retreats, we strive to be the Nordstrom's of the retreat world.  We are sold out for our Spring Retreat, this next weekend, as well as our Fall Retreat later this year.  On top of that, we’re already half full for our Spring 2011 Retreat.   If you’d like information about 2011, head over to our website.

In the mean time, to see what others have on their design wall, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday – 5/10/10

Well, I’ve made a little progress on my Nine Patch Surprise.  All the “A” blocks are made but only 2 of the “B” blocks.  Hopefully I’ll get them completed later today so that I can lay it out and start sewing it together.  This is the quilt that my sister Melinda will be teaching this July in Las Vegas.

If you’d like to see what others have on their design wall, head on over to Judy’s Patchwork Times Blog.

Enjoy,

Patchwork Round Robin Border 6 – Border Bow

A while back I was asked to contribute a border to Patchwork Posse’s Round Robin.

I was more than happy to participate.  I hope you like what I came up with.  If you’d like a printable version, there is a PDF file available here. 

Round Robin – Border 6
5” x 42” (unfinished 5 ½” x 42 ½”)
Border Bows

1. You will need a total of 18 - 3” finished (3 ½” unfinished) four-patches. Each square of the four-patch starts out at as 2” square. There are many ways to make your four patches, pick the one that works best for you.

2. You will need a total of 4 – 3” finished (3 ½” unfinished) three-patches. The squares start out as 2”squares and the rectangle is cut 2” x 3 ½”.

3. You will need 13 – 7” squares. Cut 11 of the squares on the diagonal twice.

 

4. Cut 2 of the 7” squares on the diagonal once.

5. You will need 40 – 1” cut squares.

6. Using 40 of the triangles cut in step 3, you will be adding a 1” square from step 5. Sew across on the diagonal as shown and then fold and press the 1” square, in half, towards the corner.

7. Using 18 four-patches from step 1 and 36 triangles from step 6. Make 18 of the following segments.

8. Using the 4 three-patches from step 2, 4 triangles from step 6 and 4 plain triangles from step 3. Make 4 of the following segments.

9. Assemble both borders using 9 segments from step 7 for each side. (Pretend the picture shows 9 segments)

10. Next add the ends from step 8. (Once again pretend the picture has 9 segments in the center.)

11. The last assembly step is to add a large plain triangle from step 4 to each end. Remember I’m only showing 4 four-patch segments but you will have 9 four patch segments and a three patch segment on each end.

12. The last step is to trim your border. For this graphic you will see my actual border and my very own ruler. The border is trimmed to 5 ½” unfinished. I trim one side at a time. First I marked my ruler (using blue painters tape) at the 2 ¾” (1/2 of 5 ½) line. I use the tape to line up the center of the four patches and then trim. Once I’ve trimmed one side I turn it around and trim the opposite side. (Sorry the picture is so dark.)

13. The borders will finish slightly longer than the 48 ½” need. Rather than just trimming your borders to that size, I would recommend measuring your quilt top and then trim your borders to the exact size you need.

A very special thank you to my friend, Jan Krueger, for the original inspiration for this border. I hope you’ve enjoyed making them along with me. If you have any questions or comments please contact me at robin@robinquiltsetc.com. I have an extensive line of patterns available at http://www.robinquiltsetc.com. I also have a lot of fun writing my blog, http://robingallagher.blogspot.com , if you get a chance stop by for a visit and say hello.

Enjoy,

A printable PDF version is available here.