Current Projects

[Helen W.]

Good morning everyone - Here's a question to get the conversation started: What's everyone working on?

I'm working on a mixed size sawtooth star that started out as a baby quilt but is growing. You see, it's pink and green and the baby turned out to be a boy, so I've decided to make it for me! I have everything from 4-inch to 14-inch stars in very scrappy pinks and greens.

I'm also working on a hand applique project - one of the Jo's Little Women projects. I take it to work and work on it at lunch - very relaxing.

I'm thinking about signing up for the strip club at my LQS. Anyone ever done one before?

Please post!

[Helen W.]

I am working on a small McKenna Ryan pattern- Dora. A cat with sunflowers. So much fun! I also have a Judy Niemeyer pattern to start next. Sunflower Illusions. If you can't already tell - I'm going through my sunflower stage. :lol:

Scrappy

[Helen W.]

So glad to see the forum up and running..this is going to be such fun!

I have way too many UFO's at the present, but don't we all? :roll: I'm shopping today for sashing and backing for a Sudoku quilt I learned from Billie Lauder at last week's Sew Sunsational in Cocoa, FL. Also, a lovely embroidered jacket that needs to be put together, but I'm waiting to learn all about my new serger before I begin construction. I'm guilty of taking way too many classes at my quilt shop since I bought my DSE last summer...I'm addicted! I still have Christmas 2006 projects that need to be finished :wink: ...in particular, a Chocolate Snowman appliqued quilt that's just adorable! Maybe by this Christmas?! :shock:

[Helen W.]

I'm almost finished machine quilting a scrappy 55" x 55" lap quilt. I've decided to give this to my sister for her upcoming 50th birthday. Then I have two more tops waiting to be quilted, and I need to start on a graduation quilt for NEXT June... I tend to finish projects the night before, so I'm determined not to let that happen this time! Florence

[Helen W.]

I'm working on piecing 2 Quilt of Valor Mystery Quilts, a series of wall hangings called Button-Up, and finishing various UFOs.

Ruthie

[Sheri L.]

I coordinate the art docent program at my son's elementary school. This month we are teaching a unit on quilts and Faith Ringgold. Each year I work with my 2 boy's class to make a quilt for the teacher at the end of the year. This year I am having the children design a nine-patch using squares and half-square triangle. The kindegardeners are using 2 fabrics of their choice (bright colored batiks). The fourth graders are using 3 colors, one is uniformly used in all the blocks and the other two are earth-tone batiks of their choice. It should keep me busy til summer.

[Sheri L.]

I am the gallery manager for Ricky Tims. We have the local preschool class coming in next week to see our quilts as they study the letter Q. It is a great show for them, with polar bears and penguins, chickadees ad snowflakes in our winter themed show. I would like to have them do a quilting activity- I thought I would cut small squares and half squares from various of our hand dyes scraps, and let them each design a "quilt on a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 card stock. I had thought just to have them glue stick the fabric down and put their names on the bottom of the paper. Does anyone have any feedback for me on this idea, or alternative ideas for quilting projects with preschoolers?

[Sheri L.]

I am machine quilting a Salt Water Taffy quilt. I just have the borders to quilt.

I am hand piecing a Jewel Box quilt for my friends daughter's Bat Mitvah.

I am hand piecing a mystery quilt that I am doing from the Yahoo group :apocketfulofmysteries. I am using up my leftover red/white and blue fabrics.

I love to have lots of projects going and am thrilled that we have this wonderful quilt forum.

Barbara

[Diane F.]

I am working on UFO quilts. Recently I found a scrappy homespun quilt top from my first quilt class. It is done, labeled, gift-wrapped - yea!

Now I am focusing on three quilt tops. One top needs hand applique (which I love to do and gives me something to take to quilt group).

I am also going to machine quilt two circle quilts. I am struggling with quilting design ideas and the mechanics of quilting a circle (lots of bias edges) - these quilts are bargello from Cheryl Phillips. One quilt is just a circle (54 inch diameter) and the other quilt has two circles that flow into each other (imagine a peanut). The big circle is going to be quilted first for practice. My "peanut" is going to become a wallhanging.

[Diane F.]

I am the gallery manager for Ricky Tims. We have the local preschool class coming in next week to see our quilts as they study the letter Q. It is a great show for them, with polar bears and penguins, chickadees ad snowflakes in our winter themed show. I would like to have them do a quilting activity- I thought I would cut small squares and half squares from various of our hand dyes scraps, and let them each design a "quilt on a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 card stock. I had thought just to have them glue stick the fabric down and put their names on the bottom of the paper. Does anyone have any feedback for me on this idea, or alternative ideas for quilting projects with preschoolers?

I have cut muslin blocks and ironed them onto freezer paper for children. Each child gets a block to draw on with crayons and add their name. Then I put them together and quilt. Each child in turn gets to take the class quilt home for one evening to share with his family. Such fun for all.

[Diane F.]

I am the gallery manager for Ricky Tims. We have the local preschool class coming in next week to see our quilts as they study the letter Q. It is a great show for them, with polar bears and penguins, chickadees ad snowflakes in our winter themed show. I would like to have them do a quilting activity- I thought I would cut small squares and half squares from various of our hand dyes scraps, and let them each design a "quilt on a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 card stock. I had thought just to have them glue stick the fabric down and put their names on the bottom of the paper. Does anyone have any feedback for me on this idea, or alternative ideas for quilting projects with preschoolers?

I think your idea is great! Go for it!

[Diane F.]

I suggest that you fuse the fabric to the card stock and pre-cut the simple shapes before the preschoolers arrive.

You could give each child a design board (a card stock backing) and a small number of shapes that would fill the space. Perhaps you could have sample patterns on display and they could use the pieces to create their own quilt patterns.

[Pam S.]

Currently I'm working on a flannel quilt using the "Woolies" flannel, the stuff that looks like old men's suits. I fell in love with the stuff and just had to make a quilt for myself out of it. I decided to use a Thimbleberries pattern (Fireside Cozy). It's working up nicely and hopefully be on my bed next winter. My plan is to quilt it in big stitches using a pearl cotton.

I also have many UFO's, one hand pieced, hand appliqued, hand quilted Baltimore Album that will hopefully be finished this year. :? Just the border to quilt and then bind.

Then there is my list of quilts I would love to do -- that list grows with each magazine I read........ :wink:

[Pam S.]

I am racing to fininsh quilts for my quild's quilt show auction in April. I have two of the four I want to auction complete, the tops are pieced for the other two and one is sandwiched and pinned, ready for me to machine quilt.

I also have piles of little Amish dolls cut out, ready to be put together for the boutique.

At the last show I made enough to have a real good time on our annual quilt bus trip to several quilt shop in Upstate NY. Now I want to do the same.

There's no feeling like having cash to spend freely in a quilt shop. Normally I have to be very careful. I can't wait.

[Pam S.]

If you could either use a post-it note type glue on the back of your precut pieces or Steam a seam 2 on them so that when the little ones place the pieces down they stay in one place long enough for them to finish their project. It would also give them a chance to change their minds if they don't like their first choice of placement. This would also keep them and their work neater than glue would.

I think it's great to do this with kids and keep up the great work