Next Up . . . . .

I'm back, did ya miss me?

So really, how long did you think it would be before I started another red quilt after finishing my Red and White Tribute quilt, a year, a month, one project . . .

If you figured not very long at all you would be right, James River Blues is done and this is the project that will be consuming my time for the foreseeable future.

This pattern is Door County Cherry Baskets and is in the book Summer Gatherings by Lisa Bongean and Carole Charles. (Lisa is The Lisa of Primitive Gatherings fame and her blog header is this basket quilt!)

Door County is in Wisconsin and I spent last week in Wisconsin, checking out quilt shops and visiting with friends, so I thought this would be a great time to work on this quilt. Although, technically, cherry picking time runs mid-July to mid-August in Door County Wisconsin. I'm a little late with my cherry picking.

I pulled all the fabric for this project from my stash, so you know what that means, YES, it's a free quilt!!

Here are my background fabrics.

I'm going with over 100 different fabrics in this project and it took days and days to cut all my pieces. Now I'm on to the assembly portion of this project. (finally, hurray!)

And here's my inspiration block! The pattern calls for 99 blocks, I don't think there's that many cherries at my house, I'm thinking maybe I'll be needing a few fewer baskets.

I have some pictures to share of my Wisconsin Shop Hop and am still pushing for an official name change for Carrie Nelson for Miss Rosie's Quilt Company's Schnibbles pattern Bibelot. I stand by my original notion that this pattern should be named "T" Stands for Thelma. I'm not sure what it will take to get this done but rest assured I'm on the job!!

Stop back by for further updates!!

( Hey Sinta - there's no room on this bandwagon for any other "T" names!! )

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Farmer's Wife Sew Along

I'm not coming to close to keeping up with the Farmer's Wife two blocks a week sew along, but I am making some blocks every now and then.

As a reminder, the fabric I'm going with is French General for Moda.

This fabric is the sashing I plan to use, and this square is 6 1/2 inches, the size of the blocks in the Farmer's Wife Book. I'm going with 4 inch finished blocks.

I'm also making my blocks in numerical order.

So this is number 13, Buckwheat.

This is number 14, Butterfly at the Crossroads. If you look real close, you'll see a butterfly in the center of my block. The only butterfly on that fat quarter of fabric!

Number 15, Buzzard's Roost ( I don't think that's a buzzard, but at least it is a bird!)

And number 16, Calico Puzzle.

So that's 16 down, only 95 more to go, you don't count the 4 blocks I want to make again because I don't like them. But I won't remake any blocks until I get all 111 done. Maybe the ugly blocks will grow on me.

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She's a Winner!

Over the weekend I entered a few quilts in a show that was sponsored by a guild 45 miles from me.

When I attended the show I was thrilled to find this ribbon on A La Mode (Lifetime Quilt # 66)

Every now and then I'll run across a blog where folks wonder if their quilts are good enough for a show, or if they should enter their quilts in a show. And this is what I think about that, while I was excited to see that blue ribbon on my quilt, I also enjoyed seeing my other quilts in the show and talking to folks about them. Plus, I really enjoy seeing what other quilters in my neck of the woods are making. I would have been happy with my experience even if I didn't win a ribbon. If you've never entered your quilts in a local show, I think you'll be surprised by the sense of satisfaction you'll feel just by seeing your quilt hanging in the event hall with other quilts.

And if you're worried because a few points are missing or or a seam or two don't match, relax, there are too many things to look at for anyone to notice that type of thing on one quilt, you're the only one who notices those things on your quilt!

I've never been associated with the planning or running of a quilt show, but it looks like a lot of work. If a group is going to take the time and effort to sponsor a show, I think it's nice to recognize that time and effort by entering some quilts. The ribbon was just icing on the cake!

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No Longer Singing the James River Blues . . .

I finished up James River Blues!

I really should give this quilt a new name, but sometimes, once you start calling a project by it's given name, it's hard to come up with a good nickname.

I sure enjoyed working on this quilt. Most of the time I like a challenge when I'm sewing. I'm retired and appreciate a little cerebral stimulation during my day. But sometimes I also like to sew simply for the fun of it, and that's what I need the last two weeks and this project fit that need perfectly.

I didn't even struggle with my #1 scrappy rule, no like fabrics touching. I guess because I had so many different fabrics.

This is Lifetime Quilt #74 and my 10th finish this year.

I used the pattern James River Blues by Paula Barnes for Bonnie Blue Quilts.

This quilt finished at 72" x 72" and has approximately 1,728 pieces.

I can hardly wait to see this top quilted, I think it will really bring this project to life.

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My Basket is Full . . .

Wow, I can't believe it's Friday already!

I've had a week of juggling car repairs, jury duty, doggy daycare, and my running schedule.

But I also have a basket full of James River Blues blocks! I should have a flimsy come Monday.

We're in for a wonderful fall weekend here, I'm ready to sit back and enjoy it.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend too!

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