Another NOT a New Project

 Just when I am trying hard to not start something new, a brand new quilt along comes along to tempt me.  This one is a quilt block of the week called Grandmother's Choice.  It comes along with interesting facts and histories related to women's suffrage.  There will be 49 8 inch blocks, one each week for about a year. 

So how do I quilt along with a fun new blog and still manage not to start something new?  Here is my Midget version of Grandmother's Choice!  It will fit right in with my ongoing blocks, will not count as a new project, and will still allow me to join in.  No worries about keeping up or finishing, each block will just join right in with my collection. 

Design Wall Monday September 3, 2012

 It is a school holiday today and I am overwhelmed with choices!  The Cherry Trees are still on the wall, untouched since last week.  There are a couple of Midgets that need to be sashed to join the collection as well as my test block for Hawaii Sunset still calling to me.  I will not start anything new though, while all these projects are still in progress. 

 Jamestown blocks are done except for a few more string blocks.  Might as well get that done while everything is in chaos. 

 The teal crumbs somehow got waylaid while the blocks were being sewn together.  I need to find the nice little stacks of pinned blocks that got buried in strings. 

I'd like to Get Flamingo Bay and Smith Mountain quilted before they get all wrinkled and need to be ironed again. 
Choices! 

Out of Harms Way

 Given the recent peril of Flamingo Bay, I decided that the quilt on the frame needed to get done soon.  The quilting in the center is just  regular old meander.  The middle border has ribbon candy, and the outer border is an attempt at feathers.  I am thinking red binding and I will call this one done. 

The back is an assortment of 10 inch squares that finished off most of the Christmas Stash. 

No Respect

 Anna and I made a trip out to Joann's to use our coupon for the sewing project she is doing for her science teacher and picked up some batting that was on sale.  Red tag fabric was half off as well and I always like to look there for backing options.  Smith Mountain AND Flamingo bay were both stacked neatly and spread on the living room floor where I had relocated it so that Anna could lay out her curtains.  Admittedly, it they were in the traffic flow, but it was a temporary solution.  It isn't too hard to just step around, is it?  So in walks Kurt, straight over my quilts.  I winced a little bit, but let it go, then he came back, rolling the vacuum, and rolled it right over the whole collection!  Really?  A vacuum, and shoes, on my quilt?  So I picked it up and carefully draped it over the chair until the quilt on the frame is done and I can swap it out.  Walking by after loading up the frame, I spied Lizzie, snoring away, on my quilt! 

Needless to say, I'd better get the Christmas quilt done likety split before something dire happens to the other two quilts. 

#2 on the List - Flamingo Bay Flimsy

Flamingo Bay is officially a flimsy.  I tried standing on a table to get a good photo, but after 32 tries, I gave up and went wonky.  As much as I fought with the pieced border, it is quite nice and fit perfectly.  I have backing fabric picked out, but first there is a quilt on the frame that needs to be loaded.  I'll do a batting inventory too and figure out if I need to do any shopping today.  I have a coupon!

Slowly on Sunday

 I've been remembering this week to pull Jane out in the evenings while settling in to watch a bit of TV.  Hand quilting is a nice excuse to sit and be still. I don't do that often enough.  There are about 10 blocks done so far, so it is coming along nicely.  I think the border needs a nice feather of some sort, or maybe a rope?  Plenty of time for such lofty decisions as she is in no hurry to be done.  

I did pull out the water bottle to start taking out some of the water soluble marking pen.  I think there is a white version I can try on the dark fabric.  Head over to Kathy's Blog to see what handwork other people are pulling out on Sunday. 

#2 on the List Needs Borders

More pieced borders are looming!  Orca Bay has been done for ages, but needs to have the pieced borders attached.  It is a bit wrinkled from hanging in the closet, so ironing is on the horizon for me.  Long weekends are lovely, aren't they?

Speaking of vacations.  Did anyone see that Bonnie Hunter is going to Ireland?  During summer vacation!  Very tempting, right?  Anyone giving it some thought?

Cross #1 Off the List

The pieced borders are finally on Smith Mountain Morning.  I have plenty of fabric for a backing thanks to a summer clearance sale and Joann's It can't go on the frame quite yet as there is a Christmas Log Cabin quilt hanging out there.  First though, Orca Bay is also waiting patiently for pieced borders.   They are a pain in the neck, but they really do give the quilt a nice finish, don't they?

ScrapHappy Pumpkin Color

With school back in full swing it is starting to seem like fall to me.  I know that a trip to a pumpkin patch is right around the corner and I am feeling inspired to use up my orange scraps.  I was amazed at how few oranges I had in my scrap jar!  These itty bitty nine patches polished off the bulk of them.  I'll need to dig through the drawers of squares and strips as well to keep going for the month.  
I've been making these little nine patches all year, not quite sure how they were going to end up.  I remembered seeing an amazing quilt somewhere that needed them and was sewing on faith.  There are two contenders for now.  One is called the birthday quilt and just needs these squares alternating with 2 inch squares all on point.  The other one is called OmiGosh and uses a combination of nine patches with four patches on point and half square triangles.  You can see it here and here and here. 
I'm not sure yet which one I'll make, but now I have a reason to keep making more nine patches. 
What are you up to on this first orange Saturday?  Use the linky below to share your progress.

Just a Few LnE

These blocks are definitely NOT the start of a new quilt.  They are just a few blocks that came out as leaders and enders while I was being very good and finishing pieced borders.  Smith Mountain Morning AND Orca bay are now ready to have the final pieced borders sewn on.  Maybe I can sneak a few more nine patches through while I am at it?  It is a three day weekend after all.