Monday, February 4, 2013

A Finish and Other Whatnots

Hi everyone!!  I hope that you all had a great weekend!  And that you're staying warm!  We've been colder than anything around here lately.  I'm hoping that the groundhog is right this year and Spring comes early.  In my book, it can't come early enough.  I'm sick of all this cold!!

I finally tamed the beast in the form of the mitered borders on the Cotton Club and it's finished.  After months of putting the thing together and then another month (or two... or three) of stressing over the darned mitered border, I finally took myself by the arm, forced myself into the sewing chair and decided it was time to get it off the quilting WIP list once and for all.  So thanks to those wonderful videos on YouTube, here it is:


Ahem...Bailey, do you think that you could move?


Hello?  Bailey?  Do you hear me?  Hmmm, not listening, are you???  Darned dog!!  No surprise there - just like my kids when they were little (well, they're still that way - who am I kidding?).  Oh well, the lighting isn't good for a photo op anyway.  So a couple hours later the lighting got better and I convinced Bailey to go outside (I told him that there was a kitty cat in his yard), and here is my finish:

The Cotton Club
(mitered borders and all)

I don't know what my big fear was with mitering those borders - it turned out to be so easy (although you'll notice the fabric tails at the corners that I can't bring myself to cut off until the quilt has its final pressing just in case).  I'm so happy that it's finally done!!

In stitching news, Ann Smith is coming along although not as quickly as I had hoped.  A few nights where stitching time was a big fat zero.  But this is where I was last time I posted:


And this is where I was a couple days ago - Dear Son came home for a visit along with four friends from college this weekend and they camped out in our basement.  Can you say Dorm party?  Lots of cooking and washing (DS couldn't let an opportunity pass by without having mom do his wash) and laughing because of all the funny college stories they told and yes, there were a couple that I had to plug my ears - kind of - LOL):


The over one lettering and the sky just below that were the real time killers.  That took so long!!  But I'm loving her with her bright colors.  Although by my next post I may be hating her.  After this section, I have a whole section of over one.  If you hear some screaming and a car furiously gunning its engine and the squealing of tires (that is if our roads aren't all iced over as they have been here for a while, otherwise you can envision me furiously doing donuts in the street), you can rest assured that it will be me trying to run it over!!

After finishing up the Cotton Club I decided to start on one of the quilting projects I picked for this year.  Well, I lied.  I actually started two projects.  I started on Sylvia's Bridal quilt and got the first four blocks done.   Dear Jane will wait a little bit as I think that I'm learning a lot with these blocks that will serve me well when it comes time for Jane.  These are persnickety blocks - a little more detailed than the Farmer's Wife blocks.  Or maybe not - I think that with these blocks I'm given less fabric to work with than with previous Block of the Month programs, so I have to really take my time in cutting out the pieces.  The blocks will be a finished size of 6 inches.


Sylvia's Bridal Quilt BOM

I decided that since these blocks were rather time consuming I would also work on another quilt.  One that doesn't require a lot of brain power and can go together easily.  This was a kit from a local quilt store that I picked up during the summer and because of the fabrics - Blackbird Designs Antique Fair, I just had to have it.  I only have three blocks together at this point:


Easy peasy blocks that I can practically do blindfolded....well, maybe not.

So there you have it.  A little bit about what I've been up to since my last post.

And I have an apology too.  One of my plans (not a resolution, but a plan) was to post more and also comment more in 2013.  I have seriously lagged in the commenting department and I'm sorry for that.  It seems that I've needed a slight break from commenting because of things that have been going on around here  - nothing bad at all, just the kind of thing where you need to put attention to other things for a while.  Seems that once I got through my craft room, I proceeded to go through the house with reckless abandon cleaning out things.  I don't know about other people, but I get a huge sense of "Ahhhh" when I get things cleaned out.  I'm happy, the Salvation Army is happy, but it hasn't left me with much time to comment - and when I've had time, I put it into sewing as a reward for cleaning things out.  We're also gearing up to do some inside home improvements which means I'm driving around in my car looking for paint colors, bathroom vanities, etc.  BTW, did I mention that I hate looking for paint colors!!

So, I'm sorry and hopefully I'll be back to commenting more soon.  I think that my husband is getting a little worried that I'm going to empty out the entire house and buy all new things!  Well, it's been a thought!  Not really - maybe some new stash - but definitely not a whole house of goods.

Have a wonderful week and thank you so much for your comments!!  They truly mean a lot to me!!

46 comments:

Giovanna said...

Hehehe, I had to chuckle a couple of times while reading your post. That's a gorgeous quilt, congrats on getting it finished. And please don't run over poor Ann Smith, she's way too pretty - if you really can't stand her send her to me and I'll get the over-1 done and send her back :-)

Diane (di) said...

Woo hoo!! You finally finished my quilt... ok, ok. I'm being delusional again. lol Cotton Club is gorgeous, Deb. Ann is looking fabulous too and your quilt blocks? Love them! I really like the reds in the BBD blocks and I do believe you know how I feel about the ones for Ms. Sylvia. (Dang, they're addicting.) :) Your needles are truly smokin', my dear. Great job!

Me and My Stitches said...

Woo-hoo! Way to go on Cotton Club and those mitered borders! I'm almost inspired enough to tackle mine (lol). And so glad that it's Bailey approved! Also love to see the new things your working on. Happy paint shopping!

Vickie said...

Oh Bailey! I had to laugh. I bet all dogs do that! The quilt is beautiful.

Nicola said...

Bailey looks very comfortable on your beautiful quilt Deb.

What fun to have your son and his friends home, they will always be our babies even though they are young men.

You are making good progress on Ann even if you feel that she is going slowly. She is a stunner. Did you start Manifesto? I wish my kit was here, I even went into the village this morning to find the postman on his rounds!!!

Choosing paint is not easy, I don't know if you have them in the States but I like to buy the test pots as they are always different to the labels. Farrow and Ball are my favourite paints, do you have them?

Katrina said...

Sweet puppy!!!!!!! My girls like to lay all over my stitching, LOL. Love your Ann and the quilts are so pretty.

Laurie in Iowa said...

Awww... Bailey is such a sweet pup! Your quilt and quilt blocks look wonderful. I love Ann Smith with all those pretty colors.

Kathy said...

Deb, it looks like you have really been busy. Your quilt is beautiful as is Ann. I just love this sampler with all it's pretty colors. And, your baby Bailey makes a great model for your quilt. Too cute.

Jonette said...

Oh my, your stitching is beautiful!!!

Cari said...

You are so talented...and accomplished. Your quilt is stunning !! I know it takes a lot of work to get the borders on just right and it sure looks like you've done it !! Of course, Bailey is all that AND a bag of chips !! He is adorable.

Your stitching is lovely as well. So much to do, and so little time !! Hugs dear friend...

samplerlover said...

Hi Deb, oh your quilt looks lovely as is Mr Bailey lol. Talk about photogenic. Great progress of Miss Ann. She is such a lovely sampler. I know that when there is a lot of over ones, that it always looks like we don't have a lot of progress, but you have done a lot of work.

woolwoman said...

WOW - Cotton Club is just gorgeous Deb - Congrats for finishing up that beauty. Your Ann is coming along - I would have this in the SL cart today if it weren't for that over 1 - I just can't face more than a tiny bit and based on your comments - I think there is more than a tiny bit on this one. So your in on Manifesto too huh? Your one for punishment aren't you friend LOL - take care and have a great week ! mel

Mary said...

I have to love those two big green birds on Ann! Lately bird samplers are catching my eye and now here's you Miss Ann - beautiful!

Gabi said...

Cotton Club is looking SO gorgeous. I wish I would have your quilting skills. Bailey is such a cute darling. Thank god I'm not the only one who has a spoiled fur baby.
Please don't run over poor Ann. She is so very gorgeous. Would take you ages to get the tire marks off her btw...lol.
Great new quilting starts. Love both of them.

Loraine said...

Oh Deb what a wonderful post! You had me laughing quite a bit through this one, as I can imagine you driving donuts in the street trying to run over Ms. Smith! LOL. Well, I hope you won't resort to that, and that you will enjoy your over one stitching without any more ripping out over one!
Your cotton club quilt turned out fabulous! I absolutely love the mitered corners, and you did a wonderful job on it. Sylvia and BB Antique Fair blocks are lovely as well, and I look forward to seeing more.
I'm glad you are cleaning out too...misery loves company. It's such a chore, but such a relief when it's done. Maybe we need a vacation after all of our cleaning. I could certainly run away for a while!
Have a wonderful day, and I'll TTYS.
Hugs dear friend.

Carol said...

That is one stunning looking sampler, Deb! Such great colors, too... I know the over one takes longer, but it is SO worth it :) Hang in there...

Really beautiful quilt, too, and your "little" helper is looking quite handsome himself :)

I should take a page out of your book and do some serious purging, too--especially in my sons' old rooms... Good for you!

Ellen said...

Ann is gorgeous! Yes, the over 1 is killing me too and I am only doing the verse on Dorothy ha ha!

That cotton club quilt is awesome, congrats on the finish! Love the fabrics for the new quilt blocks!

Hugs,

Susan said...

Cotton Club is beautiful. I was the same way with mitres, but once I did one corner, the rest were so easy, sort of made me feel silly for putting them off. Love the colors in Ann Smith - very cheery. Your other quilts look great and yes, I agree how could you walk past a kit with BBD fabric?

Melissa said...

That quilt top is gorgeous! Bailey is pretty cute too.

I have to agree that Ann is very pretty with all her fun colours!

Good luck with finding paint colours, etc. I have to do some decluttering too and yes, it makes me feel lighter and very virtuous afterwards!

Deborah said...

The quilt is beautiful. The corners look great! Ann is coming along nicely.

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Your quilt is beautiful and Bailey is the perfect model.

Ann Smith is also stunning and I have had more than one project I wanted to toss from the upstairs window into on coming traffic.

I also love cleaning and organizing, choosing new house paints is fun at first then begins to wear thin.

Samplings from Spring Creek said...

Your quilt is beautiful and Bailey is the perfect model.

Ann Smith is also stunning and I have had more than one project I wanted to toss from the upstairs window into on coming traffic.

I also love cleaning and organizing, choosing new house paints is fun at first then begins to wear thin.

Chris said...

Congratulations on your beutiful quilt finish and I am loving the new starts too.
Gorgeous progress on Ann.

Siobhán said...

I need to go and quietly rock in the corner and tell myself that I will NOT start Ann Smith. It is SUCH a gorgeous sampler! I love the quilt--and the model is adorable, too! The Sylvia's Bridal Quilt blocks look great, but those Antique Fair! Oh my gosh. I know you said they're easy peasy but the fabrics are just so pretty.

Jackie's Stitches said...

Congratulations on finishing Cotton Club! Your mitered corners are beautiful! I think for me it's a bit more scary to think about fussy cutting those borders than the sewing.

Ann Smith is GORGEOUS!

I can't remember, does SBS have applique blocks too?

Katherine said...

Deb - Bailey is just too cute! Love the quilt, love the quilt plans, and still love the colors in that sampler!

Ranae said...

Gorgeous quilt and bailey sure looks handsome, I think he's claiming it, can't blame him, lol

Mylene said...

Your quilt looks gorgeous, such lovely colours as well as your quilt blocks.
The sampler is coming along beautifully!!

Catherine said...

Beautiful quilt and stitches!! Such a cute model too!

Mary said...

Bailey is a cutie! He wanted to make sure that gorgeous quilt stayed in place for the pic! Nicely done!!!
You've really gotten a lot done on the sampler since last post, I think. So pretty!

Evelyne said...

I love Ann Smith with all those pretty colors. That means that you throw your Susan Singleton out of the window????
The quilt of the Cotton Club looking very nice.
Oh my gosh that fabric, the Antique Fair of BBD look very pretty.

Happy stiching,
Evelyne

Dawn said...

Bailey is too cute.
Fabulous finish with mitered corners and all!
Love your sampler - those blue threads are wonderful hues.

Dona said...

Yay on finishing Cotton Club! It turned out perfectly. I can tell Bailey thought so as well.

Love your Ann Smith. Those colors are gorgeous!

It sounds like you had a good with son and friends!

Dona said...

P.S. I wanted to say how sweet Bailey looks!

Ellen said...

Me again! I'm in love with your Ann Smith. Although I won't be able to start her for nearly I year, I went through my collection and found that I have the chart already. Are you using the silk or cotton threads.

Hurry up and stitch faster (LOL)--I want to see MORE!

Rhonda said...

Debra your Ann is stunning. Will need to move her to my to do pile :) Bailey is a doll.

Carin said...

Ohhh I love the photo of Bailey sitting on the quilt ;-)
Your quilt looks lovely, I love those red colors so much !! And the corners looks amazing.
Your stitching is also very beautiful and yes ... that one over one takes time to stitch. I also doesn't realy like to stitch one over one.
And then your SBS blocks ...great !! They are fun to make isn't ? I have done over 70 blocks now but haven't done for awhile making sbs blocks.... time to go ahead with these :-)
Your easy peasy blocks are fun to, that blackbird fabric is so wonderful.

Nancy M said...

Your quilts are awesome. Do you keep them all?? Good luck with the over one parts on your bright sampler. At least you have some fun colors to work with. Good luck too with the home improvement projects! Always exciting to start and then to get them finished!!! Not so fun in the middle! LOL

Brigitte said...

Ohhhhhhh, this Cotton Club quilt is such a beauty, absolutely gorgeous with its colours. They would be my colours as well. And your new quilts will be just as beautiful. Sylvia's Bridal quilt appeals to me a lot, I think I must have that book so that I have a quilt to start with once I'll be retired.
And Ann Smith - what a progress you made on her. Ske's looking wonderful.

Natalia said...

Oh the things we let our sweet doggies do. LOL ! I love your quilt, it is beautiful.

I know you love having your son and friends at home, in spite of having to do laundry :-)

Ann looks beautiful !!!!!

Tammy said...

No apologies for commenting or not--I'm bad at it too. It's time consuming! Either way, your projects are beautiful. I want to quilt more this year. We'll see! Your stitching is gorgeous!

Karoline said...

I have to say Bailey models your quilt very well! It's gorgeous, congratulations

Great progress on Ann, she's looking lovely

Anne said...

Your quilt is amazing Deb!! That Bailey is sure adorable and I loved how he sat there and modeled the quilt...like a VAnna White!! Ann Smith is coming along beautifully too and your new quilting project looks great!

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ bisous ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Kevin said...

Ann Smith is beautiful! Really love this sampler. Can't wait to see your next update. And Bailey looks like a real charmer. I bet my Wheaten terrier Seamus would just love having Bailey as a friend.

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

Votre travail est merveilleux !!! j'adore les couleurs !
bisous bisous