Here are the first three blocks:
So far, so good. The blocks finish at 6” and in some cases I oversized parts of the block and trimmed them down. The outsides of the middle block are on the bias, but I starched them up so I hope they don’t stretch too much.
Wow! I only have 118 more blocks to make!
I have a quilt on the frame. I have a quilt that needs its outer border quilted (I am doing it on my Bernina-which is in the shop for cleaning and updates). I have a binding to put on another quilt. So why am I itching to start something new??
I bought this book a couple of years ago. That was when I started collecting reproduction fabrics in earnest.
Barbara Brackman has started a blog to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. She is sharing one block each week. You can see her blocks here.
I was going to follow along with her using her fabrics (in fact I was all ready to order them) but today I decided to use the above book and my own fabrics. See-I can use what I already have!
I know-should I really start another project? There are 121 blocks in the book. I made the first two today (will post tomorrow). I figure that I have 4 years to finish the quilt, right?
Are you starting or making a civil war quilt this year?
I don’t think I will keep the foot pedal in the pocket but I do like the way the cover turned out!
By the way, I did some test sewing on the machine and it really works well! The 1/4” foot works well and while the stitch options are limited they are great for piecing and even some applique work. I think that we will be great friends!
I went to four quilt shops while visiting Adrienne and Joe-and I squeezed in a trip to Ikea! I bought over 20 yards of fabric. Yeah. That is a lot of fabric. I seriously have to stop buying fabric. I just have to convince myself it is OK to use the fabric.
(Do you do that? Save fabric for that “special” project? How special does it have to be???)
Anyway, here are some pictures of my goodies.
I really had a great time in Baltimore. I still think it is way too hot, but Adrienne and Joe were so good to me that I really didn’t mind.
Sunday I went out early for a last shopping spree and when I got home I took a little nap. I woke up to this:
Joe had gone out and gotten TWO pounds of shrimp! We had quite the feast. Joe finished his shrimp but I had to stop with a few left in the box. I am still thinking about them…
Thank you Joe and Adrienne for a great time! I can’t wait to see you again-at Lenny’s 1st birthday party in July. I miss you!
I am certainly getting my Lenny fix while I am down here. This baby is just too too cute and he loves having his picture taken!
Enjoy the show!
Well, actually Glen Burnie…
I am having a great time with Adrienne, Joe, Leonard and Steve. They tell me the weather is gorgeous-but of course, for me it is a little warm. The ride down was good; it rained in Pennsylvania, but then it always rains in PA!
Thursday, Adrienne and I went shopping in Catonsville. The strip mall we went to had this:
this:
AND this:
all next door to each other!
Adrienne did a little damage at the yarn shop (that is my purse and yarn on the counter 
And I had a great time at the quilt shop. Everyone in there was so nice (but the manager did inform me that New York is TOO cold for her!)
Pictures of my purchases to come later!
My Hello Kitty machine arrived and it is too cute! I only played with it for a few minutes. I ordered a quarter-inch foot and metal bobbins for it so when I get back from Baltimore (going to see Adrienne and her family) I will try some sewing.
This actually works out well. I brought my Bernina in for a tune up-it has been 3 years!-so I can play with the Janome for a few days.
And in other news, our guild hosted a purse making workshop with the Gypsy Quilter. I made the Lily design from Lazy Gals. I used fat quarters from the Giddy line at the shop. I really like the way it turned out.
So tomorrow I am off to Baltimore and you know what that means: quilt and yarn shops and LOTS of pictures of Lenny!
See you soon!
I hope you all have many days like this. Katie and Dave came over for pizza and and the weather was beautiful and we all ended up outside.
And these are the times when I say life is good and I have been blessed. My family is healthy and happy and I hope these things never change. I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I will.
And of course Buddy was on patrol!
You have to love these faces!
Today Katie came over and planted my little garden around the lamp post. This year we decided to go with orange and yellow.
It looks a little sparse right now but in a few weeks it will be perfect.
Thanks Katie!
Have you seen this? I have wanted a Hello Kitty sewing machine for the longest time! The machine is made by Janome and is a 3/4 machine and weighs about 11 pounds. Almost every review I have read has been positive; metal bobbins are suggested for better sewing.
So I finally ordered one from Target. I can’t wait for it to get here! I am hoping that it will work out as a travel machine; my Bernina and Viking are just too heavy to lug around. I will let you all know how it runs after I give it a good workout!
April is over and with it another month of birthdays has passed. Adrienne celebrated her 30th birthday on the 23rd; Michael turned 10 on the 28th and Lauren and Dylan celebrated their birthdays on the 30th. Lauren (my youngest!) is 25 and Dylan is
(shown with his handsome big brother Michael)
Katie made a Handy Manny birthday cake:
The fondant and decorations were made from confectioner’s sugar and marshmallow. I love the tape measure! She also made the cookies.
Michael had his friends over for a football party. Katie found out how much food 11 ten year old boys eat! For his birthday I made Michael a Yankees quilt. Since cotton Yankee fabric is difficult to find I did some improvising.
The Yankee logos were appliqued. The grey Yankee square and the blue fabric were a shirt and pajama pants from Walmart.
I found the badges on E-bay.
2001 is the year that Michael was born.
Dylan said that HE wants a baseball quilt now!!
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