Log Cabin top completed.....almost!

Sorry that I haven't posted for a little while for those of you that emailed me to make sure things were okay. I have just been really stressed and restless lately that is why I had not posted. If you remember in my last post my machine had broke and I had sent it off to be fixed. Well, I am still without my quilting machine!!! I spoke with them this morning and hopefully it will only be a few more days. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I also did NOT get the loaner/demo machine that I was promised. Anyway, this has had me so stressed out. I've even cried but found that crying just doesn't help matters any does it?

On to other matters....I got all of my log cabin blocks sewn together!!!! All 168 of them!! Now I am just trying to figure out the border fabric for it. I want to use something from my small stash for the border and not buy anything extra for it. I hung it on the stairway wall so that I could get a better look at it once it was all sewn together. It finished pretty big. I did a rough measure of it and it is somewhere around 86 x 102 without borders. I love big quilts. When I do sew the border on, I don't plan on a very wide border. The blocks measure around 7 inches. When I started this quilt, in my mind I planned on a green border but this is the only green that I have enough of and I'm thinking that the design may to big for these blocks.

The red that I plan on doing the small inner border in, is the same red that is used in the block centers. Then I found this blue fabric. What do you think of it? Would it look better than the green?
I have plenty of both of them. My other Civil War yardage just would not work for this quilt. I have some purple that looks way too busy for this and then most of the other ones, I don't have enough of them for the border. So this is where I'm at right now. Waiting for my machine to be fixed and trying to decide on border fabric. After I get the borders sewn on, this quilt will have right at 2200 pieces in it.

Please help me decide on the border fabric. I do value your opinion. Oh and I haven't even decided on a name for this quilt either. In the last post, I asked which fabric to use for my spiderweb blocks and I loved reading the comments on it. I do think I have decided to go with the RED. I am still working on those blocks. Hopefully soon I will have that top ready to show you.
Kristie

Civil War Quilts and Fabrics

As most of you may know that my favorite fabric is Civil War Reproduction fabric! I LOVE it! I just can't get enough of it! It is a good thing that money is so tight right now because I think if I could I would have a piece of every one of them that I could find!

A few years ago, when I first saw the Civil War Love Letters and Civil War Diary patterns, I fell in love with it then. Of course, we as a family love anything to do with the Civil War anyway. A few years ago, I bought both of these books and the Cd's to print the blocks. As of right now I have ALL of the Love Letter blocks pieced and sewn together. Now I just need to peel all the paper from the back, which I should have done before I sewed them together. You can see a few of my blocks here.

So this morning, I was looking at my quilt top and started thinking....I know, that really gets me in trouble!! LOL! Anyway, first let's talk more about my Love Letter quilt. All 121 blocks are done in pink and brown Civil War fabrics. After I peel the paper off, I will be ready for the borders. I've had this border fabric for a couple of years now. I can't wait to get it all finished.

I also started the Civil War Diary quilt too. Actually, I think I started it first, but then I fell in love with the pink and browns so I completed the other blocks first. On the CWDQ I have 81 of the 121 blocks finished on it. Here they are! Only 40 more to go!
So while I had this out I was thinking that I would like to finish these blocks sometime this year. I looked for my CD to print off the rest of the blocks and remembered that I had loaned it to a dear friend. She seems to think that she returned them and I'm not saying that she didn't but I don't remember it and I can't find them. Oh well....so that means that I will soon have to order another CD.

I am a member of the Civil War Diary Yahoo Group that is run by Rosemary Youngs, the author and wonderful quilter. So I got on there to see how much it was to order another CD. Long story short....I still haven't ordered the CD because I got sidetracked! Yep, that is easy for me to do! LOL! Anyway, I found out that she has a website/blog now and is posting some free blocks on there too. One BOM is pieced blocks and two of the BOM's are applique! You should really check them out! But the best news is..............SHE IS COMING OUT WITH ANOTHER BOOK/PATTERN IN MAY OF 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I have been hoping that she would, I just LOVE her patterns and the stories are amazing. The books are worth buying for the stories, even if you don't plan on making the quilts!

So now one of my goals are to get the other 40 blocks done and the top pieced before the next book comes out in 2012.

Of course, I have sooooooooo many other things that I need to get caught up on and get finished before then too. Like.....

These blocks. A fellow blogger, Mary, designed this pattern and I fell in love with it when she posted it on her blog. She has the pattern for free too! Anyway, I had to change some of the fabric placements around because of the amount of fabrics that I had on hand. This is done in Civil War fabrics too. She calls hers, "churn dash and stars", but I think I will call mine, "Civil War Wreaths" Like I said it is the same pattern that she has and all of the credit goes to her, but I had to change some fabric placements on mine. I really want to work on this one too!

Also in this tub, are my Midget Blocks, that I am behind on! The goal is one block a week and I think I only have 2 blocks done! I know, it is sad.... :( Oh and my BB Civil War Quilt blocks are in here too! I think I am two blocks behind on that and there are only 5 of them posted so far!

I have a couple more customer quilts to quilt and I would like to try to start working on some of these things! It is so hard to catch up once you get behind on a BOM or a BOW.

I did finish the customer quilt that I had on the frame yesterday, the one with the birds on it. I am currently sewing the binding down on it. I have two quilts to quilt for this customer and she wants the binding done also. I do enjoy working on the bindings. Anyway I have her second quilt loaded now and ready to start quilting on it in the morning. Here it is before I loaded it on.I think she said it was made as a gift for a choir teacher at one of the local schools. She requested that I quilt it with a "musical" pantograph.

Oh and I also prepared 8 more of my basket blocks too! That takes me up to 30 of them. Not sure how many I will make. The blocks for this are 8 inches.

I know this is a long post but I got really excited this morning about the new book coming out next year! It really makes me want to get some of this other stuff finished so that I don't feel so bad starting something else. I just hope this excitement lasts until I get them done. LOL! But even if I don't get these others done, I will start on it anyway!!!!!!!!

Kristie

Civil War Log Cabin Quilt

I finally got Richard to take some photos for me. He had to take it out to the new house to hang it up because there is not room in here. It measures 90x90 and is pieced in MOSTLY Civil War Reproduction fabrics. A lot of the tans are not Civil War fabric, I just used what I had and thought would blend together. The coloring is still off in the photo but at least you can get an idea of it.
I paper-pieced all of the blocks, it is easier for me to do them that way and at least I also know that they all come out the same size.

I tried several different setting but finally settled on this one. I pieced this quilt to hang from the upstairs balcony if we ever get moved in our other house.

So mom took it in for the September Art Contest during September Fest. I was shocked to find out that it won first place in the Machine Pieced category. This took place at The Painted Cow Gallery. I was not able to make it for the photo but my name is listed on the list of winners. You can click on the links to check them out, they also have some beautiful artwork for sale.
Richard took me in for my physical therapy this morning. Not too bad today, he just wanted to check out my strength and movement. Wants me to go back and see my doctor again for possible MRI and some other stuff. So it is just the same old thing there. Haven't went walking yet, I was having a little extra pain the past few days and Mom is having some problems with migraines. She has a doctor's appointment for that Wednesday.

Kristie

Another Block

Well.....I got Hunter on the bus this morning and Richard is at school this morning too. He will not be home until around 2pm!! So here I sit at the computer in my old stretched out sweat pants and t-shirt, eating cold pizza and drinking my diet pepsi!! Not exactly a pretty sight I'm sure but I've already got in my mind this morning that I'm not going to do anything except "what I want to do" LOL! I'm not even going to clean house today!!!! I've just been too stressed the past few weeks and I just need a break! I may sew a little, not sure yet.

I did finally talk to Andrew last night!!! He called and of course, I lost it as soon as I heard his voice. He kept saying "mommy, don't cry!" I finally got a hold of myself and calmed down! He sounded very tired but said that he could not explain in words how beautiful everything was! He also told me that someone stole his camera!!! He was very upset over that because it was a new camera and he had over 1000 photos on it from the trip already! His teacher said that we could copy all of his photos and that he had a lot of Andrew in the too. So that made him feel a little better. Today his is in Florence, Italy and will be heading through the Swiss Alps and should be in Paris by morning!! He will spend a few days in Paris and head for home on Friday but it will be well after midnight before he lands back here.

Yesterday evening, I finished another Civil War block. This one is called "Smuggling Letters" only 41 pieces and not real hard to do. I really like the fabrics used in this block. Paisley fabrics are my favorite so that may be why I like this block so well....

I have a few more fabrics pulled for 3 more blocks, not sure if I will get them finished today but we will wait and see how the day goes!!!!!

Kristie

Civil War Diary Blocks....

Richard had class this morning and when he got home he was a little sick to his stomach. Nothing major, I'm sure just a little stomach bug. It seems to be going around right now. So he kicked back the recliner and fell asleep. While he was sleeping I couldn't really start up the quilting machine since it is right beside his recliner so I went over to my regular sewing machine and started working on something that I had not worked on for a long time!!! My CIVIL WAR DIARY BLOCKS!!!!

I was looking at the blocks that I had done and the last block that I made for this quilt was back in November 2008!!! Yep! A long time ago! When I stopped working on them I had 74 blocks finished and I need a total of 121 blocks so I had over half of them done.

So I made two blocks while he was asleep (and he is still napping)! Here is the first block that I made today.....this one is called "Gardening" Row 4-3 and has 45 pieces. Not a hard block but they are only 6 inches so they tend to take a little longer than larger blocks.

This is the second block...."Recovering Items" Row 8-1 and has 31 pieces in it. I really like the purples in this block.

Not sure if I will get anymore of them done today or not....I have to finish supper before Hunter gets home from school.

Still haven't actually talked to Andrew other than on Facebook. His teacher sent an email last night that they were having some phone problems in Rome and would call home as soon as they could. Today Andrew had a full schedule on his trip (I have a copy of his tour schedule) They were touring Vatican City, St. Peter's Square, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Trevi Fountain, and the Colosseum. In the morning they will be going to Florence, Italy. I can't wait to hear all about his trip when he gets home!!!! He told me last night on Facebook that he had a ton of photos and his exact words were "it is the most awesome place that I have ever been in my life!" Made me cry when I read that! And I want to thank everyone again for helping out. So many of you bought fabric from me when we first found out about this trip, some even sent a little extra and without that he would have never been able to go. He worked very hard to raise enough money for the trip and spending money. I am very proud of him for working so hard for it, not only raising money but for being a great kid and student. Ahhhh.....yes, I am having a MOMMY MOMENT!!!

Kristie

Night Of Sewing!

Last night, while we all sat and watched tv, I made 3 more Civil War blocks! This now makes me 25. I used some of my new fabric that I bought yesterday. Hopefully today I can get a couple more done. This first one is called..."The Southern Cause"

"Guerrilla Warfare" I don't like how this one turned out, it hurts my eyes, it's just too busy. But I'm sure when I get it in the quilt with the other blocks it will tone down some.
"Troops Arriving" Richard said he didn't see what took me so long making this one, it looks very simple. I had to tell him that it is NOT striped fabric, it is pieced. But it still took me 30 minutes to do.
So 25 down and 96 more to go!! I'll finish someday! I really can't wait to get all of them done.

Anyway, Richard is down at the sawmill, Hunter and Andrew are in their rooms and I think I am hitting the couch for a nap! I know it is not even noon yet, but this new medication is killing me. I stay so sleepy!
Kristie

Wednesday's Mail...

Well, it has taken me forever to type this post. I uploaded my photos on here and then I hit the couch for a nap! I know it has to me this new medication, because this is the 3rd day in a row that I have had a nap. Oh well!

I recieved my "Amish Circle Quilt" book in the mail today! It is a super nice book! I love reading the letters in it just like the Civil War Diary enteries, I just can't pull myself away! This is certainly a quilt that I plan on doing, but with 121-6inch blocks, just like the Civil War Diary Quilt that I am working on now, I will wait until I finish this one first! In the Amish quilt, about half of the blocks are applique, but they are very simple applique designs. Actually, this quilt would be easier than the Civil War one.

This is the only block that I finished today. "Parlor Activities" probably the last simple block. I have several more blocks printed off and ready to do. I am not doing them in any certain order right now, just bouncing around. This one makes 22/121!

Hunter stayed home from school today. Last night in his sleep he tore part of the scab loose, luckily he didn't bust any stitches. I had a time getting it to stop bleeding. I called the doctor and he said that area tends to bleed alot, so he ended up having to be wrapped in gauze and I had to change the gauze and his clothes several times until it finally stopped. Anyway, he is fine and will be going back to school in the morning.

Finally I will leave you with these cute photos that I took of Donkey today...

Kristie

My Plain Looking Block!

Another lazy day for me! I think it may be this new thyroid medication that they put me on that is making me so tired. I ended up falling asleep on the couch again this morning after the kids left for school. Oh well, I have another appointment next week so I will ask about it then. Actually, I will probably be taking my radiation next week. :(

This is the only block that I got finished this evening. It's not very colorful, but that is ok anyway, it's done! This block is called "Church" and it makes 21/100!!!! So 21 down and 100 more to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :( I hope to get at least 20 more finished for this month and that will leave 80! I guess we will have to wait and see.....

I should be getting my new book and wall hanging kit in the mail any day! I can't wait! The book is for the pattern, "Amish Circle Quilt" which is sorta like this Civil War quilt, with 121--6 inch blocks but I'm not going to start it anytime soon. The wall hanging, I will probably start VERY soon! I really like it! This is my first time ordering a kit, so hopefully all will work out fine with that, I just hope that I don't mess up and have to order extra fabric!

Hopefully, I can soon have my fabrics ready for the Orange Crush quilt. What I don't have I will have to wait and pick up Friday when I go to Paintsville. The quilt show is Friday and Saturday so I will stop by on Friday since I will be out anyway and then I will just run by and pick up some fabric or buy some at the show! With gas prices as high as they are I can't afford to run around alot. I'm thinking I should trade my car in for something smaller and cheaper on gas! I drive a Buick Regal and while it is super nice with all leather, power everything, heated seats and all, but it DRINKS gas! We also have the two full-size trucks which use just as much gas as my car and Richard has a Saturn that he drives to work since it is cheap on gas! If we go anywhere on the weekends lots of times we will drive it, since it's cheaper! Anyway, Richard has been trying to get me to trade my car in for a long time but we finally have it paid for and I just really don't want another payment! Oh well, I guess that is enough complaining for one night!!!!
Kristie

I Did It!

I did it! I finished my 20 blocks for March! I was hoping for 20 blocks for this month so I pulled one more out at the last minute! This one is called "Premium Prize" another very easy block. Things will probably go slower now, since there are not many easy ones left. So that is 20/121 blocks done, I should have tried for one more and that would have left me with an even 100 to do.

Hopefully, I can get a good start for April.
Kristie

Monday's Blocks!

I have been very lazy today! I got the boys off to school this morning, fed the animals and hit the couch! Dozed off and woke up at almost 1pm!!! I had such a headache for a while. Jumped up cleaned the house, started dinner and made two Civil War blocks!

Now these two make me 19/121. The first one is called "Mail Delivery"

This one is called "Surrender Of Vicksburg"
Both were fairly simple blocks. My goal for March was to have 20 of these done, so I'm hoping to try to squeeze one more out tonight after everyone goes off to bed.

I talked with the lady from WV Quilts and she is bringing me some more FQ's this weekend to the quilt show. She will have a both set up there, she had mentioned before that if I needed anything special to call her before the show and she would bring it up there since I have to drive so far to get to her shop. Her shop is having a 30% off sale this week and she said just to bring the coupon with me and she would give me 30% off at the show. I thought that was very nice!!

Oh and more exciting news!! You all know that I don't have a quilt shop close to me, but I was in town the other day and I saw where they are putting some kind of fabric shop in. The sign says "Fabric Outlet" and another sign says "Quilting fabrics" but it is only open on Saturdays, so as soon as they open the doors, I will have to check it out!!!!! I will probably go broke having fabric this close to me!!!
Kristie

3 More Civil War Blocks!

Last night I talked to Sandy, guild president, because I had missed the meeting on Monday due to Hunter's surgery. We will be starting a "Mystery Quilt" soon, I think it will be lap size! And also we will be doing a "Stack-n-wack" I really like how those turn out and that will be one that I haven't done before. So both will be pretty exciting to me.

Next weekend is the quilt show in Paintsville. I wanted to have a quilt ready for the show, but I just didn't get around to it. This is the same show that I entered my "yo-yo quilt" in a couple of years ago and won 1st place. I always enjoy going to see all of the different quilts, I find it very inspiring. It is a small show, but a very nice one.

Also last night, Chantal and her best friend Crystal...aka...Minual, came out to visit for a while. (Hunter called her Minual when he was a baby, not sure how he got that out of Crystal, but it stuck! Her mom even calls her Minual now!) She brought her little poodle, Zoey out to play with Donkey for a while. They love to chase each other! We had a great little visit and actually, she just called again, to say she was coming back out in a few minutes to sit around.

I talked to Mom for a few minutes today before she lost cell signal! I miss her already! I think that may be why Chantal has been out at my house for the past two nights. She misses mom too, and she lives with her so it is probably harder on her than me.

This evening, I just finished up 3 more Civil War blocks! Yeah!!!! These were not really hard, just time consuming as usual.

This one is called "Southern Notes"
"Baptism"
"Hiring Help With Some Bartering"
This now makes me 17 blocks! I had set me mental goal for 20 by the end of March! So with only 3 more to go, I just might make it. The bad part is, I will probably start slowing down on them since I have done most of the easy ones! :) But as I said before, I am in no hurry to get this quilt done, I just want to take my time and have it done neatly.

I also can't wait to get my kit in that I ordered last night from Connecting Threads. It is called "Madder Storm At Sea" Just a wall hanging, but I love the fabrics. I figured I would do better by ordering the wall hanging, since I could do it faster than I could a large quilt, so this way it just MIGHT get finished! Anyway, it should be here somewhere around mid-week!

I guess that is about all for tonight, I need to clean my mess up before Chantal gets here...
Kristie

Today's Block!

Here is the Civil War Block that I finished today! I know it's only one but I'm in no hurry with this quilt. This block is called "Oath Of Allegiance" Again, this is a very simple block but it still took me about 45 minutes. I am very slow at paper piecing!

I haven't had alot of time to work on my blocks today. I had a dentist appointment this morning, nothing major there so I was happy with that. Then I drove on the Hunter's school to pick up his work, he has a ton of homework! We spent a few hours working on that today. He is still very sore and still can't wear any clothes. I'm sure he will be fine by Monday, that is when he will go back to school.

I am heading out to mom's in a few minutes. She will be leaving Friday morning and she has alot of errands run tomorrow so I've got to get in a little extra "Mommy Time"
Kristie

Tuesday's Night Of Sewing!

Finally after sitting around all day thinking about sewing, I did it! I didn't get alot done, but I did get two more of my Civil War Diary Blocks done. The first one is "Special Blessings". As you can see on the bottom of the block is my selvage end. I really cut that one close, but it will still work out fine, since it will be in the seam allowance.

This one is called "United No Longer" Both were very simple blocks and went together fairly quick. These make 13/121 blocks finished.

I have a dentist appointment at 8am in the morning so mom is coming out here to my house to sit with Hunter. He can't sit in his booster seat because of the strap that comes up between his legs. Luckily yesterday he was still knocked out and couldn't feel it on the way home.

Hunter is feeling much better today. No vomiting! He is starting to eat very lightly. But he is VERY sore! So he is running around in a t-shirt and socks.

Hopefully, tomorrow after my appointment I can get a couple more blocks done.

Kristie

This Is What I Have Been Working On...

This is what I have been working on the past 2 weeks! Mom and I went to a quilt shop called "WV Quilts" I would add the link but they don't have a website. I bought reproduction fabrics for my Civil War Diary Quilt.



This is a quilt that I have been wanting to do for a long time. It has 121- 6 inch blocks. I know this is a quilt that I will be working on for a long time, but I'm in no hurry. I love this quilt!

Here are some of the fabrics that I bought at WV Quilts. This first photo is all fat quarters. Can you believe this was the first time that I have ever bought fat quarters!


I bought 2 sets of these charm squares. Of course, I just love the pink and brown. With the blocks only being 6 inches, I thought I could use alot of these in it.

On the way back, we stopped at "Sew Many Blessings" they only had a few Civil War Fabrics. I bought 2 fat quarters, but I'm not sure if I will use them in this quilt or not, they just don't seem to go real well with my others.

Like I said there are 121 blocks in this quilt and so far I only have 11 done! At least it is a start...11/121. All of them are paper pieced except for 2 of them.

I think this is a quilt that I will work on quiet often, but I'm sure that I will work on others at that the same time. I have just been skipping around on the blocks and not really doing them in any certain order. Actually, I have been doing most of the easier ones. :)

Kristie