Fat quarters.............

I wanted to make another stack and slash quilt so I pulled out a stack of batik fat quarters.  I rarely buy them.  I was quilting for over 20 years when they were invented and I prefer full width fabrics to work with.  What I have found out is that not all fat quarters are equal.  Some are scissor cut very sloppily down the fold line and barely measure 21" wide.   Others are torn, some are cut very neatly with a rotary cutter.  I had to alter my cutting measurements slightly to get the pieces I needed from the fat quarters.  I have 17 blocks sewn and now will go to my full width yardage shelves for the rest of the fabrics that I need.

Recycling military uniforms for gifts......

The daughter of one of my art quilters is retiring from military service and she asked her mom to make 3 pillows out of her old uniforms.  Louise came over and we loaded the wording into my embroidery machine memory and I sewed out 3 of them for her.

She decided that the front of the shirts would make great pillow backs.  That way she could just unbutton them and insert the pillow form.  I think it is a wonderful use of the uniforms.

This is the bali-pop quilt top she completed at my house yesterday.

I am hoping for a couple relaxing days now.  It has been a busy time period again.  I need to get the blower on the heater in my van fixed soon too, more appointments, more waiting.

Blocks sewn together....waiting for border choices...

I finished the baking, cleaning and then sewed the blocks together into a top.  I will add 2 borders.  Our school colors are orange and black so I have seen this combination for 52 years living in this town.  This is a soft orange and quite pretty.  The diagonal layout is automatic if you place the 3 center squares in the same sequence (small-medium-large) and repeat it.  Then the next row the small is moved one spot to the right (offset by one block) and it will automatically create a diagonal layout.  My secondary pattern is the black and white alternating so I had to have 7 black and 7 white for each size center square.  Did I ever mention I love math?

More orange, black, and white............

We were pretty busy for the last day of business at the quilt shop so the time went fast.  I worked on some more blocks when I got home.  I decided on a diagonal layout of the sizes of center squares.  I need to cut some more light strips to go with the largest squares for 3 more blocks.  I also need dark strips for one medium size center block.  When I cut all of it Friday I was just cutting random sizes from all of the fabrics.  I figured I might need to special cut the last ones.  After I piece them I need to rearrange it a little so there aren't so many alike in the same area.  I think I will put a 2" orange border on first and then one of the black or white fabrics.

Today I will finish straightening the basement and bake the second batch of cookies for the art quilters who are coming tomorrow.

A new project......

I cut enough pieces for 42 blocks while the heating repair was happening so I sewed a few last night.  I don't know if I'll leave it random or place each size of center square on a diagonal pattern.  I have 4", 5" and 6" centers and the blocks are 10" finished.  I'll be working today at Quilter's Heart, her last day of business.

Here is the gigantic old pump that worked for 58 years with a 12.5" ruler next to it.

That little aqua thing is the new pump.  I can actually get back in that space now without dodging a pump.  I told you my boiler was huge.......I wasn't kidding!  The new one which I will probably get in April will be about a fourth of that size.

Too tired........

I worked 2 hours at the quilt shop yesterday morning and then went to embroidery club.  She had a lot of neat ideas for gifts to make.  I was too tired to sew when I got home so I just went down to the basement pulled the fabric for my next quilt.  These are all flannel fabrics.  I have made 2 black and white flannel quilts in previous years so all of the pieces in the bottom of the photo are leftovers.  The pieces at the top are big enough for backing and borders.  I just got the orange flannel on equilter's Thanksgiving week sale.  I think the orange print looks great with the black and whites.  This will be a really simple pieced quilt, either rail fence or bordered squares most likely.

I baked peanut butter cookies last night in preparation for my art quilters on Monday.  The peanut butter cookies stay fresh for up to a week but I only like chocolate chip cookies the day they are baked and the following day.  After that they taste stale to me so I'll wait and bake that batch Sunday evening.

Today is the big day that I will be invaded by plumbing and heating guys.  I hope it goes well.

And one more.......

I took a few breaks from moving things to hand sew the binding on this one.  That makes 5 totally finished in 17 days, 1 more quilted but binding not done, and one partially quilted. I need to get a better photo of this one.  The light source is on the right edge of this one and I need to have it evenly lit for it's final photo.

This is the back.  The large print is one of my favorites and I have it on the back of another quilt too.

I have orange cactus blossoms now.  If I'm lucky all 9 buds will bloom.

This is the plant you can see in the background of the orange flower.  The plants have bloomed in groups, first the deep pink ones, then the white ones and now I have 3 plants with red blossoms.

There is one plant left to bloom.  Maybe it will wait for Christmas.

The repair of my pump on the hot water heating system will take place on Friday.  I have been able to keep the old pump working by oiling it when it complains.  I have always kiddingly said that I have a boiler big enough to heat a grade school and that's why my gas bills are so high.  Now I found out that I really do have one more than twice the size I need.  I will replace the boiler after heating season is over so maybe next year I'll have more efficient heating.  The farmers who built this house in 1953 put the best of everything into it but it was overkill to put in a boiler that large.