Thursday, April 25, 2013

Wonky Log Cabin Top Is Done

I'm trying to move along with my Q2 FAL projects.  Putting these blocks together was super simple and then putting the top together was yet another super simple step.  So here we are:

 
I'm rather fond of this scrappy spring-y version of this pattern. 
 
As I have mentioned before, I find the quilting step to be a real impediment to my completion of my work.  I found it far more interesting to put this top together rather than to quilt a smaller, older project.  My justification:  I don't have the skill set to quilt this large a quilt, so I should get it ready to go to the long arm quilter for finishing.  Then...I'll...quilt...the...smaller...string quilt top...
 
Hmmmm.  Well, it's what I did, so I might as well get it off to Dee for quilting. 
 
And, fodder for my next blog:  a group of us are going to my house in the Sierra Foothills for a mini-retreat tomorrow.  This is the last mini-retreat I will have in this house because I sold it and it will close in the middle of May.  I live in the Bay Area and have had this vacation home since 2002.  With my family in Reno, it seemed natural to sell this house and focus my free time in Reno. (I recently purchased a home down the street from my kids and grandkids, so I will slowly get use to having a vacation home in Reno!)
 
Photos of the weekend will follow.
 
Good luck with all the pollen in the air.  Stay healthy!
 
Aaaanyway, that's it from the Robertson household.   


Tuesday, April 23, 2013

And The Winner Is...

The winner of my Give-Away (a copy of the fabulous Pillow Pop) is lucky number 21 - Leila.

Leila, please email me at cakath11 at gmail dot com and provide me with your mailing address and I will get the book in the mail to you.

With PTS 10 starting, you will have a wealth of great ideas to get you ready to make an amazing pillow.

I have been assigned my secret swap partner and I am also getting ready to make an amazing pillow!  The Pillow Talk Swap is one of my very favorite swaps - such a great group of creative participants and fabulous pillow eye candy!

Aaaaaanyway, that's it from the Robertson household!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A Give-away Seams In Order and Just In Time for Pillow Talk Swap 10

I have been trying to get around to getting this Give-away post completed for awhile.  Somehow it was left laying around gathering dust while I did other things.

But, now is the time to rectify that problem and get this give-away off the ground.  So, what do you think about getting a copy of this:


For those of you who participate in the Pillow Talk Swap (or just oooh and aaah over the wonderful pillows that come from that swap) a copy of Pillow Pop should help to get your creative juices flowing.  With PTS 10 getting started now (did you sign up?) you might want this book to help you decide how to make a masterpiece pillow for your partner.  Here's a link for PTS 10:  Pillow Talk Swap 10  so you too can sign up for the fun.

I early-ordered this book from Amazon and as I sometimes do, forgot I had placed the order and ordered it again.  So, my forgetfulness can turn into a nice gift for one of you. 

So, if you want in on this Give-away, please do the following:

      1.  Become a follower if you aren't already.

      2.  Leave me a comment telling me something about yourself (such as why you might like to win this book...but really anything about yourself is fine.)

      3.  Do this by 6:00 p.m. PST Monday, April 22 to be in the drawing.

Be sure to give me your email address so I can contact you.  Good luck!

Aaaaanyway, that's it from the Robertson household.

Time's Up - This Give Away is Closed!  Thanks for participating.  The winner will be announced tomorrow






Saturday, April 13, 2013

2013 FAL - Q2: I'm In!

Always optimistic that external motivation will push me over the finish line, I have joined in the 2013 FAL - Q2.  Leanne at She Can Quilt  Here is the organizer of this FAL and I am now in for the finish!

I have many items that qualify to be included (the projects have to be started and in UFO status, not just floating around in my brain) but I will have to temper my enthusiasm by including those items that I can also finish by the end of the quarter, another one of the rules.  Here we go:

1.  Mod Mosaic Quilt - it only needs the binding put on it, so I should be able to check this one off the list rather quickly.  This is the last photo I took of it, before quilting:



2.  Wonky Log Cabin (in the stack and whack style).  The blocks are all made (in this photo I still had a few to go).  I'm ready to assemble and then quilt (likely by checkbook).  It's too large for my current skill set. 



3.  Scrappy String Block Quilt - it's assembled, backing has been assembled and I'm ready to move on to quilting it (it's small enough I think I can handle it myself).  I don't have a photo of it and I don't want to hold up this post to take one now, so I'll add it later.

4.  Improv Block Quilt - it's assembled and ready for quilting.  This is the last photo I have of it.  That was last summer and it's still sitting around unfinished!

Guess I'll stop at this point.  I do have a few other projects that could be considered for this Q2 finish, but they aren't far enough along for me to realistically believe that I will be able to complete them in time.

Hmmmm, I think I'm beginning to see the hold up in my quilting process as I look back at these projects.  The actual quilting seems to be the roadblock for me!  I love the creative process of design and enjoy getting the top completed.  I don't really enjoy quilting and have only recently started to work on a few of my projects in order to stretch myself.  What about you - do you have roadblocks in your quilting process?

Why not join the FAL and get some additional motivation to complete a project that otherwise might languish? It couldn't hurt!



she can quilt
 

Aaaaanyway, that's it from the Robertson household.


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

The Clock is Tick, Tick, Ticking!

Yikes - I have promised to have my ABC quilt ready to be part of our guild group challenge entry for the San Mateo County Fair.  Last year our guild had a group challenge involving Kona Solids.  It was great to see our modern quilts at the SMC Fair quilt show.  This year a group of us agreed to have our ABC quilts finished in time for entry into the group challenge.  Seemed so far away and do-able at the time.  Now, it's right around the corner and I'm still trying to finish the borders on the quilt top before it goes to my long arm quilting friend, Dee Small (I know that "modern" quilts do not have borders according to some modern quilters, but I disagree!)  I'm not going to show another photo of this unfinished top - I'll include a photo when all the borders are on.  

Dee has agreed to get it quilted and back to me before May 8, when we have to turn in our entry forms.  I have 2 of the 4 borders on - and the other 2 borders are pieced.  It's just the corner blocks that are a little tricky getting just right.  And I have been working on other projects, such as the Wonky Log Cabin blocks.

Got to get it to her this weekend in order to give her enough time to get it done.
Then I will have to get the sleeve on it, label it and have it ready to go. 

What about your deadlines - got any you want to share?

I did finish all of my Wonky Log Cabin blocks and will get them sewn together once the ABC top is done.  Easter got in the way of sewing.  My grandkids came to visit along with Mom and Dad for a long weekend.  We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium on Friday and the Exploratorium in San Francisco on Sunday.  We watched Wreck It Ralph several times, played with new and old toys, ate lots of good food, took walks, had a pizza picnic Saturday night while Mom and Dad went out to dinner and had an Easter Egg Hunt in my living room Sunday morning.  Sadly, they had to go home on Sunday.  Man was it quiet after they left.  Really, really quiet!  Sigh...

Here are a few photos of our weekend:






 

 




Hope you had a wonderful happy Easter.  

Aaaaanyway, that's it from the Robertson household. 


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About Me

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I'm a grandmother, a lawyer, a quilter, a cook and the human companion of Boo, the labradoodle. I am also a collector/hoarder and ultimate consumer of fabric. Can't resist touching and/or buying it! I also love sharing every day with my doodle. Please look at my work and let me know what you think. I plan to share my thoughts and experiences with you and hope you will do the same. Boo sends his tail wagging greetings to all. If you meet him, you will know exactly what I mean!