2015 Block Swap-March Blocks

I was way past due getting my swap blocks finished and in the mail this month. (BAD GIRL!!) I didn't even have a good excuse, like- "I broke my arm" or "I was out of town". Nope, I just didn't get them done. I had them cut out weeks ahead of time....but life happens and I don't always get to my quilt room to sew as often as I would like. 

Anyway....they are done and everyone should have gotten them in their mailbox by now. Everyone's blocks were beautiful again this month.

These are mine. I went with a two color theme to each of them this month. I didn't mix it up much. I have decided to use lighter lights for the next few months. I think my blocks are a little too "muddy". 

Here are Anne's, Karen's and Pam's blocks. Karen made five this month. We each need to make two extra blocks for our swap, in addition to the four we are making each month, so she decided that this was the month she was going to make an extra block with a dark center. Karen is always ahead of the game. Way to go, Karen!!

We now have 33 blocks for our quilts. We're getting there!! This is another fun swap.

Happy quilting!

Grammy

2015 Block Swap

My friends and I have a wonderful time doing block swaps and since we don't live near each other it is a fun way for us to stay in touch every month. We decided to start this swap in February and mailed our first blocks on March first. 

Anne picked our block swap quilt for this year. She spied the pattern at the Charlotte Quilt Show last July. It's called Reminisce and was designed by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings. You can order the pattern here. 

We are going to be making 4 blocks for each person each month because this 72X84" quilt has 168 6" blocks! We will be swapping blocks until December. We keep thinking if we make enough scrap quilts with our Civil War fabric that we will use up our stashes.....but it doesn't seem to be working! That's okay-we love them all! 

These are my blocks for our first month swap. 

These are the blocks that I received from Pam, Anne, and Karen. I think we are off to a great start! 

Happy quilting,

Grammy

Snowman Tablerunners

I'm finally finished! I have been working on this project since right after Christmas-and it was a LOT more time consuming than I thought it would be. But it was sooo much fun! 

On January 14 I blogged about a new project I started on December 29. I was making gifts for my two best friends and I didn't want them to know what I was doing!! I couldn't blog anymore about it until I was finished-I didn't want to spoil the surprise. Now I am finished and they have their tablerunners, so I'm free to write all about them.

The pattern I used is called Snowball Runner and is by Lisa Bongean. The fabrics I used are Lisa's Snowman Gatherings. 

First I cut and cut and cut........There were a LOT of pieces!!

Then I sewed and sewed and sewed......I chain pieced. I trimmed. I pressed.

Snowball blocks abounded!

When the tops were finally pieced, the applique began. Those little wool snowmen were so cute and so fun to make!

I machine appliqued the snowmen, but did the rest of the applique by hand. I used a primitive stab stitch for the star and heart. I auditioned button noses, but decided against them and went with orange wool. 

The snowmen really had a cute personality when their faces were stitched on.

I love the finished results!

I rolled them up and tied them with a tag I made and a pom pom made of scrap strips. 

Pam and Anne were tickled with their gifts and I was thrilled to have them finished and in their hands. 

Tomorrow is February and I will begin with my first UFO. It's going to be a busy year. And I already have two finished tablerunners under my belt. That feels good!

Happy Quilting!

Sewing and Quit Expo

Yesterday my youngest daughter (along with her three girls) and I went to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Atlanta. I love quilt shows and though this one does not have a lot of quilts to look at, there are some really nice vendors.  This show is geared more for sewing-in October there is another show in Atlanta where the focus is more on quilting. 

Hands down, my favorite vendor at this show (or ANY show where they are) is Primitive Gatherings!!! Lisa Bongean is sheer primitive genius! I love her fabric, her wool, her books-everything!! When I visit her booth at a show I WANT IT ALL :) Yesterday was no exception. And Lisa is such a sweetheart. She always has time to chat with you and talk about her latest project. This time we talked about my granddaughter, Sofie, and her recent discovery of sewing. Lisa was kind enough to look at pictures of Sofie sewing and even gave her a 2" charm pack of her very own for her next project! If Lisa wasn't already my fave, she would be now. What better way to win a Grammy's heart than to show such kindness to her grandchild?

Since we got home Sofie has been anxious to sew. We will be starting on a new project today with her charm pack. It is so fun to pass along my love of quilting!

Lisa Bongean and Sofie