Austen Family Album Block #4 - Done

Block #4 for the Austen Family Album quilt is Thrifty for Cassandra Leigh Austen - Jane Austen's mother.  

I am continuing the usage of Blue Fabric scraps and found some 2 1/2 inch squares that were leftover from a quilt made for one of my daughter's college friends for her wedding.  It has been fun to figure out how to use my blue scraps but I don't yet see much of a dent in my blue bins!!!

So that is #4 of 36!!

I am really enjoying this project and look forward each Sunday to the post of the new block!!

Also see the Flicker group for the Austen Family Album where participants - including myself - are posting pictures of our completed blocks.  It is fun to see all of the different fabrics and color waves.

Family Cross Stitch Pillow Done

I bought a cross stitch project called 'Family' and completed it a while ago.  I had made a quilt called Double Dozen in a class that I attended that was taught by Kaye England and had some leftover fabrics.  The colors of the cross stitch project and the quilt coordinate so I used the leftover fabrics to make a pillow cover that has the cross stitch project on the front.

I started to think about how to make the pillow cover and looked at a book that I had bought but did not like any of the patterns. So I just made it up myself.  The only thing I knew I wanted was ruffles around the outside edge - something I have not done in a long, long time - if ever!!

Here is the finished pillow cover on my family room couch.  

Here is the pillow up against the Double Dozen quilt.

I have to admit that I almost gave up on the ruffles but my lovely Aunt Bonnie gave me a pep talk last night and I decided that I just had to keep going and do them!!  The ruffles are definitely not perfect but good enough for me.

Another one of my 50 unfinished projects done!!!!

On to the next one......

Austen Family Album Block #3 - Done

Block 3 is Cross within the Cross for Reverend George Austen.  Don't think that I have ever done this block before. 

I am continuing with my blue fabrics with a maroon red accent this time

I figured out that there are actually 36 blocks in this project and not 33 that I had thought!!

So there are now 33 left!

Austen Family Album - Block #2 Done

This week's Austen Family Album block is Sister's Choice for Cassandra E Austen.  I love this block pattern as my Mom and Aunt made each other quilts using this block and they are lovely quilts made with love for each other. 

Continuing with my blue fabric theme I picked out some fabric with sparkles and some paisley fabric.  I believe that both fabrics are from my mother's fabric stash that I inherited a couple of years ago - which was a deliberate choice. 

Enjoying this quilt a long project so far.  I love the names for the blocks and the instructions are very good and easy to follow.

Looking forward to Block #3 and waiting for Mr Darcy !!!!!!

Chubby Charmer Bag

I purchased a pattern for a bag called Chubby Charmer at. Quilt shop outside St Louis MO a year or so ago.  Then I started collecting fabrics that represented me and my interests.

When I made up my 2014 Projects list I added it to the list and then decided that April was the month to do it! 

It was a little more complicated than I thought but tonight I got it done!!

The base is about 9 by 18. It actually is bigger then I thought but I will certainly find ways to use it!,  

There are even big pockets inside to hold stuff!

Another finish and now on to the next project!!!

Austen Family Album - Block #1 done

My aunt sent me a link to a new Quilt a Long project called Austen Family Album.  I am a huge Jane Austen fan and the blocks will all be named for Austen books, characters, etc.

Here is a link to the website:  http://austenfamilyalbumquilt.blogspot.com

A new block will be posted each Sunday for the next 33 weeks.  At first I was not sure if I wanted to do this but eventually decided to give it a try.

But I did not want to purchase any new fabric for this project as I am trying to sew through more of my stash.  So I decided to use up some of the blue fabrics that I have - I have a container of blue pieces and a container of blue fat quarters and larger pieces.  Then I also have some yardage of blue.

So here is block #1 done - it is called Bright Star for Jane Austen

One down - 32 to go!!  

Wish me luck!!

Tell it to the Stars -April Blocks Done

I am really enjoying this quilt along for Tell it to the Stars. April's blocks were not too hard. It took more time to cut out the fabric than to sew it together

The color scheme I still like and am curious as to how the block are going to be put together. See my previous posts to see the Janaury through March blocks

On to the next project for April!!!

Butterfly Trail Spring Tablerunner

I have been working on several large quilts lately and felt like doing something quick and fast

Last summer my husband and I went to The Quilt Yard in Osseo, WI on the way up to my nephews wedding in Eau Claire.  I bought a kit for a spring Tablerunner which included a pattern and fabric

So I pulled it out Tuesday night and started working on it.  Tonight I decided to work on it again and was able to finish the project except for sewing down the binding.

I machine quilted the runner - which is something that I am still learning.  I am happy with how this came out.  

Only concern is how to sew down the binding on the pointed corners but I guess I will figure that out as I go along.

One more project off my list of 50 open projects!!!!