Half of quarter triangle units trimmed to size

Raiders quilt—tonight I trimmed a little over half of the 40 quarter triangle units to 3.5” square. I’ll finish up the rest tomorrow and move on to another part of the Four Queens block.

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

Quarter Triangle Units Done

I finished sewing all the quarter triangle units for the Raiders quilt. I need to trim them all to size, as they’re deliberately a little too large. The hardest part of the quilt blocks is done. Yay!

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

Fabric bought for North Wind quilt

Today I bought three fabrics for North Wind, which should complete the collection I need to make the wallhanging. All of the fabrics are Fairy Frost by Michael Miller, in white, pale blue, light blue, medium blue, light pink and medium pink. I bought some fabrics a couple of years ago. My design, which I came up with several years ago, uses North Wind and Snowball blocks in varying sized blocks—most rectangular shaped instead of square. Overall, the design should give the impression of cold wind blowing from the north.
I’ve been meaning to make the wallhanging for several years. I’d like to make it this year before Spring.

See more progress on: make North Wind quilt

4th pillowcase finished

I finished the fourth pillowcase for ConKerr. The main part of the pillowcase has what I’m calling monster trucks, with a simple blue print for the border. I wanted to make a couple more pillowcases for tomorrow’s delivery, but four will be plenty for this time.
Tomorrow morning I’ll wash the pillowcases in plain hot water, per the hospital rules. Then it will be off to the laundromat to dry them. Each pillowcase needs to be placed in a plastic bag. I’ve got plenty of 1 gallon zip bags.
The nearest ConKerr chapter is in Sacramento, about an hour and a half from me. I have a quilt guild meeting in Sacramento once a month, so I’m dropping off the pillowcases just before the afternoon meeting.
The pillowcases will be distributed by ConKerr to child cancer patients in Sacramento hospitals. I hope the pillowcases bring a little cheer.

See more progress on: give a dozen handmade pillowcases to ConKerr

3rd pillowcase done

The third pillowcase for ConKerr is done. This one has planes and helicopters. I had made the first cut, then realized the fabric was directional, and wouldn’t look right if I kept going. I cut it a bit differently, added some plain fabric to the main part to make it wider, then added a red and white star print for the border.

See more progress on: give a dozen handmade pillowcases to ConKerr

Second pillowcase done

I just finished the second pillowcase for ConKerr. This one has a military plane fabric for the main part, with a plain deep burgundy border. I whipped that one out pretty quick, partly because I didn’t have to piece the border. Off to do another one.

See more progress on: give a dozen handmade pillowcases to ConKerr

First ConKerr Pillowcase Finished

I just finished the first pillowcase for ConKerr Sacramento. For the main part of the pillowcase I used a power tools fabric leftover from my son Robbie’s Carpenter’s Wheel quilt. For the border I used a hot dog fabric leftover from my brother Rob’s R-O-B-C quilt. The inside of the border is an orange fish fabric that reminds me of Goldfish crackers. The pillowcase is really cute!
I’ve got several more to make today and tonight for tomorrow’s delivery in Sacramento. The pillowcases will be distributed by ConKerr to child cancer patients in Sacramento area hospitals.

See more progress on: give a dozen handmade pillowcases to ConKerr

Making a few pillowcases for ConKerr Sacramento

I’m going to whip up a few pillowcases to deliver to ConKerr Sacramento when I travel there on Saturday for my quilt guild meeting. It just so happens that the drop-off point is in the same area that I hang out after meetings. I’m making arrangements to meet someone at the drop-off.
I’d like to take 3 or more pillowcases with me. I’ll choose fabric tonight and sew tomorrow. The pillowcases will be distributed by ConKerr to children in the hospital with cancer.

See more progress on: give a dozen handmade pillowcases to ConKerr

A few more quarter square triangle units made

I made a few more quarter square triangle units last night, in medium gray and black. I whipped them up pretty fast, just so I could put them on the design wall, since my housekeeper Cristine is coming over today. I put a printout of the quilt design and a couple of notes on the design wall as well, so she could get an idea of how the quilt will look. I think Cristine will like the quilt.

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

First 20 Quarter Triangle Units Done

I finished the first 20 quarter triangle units tonight for the Raiders quilt. The units’ colors are white, charcoal and black. I’ve started working on the next set of 20, in black and medium gray, which I hope to complete tomorrow night. These units are the hardest parts of the blocks, and I’ll be glad when they’re finished. The rest of the block parts will be a lot easier. Woo-hoo!

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

Quarter Triangles Sewn

I began sewing the Raiders quilt tonight. I got a couple of quarter triangles put together. I’ll sew some more of them tomorrow.

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

Side seams done

Just finished sewing the side seams of my denim pants. The openings for the pockets are good.

See more progress on: sew jeans

Fabric for Raiders quilt ironed

I got the fabric for the Raiders quilt ironed tonight. I’ll start sewing in a day or two.
Photo: fabric collection for the quilt

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

It's fun!

I am a big fan of Food Network. I watch this channel more than any other. I live in California, and when a restaurant in my state is shown, I Google the restaurant, then save it to my Favorites on my computer—in case I visit that area some day. I have accumulated quite a list of restaurants that are within my reach. I love to travel and I live within a couple of hours of San Francisco and Sacramento. Southern California is a half-day train ride away.

So far I’ve been to Guy Fieri’s Tex Wasabi in Santa Rosa and Gorilla Barbecue in Pacifica, as well as Langer’s Deli and Philippe’s Original—both in Los Angeles.

It’s fun to go to a restaurant I’ve seen on TV. I plan to go to many more.

See more progress on: Visit restaurants shown on Food Network

Pockets sewn

I sewed the pockets to the pant legs tonight. I had to re-do one seam when I found I had sewn a pocket to the inseam edge of the leg instead of the side edge. LOL! It took me longer to rip out than it did to sew in the first place. Oh, well…
That’s enough for today.

See more progress on: sew jeans

A little at a time

I’ve had fabric cut for a pair of denim pants for months, and just haven’t taken the time to sew yet. It seems that there’s always a quilt needing to be made, and the pants keep getting pushed aside.
Just now I came up with the idea to do one stage of the pants before I begin a quilting session. If I can spend a half hour or so each day doing that, my pants will be done within a couple of weeks. Hopefully sooner!

See more progress on: sew jeans

Fabric washed and dried

Tonight I got the fabric for the Raiders quilt washed, then dried it at the laundromat. My dryer died a few weeks ago, so a couple of times per week I go to the nearby laundromat and dry stuff. Oddly enough, it’s usually fabric for a project! Fabric dries pretty fast. Twenty-five cents and 7 minutes later, it’s a done deal. Clothes and towels I don’t worry about getting all the way dry. Maximum 21 minutes…just enough to get the sogginess out of them, then I let the stuff airdry overnight at home.

I’m all set to start sewing tomorrow night.

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

Shoo Fly Quilt Top out for Quilting

Last night I took Liberated Shoo Fly quilt top to my friend Deb S. for quilting. I also left an $8 Wal-Mart sheet for backing, plus batting that I got at 40% off. That way Deb, who has volunteered to quilt all of the quilts for the orphanage project, only has to pay for thread. When the quilting is done I’ll get the quilt back for binding, which will allow me to get a photo of the finished quilt. Yay!

See more progress on: give 6 quilts to orphanage in Mexico

Fabric shopping done

Last night I bought a little pale gray fabric for the Raiders quilt. I should have enough to make the quilt top now, although I will probably need some black for the border. I’m washing the fabrics now, and will go to the laundromat to dry them in just a bit.

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

More Fabric Bought for Raiders Quilt

I picked up a couple of solid gray fabrics today for the Raiders quilt I’m working on, to add to the two Raiders theme fabrics I bought recently. Beverly’s had a sale of 25% off all fabrics. Yay! I need one more pale gray fabric and then I’ll be ready to go. I’ll look at Joann’s tomorrow.

The quilt is for my housekeeper’s boyfriend. He plays poker, so I chose Four Queens quilt block for the quilt design. I’m using two Raider themed fabrics, one with a black background and the other with white background.

See more progress on: make Raiders quilt for housekeeper's boyfriend

Design notes