Orange Crush Pictures

Here's my orange crush all laid out. I wasn't sure if I would like it but I really do. I finished step 5 tonight and have started sewing them together. My youngest son loves this quilt, so I guess it will be his...I'm going to be working on this tomorrow afternoon. I might add a small 1 1/2" orange strip around for an inner border then either the blue or green or black. Josh said he would put black. I will audition these colors and decide tomorrow...Hmm, we'll see...til next time

Step 5 of the OC Mystery

I completed the 20 album blocks. I have the 18 side blocks ready to be sewn and the 4 corners ready too. I'll try to sew those tomorrow. It's coming together.. I'm not sure about the colors but that's what you get when you do a mystery. I'll lay it out and see, maybe I'll be surprised. Pictures soon...til next time.

Working on Step 5 of the OC and the Thomas Quilt

I worked on step 5 of the OC last night. I got the blocks about halfway done. I'll work on them again tonight. I noticed on step 5 there's more to it that just 20 blocks. I have more work to do before I can put together...I don't have to work this weekend so hopefully, I can get the quilt together by then.

I am not real crazy about my colors for step 4 but I'm waiting to see how they work in the whole quilt. I don't want to change out 30 blocks just because it's only so-so. I will make up my mind when it's all laid out.

I also made my block for Saturday. Here is a picture of the 7th block for the Thomas quilt. I refer to this as the Thomas quilt because that is where we are doing this BOM. Thomas Sewing Center in Mesquite, Tx. but this is a Marti Michell BOM that we are doing out of Moda fabra, Shang Ra La ? Not sure of the spelling but love the fabric. til next time....

Cutting & Getting ready for projects- Onto step 5 of the OC

I got home last night late after being caught in traffic for 2 hours...I love it when it rains in Texas, no one knows how to drive....what's up with that? I fixed supper and finally was able to get down to important stuff like sewing.



I did sew up the final three blocks on step 4 of my Orange Crush. I can now move onto step 5.

I will cut that out tonight and lay it out too.



I got Stephanie's quilt back Sunday and it looks great. I cut out the strips for the binding and will sew those tonight. Hopefully, I can start binding it tonight and get it finished. I have been looking for a little poem or something special to put on the label but haven't found just the right thing yet. I'll do some more searching today at lunch.



I cut my block out for Saturday. It's now ready to be sewn and I cut my floral fabrics for an exchange we are doing in my small group. I got alot done in a short time last time. Hopefully, I can get home tonight and get more done. I have no committments tonight and nothing on TV so I can get some sewing done...I'll update with pictures tomorrow..hugs

Sew Little Time - No Time for Mistakes

Since I finished Stephanie's quilt and it's at the quilter's I thought I would have time to get back to my Orange Crush. I decided to do paper piecing for step 4 instead of using the EZ Angle ruler and I started sewing those tonight. I cut them apart and cut my step 3 apart too. I did some more cutting too for another sample for the shop. I started sewing the sample and didn't realize my thread was screwing up. I sewed 20 blocks. I turned the blocks over and the bottom bobbin thread is all screwed up. Ugh, I just hate it when my machine screws up. When I changed the bobbin and rethreaded the machine after winding some bobbins, I did not get the thread down into the top tension dials or whatever they are called. Now, I have to pull out all that ugly stuff and resew...Ok, I have given up for the night. I will pull out all the thread and get it ready for sewing tomorrow...I never stop with mistakes. Oh well, it's time to rest. Tomorrow is another beautiful day and I will press out all I did tonight and lay out the blocks to see where I am.

Step 2 still working but 3 is done - Orange Crush

I am working on step 2 a little bit at a time. I have tried different methods for step 2 but I like the Mary's triangle method the best. I first saw this in Scrapmania by Sally Schneider but also one of the girls on the Quiltville site said she used it and gave us a link to see it done too. I looked at it again and am now doing this method as my blocks look more professional and go quicker when I do this method. I had to cut more strips for this and that's why I decided to work on it a little at a time and go on to step 3. There had been alot of talk on the site about different ways to do step 3 and I was afraid it would take me awhile to do it but I went through them quicker that I expected.
I finished step 3 and it wasn't bad at all... I tried it Bonnie's way, Solvi's way, Marete's way and I used Marti Michell templates too. I liked each method and found them to each have their own good points. I used the templates because I could use up smaller scraps (not just with strips but really smaller scrap pieces like for crumbs). I used MM templates from Set A, #6 for the small triangles and #4 for the larger triangles. These templates worked really well for me. I thought about her templates because I had just gotten through with a BOM of hers. I did her Jamestown quilt and finished it at retreat. I am now working on another Marti Michell pattern in between the Orange Crush mystery and everthing else....I will put some pics up tomorrow of my steps and the Jamestown quilt. Good luck to everyone, I am really enjoying this mystery and I am enjoying the time between the steps. It gives me time to breathe and work on other things if I need to...

Retreat and Sewing step 2 of the OC

Ok, here it is. I just wanted to say a little something before I log off for a whole weekend...I'm going on retreat starting tomorrow. I have a doctor's appointment in the morning then off I go. I have not packed a thing. I've thought about what I'm taking and written it down somewhere and now I'm starting to panic...I went to my small group meeting tonight and found out I have to change my Saturday lunch plans. At this retreat , each person or two persons have to fix one meal. I had planned a meal and bought the supplies for lunch on Saturday and another lady bought and planned the same meal for Saturday night! Oh well, I decided to change mine but now I have to go shopping on my way to the retreat house...One more stop to make before I can sew. I am taking several things to work on at retreat. I'm taking my Orange Crush for sure and my Carolina Crossroads. I'm just going to put all kinds of things in my car and only take in a few things at a time. I want to enjoy myself but I also want to get alot of sewing done, plus I do not want to regret not taking enough....Ok, can you tell I'm a little stressed! I really need this time to sew and relax....Got to get off for now, it's starting to storm and I get a little crazy (scared) and don't like to be online when it's thundering. I will update when I get back. Have a great weekend....

Step 1 of the OC Done, Audio Books and Cleaning Out

Yeah, I finished step 1 of the Orange Crush....150 four patches.... that wasn't as bad as I thought.
I am glad to have had two weeks to sew these. I want to stay caught up with the group but I have alot of other quilts I'm working on now too.... it's nice to have time to enjoy the journey.When someone tells you that you have to make 150 blocks, your first thought is wow, 150 blocks! That will take forever! It doesn't...this was no thinking sewing...I listened to an audio book and sewed my strips together. No problem...I listened to Sue Grafton's book, S is for Silence. Good mystery, kept me guessing to the very end. She's a good writer. This was just my second audio book to listen to and I love them. I can do two things at the same time. I normally listen to the radio while I'm sewing and thought I would try this. I think I'm hooked on audio books...I cannot watch TV and sew on my machine at the same time as I am an avid TV watcher and do not do well watching TV and sewing. I can knit or crochet or do hand work but don't get enough done when the TV is on. I just don't really like it either. I go to my sewing room to relax and unwind...I don't need another noise in the room....I enjoy the quietness....I do like the books but don't think I'll do that alot either. If I have mindless sewing, I'll save them for that!

I also cut more fabric strips from my stash and added it to my scrap bins. I am steadily trying to dwindle down all my leftovers and get my bins organized. A friend of mine gave me some scraps and I plan on making some crumb quilts shortly. Like I needed her scraps but it helped her out too....Who knows, maybe I'll recycle and give some away too.
I did do some cleaning out about two weeks ago-I gave some books, fabric I no longer loved and two quilt frames (big ones) to a nursing home in Dallas. They were very appreciative and were anxious to get started hand quilting. I do plan to go over and help them but haven't had the time yet. I showed them how to set the frames up but that's all I was able to do at the time. I have some more fabric, yarn, needles and books ready to go to them now. Also, some of the ladies in my friendship group have given me fabric to go to them too. I will have to make a trip soon and will give updates when I go to the home. I can't wait to see what they have done. I gave all of this to the director and she was going to get them started. I told her I had more stuff for her and I would come check on the progress and help her too...til next time....

Orange Crush Mystery

Yesterday was the beginning day for the new mystery from Bonnie at Quiltville.com. I was not able to start sewing last night but will start it tonight. All the girls on the blog site have started step 1 and are finishing up already....Ahhhhhh, I can already feel my blood pressure rising! Bonnie has some other commitments and we will have two weeks to finish step 1 so that will really help me get it done and hopefully stay caught up. I love her website and her mysteries. Her patterns are always correct and well planned out. Here's a link to this mystery: Orange Crush Mystery . Bonnie's site is http://www.quiltville.com/. Check it out. It has good patterns as well as tips and tricks to help you on your quilting journey.

I haven't completely decided on my four main colors yet but am definitely using orange and red. I have to decide on my other two colors pretty quick now....I will post a picture when I decide -and progress along the way.

I only have two more weeks until I go to retreat and I hope to get alot of my other projects under control at retreat. I'm already making a list of things to take with me to work on...3 days of sewing! Oh boy, can't wait....