The nine blocks for the Pizza Box Project

Look at these great blocks.  These were blocks made this year for our Pizza Box project.  Most of the blocks were made by ladies that were not quilters. I will be using these with some other blocks to make either a large quilt or two quilts.  I am very proud of these blocks and my sewing group for making them.  I made blocks ahead of time and I'll put those together as is.  We are going to have a Pizza Party in January and show our quilts that we made with the blocks.  The ladies enjoyed doing these but I don't think I turned any of them into quilters.  They like doing their sewing projects,  but quilting is not one of them.  Oh well, it was fun anyway...til next time, happy sewing.

To answer a question posed to me by a blogger with a no reply email....What is a Pizza Box Project?

The Pizza Box Project was like a mystery.  My group of ladies got a pizza box, decided what fabric to use or if it would be scrappy,  and made their block #1.  The next month, they gave their box to the next person on the list and that person made a block for them, the following month, went just like this to the next person on the list.  I was the person that made up the list and it did not change from month to month.  I decided what block would be done and made a block up each month in advance to show what the block would look like.  I was also in the project so, I ended up with blocks for two quilts.  We did this for 9 months.  This could be done longer or with two or more blocks per month to make a bigger project.  Whatever, you decide... The finished blocks were given back to the original owner of the project (the person that made the first block).  Now, in January, their task is to put together their blocks however they want to put them together and bring them back and show them to the group.  We will be having pizza and soft drinks (no beer, as this is at a Joann's Fabric store) at this meeting to celebrate the event.  I'll show pictures of the finished projects at that time...

 

Some great mail...and some finishes.

I received some great mail today.  I got my prizes from the Fall Into Fall Giveaway...I got the Bliss Jelly Roll from Vic and I got the Schlep Bag from Pauline...Both of these are great and I love them.  I am so looking forward to using the Jelly Roll to make Alayna a little quilt.  Vic also made me a cute little Halloween card, I love it...Thank you, Vic.

Here's the Schlep bag that Pauline sent me.. I already have it loaded with some things to take to my small group meeting tomorrow night.  I can't wait to show everyone...

I also got two  signature blocks today too... This one from Mary from the Netherlands:

This one is from Mary too but she's from California:

I am so enjoying this Signature exchange.  It's fun to see where they are all coming from...

I made two blocks tonight too. One is for a friendship exchange for Diane in my small group:



This one is for the Pizza Box Exchange.  This is block 8, only one more block to go for this exchange....This block is called Woven Ribbons and it's form Marcia Hohn's site, Quilter's Cache...

This last picture is a small quilt I finished quilting on.  This was a Round Robin exchange.  It was alot of fun.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  I hand quilted this one.  I'm not sure what to name this one. I'm thinking Tranquility. What do you think, any suggestions? 

I'll be going to my small group meeting tomorrow night and I hope I'll have some great show and tell for you, til next time...Happy Fall! 

P.S. Go Rangers!!!

Saturday Sewing

Ok, guys, I'm taking a break and going to dinner with my family. I've gotten quite a bit done today and I'm not sure if I'll be able to sew tonight when I get back but I've had a very enjoyable sewing day....
I started sewing on this last night and was able to finish it this morning. I think it's called Bella Baby. This is the second top I'm doing for Judy and I think it turned out so cute. I think she'll be pleased. I know she got this about two years ago when we went on a short shop hop (just three of us) together. She fell in love with this little quilt when she saw it. I think she needs this one for a baby shower in May, oh...it is May. Anyway, maybe she can quilt this one quickly. Here's Baby Bella or Bella Baby, I forget what it's called and I'm too lazy right now to walk up the stairs and look....




Here's a close-up. There were 4 big flowers and 12 little flowers. I used steam a seam to applique this...


I got this block done for my sewing group. This is going to be block four of the pizza box project. This is an easy block off of Marcia Hohn's site, Quilter's Cache. I wanted the girls to have a signature block that everyone can sign that participated in the project. We'll have a pizza party and reveal our blocks and everyone can sign the blocks at that time....Remember, this is just my sample block...


Here's my block for the Jelly Roll Quilt Along...



I got 6 blocks done for my small group exchange. This month was a square in a square block...I only needed 5 but I made the 6th one for good measure.



I also did 5 pinwheels and finished 4 of my Leader and Ender blocks..They are called Crazy Eights. I'm doing the blocks in florals and I'm liking the blocks alot. I love doing the Leader/Ender method...it's like doing 2 quilts at the same time and you don't even notice you're getting anything done until there they are. I wish I had started doing this years ago...



I got 13 floating four patches halfway done, the four patch part is done and I have the outside triangles cut, I just need to sew them on. Hmmm, let's see, oh yeah, I put an inner border around my middle section of the Schoolhouse quilt. The middle part is snowballs. I made the 6 Square in a Square blocks...these go with this quilt. We have two more exchanges after this month. Two months of pinwheels...17 pinwheels per month. I almost have those done now. I should be getting my little house blocks this month and I'll start putting this together and you'll see some progress on this very soon. Here's the mid section. This quilt was on the cover of Quilt Sampler and there are 5 of us exchanging.



I am now up-to-date on everything and can work on Amy's BOM. That's the next thing on my list...I bought some red and blue fabric yesterday at the quilt store. I don't feel a bit guilty either. I have only bought fabric this year to finish up things and I have been using everything else out of my stash. I have cut down alot of my spending since I quit working at the quilt shop. Mostly because I'm not there and I'm not tempted but also, I'm staying away and trying to use my stash.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend and getting quality sewing time in...gotta go check on my blog buddies and see what's going on with them. til next time....

Working on blocks and my ASG meeting

Last night was my ASG meeting. I gave out block 3, Spools for them to work on this month. I had good and bad feedback from them about the last block. Nearly everyone liked the blocks except for two people. One girl said she didn't want to do anymore half square triangles. She said she had alot of trouble with them. I told her I was sorry but she would have to deal with them again cuz the block this month used them too... That got me to thinking. I remember when I first started piecing...I didn't like to do flying geese. I had so much trouble with the triangles lining up properly and I would always cut off the tips or beaks or points or whatever you want to call them... Today, I know I can do flying geese about 5 or 6 different ways now and that goes for half square triangles too. It just depends what method I want to use as to which way I do them. Starting out though, I thought it all had to be done one way or it wasn't right. Isn't it funny how time, effort and knowledge of your subject make such a difference in your comfort level? This lady was so stressed out about the block, I don't think she enjoyed it at all. Piecing is not always easy to learn and people learn different ways to do things. Some learn from seeing, some from reading, some from doing, etc...I am fortunate that I can read and do it but it is always helpful to see it too. Youtube has some good videos on making half square triangles so I'm going to suggest those to her. I found some by going to Youtube and typing in quilting for beginners. Then looking for half square triangles. There are several but the ones I wanted her to see are from the Missouri Star Quilt Co. and from Quiltbug. Isn't the internet great? I love it that we live it this age where we have all this knowledge at our fingertips...til next time....

Pizza Box Project for my ASG Group

I am hosting a Pizza Box Project for my ASG sewing group. This is like a Round Robin but with blocks. The owner of the box did the first block and then from that point on the box is passed to people on a list. (The owner of the box had the option of including fabric to use for the quilt or not. It could be scrappy or controlled.) The owner does not get to see the finished blocks until the end of the project. We are doing this for 9 months. At that time, we will have a pizza party and reveal the blocks. It will be up to the owner of the blocks to make a quilt or do whatever she wants to with the blocks. Some of the ladies have asked for additonal blocks so it will be a 12 block quilt, so I will pass out extra blocks too. The ladies that are working on this project are not quilters but are really enjoying the blocks so far. I am doing 2 blocks per month. One to show them what the block looks like and one to go along with the box. So far, we have done 2 blocks and next week I will give out the 3rd block. We are making 12 1/2" blocks. I am using some of Marcia Hohn's blocks off of Quilter's Cache and a few different ones too.

I am using leftover fabric from one of my UFO's, Nostalgic Garden. I think I'm going to have enough for this quilt too...How about that, 2 for 1!

Here's the blocks that we are doing so far:

Block 1- Pennsylvania


Block 2- Friendship Star:


This is the 3rd block, it is called Spools. I'm giving this one out next week. It was not from Marcia Hohn's site, it was from Quilt magazine site...(I think). I'll have to look at the pattern again to see exactly where it came from but I sure like it...



You should see the other blocks. These ladies are doing a wonderful job. Unfortunately, I only see the blocks in the boxes as they come to me and I don't want to spoil any surprises for them so I'll only take pics of my show blocks. You will have to wait to see their quilts. Til next time...

Quilts for Kids and a block for my Pizza Box Project

Last week I was visiting Amy on her blog and she was doing some Quilts For Kids. She blogged about it and gave a link. I went and visited the website and ordered a kit. This kit has everything except the batting and binding fabric. It includes instructions and backing fabric too. I got the kit on Friday and I put it together today. I'll be quilting on this one this week so I can get it finished quickly. Here's a picture of the little quilt I did. It's with fairy fabric and I think it turned out really cute.
I've been trying to think of a name for the quilt but I'm coming up blank. Please help me if you can. Any suggestions?







I've thought of Friendly Fairies or I Love to Fly but not my favorites. What do you think?


I also made the first block for my Pizza Box Project. My ASG is doing a Pizza Box Project. It's like a mystery in a box. Every month, we will do one block. You place the block in the box and pass it to the next name on the list. She does the next block and passes it on. We are doing this all year. I am in charge of this project and I'm picking the blocks. I am choosing simple blocks because these ladies are not quilters. They are sewers but have never done any quilting. I wanted to start them off easy and get their feet wet. For the first block, I chose the Pennsylvania block from Marcia Hohn's Quilter's Cache website. I love her website, she has some great patterns with great directions. We are doing 12 1/2" blocks. Here's my first block:

Pennsylvania Block



I'm on a red, white and blue phase right now.