Spare time quilting

At long last, my manic business travel season has come to an end. Can I say "whew"? For a while, I only knew where I was by looking at my calendar!

I did squeeze in some sewing the few times I was home. Started some projects, finished a few. Here is one I finished:

 

Regal Garden - a wedding gift for a friend of my dear hubby. I have not met the bride, but the groom told us her favorite color is purple.

This is my 2nd using May Chappell's Lazy Sunday pattern. Can I say again how much I love the pattern? This pattern allows me to indulge my love for layer cakes, and enables me to make best use of my limited (of late) quilting time.

I used an "Urban Oasis" layer cake and added both an inner & outer border.  It finished at 56" by 68" after washing.I FMQ-ed it in all over loop, nothing showy as this quilt is all about the colors.

I love the striped binding. It really made everything pop.

Autumn Afternoon

My amazing friend Lee of May Chappell fame released a new pattern called "Lazy Sunday Quilt". She designed it to use 10" squares (layer cakes, an addiction of mine). Lee writes wonderful patterns. Her directions are always clear & she provides great illustrations.

I used "Origins", a layer cake by Basic Gray that was a deal at the Missouri Star Quilt Company a while back.

This pattern went together like a dream!

I made the small size, this measures 44" by 56" (pre-wash). 
Directions are given for sizes up to King.

I FMQ-ed this with a loose loopy stitch path to keep it soft and cuddly.

I already have layer cakes lined up for more.

A great pattern, and you really can make it on a "lazy Sunday Afternoon".

The 800

According to the Blogger stats, this is my 800th post. Pretty amazing for me. I was never one to keep a hand-written diary or journal. This format of being able to add in pictures with prose while being mobile has kept me at it. So indulge me a bit of reflection.

I began this blog in November 2006. My only son was a senior in high school. He is now in grad school pursuing his Master's in secondary education. He is an amazing man, full of life, joy and a delight to be around. My MIL and Dad wre still here, they have now passed on. My blogging was a bit unfocused, rantung sometimes, random others, then it became my personal quilting journal. And that stuck! I have virtually met many wonderful quilt artists through blogging. Their friendships are very special to me.

I like being able to look back through my blog and see where I was, what I was doing, at any point along the way. Thanks for reading, and commenting!

Now, for a picture!

I made this pillow for our United Fund drive at work. This is a traditional block, the Rolling Stone, done in modern fabrics, it is a 16" pillow.

Oh, and to share something I did for me:

I bought a new machine! A Baby Lock Tiara, 16" sit-down long arm.

Yes, it is love! I thought there would have been more of a learng/adjusting curve, but we just clicked! The extra space and light has lifted my enjoyment to a whole new level! I will share more on her in the future, but suffice it to say: the only problem I have had since getting her is finding enough time to quilt!