A Friday finish

Edited post in order to link up with Val's Quilting Studio Tuesday Archives.  The themes for the week is Baby and Barns.

Quilted and bound!  I'd love to say that's completely finished but I still need to label and add a rod pocket for hanging in the Studio.

Before I show way to many photos I want to thank Hershel and Debbie Wallace for letting me take a couple photos near their barn. 

Not only do they have a wonderful farm but also run Little Trails Horse Camp just down the road.   I also was treated with a tour of the old homestead house that they live in.  OMG!  It was like walking back in time!  I think I enjoyed the home tour more than my small photo shoot.  Okay back to the quilt....

There's so many interesting things to picture on this farm that I decided to just use one spot for this photo shoot.  I'll definitely be going back when I need a back drop. 

I came home to take the rest of the detailed pictures

 Wonder why I took this photo with the quilt upside down?  

 The instructions for the small basket block below can be found at Lynn Wilders Blog HERE.

 I did two different barn door designs.  The plan was to keep the quilting as simple as possible.

 The block below is my fave.  Its an EQ7 block.  This block will make another appearance in a quilt later in the year, but much larger.

 Of course whats a quilt without a few feathers....

 Red gingham has become my new favorite fabric.

 And the last pic was taken standing on a ladder...the things we do for a good shot...not sure it's all that good, but I went to the effort so I'm going to show it!...LOL

If you'd like to make a Barn quilt of your own you can find the instructions for it HERE.  Lori Holt is always having a great quilt along of some sort.  This quilt along isn't finished yet.  I just loved it so much I decided to go my own way and change a few things....yep I can't seem to stick with a pattern 100%.

Oh one more thing.  While talking to Debbie she wanted to know if I could make a quilt with this on it....OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!

Of course I first thought, easy, I'll just take pictures and print them out on fabric, she promptly let me know that she didn't like that idea.  And that's okay, it just makes the quilt more expensive to do it as an applique.   What  a challenge this will be.  It's not a done deal yet, most commissioned quilts never get made because of the PRICE.  Which is totally understandable.

Until next time "Quilt out of Your Comfort Zone! 

Lea

Design wall Monday

There's been progress in Podunk!  I've been bouncing back and forth between projects.  I try to get one cherry block done each day.  So far my plan is working.  

Here's the one that's missing, it's in the process...These little tips are really slowing down the process!  Wishing I'd planned a little better, these would have been so much easier to make before sewing the dresden together...Live and learn!

And here's what I'll hopefully get off the frame today.   Are you all seeing a pattern in my sewing lately?  Red!  I've already designed 2 more red quilts in EQ and have ideas for 2 more.  This will become my new sewing studio colors.  Of course red gingham will be part of each pattern.

I've link up with Judy over at Patchwork Times today, hop on over and see what others are working on, tons of inspiration!  Thanks to all that have popped in from Judy's linky party!  I always enjoy new visitors and comments, and feel free to stop by and say Hi from time to time!

Until next time "Quilt out of Your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

A peak inside my mind

Just thought I'd share with you my inspirations for my current Dresden block.

I use Pinterest for saving pictures that inspire.  For years I would save pics to my computer or a flash drive.  Pinterest takes its place now.  If you haven't tried out Pinterest for storage you should at least check out all the inspiring ideas others have  pinned.  Okay enough free advertisement for Pinterest.

This is a pattern by Erin Russek, called Miss Kyra, it seems it's no longer available but you can read about it here.  I like the applique between the blocks.

I love the short blades in the block below.  You can get the pattern at goldenthimble etsy page

This one is just cute!  Love the short blades and fabric...well everything!   You can find more info at Happy Little Cottage Blog

The center circles really caught my eye in the block below.  I really tried to find the blog that this one came from, with no luck.  But its on Richy-jr flickr

This is the picture that inspired the red tips on my block.  I found this only after I thought my block to be bland.  You can find a tutorial on this block at Lurine's Place.

And the math to make those short blades.  I found this chart helpful.  My blades are cut from a 2.5 square.  

And the Cherry inspiration.  I loved these little cherries, but I didn't want to do embroidery work....yep I'm all 'bout easy!  So my stems are applique.  This pattern  is by Lori Holt, called Cherry Cheesecake.  

So put all these in my scrambled up brain and you get this!

Now you better get out of my mind because it's dangerous in there!

Until next time "Quilt out of your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

Design Wall Monday

Once again I'm linking up with Judy over at Patchwork Times.  Hop on over for some inspiration from other bloggers.  So here's what happened.  I was wading through the vast internet, being inspired by so many pretty ideas...and before I know it this happened!  LOVE LOVE LOVE my idea if I do say so myself, please forgive my boasting, but isn't this just cute!

 The only regret is that the red tips were an after thought.  Something just seemed to be missing till they were added.  It would have been much easier to make them part of the dresden blade before sewing the blades together, and less bulk.   Not sure how I'll set them, sashing? white background or color?  applique between blocks?   And what about the name?  So far it's been narrowed down to Cherry Blossom Marmalade.  Cherry for obvious reasons, Blossom because the dresden reminds me of a flower, and Marmalade because that's the line of fabric used for the blades.

Thanks for stopping by if your new to my blog, I love new visitors and comments!

Until next time "Quilt out of Your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

Planting green beans

Its a good thing that I spent everyday last week in the Studio, because this week I've not had a chance to even step foot in there.  Today the Mayor of Podunk asked me to plant the green beans.   Work boots on snow white Indiana legs.  I really need to start tanning again.

 Below is the spot in the garden that needs to be cleared for the green beans.

 It only took an hour to get the weeds tilled up, poles set, and the beans planted. 

 The radish and spinach patch is finally looking good.

 Pepper patch, I think there's 5 different types of peppers this year(I didn't plant them)

 Lettuce will soon be ready to harvest

 We had to build a make shift cage for the peas, last year the deer destroyed them.

Now I'm off to paint some picture frames for the spare bedroom and then....finally I'll get to do some sewing!  YAY!

Until next time "Quilt out of our Comfort Zone!"

Lea

And the Winner is....

Not much going on in Podunk this week.  I've not stepped foot in the Studio since Sunday.  And today will be the same.  Today I'm going out shopping for large bags of sugar to make bee food.  

I want to thank everyone who entered the give away and welcome the new followers.

Drum roll.........The winning number is 2!  Congrats to Amanda over at Fabric Engineer.    I'll be sending you an email, if you see this before I get the email out feel free to send me your mailing address. 

Until next time "Quilt out of your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

Design Wall Monday

Hope everyone had a good weekend and Mother's Day.  My boys and I spent the afternoon at my moms.  I'd show you pictures but mom is a little bit camera shy(grumpy) so we don't do to many pictures at moms.  It was a nice afternoon of planting the flowers we gave her and just sitting around eating pizza and shooting the breeze.  I like dad's idea of pizza, so we moms aren't working on our special day!  We tend to keep it simple as often as we can.

I've linked up with Judy over at Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  Hop on over and see what's going on in blog land, find some inspiration, or make a new blogging buddy!

 Well, since the afternoon was spent at moms I didn't get much done around here .  I'll show the little that was accomplished. 

 I've heard that many quilters with longarms won't make a quilt that has block bigger than the throat of their machine.  The reason being that its to hard to quilt the  block.  I really don't see the difference between a block and a border so I don't follow that rule.  However since I don't tack my starts and stops,  they are buried, it does take a little extra time.  

 As much as I dislike SITD I think this quilt may end up needing it.  I'll wait till the whole quilt is done to decide if I'll come back and SITD  around the sashing and barn.

And still the last border needs to be put on the Ultimate Scrappy Flowers quilt.

 If you haven't done so yet there's still time to enter my give away for this fat quarter bundle over here.  You have until I get out of bed Wednesday morning to enter. 

Until next time "Quilt out of Your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

Sew Much Tension

Good Sunday Morning!  And Happy Mothers Day!  Hope you all have a Marvelous Mothers Day!  Its your day, so spend it how you want.  Let someone else tend to your every whim, prop your feet up, have your cabana boy feed you grapes and strawberries.  LOL...Right..

Okay back to reality, the reality is that in my excitement to get this quilt done I forgot that on my last quilt I had my tension adjusted for two different types of thread.  Thus causing me tension issues that befuddled me for about 2 hours.  Lessoned learned....write down thread used on the white board.  I keep a dry erase board on the wall that I write notes on about the quilt on the frame.  Measurements, ruler info.  

 And I had to show the card my husband bought for his mom.  Looks like a quilt to me.  I'm rubbing off on him!

 And a reminder that you still have time to enter my give away here.  

Until next time "Quilt out of your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

 

My first give away!

My goodness it's been a quilty kinda week here in Podunk.  Seems like the days have just flown by.  One more border left to put on the Ultimate scrappy Flower Garden quilt.  The green border jumps out don't you think?!

I had to take a quilt off the frame due to running out of thread, and guess what?  My local shop doesn't carry that brand anymore!  I can't find it on the Internet either!  And the quilt was to be a donation quilt.

 So.....

 I've started quilting the Barn quilt.  And just like adding the borders gives me trouble, so does quilting them..I'll be so glad when I get over the border issues..geesh..

 Okay at last as promised it's time for a my first Give away!  I've been so blessed lately I thought it only right to share in the blessings.  Well here's the deal...See the quilt below, that is Antique Flowers.  I've shown it here before.  My momma made the blocks and I pieced and quilted them.  Its been entered in an online quilt contest.  Now you see where this is going don't you!  Yep, I want you to vote.  Of course I would love it if you voted for mine but you don't have too.  And not only do you get a chance to win some yummy fabrics here but if you leave a comment at the Quilting Gallery  you get a chance to win some yummies there also!

Antique Flowers

Here's the different ways enter the contest.  

1. Of course go vote for a quilt over at Quilting Gallery, come back here and let me know that you voted
2. Follow my blog and leave a comment letting me know your a follower(you don't have to be a follower it just gives you an extra chance to win)
3. Leave a comment, any comment.  For those that have nothing to say just answer this question, What's your favorite flower?  Mine is the Shasta Daisy, nothing makes me happier than a simple Daisy growing at the side of the road.  But I don't need to go that far to see one, they will soon be blooming outside my bedroom window!  

So that's three chances at winning!  

Well I almost forgot to show you what you could win,  this cute fat quarter bundle.  This is Daisies and Dots by Robert Kaufman.  I fell in love with this bundle the first time I saw it.  Humm could it be the daisies!   

I'll announce the winner next Wednesday, Good luck!

Until next time "Quilt out of your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

Good news, Bad news, Good news!

It's been a busy few days.  And the good new is  The Quilty Barn along quilt top is finished!

 My love of gingham in the border flange

The only piece of fabric that almost matches and is just big enough for the backing.   I may need to attach extenders on the sides to make it work on  the frame

Last week I went yard selling with my cousin Stephanie.  Found these cute curtains for $2.  My plan was to make a dress or pillows.  My plans changed.

 So there's this old ugly lamp and shade....

Made a template and then a new inner shade out of Quilters Templar, it doesn't melt.

 removed the old 

And added the new shade

Now I need some brass polish

Now for the not so good news.  BEES! BEES! BEES!  6 lbs of bees!  

 Mr.Brave before the bees are released

 Preparing for attack

 I'm at a distance with the zoom on the camera, bees are everywhere!  I went in side after this picture because one of the bees came over and bounced off my head...ENOUGH for me!  I should have kept my mouth shut when he said he wanted chickens, chickens don't sting.  

 Back the good news.  I won 2 wonderful packages last week.  One from Patchwork Sampler, Thanks Rhonda I love, love, love Marmalade!  Now what to do with them!

 And another from Sewincrediblycrazy.  Thanks Amy!  These are great! I can print out a design to trace on the longarm...so many new ideas!

Since I've had such good luck in the last week I've decided to have my own first giveaway this Friday.  So be sure to come back!

Until next time "Quilt out of Your Comfort Zone!"

Lea