Too long between posts

I honestly didn't realize how long it had been between posts- almost a month! How time flies.  I have been sewing a lot, and lots of homework.  But also, people have been dropping like flies around me with the flu and now the norovirus.  I have bottles of hand sanitizer at home and at work, and my hands are dry from washing so much.  Argh! Hopefully everyone will be better soon.

So, I have done a few things like:

Made the cover for my dress form dummy so I can make clothes to fit me properly. By the time I got done adjusting, padding, etc, I realized I am larger than I think I am.  Time to exercise.

I have now made 45 of the Chicago Pavement blocks.  Enough to make 2 different twin size quilts.
I am going to make both on point, but one with alternate solid blocks, and the other will be all chicago pavement blocks.  Can't wait to get them done.

Can you see how dirty this ruler is? I got some of the basting spray on it- does anyone know how to clean it off? I tried soap and water, and no go.  It's no longer sticky at least , because it's picked up lint, etc.
I think I may try rubbing alcohol tomorrow and see if that works.  I don't want to scrub, that would wear the markings off. It's one of my favorite rulers, so I'll do what I can.

Cute little monkey block for my nephew's quilt.  This child will have so many quilts before too long.  Good thing they live in northern Montana, they can really use them.

This is my Easy Street top with the first border I decided on.  The top picture show the right and the wrong side of the fabric.  I decided to use the wrong side, I just liked it a bit better.  If you look at the piece on the right, there are gold dots all over the right side, it just didn't work.  The wrong side has a mottled look, and works so much better.  I am so hoping to get this top done, and in the pile of quilt tops to be quilted.  The pile that seems to be getting bigger and bigger.

If all of that on my plate wasn't enough, I also have started going through some of my scraps, and cutting them down into usable pieces, then putting them into bins and buckets.  The smallest size I am cutting down to is 1-1/2 inches.  I have only started, and have a lot more to go.  18 totes and 19 years worth to be precise.  I figure by the time I move in just over a year, I may have them done. :)We'll see, I am trying to do at least 15-20 minutes a day. 

This doesn't help though, does it?  I went to our local Hancock fabrics sale last weekend, and picked up a few things.  Sigh- the fabric diet got blown. Big time.  But see the yellow in the bottom?  The really pretty one?  Originally $8.99 a yard- got all 10 3/4 yards for .64 cents a yard! Yep, I told the sales clerk to just keep unrolling to the end, I would take all. I figure this fabric will be showing up in a lot of quilts and doll clothes, toddler dresses, etc, for years to come.  I really like it, it's a pretty print.  Oh, and some Christmas prints too, to add to the pile from previous years.  I will get a Christmas quilt done one day- it only took 8 years to finally do a Halloween one, at least the holidays come around every year, I have time! That's my story and I am sticking to it.
I hope everyone has a great weekend, I will be spending it away from the sick people sewing away.  They usually leave me alone if I am sewing, they seem to have an aversion to it.  Oh, if only one of my kids would show an interest- but then I would have to share my fabric-never mind then.  LOL.
Happy quilting,
Marianne

Chicago Pavement

So, this morning, I was perusing some of my older quilting magazines, and came across this one:

This is Country Quilts, Fall 1993.  I fell in love with the cover quilt, called Chicago Pavement.  I just had to make it, today! ( We all know that feeling, don't we?) So, I started cutting some fabrics:

I needed 9  two and a half inch squares of tone on tone white (or whatever lighter color I wanted- I just really like tone on tone white fabric, and have lots of it), and 4 two and a half inch colored squares.  I then cut triangles ala Bonnie Hunter, who showed how to use the easy angle ruler and really made things easier for me:
I cut two and half inch strips of the colored fabric, and then cut it, using the 2 1/2 inch line:

After I had everything cut, I went ahead and laid it out:

Here is the first one I did:

The original blocks came out to 12 inches finished size, mine finish out to 6 inches unfinished.  I wanted them to be smaller, I really want to use a lot of different fabrics.  I'm going to try to do a couple of blocks a day, at least, but we'll see how things go.  The new sewing room is clear down the hall, the fabric and quilting machine are back the other way, so I am definitely getting my exercise going from one to the other :).  I do need it though, the holidays added up in more ways then one, that's for sure!
On the Easy Street front, the top is done and awaiting borders.

I love it.  It's so much bigger than I thought it would be!  I found a purple and turquoise fabric in my stash that seems to work, so I'll hopefully get that done today.  Depends on how much time I have after the kids get home.
 I hope everyone has a great day,
Happy Quilting,
Marianne

New sewing room and Easy Street Progress

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a very Happy New Year.  I feel that 2013 will be a great year.  The end of 2012 brought an early valentine's gift:

This is my new little nephew, James, he was due Valentine's day, but decided he wanted to ring in the New Year in person.  He's doing great, just has to get to 5 lbs, then he can go home.  Eat up, little man! The new parents are doing great, and just love him to pieces.  There are now 5 grandchildren between the two of us, and almost 15 years between the 2 youngest.  And, much to my daughter's disappointment, she is still the only granddaughter. I haven't even had a chance to make him a baby quilt, I was supposed to still have 7 more weeks :).  I will be getting it in gear this week.  I promise.

My youngest kids have been at their dad's for the holidays, combined with my oldest son moving into this own place.  So... his old room became my sewing room!

 I love having a room just for the sewing machines, dress form, and all my patterns:

Pattern holder

 Isn't it the coolest?  I got it from the local library, they were going to toss it out, but it holds patterns wonderfully.  I thought I had so many patterns, but they only fill up about 1/3 of it, the bottom and back are empty! More space to fill. 

 I now have my quilting system in the middle of the room, where I can get around it.  I might even try doing pantographs now.  Learn something new, right?
Finally, here the progress on my Easy Street Mystery quilt.

 The side and corner pieces are done.

This stack has only half of Block A.  I still have 8 more to go, and then block B, and putting it all together.  It's not difficult, just so time-consuming.  I really want to get the top together this weekend, but I have to be on the road tomorrow for about 8 hours ( time for vacation to end- kids are coming home), so maybe by Monday night.  I can only hope, right?  I am loving the colors though, and I haven't figured out yet what kind of quilting design to do on it.  I think I have to wait and let the completed top "speak" to me. 

Well, I hope everyone has a great weekend,
Happy quilting,
Marianne