Four Finishes

My barn quilt that I finished a few weeks ago and gave to my niece since she 'coveted' it.

My brother has brain cancer and is on hospice.  He requested that I make a quilt for his friend, so I made one for her and her two children.  This one is hers.

This is her back.

This is for her son.

And, this is his back.

And her daughters.

Her daughters back.  Not a masterpiece to be found, but hopefully they will like them, and I'm sure my brother will appreciate the effort.  He is on hospice, and I'm going back and forth.  I will be busy with everything going on, so probably won't be posting.

Barn Flimsy Done

I got up this morning and assembled my barn quilt.  I've had all the blocks made for quite awhile, but it's been waiting it's turn.  Thank you to Lori Holt for the fun QAL.   Her blog is Bee in my Bonnet.   She says it's 64" by 84", so I'll take her word for it.  Now, to get another top or two done, and then another basting and quilting marathon.   I haven't finished with barns though, I still want to do a few of her silo barns, and a tracter. 

Block 11 and 12 of the Quilty Barn Along

I meant to work on the RSC, or some of the BOM's, but somehow, I ended up making my last 2 barns.  I'm putting them aside for awhile though while I catch up other things.  Maybe, I could have a finish by the end of July?  Haven't decided if I'll be doing the silo barns, but I do want to do the tractor block for the back. 

More Barns

Quilty Barn Along blocks 7, 8, 9 and 10.  Just 2 more to go.  There is also a version with a silo, and a tractor.  Will I be tempted?
I finished these up today, yesterday was over 10 hours at the dermatologist with my husband.  He had a skin cancer that seemed to go on and on, they had to go back in 4 times, for a total of 5.  He was in a lot of pain last night, but is feeling better today.   Sometimes, it seems to never end, he has another one next Monday, this one on his lip.  Amazingly, he keeps a cheerful attitude most of the time.

Quilty Barn Along Blocks 5 and 6

I'm moving right along, half done now, but I think even though I haven't quite caught up I need to work on my Flower Patch blocks.  I'm coming from behind on both quilt alongs.

Not a very good picture, but my first 6 blocks.  They are 20 inches square with the frames and sashings, very large to work on, especially in contrast to starting off with the little 6 inch blocks in the barns. 

And One More

Block 4.  I haven't gotten anything else done today, I think I need to work on my house for awhile. 

I have confidence that it'll look better when things are in their correct place.  The inside corners are supposed to fit together in a little pattern, but since it needs the odd placement, that's not happening, plus hopefully more fabrics will look more pleasingly scrappy.   What can I say, I'm trying to use things up rather than purchase, for the most part.

More Barns

I worked on and off all weekend on my barns and got all the sides, roofs, skies, frames and sashings cut out.   This morning, I got up and all I had to do to finish barns 2 (which this is) and 3 is cut out and sew the art work blocks and sew the barns together.   I'm really enjoying these, as they are so cute.  I know, this is either a really large barn, or a really small tractor, and the bees would be scary if in scale.

Barn number 3, I really like the little postage stamp block. 

When I do block number 4, I hope to sew  the frames and sashings on blocks 1 thru 4 and see a little miniature version of my 12 block quilt. 

Shopping

I went to Hobby Lobby today and got a few things.  I got the dot in the foreground for the frames of my barns and then I plan to put a couple of log cabin type rows around that.  The browns are for roofs, the reds for barns, the green is for a roof too, a vine covered one.  the yellows and the juvenile print are for doors and windows.  The rest will come from stash.  I figure that these can also be used if I get a little crazy and decide to do the barns with the silos, too.  They are adorable too, look here.

They also had a lot of their home dec on sale, and I couldn't resist this.  It was originally 80.00 dollars marked down 80 percent to 16.00 dollars.  There are 5 drawers.  Not sure where I'm putting it, but I think it could be good for needles, bobbins, rubber bands, and such. 

I Actually Started

I've been eying these barn blocks ever since I first saw one, and I've finally gotten my first one done.  I did a lot of the cutting yesterday, and then last night I needed to do the weeks pills, so I got up about 2:00am to get it off my mind.  While I was up I sewed the little 6 inch Weathervane block, and then this morning I finished it up.  I had diet coke with my dinner last night, big mistake, but ok since I got a lot done.  I still need to do the sashing, or frame, but I'm holding off to make sure I get fabric that I like for it.  It'll probably be white, but I just want to check things out a bit first to be sure. 

A Little Progress and Plans

I pretty much wasted 2 days watching quilting videos (they're like potato chips) and playing on the computer, but this morning I got some cutting done.  I'm ready now to start sewing on the Craftsy Re-piecing the Past, the Craftsy 2012 BOM, the OKCMQG BOM, the Sugar Block Club BOM and the Craftsy 2013 BOM.   It would be really nice if I were to have them finished by Monday and then I could concentrate on the Deck-ade the Halls step 2 and maybe have the rest of the month to concentrate on the Quilty Barn Along and making a topper for my husband's dresser. 

New Projects on My Mind

I was reading my yahoo group emails today and one from Cyberquilters referred to free patterns from UnitedNotions.  http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/fp   I went there and there were indeed many free patterns.  My eye was attracted to this one, and I think I may have to add it to my list.  I've already added the Barn quilt a long (   https://secure.flickr.com/groups/2183559@N21/    http://www.beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-back-of-my-farmers-wife-quilt.html   ).   

Isn't it adorable, it's the Quilty Barn Along from Bee in My Bonnet.  It's already been going on a few months, but I hope to catch up my other projects and then start one of these two.  I was in my local quilt shop a couple days ago and purchased these fabrics to get started.  

And these, because they were on the half price table and I thought they would be useful.  The one on the left is a Thimbleberries Christmas line fabric, but it doesn't look Christmasy to me, and I think it might make a good border, if not, it'll be fine in many scrappies.   I was thinking of giving up quilting, or at least slowing down considerably, but it seems hard to do when I am constantly seeing new things I want to try.  I guess there are worse problems in this world.  
Candace