WIP Wednesday - Sneaking Sewing In

I'm linking up with WiP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

I haven't gotten too much done this week as I'm working a temp job.  (Prayers that it turns permanent!  I love this company!)

But I have taken the wisdom of many working quilters and the March Along to heart; yesterday I had about a half an hour between when everyone else was out of the house and I had to leave.  I put together these strip twist blocks for the Prayer Quilt Ministry.

It wasn't much but it's forward progress.  I hope to add the borders little by little and get the finished top to them by the next meeting.

How do you sneak in your quilting when the schedule is busy?



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Bulloch Hall Quilt Show - March 9-17

I'll write a longer post after I've had a chance to go to the show, but I wanted to remind local peeps that the Bulloch Hall Guild's show, The Great American Cover Up, is on for the 31st time this week.  Two of my prayer quilt ministry friends are chairing the show this year, so I'm excited to see their personal touch on it 

This is always an interesting show, set as it is in Bulloch Hall,  Mittie Bulloch Roosevelt's childhood home.  I have always had a special place in my heart for Bulloch Hall, and had my bridal portraits taken on the property.

Of course, you always have to stop for lunch at the Fickle Pickle, and be sure to try the fried pickles and chicken salad.

Hope to see you there!



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March Along Week 1

It's time to report in for Week 1!

This week has been a productive one, not least of all because I wanted to complete this report.  I can do anything for 15 minutes!

On Sunday I spent some more time practicing free motion quilting designs.  I have a new project in my head that is distracting me from finishing!

On Monday I spent way more than 15 minutes ripping out.  It was backwards progress, but still a step towards completing the projects.  I also went to quilt guild.

On Tuesday I worked on my project for the Nancy Drew Blog Hop. 

On Wednesday I finished that project and started putting the Strip Twist blocks together.

On Thursday I worked on the Strip Twist blocks and made two more sections of my Scrappy Spider Web quilt as leaders and enders. 

On Friday I finally finished all of the Strip Twist blocks.  Phew!

Today I added the Channels and Paths design to my FMQ practice piece.  This one wasn't as hard as it looked, and I really like the effect. 

What have you been working on this week?



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Drive By Quilting

This morning there was a drive by quilting.

Pam has been on a roll, making quilt tops suitable for men from her stash.  Today she was in my neck of the woods on her way to the Sewing and Quilt Expo going on this weekend, and stopped by for a moment to drop off the tops and binding to donate to the Prayer Quilt Ministry.

You can read about the chicken quilt here.  

Daisy and George were beyond excited to smell all the new animals.  They could stand a lesson on personal space.

What else is happening around here today?

I've been baking bread from Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.  We've turned it into a Friday tradition during Lent to make vegetarian strombolis out of the Olive Oil Dough (p. 134).  They are delicious and easy to make.  Here is my dough bucket, ready to go in the fridge overnight for tomorrow.

Monday I decided to try the Soft American-Style White Bread (p. 204) to see if I could really make a good sandwich bread.  It's delicious and slices well if you cool it completely, but The Bear reports that it doesn't hold up great in a brown paper sack in your backpack all day.  Gracie said it did fine in her more structured, insulated lunch box, but she tends to use less mayo than the boy people in our house.

What's happening at your house today?



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WIP Wednesday - Retreat

What is the opposite of progress? 

I think I'll call this week a quilt retreat.  That sounds so much better than "I've messed up so much stuff I'm still ripping."

Ugh.

I finally finished ripping out these quilting stitches.  I hope I haven't damaged the fabric too badly, and I hope those holes are going to wash out when the quilt is done.

When I went to work on the blocks for the Prayer Quilt Ministry, I realized that this pattern isn't quite as mindless as it looks.  I managed to sew a LOT of them wrong.  Can you spot what I did?

Still ripping. 



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WIP Wednesday - Strip Twist for the PQM

This morning was our Prayer Quilt Ministry gathering. I could only stay for a little bit, so I didn't bring my machine. Instead, I borrowed one and started assembling the Strip Twist blocks that Marie had made.

I love this pattern! It's so quick but offers a lot of movement and opportunity for using up plenty of scraps.

I was also able, finally, to show them the top that Pam made.  They were thrilled, and we can't wait to see the new ones Pam is dropping off next week.  Now we are on the hunt for a great backing fabric so that we can tie it and pray over it next time we meet.  I know it will be of great comfort to someone in need.

What are you working on?



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Prayer Quilt Ministry

Our church started a new ministry a few years ago to make quilts for people on the prayer list.  These are simple lap sized quilts that are tied.  Some of the members make tops to bring; sometimes the group works on a top together.  At the meetings, the quilts are basted and tied while praying for the recipient.  We leave the ties long so that others can add a knot and a prayer later.

I've been meaning to join these ladies for awhile, but only recently made it to a meeting.  No sooner had I attended one workday and the Christmas lunch than we found out that one of the members was leaving for an adventure - she and her husband have sold their house and are preparing to hike the Appalachian trail!

Of course we needed to make her a quilt, but we didn't have much time.  We each made a Bear's Paw block, and I transferred our group picture onto the center of one of the blocks.  We had a secret work day last week to put the top and back together, and then I brought it home to quilt.

Since I was short on time I just did a simple meander, but I'm so happy with how it turned out!

My goal for sharing with this group will be to make one top per month out of my stash.  I hope this will bless many people, including myself! 



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