Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Been busy!

I've been on a quiltmaking frenzy, and it's time to start posting to my blog again.  Pulled out some vintage projects and got them completed.  One old favorite was my Perfume bottle blocks.  I made a quilt for my cousin, and still had more than enough blocks to make my own quilt . . . and then some.  The little bottles were so addictive that every time I saw a fabric with gold, silver or copper on it, my first thought was to make a perfume bottle with it.  Realizing I would soon have enough blocks to make a slipcover for my garage . . . two-car . . . I decided to get with it, and get the top complete.  One will also note that I added some lettering.  It's Edwardian script, and it says, "Eau de Parfum".  I had so much fun with the lettering, that now I want to put letters on EVERYTHING!

When my good friend, Lois, saw the completed perfume bottle quilt, I thought she was going to cry.  So, I took 31 of my remaining 32 blocks, set them with pale pink/hot pink Fairy Frost hourglass blocks, and added the same lettering across the top.  Of course, I couldn't stand the tension, so I showed it to her . . . well, I did manage to hold out for two whole weeks after the last stitch was put in the appliqued border.  That time, she did get teary-eyed.

Also, had a quilt top called "Fireflies", a Lisa Bongean design, that I had been working on with scraps.  Sat down to make yet another giant quilt top, but stopped myself.  Rationalizing that I have several queen-sized or larger quilt tops in my "inventory", I decided I should convert those blocks into quilts for two of my grandsons.  So, I added nice borders, and mostly finished those tops.  (See note above about lettering . . . thinking of putting the boys' names on the borders!)

Then, I pulled out a set of blocks started for my granddaughter.  They are for a pinwheel sampler and I had been hunting an additional fabric to finish it.  I found one, but also another that I liked better than what I used in the blocks.  Little did I know that I was working on two quilt tops at once.  (That seems to be a theme with me, too!)  So, I made the two remaining blocks, and started planning the setting.  This first effort will be going to the Americus Quilting Club for their designated use, either quilting for a future raffle, or selling the top to another member.

Currently at work on another applique lettered border for a gift quilt.  And, dug out some hand-piecing for hand-work while watching the Olympics.  Will also get out the camera for photographic evidence of all those completions noted above!

P.S.  Finally finished the Four-patch Revisited quilt that I had in the frame for far too long.  It was done in time for the Old Tippecanoe Quilt Guild Show in March, along with a French Basket from a class by Anita Shackelford from years ago at Quilt America.  

If me dear friend, Esther, had not already won the title, you could call me "Hot Needles"!