Angela's Quilt

So you all know about Angela's quilt.  It's the black and lavender/purple one that I have no idea how I'm going to put together. 

All the blocks have stars in them.  Well, sort of stars.  I don't want to just have 12 star blocks.  I need something special for the center.   So..... I had this idea.  When I first started quilting I saw a feathered star block.  I thought at the time - no way would I ever do that!!  It's just too hard.  Now I'm thinking a feathered star block in the center would be so great. And I'm willing to give a try. (It couldn't be harder than that block of Judy Martins!  Can it?)

So off I went looking for one on the Internet.  And guess what I found - hold on to your horses this is so cool. 

Feathered star from Molly's Place Blog

Not only did I find a feathered star - but I found a tutorial by Molly at Molly's Place!!!!  Now don't you just love tutorials?  Yep, so do I! 

I'm so excited about this. I can't wait to use this diagram and pick my fabrics!!

diagram from Molly's Place

Doesn't it look like fun?  Yeah, I think so too.

 

Lots of fun stuff done in June

Okay time for a recap of June for the Kelly's Charming Girls Club.  It's nice to set goals and even nicer to finish them.

So first up I turned this fabric

into this nightie

And finished up these make-up bags

And participated in Judy's UFO Challenge, thereby completing this Watercolor star quilt - YAY!!!

And finished up Eight (Yes, I did say EIGHT!) of the Civil War blocks and a big whoohoo because that makes me current on that project. (I won't show them here - as that's too much.)

The month of June had the easiest block ever - boy was this ever easy! These were completed for the Block Lotto.

And the hardest block ever. 

June also opened up one of my UFO quilt boxes - So fun to see these blocks again! And start thinking about what I need in order to to finish it up.

I received some good advice for completing the UFO - to just do one block a week on this until I get it finished.  I like that.

Also June is Violet's Birthday - check out this little princess with her Barbie Doll cake. She's now 4!

And it was a spending time with family.

Even if my daughter does look like she's saying "Can we please just get this picture taking over with!"
This was taken at the M&M Factory in Vegas. 

And this one was taken in front of the Harley Davidson Cafe.  (Cool bike huh?)

Okay so tell us what you did and link your post to Kelly's blog.

Linda

Oh No! Not more Civil War Blocks!

 Oh well.  What can I say.  At least these are easy peasy compared to Judy's blocks.

Linda

Hardest Block EVER!

I  was forewarned that Judy Martin's blocks can be challenging.   And I suspected that, as I had made one of her other blocks once before.   But my  goodness this was quite the challenge.   The instructions were minimal, other than the size to cut the pieces.  My only clue was the little red line that was a "partial seam".

Each of the corners on the center square were a partial seam.  After fiddling with it and getting frustrated, I just did it.  I don't know how else to describe it.  I just sewed and hoped for the best. 

So now I can say I totally love it and I refuse to see the "bad points" about it (bad pun intended.  hahahaha!!)

I plan to do two more of her blocks from the magazine.  My daughter said the next one looks even harder.  I don't think that's possible.  So off I go.  I'll post picture later. 

Linda

Vacationing at the Golden Nugget

Okay  this is really strange that we have gone to Vegas three times this year.  We don't usually go so often.  It's just that it was on our way back from two other places.  Although, this last trip, Vegas was our destination.

This time we went with friends so we stayed at the Golden Nugget on Fremont Street (north part of the strip.)  Fremont Street has a light show each night.  It's really pretty cool.

What I really like about Vegas are the pools.

 

Golden Nugget's Pool

And the Golden Nugget has the best one I've been to yet.  Because - check this out.

They have an Fish Tank in the center of the pool!!!  And it has SHARKS!!!

Do you see that shark in the upper right corner.  Well, let me tell you...you can see them really well when you are swimming right next to them with only that glass separating you!  We could count the rows of teeth on them.

And look back at the above picture - there's a slide that goes through the center of that shark tank.

The slide is three stories high.  Oh my gosh, was it so much fun!

And the pool also has these cool water falls.

Just thought you might like to know.  :-)

Linda

Coolest little dragonfly and Troy Toy

Can you see that skinny little dragonfly?  It was so cool looking.  It was so hard to see, and when it flew it was so dainty. 

My little grandson Troy came to visit the day I found him.

He's pretty impressed too.
Troy used to be called Troy Toy, but I'm thinking he should be called Troy Boy.  He's such a little boy.

Linda

Knockout Blocks by Judy Martin

I like looking through my old magazines.  I have found most of mine at the library's book sales.  Someone else's old magazines are new to me.  
 Quilter's Newsletter is one of my favorites.  Did you know that Judy Martin used to edit and write articles for them?  So in this issue are some of the blocks she has designed. 

Here's the block I'm going to make and the fabrics cut out.  This will be for Angela's quilt.  (The black and purple one that I have do idea how I'm going to put together.)

Before I ever started quilting I bought a book by Judy Martin called Scrap Quilts.  This was way back in  1985.  I looked and looked through it and hoped someday to make a quilt from it.  If I'm tired I'll put it out and relax as I look.  So for 26 years I've been looking at her book and still haven't made a quilt from it.  LOL!!  However, that book has help me so much - I've never even read it - but it inspires me to make quilts.   So I'm pleased to be making this block, one of Judy Martin's to go into the quilt.  There are two or three more of hers in the magazine that I would like to make for Angela's quilt.

Oh, did you know that today is the first day of Summer?  It's hot here - 107 today.  Great pool weather!  Gotta look at the bright side. Right?

Linda

Working on those Civil War Blocks

Once again, I'm posting Civil War Blocks.

This fabric is really blue - actually a pretty dark blue.

Oh no, this one doesn't show the blue either - it's a slate grey blue.

Also the wind caught it and blew it into the pool, I'll iron it once it's dry again.

This one fell (blew) into the pool too. Little Turtle is holding it down.

Okay, so that makes five Civil War Blocks completed this week.

And that make me only one behind.  YAY!!

Until this morning, Monday, when Barbara posts another block!  LOL

Linda

Vacation Time Sewing

Even though I've been out of town on vacation, I still managed to get a little bit of sewing in. I've never made purses before, these were fun and easy to sew up.  These are more like make-up bags.

And the zippers turned out super nice with my niffy zipper foot.

I also was able to get my jammies made.  Oh what a nice thing to have, especially when the door to the hotel room was opened, as I happened to be walking by and there was my daughter's friend.  I felt okay, knowing I was well covered.

Isn't Neptune a sweetie to once again come lay down and make the picture more interesting.  She knew I didn't want to model it. 

These are the blocks I completed for the Block Lotto.  They are such easy blocks, but so far I've only had time to do three.

Okay enough for now.

Linda

June Goals - Never too late to make them (photo heavy)

Finally I have time to think about my June goals - and just because the month is almost 1/3 over doesn't make it too late to make them.

So you want to see what's up first?

#1) The Civil War Blocks - I have the fabrics for the next 3 picked out. 

# 2) The Block Lotto Blocks - I have some of the fabric picked out for them.

#3)  I want to work on another UFO.  The one that's in this box - that hasn't been opened in 6 years.

What to see? 

More lovey purples - ones that I can use in the Block Lotto and.....
         Lots, well about 8 or 9, fun block like these. 

This is Angela's quilt.  This is a real stumper of a quilt - I don't know how to get motivated nor what to do with it.

#4) Gift items from the Heart of the Valley Shop Hop.  These were gifts from Strawberry Patches Quilt Shop.  Lovely, really lovely.

The package even included some Jelly Beans - the good ones from the Jelly Belly Factory.  Yum, I've loves them!

It's a little kit - for making a little purse.  I love the fabric. 
Strawberry Patches even included a 20% off coupon.  What's wrong with me I better get over there quick before it expires!

They have lovely fabric and while I was there during the shop hop I found the neatest,  (like that word?  I haven't used it in years.) coolest fabric that I couldn't resist.  

These cute little animals and stripe that goes with it.  So my project
#5)  is to make a summertime nightie for myself. 

Don't you agree I just had to buy it?

Okay, only 5 projects.  I should be able to accomplish this.  I'm taking off next week so I'll let you know how I'm doing and check in on your blogs the following week.