"Gerry Made Me Do It" top is done!

My Gerry inspired "Little Red Zinger" quilt is done! Okay, just the top is done but that was quite an undertaking. I did not work from a real pattern, just some basic instructions for a 9 inch block on Karen Griska's blog. My blocks are 3 1/2 inches finished.

I had a little more time than I thought to sew today so I was able to finish it. Tomorrow, I'd like buy the backing and binding (red) and sandwich it. Not sure if I will have time to begin machine quilting it or not. BTW, any suggestions how you would quilt it?

The top measures just over 28 inches and each subunit block is 3 1/2 inches square. The strips are approximately 1/4 inch wide (finished). I incorporated as many selvages from my stash of fabrics as I could. I also need to straighten the border edge. Do you think its a little wide? I'm thinking of trimming it down a half inch. What do you think?

Now why did an e-mail from Gerry inspire me to make this quilt? Gerry's been telling me how she's not going to save those 1 inch strips anymore because that's how her "saving problem" began!

Well!!! That was all I needed to hear and so I set about cutting 3/4 inch strips. One inch strips, those would have been too easy. Me, have a saving problem?!? Ha, I can still walk through my house so I must be OK. Furthermore, I can still see the carpet! Oh yeah, Gerry made me do it.

Rats, just read an e-mail from Gerry and she guessed what it is. I think I felt too sorry for her and gave her too many hints! Next time I won't be so easy on her.

Its been fun but like I wrote earlier, stop me before I ever do something like this again! Oops, I have got to go. Thanks for your patience and for humoring me!

I feel so guilty!

Man I feel so guilty! I should never have told you about Mount Sunflower since you all simply do not know better! While Kansas does have some very hilly areas and even some trees, I'm sorry to have to tell you that Mount Sunflower is not really a mountain. It is simply the highest elevation in Kansas and if you go here, you can read about it and see pictures!!! Check out the railroad spike sculpture. How to get there? Just take the only road north out of Weskan.

Here's a Kansas joke: What is the state tree of Kansas? (Answer at the end of this post)

Since we're having a guest this weekend, I'm going to spend part of the day cleaning tomorrow. Another part of the day, my husband and I are going out for lunch and probably will browse through an antique mall and drink coffee at Barnes & Noble. Notice I plan to have my entire house cleaned before lunch! Then in the evening, we're taking our guest out for dinner at a new restaurant in town.

I told you all my plans for tomorrow just to let you know that I'm not going to have enough time to finish my project. This will be the first week I haven't finished a string project.













So, ta da! You asked for it and here it is ... a photo of my project's bits and pieces. Thats the back side if you haven't figured it out. Kind of embarrassed about all the birds nests on there. Looks like I could use a refresher course on pressing too.

As soon as I sew it all together, I'll post a photo and explain why an e-mail from Gerry inspired me to make this project!

OK, so what is the state tree of Kansas?

The telephone pole! Anyone who has ever driven across Kansas on I-70 would probably agree with that. I'm afraid I don't know what the real state tree is.

I think I've been getting a little too crazy here lately so its back to my respectable self as soon as possible.

As crazy as you think!

Hmm, some of you are really wondering about my Gerry inspired project! In fact, Gerry wanted to know if its as big as Kansas? That reminded me of our "new" state tourism slogan: "Kansas - as big as you think!" So, I guess my project is as big as you think.

Kansas is 82,282 square miles. Instead, I encourage you to not think too big, maybe of something less than a yard square. You should know that I like detail work and ... well, that's enough hints for tonight.

Yesterday I entered it and my crazy quilt in the Prairie Quilt Guild's quilt show coming up in June. Even with the project being only partially finished, quilters who saw it either A. Thought I was crazy or B. Loved it!

It will be OK if you think I'm crazy too because when its done, it will be all mine, mine, mine! Interesting how we tend to identify with some of our projects more so than others. Some I am relieved to have finished, some are long term WIPs and some make me feel happy inside!

P.S. - Most people think Kansas is flat. Did you know that Kansas has a mountain? Yep, Mt. Sunflower - 4,039 feet. Wish I could show you a photo but unfortunately don't have one. Till Friday then!

Hello everyone!

Just checking in before I get back to my sewing machine!

Still working on my Gerry inspired project which also qualifies as a string project. I am really, really trying to get it done by the end of the week. Each of the 9 blocks are made of 4 subunits and if I'm not tired, it takes me about 30 minutes to piece each subunit. Of course, this involves some agonizing over string color placement. I have only 2 more blocks or 8 subunits or 4+ hours of piecing to go before I start on the also pieced border! There is also one block I may redo or I may leave it in as "humility block". Stop me before I ever try to make something like this again, please.

This afternoon, I'm going to my quilt guild meeting so I'll probably not get as much piecing done as I'd like. Better go get started again.

The sun is shining here after an inch and a half of rain yesterday. Its a great day! Hope you have one too!

String Goofy Bag finish

Here's my latest string finish - a goofy bag! Why its called a goofy bag, I have no idea but I plan to use mine to carry cosmetics or medications when I travel. I used a tutorial on Thimbleanna's blog to make it.

My photo of the top of the goofy bag did not turn out very well but I'm sure you can picture this in your mind as most cosmetic bags are made like this. It zips open on top and is fully lined.

For some reason, I struggled a little with this project. Maybe its because my computer is in one room and my sewing machine is in another. To proceed with the tutorial, I had to go back and forth between the computer and sewing machine. Inconvenient but I burned a few calories that way! Or maybe its because I didn't have a zipper and had to make a quick trip to JoAnns in the middle of making it.

The bottom photo shows how I almost got the rick rack to match! I can tell you that has never happened before. Of course, it only matches on the one side. The other side has a "whatever happens" approach!

my "Gerry Made Me Do It!" project

I spent most of today sewing on a string project which I can't tell you about quite yet. One of Gerry's e-mails inspired me to start this project. She's been trying to guess what she wrote and what I'm making but so far, she hasn't.

I already know I'm going to be making it larger than I'd planned so it will probably turn out to be next week's string project. Its a little labor intensive but I'm really liking it! I am guessing that you will all think I'm a little crazy for making it too. Hmmm, maybe I am!

So check back Saturday for this week's string finish (have no idea what it will be yet!) but keep my "Gerry Made Me Do It!" project in mind for next week!

Also...today I received a lovely card from Betty, Thank you so much! My thanks to several others of you who took time to send me some e-mail encouragement!

Where am I?

I'm sorry I haven't been posting to my blog lately. Its been kind of a discouraging week so far and every time I've wanted to sew/quilt, something has come up to keep me from it! I am hoping to sew most of the day tomorrow.

I haven't even settled on a string quilt project for this week yet so I am definitely going to have to get creative to start and finish something before Sunday. I have several projects in the works but they will all take some time (maybe weeks!) to finish.

I do have a few pictures to share of another log cabin doll quilt I recently made for Kathleen Tracy's Prairie Children Quilt challenge.

Shortly after I decided to make the log cabin doll quilt, I saw the full size quilt on the right in an antique mall. I really liked the colors and the quirky layouts the maker used!

I decided to try to follow her layout and colors. I also hand quilted each log down the center as she did. I don't think my quilt (left) has the same charm as hers but I still like it very much!

Its made entirely from Jo Morton reproduction fabrics and the logs are only one inch finished. Click on the photo for a better look at the fabrics if you'd like.

I wonder what the maker of the antique quilt was like. Why did she try so many different color and quilt layouts? Do you think she was strong and confident with her layout or is this a utility quilt she was practising on?

Years from now, will someone find my log cabin doll quilt and wonder about me? Most of all, I wonder what conclusions they will draw!