My Mom's Quilt

I have posted this in the past, but feeling a bit nostalgic tonight. My Grandmother made this quilt for my Mom in the mid-to-late 1930s. She used feed sacks that my Mom picked out at the grain store. How cool is that?

I am trying to figure out what to do with it...other than store it in a drawer :)

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/48

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and will have a safe New Year holiday! I have some progress on my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt as I was able to stitch together another section. This week the goal is to get this section attached to the main quilt.



I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts! Come join the fun!
- Allison

Sewing Room Madness!

After the Christmas rush, I realized my sewing room was a complete disaster!  Our basement is also a family room, but it certainly has become my "Sewing Cave" and not the "Man Cave" my husband had planned :)

This is what my room looked like earlier today:

A few hours later and we are ready to begin the madness again!  I really do have to sell the extra quilting frame that I have.....it really makes the walking space tight!

Now....identifying all those unfinished projects and making that 2015 bucket list!

A Few Christmas Projects

So thankful that finals are over and I had a chance to finish some projects just in time for Christmas!

Here is a Christmas tree skirt I made for my daughter.  I used the Quilt As You Go Made Modern method.  It was really fun and perfect for this project.

I also made my great-niece a cute quilt using this quilting method.  This was the first quilt label that I also made on my Brother PE-770 using a design created by my sister of Ladder Hill Design.

I made my sister-in-law (and best friend) a quilt from a Missouri Quilt Co. book and tutorial using Phoebe fabric line.

I made my niece and her new husband a quilt using S'More Love and the Teacup Quilt pattern by Missouri Quilt Co.  This was also only the second quilt I quilted on my HQ Avante.

And I made some adorable backpacks for my grandchildren, Gracie and Carter.

That's it....Two weeks worth of work.  I absolutely loved every minute, although I will work harder to be more organized in 2015!  LOL!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/47

Even though I had finals last week and I am still sewing Christmas presents, I managed a little work on my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  After all, every bit counts!!!

I'm linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/45

Life has been so crazy...again...whose idea was graduate school?  All I keep thinking about is all the stitching I am missing!  :)  I have found myself posting to Instagram much more than my blog, but I am going to try to do better.

The awesome news is that I have completed all the flowers for my Grandmother's Flower Garden!  Woo hoo!  Here is the very last one I stitched:

And here is what I have to work with:

And I have basted another 50 background hexies:

So you may be wondering what all my counts are :) I have stitched together 925 - 1 1/2" hexagons.  Just totally amazing!  I started this project 4th of July weekend in 2013.  I am starting to see the end in sight.

I want to end this blog post with a personal endeavor.  I have received my Grandmother's 1924 Singer 66 Treadle machine.  I am going to refurbish it so that I can use it.  It has a lot of sentimental value and there is something so cool about getting back to basics.  No electricity...just good old foot power.  I thought I would share a picture of the sewing machine and of course included my GFG project!

I feel so thankful for all of you and for Jessica's effort to keep the Monday Morning Star Count alive!  I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts and all the wonderful people I have met that are so encouraging!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/43

Wow!  I had the busiest week ever, but so every free moment I worked on EPP.  So excited that I finished 5 flowers.  I only have 9 more to go!  I am going to try to complete the last 9 before Thanksgiving :)  then on to the background hexagons!  And I have to start thinking about backing and whether I should hand quilt....so much left to do!  Any suggestions...machine quilt or hand quilt?

Linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts for Monday Morning Star Count!  Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/42

Whose idea was graduate school anyway?  :)  That's what I think when I see my EPP sitting beside me and I have to research and write papers!  I know it will be worth it in the end, but I really, really, want to stitch!!  LOL!

Well, I did manage to complete 4 papers this week and squeezed in stitching for a mental break. This is the best I have been able to do for a while.  I completed 3 flowers and counted up what I have left to complete.  So...I have 13 flowers left to complete!  Woo hoo!!  Then I can focus on basting background pieces and putting it all together.  This is my first EPP project  and I started it in July 2013 and I am anxious to put it together :)

Here is this week's progress:

So fortunate to be a part of Monday Morning Star Count!  Thank you Jessica at Life Under Quilts!  Thank you all for your wonderful support too!  I love watching all your progress and projects even when I cannot find time to stitch!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/40

Feeling pretty good that I at least managed to stitch up two flowers this week!  I tried timing myself and it takes me nearly an hour to stitch one full flower.  These are 1 1/2" hexies.  I don't know if that is slow or fast, but I guess it is what it is :)  I don't want to rush and I actually enjoy taking my time stitching.  The rest of my life is so much of a rush that I look forward to stitching and I don't want to ruin it!  EPP is the best stress therapy ever!

So here are my flowers for this week:

This week I want to measure the quilt, figure out how many more flowers and background hexagons I need to complete the queen size quilt.  I would also love to get three flowers done :)

Feeling fortunate to be linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts.  What a wonderful group and so inspiring to see all your projects!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/39

I so wish I had more time to stitch!  Even though I was distracted by other obligations, I still managed to complete one flower :)  I have been working on this project since July 2013.  

I absolutely love the project, the fabrics, and the peacefulness that EPP brings to my chaotic life.  I swore I would not start another EPP project until I finished this one, but I don't think I can hold back!  I have picked a pattern out of Jessica's EPP book, Quilting on the Go.  I am on a search for just the perfect fabric...or maybe I should use scraps...hmmm..so many choices!  As soon as I decide on fabric, I will post, but I am not going to reveal the project :) let's see if you can guess!

Here is the flower of the week:

Feeling very lucky to be part of such a wonderful group of fellow EPP'ers that bring a boatload of inspiration each week!  Thank you Jessica at Life Under Quilts for hosting the Monday Morning Star Count!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/38

Another busy week juggling work, graduate school, and family....well, and just a bit of EPP :)  For some reason my EPP work bin was a wreck and so I spent some time organizing before stitching up a flower.

Here is my newly organized EPP bin:

And here is my lovely flower:

So this week I reallly want to time my stitching.  I am very curious how long it takes to complete one flower.  I don't think I am very fast :( but I do love stitching!  Very happy to be linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts! Stop by and see some of the beautiful work and be inspired!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/37

Another busy week....I guess that is not going to change any time soon.  I did not get as much time as I would have liked to work on my EPP project, but at least I finished another flower with background hexagons.  I think I jinx myself by hoping each week I find more time....so this week I am just going to believe I will find more time and see if that works :)

Here is what I finished:

I do have to say that the encouraging comments from last week's post really kept me focused on getting 'something' done this week!  Thank you all for stopping by and making me smile!  I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts for the Monday Morning Star Count.  Thanks Jessica!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/36

Oh my....time flies...I have not stitched or posted in many weeks!  I guess the summer got away from me - lots of time with the children and grandchildren, but now everyone is back to school :) and I can stitch again!  LOL!

I stitched one flower section and cut about 50 background fabric squares.

Looking forward to lots of stitching in the coming weeks!  I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts for the Monday Morning Star Count!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/30

Crazy couple of weeks!  I didn't even find time to post last week!  Graduate School is taking a lot more time than I anticipated. This is what I have done over the last two weeks...not a lot, but it still counts! 

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/28

Crazy busy week!  Lots of time at work and I started a new graduate class and it always takes me a week or two to adjust.  I did manage to finish stitching the two main sections together and determining placement for more flowers.  Trying to make progress, but not get stressed if I just don't have time.  After all, this is the one thing that is meant to be relaxing :)

Linking up with Jess at Life Under Quilts!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/27

I really think that this has been my most productive week to date and it is so rewarding!  I stitched several flowers into a section and then began to join two sections together.  It is really starting to look like a quilt :)  It currently measures 52" at its widest point and has convinced me that I can do this!

Because I keep going between our summer place and home, I decided to keep large piece and all the flower sections  at our summer place.  I seem to have more time there to focus and design.  And I find the ocean so inspiring!  In the picture below, the flower sections that still need to be attached are stacked and sorted by color value.  I have 39 to join at this point.

Also in the picture below is a Ziploc bag of my remaining hexagons that need to be stitched into flowers and have background hexies attached.  I will keep this baggie at home where my time is more constrained.

I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts for Monday Morning Star Count.  Stop by and check out the wonderful progress or join us and get your own dose of inspiration and encouragement!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/26

Wow!  Are we really half-way through the 2014 MMSC?  Time does fly!  Two of my grandchildren spent the week with us at the beach so I didn't get as much stitching in as I would have liked, but really enjoyed the time with them :)  Although Gracie was a little upset I forgot her EPP kit, she did help me with mine by going through my hexie box and arranging flowers and threading my needle.  Here they are on the beach.

So here is what I was able to get done.  I completed this full section:

I have about 26 more sections to create and here is my stack of 41 sections ready to be stitched:

This is the first section I created along with this one:

At this point I am thinking I may have too many sections, but only time will tell.  I am at my 1 year anniversary of starting this quilt this weekend.  This is my very first project and although I am anxious to see it completed, I am so enjoying the process.  So thankful to Jessica for her knowledge, book, blog, and Monday Morning Star Count.  Come visit her at Life Under Quilts and join the MMSC!  It is a great group of people and if it weren't for the encouragement, I don't know if I would be making so much progress!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/25

Another successful week...and I call any week I am able to get some EPP in, a successful week!  Since we split our time each week between our camper and our home, I set up two kits; one for each place. This seemed like a good idea, because then I don't have to carry everything back and forth.  I am still working out the logistics, but so far it is working pretty well.

While at home this week, I basted 30 background hexagons.  Traveling between places I completed one flower.  While camping, I was able to stitch two sections together.

I have finally settled on my favorite thimble - the Clover Natural Leather thimble.  I have one in each kit now and and could not imagine stitching without it!  Thank you to everyone who made suggestions!  I swear I must own 20 different thimbles!

My latest favorite gadget is the Sewline Needle Threader.  It works great with the smaller size needles and finer threads.  I use a size 10 needle and 50 weight thread.  It works every single time.  I love it and just ordered a second one so I don't have to carry it back and forth.

I have 25 flowers left to complete and lots of stitching to get it all put together! I will hit one year working on this project next week.  This is my very first project and I am so thankful for everyone who has helped me along the way.  I have learned so much from everyone! 

I am  linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts.   Check it out  and  you  may just want to join us!   Also, check out Jessica's book -- Quilting On The Go - it is awesome - full of tips and projects and great for everyone from beginner to experienced!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/24

Another good week, although very busy with work, I still was able to complete 3 flowers and teach someone how to EPP!

Here are the three flowers I completed, which leaves me with 28 left to complete.

So, I was fortunate enough to spend some time with a friend's daughter (19) and teach her how to EPP!  It was a lot of fun and I taught her on 2" hexagons so the piece will grow fast.  She did great!  She basted 19 hexagons and sewed 3 of them together.  I forgot to take a picture, but trust me, she did a wonderful job!

What I do want to share with you, is what happens when you are teaching someone and don't quite pay enough attention to what you are stitching:

Yes, that's right....the polka dot print is the center of the flower ;)  I helped Jackie with her stitching and then picked up my own stitching and didn't check the line up...just started stitching!  LOL!  At least it was only one side and was easy to rip out.

Just love linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts! 

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/23

I must confess...the weather was so beautiful that I was pleasantly distracted and spent some time gardening and camping.  I still found time to complete three flowers and packed a travel kit for our two hour trip home.  I had never tried to stitch during a trip, but Jessica inspired me to try it.  I actually enjoyed it and it was not as hard as I thought it would be.

Here are the three flowers I completed prior to setting out on our journey home.  I used a ziploc freezer bag and packed supplies and extra hexies.

Here is the flower I completed on the road:

So 4 flowers down and 32 left to go!  Oh and I had better getting busy sewing them together!

I am so happy to be linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts!  Come and check out everyone's progress!

Monday Morning Star Count - 2014/22

A week with a little bit of everything!  I sorted out all my basted hexies and have 36 more flowers to stitch.

I stitched 3 more flowers:

And added the yellow stripe section that is on the left to the main quilt:

I guess I suffered from "EPP ADD" LOL!  I couldn't seem to stick with one thing all week!

I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts for the Monday Morning Star Count. Come join us!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/21

Another busy week and lots of family time, which is always awesome!  I played around with placement for my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  So many choices!  One part of me just wants to plan as I go and the oh so very analytical side of me wants to plan it out!  Decisons, decisions, decisions :)

Had my Mother's Day Gift setup.  Here is my new HandiQuilter Avante (gosh I have a wonderful husband!).  I am calling her Lady A; My Grandmother's name was Alma and she sure was a wonderful grandmother :)  I figure "Lady A" could stand for Alma, Allison, or Avante :)

And my daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren spent the weekend with us camping in Maine.  Although it was hectic I still managed to stitch 4 new hexagon flowers for the GFG quilt.

I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts for the Monday Morning Star Count!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/20

The weather finally has turned beautiful and everything is starting to bloom.  It certainly had me full of energy and anxious to make more progress on my Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.

I was able to add the border hexies to 9 sections and basted 30 ivory border hexies.  I have enough color variation to really start playing with additional layout options.  Here are the 9 sections for this week.

This week I will focus on stitching a section together and possibly connecting to the first section I completed (below):

So grateful for the enthusiasm and support of the wonderful people who are linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts.  You are a talented bunch :) and every week I learn something new!  Thank you Jessica for bringing all of us together and sharing your passion with us!

Monday Morning Star Count 2014/19

Another crazy week, but still decent progress.  I was able to complete 3 flowers and baste 15 border hexagons.  I really enjoy the slower pace of hand-stitching when everything around me is so crazy busy!

I am linking up with Jessica at Life Under Quilts for the Monday Morning Star Count!  Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day and can't wait to view everyone's progress!

Monday Morning Star Count - 2014/18

Why do I always overestimate what I can accomplish?  Well, I guess it is better to aim high and fall a little short, than not to aim at all!

I spent most of this week finishing quilts for our camper and then working with my husband to open up the camper, put up the summer room, etc.

The good news is, that I packed up a sewing kit to leave in the camper since we will be spending half of our time here until the Fall.  And as you can see, I finished two flowers.

I finally got to see how the quilt I made for our bed in the camper would actually fit and I love it!  Nice to see that my measurements were actually very accurate.  While I was making it, I was crossing my fingers that I did not miscalculate anything as there was no way for me to test it out until Spring!

So here is to more progress next week!  Thanks to Jessica at Life Under Quilts for allowing me to participate in the Monday  Morning Star Count!  You are a wonderful group of people and I love watching your progress and wonderful projects!