Fun new patterns

We did a lot of traveling this summer.  I was lucky enough to visit many special places (Dallas, Brianhead, UT; North Rim, Grand Canyon; Glacier National Park, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Parks).  And my friends and husband took me to many fun quilt shops. 

I picked up some fun new patterns along the way.  They are just fun, easy (hopefully) patterns.

I love this jacket and can't wait to make my own.  But it isn't sweatshirt season here in the desert yet and that's the base of this project.  I think I'll start with red since it's my favorite color.  I have several friends ready to make one too.

These notebooks sure look cute and fun to make.  I'm hoping I can adapt the pattern to make a fun Ipad cover.

And I've always wanted to make a casserole dish cover.  My friend thought it would be a nice wedding shower gift to make one, include the 8 X 8" or 9 X 13" pan, add a recipe and a grocery store gift card.  It could also be nice to make, fill the pan with your favorite casserole dish and take it to friend or family for dinner.  What's your idea?

Great book - read it again!

I just finished a re-read on this book.  I read it many years ago and a friend mentioned it to me recently.  So I checked it out from the library and finished it again.

It is pretty quirky but fabulous too.  It's not too long either.  It is highly recommended.

August UFO

I am staying on track with finishing one UFO a month.  Well, this one is really fabulous.  Of course, I am somewhat biased!  But really, it's the pattern that is fabulous.  This is called Mandala.  The pattern was published in an Australian quilt magazine many years ago. 

This is a variation of the traditional Drunkards Path. It was making 700+ of the same curved pieces, the arc and center.  Then you follow the picture for light and dark placement.  I started it in a class.  We all traded small floral strip sets.  The idea was fabulous.  I just love this quilt and could make another one.  It is big, 91" X 91" and took some time to finish.

Here's a closer look at the block and a snapshot of the sweet rosebud fabric I used for the back.  And don't forget your quilt label!

Some New Quilt books

It's been awhile since I bought a new quilt book.  These arrived from Amazon right before our last vacation. 

I just love Piece o' Cake designs!  I tried to resist this book.  Then I showed the email pictures to my daughter and she said I HAD to buy the book so I could make her this quilt:

So I bought it for her (have to blame it on somebody).  Don't know when I'll get busy on the quilt.  I do love applique and it's been a long time since I had one of these projects.

This is the other book that arrived:

It's embarrassing to admit, but I already had this book.  But I lent it to someone, can't remember who and just decided to buy it again!  Now I'd better make something from it!

Another good book!

It's summer and oh so hot!  We always have extreme heat here and for some reason I love to read or listen in the late afternoons.  So I catch up on all those books I've been wanting to read.  Here is my latest.  I think I've checked it out from the library two previous times and didn't have time to get it done.

This was a New York Times Best Seller and very intense.  It's about a mute boy with his own language.  The family breeds dogs and there's a ghost around somewhere.  It's a twist on Hamlet.  I highly recommend this one.  It's not an easy read though, takes some concentration.

Quick and Easy Project

This is truly a quick and easy project, I'm talking 30 minutes!  It's a boutique tissue cover.  I bought the pattern (just a page) in Texas and found some cute telephone fabric.  The pattern is from the Quilt Company. 

Like I said, it took about 30 minutes to turn the supplies into this:

Oops, I'd better go.  Looks like I have a message!

Another Book

This was another book I've "read" lately.  I really enjoy these fun mysteries by Laura Lippman.  They are perfect for listening to while I sew.  This was definitely another good one.

Tess gets in the middle of another murder to solve and prove a friend's innocence.  It did not fail to entertain me and I'll be looking for another one of hers soon.

Prep Time

I've finished several quick and easy scrap quilts.  So I promised myself I would machine quilt these myself.  They are a great size to handle with my machine at the kitchen table. I'll probably donate them in the fall to a charity doing a blanket drive.  I will add a label to the back that says "Something to keep you warm on a cold night".  I even pieced together bigger scrap pieces for the backings.  The prep is tedious, especially when you have several to get done.  I have a little help from our dog, or so she thinks.

I've learned to work around her.  Fiona just loves anything soft to lay on.  The next picture shows her on the backing before I have a chance to get the other layers together.

By the way, isn't that some fabulous backing fabric?  It's for a quick and easy cowboy quilt.  I'll have some pictures of finished projects soon.  Time to do some machine quilting!