On the design wall

My life seems to run on what project for a group I'm working on. I'm presently binding the table runner for Happy Scrapper's 
  I have now started the Tall and Skinny challenge. Granted it's due this month, but I may make it in time. It's in progress anyway.  It's going to be done with Kaffe Fassett materials and the backing will be on this stripe I picked up at the HQS and a black swirl on white.  Definitely out of my box.  So far, I'm enjoying getting better at my machine applique.

Tall and Skinny block one 

On another note, I took these pictures of orchards given to me by a friend Betty.  Her husband had raised these beauties in his hot house.  Aren't they lovely?

Knitting wise, I'm working on sock two for my first pair, and I've almost finished my Christmas stocking.

What I've been working on

This isn't current, but my latest knit project to finish.  I'm now working on my second sock and a Christmas stocking.  I sure enjoy my Friday knitting group and now I'm finishing more projects.

 

Thursday at the Beaumont Guild meeting the program was given by Besty Chutchian.  She made quilts based on a dairy from 1800's.  She told about her great great grandmother and her life after moving to Texas.  The book is called Gone to Texas.  On Saturday I went to her workshop and we made this block.  It finishes 12.5 inches and has lots of pieces.  I really had a good time!  I'm definitely doing this quilt.

 

 

This table runner is for the Christmas exchange at Happy Scrapper's party.  I took left over log cabin blocks and turned them on point.  To add more to it I decided to add the applique.  I used my Go cutter and two different dies to cut the flowers and leaves.  Since it's fusible I did a simple button hole stitch on the machine.  Granted it took most of the day, I have it done so now all I need to do is quilt it and bind it.  I should have that done soon.

More from Houston

Finally turned on my computer to retrieve this picture from my email.  Now that I have an Ipad I rarely use my computer.  I had so much fun at the Quilt show and Joan was such a great traveling companion.  We were leaving that last day and saw some folks taking pictures under this sign, so we got them to take our picture.

News from here and there

Our latest project with Slightly Bias Bee is to make baby or young children quilts for the Children's hospital in New Orleans.  I ended up using the block I had previously made for a border.  I think I see a mistake in the lower right corner, but it's quilted now so can't help that.My friend quilted it on her machine for me, while I pretty much watched. Very nice friend to do that.  We also are doing receiving blankets for new born babies whose mothers have none for their babies. 

Since I posted last I've been to the Houston Quilt Show.  I had a good time shopping and looking at quilts.  I didn't buy much, but I looked a lot.  I didn't see a lot of folks I knew, but meet a lot a nice people. 

One quilt I was really interested in was this Carrie Hall quilt I've been working on.  The makers of this quilt substituted this beautiful block for one in the pattern.  I would love to add this to mine but have to figure out how to enlarge the small picture I have.  Then I would like to finish this quilt.  I love the added features they put into the quilt and the quilting which was all echo quilting.  Beautiful quilt.

This quilt was done by Mono Riddick from the Beaumont group.  She did this all by hand even the quilting.  It turned out beautifully.  I talked with her about this quilt at a retreat 2 years ago and I still want to do this some day by hand.