No, this is not mine!
This is Barbara, comfy and cozy in the Hen Den, hand quilting away on her Bristol quilt made with recycled shirts in plaids and stripes.
And you know how I feel about those fans - I would hand quilt them on EVERYTHING if I could.
I believe she has marked hers with a Crayola washout marker.
I've used them before and they are marvelous! Just be sure to test the different colors before you mark everything. Scribble on a scrap piece of fabric and throw it in the wash and see what the result is.
I have had no problem with the washout markers at all. And I love things that can be used for quilting that are not necessarily MADE for quilting.
Feet up and comfy stitching!
The pink quilt hanging behind Barbara is my Zuckerwatte quilt from String Fling.
This was a kit.
Jennifer found the kit on sale and thought it would be a perfect retreat project, capturing our little corner of the Blue Ridge mountains along the New River.
And she had it done in a flash. Way to go!
Michelle's Butterfly Kisses blocks - nearly done!
Her fabrics came from a selection of hand dyed fabrics that have been waiting for the perfect project. This is it!
Simply wonderful!
This fun little nine patch is Tonni's. She is making it with nine patches made from the leftover strip sets from her Silk Path finish. I love how the diagonal rows switch from nine-patches with dark corners to nine-patches with light corners. So striking!
As for me? Quilting up more challenge projects!
There were three to quilt when I walked in the door yesterday. It was the last full day of retreat so they needed to be quilted on the speedy.
I love how they all turned out just a bit different!
And I really liked being able to mount them one after another with one big piece of yardage as backing.
It helped use up some batting scraps too!
We caught Flash on camera!
This is very zoomed in from behind the back door window -
When Tula was dumped off somewhere around January 2023 (Or at least that is the first time I saw her going in the window at the Old General Store next to the QPO.) she had 2 other cats - assumed to be littermates - with her.
At this time they were all VERY feral. One got hit by a truck and Hubster Dave buried that one.
And then Tula showed up on the inn porch for the February Quiltvillians last year (2023) and figured out we were a safe and friendly place and has stayed.
Flash, however, is still so very feral that you'll only catch him out of the corner of your eye and then he is GONE - in a flash -
We are assuming he is male by his build and the fact that there are no kittens around by this point.
At some point I'd like to catch him and get him seen to and fixed -
One point this winter I pulled in the drive, coming to feed Tula while the inn wasn't occupied and they both came out of her little heated kitty cabin.
And that's all we know about Flash so far. I'm surprised I could even get this photo.
And as soon as i snapped it - he was gone. In a flash.
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Winner takes ALL!
And I mean - ALL. Tonni won the all of the 2.5'' strips on game night, AND - won both the cuss jar and the rip jar!
You gotta be in it to win it - and evidently she put in her own share of cussing and ripping. LOL!
THIS HAPPENED!
My Ladder Star blocks are together - and while I was thinking borders...and I am still thinking borders...I think I may simplify them a bit.
At this time it's just over 60'' square and that's not even big enough to nap on the couch with.
The main argument for borders? "Did you deplete the drawer of shirt strips?" "No." "Keep sewing." "OK."
(And don't tell me you don't have these conversations with yourself either - I'm not buying it!)
At any rate, Click to Play:
I'm so happy it is together!
The block pattern for Ladder Star (with Quiltmaker directions) is found in the October/November 2016 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine in my Addicted to Scraps column. Digital copies can be purchased HERE.
My PDF pattern for Ladder Star (with MY directions including Essential Triangle Tool) will be available when the quilt is quilted, bound, sleeved and labeled. Stay tuned. This one just may be my next hand quilting project so it may be a while.
Some projects are quick, others - I enjoy the slow lane and the extra time I get to spend with them.
Today - it's check out day for the March Quiltvillians.
That means it's a laundry all day kind of day - with border building for the Ladder Star in my future.
Maybe a walk in the afternoon? Sounds good to me.
How are things in your neck of the woods?
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
I love what Sandra Kring wrote:
"The Tiny Seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered with darkness, and struggle to reach the light."
Keep pushing through the dirt and reaching up!
Have a great Tuesday, everyone!
What is that blue thing in Barbara's hand while she is quilting?
ReplyDeleteTHERE must be one of those "invisible" signs near your place that says "Cats welcome here" -- smiles -- the ladies leaving today are going to have a very special little quilt to take home... it should say on the label "Quilted by Bonnie Hunter"... (there might be a lot to put on a very cute quilt label) when you post your encouraging words on a quilt and say, "found" at... are these quilts you've adopted or pictures of "founds" ??? amd ;eft?? notes and queries from Cats in Carlsbad CA xo xo
ReplyDeleteOh I am really excited about this one! Shirts are to cut strips.....
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy seeing what you are working on and your comments. Truly miss quilt cam, but I understand.. rural living snd such. Someday I’d love to go on one of your craft tours… have a great week Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing the quilts on the design boards. Such a wide diversity. Great job everyone
ReplyDeleteThe Ladder Star simply sparkles--GORGEOUS quilt, Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteYour Ladder Star quilt is gorgeous! Borders? Here's my 2 cents worth. In the pic where you share the top, it's laying on a gray mat on the right. I like how that solidness stops the pattern and makes the grays pop in the quilt.
ReplyDeleteLove that you quilted the Challenge Projects for the Quiltvillians! What a treasure for them to take home!
I have to ask, Bonnie, is the New River that you speak of the same New River that runs through Big South Park?
I'm curious, what is in Barbara's hand as she's hand quilting? Love the Ladder Star top!
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful Flash found a warm space and Tula has her friend back!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the blue object in Barbara's hand in the first photo of today's post? I'm also a hand quilter, but have never seen this. Thanks! – Linda
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering the same thing, what is in Barbara's hand?????
DeleteCould be a needle puller very useful item
DeleteLove your new quilt and delighted to learn about Flash. I had wondered what happened to Tula's litter mates. Glad he and Tula get along together. 😊
ReplyDeleteI would like to buy the digital Quiltmaker mag. but the choices are Nov./Dec or Sept./ Oct. 2016, No Oct./Nov.2016 choice... do you remember which one has the Latter Star Block? Happy Sewing!
ReplyDeleteI found the pattern for Ladder Star in the Nov/Dec 2016 issue of Quiltmaker.
DeleteLove the Ladder Quilt! It makes me want to cut up some more of my Shirt Stash. Flash is evasive, huh? Tula is keeping him a secret, lol I'm finishing up a Challenge Quilt that needs to be delivered this week. Can't wait to see it at our next Guild Meeting.
ReplyDeleteI was curious (like Kay) as to what that tool Barbara was wearing on her hand. I couldn't wait for an answer here so I googled hand quilting tools and found that it is a combination tool -- Needle Puller, 3 in 1 Thread Cutter Sewing Thimble Shielded Protector Pin Needles Quilting Craft Accessories DIY Sewing Tools(Blue). I think the white knob you push in and on the other side a metal piece can grab the needle to make it easier to pull the needle through the layers of fabric. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteHow does one win the RIP JAR and/or the CUSS JAR? Do the most ripping and/or cussing? These girls are so lucky to first of all get to go to quilt camp with Bonnie, and then to have their challenge quilted by her too!
ReplyDeleteAnd I also would like to know about the blue thing!
Jane in Oz
I, too, wondered about the blue thing in Barbara's hand - so I googled "hand quilting needle assist" - and there it was, first in pink then in blue, and there were other things to help pull needles through quilts as well. That ladder quilt is really different - so many plaids and checks - it is stunning. Looking forward to the finish!
ReplyDeleteSo my fan quilting template is a paint stir stick from the late 1950s that my Granddad drilled holes in. The holes fit the point of a number 2 pencil.
ReplyDeleteMy fan quilting template is a paint stir stick from the late 1950s that my Granddad drilled holes in about an inch apart. The holes are perfect for a number 2 pencil.
ReplyDelete