How beautiful the weather has been in February in Oklahoma

The weather in February 2016 has been beautiful!  Sunny days and temperatures over 65 degrees, but no rain so there have been many fires.  I think after a couple of days of the area firemen fighting the grass fires, and finally they are out.  Yea! to that.

Yesterday, girlfriends and I attended the Vintage Tulsa Show.  What great finds there were at the show.  It was good seeing all the things at the show.  While I didn't get any pictures, I did get a picture of these vintage Pyrex bowls.  Although it seems like I can't imagine these being called "vintage" as I used them years ago in my kitchen.  I think I probably sold them at a garage sale because something new and prettier came along.  Who would know that in my lifetime they would be worth so much?

I did find some very pretty quilts that I did not get pictures of.  There were many and none were the same pattern.  It was difficult not bringing them home with me.

I did, however, come home with some vintage quilt tops.

This one looks like a modified Friendship Star in pinks, blues, yellows and pinks with muslin sashing.

Do you see this Double Wedding Ring?  Gorgeous!

Then a beautiful Courthouse Steps in all kinds of pinks and a few corals with muslin.  I just love the looks of these three quilt tops.  I will team them up with a quality muslin backing to keep with the vintage nature of these tops and quilt them using "Stanley" our long arm quilting machine.  They will be wonderful additions to my collection of vintage quilts.

  

I have also been working on my kite block quilt.  Still making some adjustments to the construction of the block so that all the corners meet in just the right places.  I have chosen some option fabrics for the preliminary selection.  They should be in next week sometime.  I can't wait until they get here so that I can try them out on this block.  Making progress.  I will keep you posted!

What projects have you been working on lately?  Any new projects?  UFO's?  Share them here, I would love to see your work.

Have a great quilting week!

Glenda

Beautiful finds on a recent trip to McKinney, Tx

On a recent trip to McKinney, Tx last week, I got a chance to rummage through some antique stores along the way and in downtown McKinney.

There were some reveals of once loved sewing machines, but since thrown into some place where they were not cared for very well.  So sad to see them in this kind of condition.

There was also a cobblers sewing machine.  So neat to see it.

This one had an 1885 date, I think.  Not sure if that was the date of the machine or not.  Someone might know.

There was a beautiful period gown for a beautiful southern girl.

So sad to see this machine in such a state of misuse.  I'm sure some time ago this machine was very loved.

Then there were some beautiful quilts.  There was not one like another.  It was so much fun finding these like a treasure hunt.

A nine patch

A red and white checked

A very large hexie

One with some embroidery

Then I happened into a cute coffee house where I found 2 chairs that had been slip covered with patchwork that was the cutest and so comfortable to sit a bit and sip a cup of coffee and just enjoy the chatter of those who had stopped to rest a bit and sip their coffee while discussing whatever they had chosen to speak about.

A building that used to be a bank in it's hay day.  Now it has been turned into a clock and jewelry shop.  So nice to see this downtown revived and becoming a nice and inviting place to shop and spend the day.

Is this a churn dash?  I know there a two block designs that are very similar.  Regardless, I loved seeing all the quilts.

And then there were also some doll quilts.  Churn dash and sailboats?  So cute!

And then some more quilts.

Some flying geese, and pinwheels, more quilts.....
















A melon quilt of some kind.  Very nice quilts for sure.

What wonderful finds did you find in your travels this past week, or month.  Passion in what you love most is a great thing to enjoy.

Have a Happy Quilting month!

Glenda

My newest project, a new quilt design.......

I have been pretty sporadic at posting on my blog since before Christmas.  The main reason is, I've been working on different projects and mainly I've been working on a new quilt design.  Here are some sneak peaks at my attempts at making the "perfect" block.

First, to cut the correct angle for the half square triangle part of the block. I was using Fons and Porters Half and Quarter Square Triangle Ruler.  It came in handy.

Then, what colors do I want to do the half square triangle to be?  I have some pink and cream for a nice contrast.

Oh, Then add a 60 degree triangle in a nice scale print.  I like the green floral print for this.  Do you see a kite?  Excellant!  That is the part of the block design that I started with.

Then, put the first 2 blocks together.  Hmmmm.....not sure I like what happened on the corners of the pink and cream half square triangles.

Next attempt for all 4 of the blocks when I put them together.  Nope, looks like a did a bad piecing job.  The judges would point that out at a quilt show.  Don't want that.

Also tried to use green and a different light on the outer pieces instead of the same dark.  Green is my choice here.  For the design I am going for, the 2 different colors won't work for my design.  What design?  Oh, you will have to be very patient for me to reveal the whole look of the quilt.  I can say, there are 2 design elements that come to play once the blocks are pieced together into a quilt.  You will have to wait............lol

Ok, after many attempts at making the block so that the points of the pinwheel are perfect, I am close with this version of the block with 4 blocks pieced together.  Mind you, I started with the kite, put 4 blocks together and what happened?  I have a pinwheel in the center.  Isn't it amazing how you can spin a block in different directions to get a totally different design?  You can do the same with your choice of fabrics.  It can make a pattern look totally different than another one.

Next step is going fabric shopping (oh I hate that) and see if I can come up with colors and designs of fabrics that is something close to the fabrics that I have used in my sample blocks.  I really like these fabrics for this quilt, but I was using fat quarters from my stash that I sometimes use for making sample blocks.

You will have to hang in there to see what I come up with.  More to follow in the next months. Stay tuned.

What are your newest projects?  Cleaning up your UFO's?  Something new?  Organization in your sewing/quilting space?  Share here if you like.  I would love to see what you are working on.

Happy quilting!

Glenda