Eclectic Mail Part 3

I decided which flap should go with each envelope and marked each block with a number.
There are 30 blocks.  Five blocks across and six blocks down.

Now to sew the blocks together.

All six rows are together.

Row 1 & 2, 3 & 4 and 5 & 6 are together.

Eclectic Mail Part 2

The envelope pieces are on the design wall (flannel back tablecloth).  Now to decide what flap will look good with what envelope.

Eclectic Mail Part 1

I have decided to name my quilt, "Eclectic Mail".  I mulled over a few other names, but decided on that one.

The pattern that I am using is from a video at "Missouri Star Quilt" website.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8safSWU3DSk&list=PLD5EF21A981F69C28&feature=share&index=15

In the video, she uses two layer cakes and charm packs for the border.  I had purchased yardage of  fabric, so I had to cut my own 10" squares and 2 1/2" strips.

 I cut thirty - 10" squares from "Eclectic Elements" and thirty - 10" squares of background fabric.  I placed one of each, right sides together and sewed all four sides at 1/4".   I found that chain sewing one side, and then the opposite side, worked best.  Then chaining one end and then the other.  When I tried sewing all four sides of one square, without stopping, I would end up with extra fabric on the last side.  Sewing opposite sides first, seemed to fix this problem.   Then I sliced each square from point to point, making four half square triangles.

Four HSTs form one open envelope.

 

 



 

I could not wait to see how the keyboard border would look, so I had to sew four of the 2 1/2" strips together.  I think that I should cut the others in half, before sewing, to make for a better mix in the end.  The background strips in the picture will go on before the keyboard border.

 



Tim Holtz's Eclectic Elements Fabric

Woo Hoo!!! I finally got my hands on Tim Holtz's new fabric.  It is called, "Eclectic Elements".  You will recognize the name if you enjoy art journaling and mixed media.  My second passion.

All twelve of these AWESOME fabrics will be in my next quilt.  I already have a plan.  Let the cutting begin.  Watch for progress reports.

Mug Rug

I made this Mug Rug for my Daughter.  She has been going through radiation and chemo since Thanksgiving.  She needed something fun.  These fabrics had caught her eye in my sewing room one day.  She has always loved the Disney Villainess and let's just say she enjoys being tattooed.

 

Mug rug front.

Mug rug back.

Large Tote from My Stash

I went to the Red Barn for a three day retreat at the end of February.  This is one of the projects that I wanted to finish that weekend.  It turned out so cute.  I got the idea from The Missouri Star Quilt Co.  They have a Youtube video posted on their website with full instructions.  It is called, "Three Big Bags from one Jelly Roll". 

 I used fat quarters from my stash, so I had to cut 2 strips (2 1/2 " x 22") for each jelly roll strip that it calls for.

Here is a link:  http://youtu.be/M4-41NHuFe8

 

Approximately:  19" x19" x 4"

I had such a hard time cutting into these fabrics.  They are so scrumptious.

 

This Tote was donated to the WHQG to help raise funds for the Guild.

Key to My Heart Quilt

I belong to a Quilt Bee called "The Monday Night Divas".  We are a new Bee, just a few years old and finding our way.   Last year, we exchanged 2 1/2" x WOF strips for 6-7 months.  The suggested pattern was called, "Key to My Heart", by Sweet Jane's Quilting and Design.  Some of us, made the pattern, some made it their own and one made a scrappy Trip Around the World, that turned out just beautiful.

Key to My Heart Quilt

57" x 70"

 

 

LAQ'd by Trish Lopes

The quilting is thread spools, needles, rotator cutters, pin cushions and scissors.

Love, love, love it.

 

 



Still trying to use up the yards and yards of the Butterfly fabric I purchased in three colors.

Turtles and Seashells Quilt

This quilt makes me smile.  It contains a lot of my favorites, blue, turtles, seashells and the ocean.  I finished the center a few years ago and just added the borders a few months ago.  I love this quilt and have no idea why I procrastinated so long.  UFOs seem to hide and multiply while we sleep.

 

Take Five Pattern

61" x 73"

 

LAQ'd  with blue thread in Sea Turtles

By Trish Lopes

 

 

 

The back is brown with blue and white dots.  It reminded me of beach sand.  You have to remember that my beach is Galveston Bay in Texas.  No white sand here.

Quick and Easy Table Runners

Here are a couple of table runners that I wiped up in a jiffy.  You only need two pieces of fabric and about 20 minutes. 

For birthday celebrations, one for boys

.

and one for girls.

 

 

I added a lot of buttons, because they look like chocolates.

Here are some links to the instructions and a Youtube video of the construction.

http://youtu.be/Kfg8BMUakOc

http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2013/04/easy-table-runner-pattern.html

http://www.theribbonretreat.com/blog/christmas-table-runner.html


Below is a Halloween one that I purchased at a craft show. 

Charity Quilt Finish

The Quilt Guild likes each member to turn in a  minimum of two charity quilts each year.  They use our birthday month as a memory trigger.  This is my second one for 2013.  The binding was not quite finished in 2013.  Now to get started on my two for 2014. 

 

Measures:  37" x 53"

 

I used blue and brown to make it appealing to the males.  We forget that even though the women out number the men in nursing homes, about 9 to 1, they are there.

This is the back.  My friend, Carol, shared her bolt of fabric with the Bee for QOV or charity quilts. 
I helped pass out quilts at two nursing home and the men sometimes hesitate to pick out a quilt.   When the nurses pointed out the animals or fish or birds, the men became more interested and accepted one of our quilts.

Lap Quilt for Hubby

I made this Lap Quilt for my Sweetie of  37 yrs.  It includes a foot pocket on the back per his request.
It is made from a Layer Cake.  Sliced into 3 1/2" and 6 1/2", sew two different fabrics together and slice down the middle.  This creates two 5"  x  9 1/2" pieces.  Each piece will consist of two different fabrics. Choose two pieces (four different fabrics) and flip one upside down.  Sew together for 9 1/2" blocks.  Below is a link to a tutorial by Missouri Star Quilt Co.
http://quiltingtutorials.com/all/double-slice-layer-cake-quilt-tutorial/

My Sweetie likes roses and always has rose bushes growing in the yard.  So I had it quilted in an open rose pattern by Trish Lopes.

Poker Quilt

My plan for these fabrics fell through.  DS says, "I like to play poker", when he saw the fabrics.  So, new plan.

Back of Quilt

David with his new quilt.