Beyond the Basics

A couple years back, I was the program director for the Hearts N Hands Quilt Guild in O'Fallon, IL.  As program director, one is always looking for ways the guild members.  I chose this sampler by Elizabeth Lake for our members.    Two years later, I finally finished my quilt and it is on the frame ready to quilt.  Now comes the next test.  How to quilt it??

Merry Go Round

One of the guilds I belong to has a piecing group and as it was my turn to hand out, I chose this pattern I found in the American Patchwork & Quilting magazine from Feb 2012 called Merry Go Round by Kimberly Walus.  The main section of the quilt is pieced and I  will chose the outside border tomorrow, when my friend and sewing companions gather for our weekly meeting.   They are wonderful to help me when I am stuck on which fabric is right for a certain quilt.  As soon as I pick the border it will go into the waiting stack to be quilted.  I think It will number 18.

 It is always great to share our accomplishments and get feedback when it is needed.

A Checkered Past

In October, friends and I made a road trip to quilt shops around Missouri.  I found this pattern "A Checkered Past" by Sherri Hisey and thought it would be great to use up my large collection of     scraps.  After months of piecing, the quilt is pieced at last.  I love it and will probably make it again.
Now it goes into the "to be quilted stack".  This is a stack that must be tackled sooner than later.

Twelve Years Later

In 2014, my daughter and family were moving to Alexandria MN to buy a dairy farm.
We all were so excited they were going to be able to have their own place.  Of course, Mom had to visit and make sure all was OK.  I loved they town which boasted of 4 quilt shops.
One such shop had a kit called "Colorful Quilts - Journey" Sampler.  I bought the kit.
I have no idea why as the color combination was not my style.

At that time, I bought anything in the hopes I would learn to love it.  I started the blocks but could never finish them.  For years, I have pulled the project, considered giving it away, and then returned it to the drawer for future review.

Recently, the project came out again.  I sew with cousins (one day a week) and took it as a show in tell.  Finally, I had decided to put it on the free table at guild meeting.  My cousin said she wanted it.  So home it went and I have committed to make a block a day until it is finished.

There are 18  blocks all total.  Some I truly do not like and have decided to replace these with sampler blocks from another pattern.

To date there are 10 blocks done...here they are.