Monday, March 26, 2018

Mickey Mouse Quilt

The Boy's quilt is all ready for the LA once the backing is prepped, it is currently in the washing machine. I don't usually prewash fabrics with the exception of red or black batiks or something else that looks suspicious to me, but this wide backing seems rather stiff so I am washing it with vinegar and salt, recommended online to soften fabrics- I will let you know how it works!
The Missouri Star Quilt Co. pattern "Town Square"  turned out very well in these fabrics and I think Matthew will love it, he already wanted to take it with him when he saw some of the blocks on the design wall and best of all it went together super fast! I did cheat a bit by sewing the first two borders together before stitching them to the quilt and I rather like the effect.
He asked for MM in the middle and that is what he got, plus two other MM fabrics, the red Mickey Ears and the black print, "Mickey in Dots" I think it was called. I had the black and white zipper fabric and included it just for whimsy, I thought The Boy would like it. I have one extra block that will make a nice pillow, and just enough of the zipper fabric for binding. The size made up to about 70"x90", just nice size for his bed, can't wait to see it there.
Now I am anxious to quilt it, how though? Looking at it I am thinking a MM head outline in the black print squares and maybe some ruler work? Hmmmmm, I will think about it while the backing dries!

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Ringon Lake Completion

Well, the top is done and now it is one of eight personal quilts lined up for the LA. My version turned out 62" square, a lap quilt I guess or maybe one to fold on the end of a bed ready for a chillier night or perhaps a nap!
Rather than hanging it to photograph I just laid it out on the floor so I did not get all of it in, perhaps tomorrow I can get a better photo in the daylight.
The color is a bit off at night, so that may improve in daylight too! Construction was not fun and without a design wall I would guess too difficult to even think about. I know that not all of my sashings are correctly placed but I do not care, LOL, I am just very happy to have it all together.
 One would need to study it to figure out where it's off so IMO it does not matter.
I would love to get back to the LA now but I feel the urge to get going on The Boy's promised red, black and white quilt so tonight I ordered a digital pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Company called 
"Town Square". 
The blocks are 18" which will be perfect as I have ordered an 18" panel of Mickey Mouse to go in the middle of the quilt. This is a super easy quilt like many of the MSQC designs and should go together fast.
The poor little chap had a nasty tummy bug yesterday so I spent most of the day with him helping his mom keep him comfortable. Those things are the worst, so it was lovely to see his smiling face this morning on Facetime, happily eating toast and apple sauce. By tomorrow he will be back to regular diet. I found one of the Pedialyte flavors that had the probiotics in it so that was the first thing he had once he could hold down a little liquid. He will be excited to see I am getting on with his new quilt when he comes on Friday.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

On Ringon Lake, Continued!

Have you ever followed along to make a BH Mystery quilt? If so, then you are familiar with the process of sewing together very many little bitty pieces. Ringon Lake appears to me to be one of the most intense of BH quilts, especially with the addition of the pieced sashings.
I made all the corners first.............
 then realised after I added the first row that one of the sashings was wrong way up!
Well, I am not taking it apart so it will remain that way and no one else will ever know.
 Getting all the sashing right is intense, I soon get burned out and this is the current state. I plan to construct the longest row next and then go to the top right corner and attach two rows to it. Then I can join both corners to the middle row.
 Our little cruise with Boston family to Western Caribbean was fun.
We were allowed to take on board one bottle of wine per adult so we each brought along our very favorite red, Cooper and Thief, and enjoyed sharing a bottle almost every night.
We played cards and Mexican Train dominoes as we relaxed on board the ship.
We visited Chichenitza, one of many ancient Mayan cities connected by paved roads. The Mayans were an advanced civilization with deep knowledge of astronomy, math and engineering. Of course they also worshipped a couple of pagan idols including a snake with feathers and practiced human sacrifice.......
This amazing structure houses another complete pyramid within where royal tombs are located.
We also visited a "cenote", a sacred pool which is actually a sink hole. We went down 88 steps to water level where we were able to swim, and at first the water was freezing but after a few minutes I acclimated and enjoyed cooling off from the warmth of the day.
While we were in the pool[and I have no photos because my phone is not waterproof] we watched the filming of a new Red Bull advertisement, where a man dived off the top into the pool-twice! That was fun and if you see this ad you will know I actually witnessed the event!
I am going to try and add a bit to the BH quilt before bedtime, and I will finish this post with last week's picture of the great granddaughter, isn't she a doll?
Her great Grandmother thinks so!