Flying Squares

This weekend was not very productive quilt-wise.

Sometimes I get stuck in an inspirationless void. That is where I was this weekend. On Saturday morning, I spent some time surfing the Internet looking for that spark that would get me motivated. I did find some ideas for using up some of my scraps but grocery shopping and errands found their way ahead of quilting that day.

Saturday night I sat down in the studio in front of my sewing machine and pieced strings onto foundations. This is quite mindless sewing and something I rely on it when I am not sure what else to work on. At lease if I am working on using the bits in the string bin, I feel productive because i am using up bits of fabric that I have been saving for a while.

I spent some time this morning trying to figure out how a particular scrap quilt was constructed. I had printed a picture off of the Internet at one time and it was pasted into my inspiration book. It was made from squares and rectangles. I finally sketched it out onto paper and made note of the construction steps.

Later on I was chatting with LindaJ on line and I showed her a scan of the quilt that had piqued my interest. LindaJ recognized the quilt block and said it was called Flying Squares. LindaJ said that this is a very old pattern printed in about 1895. This is a link the Quilter's Cache site if you are interested in making this block.

http://www.quilterscache.com/F/FlyingSquaresBlock.html

The picture t the top of this post is of the first four blocks that I made today. My blocks are sashed on the left and bottom sides with 2 1/2" squares. I am adding the sashing as I piece the blocks.

I am using 2 1/2" squares from one of my pre-cut squares bins. I have not found it particularly useful to have a stash of pre-cut 2 1/2" squares on hand so I don't cut them anymore. I would really like to use up the bin of squares already cut so making this quilt will help.

Crayon Box Quilt & Charm Party Tote

Today was the last day of my vacation. I have more leave coming up, but this was the last day for this session.

I finished putting the borders on this quilt top on Sunday. The pattern is called, Crayon Box and is from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville site. I think this is definitely one of those quilts that will look better quilted. The intent was to use up 2 1/2" strips of fabric that I had sitting in a bin. I believe I have done just that. I have finished another 20 blocks to use in a second Crayon Box quilt but I have set them aside for another day. This quilt top only uses 30 blocks if you make it the size that Bonnie suggests in her pattern so my 20 blocks will give me a jump start on another quilt some day in the future.
I was tempted to start something new today, but I thought I should keep in with the theme of finishing projects that were already started. I picked up my Charm Party Tote this morning and after a near disaster--I put the magnetic snap on the bottom side of the tote and didn't realize the mistake until I was putting the lining pieces together. A little detour of about 1 1/2 hours had me doing a repair job over the hole (thankfully it is in the bottom of the bag out of sight) and getting back on track.

This is the pattern cover.

I have learned a lot making this pattern and I definitely will make it again--but with quite a few modifications!

Here is the finished tote--and just as promised, this one is able to stand on its own!

Here is DD modeling the new tote.

If you look closely, you can see Joey in the background looking out the side light next to the door. He figured if we were in the entrance we must be going outside. He just had to see what it was that we were going out there for. Curious cat!

This is a picture of the inside of the tote. Thanks to Pam, this bag has a fabric covered Plexiglas bottom. The purse bum fit perfectly, Pam! Thanks!

Jack In The Box & Scouppey-Doo

While we were on our recent holiday in the U.S., DD wanted desperately to visit a Jack In The Box. We had eaten at a Jack In The Box when we were in Lynden on Black Friday last year and we both had enjoyed it. So our last meal in the U.S. before heading north across the border this trip was lunch at Jack In The Box.

DD purchased an antenna ball while at Jack In The Box and here ii is today in the rain. While I had the camera out I stopped my DD when she was coming home from work today and snapped her picture with her "new to her" car. True to family tradition, DD has named her car. The car is named, Scouppey-Doo ~ after the cartoon character Scooby Doo and after the model of the car, a scoupe. Of course there is a stuffed Scooby Doo mascot that rides along with her everywhere she goes.

Notice the rain today--the heat wave has finally broken. Let's just hope that we only get a couple days of rain and then we return to summer!

What a Haul!

This is what the back of my car looked like after our recent shopping holiday in Bellingham! Don't we all look pleased with our purchases--my Mom on the left, DD in the middle, and me on the right. My Dad took the picture.

My Dad was impressed with how well I could pack the back of that car--there were no air pockets between items. At the bottom of all that was 6 place settings of my Fiestaware dishes! The deal was so good, my Mom bought 6 place settings for herself too!

NW Washington Fair - Lynden - Aug 12

These pictures were taken of the free grandstand show. These are the two teams that brought in the flags from the US and Canada while the national anthems of both countries were sung.
These young girls did a synchronized performance on their Haflingers.

The NW Washington Fair is home to 9 Six-horse draft hitches. The night we watched this performance, 8 of the 9 hitches were in the ring at the same time doing a "free drive".

One of the highlights of the grandstand show is always the Crazy Eights. These are teams of 8 ponies each. Once all teams are in the arena, the announcer lets them move around the area in a "free drive"-- which is done at full gallop.
In all the years that I have seen this performance, one team has never run into another or gotten tangled up with another. It is quite something to watch.



This was a fellow with his trick horse.

He was able to get this horse to lay on his back--not something a horse will normally do.

Of course the highlight of our day at the fair was seeing Randy Travis' concert!


This was the perfect conclusion to a perfect day at the fair!

NW Washington Fair - Lynden - Aug 12

After looking at all the quilts, we went exploring. These gorgeous hanging baskets were everywhere at the fair and everywhere in downtown Lynden. Of course two other "flowers" got into the picture--my Mom and my DD. This is my Dad in John Deere heaven!

This is a Partridge. I wonder if he was looking for his pear tree?

And of course, what fair would be complete without chickens?




This was a Lego display put together by a 15 year old boy. Amazing!

This was called jewelry art. The piece was covered with old broaches and earrings and lit up with Christmas lights.

NW Washington Fair - Lynden - Quilts - Aug 12

We try to get to the Lynden Fair each year. This year, we decided to make a mini holiday of it and we booked a motel room in Bellingham. We headed south across the border on Monday and spent the entire day shopping.

On Tuesday, we headed to the fair in Lynden. First stop once we were inside the fairgrounds was the quilts.

There were a few gorgeous pieces made from 30's reproductions.






These leaves looked real!

I think that this shade of purple must be FAB purple! This was a gorgeous Trip Around the World.

This piece was loaded with buttons and beads. It must have been heavy!

This piece was also heavily embellished.

What struck me about these next two bright pieces is that they were so perfectly flat and square!

Christmas redwork.

Redwork Santas.


I hope you enjoyed the quilt show!