'I Spy' Quilts

Several years ago I started collecting material for an 'I Spy' quilt. I found a lot of really fun material to use! Since I didn't wanted any two pieces the same, I ended up with enough material to share and trade. I wanted to try something different, so I sewed the blocks with a fold to make the black squares, like origami. It is way cool, but takes time.

My sister made one too. like mine.

span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">>>Mom dedided to put some of the squares together, but instead of the folded squares, she used sashing. It looks great too. I made one like this for my oldest daughters graduation as well.

If anyone is interested in giving this a try, I still have squares to trade :)

Friends, Food and Quilting

A few weeks ago Janice organized a Food Storage / Breadmaking class. It was very informative and inspiring. We decided to make a few of the meals from Karen's website to try out while we quilt. Here are the first two we tried. The idea is to buy enough to make a meal 12 times then rotate it through your food storage. This first one was a variation of what is on Karen's website, this is from Janice:

Easy Tortilla Soup

Cook:2 chirchen breast (boneless skinless)

Cool chicken and cut into very small pieces in soup pot.

OR

2-3 (12 1/2 oz cans white chicken meat) placed in soup pot

Add:

2 Cans French Onion soup

1 can Tomato juice

1 can chicken broth

3/4 cup water

1 cup Salsa

2 Cans corn (or frozen mexicorm)

2 cans kidney beans

2 cans black beans

2-3 medium potatoes, washed and cubed

3 medium to large carrots, washed and cut

Heat on Med/High then simmer for about 1 to 2 hours, just long enough for potatoes and carrots to cook.

Serve with grated cheese and chopped green onions on top as well as tortilla chips, if desired.

Creamy Chicken Enchilada

On Karen's website

T-Shirt Quilts

When I first did a demo on t-shirt quilts, I did it becasue there were many who were interested in creating on from their own shirts. I had no desire to do one, but after preparing for the demo I decided to do one for myself, yes, for me. I don't wear t-shirts much, except when I actually work out :) but found I had a decent collection from family reunions, and a few other activities I had participated in during my children's teenage years. I didn't realize I had so many memories tied up in these t-shirts. Here is what I came up with...

I had so much fun creating my own, I decided to do one for my daughter Sarah who had a huge collection she wanted in her quilt. I we were laying it out, it was fun to have her share with me some of her memories from each of the shirts. This is what I put together for her... I wanted to add this one to the post today. A friend from my Ward sewed this for her husband, then they had me quilt and bind it. I think she did such a fantastic job, I wanted you to see it. I'm sure you can see why I have been getting excited about t-shirt quilts. They hold a lot of memories, and it's a way to share them with others. I have two more in progress for some friends.
You may want to check back at earlier post with more pictures of t-shirt quilts that have been done.

If you know someone who wants a t-shirt quilt done with their t-sirts, they are welcome to come to our quilt group on Thursdays, or I am now taking orders to do them for people, just email me for pricing.

Quilting Field Trip

Today was SOOOO much fun! Instead of sewing this afternoon, the Quilting Group took a field trip to Richmonds quilt shop, The Quilting Cottage. Jan gave us a great demo on Kalidascope Quilts, then we all did some looking around deciding on new projects and then Jan took us to a great place for lunch. The food and company were so good!

I was so inspired with the Kalidascope demonstration that I had to try a square out when I got home.

This is the material I had that I wanted to try it out with....

These are the two different squares it made. Don't they look great!!!!! I can't wait to do more.

Blocks from Class

Over the past 2 months many in the Quilting Group have been working on a sampler quilt. I thought it would be fun to follow their progress as the blocks are starting to come together. I love seeing all the color combinations and how personalities are coming out in each quilt. We are half way through this 12 block project.

The post on March 9th "Sampler Quilt" has pictures of two completed quilts that Teri did with these blocks.

See Saw

Slanted Diamonds

Starflower

Another Star

Buckeye Beauty

State of Illinois

Old Maid's Puzzle

Spinning Four Patch

Louisiana

Castle in the Air

Dutchman's Puzzle

Hovering Hawks

Color Wheel & Card Trick

Eight Pointed Star

Cube Lattice

Block 8 - 13

Block 8
We learned the log cabin earlier this year, we should include on in the sample quilt. It uses a lot of colors, so if you don’t think it fits what you have going on in your quilt, again go over the list of the first 6 blocks and pick one you haven’t done the first time round OR go to the website and find a new one we haven’t presented yet. The ‘Noon and Light’ fits nicely in the sampler quilt and is a good review of the things we have been working on.

• http://www.quilterscache.com/N/NoonandLightBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/L/LogCabinBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/B/BorrowandLendBlock.html

Block 9
Here are a few block’s Teri highly recommends for your quilts, some a little more challenging.. or go over the list of the first 6 blocks and pick one you haven’t done the first time round

• http://www.quilterscache.com/F/FoldedStarBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/R/RollingPinwheelsBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/S/StormAtSeaBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SeesawBlock.html

Block 10
These are some that are really striking to me; several are now on my list to make into full size quilts. Again, these are not the only ones you have to choose from. We have provided quite a list in the first 6 blocks that you may want to use in your quilt instead. These quilts are yours and are now taking on their own personalities; it is fun to see them develop!

• http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SawToothStarBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SolomonsStarBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/C/ChristmasQuilt2004.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/C/ChristmasStarBlock.html

Block 11
Here is just a few more variety that would look good in the sampler quilt. Just one more to go!

• http://www.quilterscache.com/B/BeaconLightsBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/C/ChainBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/A/AllHallowsVariationBlock.html

Block 12
For your last block, pick one from all the previous suggestions that you have not already used, or go to the website and chose one of your own.
Finish the quilt:

Here is the link to finish the quilt

• http://www.quilterscache.com/S/ScrapSamplerQuilt_Page5.html

Block 7

Starting this week we will be meeting back at my house. We are on block #7. This is a review block week – either pick from these three that many showed interest in at the beginning or go over the list of the first 6 blocks and pick one you haven’t done the first time round.

• http://www.quilterscache.com/D/DartingBirdBlock.html
• http://www.quilterscache.com/S/StarflowerBlock.html

While I have been gone, the quilting group kept meeting and got a lot accomplished. Teri opened her home for everyone to meet. Here are a few pictures of projects that have been worked on over the past 7 weeks.

(Above left) Lisa completed her first practice quilt on the long arm. - (Above center) Janice has completed her first full pieced quilt. She used the pattern "Sweet 16". - (Above right) Shauna almost has this rag quilt completed, she has been working on this with her daughters. What a fun project to work on with your girls.

(Below) Tori is making tshirt quilts for the 8 kids that have been playing Harp with her daughter that is graduating this year. It is a big undertaking! Here you can see that she is making some headway. Teri is helping her on the long arm.

Teri has been very busy with projects of her own.