Not the day I planned.

Today I had all these huge plans to get one of my 2 dragon fly quilts finished or at least most of the way done. The plan was today show off the quilt or maybe have it or something finished.  At around 2 I got a call telling me that my dad had a stroke and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.  Long story short and 5 hours at the hospital later, he only has a infection and is being shipped back to his nursing home.  So instead of a quilt to show off you get to see my dad.  He is better and home I came.






What do I find when I get home but a package from the "Fat Quarter Shop". The other day I won a Jelly Roll from Such a Sew and Sew on the January Finishes Linky party.  I had a great month with 7 finishes.  And of course the win.  Now I need suggestions on what to make with my new Jelly Roll.  I plan to make a quilt using the idea found on a quilt from  http://www.redpepperquilts.com/ called Quilter's Palette (that link will take you to the quilt) It has a 5x5 block in diffident color ways it will take me forever to get enough to do a full quilt but going to use some on that.  I am looking for any suggestions on what to use the rest of the Jelly Role on. Now that I am home, I think I am going to make a stab at my Dragonfly quilt. Oh and one last thank you to Such a Sew and Sew.  I have won 3 other items this week also will link back and show them off when I get them too.  But this is my 2nd win ever, but the first to show up so YEA!!  At some point in the future I plan to have some type of give away if you have thought or ideas to make it fun let me know.  Think small though, I am new and don't yet have a lot to give.

Link A Finish Friday #2

Being over ambitious as a new quilter and blogger, I have set a goal to finish at least 1 something a week.  Be that a quilt, a mug rug or if all else fails a good sandwich.  Wait that won't work.  Lets try it again.  1 quilt, a mug rug, a um well something sewn.  Any way that will be 52 finishes for the year.  My 2012 Finishes will be where I list them all.  But what I want to know is how many of you can keep up the pace with me and finish 52 things for the year.  What better way to keep up then to 1 work on your quilts, and 2 share those with others.  Being a web developer by trade, I know how important a link to another blog is (hint linking to me makes me happy) and I want you all to make sure you have at least 1 person look at your finish. (that's me). I will make a honorable attempt to look at every finish added to my list and try to make a comment on most of them. At the very least I will follow the blog of every one that links a finish.

So for the rules.

1) Who likes rules. Toss them out.
2) Add a link to your finish (blog, http://pinterest.com/, Pisca web album) or where every you store your pictures.
3) Visit a few of the finishes and comment or encourage them on.

Not Required but fun to do

1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow the blog of all those that link.
3) Link back to my blog.
4) No finish, go quilt and stop reading the web.

<center><a href="http://richardquilts.blogspot.com/search/label/LAFF"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsy7Ihi-nuukvXhZ4-GVP1ruOdV18f7SU5O7nZ2ZmkZTZpc5wChyyr75B1Ao9dwnibHeCCLkvvGJdaYLLLY9EcgpE1DYMctSykFX763ObQb2avnyEp4KFyyhyfralxPw46LrSm8cl1pXE/s1600/Richard+Quilts+LINK+A+Finish+Friday+(1).jpg" /></a></center>

My New Best Friends

It has been a month today since I started blogging. It has only about a week or 2 longer that for quilting. It's funny that my new best friends are my cutting blade (this is my third, the first too small, the second too weak it popped closed when I pushed too hard, and now this one is just right). My ruler and cutting pad.  My trusty Iron (and on second ironing board). You can't forget the sewing machine.


I can not forget all of my new best friends out in blog land.  Thank you every one for the wonderful help and encouragement.  I would not have survived this month with out all of you. It has been amazing the things I have learned.  While month one down.  Lets start on month 2.  Below is the 8 items I got complete in that first month.  Amazing.   Make sure you come back on Friday for my weekly finish linky party.  I will have 2 items on this weeks list (so far).

Progress and Shopping

I have made progress on the flight of the dragonfly's quilt for the 2 girls.  I have 35 squares sewn together (its a 9 x 9 block) and have about 15 of those blocks cut in half flipped around and then sewn back together.  The plan is to have 3.5 rows wide and 5 rows long (times 2) they will be placed in brick format.  They are looking great so far.  I am still having a hard time sewing straight and cutting them in half but hey they are cool even with the little flaws in them.   Yesterday I showed off my quilt for Doug to my brother he liked it, but said it was too small.  He wants a large queen size (a little longer and wider then a normal queen) and he wanted different material.  So the 2 of us went shopping at Jo-Ann's I was surprised by the 3 materials he picked.   They look good but not what I would have guessed.  I also was able to give Doug his quilt last night (We are 11 year old scout leaders) He knew I was making him the quilt, but even knowing that he acted so funny when I gave him the quilt.   MEN! oh wait that's what my wife would say.  LOL He then asked me how is he supposed to explain to his family he got a quilt and they do not.  He has 2 cute little girls 6 and 4.  I am sure in time I will just have to make them up a lap quilt.  But his older boys, bah they will have to fend for themselves. Thanks for all the comments yesterday on the Hot pads.  I need to get them all made and perhaps give a few away.  Will have to come up with a good idea on that one. Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.  I am new at this please put your 2 cents in and get me going in the right direction.

Linking to
http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/02/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-everyone-needs.html

Love Pads

Yes the title of the post is the worst I could think up for the day.  I did not make the "Love Pads" just for Valentines day. In my Tugging on my Heart Strings post, I made 7 squares so that I could practice quilting.  With a number of comments suggesting that I don't spoil such a neat square to a Hot Pad, I instead used my "Chemistry by Cosmo Cricket" Layer Cake I bought in the post Some one hide my CC  at my LQS The Material Girls Quilts. I have quilted,  I believe 11 hot pads, but these 2 are my only 2 that are bound.  The point of this exercise was not to make Hot Pads, but to learn how to machine quilt and bind.  My wife told me after the first 3-4 hot pads that my um quilting job sucked.  The 2 above I put my normal foot back on and just sewed straight lines (which the wife liked more).  She even told me she wanted to keep a few of these and that I could not give them all away.  The image above and below are the front and back of the 2 that I finished.  The image on the right are the ones I had quilted, laid out to show off without the bindings.  It will be another week or so to get the rest of them finished, but I had fun doing these.  Don't forget to add your finishes to my weekly Friday finish page. Link a Finish Friday















    http://quiltstory.blogspot.com/2012/01/fabric-tuesday-and-moda-bake-shop.html http://www.sewinspiredblog.com/2012/01/focus-on-free-motion-quilting-link-up.html

http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/02/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-everyone-needs.html

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/02/finish-it-up-friday-week-13.html
http://www.familyeverafterblog.com/2012/02/once-upon-weekend-link-party-29-and.html
http://piecefullife-elizabeth.blogspot.com