Blue and Yellow Batik top finished

While the first of the 2 Color Blast Quilts (My pattern my name in case any one has been wondering about it)  You will notice that Julia was peaking into this picture on the bottom right I though that was so cute.  I was holding the top and my son James took the picture.  That white thing next to my daughters head is a cupcake toy thing that Rebecca my 14 year old made.  She is sewing a second one right now she "Messed" that one up and gave it to Julia and she is making a new one for a baby shower her and Tanya are going to for a lady at church who is Rebecca's Young Women's Leader.  I am going to see if I can get her to either post it here or on her blog to show off.  Some time tonight or Saturday she will be quilting her first baby quilt for Julia.

The picture above and below was taking about 6:30 pm as the sun was starting to set I wanted to get a sun shot before it got dark.  Though I like the look of the lights shinning though from my sewing area on the top picture (another one at the end too).

While out side I got distracted looking at the fruit tree's.  We have a small yard but we have crammed as many tree's in as we could (we have 2 apple, 2 peach, 2 cherry, 1 pear, 1 nectarine, 1 apricot/nectarine mix tree)

And of course the guard cat on the table in the back yard.

One extra last thing for today.  I have been doing a Block swap with Quilting Block Swaps Australia.  They are doing a giveaway from a new sponsor a company named http://www.fabricworm.com/  If you are looking for fabric check them out.  And if your looking to do 12 1/2 inch block swap I belive they still have some spots open I have been doing it for the last 4 months and just love the blocks I have received many of which are posted Here on my blog

Link a Finish Friday #20

The Goal for me this year is 52 Finishes in 52 weeks help keep me honest and show off your own finishes at the same time its a Link A Finish Friday!!  I as counting the other day and in a couple weeks I will pass my 52 quilt mark.  I might have to be upping this goal some.

The most popular quilt last week was from Marjorie's Busy Corner.  It was a pretty Sampler Quilt.  Remember that every link up you do adds a entry's into a drawing each month for 2 fat quarters.

<center> <a href="http://richardquilts.blogspot.com/search/label/LAFF"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlg1CtkP_w_gCP_2zdsIXYXILI3c9WKrATFksD8K0z_EqO4Hw8a_fQlcnMBvjwKjkQ_TSHwLiTcYwoPr25tm-xR_7Mlyoy_JMt-ZEDRpzNjh9eqft7EmSqUexMgXh-VGMf3hH2FpEpaQ/s1600/961059p0w26Lp8.jpg" width="125" /></a> </center>
Thanks again for visiting Richard and Tanya Quilts and supporting  our quilting adventures.

So for the rules.

1) Who likes rules. Toss them out.
2) Add a link to your finish blog or where ever you show off your finishes (Not limited to quilts but I like them the most).
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.

My first Guild Meeting

Tonight I took that next step in my skill building. That was to get over the fear of joining/going to a quilting guild meeting.  I and in Salt Lake City, UT and the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild meeting according to my GPS was only 8 minutes from my house.  The GPS lied, it only took me about 5 minutes to get there (I have a lead foot).  When I got there the front door to the building they meet in was locked (its a condo) and the lady behind the glass did not look so eager to let a guy in.  I think the look on her face when I told her I was there for the meeting was priceless.

The meeting went well they had a show and tell section (No I did not bring any thing, I hate to look stupid and did not know what they would think of me). Next meeting I will bring something, maybe one of my Batik quilts I am making.  I did get a toy though from the meeting.

As it seems the quilt guild this last month has been doing a Dresden Quilt blog hop.  I have avoided it like the plague in the past. Dresden's seem to imply, not straight line quilting and I have been afraid of that.  I am going to have to suck up and try it because I can't show these girls how soft I am.  So my goal is to think up and then do a project using this ruler (or the much bigger one I bought months ago when I was living dangerous). Please tell me how easy they are or suggest a great beginner project with them.

What fun would be a guild meeting with out getting home work.  I tend to be shy in groups (you might wonder how that could be when I keep spilling my life out here), but I am.  It took me some working up the nerve to ask what the huge pile of material in the basket was.  It turns out that they are doing a charity quilt and as it seems I can help.  I asked what to do and they said grab a hand full and make some string blocks using a tutorial (that I could not find, sigh go figure) any way here is my home work in the not complete stage.

The block looks easy enough, but before I start I need to figure out what size I am making.  Once I get that figured out, expect to see something made out of this tangle of material.

To finish up my night I did get all of the rows sewn together for the blue and yellow batik top.  I have all of the sashing rows sewn together.  I figured its 11 pm and 6am (work) comes too early so I did not get the top sewn together, but I would guess I should be able to get it done some time this weekend.  I have I think enough sashings cut out for the border around the out side.  It should be easy to get this done soon or at least to the basting stage.  Tanya has been pestering me to get my Soldier Star quilt done, so may not touch this Friday and work on that as I need her help basting it (all I need to do is figure out the back I think I need to cut and sew it together to make it wide enough.

Beginners Quilt Along Block 2

Today when I came home from work I found on the sewing table Tanya's 2nd block for the Beginners Quilt along.  The last block I helped her do so she was pretty happy with the fact that she did this one alone.  It looks perfect and is a hard block to replicate (maybe not since I had to make 2 for mine) If you have not joined into the fun of the Beginner's Quilt Along your more then welcome to check out the link here and join up.


Tanya when we started hicked my colors and her's My blocks for this block are kinda interesting.  It will go great with the rest when done I think.

Don't you love my colorful block, remember the other blocks in this collection have animals and other wild things .  This block is wild to fit in, though it kinda reminds me of a flag.

I found this picture on my camera and had to share it.  I am guessing one of the kids took it.

I spent the rest of my night assembling my blocks for my Color Blast quilts.  I am making 2 identical quilts in radical different types of materials.  Tonight I finished making my blue and yellow blocks.  I now have 30 of each type of block.  Thursday night I will start cutting the sashings and with any luck maybe get one of the tops close to finished so I can get one or both quilted as I am being a slacker only 2 finished quilts so far this month.

I did the disappearing 16 patch block to make the below block.  When I got done sewing them together I had to trim them up and you can tell how straight (NOT!) my blocks were by the pile of my trimmings they looked so cute I had to take a picture of them.

WIP Wednesday # 18 & Kathy's Quilt

Today is going to be a Work In Progress Wednesday.   I will be linking up with Freshly Pieced.  

Completed Projects: I completed one quilt this week and this is where its being reported.  I have finally finished my sisters quilt.  The quilt is longer and skinnier then I would have liked.  Doing it again I would have put the 5 x 7 blocks in a 7 x 5 position but hind site is that.

In Progress:
I am making 2 quilts that will be like Fire In The Sky (the bright orange quilt for those with slow memory's). This time, one is a Batik in Blue/Yellow the other is what my wife calls 80's fabric (or so my wife describes them.) They will be 5 blocks wide and 6 long, so bigger then Fire In The Sky (I added a Picture of Fire for comparison).

Ready To Quilt:
I am getting behind on quilting my tops I have 4 I think now in the box.  Rebecca (my 14 year old) has a quilt also on the list ready to quilt we just need to get it basted.  It will be her first pieced quilt. With any luck I can help her get it done this week (she is doing all of the work I am just giving guidance).

Ongoing Projects:
I am now interested in making quilts for others if you know any one looking to have a quilt made, send them my way.  I also have a few quilts listed on my etsy shop.  http://www.etsy.com/shop/RichardQuilts.

I have been doing 12 1/2 inch swaps for the last few months and received a few the last week.  I have been meaning to post these for a few days so here they go.

In the 12 1/2 inch group, I also joined in on Fat Quarter Shops Designer Mystery block of the month.  Tonight before I started working on my blue and yellow quilt above, I cut out and sewed together this block it is using the Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille by Moda for the blocks.  Because it was the first month, they sent a charm pack (2 1/2 inch pack)  in addition to the material.  It is so cute I had to take a picture.  This is my first Block of the Month where some one provides the pattern and material.  I was impressed with the amount of fabric they sent me.  I have a good size pile left over, so even if I had messed up big time on my block I could have fixed it.  I am going to enjoy this year getting and doing these blocks.

Planned Quilts:

I started writing a list and so has my wife.  With just family quilts I need to make (about 10-12) and the quilts I just want to make because I can I think my list is now near 20 or so of what I want to make.

Totals:
Finished: 1 June, 10 May, 8 April, 10 March, 10 February, 7 January
46 Total for Year wow only 9 more quilts tell I meet my 55 projects and I have to set the bar higher maybe I should go for 100?.

One last note for the day I took these pictures and have been slacking about listing them.

These holiday fabrics I won during the May for Me.  I tied on one of the bingo's and lost the roll for the primary prize.

These cute card's I also recently won.  If I send you a package and I don't include a card, slap my hand I have no good excuse other then I am a man.

linking to 2nd Quarter Finish Party As listed on  My 2nd Quarter todo list