tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19782016249267409862024-03-18T12:58:21.572-07:00Quilts and Other Good ThingsCreate and Share Beauty!Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-30972940764052314872016-04-07T18:26:00.002-07:002016-04-07T18:26:29.749-07:00Does It Work - Triangulations - CD RomA few years ago, I wrote a post that you can read <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2012/05/tutorial-half-square-triangles-using.html">here</a>. Triangle paper is a very quick way to make accurate half and quarter square triangles. There are several brands on the market and I have used most of them and found them to be very accurate.<br />
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Not long ago, I was given the opportunity to test Triangulations CD Rom which allows a quilter to make many more sizes than are available on the market. In addition, the latest version allows you to print your own quarter square triangles and also a version of flying geese called tamed geese. Three shapes in one CD, not a bad deal at all.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Uedckxmv8k/VwcB7uvmOqI/AAAAAAAAEMA/d6y1NejT1GQgAZHc7113DBVNyMO2PcIvA/s1600/Photo%2B3_Triangulations%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Uedckxmv8k/VwcB7uvmOqI/AAAAAAAAEMA/d6y1NejT1GQgAZHc7113DBVNyMO2PcIvA/s400/Photo%2B3_Triangulations%2B3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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While the Triangulations CD costs just under $30.00, you can print an unlimited number of sizes and types of triangles. How cool is that? I have tried all of the versions and all work well., but I've concentrated on half-square triangles as that is the type I use the most. I love that I can print an unlimited number any time I need triangle paper -- even the middle of the night or when I don't want to take the time to drive to a quilt shop to purchase the pre-printed variety.</div>
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Triangulations runs on any PC or Mac computer with Adobe Formatted to fit standard 8-1//2 x 11 computer paper. You may purchase the CD at many quilt shops, or simply go to the company web site and order online. Mine came very quickly and I was ready to print. DO make sure you read the instructions carefully before printing.</div>
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Once printed, place your fabrics right sides together and pin the printed triangle paper on top being sure to pin where you won't be sewing.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XlcdsgMFZH8/VwcCEEAPGNI/AAAAAAAAEMY/77yp4857g5odhbLISRAJ5DAWC3vEvbJFQ/s1600/Photo%2B6_Triangulations%2BPinned.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XlcdsgMFZH8/VwcCEEAPGNI/AAAAAAAAEMY/77yp4857g5odhbLISRAJ5DAWC3vEvbJFQ/s320/Photo%2B6_Triangulations%2BPinned.jpg" width="299" /></a></div>
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Stitch on the lines as the instructions suggest.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9D-cegzOrg/VwcCm8ErHHI/AAAAAAAAEMc/RXTNGp6G2zs1ES8AmiVDhpZiMVT7_DczQ/s1600/Photo%2B9_Triangulations_stitched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9D-cegzOrg/VwcCm8ErHHI/AAAAAAAAEMc/RXTNGp6G2zs1ES8AmiVDhpZiMVT7_DczQ/s400/Photo%2B9_Triangulations_stitched.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
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And cut apart on the solid lines.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IR7shNjH62w/VwcCZApE1oI/AAAAAAAAEMc/LY8cO6HKu8EHw4A2WNsyXiw8SEsnmtAgQ/s1600/Photo%2B14_Triangulations_ready%2Bto%2Btrim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IR7shNjH62w/VwcCZApE1oI/AAAAAAAAEMc/LY8cO6HKu8EHw4A2WNsyXiw8SEsnmtAgQ/s400/Photo%2B14_Triangulations_ready%2Bto%2Btrim.jpg" width="348" /></a></div>
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Notice that there is a printed line on each corner to aid in cutting off the dog ears prior to removing paper and pressing.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjHVE0lV2_k/VwcCKQKXheI/AAAAAAAAEMY/bkxkuGF-lmgHxbVHnC5c5DnJyNq8kr5-Q/s1600/Photo%2B18_Triangulations%2Bsquare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MjHVE0lV2_k/VwcCKQKXheI/AAAAAAAAEMY/bkxkuGF-lmgHxbVHnC5c5DnJyNq8kr5-Q/s400/Photo%2B18_Triangulations%2Bsquare.jpg" width="378" /></a></div>
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In this case, I printed paper that would give a 1-1/2" finished half-square, so the stitched and pressed unit needed to measure exactly 2". As you can see, it was very accurate and worked just as the instructions said it would! I love the accuracy that triangle paper produces. It makes quilt making so much easier if all of the units measure exactly what they are supposed to!</div>
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I hope you will give Triangulations CD a try. It will be money well spent. The only draw back is the thickness of the computer paper, but when stitching with a shortened stitch length as instructed, it really is not hard to remove. If this seems like a problem, simply purchase foundation papers that are not quite as firm a paper and are usually available at your local quilt shop.</div>
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I have no affiliation with Triangulations, I just wanted to let you know about a product that works well! Triangulations has been on the market for some time now and has, I'm sure, been tested by other quilt makers, as well.</div>
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Until Next Time</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-30616458348964710632016-03-19T12:59:00.000-07:002016-03-19T12:59:18.452-07:00Happy National Quilting Day!Though I haven't written for a while, I really have been busy at the machine when possible.<br />
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Here is what I'm working on this week. It is a super secret project, so am only showing you wnat is under my needle. It is further along as I finished the all over quilting on 2 of the sections this week.<br />
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I've also made a few of these Foster Care Bags that our church ministry called Seams of Love has been working on. Foster kids often leave their homes with their belongings in garbage bags if they even have anything they can take with them. These bags will help them carry some of their essentials and give them a bit of dignity!</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oUiWcFWfQcw/Vu2r5e-PToI/AAAAAAAAEGw/Qo4VXNb5FB0hElG4RE2Q-78ptwFpwI42g/s1600/Foster%2BKid%2BBags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oUiWcFWfQcw/Vu2r5e-PToI/AAAAAAAAEGw/Qo4VXNb5FB0hElG4RE2Q-78ptwFpwI42g/s400/Foster%2BKid%2BBags.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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It is purely coincidental that both of these projects have a lot of blue and red in them!</div>
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Next time I'll tell you how these came to be and where I'm going with them.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-303x1_1NIQ8/Vu2sGBVRUBI/AAAAAAAAEHA/1oEnXnl8xy4Cawb-OTS7zs5ML38z0LuqA/s1600/Completed%2BUnits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-303x1_1NIQ8/Vu2sGBVRUBI/AAAAAAAAEHA/1oEnXnl8xy4Cawb-OTS7zs5ML38z0LuqA/s400/Completed%2BUnits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You may remember that I started a 4-patch project at last year's Friend's Mini Retreat.</div>
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I'll tell you about my tumbler leader ender project then, too. Here is a preview.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQ3Kx8EVwH4/Vu2tsIqImbI/AAAAAAAAEHE/Uq070yNyjPg8lMsQuSsXidcRuYaeG-0qA/s1600/Tumbler%2BLeader%2BEnder%2Bproject.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQ3Kx8EVwH4/Vu2tsIqImbI/AAAAAAAAEHE/Uq070yNyjPg8lMsQuSsXidcRuYaeG-0qA/s400/Tumbler%2BLeader%2BEnder%2Bproject.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Hope you are having a super National Quilting Day and, yes, that is an actual day and it is always the 3rd Saturday in March. Happy Quilting!</div>
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Until Next Time,</div>
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XOXOxoxoXOXO</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-56796555793832462202015-11-05T15:33:00.000-08:002015-11-05T15:33:05.449-08:00Does it Work? Best PressOne of the things I've done over the past few years that has been fun is testing products and writing articles about those tests for the <i>Quilting Quarterly</i> which is the member magazine for the National Quilting Association, Inc.<br />
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This is an updated version of the test I did on the product Mary Ellen's Best Press.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzMxihGbYl0/VjvZvo02x3I/AAAAAAAAD-Y/CmgA6vB_lV0/s1600/Best%2BPress%2BPkg%2Bfor%2Bblog%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BzMxihGbYl0/VjvZvo02x3I/AAAAAAAAD-Y/CmgA6vB_lV0/s400/Best%2BPress%2BPkg%2Bfor%2Bblog%2Bcopy.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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Starting with well-pressed fabric is essential for cutting accuracy. Some quilt makers simply use a steam iron. Others spray their fabrics with water before pressing and still others like to use spray starch for a crisp finish. Another choice is to use Mary Ellen's Best Press and yet another is to make your own "Best Press" using easily obtained ingredients.</div>
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Mary Ellen's Best Press promises to make ironing easier, smells wonderful, and there is no flaking even on dark fabrics. It is non-clogging, acid-free, and leaves no residue, relaxes stubborn wrinkles while giving clothes a crisp, new finish. It makes clothes soil resistant, makes fabric look brand new and does not attract bugs.</div>
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As a confirmed starch user, I was skeptical. However, I had not been happy with the starch flaking on dark fabrics, so gave Best Press a try. I purchased the 16 oz. spray bottle at a cost of about $7.95. There are other sizes and costs may vary depending on where you buy the product. I used a 30% off coupon at a local quilt shop so that did reduce the cost a big.</div>
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I sprayed the product on dark fabric and pressed using the cotton setting. Here is the result.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4iuC50E6RQA/VjvaFiQlvyI/AAAAAAAAD-o/MOcthBGrtdU/s1600/Fabric%2BSprayed%2Bwith%2BBest%2BPress%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4iuC50E6RQA/VjvaFiQlvyI/AAAAAAAAD-o/MOcthBGrtdU/s400/Fabric%2BSprayed%2Bwith%2BBest%2BPress%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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No flakes! I was impressed!</div>
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The same fabric sprayed with a commercial spray starch looked like this after pressing.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zvc4ehuKc60/VjvduPYnkRI/AAAAAAAAD-0/HZhvaVpFzzE/s1600/Fabric%2Bsprayed%2Bw%2Bstarch%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zvc4ehuKc60/VjvduPYnkRI/AAAAAAAAD-0/HZhvaVpFzzE/s400/Fabric%2Bsprayed%2Bw%2Bstarch%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Though the starch product I used has a statement on the can that says flaking can be avoided by allowing the starch to be absorbed by the fabric before pressing, I have had mixed results when doing so. Still, I love the crispness that starch gives, so I do continue to use starch for some things.</div>
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It wasn't long after this that a friend told me that there was a formula for making a product that mimics Best Press using 3 oz. of vodka, 1 teaspoon of essential oil fragrance and mixing with 24 oz. of distilled water. I tried it and it did work as well as the commercial Best Press, so I was hooked on that. It was far cheaper and worked as well, so who could beat that, I thought.</div>
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And then, I did beat that. I experimented with adding a bit of liquid starch to the vodka and water mixture until I had just the amount I felt produced the best results. I now add 1/2 cup of liquid starch each time I make this home made version and love the results.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OIWwGrOA0YY/Vjvd1CfOeiI/AAAAAAAAD-8/gbjzIdu-egQ/s1600/Home%2BMade%2BBest%2BPress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OIWwGrOA0YY/Vjvd1CfOeiI/AAAAAAAAD-8/gbjzIdu-egQ/s400/Home%2BMade%2BBest%2BPress.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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The original maker of this stated that she used potato vodka, but I really just buy the cheapest brand I can find and it works just fine. The essential oil fragrance I've purchased at WalMart and find it with the candles. The Dollar Tree stores also sell essential oil fragrance and it is found with the candles there as well, though their bottle is a bit smaller, it costs only a dollar! I prefer the lavender fragrance, but any would do.</div>
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I will add my own caution -- I do not guarantee that you will have success, but two of my friends and I use this formula all of the time. Try it once and if you would rather pay more for the commercial product, by all means, do so.</div>
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Now for the starch lovers, like me, I still use spray starch for some things. When I want something very crisp, I use spray starch that I make myself. The directions were on the bottle of liquid starch I purchased. I mix the starch half and half with water for a pretty stiff result when pressed. If you want less stiffness, just use less liquid starch.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TpCfsxYDmRQ/Vjvd6sMvjmI/AAAAAAAAD_E/fhYvQmhzkNI/s1600/Home%2BMade%2BSpray%2BStarch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TpCfsxYDmRQ/Vjvd6sMvjmI/AAAAAAAAD_E/fhYvQmhzkNI/s400/Home%2BMade%2BSpray%2BStarch.jpg" width="278" /></a></div>
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It works for me! Give it a try and you might change the way you press fabrics. You may save some money and be able to buy more fabric so it's a win/wing situation! Let me know what you think! If you have any questions, please just leave a comment to ask.</div>
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I will tell you that I was criticized for mentioning that starch flakes. It says so on the container, so I feel no guilt in making that statement. I still like starch and use it, I'm just very careful with the dark fabrics just like I was before and sometimes, it still flakes!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-67992589954279385592015-10-19T16:57:00.001-07:002015-10-19T16:57:22.376-07:00Autumn Chains is in The Final Issue of QQFor the past few years, I have been fortunate to write an article called "Does It Work?" for the Quilting Quarterly which is the member magazine for the National Quilting Association. In addition, two of my quilt patterns have been featured.<br />
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Recently, the NQA announced that it is disbanding, so the Fall 2015 issue is the final one to be published.<br />
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For the first couple of years, the "Does It Work?" articles featured products that I tested and reported the results of the test. It was fun and I learned a lot. The last two years, I have worked with a panel of 6 quilters from across the United States to do the testing, reporting their results to me. Then I compiled the results of the 6 testers into an article combining the comments from the testers. Some times they agreed and sometimes they did not which made it very interesting. It was fun to work with these 6 quilters and get to know them through our correspondence as I had only met one of them in person.<br />
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<a href="http://www.barbarapolston.com/">Barbara Polston,</a> a talented quilter in her own right has been the editor of the QQ for several years and was a delight to work with. Click on her name to go to her web site and see the exciting things she is doing.<br />
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The final issue of the magazine contains the last "Does It Work?" article. Our testers reported on basting glues.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GT6NKec6KY4/ViV1is-wOII/AAAAAAAAD9w/9lZO_6Lmj8A/s1600/Basting%2BGlue%2BArticle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GT6NKec6KY4/ViV1is-wOII/AAAAAAAAD9w/9lZO_6Lmj8A/s400/Basting%2BGlue%2BArticle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This final issue also features my pattern Autumn Chains. This quilt is a scrap quilt as most of mine are and is based on Single Irish Chain, a traditional block. This past weekend, Autumn Chains started living on my bed for the next couple of months for that Fall feeling in the room.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pgirwfzsMY/ViV1UsUAvDI/AAAAAAAAD9g/InCs-npXayo/s1600/Autumn%2BChains_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9pgirwfzsMY/ViV1UsUAvDI/AAAAAAAAD9g/InCs-npXayo/s400/Autumn%2BChains_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You may remember that I began this quilt at one of the mini retreats at my friend's cottage in the woods a while back. You can see some of the progress <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2012/10/autumn-chains-blocks.html">here</a>. You may notice a glimpse of the quilting <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-to-fit-100-inches-into-7-inches.html">here</a>. The back is pieced and I shared that with you <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2013/09/quilt-backs-can-be-beautiful-too.html">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHuft5wuiNo/ViV1XuHItkI/AAAAAAAAD9o/UPJ7qpinhU8/s1600/Autumn%2Bchains_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHuft5wuiNo/ViV1XuHItkI/AAAAAAAAD9o/UPJ7qpinhU8/s320/Autumn%2Bchains_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The blocks are on point, so the setting triangles to complete each row are made up of half blocks giving the illusion of a border before the final border. It is a huge quilt -- 100" x 100" and was quilted on my Bernina. Huge quilts seem to be my default and are not easy to quilt on a domestic machine!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkZQ-uxhx44/ViWCwZDloSI/AAAAAAAAD98/r0lftZuQLBk/s1600/Autumn%2BChains%2Bon%2BBed%2BGuest%2BRoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jkZQ-uxhx44/ViWCwZDloSI/AAAAAAAAD98/r0lftZuQLBk/s400/Autumn%2BChains%2Bon%2BBed%2BGuest%2BRoom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This photo was taken when the quilt was on the guest room bed.</div>
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While I am sad to see the end of the National Quilting Association and the opportunity to write articles for the Quilting Quarterly, it does mean that I can pursue other avenues of quilting and writing. I do plan to start sharing with you some "Does It Work?" articles. Some may be things I've already tested and I'm thinking of some other products that I might like to test and report on to you.</div>
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It is finally cooler in Arizona this week, meaning it's under 100 degrees, so let the Autumn begin even if it's later than the rest of the country!</div>
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Until Next Time</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-21907626774135784932015-07-23T16:27:00.001-07:002015-07-23T16:27:19.223-07:00Quilting Friends Retreat - 2015My friend, Joyce, e-mailed me to tell me that my middle name is trouble. She went on to say that last year at our 2014 retreat to her "cabin in the woods", I introduced her and friend Diane to hexie punches and showed them how to make hexies. We are ALL now making English paper pieced hexie quilts. Yep, I did that. <div>
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This year, I bought them each a ruler and showed how they could cut tumbler shapes with it. I had already been making these tumbler shapes for a quilt. Yep, hooked them again. By the end of the three days together, Joyce had already cut each of us 300 2-1/2" squares and we had decided each of us would exchange 300 squares with each other to make commemorative quilts to celebrate our 30th year as friends which happens in 2016. We had been talking about exchanging New York Beauty blocks - making 10 each so we would each have 30 blocks. Now, isn't cutting 2-1/2" squares easier?</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nvC-JN2WRt8/VbFvfs_6GOI/AAAAAAAAD8c/eCU0ldw1xqU/s1600/Lois%2B4patch_tumblers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nvC-JN2WRt8/VbFvfs_6GOI/AAAAAAAAD8c/eCU0ldw1xqU/s400/Lois%2B4patch_tumblers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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You can see some of the strips of 4 tumblers in between the boxes that hold the parts and pieces to the quilt I was working on there. One of those boxes holds the squares for the tumblers. I have to thank Bonnie Hunter for choosing the tumbler block for the leader/ender challenge for the year. You can read about it <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2015/07/2015-leader-ender-challenge-tumblers.html">here</a> in case you would like to join in the tumbler fun. I also need to thank cousin Sheila who gifted me with a tumbler ruler along with her stash several months ago.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NqB2CVx-qZo/VbFvmiURZtI/AAAAAAAAD8o/pnXGc54-TRo/s1600/Lois%2Bproject%2Bsetup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NqB2CVx-qZo/VbFvmiURZtI/AAAAAAAAD8o/pnXGc54-TRo/s320/Lois%2Bproject%2Bsetup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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During the 3 days I finished putting together 444 four-patch blocks. I had about a lot of them all done and the rest were pairs that just needed the final seams. Then I started adding the half-square triangles to make them into square in a square blocks. This project was found in the April issue of American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I just could not get that quilt out of my mind. Usually I don't do projects from magazines, but that one just appealed to me.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-twCoIUoQSzM/VbFvy1twIwI/AAAAAAAAD84/OAib8rBiSxQ/s1600/Dianes%2Bstar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-twCoIUoQSzM/VbFvy1twIwI/AAAAAAAAD84/OAib8rBiSxQ/s400/Dianes%2Bstar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After she completed the machine binding on 5 -- yes 5 charity quilts, she brought out this beauty to work on. I wish I had photographed the charity quilts before she packed them up. She had also done the long arm machine quilting on the jelly roll quilts as well as the binding.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cT2GaO24dZ4/VbFvsIYYhSI/AAAAAAAAD8w/2GDOWg-weR8/s1600/Joyces%2BCivil%2BWar%2Bborder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cT2GaO24dZ4/VbFvsIYYhSI/AAAAAAAAD8w/2GDOWg-weR8/s400/Joyces%2BCivil%2BWar%2Bborder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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After completing the units she was working on for her bow tie quilt, Joyce started joining the blocks that will be the borders of her Civil War quilt. These blocks are much smaller than they appear in this photo and the quilt is to die for! Did I mention that my friends are very talented quilters? You may have noticed that we all love the scrappy look in our quilts.</div>
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Our retreats are fun as well as productive. We take turns making the meals so no one has to spend all of their time cooking. It rained every day which may not sound like fun to you, but for Diane and I who live where 100 plus days are the norm, retreating to Joyce's cabin where it rains and the high during the day is in the 70's, well, it was refreshing! We sewed and slept with a breeze coming in the open windows!</div>
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I hope you have been having some sewing and quilting fun this Summer!</div>
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Until Next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-37263962488888701792015-06-18T14:14:00.000-07:002015-06-18T14:14:21.547-07:00Thousand Pyramids - The 30 Year Wonder QluiltAccording to my research, the Great Pyramid took about 20 years to build. This quilt top took about 30 years from concept to last row joined. Hmmm, maybe not so bad considering there are actually 1,175 pyramids in this charm quilt.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjWDoITMPKk/VYMvrSS3BFI/AAAAAAAAD8E/txgdaNYEN2Y/s1600/Thousand%2BPyramids%2Btop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YjWDoITMPKk/VYMvrSS3BFI/AAAAAAAAD8E/txgdaNYEN2Y/s400/Thousand%2BPyramids%2Btop.jpg" width="372" /></a></div>
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I think there were five of us who did an exchange that took about 18 months. We had 4 templates (2 people used the same template). We planned to exchange 10 fabrics a month in a particular color family. Each of us drew around the templates and cut out the shapes with 1/4" seam allowances for hand piecing., Fifty quilt pieces were made and exchanged each month. We were loose on the color families - red meant anything from deep burgundy to the lightest pink, blue was navy to pale blue, etc. Colors like rust might fit in either the orange or brown category.<br />
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The templates included a half-square triangle which was used by two quilters. One (our East Coast native) used a clam shell, one shape was a diamond and then there was mine that was a pyramid shape.<br />
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I moved cross country during the exchange and found that 10 of the fabric shapes could be sent in a #10 envelope for the price of a first class stamp, so each month, I continued to send my shapes to each of the others and they sent theirs to me.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOCYT5Heqjg/VYMvVBytgrI/AAAAAAAAD7o/OIoO9f5sBnI/s1600/Amnish%2BPrint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TOCYT5Heqjg/VYMvVBytgrI/AAAAAAAAD7o/OIoO9f5sBnI/s400/Amnish%2BPrint.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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A little Amish Influence.</div>
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All types of fabrics were exchanged. There are a few that probably aren't the best quality and maybe should have been left out, but our stashes weren't as big back then.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VEMkPCC6P6Q/VYMvZaPfYMI/AAAAAAAAD7w/PIOy5gNjBL4/s1600/Christmas%2BBear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VEMkPCC6P6Q/VYMvZaPfYMI/AAAAAAAAD7w/PIOy5gNjBL4/s400/Christmas%2BBear.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Christmas fabrics including a fussy cut Christmas bear were exchanged.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yeEDalyEFUQ/VYMvfdy81HI/AAAAAAAAD74/e2rhLdSj3FE/s1600/Holly%2BHobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yeEDalyEFUQ/VYMvfdy81HI/AAAAAAAAD74/e2rhLdSj3FE/s400/Holly%2BHobby.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Even a vintage Holly Hobby fabric made it into the top. Notice that it is next to an Irish clover leaf.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0at3nHNZxwY/VYMvmUDGmBI/AAAAAAAAD8A/5zp2oaqwBos/s1600/Letter%2BA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0at3nHNZxwY/VYMvmUDGmBI/AAAAAAAAD8A/5zp2oaqwBos/s400/Letter%2BA.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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There is even an "A" for Arnold in the top.</div>
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There may be a point or two that need to be "fixed" or maybe they will be left in even if they are slightly off. Maybe it's more important to have this quilt done and quilted than it is to have it be perfectly pieced after 30 years or so!</div>
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One of the neatest things about the fabric is that even though the original exchange was with a small group of dear friends in Iowa, as I was finishing the quilt, I needed more fabric to make it large enough. Of course, I used some of my newer stash, but I still needed unique fabrics in some colors, so asked two of my dear Arizona friends if they would contribute the colors I needed and they did! So this quilt includes fabrics from not only over time, but from more friends than the original group. </div>
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Isn't that part of the culture of quilting? Neighbors exchanged fabrics, friends contributed fabrics to fill a need and relatives shared their stash. Today just like in the past, these traditions continue and I'm very happy they do, aren't you?</div>
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Here's to Quilting Traditions!</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-49547180294057770132015-06-15T18:04:00.000-07:002015-06-15T18:04:43.329-07:00Leaders Enders and LeftoversIf you are familiar with Bonnie Hunter and her scrap savers system, you probably know about <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/leaders-enders-whys-and-hows.html">Leaders and Enders.</a> She came up with the brilliant plan to use quilt pieces to begin and end rows of stitching rather than putting just a scrap under the presser foot to keep all those thread tails controlled. It saves thread and the bonus is that parts of another quilt are being put together while you are working on your current project.<br />
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Many times I just feed squares through that become either 4-patch or 9-patch units if I don't have a particular Leader Ender project going. These add up quickly!<br />
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This weekend I was playing with some Leaders and Enders along with some Leftovers from a past quilt project that I had made too many units. I needed a class sample so I started playing first in Electric Quilt and came up with these possibilities using the units I already had on hand - yep, those Leaders Enders and Leftovers.<br />
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These were fun to play with! Do you EQ?</div>
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Then I got out the units and laid them out on the floor. This may not be the final setting. Nothing is sewn together yet, I just wanted to make sure I liked this as much in fabric as I did in EQ.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8xm4aKlYM0/VX9yM4dTbEI/AAAAAAAAD7A/85i5aZo4vRU/s1600/Leaders%2BEnders%2Band%2BLeftovers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8xm4aKlYM0/VX9yM4dTbEI/AAAAAAAAD7A/85i5aZo4vRU/s400/Leaders%2BEnders%2Band%2BLeftovers.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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So what do you think? In a matter of minutes, this little wall hanging was laid out. Yep, it's pretty scrappy, but the dark blue triangles and "stop border" hold it together. I may still rearrange a few units to balance the colors. Just a few of the 4-patches and leftover half/square triangles are laying beside it. There are MANY more waiting to be used in a project. I think the beginning students will have fun learning how to make this little cutie.</div>
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Mostly I have been working on a secret project that I can't show you until it is done, but I have spent a bit of time setting the 1,000 Pyramids 30 Year Wonder Quilt together. I have only two long seams left and it will be a top. This photo was taken when I was just starting to set the blocks together. I'll take another photo when the last two seams are sewn and share it with you.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtMbQPPIGWU/VX9ySkmhjJI/AAAAAAAAD7I/ENdpmaaGnfQ/s1600/Thousand%2BPyramids%2Brows%2Bstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YtMbQPPIGWU/VX9ySkmhjJI/AAAAAAAAD7I/ENdpmaaGnfQ/s400/Thousand%2BPyramids%2Brows%2Bstart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just the top two rows of blocks had been stitched at this point. All of the small triangles were hand stitched, but I am sewing the blocks and rows together on the machine. I want this baby done!</div>
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Hope you are keeping cool this Summer and having some time to create!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-52758636342552918082015-05-23T11:22:00.000-07:002015-05-23T11:22:05.140-07:00Hexie ProgressLately I have been working on a project that I can't show you yet. I'm sorry to have been so silent for the past few weeks.<br />
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We have also spent several days in Tucson as our daughter was diagnosed with Stage 1 Melanoma. We went down each time she was to have a procedure. They were able to get all of the margin and the two lymph nodes they removed were clear. Such a relief! She will become very close friends with her dermatologist, however, as she will be monitored regularly to make sure there are no recurrences. And where is she this week? At Camp Surf with the Girl Scout Troop she leads. Hope they use a LOT of sunblock!<br />
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In the evenings when I am home, I've been working on hexies. I also worked on them in waiting rooms during our trips. I do not work on them in the car as it's way too hard to thread the needles I use while moving.<br />
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One diamond has been added. The rest are ready to attach.</div>
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I love how the scraps look together giving a more interesting look than just a single fabric would.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VskX-3q6-EI/VWDBQHlXecI/AAAAAAAAD6A/Z0srdQup9Ow/s1600/Diamonds%2Bready%2Bto%2Bsew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="328" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VskX-3q6-EI/VWDBQHlXecI/AAAAAAAAD6A/Z0srdQup9Ow/s400/Diamonds%2Bready%2Bto%2Bsew.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As of right now only two more diamonds need to be added to the center star.</div>
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Before I do much more, I will need to make some more hexies is all of the colors. I am using a 3/4" punch by Fiskars and all of those annoying cards that magazines have tucked in their pages for the base of the English paper piecing of the hexies.</div>
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For this size, I have cut a lot of 2" x 2-1'2" rectangles. Using a glue stick, I place the base on the wrong side of the rectangle and cut a little more than 1/4" seam allowance before basting the seam allowance to the back. There are many tutorials on the web that can show you how to do that. I do not baste through the cards, but simply tack the seam allowances on each point and then use a tiny slip stitch to join the hexies to one another. It really takes longer to describe than it does to do!</div>
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Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXO</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-74268370920901005732015-04-09T15:57:00.001-07:002015-04-09T15:57:12.252-07:00Celtic Solstice Top - Finally!Every once in a while someone will ask me how long it takes to make a quilt. The answer is usually, "as long as it takes." Some projects we have tunnel vision and work on exclusively from start to finish, but others take longer as they are put aside in favor of things with a higher priority at the time.<br />
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Celtic Solstice was started the Friday after Thanksgiving 2013 and just now the top is done. The parts and pieces are in this <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-update-and-christmas.html">post</a>. This was a Bonnie Hunter Mystery. She has taken the instructions down, but her blog is worth reading <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/">here.</a> She posts regularly and has a mystery that starts every year on the Friday after Thanksgiving.</div>
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I changed a couple of things on my version. The first was size. The mystery clues were given for a smaller version and a king size version. I wanted a queen size quilt, so had to wait until all of the clues were in to determine just how many of each unit to make.</div>
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I also changed the orientation of the pieced border units. and added a corner unit to make the corner turn. The unit used was the same as in the block nearest the corners with the pinwheel in the center.</div>
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I used the colors given in the mystery except that I used blue for the final border. The original instructions called for green. I just like blue better, that is the only reason.</div>
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This is a scrap quilt, but I did purchase the blue for the border and a couple of greens and oranges because I did not have enough variety. </div>
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And still, try as I might, sometimes the same fabrics were close together or next to each other. It just works out that way sometimes. It doesn't bother me when it does.</div>
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It is a bright and cheerful quilt, don't you think?</div>
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My version is 101.5" square.</div>
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It won't fit on my design board. The board is only 96" x 96". Sorry the photos do telescope. </div>
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When it is quilted and bound, I will take a photo of it hanging on my quilt display stand -- just don't hold your breath, I don't quilt that fast. LOL</div>
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This is the first mystery quilt I've participated in. It was fun, but I do like doing my own designs.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-4564347265327569422015-03-30T19:22:00.001-07:002015-03-30T19:22:25.543-07:00Other People's Fabric - Sheila's StashScrappy quilts are just the best! To get all those fabrics takes time. It takes time to build your own stash, but if you have friends, you can get other people's fabric. Sometimes we have formal exchanges of fat quarters or fat eighths. Sometimes, it's specific blocks or strips or squares. Sometimes, it's a gift from someone. Whichever it is -- it's fun to play with other people's fabric mixed with your own!<br />
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Last week, I received this box.</div>
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Inside was this.......</div>
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Oh, my! A Longaberger Basket!</div>
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A BIG basket full of.......</div>
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Make that jam packed full of........</div>
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Yep, fabric!</div>
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And other stuff, too!</div>
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Lots of fabric and stuff!</div>
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A tear might have fallen!</div>
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Sheila's greens, red and purples!</div>
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Patriotic prints and patterns.</div>
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Neutrals, golds and yummy blues!</div>
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It was Sheila's stash and all she asked was.....</div>
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that I quilt and bind this small quilt she made.</div>
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She's decided to give up quilting. She's discovered</div>
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Skydiving and Zip lining!</div>
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I guess those are sort of exciting, but I'd rather play with other people's fabric adding it to my own rather large stash!</div>
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<b>Thank you Sheila!</b></div>
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Do you love other people's fabric as much as I do? It's the variety and they choose differently than I do which adds to the spice in a quilt.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-4868263643720508542015-03-11T14:12:00.000-07:002015-03-11T14:12:37.833-07:00Celtic Solstice and Hexie Progress - slow but sure!<div style="text-align: center;">
Are you a slow stitcher or a fast one?</div>
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Do you get things done really quickly or savor the process?</div>
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Do you work on one project until it's done? </div>
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Or are you like me with several things going at once?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KjFpm9VW7bg/VQCqef98t6I/AAAAAAAAD2k/SHXAxspWjpE/s1600/Celtic%2BSolstice%2BProgress%2B3_11_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KjFpm9VW7bg/VQCqef98t6I/AAAAAAAAD2k/SHXAxspWjpE/s1600/Celtic%2BSolstice%2BProgress%2B3_11_15.jpg" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is where Celtic Solstice is today. The left portion is all stitched together. The right portion is webbed and ready for the horizontal rows to be stitched together.</div>
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I showed you the first two borders<a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2015/01/mobile-moment-celtics-solstice-progress.html"> here</a>. The final border is a bright blue.</div>
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The pieced border is only stitched into "twosies" at this point.</div>
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In addition to Celtic Solstice, my evening hand stitching project is hexies.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Nh1OBBk38I/VQCqnhvuy2I/AAAAAAAAD2s/ZTKfqD3KCn4/s1600/Hexies%2Bwith%2BDiamond%2BProgress%2B3_11_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Nh1OBBk38I/VQCqnhvuy2I/AAAAAAAAD2s/ZTKfqD3KCn4/s1600/Hexies%2Bwith%2BDiamond%2BProgress%2B3_11_15.jpg" height="400" width="312" /></a></div>
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When the diamonds are added, they will fit like this.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OY3rTBDwlkc/VQCqts_XMsI/AAAAAAAAD20/NY7uVYzj74s/s1600/Hexie%2BProgress%2B3_11_15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OY3rTBDwlkc/VQCqts_XMsI/AAAAAAAAD20/NY7uVYzj74s/s1600/Hexie%2BProgress%2B3_11_15.jpg" height="400" width="390" /></a></div>
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Of course, I have to add some more neutral to the final points before adding diamonds. And, I'll have to make 5 more diamonds, too! I cut more neutral fabric this morning for more hexie variety.</div>
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Then, there is the pyramid project that I showed you <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2015_02_01_archive.html">here</a>. All of the setting triangles are stitched now, so it is just a matter of sewing the diagonal rows and deciding if a border is needed. </div>
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I need to take a photo of the pyramids now that all of the setting triangles are done.</div>
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So which are you? Fast, Slow, one project at a time or working on many projects? I'd love to know so leave a comment below.</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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XOXOxoxoXOXO</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-8927834893602699062015-02-11T14:16:00.000-08:002015-02-11T14:16:01.570-08:00Sew Day and Pyramid BuildingLast week my friends and I had the opportunity to get together for a day of sewing fun! Joyce was in the valley for a few days to stay with grand kids. We met at Diane's as her husband had surgery a couple of weeks ago and we didn't want him to be alone yet.<br />
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I made Crock pot Potato Soup and carrot cake for lunch so we were set to sew! And sew we did!<br />
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Joyce is working on four patches for a quilt for one of her grandsons.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlRqDGnDKiQ/VNvOaoCpZPI/AAAAAAAAD1Q/axTKfBtMbjg/s1600/Joyce_4patches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SlRqDGnDKiQ/VNvOaoCpZPI/AAAAAAAAD1Q/axTKfBtMbjg/s1600/Joyce_4patches.jpg" height="400" width="280" /></a></div>
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Now doesn't she look happy! She got all the ones she had ready to sew that day done!</div>
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Diane was continuing a tradition of working on a quilt she plans to enter in the Arizona Quilters Guild Show which is in March. Yep, last minute, but she always gets them done! And they win prizes, too!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNrKa4iaT88/VNvOC40039I/AAAAAAAAD04/AXsp2JztLjE/s1600/Diane%2Bcutting%2Bflying%2Bgeese%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNrKa4iaT88/VNvOC40039I/AAAAAAAAD04/AXsp2JztLjE/s1600/Diane%2Bcutting%2Bflying%2Bgeese%2Bcopy.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></div>
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These geese are for the border of her flying geese quilt. these are actually the side triangles, the geese are from various prints that are used in the blocks of the quilt.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jPAV-Z-NXkI/VNvOSzpAb8I/AAAAAAAAD1I/RPFg-2uCgdY/s1600/Dianes%2Bhexie%2Bbeginning%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jPAV-Z-NXkI/VNvOSzpAb8I/AAAAAAAAD1I/RPFg-2uCgdY/s1600/Dianes%2Bhexie%2Bbeginning%2Bcopy.jpg" height="400" width="346" /></a></div>
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We are all working on hexie quilts. This is the beginning of Diane's. I had mine there, too, but have a lot more done on it now and have not photographed the progress -- next time. Joyce did not have hers there that day. She is working on a larger size hexie, but has now purchased the smaller one that Diane and I are using as she likes that size better now that she has seen our progress.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhpZ2xVe5HI/VNvOyKvqQRI/AAAAAAAAD1o/0wM3WJDjJwM/s1600/Sewing%2Bbag%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhpZ2xVe5HI/VNvOyKvqQRI/AAAAAAAAD1o/0wM3WJDjJwM/s1600/Sewing%2Bbag%2Bcopy.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></div>
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Joyce made this wonderful bag for me to use while working on hexies. She made Diane another friend and herself one, too. She's been a busy gal!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OO_t0qP02Q/VNvOjHU8eYI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/GvJTP9yFwMU/s1600/Open%2Bsewing%2Bbag%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2OO_t0qP02Q/VNvOjHU8eYI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/GvJTP9yFwMU/s1600/Open%2Bsewing%2Bbag%2Bcopy.jpg" height="346" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just look at all of those compartments! She had rolled up 2" strips of fabrics in the colors I'm sewing my hexie quilt in as an extra surprise! I am loving sing this wonderful bag. Thank you, Joyce!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjwemE5H5qo/VNvOqeVZ8AI/AAAAAAAAD1g/9nwPzIVYk1I/s1600/red%2Bsetting%2Btriangles%2B1000%2Bpyramid%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjwemE5H5qo/VNvOqeVZ8AI/AAAAAAAAD1g/9nwPzIVYk1I/s1600/red%2Bsetting%2Btriangles%2B1000%2Bpyramid%2Bcopy.jpg" height="400" width="278" /></a></div>
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I was working on setting triangles for my Thousand Pyramids quilt.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugzSNICDusI/VNvO-9NeM9I/AAAAAAAAD1w/y0V3ZG0X3Ho/s1600/1000_Pyramids%2Bin%2BProgress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugzSNICDusI/VNvO-9NeM9I/AAAAAAAAD1w/y0V3ZG0X3Ho/s1600/1000_Pyramids%2Bin%2BProgress.jpg" height="400" width="340" /></a></div>
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All of the blocks are finally sewn together and the top 5 of the setting triangles on the right side. None of the blocks are sewn into rows and the 7 setting triangles yet to be sewn are just pieces placed on the design wall. This quilt began with an exchange of fabrics almost 30 years ago. I won't say there are no repeated fabrics as there may be one or two, but not intentionally. I think there were six of us who sent each other fabrics 10 per month in the color of the month until we had a thousand fabrics. Since we sometimes bought the same fabrics, there may be some that are the same. I'll tell the whole story when the quilt top is done and ready to be off the design wall!</div>
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I need it off the design wall so I can put Celtic Solstice up there! All the blocks are done. All of the pieced border blocks are done, but none of the rows have been sewn together. It's on the list, but first I want those pyramids off the design wall. My design floor doesn't allow me to check out the blocks as well, but I have decided that an Oriental rug would look lovely on the floor in the loft once Celtic Solstice is finished!</div>
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So, I'm making progress on 3 quilts. Yay!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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sosoSOSOsoso</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-70691243182959315962015-01-24T10:27:00.001-08:002015-01-24T10:29:56.025-08:00Mobile Moment - Celtic Solstice progress<div dir="ltr">
It has been a whole since I've updated the progress on this quilt. Only 6 blocks are not quite done. Each of those blocks only need the final two seams stitched. The yellow inner border I cut may be too bright.</div>
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The pieced border is partially sewn into "twosies" . I started using these pieces as my leader/enders. The final border will be blue, but I have not cut it yet.</div>
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Now to select another inner border and do the final stitching on the last blocks. This was last years Bonnie Hunter mystery. I know - I'm slow!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo<br />
<u>Lois</u></div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-16518401712624166862015-01-21T14:58:00.000-08:002015-01-21T14:58:41.843-08:00Bonnie Hunter Class - Cathedral StarsHere is a look at some of the class I took from Bonnie Hunter a couple of weeks ago. It was a fun class - no stress as none of the methods were new to me and I was among friends!<br />
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Bonnie is a great teacher - one who gets out among the students and helps those who need it and chats with those who are doing okay. She demonstrates the rulers she recommends the students use and makes sure they are using them correctly. She is friendly and warm.<br />
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She is out among the students, but not too busy to stop and pose!</div>
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Strips are essential for a BH class!</div>
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Some end up as 4-patch units, others as half-square triangles and others as star points in the Cathedral Starts class. The pattern is free on <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/">Bonnie's Blog</a>. Other patterns are in one of her six books which you can order from the blog or her web site.</div>
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The morning was spent on this block.</div>
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Some chose high contrast fabrics.</div>
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Others chose low contrast fabrics.</div>
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And we sewed!</div>
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And we sewed and visited!</div>
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Amazing how many different people's blocks just go together! The star was the alternate block which we worked on in the afternoon. Sorry no pictures of that - I was sewing!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSX-z4SgOu0/VMAoyOBwTRI/AAAAAAAADzU/PgCPbwfvHco/s1600/Diane%2BQuilt%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uSX-z4SgOu0/VMAoyOBwTRI/AAAAAAAADzU/PgCPbwfvHco/s1600/Diane%2BQuilt%2Bcopy.jpg" height="316" width="400" /></a></div>
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We shared quilts we had done or were working on. This one is my friend Diane's quilt she is making for her daughter. Almost the same star block with slightly different placement of squares.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUyYuVlHHOc/VMAo36eQpqI/AAAAAAAADzc/N7nO9sh99AQ/s1600/Joyce%2BLego%2BQuilt%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUyYuVlHHOc/VMAo36eQpqI/AAAAAAAADzc/N7nO9sh99AQ/s1600/Joyce%2BLego%2BQuilt%2Bcopy.jpg" height="351" width="400" /></a></div>
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And Joyce's Lego quilt. This was made from 1-1/2" strips! Wow!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cCIIfG590E/VMAo8AbZrJI/AAAAAAAADzk/CXo7fFmW7E4/s1600/Lois%2BAutumn%2BChains%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2cCIIfG590E/VMAo8AbZrJI/AAAAAAAADzk/CXo7fFmW7E4/s1600/Lois%2BAutumn%2BChains%2Bcopy.jpg" height="326" width="400" /></a></div>
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And my Autumn Chains quilt.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6eWi0xqVew/VMAomt-RhEI/AAAAAAAADzE/yCtwadTPWrA/s1600/Back%2Bof%2BAutumn%2BChains%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6eWi0xqVew/VMAomt-RhEI/AAAAAAAADzE/yCtwadTPWrA/s1600/Back%2Bof%2BAutumn%2BChains%2Bcopy.jpg" height="356" width="400" /></a></div>
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I know - crazy -- that is the back of the quilt.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6TDO6bXbTck/VMAoiy8XBoI/AAAAAAAADy8/f7_s2gYviUA/s1600/3%2BAmigas%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6TDO6bXbTck/VMAoiy8XBoI/AAAAAAAADy8/f7_s2gYviUA/s1600/3%2BAmigas%2Bcopy.jpg" height="400" width="348" /></a></div>
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Diane brought us to tears with her presentation of these t-shirts. They say, "Friends don't let friends quilt alone!" We've been quilting friends for 29 years!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cK-NLtoAFoQ/VMApHHyriiI/AAAAAAAADzs/1ie3lkj0jsM/s1600/Bonnie_and%2B_group%2Bof%2Bfriends%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cK-NLtoAFoQ/VMApHHyriiI/AAAAAAAADzs/1ie3lkj0jsM/s1600/Bonnie_and%2B_group%2Bof%2Bfriends%2Bblog.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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With Bonnie's quilt as a backdrop, old friends and new including Bonnie came together.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0W2Lbr1WhPw/VMAoYQr_sEI/AAAAAAAADy0/QH0Yo_vdb90/s1600/The%2BWhole%2BClass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0W2Lbr1WhPw/VMAoYQr_sEI/AAAAAAAADy0/QH0Yo_vdb90/s1600/The%2BWhole%2BClass.jpg" height="283" width="400" /></a></div>
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The whole class and lots of new friends were made!</div>
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Thank you Bonnie for a fun class!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-64299405274178524712015-01-15T09:07:00.001-08:002015-01-15T09:24:17.282-08:00Mobile Musings<div dir="ltr">
I have a new phone and am hoping I'll be able to post with it. My old phone would only post the text. If I tried photos, it would not post.</div>
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I got a new piece of equipment yesterday and I'm very excited about it. With these two pieces, I'll be able to take photos without the risk of jiggling my "big girl" camera. No more blurs from movement! </div>
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Have an awesome day.</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo<br />
Lois</div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-icqUtAcj7I8/VLfzzuPwK_I/AAAAAAAADxI/bznXVemSEAA/s1600/1421341102476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-icqUtAcj7I8/VLfzzuPwK_I/AAAAAAAADxI/bznXVemSEAA/s640/1421341102476.jpg" height="225" width="400" /> </a> </div>
Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-18241721033978956512015-01-14T11:00:00.003-08:002015-03-11T08:37:41.651-07:00While Making Plans, Life Happens!Yes, I know! I've been missing in action for some time now! You know how that goes -- while you make plans, life happens.<br />
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Here are a few of the things that have kept me away.<br />
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First we had a big celebration.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSEetxdNnWY/VLa0_sFL5DI/AAAAAAAADvM/v6sbD4ZYxe0/s1600/Anniversary%2BChalkboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CSEetxdNnWY/VLa0_sFL5DI/AAAAAAAADvM/v6sbD4ZYxe0/s1600/Anniversary%2BChalkboard.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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When we all get together, it is quite a party without additional guests!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlL1xy-uCC8/VLa1OSlfbHI/AAAAAAAADvU/SWhXPx3Ra-A/s1600/50th%2BAnniversary%2Bfamily%2BPhoto%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UlL1xy-uCC8/VLa1OSlfbHI/AAAAAAAADvU/SWhXPx3Ra-A/s1600/50th%2BAnniversary%2Bfamily%2BPhoto%2Bcopy.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Many family photos were taken on Friday night and then there was a dinner the following night with lots of family time in between.</div>
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Then there were a few projects that kept me busy. I made bunting for the Church nursery.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzFfTeOc0Cg/VLa2D23lWaI/AAAAAAAADwE/WHHe48azrrQ/s1600/Nursery%2BWindow%2BBunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hzFfTeOc0Cg/VLa2D23lWaI/AAAAAAAADwE/WHHe48azrrQ/s1600/Nursery%2BWindow%2BBunting.jpg" height="208" width="400" /></a></div>
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Nursery B windows. These are double. There will be a tutorial in the future.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb1VgFInKMw/VLa14PfNW7I/AAAAAAAADv0/Ht7A--6QTtg/s1600/Nursery%2BB%2B%2BBunting%2B1-way%2Bwindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jb1VgFInKMw/VLa14PfNW7I/AAAAAAAADv0/Ht7A--6QTtg/s1600/Nursery%2BB%2B%2BBunting%2B1-way%2Bwindow.jpg" height="327" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is a mirror for the kids, but a window for the parents who can check from the hallway without being seen by their precious babies.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hjLCAhKPyQ/VLa1xZ2iZcI/AAAAAAAADvs/K6dJNCLxj4g/s1600/Nursery%2BA%2B1-way%2Bwindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hjLCAhKPyQ/VLa1xZ2iZcI/AAAAAAAADvs/K6dJNCLxj4g/s1600/Nursery%2BA%2B1-way%2Bwindow.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nursery A has the same type window. This is the infant room.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2TKV2n5jtAo/VLa1-98EGlI/AAAAAAAADv8/6bHWLdv6DRw/s1600/Nursery%2BB%2Bcurtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2TKV2n5jtAo/VLa1-98EGlI/AAAAAAAADv8/6bHWLdv6DRw/s1600/Nursery%2BB%2Bcurtain.jpg" height="137" width="400" /></a></div>
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The little curtain hides the collection of DVD's.</div>
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Then before I knew it --</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsYQ9Gjgm4w/VLa24-1LnlI/AAAAAAAADws/Jxon2CeYFOM/s1600/Noel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gsYQ9Gjgm4w/VLa24-1LnlI/AAAAAAAADws/Jxon2CeYFOM/s1600/Noel.jpg" height="193" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was time to get ready for Christmas!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0G7TfX4figk/VLa2brNQiwI/AAAAAAAADwM/l8y76vU9zbM/s1600/Christmas%2BTree%2Bwith%2Ball%2Bpresents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0G7TfX4figk/VLa2brNQiwI/AAAAAAAADwM/l8y76vU9zbM/s1600/Christmas%2BTree%2Bwith%2Ball%2Bpresents.jpg" height="400" width="330" /></a></div>
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Lots of presents exchanged!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urdKm3iHgqo/VLa2uZA3o1I/AAAAAAAADwc/W3suEd1_gZE/s1600/Fleur%2Bde%2BLis%2Bpkgs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-urdKm3iHgqo/VLa2uZA3o1I/AAAAAAAADwc/W3suEd1_gZE/s1600/Fleur%2Bde%2BLis%2Bpkgs.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fleur de Lis was the theme this year.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-STlsSA1fwnc/VLa2ft2qwjI/AAAAAAAADwU/MTH2Q_VU0GA/s1600/Cousins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-STlsSA1fwnc/VLa2ft2qwjI/AAAAAAAADwU/MTH2Q_VU0GA/s1600/Cousins.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
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The cousins love to get together and there is drama!</div>
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And a little fashion help.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGuHBms5UXw/VLa6_0SQMDI/AAAAAAAADw4/ahlS48t4C58/s1600/Bonnie_and%2B_group%2Bof%2Bfriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGuHBms5UXw/VLa6_0SQMDI/AAAAAAAADw4/ahlS48t4C58/s1600/Bonnie_and%2B_group%2Bof%2Bfriends.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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And finally, last week, I got to take a quilting class with Bonnie Hunter. More on that later, too!</div>
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That is what happened -- Life! I've missed you, but plan to be a regular blogger now that those things are in the past! I missed you all!</div>
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Until Next Time!</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-24526410314058491762014-08-04T16:57:00.002-07:002014-08-04T16:57:43.572-07:00Mini Retreat and Progress on Celtic SolsticeIt took a bit of planning, but a couple of weeks ago, friends Diane, Joyce and I got together at Joyce's cottage for a mini retreat. Coordinating schedules can be hard! But, Diane and I finally got to escape the heat of the valley to go up to see Joyce for a couple of days in the cool mountains!<br />
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Here is the view from the deck early in the morning. Can you believe we did not sleep past 6 AM any of the days?<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">In no time, we had our machines set up and were sewing!</span></div>
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It is a good thing we went when we did. Last week Diane took a bad fall on her roller blades and has several breaks in her right hand and fingers plus scrapes and bruises on the rest of her right side! It will be a while before she will be able to do much sewing!</div>
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Diane was paper piecing the blocks for a flying geese quilt. It is going to be stunning!</div>
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Joyce was stitching corners on units for a quilt with some bow tie units as her "leaders and enders".</div>
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I was finally putting together the units for the star blocks of the Celtic Solstice quilt a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt started last November.</div>
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We all made quite a bit of progress in addition to laughing, talking, eating and just enjoying being together. We are planning to something special for our 30th Friendiversary in 2016. We met in 1986 when we all joined the same chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild and became fast friends.</div>
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Since our mini retreat, I've made a bit of progress on the Celtic Solstice quilt blocks.</div>
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All 40 of the star blocks are completed.</div>
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The star blocks alternate with blocks that have a pin wheel in the center. Two are shown above. Now all I have to do is make 39 more of those blocks, stitch the pieced border and add two more borders. Yeah, it will be a while before the top is finished, but progress is being made.</div>
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So what are you working on?</div>
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Until next time.......</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-53672160358329705522014-07-14T15:45:00.001-07:002014-07-14T15:45:16.061-07:00Celtic Solstice Parts and PiecesHave you ever participated in a mystery quilt? I had not until last November when Bonnie Hunter posted her Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt. I liked the colors, but at the time had no idea what the quilt would look like. And so I began collecting stash fabrics and purchasing a few to fill in.<br />
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Once the clues started being posted, I cut some of each clue each week. This was happening between Thanksgiving and Christmas, folks! Too busy to make a lot of each, I just made a few.<br />
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My project lately has been to finish all the parts and pieces. Here they are grouped in bundles of 10.<br />
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This sure doesn't look like a queen sized quilt, does it? But it is! All but the borders are here! Well, actually one border is here. The blue and orange units on the upper left are a pieced border yet to be assembled.</div>
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These are the two blocks that will be alternated in the rows.</div>
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While Bonnie gave the instructions and number of pieces for two sizes, one was just 75 x 75 inches and the other was a whopping 111 x 111 in. king sized quilt!</div>
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Enter Electric Quilt to figure out a Queen Size!</div>
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I also took liberties with the color of the outside border and the placement of the orange and blue pieced border. Of course, this could change - it's not done until it's pieced!</div>
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I think I'm going to love it. Thank you Bonnie Hunter at <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/">Quiltville</a>! If you have not been to Bonnie's blog, jump on over there - she has a ton of good information and is an avid scrap quilter!</div>
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Next week, friend Diane and I will travel to our friend Joyce's cottage for a mini quilt retreat. These parts and pieces will be going with me and there will be a lot of sewing going on! Three friends, lots of scraps and parts and pieces, laughter, fun and food!</div>
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I'll report back to let you know the progress of my queen sized Celtic Solstice!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-42279378979789971542014-06-23T14:51:00.000-07:002014-06-23T14:51:02.763-07:00Random ThingsLately, I've been doing random things. You know a little of this and a little of that, but nothing really big completed. Well, unless you count our VBS where we had over 450 kids and 250+ volunteers during the 4 day event. That is a 4 day event that takes about a year to plan. We've already started on next year!<br />
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In the meantime, at home I've just done a few little creative things. Like my summer "beachy" door wreath.<br />
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This wreath was inspired by Confessions of a Plate Addict a few weeks ago. Fortunately, I already had the wreath base. All it needed was a little white spray paint. The shells came from my favorite "beach" at Hobby Lobby. Friends had given me a gift card back in February which I had only used once for a small purchase. A big bag of shells was just what I needed. There are a few smaller shells that I already had on hand. My front door is the perfect color, don't you think?<br />
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The shells are simply hot-glued on the base wreath.</div>
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A while back, Pottery Barn had a pillow I loved that had the word "Inspired" on it plus the definition. For some reason, the word empowered kept coming up and it seemed appropriate to use that word to make my own version of the pillow.</div>
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The lettering was created in Adobe Illustrator and printed (reversed) onto Avery Light Fabric Transfer paper. I do cut very closely to the lettering as there is a little bit of a residue that shows through and I mostly want to see the print. </div>
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In the loft is a built in that has family photos both on it and above it. I try to have a little seasonal display there as well. This one done for Memorial Day will work through July 4.</div>
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This is still a work in progress. The fabric on the chairs of our patio furniture needs to be replaced every couple of years or so. The chair on the right has the old ticking fabric and it's been on way longer than it should have been. It has faded and rotted from the sun and from being wet when the Monsoons blow rain sideways onto the patio. The new fabric (on the left) is a bit larger stripe and also has more shades of blue than the previous fabric. Two are done and three more are cut, but not stitched. These are simply stapled to the pressed board base and put in the chair base. </div>
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Originally the chairs and table were yellow. The fabric on the chairs was yellow and orange floral. Next came white spray painted chairs and table with a Provencal print in blue and cream. After that was green paint and a green and pink floral print. There were probably other fabrics that I've forgotten before the blue ticking and return to white paint. No worries, in a few years, these will be replaced again and all will look fresh and new again!</div>
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This little bench is both an old project and a new one. It was made in the late 80's or early 90's for use in our "Wee Worship" program at church while I was Children's Director before. Every year a dear sweet couple from North Dakota would come to AZ for the winter. Almost every year, I would ask Pete to make one more bench as the group was bigger every year.</div>
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The benches have been retired and the Bjornstad's no longer come to AZ, but the memories of this sweet couple live on. I recently was able to obtain one of the retired benches and it holds fond memories of the darling little children, now grown, who used to sit and sing on these cute little benches. A coat of paint and perhaps a French advertising sign are in it's future.</div>
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So there you have it. All those random little projects that take up my spare time. Well, these and the quilts I'm still working on, but those are for another post.</div>
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Hoping you are having a sensational Summer!</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-1912845005273895072014-05-19T15:54:00.001-07:002014-05-19T15:54:33.771-07:00Easy Peasy DIY Cutting TableA long time ago, I promised to show you my easy, peasy DIY cutting table. It began life as an 8 foot pressed board banquet table. You know the kind they used to make before using the molded plastic tops. This one had an ugly wood grained contact paper surface -- nothing to look at, but great for adding extra tables when entertaining. Since it was always covered with a table cloth, the top didn't really matter.<br />
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Then one day after many uses, one of the legs broke. Inspiration hit and the table legs were removed. It would make a perfect desk for our computer with lots of extra space for other projects. That first transformation included adding camel colored faux leather to the top wrapping it over the sides and adding leopard print ribbon to the edges with hammered brass upholstery tacks. The table top set on two short bookcases and was the perfect height for that use. And then we moved to another state and our needs changed.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zR_79SCFuNs/U3p_Rsq26dI/AAAAAAAADZo/pSLsF0L6Pww/s1600/Cutting+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zR_79SCFuNs/U3p_Rsq26dI/AAAAAAAADZo/pSLsF0L6Pww/s1600/Cutting+Table.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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We purchased a desk for the computer because I now needed a cutting table as the previous house had a perfect counter in the kitchen where I had been doing my rotary cutting. The new kitchen did not have an island or even a peninsula counter to use and it was too far from the studio anyway.</div>
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One day while browsing in Lowe's, I spotted some pipes intended for plumbing and knew they would make the perfect legs for a cutting table that would be the correct height for my 5'7" tall body.</div>
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So, here is how we made that former banquet table/desk into a cutting table.</div>
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The top had already been covered with the faux leather by taking it outside and using spray adhesive for the top and a staple gun to wrap it down the sides of the top. This also made a nice smooth top to use when designing with large sheets of paper.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NRtYpcggmLA/U3p_t9LWZII/AAAAAAAADaU/mx6Gy1rW5F4/s1600/Covered+in+faux+leather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NRtYpcggmLA/U3p_t9LWZII/AAAAAAAADaU/mx6Gy1rW5F4/s1600/Covered+in+faux+leather.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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The legs had already been removed as you can see by the lighter colored area on the bottom of the table top.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--XKSbHPsPIU/U3p_auoJCVI/AAAAAAAADZ0/l2Buaej9Dn8/s1600/Remove+Legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--XKSbHPsPIU/U3p_auoJCVI/AAAAAAAADZ0/l2Buaej9Dn8/s1600/Remove+Legs.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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We attached flanges to the four corners of the table and the pipes were screwed into these. Make sure you have the right length of screw for this. We used just slightly too long of ones and they poked through making slight bumps on top of the table. Since they are not where I normally cut, I just left them as the bumps did not get in my way, but we really should have purchased shorter ones and replaced them.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9Wy98PyiN8/U3p_fjlB-oI/AAAAAAAADZ8/r6W2R5FDT74/s1600/Add+Flanges+and+Legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9Wy98PyiN8/U3p_fjlB-oI/AAAAAAAADZ8/r6W2R5FDT74/s1600/Add+Flanges+and+Legs.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Metal caps were attached to the bottom of each pipe so as not to ruin the carpet.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtA7GnZx8a8/U3p_n3mWyxI/AAAAAAAADaM/7jj1qq6x0_s/s1600/Caps+on+bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtA7GnZx8a8/U3p_n3mWyxI/AAAAAAAADaM/7jj1qq6x0_s/s1600/Caps+on+bottom.jpg" height="400" width="366" /></a></div>
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We repeated that four times making a very stable base for the cutting table.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oeph7i-IpEk/U3qAIAXJbOI/AAAAAAAADa0/BZ0aM1CWd0s/s1600/Two+Legs+each+end.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oeph7i-IpEk/U3qAIAXJbOI/AAAAAAAADa0/BZ0aM1CWd0s/s1600/Two+Legs+each+end.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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The skirt is extra wide quilt backing fabric hemmed and stitched to shirring tape. I made two panels so the curtains can be opened from the center front and back of the table. When I first attached the skirt, I used the same upholstery tacks as I had used before. Then we moved across country again!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-looo9Bv9KAA/U3p_-GABQQI/AAAAAAAADak/ltFr5danvQQ/s1600/Staple+Hook+Tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-looo9Bv9KAA/U3p_-GABQQI/AAAAAAAADak/ltFr5danvQQ/s1600/Staple+Hook+Tape.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Since the skirt was taken off to move, all those tacks were taken out and I decided to do something different to attach it this time. At first I used self adhesive Velcro tape on the edge of the table - the hook portion - but have found that it comes loose every Summer when my studio gets warm, so I recently stapled it all the way around so as not to have to keep pressing the Velcro back in place.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9tZSKIv7FQ/U3qADmdpxpI/AAAAAAAADas/KOtnkYoixys/s1600/Stitch+Loop+Tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I9tZSKIv7FQ/U3qADmdpxpI/AAAAAAAADas/KOtnkYoixys/s1600/Stitch+Loop+Tape.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I stitched the loop part of the Velcro tape over the shirring tape used to gather the skirt. This makes the skirt easy to removed for cleaning when necessary.</div>
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The mismatched file cabinets stored beneath the skirt as well as all of the computer and design paper are completely hidden when the skirt is in place.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTO3_E92TNg/U3p_3nd3IzI/AAAAAAAADac/T0NupPxBsnE/s1600/Hidden+File+Cabinets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kTO3_E92TNg/U3p_3nd3IzI/AAAAAAAADac/T0NupPxBsnE/s1600/Hidden+File+Cabinets.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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Though the file cabinets are completely functional, they are NOT pretty, so they need to be hidden!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zR_79SCFuNs/U3p_Rsq26dI/AAAAAAAADZs/YoS3ePP0Mn8/s1600/Cutting+Table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zR_79SCFuNs/U3p_Rsq26dI/AAAAAAAADZs/YoS3ePP0Mn8/s1600/Cutting+Table.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
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So there you have it -- an easy DIY project that is practical and with the toile print gathered skirt feminine as well. The skirt could be changed very easily to a more tailored look by putting pleats on the corners and using a solid fabric if that is more your taste.</div>
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By the way, this is the same toile print I used to make ironing board covers for my big board ironing board that I showed you <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2012/07/custom-ironing-board-cover.html">here</a>. Hope you have enjoyed hearing about this DIY project. If you don't happen to have a broken banquet table, you could use a piece of pressed board or a smooth hollow core door for the base or even plywood that is fairly thick.</div>
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Until Next Time,</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-50178929876900871082014-02-15T12:26:00.000-08:002014-02-15T12:26:10.963-08:00Problem Solved!Yesterday, I was very frustrated with Blogger as I was unable to post photos for you to see. As it turns out, it was only partially a Blogger problem. Apparently Internet Explorer is no long supported by Blogger (which is the format my blog is posted in) so I was not the only one having issues.<br />
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Today, I learned that by using Google Chrome, I can post the photos I intended yesterday.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9JMOa_N4ik/Uv_LHJOiZrI/AAAAAAAADLQ/gYqSZId4650/s1600/Love+Armoire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9JMOa_N4ik/Uv_LHJOiZrI/AAAAAAAADLQ/gYqSZId4650/s1600/Love+Armoire.jpg" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
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A giant Love on top of the armoire for all!</div>
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The "L" and "E" I had used during the holidays to proclaim NOEL. Of course the wreath is the "O" All I needed to do was by a "V" and paint it to celebrate two holidays!</div>
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I have had a love affair with printed words as long as I can remember. I found the two prints below as "free" printables on the Internet -- probably, but not necessarily through Pinterest.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEAwxgI9cN0/Uv_LMmjQyFI/AAAAAAAADLY/GrSqbTzxXw8/s1600/Je+t'aime+vinette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HEAwxgI9cN0/Uv_LMmjQyFI/AAAAAAAADLY/GrSqbTzxXw8/s1600/Je+t'aime+vinette.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Scrabble doesn't have punctuation, so pretend there is the proper accent mark on the t'aime of Je t'aime, French for I Love You. The hearts on the candle were cut out and then pressed onto the candle.</div>
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Though I'm late for Valentine's Day due to the Blogger/Internet Explorer issue, my wishes for you are that you have many in your life who love and appreciate you!</div>
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Have a glorious Saturday! I'll be back soon!</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois</div>
<br />Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-37179048205807031122014-02-14T12:16:00.001-08:002014-02-14T12:16:54.906-08:00All You Need Is LoveValentine Greetings, friends!<br />
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Just a quick note to let you know I have not forgotten you! I don't do a lot of decorating for Valentine's Day, but did do a couple of things that I can share with you.<br />
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Apparently the photo part of Blogger is not working for me today. I've tried from my own pictures file and I've taken the photos into Picasa to try from there and Blogger will not let me upload photos today. <br />
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I do want to wish you all a very Happy Valentine's Day. I'll be back as soon as I can figure out this photo thing. Help me Blogger!<br />
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-10032122853251196502013-12-30T15:12:00.000-08:002013-12-30T15:12:24.775-08:00Celtic Solstice Update and Christmas ProjectsHope you all had a marvelous Christmas! We had a house full with lots of love, laughter, wrapping paper all over the place and food, too!<br />
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Getting ready for Christmas certainly curtailed my stitching on Celtic Solstice, though I have made some of each of the clues.<br />
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I also had to prep 110 angels for my 2 and 3 year old classes. Here is the "grown-up" version I did for my own tree.<br />
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For the kids, a sparkly star sticker and chenille wire halo were used. they attached a white cupcake paper for the wings. On mine I used copper wire for the halo, painted a wooden star with copper metallic paint and used a heart shaped lace doily for the wings.</div>
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Then there were the "Jingle" pillows I needed to make. They are Pottery Barn knockoffs. I made red for the family room.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NdJVeFvEQes/UsH2rMQLRbI/AAAAAAAADGc/8R98FFbH5Bw/s1600/Red+Jingle+Pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NdJVeFvEQes/UsH2rMQLRbI/AAAAAAAADGc/8R98FFbH5Bw/s400/Red+Jingle+Pillow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-FMviLlQGU/UsH2Tdl1A1I/AAAAAAAADGU/0Cm0FS2Nx4U/s1600/Red+Jingle+Pillow+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P-FMviLlQGU/UsH2Tdl1A1I/AAAAAAAADGU/0Cm0FS2Nx4U/s400/Red+Jingle+Pillow+Detail.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></div>
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Blue for the foyer.</div>
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The other pillows were made other years.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhEPEW5lypk/UsH0oHCthbI/AAAAAAAADFM/PjHJCptQM-Y/s1600/Blue+Jingle+Pillow+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bhEPEW5lypk/UsH0oHCthbI/AAAAAAAADFM/PjHJCptQM-Y/s400/Blue+Jingle+Pillow+Detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We just needed a "Believe" pillow to join the Silent Night and Holy Night pillows in the Living room.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BggBhzoNSR0/UsH0eEBAnoI/AAAAAAAADFE/U0bspu0fe6Q/s1600/Believe+Pillow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BggBhzoNSR0/UsH0eEBAnoI/AAAAAAAADFE/U0bspu0fe6Q/s400/Believe+Pillow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I will admit the "Believe" pillow did not get completed until the day AFTER Christmas.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXiOy25Cc4U/UsH20AuGdBI/AAAAAAAADGk/BRsJsYeEotg/s1600/Summer_Tutu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IXiOy25Cc4U/UsH20AuGdBI/AAAAAAAADGk/BRsJsYeEotg/s400/Summer_Tutu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And Miss Summer just had to have a tutu for Christmas.</div>
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So that's why my Celtic Solstice clues are barely started! That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Here is where I am on Clue 1.</div>
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A lot cut and quite a few stitched -- but not done!</div>
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And Clue 2?</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlv47Mv6s-I/UsH1GIBLtfI/AAAAAAAADFk/zOf-UcrixJ8/s1600/Celtic+Solstice_Clue+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xlv47Mv6s-I/UsH1GIBLtfI/AAAAAAAADFk/zOf-UcrixJ8/s400/Celtic+Solstice_Clue+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are actually a few more than this done now, but they were not when I took photos.</div>
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Clue 3?</div>
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Ditto. A few more are done than when the photo was taken.</div>
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Clue 4?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRNyjCFA0D0/UsH1fwdfiyI/AAAAAAAADF0/7NB-dFFC0w4/s1600/Celtic+Solstice_Clue+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kRNyjCFA0D0/UsH1fwdfiyI/AAAAAAAADF0/7NB-dFFC0w4/s400/Celtic+Solstice_Clue+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I actually have quite a few more of these done now. Love making 4-patch blocks.</div>
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And Clue 5?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-su78l4EJ21s/UsH1pyWm0VI/AAAAAAAADF8/CZT9Pe9jwiY/s1600/Celtic+Solstice_Clue+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-su78l4EJ21s/UsH1pyWm0VI/AAAAAAAADF8/CZT9Pe9jwiY/s400/Celtic+Solstice_Clue+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I think I have about 20 of these done now and more cut and ready to go.</div>
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So, I am really behind, but hope to catch up this week with New Year's Day off work!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aItgGwYS1W8/UsH12KDUSuI/AAAAAAAADGE/Ghf136k-0qQ/s1600/Celtic_Solstice+Notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aItgGwYS1W8/UsH12KDUSuI/AAAAAAAADGE/Ghf136k-0qQ/s400/Celtic_Solstice+Notebook.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A 3-ring binder helps keep the instructions in order.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ5qqTNJd4Q/UsH2DpZSVCI/AAAAAAAADGM/oNdjtJ38V_g/s1600/Celtic+Solstice_Pages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cZ5qqTNJd4Q/UsH2DpZSVCI/AAAAAAAADGM/oNdjtJ38V_g/s400/Celtic+Solstice_Pages.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The yellow post-it notes help me find the page I need quickly to check numbers or pieces to cut or units to make of each clue.</div>
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It is a lot of fun and I can't wait for the reveal when we get to know exactly how all these units will be joined into the quilt. This is a challenge for me as I like to know where I am going on a quilt. Hope you are having as much fun with this if you are doing Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery.</div>
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Best wishes for a happy, healthy and productive 2014!</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-87405934475135918412013-11-30T13:04:00.000-08:002013-11-30T13:04:19.504-08:00On The Design Wall NowHope you all had an excellent Thanksgiving! We had a house full. Our number for holidays is always somewhere around 20 with 22 being the minimum. Sometimes our grand kids bring friends and sometimes our children's in-laws come so it varies from holiday to holiday, but it is always a lot of fun!<br />
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Not much went on in the studio most of the week, but I had pulled out a really old UFO after the Vines and Stars came down off the design wall. I cannot stand for it to be empty! The UFO began a very long time ago when several of us decided to make a charm quilt. A charm quilt, if you are not familiar with the term is a quilt that contains only 1 template piece, but repeated in 1,000 different fabrics. Jo, Joan, Lorinda and Bonnie, remember those days?<br />
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We exchanged 10 fabrics each month in a designated color. The rule was, for instance on red, it could be any variation of red from pink to burgundy and light or dark. We each had all of the templates and drew around them on the fabric, cut them with 1/4" seam allowances and gave them to each other according to the color of the month. I made a move during that time, so mine were mailed each month. All 10 pieces would go for a standard 1st class postage stamp. Obviously, since I am still working on it, mine never got completed.<br />
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Here is what it looks like with 976 fabrics. I do not guarantee that there are no duplicates, but that is still a LOT of different fabrics. I am still hand piecing the rest of the missing pyramids.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJiZAJNVDE8/UppMyhGhohI/AAAAAAAADDI/hGd89LUBO8U/s1600/Thousand_Pyramids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qJiZAJNVDE8/UppMyhGhohI/AAAAAAAADDI/hGd89LUBO8U/s400/Thousand_Pyramids.jpg" width="343" /></a></div>
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The contrast is a little weak on the bottom row, so pieces will be moved around. Each of the larger triangles is made up of 16 smaller triangles. I have not decided how I will handle the half blocks on the two side edges. If I piece them, I will need another template that is half of the original triangle or pyramid shape.</div>
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I have also decided to participate in Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt Celtic Solstice. I have never done a mystery before, because I really like designing my own quilt and, if you know me well, you know I have a tendency to want to be in control of the design. Not knowing in advance where I'm going with something is a bit unsettling to me. Okay, I admit it, I'm a control freak! There, I said it! You may all laugh now, because you probably already figured that out.</div>
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The first clue was given yesterday on <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/11/celtic-solstice-mystery-part-1.html">Bonnie Hunter's</a> blog. It will be a challenge to actually follow the rules, but at least I'm going to give it a try. </div>
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Here are a few of the clue one pieces made using the Tri-Recs ruler set.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZO0FuDuamE/UppM6wT3bNI/AAAAAAAADDU/XVybaCUB9V4/s1600/Celtic+Solstice_Clue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZO0FuDuamE/UppM6wT3bNI/AAAAAAAADDU/XVybaCUB9V4/s400/Celtic+Solstice_Clue1.jpg" width="391" /></a></div>
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You can read more about the mystery on Bonnie's blog. It is not too late to join in on the fun. I do like the scrappy look of Bonnie's quilts, but usually decide on my own patterns rather than use a predesigned quilt pattern. The few times I've tried to follow a pattern, I end up changing it so that in the end it does not look like the original. It's more fun to put a personal touch on anything, don't you think?</div>
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Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Stay tuned for more on the progress of the pyramids and the mystery quilt.</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1978201624926740986.post-3455044494811217622013-11-22T15:38:00.000-08:002013-11-22T15:38:14.590-08:00Vines and Stars Quilt Top Finished - Finally!At long last, the borders have been added and this top is done! Great feeling! As I told you, this quilt began as a demonstration piece for classes I was teaching on how to applique' vines and leaves. There are a few tricks to making those sharp points on the leaves and having a vine stay even as it curves. I used it as a demo at the AQS Show in Nashville way back in 2005 for the first time. While it's been fun, I'm glad to have the top finished! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jbv11EE4kCQ/Uo_kcFptW6I/AAAAAAAADC4/5I5mW4vDq0M/s1600/Finished_top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jbv11EE4kCQ/Uo_kcFptW6I/AAAAAAAADC4/5I5mW4vDq0M/s400/Finished_top.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sorry about the telescoping of the photo. The quilt is too large for the design wall. It is 94" x 99". It will shrink some with the quilting, though.</div>
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Do you remember that I nearly ran out of the black background used for the applique strips and the 8-pointed stars? I told you about it <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2013/08/more-progress-on-vines-and-stars-quilts.html">here</a>. Well, I found what I think is the perfect solution for the borders.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2Tj2FK-Hhk/Uo_kHuUgZ0I/AAAAAAAADC0/K5ISb0pkG7c/s1600/Corner_detail_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2Tj2FK-Hhk/Uo_kHuUgZ0I/AAAAAAAADC0/K5ISb0pkG7c/s400/Corner_detail_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The blacks actually match better in person than they look like in the photos. Can you see the musical notes? Originally I found a black with a treble clef, but it seemed too close to the other black and really didn't "pop" as a border even with the colorful striped inner border.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fi8Hwazzc8c/Uo_jtKqGVpI/AAAAAAAADCk/9UDgGZvaC5g/s1600/Bottom+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fi8Hwazzc8c/Uo_jtKqGVpI/AAAAAAAADCk/9UDgGZvaC5g/s400/Bottom+Detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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But this print seemed to bring it all together.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40QIjZPfKvc/Uo_j5l115HI/AAAAAAAADCs/xgF0IAkxuTM/s1600/Corner+Detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-40QIjZPfKvc/Uo_j5l115HI/AAAAAAAADCs/xgF0IAkxuTM/s400/Corner+Detail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It works for me. What do you think?</div>
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Sorry for the odd angles on the photos. I was sitting on the loft rail and not feeling all that secure! It is a rare rainy day in the desert, so the light wasn't very cooperative either. I won't complain about the rain, though, we certainly can use the moisture even if it isn't an ideal day for taking photos.</div>
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Hope you have enjoyed the <a href="http://loisarnold.blogspot.com/2013/08/vines-and-stars-progress.html">story</a> of the vines and stars quilt. Have an awesome day!</div>
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xoxoXOXOxoxo</div>
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Lois Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03088178887985732097noreply@blogger.com3