About Me

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New Jersey, United States
I am the wife of a wonderful husband and the mom of three super adult kids and their spouses. I also proudly have five adorable grandsons. I happily taught preschool for 25 years. When I'm not with my grandsons I spend much of my time indulging in my "Quilty Pleasures."

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Show & Tell Tuesday

Show & Tell Tuesday

I have two quilts to share today.  I was able to get both of these quilt patterns online for free.


Black Tracks


Anytime I can get a quilt pattern for free I grab it.  

This pattern was offered by Judy Martin as a Free Block of the Moment.

She called her block Bluebonnet Block and she used shades of blue and white. 

 Unfortunately I do not think the pattern is available any longer but she does have another BOM called Prickly Pear Cactus




The pattern was offered in 2009 but I did not finish my quilt until 2011.  

It measures 74" X 74".


Skipping Stones


The pattern for Skipping Stones can be found in 2009 Thimbleberries Quilt Club Newsletter; Volume 10, Issue 9.  

I did a quick online search and was unable to come up with the pattern four years later.  I'm not sure that it is available now but it is really a very simple pattern if you have basic quilting knowledge.

The quilt is made up of twenty uneven nine-patches that finish at 8" and twelve strip pieced blocks that also finish at 8".  

The blocks are set on point and then borders were added.



This quilt was completed in 2009 and it measures 59" X 71".

Since I don't think this pattern is available any longer if you email me I will be happy to give you more info on making this project.



Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Monday, July 29, 2013

Make-A-List Monday

The Week of July 22, 2013
(in review)


1.  Attend Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA. 

Quilt Odyssey was GREAT! 

 It was wonderful to reconnect with quilty friends 
and attend some wonderful classes.



Hershey Lodge is so picturesque.  
As many times as I have been to this hotel I still manage to get lost.  

The first class I took was about Featherweight sewing machines.
  It was taught by Betty Neff of Pennsylvania Quilter


Caroline

 Earlier in the day I was lucky enough to purchase a "new-to-me" featherweight.  She was "born" on March 25, 1936 and I named her Caroline after one of my favorite students.  

She joins my other featherweights...Abigail and Bonnie

The next day I took a class taught by Nancy Bills called Chisel Flowers.



This is a picture of the class sample.  

I am making 20 flowers for my quilt so it will not be as long as the sample.



Each flower was made with eight chisels that we cut with the
 Accuquilt  fabric cutter.  

Here is a picture of one of my blocks before the appliqued center circle:





On the second night of the show I attended Roundabout.  We were able to go to 10 different mini-lectures by instructors and show vendors.

My favorite class was held on Saturday...

Bonnie Hunter's Jamestown Landing class.



In the morning we worked on neutral string blocks and in the afternoon we made lots of half-square triangles.  

This quilt requires 840 HST so I have a lot more to make.




Bonnie was kind enough to take a picture with me...



...and sign one of my string blocks.



Most likely I will complete both of these quilts as leader/ender projects
 over the next year.

Jamestown Landing pattern can be found in Bonnie's book String Fling.





There were many beautiful quilts on display. 
 The antique quilts were my favorites. 

 Here are a few pictures of some of these antique quilts:






It was a wonderful trip and I can't wait until next year.


2.  Finish quilting the May 2011 Stash Club - Bear Claw quilt.


I was able to finish quilting this quilt before I left for Hershey.

3.  Bind two stash club quilts:  Snowball and Bear Claw.


Both of the bindings have been added and now await hand tacking.

4.  Spend two days with little Ryder.  :D


I was lucky to have little Ryder spend the night with me last week. 

 We went to Gymboree and spent the rainy evening walking 
around Quakerbridge Mall. 

 I hadn't been to this mall since before my DS Kyle's wedding in 2010. 

They have changed so many things.  

There is a very safe and clean play area for little ones that Ryder enjoyed.

5.  Work on a Strip Club quilt called "Jelly Beans."



I was able to finish 16 of the 175 blocks needed for this quilt.  



Here are 4 of my 16 blocks.

6.  Work on the following BRODY Project:

String of Pearls
Keep It Simple
Lazy Sunday
Blue Dresden Plate Quilt
Log Cabin Christmas Tree Quilt
Syncopated Rhythm

I only worked on Syncopated Rhythm but I was able to finish the top.




I picked up the perfect backing fabric at Quilt Odyssey.  I need to do a little piecing to get it to the correct size .




The Week of July 29, 2013

1.  Work on the next two blocks for the Pieceful Nights Quilt-A-Long sponsored by Jo's Country Junction.  

2.  Continue to work on my Jelly Beans quilt pattern by
Blue Underground Studios.

3.  Prepare backing for Syncopated Rhythm.

4.  Finish quilting my ABC Quilt that is currently loaded on Annie.  

Annie has been misbehaving lately so hopefully I will 
be able to get this quilt done.

5.  Work on the following BRODY Projects:

String of Pearls
Keep It Simple
Lazy Sunday
Blue Dresden Plate Quilt
Log Cabin Christmas Tree Quilt

6.  Work on the July paper-pieced heart sampler block.

7.  Celebrate my DH's birthday on Tuesday.

He will spend the day with Ryder...his favorite thing to do.

8.  Work on hand piecing the two blocks for Skill Builder Block of the Month
sponsored by Alyssa Lichner of Pile O' Fabric. 

9.  Start working on a quilt called "Crazy Eights."

10.  Work on the next block for the PQW Saturday Sampler.



Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn


Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Show & Tell Tuesday

Show & Tell Tuesday

I have three quilts to share.  All of them were free online mysteries.



Lucky Stars



This quilt was a Wonderful One-Day Mystery Case 132 presented by
 Inspector Merry Mayhem
 also known as Merry May of Tuckahoe, NJ.  





The mystery was presented online on July 18, 2010 by Planet Patchwork


.


The finished quilt measures 50" X 70".





Squares the Center





This vibrant quilt was also a mystery.  This project was a Katiedid Mystery presented by Planet Patchwork in 2011.



I used all stash "reads-as-solid" fabric. The finished quilt measures 61" X 61".



A Tisket A Tasket





This quilt was also a Merry Mayhem Mystery Quilt - Case #133

It was originally named "Diminutive Vessels."  

I used a combination of machine piecing and machine applique.

It is small, measuring only 35' square.


I used lots of civil war repro fabric.  

I had some left over to make this pieced back.



This small table topper quilt was completed in 2010.  


I hope you enjoyed looking at a few more of the quilts that I have made.



Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Monday, July 22, 2013

Make-A-List Monday

The Week of July 15, 2013
(in review)

1. Complete the 6th block for the Byrne Sewing Connection BOM and attend the demonstration class.

I was actually able to complete the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th blocks.  Now I am all caught up.






I am ready for the next block in August.

2. Complete the 2013 NJ Shop Hop Quilt and prepare it for quilting.

Here is the pieced quilt top.



The backing has been prepared and it has been added to my Git-R-Done list.

3. Work on the following BRODY Project:

String of Pearls
Keep It Simple
Lazy Sunday
Blue Dresden Plate Quilt
Log Cabin Christmas Tree Quilt
Syncopated Rhythm

I did a little work on the Blue Dresden Plate quilt and a lot of work on Syncopated Rhythm.  

Here are some of the Syncopated Rhythm blocks:




4. Work on hand piecing the two blocks for Skill Builder Block of the Month
sponsored by Alyssa Lichner of Pile O' Fabric.

Here is part of one block:



I am making progress on these blocks but it is still taking a lot of time.

5. Spend a day with little Ryder.


This is Ryder snuggling with his pirate quilt.

6. Celebrate DD, Shea's, 25th birthday in Hoboken.


We had a wonderful time in Hoboken.  We ate at a restaurant called 

Madison Bar and Grill.  




It was very good and I highly recommend it.


7. Bind the Craftsy 2012 BOM that I just finished quilting on Annie.

I did get the binding done and it has been added to my pile of quilts to be hand-tacked.  

8. Work on two blocks for the Pieceful Nights Quilt Along sponsored by Jo Kramer of Jo's Country Junction.

I did not get to work on these blocks.  They will have to wait until I get back from Quilt Odyssey.

9. Cut up some fabric scraps for my Scrap User's System.

I was able to get all my scraps cut up and placed in the correct bin. 

10. Do some menu planning.

I planned two months worth of menus.  Now to do the grocery shopping...





The Week of July 22, 2013

1.  Attend Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA. 

I'm so excited to be going back to Quilt Odyssey for the 5th year.
 (or is it the 6th?)  I'll have lots of pictures next week.

2.  Finish quilting the May 2011 Stash Club - Bear Claw quilt.

3.  Bind two stash club quilts:  Snowball and Bear Claw.

4.  Spend two days with little Ryder.  :D

5.  Work on a Strip Club quilt called "Jelly Beans."




6.  Work on the following BRODY Project:

String of Pearls
Keep It Simple
Lazy Sunday
Blue Dresden Plate Quilt
Log Cabin Christmas Tree Quilt
Syncopated Rhythm



Not much on my list this week because I will be with Ryder for two days and Quilt Odyssey for three days.  That does not leave much time to sew.
Luckily I will get lots of time to sew in the classes I will take in Hershey.



Until Next Time...Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn

Monday, July 15, 2013

Make-A-List Monday

The Week Of July 8, 2013
(in review)


1.  Complete the second block for the PQW Saturday Sampler.  Attend class this weekend.


The second block is this pretty bordello block.  It is made with batik fabric.


2.  Quilt, bind and launder two Quilts for Kids quilts.









 The quilt on the bottom is the four patch quilt from June and the one on top is the wonky nine patch from July.









Here are the labels I attached to the back.








3.  Attach a binding to the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt Easy Street.

Easy Street is bound and it has been added to my ever growing pile of quilts to be hand tacked.

4.  Prepare a quilt called Syncopated Rhythm as a BRODY Project.


I am doing my Syncopated Rhythm in bright batiks very similar to the picture on the cover of the pattern.

5.  Work on the following BRODY Projects:

String of Pearls
Keep It Simple
Lazy Sunday
Blue Dresden Plate Quilt
Log Cabin Christmas Tree Quilt
Syncopated Rhythm

I've made a little bit of progress on all these projects except Lazy Sunday.  I can't do any more on that project until I receive the next, and final clue, from Quiltmaker Magazine.

6.  Work on hand piecing the two blocks for Skill Builder Block of the Month
sponsored by Alyssa Lichner of Pile O' Fabric.

These blocks are still not complete.  They are going to take a while.

7.  Prepare my quilt class projects for my trip to Hershey, PA for 

One of the classes I am taking that requires preparation is called Chisel Flowers.  Here is the write-up on the Quilt Odyssey website:

213 CHISEL FLOWERS - Nancy Bills
This class is all about the chisel! The chisel is a simple but very versatile shape that can be used alone or with other blocks in numerous patterns. Come cut this Chisel Flower Quilt in minutes using Accuquilt GO! cutters (supplied in class). This is a great way to see what die cutters are all about. If you want to cut more pieces at home, but don't have a cutter, no worry. The class includes instruction in cutting the pieces for the quilt using just one simple, inexpensive ruler. The flower block can be chain pieced, has just one simple seam to match, and the piano key border is made from leftovers with just one quick cut for each piece. The flower centers can be circles cut on the GO! or with a circle cutter (demonstrated in class). Don’t want a circle? How about a simple pieced diamond for the center. This is a great kid’s quilt but also looks good done in traditional fabrics or really scrappy for a funky, fun quilt. Other samples of this block and numerous other quilts made with the chisel shape will be shown in class and discussed. For additional photos of this and other chisel quilts, go to Nancybills.com - Gallery - Quilt Odyssey 2013 - Chisel Flower. Skill lever: Conf beginner - Intermediate.

Here are the fabrics I have chosen:



The second class I am taking that requires preparation is Jamestown Landing.

309 JAMESTOWN LANDING - Bonnie Hunter




Stars and chains in blues and neutrals are sure to capture any star-lover's fancy! What a great way to clear out scraps by choosing two color families: a foreground (Blue) and a background (Neutral). Students will learn the basics of string piecing along with learning to use the Easy Angle ruler to create half square triangle units from 2-1/2" scrap strips.  This quilt pattern is a great way for you to use a large variety of blue and neutral scraps for the half-square triangles, and you can have even more fun clearing out a whole box of neutralscrap strings used in the alternate block areas. Bonnie's String Fling book is required for this class:










Here are the fabrics I've chosen to use.









I pre-made a few string blocks to see what they will look like.

I am taking two more classes but they are lecture format rather than hands-on so there is little to no preparation.

118 FEATHERWEIGHTS & THEIR ATTACHMENTS - Betty Neff
Back by popular demand! Bring your featherweight and all those odd looking “parts” for a fun evening of discovery! Learn what attachments you have and how to use them. But, Betty doesn’t stop there! Singer designed attachments, sold separately, to do just about everything. Betty will bring her collection for demonstration in class. See everything from an “embroidery” foot to an automatic “pinker.”  This is a great time to try “free motion quilting” with your machine. Don’t have full attachments? Remember, other vintage Singer attachments will fit your Featherweight. Betty and her husband Richard own Pennsylvania Quilter. Your know them as the Featherweight vendors at Quilt Odyssey. All skill levels. SUPPLIES: BSS, SM (Featherweight) with instruction book and all attachments. Fabric: solid color scraps: 12 pieces cut into approx. 12” x 4” or 6” and three pieces cut 3” x WOF (selvage to selvage); camera (optional).


L217 ROUNDABOUT

Come join the instructors for an evening of 10-12 minutes vignettes of tidbits you can learn in a jiffy! You’ll be given handouts of every demonstration and tip covered this evening: then, you decide which to attend - up to a total of 10! Every 12 minutes the bell will sound and you’ll go to the next  station on your list. This is a great way to quickly learn new techniques and how to use some of our tools of the trade. Limited number of registrants. Cost for the evening including handouts: 

8.  Work on the 2013 NJ Shop Hop Quilt.

I was able to finish 12 blocks.







9.  Work on a Strip Club project from August 2011.

I did not get to this project.

10.  Work on a Crazy Eight quilt.

I did not get to this project either.



The Week of July 15, 2013

1.  Complete the 6th block for the Byrne Sewing Connection BOM and attend the demonstration class.

2.  Complete the 2013 NJ Shop Hop Quilt and prepare it for quilting.

3.  Work on the following BRODY Project:

String of Pearls
Keep It Simple
Lazy Sunday
Blue Dresden Plate Quilt
Log Cabin Christmas Tree Quilt
Syncopated Rhythm

4.  Work on hand piecing the two blocks for Skill Builder Block of the Month
sponsored by Alyssa Lichner of Pile O' Fabric.

5.  Spend a day with little Ryder.







This is his picture from last week playing on his slide that Aunt Shea and Uncle JT gave him for his birthday.











6.  Celebrate DD, Shea's, 25th birthday in Hoboken. 
 (Is that even possible?)

7.  Bind the Craftsy 2012 BOM that I just finished quilting on Annie.

8.  Work on two blocks for the Pieceful Nights Quilt Along sponsored by Jo Kramer of Jo's Country Junction.

9.  Cut up some fabric scraps for my Scrap User's System.

10.  Do some menu planning.


Until Next Time.....Happy Stitching!!!

Sharyn