Friday Finishes

This has been a very productive week!

Finally put my Modern Stars quilt blocks together.  I was patiently waiting for the final block that was being shipped from over seas, however, it never did arrive.

I threw the last block together so I could get this in the queue to be quilted.

I also had time to put the latest do.good stitches quilt top together.

Looks like I have some long-arm quilting to do!

Peace,

Laura

WIP Wednesday

More stars for Sarah's quilt:

The start of a new mini quilt for a swap on flickr:

Peace,

Laura

WIP Wednesday

Week #3 - Sarah's Stars

Coming along nicely!

Christmas Minis

I have a couple of finishes for Finish it up Friday!!  Yeah me!!

This little mini measures just under 12"!

I call it Christmas Kisses and it is just too sweet!

Another Christmas mini for my entry way.

I love the trees!  

We also had a bit a snow fall this week, but unfortunately it has melted away!

I'm really hoping to have a traditional, White Christmas.

Peace to all,

Laura

WIP - Wednesday

Another week of stars finished for Sarah's graduation quilt.

I'm following the OH MY STARS quilt along - a few years late!

The last of my four nieces is graduating in 2017.  She wanted a pink quilt.

Since pink is also my favorite color...I'm loving these stars!!

Two weeks down...13 to go

WIP Wednesday

I think I am like every other quilter I know.

I have several projects going at once!

These are my current WIPs:  

WORKS IN PROGRESS

MODERN STARS

Stash Bee 2016

I've completed 4 more blocks and I'm

waiting for one more to arrive from across the pond

BUBBLES 2016

Waiting on a few more to arrive from 

across the world.

Sarah's Stars 2016-17

My niece's graduation quilt.  She wanted pinks

and since I've always wanted to do the 

OH MY STARS QAL 

in a variety of pinks....

another project started this week!

This is week #1 Sawtooth Stars.

This is the OH MY STARS QAL

projected finish.

As usual, there is a lot on my table.

But I wouldn't have it any other way!

Peace,

Laura

Happy Winter

A Friday Finish!!!

This Christmas - Winter quilt went together

very quickly...took only one Saturday!

However, it took a bit longer to get it on the quilting frame.

I created this from one fabric layer cake that 

I purchase on etsy.

My silly husband!

We will be enjoying this quilt this winter!

Peace,

Laura

Other 2016 Finishes

I'm trying not to beat myself up for being such a slacker!  

Here are some other finishes not previously shared.

Mini QT- Low Volume Swap

Mini QT - Coastal Swap

1930's Farmer's Wife Quilt

Some Charitable Finishes

Ok.  Yeah, I'm a blogger slacker.  However, I do have goals of being a regular blogger soon!

In the meantime, I've missed sharing some finishes.  These are quilts I've completed for the 

Believe@do.goodstitches group on flickr:

View all of believe's quilts HERE.

It takes a villiage.....

This is the beginning of what I hope will be a beautiful village quilt.

I'm planning on a 9 x 11 layout, varied with a few white fillers.

I'll need 99 blocks....and maybe 1 more for the label on the back.

20 down....80 to go.!

It shouldn't take that long, right!  It will sure be a scrap buster!!

Stash Bee November 2016

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Northern Michigan!

While we have only had one dusting of snow....Christmas is definitely around the corner!

Cheri helped this along by designing this creative candy cane block that measures in at a whopping 16.5 inches!  It went together pretty easy and came out great.

While I'm sorry that Stash Bee 2016 is slowly coming to an end, I'm so looking forward to all the new and creative ideas that will come from Stash Bee 2017.

Enjoy the break!

Laura VanVleet

Stash Bee - September - shared post.

Hello and welcome to September Hive 1 bee~mates!

My name is Laura VanVleet from 

Northern Michigan and I'm very excited about 

doing this month's tutorial!

For my block this month, I would love for you 

to each make me a scrappy modern star

using  half square triangles.

I'm not sure where I originally saw this star block, but I sketched it 

in my idea notebook for a future project.  Unfortunately, I do 

not know the name of this star block.  If you do, please post it here!

 I'm looking for monochromatic, bright stars with low volume, white on white or white and black fabrics for the background. 

Please no creams, tans or muddy colors.  

I'm looking for a clean, crisp look!

Let's get started:

 Cut {8} 4" squares in your bright color of choice.

Cut {8} 4" squares white, white on white or white with black.

We will be making half square triangles.  This is how I like to do them.  

They pretty much come up perfect each time.  Feel free to use your own method, if you wish.

On each white square, draw a line from corner to corner.

Place one white square on each colored square, right sides together.

Sew a scant quarter inch on each side of the line.

After sewing, cut on the pencil line and

iron toward the darker fabric.

This is the fun part -  some of the blocks will look a little wonky!

Line your square on the block with the angle line on the seam line.

Trim block to 3.5".  I find it's easier to trim all four sides.  

Trim the first 2 sides, leaving it just over 3.5".

Flip and trim the other side to exactly 3.5".

I love how perfect these come out!

Once all little blocks are trimmed, create the layout for your star like this:

The star goes together pretty easy!

I found that pressing the seams open from here on out work best.

I did my block in quarters.....then sewed it all together.

Voila!  It's a beautiful, scrappy star measuring 12. 5".

Please let me know if you have any questions.  It took

just under an hour, start to finish, to complete one star.
They look complicated, but go together pretty fast!

I'm looking forward to seeing all of your bright, fabulous scrappy stars!

Thanks so much,

Laura

Stash Bee - July 2016

Sarah choose this beautiful feather block by Anna Marie Horner for her block in July.

While I consider myself a seasoned quilter, I did find this one challenging.  The feathers went together easy enough, however I had difficulty lining up the background material correctly.  Needless to say, my seam ripper was my best friend!

All in all, it all came together!  I cannot wait to see this quilt come together.  I predict that it will be absolutely gorgeous!

Thanks, Sarah, for challenging me this month! 

Laura

Stash Bee: June 2016

This was a super fun and super easy block to make! 

It's called King's Cross and it's for
Francis Paul
from the Netherlands.

Tutorial is HERE.

I can't wait to see how this one comes together!

I may have to make this quilt for myself!

This block has a long way to travel.......so I am putting this in the mail this week.

Hoping she will receive this before the month is over!

Thanks for a fun month!

May do.good stitches

My month for creating the quilt with the believe@do.goodstitches over on flickr.

I saw a miniature version of this block somewhere online and I thought this would make an easy, yet fabulous charity quilt.  

I shared the directions with the ladies and Ben from my group, so I'm looking forward to receiving these bright and beautiful blocks.  

I dubbed the name "9 Patch Plus".  I know.  Not very creative.  But I could not find a source for the block or a name online, so 9 Patch Plus it is!

You will need:

(5) 5" bright pink squares

(4) 5" bright lime, purple or orange squares

1 strip of 1.5" low volume or white on white fabric

Sew the squares togther as pictured above.

Find the center and cut the 9 patch block in half.

Cut the 1.5" strip into three pieces, as above.

Sew the short strips to both of the top pieces, then to the bottom pieces.

Then sew the center pieces to both halves.

I did one in each color.  I'm looking forward to putting this bright quilt together! 

1930's Farmer's Wife update

YEAH!  Over half way done!

I've decided to no longer follow the Quilt Along, as the admins have changed the rules yet once again!  Now they are presenting one block a week instead of two.

This will take an additional 6 months to complete.

So, I'm forging ahead on my own!  Hoping to complete my quilt by September 2016, a year after the quilt along began.

And I will post all updates to this quilt right here.

March Bee Blocks

Bubbles 2 for Emma

Bubbles 2 for Wyna

Stash Bee for Robin

do.good stitches for Robin

Puppy Love

The plan was to have this finished for displaying in February.  Unfortunately, my quilting machine was not cooperative, so it was finished a little late.

I LOVE THIS QUILT.  The dogs are paper pieced.  The pattern is Yappity Yap and I found it in the July/August 2003 issue of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine.  I chose some of my favorite pink and red fabrics and found the adorable black with white bones on ETSY.

Farmer's Wife update

I am so glad I decided to use the QAYG method for this quilt along.  First, it's a very long quilt along with a total of 99 blocks to complete.  That in itself is overwhelming.  However, the admins who are organizing the quilt along decided to take a two week break over the Christmas holiday and just had another two week break 'to catch up.'  Disappointing to me, to say the least.

So..... I was able to fill my time quilting the little blocks so as not to lose interest in this quilt along.  I'm sure I would have dropped out by now otherwise.

It's coming along very nicely, and I'm loving it!