Jun 26: Duane came by and looked at some ideas I had. We also searched Fabrics.com for more options. I went through my flannel stash and came across some tartans I bought several years ago. One really caught Duane's eye. Using EQ7, I showed him layouts using the red/black/white tartan & solid red flannel. Bingo! I ordered the red & backing flannels and started figuring out how to use the tartan.
Jun 28: Wanting to fussy cut the tartan blocks, I didn't have enough for the layout Duane liked. Also realized all those bias cut borders would have been very difficult to match plaids. On to plan 2.
Jul 01: Two wonderfully soft flannels are here. Red & tartan rows are pieced. Need to order the grey and black flannels.
Jul 09: Last of the fabric is ordered.
Jul 11: Fabric is shipped & expected Tuesday, July 15.
Jul 15: Fabric is here.
Aug 16: Discovering it is not so simple to figure out the exact dimensions for a diamond in a square block. Think I finally got it.
Aug 18: Finished the center. Started on borders. Got the first one (grey) on.
Aug 19: Finished the borders and thus the quilt top.
Aug 20: Pieced the backing. Auditioning patterns so Duane can choose one tomorrow.
Aug 21: Paw Prints it is. Wool batting. Silver thread. Loading. Quilting.
Aug 22: Quilted. Love it, I do. Binding is attached.
Aug 24: Hand binding.
Aug 27: Finished.

Mar 19: While riding along today, Marie told me she wants another quilt in May for a friend who loves black & white cows. Just getting ready for when she can come by and help design this quilt. For now, I am stuck on patterns like Just Can't Cut It or Take 5 for a patchwork look. I even kinda like the blue Holy Cow fabrics. It will be fun to see what Marie likes & where we end up.

Mar 24: Marie came by and we designed her quilt. I was up until past midnight getting everything ordered. Turns out in May means for Mother's Day. This Just Can't Cut It quilt using panels & large 15" to 16" blocks will piece quickly. The Farm Chic fabrics have both light and dark images online but I think either will work. Since Windham makes both lines of fabric--Holy Cow & Farm Chic--I hope they will coordinate nicely.
Mar 27: Four of the eight fabrics are here & they feel so wonderful, especially dairy farm scene. And the two fabrics lines will coordinate just fine.
Mar 28: 6 panels and Cow Toss on Blue came in. One more to go.
Mar 29: Last fabric is here. Decided to pre-wash everything--something I rarely do. Mostly I was killing time waiting for a friend to come over. Got everything pressed and ready to cut.
Mar 30: Took most of the day cutting this out just so. Waiting on Marie to come by, I pieced the blocks. We looked for patterns when I came across one I forgot I had by Donna Kleinke. Why not use The Cow Jumped Over the Moon?
Mar 31: Quilt top finished.
Apr 07: Loaded.
Apr 08: Quilted.
Apr 14: Squared the quilt. Made the binding.
Apr 15: Binding is attached. Starting hand work.
Apr 26: Binding is finished.

Wool batting and loose quilting will make this a warm lap quilt that will be well used & washed as needed.

Jan 10: Top & backing pieced.
Feb 21: Myra selected a QOV eagle pattern for this quilt she will give her father.
Mar 06: I suggested Eagles on High & Myra agreed. Quilting.
Mar 07: Quilted. Binding is attached. In the binding queue.
Mar 12: Bound & thus finished.
Mar 13: Final pictures.

I decided to order the center panel here to see if it was something that was nice enough & 
something I could work into a quilt. Eventually purchased additional panels for the side images as we transitioned from a large bed quilt with just the one panel to a sofa quilt (left image) back to a king size bed quilt (right images).

Five months later, the binding is finished and the quilt ready for delivery.

Dec 23: I have been talking/thinking about a quilt for Charles for several years. I finally got him to sit down long enough for us to talk about. Wood ducks are his #1 big thing & horses are a close second. We found a panel online he likes so I ordered to see what it really looks like. He would prefer lots of images on his quilt of wildlife that he loves.
Dec 24: I had never heard of wood ducks before so I returned to RedBubble to see what photographs I might find. I picked 16 and had them printed on post cards.
Dec 30: Post cards expected today.
Jan 19: Started suggesting quilt top layouts. Narrowed down to simple browns and blues.
Jan 20: Ordered several fabrics as indicated in captions below.
Feb 02: Wife Myra says Charles likes "very simple". I am liking the piano keys more and more. These will only be on the drop & help reduce the picture fame look. Favorite color blue will predominate the top. Myra will be by soon to make a final decision. Posted more  ideas, some inspired by suggestions from Joan.
Feb 21: Got in 3 coordinating panels. With Myra's help tonight, we have a working plan. After cutting the panels, we will work out the sashing and/or borders. Also, Myra needs to measure the sofa. Didn't happen so I stopped by and measured it myself.

Feb 25: Cut out the panels. Laid out the quilt map using Excel. Using real panels changes things.Mar 01: Cut panels and started piecing. The panels are warped so it is a bit of a challenge to cut and fit them together nicely. I find I am trimming and trimming and trimming yet again.
Mar 02: Finished piecing the center and then took it over to show Charles. Charles was not going to settle for a sofa quilt. He wants something that will one day fit a King with as much drop as possible. My max width is 90 and 100 makes a good length. When I suggested some nice pinwheels above and below the center, Charles suggested more wood ducks--8 more--framed in wood bark & black. Use other panels on the sides framed in just black. Well, panels are easier to piece than pinwheels. Ordered 8 more panels & am very grateful to Thread Bear Fabrics in Georgia for not gouging the price on these like some vendors are.
Mar 05: My panels are here.
Mar 17: Cut the panels apart.
Mar 18: Trimmed the 19 panels I need to their proper size for piecing.
Mar 19: Completed the expanded layout details. Cut the pieces to go around the small panels.
Mar 21: Framing the panels.
Mar 22: Panels are framed & connected into borders
Mar 23: Putting it all together. Oops. Got the wood ducks borders reversed. Attached right side border. It needs a tad of tweaking. Still have the left side & top & bottom final blue borders. To tired & too hungry to continue. Ahhh, was able to go on after a short break. Finished the sides. Pinned the top & bottom. Will sew them in the morning & be done.
Mar 24: Pieced.

Mar 27: Quilting some pillow covers to test thread choice (silver) and patterns. I am going to try a combination of two of Anne Bright's pantographs. Very nice, I think. Doing the design small on the pillows. Will do it larger on the king size quilt ... maybe.
Mar 28: Finished 2 sets of pillow covers and ordered inserts. Love it! (I can love my own work, no?)
Mar 30: Want to try to find enough fabrics to piece quilt. I need just over 6 yards and only have 3 of the brown I wanted to use. Guess this will be my first hodgepodge backing. Hmmm. Some brown. some blue, some black & may even include one of those extra panels or two. I have been putting this challenge off but alas, can't load and quilt until it is done.
Mar 31: Decided to order enough of the Dark Bark fabric to do the backing rather than trying to piece something together. I have just over half of what I need already. It would be ridiculous to fudge the backing after working so hard on the top. My first order got canceled--they didn't really have it.
Apr 07: The rest of the backing fabric is here.
Apr 08: Piecing the backing. Will need some strips on the top & bottom to ensure enough backing to load properly. Got everything ready to sew.
Apr 09: Backing is now pieced. Ready to quilt.
May 01: Loading
May 03: Quilting. Quilted.
May 05: Squared.
May 08: Let the binding begin.
May 29: Bound & finished.

"Authentic horses" - that was the directive.

A striking contrast indeed but I probably should have tried to do more piecing with this fabric. My luck, if I tried to piece it I would have gotten just horse tails in several blocks.

Myra loves this quilt as it & has claimed it for her step-son (Charles' son), Caleb, as thanks for all his hard work helping them get their home in shape to move in.

Dec 26: Bought fabric.
Dec 28: Pieced the top. This will either go to Charles or Myra's dad. I will probably have to cut it down for "dad". The center section is 2 yards--a bit much for a lap quilt. The whole top is 80 x 100 so that is a whole lot of onyx gringe side border.
Feb 28: Bought backing fabric today which led to consider what I will use to quilt this. I instantly fell in love with some green & yellow but ultimately opted for light cream blender backing. Progression of  ideas below.
Feb 29: More brainstorming. Whatever I use will not show up in the center of the top but will be very visible from the back. Letters would be a mirror image on the back.
Mar 10: Myra decided on her patterns: Running Horses panto with Horse Portraits in the outer border turned to be right side up relative to the floor. After Myra left at around noon. I worked until midnight on these layouts. They look so innocent once done...don't believe it.
Jun 25: Final press. loaded and quilting.
Jun 28: Quilted.
Jun 30: Squared. Made the binding.
Jul 01: Binding is clamped and ready for needle work. Got a good start.
Oct 06: Finally made some progress on the binding. Intend to at least something each evening until done.
Nov 02: Finished the binding & thus the quilt.

Picked up fabric with authentic horses
for a couple of quick quilts
over the holidays. 

Dec 26: Bought fabric.
Dec 27: January birthday girl, Vanessa, picked the tame horses and helped design the quilt top.
Dec 28: Pieced the top.
Jan 12: Vanessa & Beth are coming over today to help with this quilt. Didn't happen.
Jan 19: Vanessa is here piecing her backing.
Jan 20-21: Slowly loading hoping Vanessa could join me but she is not well.
Jan 22: Quilting.
Jan 23: Quilted.
Jan 25: More photos.
Jan 28: Made & attached the binding. Will be working on it until finished.
Feb 21: About 1/3 done, I turned over the rest of the binding to Myra, Vanessa's mom. Thus my work is done.
Mar 10: I asked Myra & she returned this quilt so I can finish the binding.
Mar 17: On the home stretch of binding, i.e. on the final side w/all corners done. Binding work is typically slow but this one has been ridiculous. So sorry, Vanessa. FINISHED!

Now Marie wants frogs!!

Marie has asked me to make a quilt with frogs on it. She has someone in her vast family who is really into frogs ... thus...

  "Before the Kiss" Quilt

Oct 12: After the Todd festival today. Marie asked me to make a quilt for her to give someone. It must be all about frogs.
Oct 14: I searched high & low for fabrics with frogs them. Tonight Marie came by and gave a thumbs up or down on each of them. We were left with a "Before the Kiss" panel, a few coordinating fabrics from the same fabric line and some frogs on fleece I will use for the backing. Who knows, I may dare to use some of the fleece on the top. All afternoon and evening, I have been designing  from scratch. You know how it goes…scratch this one…scratch that one…LOL. Feel free to offer suggestions or pick a favorite. I have a couple but it is up to Marie now. She is why I have all these posted for now.
Oct 16: Marie came by before I left for Greensboro on a fabric run & we finalized her plan. Ordered the fabric & they are all on the way.
Oct 19: The fabrics ordered on eBay are here.
Oct 31: Marie came by today to see her fabrics. Whew! As I checked what I had vs. what I needed, I discovered I had, not 6 yards of backing fabric and front panels, but 6 24-inch panels. Turns out that is 4 yards which is exactly what I in fact need. Cut the side panels & ready to start sewing.
Nov 01: Piecing.
Nov 02: Top & backing are pieced and ready to quilt. This time Marie gets to choose a pattern & thread color & I am ready for her.
Nov 04: Marie chooses Leapin' Lily Pads & I have to choose the thread--light turquoise top & back.
Dec 12: Loaded & ready to quilt.
Dec 13: Quilted. Squared. Clamped for hand binding.
Dec 16-17: Bound.
Dec 18: Final pictures.

Not much to say. Just adding borders to some flannel I've had in the closet far too long. The backing is the same as the border.

Winter is coming soon to the mountains and Marie needs something for those chilly moments. Marie is a dear friend.

Sep 18: Fabrics acquired in late 2009. Planned. Cut. I'll work this in around partner quilts currently here or on the way. 
Sep 19: Pieced the top, i.e. added the border so I'm ready to quilt when I decide on a pattern.
Sep 20: Laid out 13 patterns. Marie selected XOXOs.
Sep 24: Quilting. Quilted.
Sep 25: Binding attached.
Sep 30: Finished.

Feb 15, 16, 18: Purchased these fabrics from two different shops.
Feb 16: EQ7 Rendition.
Apr 20: I cut the borders & panels for this simple quilt.
Apr 21: Today, in 2.5 hours, I had a new quilt top.
Jun 15: Pieced the backing. Ready to load. I searched for pottery and southwest patterns but didn't find anything I like any better than the eagles. Definitely open to suggestions !! I am also rethinking the backing. Geez. Better take a break!
Jun 16: Selected my thread. Loaded & basted. 
Jun 17: Waiting for Digi-tech to digitize the simple pottery panto. Yes! Jessica came through for me. I made a few modifications. Now quilting. Quilted. 
Jun 18: Pictures, such as they are..
Jun 19: Sold Joan some of this fabric.
Oct 02: Binding finished.
Dec 23, 2014: Gave this to Myra Trivette when she fell instantly in love with it.

TJ is a Trivette & that is a good thing. I am friends with several in his family. On many occasions, TJ came along with his dad, Tony, to help out around here with miscellaneous work.

Recently, TJ sold me a car that is perfect for what I wanted. That is when we started talking about what kind of quilt he might like. He designed it himself using posted sports quilts by Joan Taylor as a reference.

Jan 15: Started planning a sports quilt for a friend. He wants Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars & Chicago Bulls in one quilt. Believe it or not, we might just succeed at this. Too soon to publish plans. Nice challenge for a change.
Jan 24: TJ has not had an opportunity to look over all the options I have offered him so I am just going to go on and order fabric and make this quilt. I hope he loves it.
Jan 31: I only ordered the backing fabric which came today. Took it to show TJ. He has totally changed his mind about what he wants so back to the drawing board.
Feb 02: Still no feedback from TJ. And I don't dare go ahead because he is particular about what he wants even though he has changed him mind. Not two teams, just one. Steelers. Simple. Not too busy. Use yellow as focal color.
Feb 11: We have a plan & the fabric ordered.
Feb 20: The fabric is here.
Mar 08: Washed and ironed all the fabric. Cut out the blocks. TJ is considering what IQ pattern he wants.
Mar 09: Piecing the top. Regarding IQ pattern: since the front is a football theme & the back is a basketball theme, not sure mixing themes via the IQ pattern is a good idea. Thinking perhaps something generic would work better. Proposed an idea for the quilting that simulates the diamond stars on the logo.
Mar 10: Quilt top is finished--absurdly big for my full size bed. LOL
Mar 11: Did some IQ programming to get some overlays. Piecing the backing while waiting on TJ. It's settled--loose spiral square with double wool batting for very nice warmth. The backing is ready. Will load and quilt tomorrow.
Mar 12: Need to tweak the IQ pattern & press the backing before loading. Turns out I spent a lot of time tweaking before I was satisfied. Determined, I got the quilt loaded & ready for basting.
Mar 13: Basting is tricky with wool batting and even more so with too layers. Glad that is done now! Quilting ...
Mar 14: Still quilting ... and done. Better photos in the morning.
Mar 15: When bringing the quilt into my room to photograph, I discovered a first. I had loaded the backing upside down. This really is not a bad thing for this quilt just unintended.
Mar 22: Made the binding.
Mar 23: Attached the binding.
Mar 24: Hand binding has begun.
Mar 27: Should finish today. FINISHED!
Apr 12: Working 6-7 days a week at the car dealership, TJ finally got his quilt when I drove by yesterday on the way to Greensboro. He saw it several weeks ago here at the cabin on other business and made every second and penny working on it worth it. Thanks TJ for the joy you bring us.

5/17/2012: Today's project is a panel quilt featuring the Buttons and Blooms collection by Red Rooster fabrics. Simple, whimsical, soft hues--just nice.

2012
Jan 27: I picked this up this kit at the quilt show in Statesville.
May 17: Cutting it out.
May 18: Quilt top is finished.
2013
Sep 17: I will finish this small lap quilt as a surprise for Tony's wife, Lori, and as thanks for his help around here. I hope to meet her one day.
Sep 18: Planned. Have decided to l use So Fine! #702 Squeaky Beach which is a variegated cream tonal thread #702, Bird Bath meander pattern & wool batting.
Sep 23: Quilted. Needs binding.
Sep 25: Binding attached.
Sep 28: Binding finished. Gave this to Tony's wife, Lori.

Joan and I did some fabric swap. I sent her my leftovers from the Vintage Butterflies quilt & she sent me a Noah's Ark panel and backing to make a quilt for a friend's son soon to be born. I'll use some of the backing fabric to add 3" side borders only to the front and then bind it with the tan fabric. Thanks so much, Joan!! TJ (dad) & Tony (granddad) & Marie (great-grandma) will love it! So do I !! Now for a bit of humor...

Bought a beautiful panel of Japanese textured fabric last October at a show. Will cut and attach the borders today. The fabric is far more beautiful than the camera is showing.
April 12: The quilt top is complete.
April 13: Bought the Japanese Bloom pantograph
June 12: Bought the backing when I went to my grandson's high school graduation.
June 29: Quilted. Ready for binding.
July 19: Binding is done. Quilt is finished.

I gave this quilt to a neighbor and friend, Duane Trivette. I had no plans when I made it but knew it was Duane's when the thought to give him a quilt came to mind.

I gave this small pink rail fence quilt I made in April 2010 to Duane's wife, Marie Trivette, way back when. This is one of the first quilt I made just for fun and then gave away.

I couldn't resist this beautiful quilt top pieced by Joanne, my daughter & owner of Ye Olde Forest Quilt Shoppe. When she said she was going to sell it, I just couldn't see it getting away so I bought it before any one else could. She has given me so many tops, It was time I compensated her up front for beautiful work in both selecting fabrics and piecing them.

I have friends who LOVE butterflies and perhaps one of them will love this as much as I do. My daughter loves it too, as do I, so only time will tell where it ends up. The pattern, "Just can't cut it", is perfect when a main fabric needs showing off. I have used it myself a couple of times.
April 23: Marie Trivette, a dear friend and mother of Tony, is considering this quilt.
May 18: Marie has decided to purchase this quilt with modifications. She took the top home to measure what size border she wants me to add to make it fit her queen bed.
June 03: Marie wants me to use the backing I already have to add a 12" border  Next time I go down to the shop (for my grandson's graduation) I will pick out a new backing.
June 12: Have the backing but not quite enough
June 19: Have the last 1/2 yard of backing
June 25: Pieced the backing. Loaded & basted.
June 26: Quilted, squared and ready to bind.
July 10: Finished.

Joan Taylor  and I are teaming up to make Tony Trivette a UNC Tar Heels quilt. Joan is piecing the top and I will longarm and bind it. This project is a good ole mountain horse trade venture. I need some work done around here that I can't do,  Tony is willing to work for his quilt. Joan and I are trading services. Win, win, win! This eventually proved to be the beginning of J&L Quilters.
Dec 30: Joan has her fabrics now to make the top & I have mine for the backing. They have been pre-washed and are ready to sew!
Jan 2: Joan has been sick but says the top will be shipped Monday! I am planning to piece the backing tomorrow that has been lying across the longarm for several days now. By Thursday there should be a quilt needing only the binding. Several evenings later, it will be done. Soon now, Tony!
Jan 5: The quilt top arrived today. Now that I see it, this one is crying out for one of Sandy's custom designs. The curls in the sashing would make a perfect longarm design that makes this classy looking quilt even better! So the three wins may have just become four wins!
Jan 17: Sandy did her design today. I have had a time seaming the backing but it is now done too. This will be quilted with two layers of cotton batting for extra warmth.
Jan 18: Loaded & basted. Hit a snag in Sandy's design so will longarm when that is fixed.
Jan 20: Longarming done! Binding in progress.
Jan 31: Joan sent 2 matching pillow cases for this quilt - a freebie for him.
Feb 01: Binding, and thus the quilt, is finished!