Remembering Rex

My FIL, Rex Eichler, passed away the end of July. He was 88 and had a fabulous life until the last couple of years, when he developed advanced Alzheimer's and had to be placed in a nursing home. In his younger days he was a tool and die man, and was part owner of a factory in Michigan. He had this machinists box filled with various tools of the trade, but hadn't used any of it since he stopped making stained glass about 6 years ago. After he passed, I emptied the box of the tools and polished it up the best I could. It now has a place of honor at the end of my cutting table and is filled with the tools of MY trade, quilting. As long as there is a quilter, this box will be used and he will be remembered. (His name is on a little plate on the bottom drawer.) Here is a picture.

I am nearly finished with the Basket Weave quilt. Just one side of the binding to sew down. Then I'll post a picture.

Later,

WilmaNC

Quilting the Basket Weave Quilt

I have the basket weave quilt on the frame. Yay!!! I'm using yellow thread and  I pieced the back with red, yellow and blue. It is looking nice. Here are some pictures of the progress.

Here it is on the frame. I use a Juki with a Proflex frame. I also always float the top. My Juki has HandiHandles (for pantos) on the back and a Jands handle (for freemo) on the front. Works like a charm.

I am using the panto called Cotton Candy. Note my homemade stylus, lol. Made using wire and duct tape.

Here's a little of the quilting. This machine just does so well. I love my Juki.

Hopefully I will get this done in the next few days.

wilmaNC

Fabrics From my Vacation and my Prize

Whew.  Finally home from vacation in Minnesota. Lots of driving, almost 2400 miles total. But worth every mile. It was so fun to see my grandson and his family. And Lake City is a beautiful place.

I picked up some fabrics along the way, plus had some here at home that was purchased recently, but I didn't get much chance to fondle it, lol.

I am attracted to the yellow/gray/black combo for some reason. It is so pleasing to my eye.. I have plans for a big quilt using these fabrics. See how pretty?

On the way there we stayed in Paducah, and I had to go to Hancock's of Paducah. I got these Moda remnants for 5.00 a yard. I took a picture previously but you couldn't see them well.

On the way back, we stayed in Paducah again. Went to the Quilt Museum, which is always nice, then went to Eleanor Burns quilt shop. Almost all of her fabric is less than 6.00 a yard, except for her personal line. I got these for right around 2.50 a yard.

And last but not least, when I arrived home, I had a package waiting with my winnings from the quilt contest at Quilt Gallery. These are from Sheree's Alchemy. I had a 25.00 gift certificate and added 8.00. Nice!!!

Finished washing all of them this morning. What a haul eh? Gotta get all the fabric I can before I retire in December, lol.  (Only 33 more shifts to work!!!!)

Dave had to get back in the car and drive halfway to Ohio today to pick up his mom. I chose to stay home, :^)

Later,
WilmaNC

Vacation Road Trip!!!

We left this morning on our vacation trip to Minnesota to see my new great granddaughter, Khloe Isabelle. We plan to take 3 days to get there so we can enjoy the traveling too.

Right now we are in Paducah, KY. We got here thinking it was 5PM, and had to hurry to go to Hancock's of Paducah, as they close at 5:30PM. Then we realized we had come through a time zone and it was an hour earlier, lol. I did well, only bought a pattern and some Moda remnants that were 5.98 a yard.

The pictures aren't very good cause they were taken with my phone in very poor light, but you can get the gist of them.

Tomorrow we are heading for the Mississippi River and plan to drive the Scenic River Road on the eastern side. Just hope there is no rain.

Later,

WilmaNC

Basket Weave top finished!!!

I finished piecing the Basket Weave quilt today. I love the way it came out. What do you think? I plan to quilt it (using the pantograph called cotton candy) when I get home from Minnesota. All done with scraps and from my stash, though I did have to piece the outer border. I can't believe it, lol.

There was a little breeze blowing.

Later,
WilmaNC

Setting triangles on!!!

I have all the blocks sewn together and the setting blocks on the Basket Weave quilt. I like the blue.  (The picture is a little burry but I only took one.) And now the first border is on too, but I will have to have Dave hold it up to take a pic. Coming soon.

It's also sideways, didn't take time to rotate it.

Later, 

WilmaNC

Pin Cushion finished and ideas for the Basket Weave

Yay!! I finished the Giant Pin Cushion last evening, and let me assure you, it IS giant, lol. It was so fun to make. Thanks Vickie for the tutorial.
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SIDE

And for a little perspective as to it's size:

I also think I have found what I want for the triangles and borders for the basket Weave quilt. Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. What do you think of these? (The blue for the triangles).

I think it might work.

Later,

WilmaNC

Process

I have decided to show more of the process instead of only the finished project. (See side banner). Sooo.....

Here is the update on my Basket Weave string quilt. (I have challenged myself to sew through the list of quilts at Quiltville to see if I can get rid of all the small pieces of fabric in my stash.) First picture of all the blocks arranged on my design wall. (I need more room to set this up permanently!!) The second picture of of the blocks sewn into rows. Next will be cutting and sewing the side and corner triangles. I still haven't decided what color to use for this. Any suggestions??

As in a recent post, I am doing this Giant Pin Cushion sew along from Vickie's site, Spun Sugar Quilts.

Here's a picture of what I have so far. Today should have the final step for this. I used the English paper piecing method, just so I could learn something new. I LOVE pin cushions!! I have no idea how this will be closed up, lol. 

Later,

WilmaNC