Portable Stitching Projects

What is your favorite takeaway stitching project? I just returned from a weekend in New York which involved two four-hour-long bus rides, followed up two days later by a summons to jury duty. And I had NOTHING TO WORK ON! I need a hand project, preferably something small that I can prepare ahead of time and that doesn't involve too many stops and starts. I welcome any suggestions!!

Sunset in NYC

A quick trip up to New York to see son and daughter. Took this picture looking south over the reservoir in Central Park.

Valentine Doll Quilt

This is the Quilt A Month Challenge for February from Kathleen Tracy. The pattern is Broken Dishes from one of her books, Prairie Children & Their Quilts but the blocks have been rearranged to form a star, with a redwork block in the middle. I don't know if I like redwork. I've never been much of an embroiderer although I do like handwork. I modified her center heart block a bit. The blue fabric is not part of the border, rather the backing fabric. I was checking to see if I had enough -- just barely!

Civil War 150 Top is Finished!

If you've been following along, you know that during 2011, I participated in Barbara Brackman's Civil War BOW sampler quilt. I had so much fun making these blocks each week and now that the year is over, I have sewn them together. Since this picture was taken about a week ago, I have added a border (same fabric as the sashing), bought a backing fabric, basted top, batting, and backing, and hand-quilted two blocks. Woo Hoo! My deadline is October since my quilt guild is having our biennial show that month and I would like to exhibit this quilt. No problem!

Of course, I will be working on other projects this year, mostly little quilts since they provide such instant gratification and I like to give them away as gifts. I am also machine piecing a large Log Cabin from my civil war reproduction fabrics. Stay tuned...

Pink Lemonade, finished

Yesterday, I finished the quilting and binding on my Pink Lemonade little quilt, part of Lori's quilt-a-long. I admit that I was skeptical of the pink and yellow but I do like the result.

Do you like my backing fabric? This fabric was in my stash, leftover from a large quilt I made a few years ago. This was the sashing fabric. I love it so. I am finding all kinds of wonderful fabrics in my stash!

In my next posting, I will show my Civil War 150 quilt, which I am basting today and hope to finish before the big game.