The FWS Pony Club Quilt-Along wk 45 Western Star & School House Discussion Page
 

Hi, Here we are at week 45.. me posting the last 2 blocks for this Quilt-Along...It's been a great ride...some bumps along the road for me...I've made new friends and I want to thank all of you for joining in...I will be posting an update page next week and that will be the only thread we'll be using to discuss anything related to this journey ( added blocks and to further discuss the Bonus Blocks we'll be doing and showing starting the first of the new year... I will also be posting a new thread for photos of completed quilts after next week.... My gosh, I can't believe I've been doing this since August of 2010...
Any suggestions for what are we all going to be doing after we're done with the bonus blocks??? :)

Working on design of Bonus Blocks, but probably will wait until after Christmas gift quilts are done, before doing those. Same the complete PC top 'cause I am putting my extended blocks right in with the others, depending upon color for placement later.

FWQ is not going to be ready by Christmas; the LA quilter had the machine down for repairs for a time and is behind on her Christmas must have done quilts, so I opted to wait until end of January to pick it up. Have enough to keep me busy right now...

The future is not mine to see, but I have enjoyed the ride with everyone; I have learned so much in quilting, piecing and feel like I have met some wonderful people, world wide. I have ask Aneal to keep us updated on the triplets and show pictures in March or April when they are born.

Anne, thank you. That seems so inadequate--you've done so much for our group. Keeping all these riders on the trail each week, answering questions, and dealing with all the other things life has thrown at you--again, thank you!
I'm glad we're going to have a follow-up thread so we can stay in touch with each other. I feel like you are all good friends that I want to share with. I thank you all for helping me get through this difficult year. You've taught me so much and not just about quilting. Thank you, friends.

Anne--I too want to thank you for keeping this going.

I wasn't involved with the FW threads but you have all welcomed me and made me feel like one of the group. :) It has been lots of fun getting to know you all just a little bit each week.

I will be sure to watch for the follow-up thread and post updates for the bonus blocks. I printed my papers today and am working on cutting pieces out tonight....hint on my blocks: I am using some yellow and even chose a block with "y-seams". :) For those who may have missed it, we are up to a count of 13.

As far as what I have going on "next", I am just working on finishing UFOs and a few other small projects that keep coming up. I have the "Rosie" blocks to finish (9 wks left). I mostly just check these threads, so if someone starts a new project, please be sure to post in the "follow-up" thread or let me know so I don't miss out...even if I can't start the project with everyone else I will want to see what you are all up to. :)

carrie

Hello All!!!!
I'm baaaaaaaaack!!

I will add my sincere appreciation to you Honchey, for all you did to make the PC such a succes. And for the FWS too. What a commitment you made by taking over the leadership and coordination of the weekly threads. And an incredible job you did too! :)

Dear Friends, I have come to enjoy and appreciate each and everyone one of you. It's been such a thrill to get to know each of you, learn about your lives, and countries. I'm looking forward to our block exchange, as a way to keep you in my life for much longer. I hope that we can all stay in touch for years to come, whether here on QB or via emails. The world truly is small with the wonders or cyberspace!

I only wish life would have been kinder to me, to allow me to keep with the posse as you all progressed along the way. I started late for FWS, so missed most of the FWS camaraderie and that is what drew me to the PC. So then, ended up being in on the camaraderie, and not so much the sewing. Just not the same as doing both! So I'll hope for a match for whatever the group plans next, and that life lets me participate in both ways this next time round.

No sewing for me since the first of August so I really am way behind. I am seriously thinking of the Miniature Pony version that I mentioned a few weeks back. I'll see what happens on that front! Regardless, you can count on my exchange blocks to be done on time! :)

I'm so sad that this fun ride is comin' ta an end. We've had so much fun, tears, & laughter. I wasn't able ta keep up w/ the blocks, but havin' ya'll ta yack w/& watchin' all o' ya'll's blocks come tagether, has been a real trip. This became my favorite place ta come to for the comradery & beautiful blocks. :):(
PS I do still intend ta finish my PC quilt.:)

I really don't want this to come to an end although it does feel good to have this much of the project done. These threads are the first thing I check in the morning and the last at night. I've laughed and cried and learned so much from each and every one of you. Thanks for being part of my life and giving me of yours. I made some suggestions on the photo thread for what could be next.

I'm finishing up a couple of BOM's. One I have done except the borders and the other is ready for QAYG. I still seem to be avoiding the actual quilting as I have about 3 lap quilts that I have in various stages of quilting but keep being put aside. I've finished one valance for my friend and the other is ready to sandwich and quilt but she said there is no hurry as the window frames aren't done yet so again another quilting project gets put aside!

I was thinking last night ... how far my quilting has come since being part of these two groups! I could never have won those ribbons on the FWS without the support here, and the skills learned in doing the work. Just think, I HATED PPing and now, I do not fear. Ironically ... I have come to love PPing so much and the excellence it gives, that I somewhat hesitate to do traditional piecing now! Strange, eh? I didn't know anything about FCing, and made it one of my PC goals, to get more comfortable with FC, and so I have. As a result, almost every block has some FC work. I pushed myself to do it and am glad that I did.

More thoughts from last night were the squishies that came from all round the world! The friendships made, the bonds created. We've shared our lives, the good times and bad. Laughed and giggled and had more fun than one could ever imagine. All virtually!

Onward ho! ... to whatever is next?
I'll be honest here ... I think, one of the reasons I have not progressed so much with my PC blocks is that I jumped into the PC while finishing FWS ... without a break. Add to that, the repetition of a sampler style. I guess what I'm saying is that I'm wondering if there would be a pattern we could choose that would be away from a sampler style and yet be something we could break down into the weekly chunks. Maybe a long shot request? Or maybe someone has an idea?

Another thought that had been discussed a wee bit sometime ago, was to do a colour study project together. I believe OKSGlad had some ideas in that regard. For me, I somewhat stumble along when it comes to colours, shades, tints, etc. and really should learn the technical background to feel more confident when choosing fabrics.

Just some thoughts ... and yes, I'm hoping to stick with this crowd! :)

Great idea QuiltE! I'm practicing FMQ right now on baby quilts :D No, my DDIL doesn't like too many quilts but maybe she will change her mind once the triplets have arrived.

Colour study project sounds good to me. I just grab what I like and what I think goes well together. Some background knowledge would be nice.

Anael ... maybe DDIL will change her mind if once you do some special triplet quilt designs! :)

OK I have been busy the past few days and am just catching up, someone please pass me the tissues. No joke I have tears in my eyes as I type this, this group has kept me sane on the long days when I am home on my own and DH is at work.
Apart from my DS and DD you are the "friends" I chat with each week, without this group I would never have attempted either of my two quilts. Thank you so much Anne for keeping us all on track each week and a huge thank you to each and every one of you for just being the wonderful souls you are.
Will post pics of my last two blocks later tonight or tomorrow, the puppies are growling at me, its dinner time for them.
I hope someone chooses another project for us to continue with....:thumbup:

Whew! thankfully you have your priorities straight .... get away and feed those growling puppies! :D

Now, do us a favour and show us pics!!
..... I can only "imagine" via the avatar! Oh how I wish we could click and enlarge it.

QuiltE I only have old photos of my "boys" as soon as I focus the camera they move. My avatar was taken while I recuperated from foot surgery and he stayed on my bed with me all day.

So here are my boys,
Sammy is a Maltese Shitzu cross, he is now 12 and has heart problems. I have had him since he was 6 weeks old and he is the boss. He loves to lie on pillows
Prince is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, he is 8 and hyperactive, he has 2 speeds flat out or stop.

They are so much fun to have around

Cute boys!!! Love both of them. Real characters and strong personalities. Lots of company and they know who loves them...they carry tails, but never tell your secrets...

Mirab they are precious. Patches can't get on the couch anymore, but when he did, he was always in the position that Sammy is in. Are they airing "it" out LOL? Patches is our last dog, I swear. It's so hard watching them age, get health problems, etc. But then I see pictures of other's furbabies or I see a cute commercial and I wonder.......

What wonderfully handsome buddies you have, MiraB!!!!

I SO miss having a dog around ... last one being Patches' cousin! :)
Though all of mine were the "best" you could ask for.

And what a beautiful scrappy quilt, MiraB!!

Mirabelle--thanks for sharing pictures of your dogs. It is nice you can have someone to take care of while your husband is away. :) I know I enjoy having ours around.

Jan--I had to smile when I read about "Patches being your last dog"...we have already decided we will get another pair of sisters when one of ours dies. We have enjoyed having two dogs around. :)

JanRN, Sammys legs are too short for him to jump, he just stands in front of the sofa staring at it and if you don't take notice of him he gives you a low growl and like the dutiful servant you are, you pick him up and put him up on the sofa, where he can stay for hours. When he wants to get down you just hear a little bark, like he is saying come here and you go and lift him off.
I know I know talk about being spoilt rotten

I have just been on Carol Doak's website and her Mariners Compass book is now out of print and there are limited supplies left so if anyone was wanting to purchase the book maybe now might be a good time.
I bought mine, I thought I had a copy but I didn't, even if we don't go ahead with this sew along I may still make this quilt in the future

There is also a website called Quilting on the Square which has a free block of the month which is called the Compass Collection, I have been downloading these each month and saving them, it started in February so there are 10 blocks already to download, maybe that is worth thinking about as we wouldn't have to purchase any books, everyone will just need to download their patterns and we could maybe make one a week or one a fortnight

I like the idea o' not doin' such an intensive BOM. One a fortnight sounds great. (We could still have a thread ta talk every week.) :) I'm still gonna have ta sew my PC blocks next year.

Thanks for the heads up on the Mariners Compass book, Mirabelle. I went to Amazon and they still have it there...some as second hand...and I just ordered a copy plus her 50 Stars book. I have another idea for us...I just ordered Bonnie Hunter's Adventures with Headers and Enders. What if we just made it a year to use up our scraps while we do our other projects? That way we don't commit to another large project, no new fabric required, we help each other with a new discipline...all of us are not as dedicated to scraps as you are OKsewglad...and we each can have however many scrappy projects we care to do. I do remember OKsewglad mentioning something about a study in colors and that could easily be worked into a scrappy project too. I have a book, The Quilters Color Club by Christine E. Barnes that might be helpful.

Ladies ... Here's an idea I just saw, for PC quilting ....
http://kydeb.wordpress.com/
go to April 25th
click on first picture and then you can see all in larger view
First three pics show barbed wire quilting!

Barbed wire quilting....so cute. Reminds me of D_Damsel.
Dubib...I don't know if this is the thread where you posted that your right wrist was bothering you but I do hope you get some relief. I know it can be very painful.

I have Bonnie's Adventures with Leaders and Enders book, absolutely love it.

I took up the challenge to make her bowtie quilt this past year just as a leader and ender project. I managed to use up all the charm packs that I had been given as gifts. This one is for me;)

Mirabelle, your quilt is beautiful; love it. What ever the group wants to do is fine with me. I either will or will not be an active member...but will follow all anyway.

What a great scrappy, MiraB ... did you do it as a true Leaders and Enders? or make it as a specific project?

Mirabelle, I'm so glad you found quiltingonthesquare.com ... I think I might enjoy doing this as a group.....Guys check it out...a single block every 2 weeks would be great...I think?? nice 12"compass stars... Jan,I don't think there are any "Y" seams either :) Let me know what you all think???? we could start this after we're done with the bonus blocks or whenever all of you decide when to start...I've never done a compass star..

QuilteE, I cannot quilt....Period...AND I love you for finding the barbed wire quilting technique...I have never seen it before...

The trees are coming off the house this Sunday....what an experience that is going to be...one of them has to be totally removed...

Honchey ... butttttt ... you showed us your Jelly Roll quilt that you quilted, so we know otherwise!! :D
I thought the barbed wire quilting was just too PC'ish to not show it to everyone.
Good to know you are getting those trees off your home. I just hope that's the end of it all for you.
BTW ... you mentioned about the lights, heat, gas, internet being out ... though I don;t think you mentioned any flooding? Can we think that you were you SO lucky?
Hope you can go to NC, and ENJOY, and leave some of the Sandy worries behind.

JeanieG ... oh oh! With all the travelling you do, maybe it's time to get a permanent machine for your home on wheels? ENJOY your time with your family.


Just took a look at the Quilting in the Square site. The Compass Stars are intriguing. We'd want to make sure we had them downloaded soon enough, as I suspect they will pull them soon after the year is up. Using them as a starting point would be good. Then we'd see lots of variations in the fabrics chosen and the way each person decides to finish them off to a completed project.

Another suggestion waaaaaaay back was applique. Nothing too intense, as many of us have not done it ... but I'm willing to learn!

QuiltE I did it mainly as a leader and ender project, I just kept cutting into my charm packs and kept a small container at my machine ready to sew, great for when you are paper piecing as you are not always cutting your thread.

There are 400 3 inch bowtie blocks in the quilt, and when my container was full I did start to just sew them to get them finished.

I quilted it at my LQS on her longarm, which she rents out. Lots of fun, which I had the room for a machine of my own..

The Compass blocks should be on the website until February, so if we decide to do this we can let everyone know to download their patterns all at once.

OOOOHHHHH QuiltE, I have tried applique, both needleturn and by machine. I did a BOM needleturn Baltimore way way way back when I thought "that looks easy I can do it" weeeelllll 9 yes 9 blocks and 10 don't fall off the chair 10 years later I had the blocks finished but still had to do the borders..:D:D I piked out and just sewed a border on it and called it done. It is in the wardrobe somewhere In my defense I was working full time at the time, by girlfriend took 3 years to finish hers but she is an overachiever. I think I have a photo somewhere, will see if I can find it

Good for you MiraB, for getting it done! :)
I've tried doing leaders and enders and found that I don't like having to get it in there straight and square. Instead I just use scraps and aim for it under the foot and keep reusing til it's got too many stitches. Of course, if I would practice practice practice .......... I just may get the hang of L/E!


While I like the looks of Baltimores ... NO WAY JOSE! .... I said not intense, which means to me really really simple.
In one sense I don't want to learn applique as I'm not sure my hands nor my eyes would allow me. Whereas on the other hand, I kind of enjoyed those two FWS blocks with applique and would like to learn more about the how to, even if it was just to understand it more and appreciate the work of others! :D

QuiltE....The jelly roll was just straight stitching.. my freemotion circles & stippling look like zig zags.

I've only done applique having the seam allowance already turned under...no needle turn for me...too intense...

I signed up for the newsletter at Quilting on the Square and downloaded all 10 blocks so far...
Dublb, I did something similar ...I placed a circle of fabric centering it on a large square.. sewed a buttonhole stitch around the circle..flipped it over..removed the center section of the circle from the back...then quartered the block . as long as the circle is starched it works real well...it is now another UFO.

Thank the Lord there was no flooding....the soil around here is very sandy and it drains very well...We have city water so there was no problem as long as their pumps work...I put my big pots to use on the stove (propane) for heating water for heat & washing...lighting was all done with the led lanterns & candles....we didn't have electric, cable, internet landline phone & no cell phone either...We have a wood stove in the fireplace and burned wood night & day...The coldest place was my bed...I don't have flannel sheets but I do have several pieces of polar fleece that I was going to make throws for my grandsons....I put the fleece between the top & bottom sheets like a sleeping bag...that really saved me from shivvering....There are still places without electric...those poor people...I feel so bad for them...My LQS has something going on at the shop for them....I will have to see what I can do....

my sinus's have been acting up as a result of burning wood and had to see the DR to get a shot of whatever it is for allergies now it's settled in my chest and have to use an inhaler...what a drag...and winter is just beginning!!!

it's almost one o'clock here and now I'm going to bed..nite all!!