THE WEARIN' OF THE GREEN

I have been busy, busy lately and as the song goes I sometimes think "busy doin' nothing working the whole day through".  Some days just seem to slip by without me knowing where they went.  St. Patrick's day is coming soon and I wanted to finish my Irish Quilt Block of the Month and a new table runner.  

McCall's Irish Quilt BOM.

I can't really call it by that name because I didn't do all of the blocks that were posted by that website.  Some I didn't like and they also took too long to publish the next block.  I always thought that a BOM was one block every month but it wasn't that way with this BOM, so I added some of my own blocks to it.

There are 3 blocks that are my own additions.  Flying over the Emerald Isle is the middle block on the top row, and the first block in the third row is an Irish Chain block.  Then I also added the first block on the bottom row.

I wanted a simple table runner so I used a 12" Irish Chain block but when they were put together they formed a different pattern.  Isn't that always the way.  Better luck next time if I every try it again.

This wall hanging is taken from the Irish BOM.  A friend thought it might look neat as a whole quilt and I just had to try it.  I thought it made a great wall hanging for March.  I used 9 blocks and it came out at 36 x 36.  

Peggy

Bags and Blocks

Sometimes I am called the 'bag lady' because of all the bags that I make.  I don't know what I am going to do with them all but I use them now and then.  I will have one for every season if not every month.

This is the Tahoe Bag.

I bought the pattern when I was in

Lake Tahoe for my sister's wedding

last November.

We were leaving the quilt shop

when I spotted it so I bought it in that shop and 

purchased the fabric in another shop there.

I made another Quilter's Carry All two thirds

the size that the pattern calls for.

I also made the front panel into a pocket.  I made

it just like the pattern but sewed it onto the main

bag instead of making it part of the bag.  The back of the bag

has the same panel but is not a pocket.

I am taking this bag on my next trip to

Europe in September.

It will make a good carry on bag for the 

plane.

Two more of my Irish Quilt Blocks finished.

I am up to date on them now just waiting for 

McCall's Quilting to post the last 5.  I am ready

when ever they get posted.

Joined at the Hip Block for July.

All half square triangles.

Casserole Carrier and More Blocks

I picked up some fabric and a pattern for a casserole carrier when we were in Newfoundland last year and I finally got it finished.  It is a small carrier and will be useful when I have to take something to a pot luck dinner or a friends house.

Casserole Carrier

It is completely reversible.

There is a 9 patch in the center

and then triangles around it.

I attached the handle so that I could use

it with the red or beige on the outside.

New Blocks

Hexagon Irish Block.

I fussy cut some of the hexagon blocks

so that I got just a large shamrock.

My middle block is suppose to be a fairy block

but I found these cute butterflies instead.

Morning Glory Designs Block 10

Morning Glory Designs Block 11



Quilt Bee Quilt and 3 more BOM

I got our Quilt Bee quilt back from the longarm quilter a while ago and I had to put the binding onto it.  We had the binding all made before we left the bee so I just had to sew it on. 

I like the red binding, I think it frames

it nicely.

I was able to make 2 more blocks from my Irish Quilt.  I still have 3 more to go to get caught up on this BOM, since it took me a while to select all my green fabrics to make this one.

The instructions called for pink fabric with

fairies, but I couldn't find any so

I found this cute fabric with

butterfies.  I think it will add a different spin

to this quilt.

Seven Lucky Shamrocks.

I also got my H block finished and it's partner.

H and Heavenly Hawaiian Hibiscus

I probably should have made the Hibiscus

brighter but I wanted it to match

my H Block.

Two more Blocks for BOM and another purse.

I have a friend going to Europe in September and I told her that I would make her a small purse that she can wear under her blouse or sweater to keep her valuables safe.

I am really happy the way this one

turned out.  Every little imperfection

shows up on light fabric, so I

think I took extra care with this one.

I also made her a small wallet to

match.  These are so fast and easy to make

I think I will have to make a few more.

My third block from McCall's Irish Quilt.

The pattern called for a fairy square in the

middle but I didn't have one so

I am using these little butterfly's that

could be fairies because they have wings.

Morning Glory Designs Block #8.

New Block of the Month Started

I finally am satisfied with my selection of green and white fabrics to start my McCall's Irish Quilt.  It is hard to find just the right colours of green so that I have some lights and some darks.  I was able to finish 2 blocks, block #1 and block #6.  My block #6 is a little different than the one on the website but I usually change things to suit me.

Block #1

This block is made in 4 sections

and I have learned to measure each

section before I continue on with the

rest of the block.

Block #6

There are suppose to be 4 shamrocks

in the centre but I thought

that they would be too small to

applique so I added one instead.

We took a trip to Duluth, MN a few days ago and I picked up a few things.  Of course, I bought fabric. What is a trip without stopping at a few quilt shops along the way?  YKW forgot his book this trip but I wasn't too long in any shop to make him regret stopping.



For a couple of new purses for travelling.

For Pillow shams for the Maple Leaf Quilt.

I couldn't buy Fossil Fern so I

opted for similar colours.

I bought 2 of these to make wall hangings

for YKW and our son.

I found this for the borders.

Isn't it neat with all the animal prints

on it?

I also picked up a few handy helpers.  I was looking to buy a Gypsy gripper for my rulers but a friend told me that I could purchase something else that would do the same thing for less then half the price.  I googled the Safety Gripper that is used in a shower and found one on the Menard's website. 

My Safety Gripper

At one of the groups I go to one of the ladies mentioned that the best ruler she ever purchased was the Shape Cut by June Taylor.  I am a gadget person so I picked up one of those also.

It looks interesting and I think

I can put it to good use.