Another top done and an auction to tell you about

Good day, all.  Well, I got another quilt top done yesterday and I'd love to show it to all of you.  This one is the t-shirt quilt for my youngest son.  He travels all over and has collected quite a few shirts that he's nearly worn out.  He brought me the t-shirts in June but I couldn't get to working on it until after the elephant quilt was done.  It's ready to go back to the winter house now and be quilted on the LA.  I can't give my featherweight up here enough praise because she sewed through different layers of t-shirt and cotton fabric like she was using a hot knife to cut through soft butter.  It was SWEET!

And, I thought I'd tell you about an auction my hubby saw in his auction paper this week.  It's located in Clare, Mi so I can't go.  Well, I could but I don't want to drive 8 hours there and  8 hours back.  But for some of you it wouldn't be such a difficult hike to see a bunch of featherweights, lots of quilting fabric and books, quilting frames and other quilting stuff get sold. You might be able to take home a treasure or two.  I don't have a clue what things will sell for.  I never know what people are willing to pay at an auction.  But if someone gets to go, let me know how you faired out. The date is Saturday, Sept 29.   Here's the link:
  https://www.estatesale.com/sales/view/196939.html

It's turned pretty chilly here in the northwoods.  A friend over in Wisconsin tells me we might get a snow flake or two on Thursday.  Brrrr!!  I guess it's time to go back to SE Mich.  I'll get to see so many of my quilting friends down there.  That's a good thing.

The top is DONE!! Yeah!!

I told you I'd post more pictures so here you are.

I finished the top a few days ago and I'm on to another project already.  I plan on putting something in those corner blocks, maybe the bride and groom's names and the wedding date.  I need to check with the couple before I do that.  But, it's packed up now for the move and I'll do the quilting this winter between teaching classes and doing my usual things.  Every little stitch on that elephant and the borders around it were done on my sweet little Skanie.  That's the name of the FW here at the cabin.  She's a trooper and sews like there's no tomorrow.

I've started a t-shirt quilt for my dear youngest son so the sweet little FW here at the cabin is not feeling lonely.  She'll be sewing until I oil her, grease her gears and replace her motor lube for the long winter ahead.  She'll get cold but be ready for another summer of hot and heavy sewing when I come back next spring.  I'll tell you the other things I do to make sure she's safe for sewing after sitting 6 months.  That story will be coming in a few weeks.

You know how I tell you to use leaders and enders when you're sewing so you have less of a chance to get those thread tangles under your stitching?  Well, this is what I'm talking about when I tell you about doing that.  I have a little pile of 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" squares that I was given in a stuffed gallon bag.  I'm making some little 16 x 16 blocks that measure finished 8" x 8".  They will be made into a donation quilt of some sort.  But, the beauty of it is that I don't get tangles by staying aware of them and actually using them.  You can't imagine how quickly I get that pile of twozies ready to sew together and make the bigger blocks.  Easy---Peezy!

Fall is upon us here in the UP.  It won't be long now and I'll be busy planning the FW Club days and gathering up things for classes.  Keep watching.  I'll have more hints and stories again soon.

Progress on the Elephant Quilt

Good morning!  I bet you think I've forgotten all about that elephant quilt.  I haven't mentioned it in ages because we've had a busy summer with company and more company.  Then, I taught a FW maintenance class and went back down state for the retreat.  I still have company coming but I've had a chance to get back to sewing and I thought you might like to see how I'm doing.

I got all the 97 templates finished and started sewing together the sections.  There's the left elephant ear.

The right elephant ear.

The left and right legs.

The trunk.

And, last, but not least, the elephant's feet.  And, that's it!!

 Now, the next step is to sew these big sections together and start thinking about the borders that have to go around this huge pachyderm.  I haven't sewn them yet but laying them out helps you to see how it will look when it's done. I guess I'd better go get busy!

Stop by again soon.  I hope to get more pictures and let you see more progress.  I'll take the top home to do the quilting on my long arm when we go back downstate next month.  That's another whole event when I do that.

And, for those interested in the FW retreats next year.  The February retreat is now full but I'm accepting names for the waiting list.  There are a few more spaces available for the August retreat.  There's more teaching in me..... and you know I love teaching about the FWs.