Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Vacation Day 4- Birthday!


VACATION DAY 4 - Tuesday

Happy Birthday to Me,
Some fabric I see,
For my Buck a Block quilt squares,
And the best is it's free!

My friend from work gave me a card before I took off for the week.  Inside was a lovely card and cash attached to a print off of my quilt shop's website featuring this Buck a Block pattern.  She didn't have time to drive all the way out to Eureka to get a gift card so she wrapped the cash up so I could purchase some of the coordinating fabric.

This is a tutorial for me so I can practice the different types of blocks.  There were two color choices, this green/light green (very center of the blocks) or an orange/magenta.  I thought the greens would be better, (although I would have loved red and white)!  I didn't want the batik border but I do like the dark blue stars around the center.


I took suggestions from the shop personnel and my husband who accompanied me.  Some of my choices are on the table pictured here.  I don't want the light blue either but the fabric I had in mind was not available.


I finally decided on the two greens, of course.
The blue for the stars,


And this variegated batik that ranges from a yellowish green to mid green/blue to medium blue.  We figure that I would make 1/2 sq triangles from the darker blue and section off the strips of color so I have three main ranges.  I could scatter them or work the spectrum across or down.   I also chose some 1930s reds because my June coupon covered 25% off anything with flowers.


She gave me the pattern early since I purchased some fabric.  I'll still have to get the sashing and cornerstones.  I may have a border fabric here at home, I know I have a backing that will work with these colors.


I quilted the blue/white table topper I made.  Please don't look closely- I don't do this very well but I"m learning.


I mocked up some mug rugs for Taylor to practice on.  I have a green and yellow one to hand finish the binding now.  I'm using an adhesive to place the batting and backing together, then pinning it but find it still pulls a little.  I think I might need to baste in a few places and cut it out later.



Then it was lunch at Applebees- a Club House Grill.  With my TMJ I can't bite it but treated it as if it were a knife and fork sandwich.  Very good after they brought new bacon- well done as I ordered.  I just cannot eat bacon with all that fat on it.


Then it was a quick stop at Schnuck's to pick up essentials.


It's across the street from our old church, the one where my kids attended school until 8th grade.  It sure has changed in the years since we moved away.  The other side of the Schnuck's center borders on our old subdivision, we could have walked had we stayed but the town grew too fast for us.  When we moved out there there wasn't even one electric stop light, now there are banks of them.

Tonight I read up on my next project- I'll share that with you with photos.  Christmas might be pretty tasty if it works as planned.  Then I'll probably sit with the cats on the porch or go up and quilt a little more.  My bobbin thread ran out and I figured that was God's way of saying, "Take a break, enjoy your birthday!"

LOL- Hope your day was pretty darned good too!

10 comments:

Kristi said...

Happy birthday! Sounds like you had a great day.

LindaG said...

Happy Birthday, Kathy!
Happy quilting, too. :o)

Michelle said...

Happy Birthday Kathy. Glad you had a wonderful day.

Yahoobuckaroo's Blog said...

Happy...no wait, it's not your birth day; it's a celebration of your birth day. Your birth day only happens once. Unless you're Shirley MacLaine.

Anyway, happy celebrating!

Nancy said...

Happy Birthday -- how nice of your friend to give you something you could actually use right away!

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

She is wonderful! I intentionally don't get too close to co-workers (personal lives) but you just can't help it with her.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Thanks bunches! It turned out to be a pretty good vacation too, even if we didn't leave home.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Yes! Thank you.

Kathy Felsted Usher said...

Thank you- my friend knows I love the fabric. It was a truly special gift because it was so thoughtful.

Candy C. said...

Happy belated birthday Kathy! Can't wait to see the progress on your new quilt! :)