What I've Been Working On

Currently, I'm in 'use it up' mode. I had previously made a few quilts using these fabrics, but I still had some in my stash and it was time to get the rest of it into useful quilts.

So I made another little strip quilt with the rest of the chuck wagon fabric. I liked the previous one I made so much that I made another using the square in a square blocks although I used different fabrics:

And the last of it turned into 2 lined drawstring bags which still need their ties run through them so I'll share those in a day or two. Then I pulled fabrics for this print:

that also made appearances in previous quilts:

And I pulled out my favorite pattern again:

And no, there's no purple in the focus fabric, but I needed another color and I think this'll work. I've got enough of both prints for backings

and enough of the flower print leftover for probably another quilt so I'm brainstorming patterns because this is NOT going back into a bin! As of now, I am making hourglass blocks:

Our temps have consistently been between 105 and 112 and them are wilting temps for this old gal.  Stuff still has to be tended to on the ranch, but we try to save running around in the pickup to check waters and cattle for the heat of the day and when I don't tag along with DH, that's my time to sew. I don't like to sew when he's home in the evenings unless I'm binding a quilt or working on an EPP project and sitting with him.

This weekend we had UFC fights both Friday and Saturday so that gave me some hand stitching time and I've made a little bit of progress on my EPP stars since I last posted about it. I am absolutely smitten with making these little stars:

I can't recall if I've already posted these, but if I have, just pretend I haven't. :) We also made a trip to Odessa, Texas and picked up a new flat bed gooseneck trailer on Friday so that gave me 6 hours of stitching time although I didn't stitch the whole time:

I was pretty impressed with the fact that I was able to thread my needle while barreling down the road.

I'd say there was a whole lot of stitching going on around here last week. Here's hoping the trend continues!

Chuckwagon Cowboy Baby Quilt

Our friends and neighbors to the west just welcomed a new baby into their midst and what kind of neighbor would I be if I didn't make a baby quilt? Grandma Lillian, whom I've talked about before, is going to be a great-great-grandma for the 4th time and this one lives right next door to her. First grandson too. I love sewing for babies. Its such a nice way to welcome a new member of the family.

Seems I am always making big quilts and it surprises me how fast a quilt comes together when I make a baby quilt. Their colors are red, blue, and brown with a country feel so my stash was raided for just the right fabric.

                                  

This is hard fabric to quilt with. It would make a cute backing, but its fabric that doesn't lend itself to cutting up for piecing a top very well. After much contemplation, I decided a simple strip quilt might work. I love the square in a square block and after a bit of figuring, and some pulling of coordinating fabric, I set to stitching.

                                  

It finished at  40 x 52"after a run through the washer and dryer.

                                                      

I was very thankful for a handful of Color Catchers:

                                 

I knew Jackie had this fun western quilting pattern so I had her use it on this quilt:

And yesterday I got to spend some time in the company of a beautiful baby boy who I hope will make good use of this little quilt made especially for him:

Quick, simple, and made with love for a special little boy: