Design Wall Monday

This quilt top is done, but I put it back up on my design wall because I'm trying to decide if I like the corner units.

Since I've been teetering back and forth about the corners, I decided to put it up on the wall and look at it for a while and then make my decision. (I took the Reflecting Pool blocks down to sew them into rows and that opened up the wall to put this up and look at it again.)

I posted a picture of this on Facebook and the response has been very nice and complimentary. Most people are suggesting that I leave it as is while a few are saying to change it because it will drive me crazy if I don't. Jack likes it just as it is. Judy Niemeyer and I discussed the corners while I was piecing this top and she suggested pulling the fabrics from the center out to the corners so that's what I did. Even if I decide to change it, I'm really not sure what I would do. I don't hate it. It just seems "heavy" or "chunky". 

For those of you who are not familiar with the pattern, here is the original version.

Looks completely different, doesn't? 

I'd been playing around with wanting to make a two-color, red and white quilt for a very long time and I'm happy that I chose this to be it. I like the original version too and I love the latest version, using Judy's Reclaimed West fabric so I may make another version of it down the road.

It's not like I don't have other quilts to make though, so this may be quite a while down the road. My friend Kare made another version of this quilt that is AWESOME! I'll see if I can get a picture to show you. 

Anyway, no matter what I decide, this is coming off the wall later today so I can get back to completing the Reflecting Pool quilt. Here's what I took down to piece into rows.

 The signature quilts I made for Paige and Allie are done and will be taken to school tomorrow. They are both being washed right now so I'll post a picture of them tomorrow. I've decided that they will be featured in my Tip Tuesday! post so be sure to stop back and check them out. 

What's on your design wall?

To see what other quilters are working on today, go to 

Judy L's Patchwork Times

Happenings with Pictures!

Last weekend was our annual sisters' weekend, that actually lasts longer than the weekend. As usual, we had a blast catching up and just plain enjoying each other. This is the first year we have not gone to Burr Oak for the event. 

Instead, everyone made the trek to my house this year and I was thrilled. I've always taken my sewing machine and over the years, everyone started doing the same. Here you can see five of the seven work stations that we set up. 
   

Pat was teaching us all how to make umbrellas and we had a blast. We made a total of 13 full size umbrellas in one day and two children's umbrellas were made the next day. These are so much fun. 

Thanks Pat! Now I see fabric and think, "Oh, that would make a great umbrella."

I worked on a couple of projects that needed finished up for classes I'm offering. I finished my table runners but forgot to take pictures before I dropped them off at the shop. :-(  

I finished my Jewel Box wall hanging and LOVE how it turned out! I'll be teaching this at M & E Quilt Shoppe in Sandusky. If you happen to stop in or send them a message, tell them Agnes sent you. That's my "shop" name. Don't you think it fits in with Mabel and Ethel better than Joanne?  

Ann was busy working on her Fabric Boxes. She's making a HUGE number of them and I can't wait to see them all done. She is her own little sweatshop!

After I finished up the projects that needed done, I pulled out my Prairie Star and began working on that. I'll get this done. It just seems like every time I pull this out to work on, something with a deadline pops up. I WILL get this done!

As I mentioned recently, Nikki and family have moved back up near us and I am thrilled! To help get her acquainted with some kids her age, Quinn attended a Vacation Bible Study camp this past week. She had a wonderful time and met some kids that will be in her class come Fall. Last night was the End of Camp Celebration and Jack and I joined them for a Family Fun Night Carnival. 

It was a lot of fun and they had a bunch of stuff for the kids to do. All three kids went through an obstacle course, although Ronan only made it half way through because he couldn't figure out how to climb the one set of inflated stairs. Of course I didn't get the camera out until after they had done that, but I did get some pictures of Quinn and Nikki rock climbing. 

Look at Quinn! She was nervous at first, but did a great job. She got a little over half way up before she had to stop because she couldn't figure out how to reach the next stepping stones. She was a bit too short to grab with her hands and still have her feet touching a lower rock. She did a great job and said that it was hard to do and her legs started shaking.

It's a bit difficult to see here, but Nikki is on the right and Quinn is on the left. I  love how the sun is shining across the picture through Nikki and on to Quinn!

After rock climbing, all three kids waited patiently to go into the bouncey castle. Can you tell the sun was kind of bright? They had a great time in there!

And finally, after the fun times out side at the Carnival, everyone went to the sanctuary for a brief program. When the minister called the kids up to sing, Quinn jumped up and ran on stage. I had hoped that she would stay close to the front so we could see her, but nope. She went toward the back and finally ended up just about in the middle of the pack. I know it's difficult to see, but there she is, right under the big red and yellow arrow. Even though she was in the middle of crowd, we did have a clear shot at seeing her. 

She wanted me to take a picture of her doing the hand signs and choreography for the song she liked the most. Of course grandma obliged.  :-)

I'm going to be doing a bit of sewing this afternoon and them we're heading to Nikki's house for a small cookout. 

Enjoy your weekend! I know I will.

Design Wall Monday and Catch Up Time

It's Monday and I have something on the design wall so..... 

I've always wanted to make a red and white quilt and I thought that Judy Niemeyer's Prairie Star would be a good pattern to use. Here's Judy's version, as seen on the cover of the pattern. 

My friend Kare was at the same workshop and she too was working on a Prairie Star. This is the only picture I have of her's and it does NOT do the quilt justice. (The fact that the picture is taken with the quilt on a tiled floor doesn't help either!) I love her fabric choices. Isn't it amazing how different they all look?

Kare and I were both sick during the workshop, along with a number of other participants and I have done nothing on my quilt since returning. I'm still not back to 100%, but I'm getting close. Hopefully that means I'll get my quilt finished and ready for quilting. I still have to sew in five of the corner units that are shown in the picture and then construct and add my border units. I've already been thinking about the quilting too. 

Since I was still sick this past weekend, I was not able to join a number of my sisters at Ann's house for a long weekend of quilting/sewing/relaxing fun. That made me very sad, but I guess they were thinking of me too. Look what showed up at my house Saturday. I have the best sisters!!

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.
Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times and be prepared to be inspired!