Low Volume Swap

Time to catch up on posts!   

I've done a few swaps with the Mini QT group on Flickr recently.  One theme was low volume.  I LOVE low volume fabrics so I was looking forward to this one.

I decided to make a few Mini Raspberry Kisses blocks and play with placement.  Have you seen this pattern?  Its a free tutorial on Wooden Spoon Quilts blog. The block is 4.25 inches.  Michael Ann created a tutorial for an even smaller version - 2 inches. 

You can see the difference of sizes below.

I went with the teeny ones and created a 12 inch mini.

Had fun cutting in to my low volume stash.  I hand quilted this one.   

I made a Goody Goody Binding kit to go along with it as an extra.  This is the only picture I could find of it....and its the inside.  The outside had 3 of the larger Raspberry Kisses blocks. 

My partner loved them both.  Yay!

And this is the fun mini & goodies I got...she even sent along a toy for Miranda.

I love that there are so many wonderful free patterns/tutorials online.  I'll never run out of projects to try.  

Pouch Swap

The Mini QT Swap group on Flickr that I'm in did a side swap of pouches.  I love making pouches....so no brainer about signing up!  :)

The first pouch I made for my partner didn't turn out like I wanted.  I did some hand stitching on the outside pocket and didn't think about how boxing the corners would affect the placement.  Half of it was pulled to the bottom.  Decided to keep this one and make a new one.

I went a different route and it turned out great. 

I also made a matching needle book as the little extra we were to send.  

 Both pouches are the Open Wide Zippered Pouch (medium size) by Noodlehead.   Great pouches to make....wonderful tutorial. 

I received a beautiful pouch that had so many things I love!  My extra was a matching mini mini.  Cuteness. 

LOVE swapping with this group of ladies.  

Bloggers Quilt Festival Fall 2015

Twice a year Amy Ellis hosts the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  Its such a great time to blog hop and see some wonderful quilts and read inspiring stories.  I've only entered a quilt once before in 2012. You can see that quilt here.  Mostly I like to just see what others have done.  But I just finished a mini that I'm in love with so decided to enter the show!   

 So cute!  

Its a single 16 inch block from a quilt pattern called "Whirlygig" by Becky Goldsmith and Linda Jenkins. From their book called "Quilts with a Spin".

The center is hand appliqued. The circle of triangles is paper pieced. 

I am always saying how I don't enjoy paper piecing (and I don't) but I keep doing it!  Some things are just better done that way.  :)

I quilted in the ditch all around the applique and triangles.  Then did some circle quilting around the entire center.  

This mini is actually for a swap....so yea, I'm giving it away.  I sure hope my partner likes it cuz I really really love this one!

There are 12 categories in the Festival....mine is in the Mini group.  Go check them out:  Bloggers Quilt Festival Fall 2015,

January Block Mini

I occasionally swap mini quilts in the Mini QT Swap group I'm in on Flickr.  The gals in this group always do great work so I'm never nervous about swapping!  The theme for the one I just did was "Circles & Curves".  I picked the "January Block" by Lady Harvatine.  I've had my eye on the block for quite some time and this was a great time to try it out.

 The block is originally 12 inches.  I needed it to be smaller in order to fit our measurement requirements.  So I reduced it down to a 9 inch block.  I'm pretty comfortable with curves but still this was a challenge.  Slow sewing and pins were my friend!  

I also tried my hand at some spiral quilting.  Turned out pretty good.  

I made a Boxy pouch as an extra for her. First time making one of those too.  I used this tutorial from Pink Stitches.

My partner just got everything and loves it.  Happy dance!

House Mini

I joined a mini quilt swap via Instagram called "Home Sweet Home". My partner has gotten her mini so I can show it to you now.  I made two mini houses using the 2014  Row by Row pattern from Quilted Strait.  I love these little houses!  And I had fun fussy cutting for windows.  

And then since my partner liked light houses I had to add one of those too.

Here is the finished mini:

I embroidered her house number on the purple door - her favorite color (aqua is mine!).  I machine quilted in the ditch around each house and each section.  Then I added some hand quilting.  Here's a detail picture:

We were to add one mini item as an extra in our package.  I decided mini houses needed a mini mini quilt so I made one that measured 3x4 inches.  I forgot to take a picture of it all bound and quilted but here it is before I did that:

This was my first swap via Instagram.  My partner was silent through the whole thing which was disappointing but I had fun creating for her anyway.  Creating for swaps makes me stretch and I like that!

Mini Quilt Swap

I participated in the last round of swapping minis with the Mini QT Swap group on Flickr.  The theme was "Furry Purries". :)

Based on my partners mosaic and color preferences I made this mini for her.  Thankfully, Pam took a picture of it cuz I forgot to! 

Its some of the blocks from Elizabeth Hartman's pattern "The Cat Quilt".  So much scrappy cuteness.

You can't really tell in the picture, but I hand quilted around each cat in coordinating perle cotton.  

And Pam made this mini for me:

Can't even begin to say how much I love it!   So cute and so me.  Thanks, Pam!

This was a great round of swapping.  

Mini Swap Quilts

I am home from vacation.  In the mail was the mini I received from my partner so now I can finally show you the mini I made for her in the Mini QT Swap.  The theme this round was "Anything Goes" which is why I joined in.  I liked the openness of it!

Remember all those paper pieced segments?  Well.....tada:

I love how it turned out and thankfully so does my partner, Mona.  The pattern is called "Right Round" by Janice of Better Off Thread.   I wanted to make it smaller to fit the rules of the swap so I reduced it to 60% which made it a 13 inch square.  It was a lot of work but the results are great.  I would make it again...but next time I'm keeping it!!!

I was not disappointed at all in the mini I received.

Gorgeous!  Mona used solids for the itty bitty wonky stars and linen for the background.  And then she hand stitched around each star.....in matching thread colors.   I love everything about it!

Mini's make my heart sing. 

Linking up with Let's Bee Social.

A little this...a little that

I've been working on a couple of swap items this last month. I'm making little envelope blocks for the Bitty Block Committee group. Aren't they cute? I've gotta make 12 and they will each be a different color. I'm making them entirely out of my scrap bins. Woo hoo!

 Those flying geese wedges are for a mini quilt I'm making for my partner in the Mini QT Swap group.   Its still in the secret stage so no more info for now!  

This is my fabric pull for the mini I'm making.  My partner likes the same colors as I do which meant I had tons to choose from in my stash....no shopping needed.  

I took a break from my hand quilting to put the binding on my Suburbs quilt.  I have about 18 inches left to do.  TV time tonight will take care of that!   My local quilt shop is going to hang it as a sample, which is why I am hurrying to get it done.

And that as they say, is that!   :)

PS. I just noticed this is my 400th post.  I had no idea!  

Fabulous Little Random Things

Round two of the Fabulous Little Random Things Swap (FLiRTS) is over and now that my partner, Susan, has received her gifts (and loved them....phew!) I can show you what I made.

One of the items on my partners list was a fabric basket and round if possible.....and that's the one I chose to make.  Purple is her favorite color.

So tada:

Pink Chalk carries this great pattern called the Special Occasion Gift Tote by Sew Fun.  It was easy to follow and easy to make.  I'll be making another some day.

It's a nice size and has these dividers all around the inside.  I left half as dividers and the other half I made pockets.

In the swap we only need to make one item on the list (we list 5 things) but when I saw this zombie zippered pouch on Happy Sew Lucky blog I knew I had to make one!  My partner also listed a zippered pouch for a first aid kit and she has wonderful sense of humor....so I knew she'd love him as an extra.

Aren't his insides hysterical?   Oh how I wish I could have found some zombie band aids to put inside!

I also had chosen a fabric basket on my list of 5 things.   The wonderful gal who had me made this incredible basket for my collection of Perle cotton threads.  I was in love with it the minute I saw it in the Flickr pool.  

Sil does amazing paper piecing. I am always so impressed with the blocks she makes!   Can you see the cute spool quilting she did?  Love it.  Everything about this basket is perfect.  

Can't wait for the next round of swapping!   :)

Past Bitty Blocks

I haven't posted pictures of my last groups of Bitty blocks that I swapped!  It's about time.  

Snow People was the theme for January.  I made the gal in the bikini in the upper left corner. Miss Sassy Pants!   My favorite of this group is the one with the bird on his nose.  

February's theme was Monsters.   I had so much fun making mine.....he's in the upper left corner.  Mine is my favorite of this group.  :)     My grand sons loved looking at these.  Each time I pulled one out they'd say "I want that one"!    I got out the crayons and paper and had them color their own!  So cute.  

Tote bag finished

I finished the embroidery I was doing and this is what it was for.  Its the pocket on a tote bag I made for a swap.  I used Kathy Macks "Winslow Market Tote" pattern.  I've made this bag before and it goes together so nicely.  My partner wanted her tote to be floppy so I didn't add any interfacing to it. 

Turned out cute.  I'm pretty sure my partner will like it.....hope I'm right!   :)

Hedgie Pouch

I just finished my pouch for the current round of the Pretty Little Pouch Swap.  

This is one side:

Isn't that hedgehog adorable?  I love him!   I used the Penguin & Fish pattern for the embroidery that I got here.  I love the instant gratification of downloadable patterns.   I stitched with Perle cotton onto Kona Essex Linen.  More love!    I used Elizabeth Hartman's "Perfect Zip Bag" pattern...also a downloadable and also bought from Pink Chalk.

Here's the other side:

Did a wee bit of paper piecing and some fussy cutting.

My partners inspiration mosaic was all aqua's and red's.....and she said she liked polka dots.......she should like the fabric choices.  :)

I'm mailing it off tomorrow.  Can't wait to hear what she thinks of it.  

Fall Bitty Blocks

Here are the Bitty Blocks from October when the theme was Fall/Thanksgiving.

Lots of cute ones.  I made the one with the rake in it.  

I decided to sit out November and December so I could concentrate on holiday sewing....and I am missing some fantastic bitties being made!!!!!

Fab Little Pincushion

This is the pincushion I made for the Fab Little Pincushion swap and oh how I love it!!!   It's ok to adore your own stuff, right?    :)

I made it for Carol of Mamacjt.   I was peeking at her Flickr favorites and spied an embroidered sampler made in a grid and knew that was what I wanted do.  I loved trying out new stitches in the tiny squares (an inch).  Carol loves rainbow colors just like me so that was a joy too.  She loves it, thankfully!  I ended up being sick a lot so having handwork to do while laying around on the couch was nice.   

I got a great pincushion & extra goodies from Staci:

Staci used a pattern called  "Deep Dish Pincushion".  I had never seen it before.  She also made an adorable needle book with pockets inside for scissors and needles.  

This is one of my favorite swaps and I can't wait for the next round -- hopefully after the holidays!

Bee Blocks

For the third quarter of the [3x6] Bee I was in a Star themed hive.   I chose the "Concord Hymn" block from Judy Martin's "The Block Book".   I love making Judy Martin blocks.  They look complicated but always turn out so beautifully!   

Here is the test block I made in my colors:

Oh how I love it!!!!

And here are the rest in requested colors:

I think I'm gonna take a break from the bee and just make myself more blocks from Judy's book.  I want a few more complex blocks for my quilt.   

September Bitty Blocks

The theme I choose for September was "Circles, Dots or anything Round".  My first thoughts were either a beach ball or a 45 record.  But while I was pondering which to try I noticed that everyone else who was finishing fast were doing circles.  I didn't want to be the only one doing a real thing that was round rather than an abstract idea of a circle....so I waited.  I know...I didn't need to follow the crowd but I was too chicken to be the odd man out.  

Here they are:

I made the crazy pieced one with the white strip in the upper right hand corner.  That was my first one and I didn't like how it looked so I kept that one.  The rest I reversed appliqued and they looked nicer.

Here's a close up of three of my favorites:

As usual these ladies impress me with their ideas and workmanship.  

Still in love with bitties.   

Pretty Little Pouch

I'm in a swap called Pretty Little Pouch. I've been waiting and waiting for this group to start another round so I could join in the fun and they finally did.  When you have a minute...or 30....go check out the Flickr group cuz there are some really wonderful pouches that are being made. I am constantly inspired by the work.

Anyhoo.  Its another blind swap where you don't know who has you. I love swapping like this...love the stalking and figuring out part almost as much as I do the making.   Based on things I found out about my partner I created this cute little number!

On one side I embroidered a scene that I drew out based on the Japanese fabric I used on the bottom.  I embroidered on Essex linen....love that fabric!

On the other side I made a patchwork strip with itty bitty squares and added some straight line stitching with Perle cotton.

I added a pocket to the inside that is also doubling as a label.  That heart isn't appliqued on...I edited it over my partners name just in case she peeks at my blog.  

I used Elizabeth Hartman's "Perfect Zip Bag" pattern.  I've used it several times before...such a great pattern.

July Bitty Blocks

I got the last of my bitty blocks for July the other day so can now post a picture of all of them:

Aren't they adorable?  I made the dog with the glasses up there on the right.  I took an Amy Bradley design from her Dazzling Dogs quilt pattern and reduced it down to the 3 inch block size that we make for the Bitty Block Committee.  I even had some fun dog text fabric for the background.  

I took August off since we were on vacation and I knew I wouldn't be able to finish in time.  Now to think about a design for Septembers theme of "Dots, Circles or any thing Round".

June Bitty Blocks

Can you tell what June's theme was?  :)   Such a fun collection for Happy Hour.  I love them all but I think my favorite of this bunch is the coconut cup with bendy straw.  Mine is the second one on the bottom row.  Pear Vodka Rickey's are a favorite cocktail of mine from this year.  I sent the recipe along with the bitty.  Here it is so you can make one too:

1.5 oz. Pear Vodka (Absolut makes a good one)

1 oz. fresh lime juice

1 oz. simple syrup

Put in shaker with ice...shake and strain into martini glass.  Garnish with a pear slice.  

It's 5:00 somewhere....go enjoy.  :)

Bee Blocks Done

 I finished all my blocks for the [3x6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee.  I made the Diamond Stack block and think they turned out pretty good.  They aren't all perfect but close enough for me.  :)   Most of the gals wanted yellows and I discovered I have a huge gap in my modern fabric stash -- hardly any yellows!   I really have to remedy that.....more shopping, yeah!

Here are the individual blocks.  For some reason all the pics have a blue tint to them....and I took the pic outside on a sunny day.  Anyhoo...the backgrounds are all white...really.  

For Fran who wanted red, pink and aqua.

For Laurie who wanted aqua, yellow and light grey.

For Heather who wanted grass green, orange, yellow and light blue.

For Jane who wanted yellow and white.

For Loretta who wanted pink, yellow and orange.

For Michonne who wanted yellows and brown.

There ya go! That's it for this round. Can't wait for next quarter so I can try out another fun block pattern.