30 Lists Blog Hop

September is almost here and that means the start of the 30 Lists challenge I joined.  

There is a blog hop going on today to introduce the challenge via showing lists.  We were asked to pick a prompt from the March 2011 challenge. (Those prompts are available here).

I chose "recipes to try" and here is my list:

 

Dora Wat (Spicy Ethiopian Stew)

Italian Drunken Noodles

Buffalo Chicken Chowder

Chopped Orzo Corn Salad

You can see other posts with sample lists at their Facebook page.

Fabric Pull

I signed up for Rachel Hauser's latest class over at Stitched In Color.  Its called "Angled" and features 5 - yes, I said 5!!! - quilts.  You can see all the class quilts and read about it here.  

The top one I'm super excited to make is called "Indian Blanket".  All equilateral triangles in different sizes. 

Here is my initial fabric pull for that quilt:

Several Bonnie Christine collections and solids from Art Gallery.   Love.

There are more than I need so I have to edit.  Next step is to put them in pairs (rows have two) and put on my design wall to see what I think.  

I can't wait for class to start so I can begin cutting!

Creative Challenges

I have decided to expand my creativity with two new challenges.  Neither have anything to do with fabric!!!

I signed up for 30 Days of Lists hosted by Campfire Chic and Lemon & Raspberry.

I have always dreamed of being an awesome scrapbooker.  That's as far as it gets....dreaming.  I see albums gals make and I'm impressed.  But never could make myself do it.  Heck, if I have time I want to sew!   I also admire those who keep journals.  Another dream that stays dreamy.  :)

Combine the two and you have this list challenge.   I joined because it looks doable.  Its only 30 days.    There is a prompt and all I have to do is list a few things...not write long involved entries!  I'm using a small pad of index cards.  I only need to experiment with creativity on a small scale.  Kinda like my mini quilts.  

This is the other thing I signed up for.  A creative pen pal swap. (which is still open)

I already got my partner. She's in Australia.  I'm looking forward to pushing creativity with this too.

Do you see the trend?   Paper.   What's up with that?   :)     Has me giggling since sewing on paper is something I dislike.  

But then I keep on doing it.  Working on my Prism blocks.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social.

Binding by Machine

I have always put on binding by sewing it to the front by machine then hand sewing it down on the back.  It turns out beautiful.  But it is time consuming (not that I mind!).  I tried to attach binding on both sides by machine with my 99 Modern Block quilt.  I used a straight stitch but didn't like how it looked on the back at all.  Partly because I'm not good at it but also because it just didn't catch everything. That resulted in re-doing sections.  Can you say pain in the backside?  

With my Penny Sampler quilt I decided to try Pat Sloan's method of machine sewing binding on a quilt. Only thing I did different was that I use a double fold binding.  I like how it looks so much better!  

This is the front:

And this is the back:

You can see it isn't perfectly aligned but because it was sewn down first on this back side it isn't wavy or wonky.....just has stitching slightly off.  I can live with this.

Especially since it was so FAST compared to hand sewing.

I have another quilt ready to have the binding sewn on. I'm gonna try this method again but with a wide zig zag stitch and see which stitch I like best.   Doing them by machine will mean I can actually finish more and reduce my ufo pile!   :)

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.

Sea Breeze Mini QAL

I had so much fun making a mini quilt (to be shown soon...once I know my partner has opened it) in my colors that when I saw the Sea Breeze Mini QAL post I decided I'd make myself a mini in my colors.  I quickly kicked out the blocks before I went on vacation. I made mine a tad smaller than the pattern.

But see that light colored block up at top?   Not liking it.   These are all fabrics from my Circular Reasoning quilt.  They look great together in that quilt.  I think its a case of "more is better" - the reason I love super scrappy!  But with only 9 different fabrics that light one sticks out....and not in a good way for me.

I tried various layouts to see if I'd like it.  But no.  And I want to love it!

I do like when 4 blocks are together.  Considered putting it together like this and making it into a table runner.  But no. I wanted a mini not a runner.  I want to love it.

This was the day before I left for vacation. I just got back late last night and will be leaving again in 4 days.  No time to make new blocks or make decisions.   So I won't finish in time for the quilt-a-long.  The finish will just have to wait till another time when I'm feeling the love.  :)

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts Lets Bee Social.

Its my birthday!

Today is my birthday!  I searched through my pictures for something new to post on my day....but I haven't been working on anything new.  Still working on getting these two projects done.

I have all the segments paper pieced now for my secret swap mini quilt.  Time to sew them together, sandwich the mini and get to the quilting.

I finished the hand quilting on my Circular Reasoning quilt.  Yippy!!!

Next I will machine quilt a spiral around to fill in the background.  I've never done that before so I'm really really hoping it looks good.  My goal is to finish this baby quilt by the end of summer.  Sounds easy but with vacations and sunny days, it may not happen!   :)

Off to see what movies are playing at the theater. Dinner and a movie sounds like a relaxing night.

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!  

Curlicue Crush

I finished my Curlicue Crush top about a month ago but never got any pictures of it.  Pink Chalk did a blog post of it the other day so I was able to grab a couple photo's that Diana took so I could share here.  :)

This was one of those quilts that took years not because I'm that slow but because I kept changing the fabrics.  I started with a complete collection that included hot pinks and browns.  Had it all cut out and on the design wall (you can see it in this post) but it never "sang" to me.  I pulled out the browns first.  Still didn't "sing".  Hot pinks came out next.  Nope.  Eventually I pulled it all down, ordered more fabric, cut and re-designed till I got a lay out and combination that I loved.  Then the sewing of all those curves began.  

I think I did pretty well!  

It is at the machine quilter now.  I chose a super thin batt and voile for the back cuz I want a summery weight quilt.  Can't wait to get it back.

Happy sewing everyone!

Perfect Picnic Blog Hop

I'm participating in another blog hop hosted by Madam Samm of Sew We Quilt.   She comes up with the best themes for hops.  This one was "Perfect Picnic".  

Well, my "perfect" picnic isn't so perfect!   In fact, its the picnic that wasn't.    I wanted to recreate the first picnic I had with hubby when we were dating.  It would have been a simple meal - salami and muenster cheese and bread.   It would have been in a park.  We would have just talked like we did over 34 years ago. Would have.  

Instead I grabbed the picnic quilt I made and enjoyed some fleeting sunshine  in my own backyard!

Yup...that's my meal!   Had some iced coffee too.   :)

I had been collecting food fabrics for years.  Its so fun to look at all the different fabrics....no two are alike!   I had seen the pattern "Yellow Brick Road" (by Atkinson Designs) years ago too and decided that would be just right for my collection of yummies.  I also found a great gingham fabric with ants on it that I used for my border.  So cute.

I'm sorry I don't have fab pics to show you of a fab location or fab food.    My "perfect" picnic will have to be some time later this summer.

But I do LOVE  my quilt!  

Be sure to visit the other gals who are sharing their picnics today:

Monday June 9

Cherry Blossoms

The Quilting Queen Online

Mad Quilter's Disease

Daisy Days

Buzzing and Bumbling

From My Carolina Home

Sew We Quilt

Thanks again, Madam Samm.  And thanks Mary for being a great cheerleader.

Hand Quilting

I decided to hand quilt the middle portion of my Circular Reasoning quilt. Once done I'll machine quilt a spiral around all the letters.  Its going fast for me!!!  :)   Helps that I let go of how my stitches look.  I'm simply enjoying the rhythm of stitching.

I brought the quilt on my vacation with my Yaya's. I wasn't the only with a quilt in a hoop!  Melis took a picture of the three of us at work.  First time we've all been doing hand quilting at the same time.  Just had to share.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts.

Feathers In The Wind

A couple of weeks ago I shared a picture of some paper pieced feather blocks I had made.  I finished the quilt really fast but its been at work (show-n-tell and to be photographed) so I haven't been able to share a picture....till now.   

The pattern is called "Feathers In The Wind" by The Sometimes Crafter.  I used Essex Yarn Dyed Linen (denim color) for my background and just scraps for the feathers.  I've never used linen for a quilt so am hoping it holds up to many washings.  I've heard mixed things.   All that's left is the quilting.  I'm just gonna straight line quilt it. Keep with the easy theme.  :)

Linking to Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts.

Design Wall Monday - Hexies

I finally have something new on my design wall!  

I love hexies and when I saw this tutorial on Crafty Fox blog I knew I wanted to make the quilt.  No y-seams since you add the pieces on the corners to make a square block.  And I love the zig zag that is created.   I bought a pre-cut pack of hexies to eliminate cutting hexies.   It is requiring a bit more pinning than I thought I'd have to do and that's slowing me down.  But I do love how its turning out.  

I'm linking to Design Wall Monday on Judy's blog.  Head over to check out what others are working on!

Suburbs Quilt

For many years now I have gone on vacation with my best gal pals!  Its one of the highlights of my year. 

I go with great intentions of finishing lots of quilts but never accomplish all I think I will!  This year I finished two.  I already showed the Round and Round quilt on this post.  Easy with loads of negative space.

Next up is Suburbs (pattern on sale here) by Cluck Cluck Sew.

This was a fun quilt to sew.  I cut into my stash of Denyse Schmidt fabrics for the houses.  

I used some Botanics Stem Ash by Carolyn Friedlander for my background.  I didn't pay attention to it being a directional print when I bought it so I did have to spend extra time cutting it out so all the trees would be upright!  Totally would have bugged me if they went every which way.

I'm thinking of doing this quilt again but having each house have a solid door so I can embroider little surprises in some....like a cat or flower,etc.

I'm linking up over at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.
And WIP Wednesday over at Freshly Pieced.

Feathers

I worked on some paper pieced feathers tonight. I only need 4 for my quilt project but they were fun to do so I'm gonna make more then choose my favorites. 

I'm using a pattern by The Sometimes Crafter called Feathers in the Wind.  Its another one with lots of negative space.   I love how fast they are to make!!!  

Round and Round baby quilt

Just got back from my annual vacation with my best girlfriends.  Totally a blast!!!!   

I got two quilts made while away.  One I'll show today.  

One of the things I love about many modern quilts is their simplicity.  I'm drawn to the negative space and the statement that a simple design can make.  I've always wanted to make a quilt with a single block in it and loads of negative space............and I finally did! 

I made a single Round and Round block (like I wrote about here) and then just added background fabric.  So easy.  

Now the thing about quilts like this is that the quilting is what really makes it sing. You can see good examples of what I mean here,  here,  here, and here.

All of those quilt designs look easy enough that even I could do them!   

Silent but still sewing

I can't believe I haven't written a blog post since January.  Good grief!   I have been sewing but it sure doesn't look like it.  When I went looking for pictures of what I've been doing I barely found any.  My head just hasn't been in the documentation part of my sewing. 

Here are some of the things I did take pics of: 

I made this pincushion for a swap and a matching needle book as an extra.  My partners mosaic of favorite things included squirrels and oranges (among other things).  I used them as my inspiration.

I made myself another Mail Sack bag.  This time I did some "quilt as you go" to make a panel rather than a single fabric.  I also added a magnetic snap to help hold bag together.  

And I got my Penny Sampler back from the long arm quilter.  Shelly did a fantastic job, as usual.  This swirl design is my favorite all over.  I have the binding sewn on one side but still needs to be finished.  I am so in love with this quilt.  :)

That's it. I shall try to get back to taking pictures. 

Happy sewing!

Playing with Pink

I just had a long weekend with nothing on the calendar to take me from home.  That meant lots of time to sew!  I decided I wanted to work on something mindless and easy.  Something that I didn't have to pay attention to details and could just enjoy the rhythm of the machine.  I had just the project in mind.

I started by pulling a bunch of pinks from my stash.

  

I just love the pile of trimmings you get after squaring blocks down. 

And here is the final quilt!  

 I saw this project tutorial on the Dear Stella blog.    Its super fast to put together.   And if you used a layer cake, it'd be even quicker.  I think it will make a fun baby girl quilt...with the baby's name and birth date embroidered on the heart.  :)

Linking up at Sew Fresh Quilts: Let's Bee Social.

Wake Up to Kona

I've joined another blog hop and today is my day.  When Madame Samm announced the theme of Kona Solids I knew I had to sign up.  I've had a pattern and the fabrics for a quilt for over a year and this hop was the PUSH I needed to get it done!   :)

This is the bundle of Kona's I had purchased.  My favorite color palette to work with.  Love. LOVE.

And this is the quilt top I made:

The pattern is called "Circular Reasoning" by Carolina Patchworks.  I bought it here.

It is fused and raw edge appliqued.  I used a blanket stitch.  It went pretty fast.

 The pattern makes a 75 inch square quilt but I wanted it smaller to give as a baby quilt.  I reduced the pattern to 75% of its original and made it a 54 inch square.  

As you can see its not quilted yet.  I can NOT figure out how to quilt it!!!  I love how its quilted on the pattern with pebble quilting around all the letters and a secondary circle formed in the negative space.  My free motion quilting skills are sorely lacking so first time pebble quilting is not gonna happen on this one.  And I don't want to do any quilting over the letters.  

Any suggestions?  

This ended up being my favorite pic of all I took.  :)

Thanks to all involved in such a wonderful hop - Madame Samm, Carol and all us hoppers!

Be sure to visit the others sharing today:

January 15

Thimblemouse & Spouse

Daisy Days - You are here!

My Addiction to Quilting

Mountain Mist Designs

Hill Valley Quilter

Malini’s Quilts

 

And thank you for stopping by.

Secret Santa Pouches

I never did share here a fun project we did at work for Christmas.  We had a Secret Santa type pouch exchange. It was so much fun!  

This is a great pic of our wonderful Pink Chalk Team!   Kathy Mack, the fabulous owner of Pink Chalk, is on the right hand side in the green sweater. 

Here are all the pouches that were made:

I made the one in the back with the embroidered girl on it.  

The pouch pattern is "The Essential Wristlet" by Dog Under My Desk.  It was pretty easy to make. Lots of pictures for those of us who love them!   :)

 I got the girl design from the book "Embroidery pour la Maison" by Sylvie Blondeau.   Such a cute little book.  I stitched her on Essex Linen White with regular DMC embroidery floss.

And I added some big stitch quilting in the circles with Perle Cotton. Love doing that.

A peek at the inside.  

I sure do love my job!