It's a 4Q Finish for 1Q '14!

I have a 4th quarter finish!!  Yay!  One crossed off my list!  Whoooohoooo!  (Yes, there is some alliteration going on there.  Hehehe.)

This quilt was made with a very cool pattern by Debby Kratovil called Sugarloaf.  We started this quilt one night at our CCMQG in a class taught by Jessica.  I decided to do mine with a fat quarter of hand dyed brights I had stashed from Connecting Threads.  Well, it is definitely bright!  I also decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to practice my free motion skills on my longarm.  I also practiced doing ruler work and stitch in the ditch.  Stitch in the ditch can be quite the challenge on a regular sewing machine (thank goodness for the edge foot) and is even more so on a long arm - at least for me, anyway.

I used Superior Thread King Tut #921 variegated thread.  It is a bright, colorful thread!

Colorful, eh??!!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts!

Vintage Blocks Week #2

It is hard to believe that we are already on week #2!  January has flown by!  The cold, icy and snowy weather has kept me (and pretty much everyone else) indoors the past two days.  Snow day = sew day!  Whoohoo!  Got a lot of sewing done and several finishes to post. 


But right now, I am going to post pictures of the two Vintage Quilt Revival Blocks for week #2.  The first one is Classic Mosaic No. 19 Block:

The other one is the Classic Diamond Panes Block:

Linking up to Sukie!

Vintage Blocks Week #1

I have been wondering what to do with my Tula Pink Acacia stash for awhile.  When I got the book Vintage Quilt Revival I knew I wanted to make a quilt in the book with Acacia.  And then I saw that Sukie - Don't You Know Who I Am? was hosting a quilt along for the sampler quilt!  Yay!

Here are my blocks-

I liked the stack of colors for the first block but not so sure about how the block turned out.  I may redo.

Of course I had to fussy cut to get the raccoon in!

Linking up now with Sukie!  Have a great day!

Sunday Stash #2

Did you participate in the #thegreatfabricdestash on Instagram?  Did anyone else wake up the next morning with a fabric binge hangover or was that just me?  Just checked, it is still going on!  In fact, there is a FQ bundle of Anna Marie Horner True Colors that just might be calling my name...  I am a big fan of Heather Bailey's.  I have quite a stash of her fabrics.  Yes, I found some more.  Tula Pink is another one that I love.  But TP fabric went fast and for top dollar!  Talk about an investment!

Well for my Sunday Stash #2, I am going to share the charm packs that I received yesterday from #thegreatfabricdestash.  4 are from another big favorite of mine, Kate Spain.  The other 4 are adorable and will make a wonderful quilt to donate for auction at our annual Fur Ball that benefits homeless pets.

 

 

Yes, I scoured the internet and found yardage to go with these!  Whooohooo!  Then, my dear friend Jessica sent me this link:  Freckled Whimsy Charm Pack Quilt Along.  Check it out!

Linking up now with Molli Sparkles!  Happy Sunday!

Sunday Stash #1 2014

I got these gorgeous fabrics yesterday in the mail.  Made my day!  Catnap by Lizzy House, Andover Fabrics.

Love these little guys!

These are fabulous!  My photos have been enhanced but still do not do the vibrant colors justice.  I got the 1/2 yard bundle and am so glad!  I will have stash left over for another quilt.

I am making a quilt for a dear family out of this line.  They love their kitty cats and I think they'll love this quilt.  Can't say anymore because I am not sure if they look at my blog or not.

I also got a fat quarter bundle of Pearl Bracelet by Lizzy House.

Again, I enhanced the photo.  These will be wonderful to have on hand.

Linking up to Sunday Stash with Molli Sparkles.

Friday Fun

This is another finish of sorts.  I hope to have the quilt top completely pieced as well as the backing done tomorrow.  This quilt is for my dear husband.  He loved the Winter's Stars quilt that I made with Kate & Birdie Paper Co.'s Winter's Lane.  Didn't want to give it away.  So I promised I would make a quilt for him.

When I saw Kate & Birdie Paper Co.'s Bluebird Park, I knew that was the fabric for his quilt.  We have a bluebird house in our backyard.  Every year, our bluebirds come and raise one or two clutches of eggs.  My husband is diligent in keeping them fed with mealworms.  I love the owls and hedgehogs on the fabric!

 

 

As you can see, I still have some work to do.   I used 3 charm packs and 1 1/2 yards of the fabric for the background.  There will be two borders added.  The X's and O's pattern is fairly quick and easy.  I have an X's and O's edge to edge quilting pattern that I will quilt it with.  Perfect for my husband!

 

I have another quilt to cut out and piece this weekend, too.  It is a special quilt for a wonderful person and friend.  More later.

 

What my doggies do while I sew!  Linking up with Finish it up Friday Crazy Mom Quilts.  Happy Friday!



1st Quarter 2014 FAL

Yes, I am one of those people - the kind that tries to squeeze just one more in under the deadline.  I realize the deadline is Jan. 8, but not going to make it.  That is okay.  Too many other things going on.

Here is what is going on the list:

Swoon Good Fortune King Size Quilt

We need this one for our bed!  I have yet to make a quilt for our bed (gasp!) and this one is it.  Each block takes a while to make so I tend to procrastinate.  I do love a quick quilt for instant gratification.

 

Craftsy BOM 2013 Quilt

 



This is just one block of several that I have made.  I am putting off the BOM that involves appliqueing a handle on a basket of flowers (also applique).  I like applique, but baskets are just not my thing (right now anyway).  Gotta finish this one!

 

Architexture Tula Pink BOM Quilt

 

I need 64 blocks to make the lap sized Trellis Quilt in TP's book.  I have all the fabric I need.  Definitely needs to be finished!

 

Sugarloaf Quilt

 

I am practicing on my FMQ with my longarm on this one.  I put this one off because digital quilting patterns turn out so perfect while my freehand, custom ones - well, they suck.  Yes.  Um hum. (Perfectionists, you know it.)  Practicing will help with that, so that is what I am doing.  Allowing myself to make mistakes, too.  Right now, ruler work is what I am practicing and I find that it is enjoyable for me.

 

Tula Pink 100 Modern Quilt Blocks Quilt

 

 

 

 

I do have 40 of these done, really I do!  I will be lucky if I get another 40 done this quarter.  I need 100 to make the quilt.  So, not expecting to get this one done.  I LOVE the blocks and the quilt, just not going to rush it.

 

Glimma Quilt

 

This poor baby keeps getting pushed further and further to the end of the list.  : (.  Don't think I will be getting this one done, either.  I changed the size of the block and forgot to write it down.  Doh!  So every time I go to make a block (didn't precut all the fabric, either) I have to reinvent the wheel. Last set of blocks I made, did write it down, though.  I keep putting it off.  My infatuation with Glimma has waned?

 

Started 4th Q but not on list:

 

King size Orange Peel Quilt for my SIL and daughter made with Sunshine Clover, Corsage and Streamers by Alison Glass.  Oh, I am having fun with this one!  Will I get it done 1st Q?  Probably not.

 

Not Started but want to get done 1st Q 2014:

 

Bluebird Park Quilt

 

The pattern is from Spring 2014 Quick Quilts called A Bushel and a Peck by Emily Bailey.  This is for my dear husband (Valentine's Day)!

 

Vintage Quilt Revival Block Along

 

Vintage Quilt Revival Block Along with Sukie

 

 I love this book!  And I love my Tula Pink Acacia fat quarters with coordinating solids.  I have been searching for the right quilt to make with these and when I saw Sukie's Block Along with one of my favorite quilt books, well, you know it!  If you don't have the book Vintage Quilt Revival, I highly recommend it!  It even has a DVD of the paper piecing patterns.

 

Gypsy Wife Block of the Month

 

I signed up for this ~  Gypsy Wife Block of the Month with Intrepid Thread in the Calm colorway.   Crazy?  Yes.  I have been lusting after Jen Kingswell's pattern for some time.  Jumping down the rabbit hole!

 

Lazy Sunday Quilt

 

One of my New Year's resolutions is to use up the fabric that I have stashed.  Or at least a good portion of it.  I bought quite a few charm squares and layer cakes on a couple of good sales that I need to use!  One is Noteworthy by Sweetwater.  I cut up the layer cake last night so it is already to go.  The pattern is one from May Chappell.

 

 

 

Fresh Quilt King Size

 

 I have a layer cake AND a charm pack of Simply Style.  Which actually is a good thing because I want to make Camille Roskelley's Fresh Quilt from the book Simply Retro.  Will I get it done this Q?  Probably not.

 



 

 

MORE~

 

I am in the process of coming up with a quilt to make with Sunnyside charm packs by Kate Spain.  There is a lap quilt to make for donation to the annual Fur Ball with Summersville Spring jelly roll.  A lap quilt with Lottie Da jelly roll and a Hashtag quilt with Happy Go Lucky.  Plus the Ballerina Quilt (by Jaybird Quilts) out of Modern Bliss.  I may be making a Baby Girl quilt, too.

 

That about wraps it up!  (Whew!)  Linking up to Katy at the Littlest Thistle.





Swooning Again

The Swoon quilt was on my 4th Q FAL.  Yes, this one will definitely be going onto my 1st Q FAL for 2014.  I am motivated to get this one done as we are in need of a new king size quilt for our bed in Spring colors.  It has been moved up the list of things to finish.  I got did get two blocks done this weekend, so now I have a total of 4.

If you have ever made a Swoon quilt, you know how time intensive it can be to cut and piece.  It is a good thing that all the blocks end up at a 24.5" unfinished size.  I plan on making mine 4 x 4 with a border because I like overhang on my quilts.

Cutting time has been significantly reduced because I have been using my Accuquilt Go.  The dies I have used are:  55000 (6.5" square), 55005 (3.5" x 6.5" rectangle), 55006 (3.5" square) and 55009 (3" finished 3" triangle).  I press, starch and precut my fabric before putting a stack on the die.  I have found that if I stack too much fabric on the end result is distorted.  Another tip someone had posted was how to draw where the actual cutting part is on the die with a sharpie so that it can been seen where to put the grain of the fabric.  I have the older dies, so this tip was very helpful!

See how the cutting edges are on an angle?  I make sure to put my fabric on the die with the grain at the same angle. 

Here is my kitty Casper earning his keep doing some quality control.  He is constantly with me in my sewing room!  He loves to sit on my lap when I sew.  But as you can see, he doesn't like his picture taken.

First Friday Finish of 2014

This is a quilt of firsts.  My first disappearing 9 patch.  It was my first quilt done completely free hand on my longarm.  It was my first time using Poly Quilter which is a #30 poly 3 ply thread on the top with Bottom Line in the bobbin.  It was an experiment of sorts with low volume and color.   I used 2 charm packs of Eat Your Fruits and Veggies with 8 low volume fat quarters.   Not so sure I love the end result but I think it will make a great picnic quilt.  Really enjoyed the process but totally obsessed with the block placement until I drove myself crazy!  I finally just stopped myself and got it sewn together.

Not completely done as it needs to be trimmed with binding sewn on but getting close!

Linking up now with Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

Starting 2014!

Have you ever heard that what you are doing on New Year's Eve will be what you do the most of the next year?  Does that mean I will be stuffing myself full of delicious food at my favorite restaurant and falling asleep before midnight on the couch?  Hahaha...

I did get a quilt top finished, the backing pieced and am in the process of quilting it on the longarm today.  Starting the New Year right! Right?! 

Here is another finish (4thQ):

The back:

The quilting - notice the words:

 For my original list of 4th Q 2013 FAL's, go here.