Wow! It's been too long!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've written.  School is keeping me busy and now we're moving.  Packing will put a serious crunch in my sewing time.  I am binding a quilt and have two more on the burner waiting for their bindings.  I must get another comissioned queen size quilt started too!  I ordered some new fabric from Connecting Threads and it came in the mail today.  "Winter Fun" is so cool - some of it looks like ugly sweaters.  I bought it for a mitten project but it just might have to be a quilt instead - I love it soooo much!  You really need to check out the connecting threads website - lots of free downloads.  Check out the tree pincushion.  I can't wait to get that one done!  I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and find plenty to be thankful for!  I am thankful for my husband, 3 great kids and a super stash of fabric!

Until next time!

AQS quilt show

Last weekend my dear hubby sent to me on a bus trip to an AQS quilt show in Des Moines, IA.  They had over 1000 quilts on display and 300 vendors.  I got out of there with a t-shirt and a new Olfa circle cutter thingy.  Next year though, I think I'll save up and spend some money.  They sure had some bargains.  The quilts were beautiful and I thought I'd share a few.

such tiny little pieces

love the blue

wow

not sure how it happened, but this quilter got in my head and stole my idea that I've been tossing around for a few months now.  The only reason my bug quilt isn't done is because I haven't found enough bug fabric yet!

aren't the quilts a nice touch?

I'm a purple lover!

always wanted to try one of these!

sure looks like a lot of work

best of show!  Look closely at the quilting detail.

I sure hope you enjoy these pictures.  It was a great trip and I met lots of wonderful people.  I can't wait to go again next year!

yay for new fabric!

I bought this fabric a few weeks ago after looking at it several times.  I decided to make pillowcases out of it and loved it so much I am keeping them!  I have 5 total out of this fabric.  I'm not sure what it's called or who designed it but I bought it at Joann's.

The picture is dark, sorry about that, but aren't these just adorable!  I can't wait to get matching sheets and hopefully a new bedspread (since I don't have time to make one!)

I've also been eyeing this fabric for about two weeks.  It's by Heidi Grace and is available at Joann's.  At $7.99/yard I had to wait until I could use some coupons.  I believe there are 5 or more patterns in this line and I hope to get some of all.  I HAD to get this gray focal fabric and planned my whole day around a trip to Joann's!  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet though I'm thinking a sampler "wonky" quilt might be nice.  It may end up being pillowcases too!

Hmmm. . . . not sure the pic does justice.  Oh well!

I am planning on doing some major sewing this week.  In an effort to get organized I made a list of what to work on each day.  Stay tuned for more scrap quilt ideas - they're comin!

Until next time!

Finally! Time to quilt!

My neck and shoulders are killing me!  Too much time at the machine and not enough breaks - I should know better.  I found this Pirate fabric at Joann's.  It's by Debbie Mumm and I just fell in love!  I finished this today.  I "freehanded" some waves to go with the theme.  This was a first time freehanding for me.  It didn't go all too well but I must keep practicing!  I think I'll do some quilt as you go on one of my projects just to get more practice on some smaller pieces.  Without further adoo (how is that spelled anyway?) her are my friendly pirates!

Until next time!



Scrap buster #2

As you know by now, I love scraps!  But I love what I can create with them even more.  I got the idea one day to make some decorative storage boxes for my sewing room.  I store a lot things in shoe boxes so I wanted to spice it up a bit.  With a ruler, a rotary cutter, hot glue, large scraps (or fat quarters) and some shoe boxes, here is what I came up.

can you see where I folded over the raw edges so they don't show?  This one stores my Christmas notions.

I measured the fabric, cut it and ironed in the all the raw edges.  Next I let my glue gun do the work.  This is the back of one of the boxes which shows its not perfect but it's fun and functional!  This box stores fabric I buy from the scrap bin.

What to do with all those selvages?  Well first there is this totally awesome blog http://www.selvageblog.blogspot.com/ that will insire you for years to come!  I LOVE it!  Once upon a time I decided to learn to crochet.  I don't love it but it gabe me something to do on the go.  I started sewing my selvages together end to end after I cut them down to a size no bigger than an inch wide.  I then rolled them into manageable size balls and started  making pot holders.  This can be done with any small strip but I have found the ones made out of selvages don't roll up as much after being washed.  Here are some I have done in the past - not pretty but once again they are functional and maybe I do like that scrappy look where nothing matches.  I hope to crochet a selvage rug some day!

                            

Hope you like!  I'll post more scrappy projects as time allows.  I hope you all enjoy your fall!

Until next time!                                                                                                                   



Homework is taking up all my time!

School is keeping me way too busy.  I'm hoping to find one or two days to sew this week so I can start on some Husker quilts (I'm a Nebraskan!).  I did find time last week to make this really cute bag for Caitlyn.

I had the idea to do this and decided to use her softball shirt.  I figured she'd never notice or care because she hates the color pink.  I used an old pair of jeans for the lining but that didn't work out quite like I had imagined so I most likely won't do that again.  Caitlyn loved the bag and carried it school last week and now her friends want some too! 

I have pictures of some more "scrap busters" ready to go but we'll take a look at those next time.  I need to finish the binding on a quilt this week and then get to work on those Husker quilts.  I also bought some fabric to make myself a winter purse and I can't wait to get started on that.  I might even use an Amy Butler pattern that I couldn't resist.  I love her bags, I just wish they were a bit smaller.  I'm not real big on the BIG purses (unless we are traveling).  Hopefully I can get one made this week and put up pictures next week.  I hope you have a great week.  Think of me as I am studying or getting up at 3:30 in the morning in order to make it to clinicals on time.  I'm in my psych rotation.  Too many more early mornings and I will be a patient!

Scrap Buster: Flannel 9 Patch

I finally got the top done.  This top was done with scrap/stash fabric only.  I used 3" squares for the 9 patches and 1.5" sashing.  I like a little "order" in things so I used cream colored flannel from my stash for my background.  The corner blocks were made out of extra squares just to ensure I didn't waste any fabric.  My husband and daughter picked the sashing out of my stash and I think they did a great job!  Stay tuned for more scrap busters!

Until next time

Jackpot!

I had a charm pack from Moda's Chocolate Wovens line (from when I went way overboard and thought I had to have name brand quilting fabric) and really wanted to do a framed 4 patch with it.  Problem was, I didn't have enough coordinating fabric.  I was in a quilt shop yesterday and found about 9 of the prints and bought some of each!  I am soooo excited for this find!  This quilt will be on the to-do list for awhile but I can't wait!  I really love the Chocolate line from Moda and it was one that I just had to have.  I have a sampler quilt made out of it and am planning another one with my "leftovers".  I think a "Turning Twenty" might work well.

My 9 patch was coming along nicely and I was able to get all 7 rows done this week, but one row doesn't want to match up with the one above it. They looked just fine hanging on my "design curtain" and matched up nicely but that one row seems to have grown while hanging there! I need to do a little adjusting and hopefully will have the top done on Wednesday.  I'm going to have some really long days with school - Mondays I will leave the house at 4 am and get home between 6 and 6:30 pm.  I sure hope the girls can make supper cuz I'm pretty sure I'll be ready to crash when I walk in the door!

And just because pictures are nice and I don't have any new ones to show you, here's my favorite little sailor, Liam.  The caption that goes with this picture is:  Deadliest Catch?  Heck, my fishing pole is also a gun!  

I heart scraps!

Scrap quilts are my absolute favorite!  It might be because I don't have to match any colors - the scrappier the better!  I've always struggled with what to do with my scraps so I'm going to do a few posts about scraps.  As I stated in my last post, I am working on a flannel 9 patch.  I picked out large scraps that would yeild at least 5 3x3" squares.  Each 9 patch has only 2 different fabrics, one scrap fabric and a cream colored flannel (because I had a lot of that on hand).  I am using another flannel that I had quite a bit of for sashing.  This pattern is especially easy and quick becuase you can chain piece all the squares.  Since my quilt will be a lap size quilt, I went with 49 blocks (7x7) and 2" sashing.  I hope to finish up the quilt top this weekend and I will post pics then. 

Until next time!

busy busy

I started school yesterday and it looks like I'll be pretty busy but I think the 2nd quarter will be even busier.  I'm forcing myself to make time to quilt which is a good thing because it relaxes me.  The kids are going full swing with their social lives and I've been doing a lot of running from here to there.  Today I'm working on my flannel 9 patch with only 19 blocks to go.  Sometime today I will take Liam to the park so he can burn off some energy.  Don't you wish you had the energy of a 2 yr old?

I've been busy with quilting!  I finished two more baby quilts and have been working on some adult sized quilts.  I think I need to take more stretch breaks, my back is killing me!  It's been pretty hot here so it's been nice to stay inside and sew!  Next week I start back to school, I think this is seriously going to cut into my sewing time but you can bet I'll find the time!  Here are the pictures of my two new quilts Baby Bow Ties and Lil' Miss Priss.

Things usually don't turn out the way I plan

My friend Dee told me she makes Bow Tie quilts out of old shirts for "boy" quilts.  I thought I would try it with some of the homespun plaids and stripes that I had.  I started in and then realized I didn't have as much fabric as I thought.  So I improvised with borders.  This isn't at all what I planned but I love it - I'm not so sure the picture does it justice.  One block is going the wrong way, but that just adds character.  I sent this picture to my husband and he said one of my corners is off.  Ok, first of all, it's hanging on a curtain!  Second, when did he become such a critic?  Truth is, he's my biggest fan and his input is always appreciated!

Time to clean

Today I am working on cleaning/organizing my sewing room.  I sew in the "sunroom" in our house so I have NO wall space and everything is crammed into the corners so visitors can't see it from the living room (this hasn't been too successful).  If I need a design wall, I pin stuff up on the curtain covering the sliding glass doors (which how I take a lot of pictures of the quilts too).  We had an old computer and desk in one corner and I decided to clean the desk off, get rid of the computer and set up my other machine.  The girls want to help make pillowcases for the troops so this way, they can have their own machine to sew on and the desk provides more storage space.  Yay me!  Time to get back to work!

Until next time!

My first blog

Hello!  This is the first time I have ever blogged.  I am hoping this will help me keep better track of my quilts.  Quilting is my passion, though I don't do the actual quilting.  I usually stay with pretty simple patterns but I am beginning to expand my horizons some.  I am really drawn to scrap quilts.  Maybe because at first they seem so unorganized and almost ugly, but as soon as they are done, they are beautiful!  I'm trying to get into selling quilts but we'll have to see how that goes.  It would be nice to bring in some money while I'm in school and not working.

I have several projects in the works right now.  I am binding a Dick and Jane baby quilt, making a graduation quilt for my niece Tayler, doing a BOM following the book "The Farmer's Wife", I have a yet to be named pink baby quilt that needs quilted and about 4 scrap quilts in the works.  I almost forgot, I have one at the quilter's that just needs binding, my son's big boy quilt (just needs to go to the quilter) and my English Paper Pieced hexagon quilt.  Wow!  That sounds overwhelming now that I read it!  Yet, there are so many more I want to do. 

Joann's had their novelty fabric on sale so I just had to go.  I ended up buying some really cute Debbie Mumm fabric.  One group had a pirate theme and the other was a really cute owl fabric.  True to my nature, I overspent, but I did get some of the sale fabric too!  If I get this blog thing figured out, I'll post pics tomorrow.

One last thing.  I am following http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/ 1million pillowcase challenge.  I am donating mine to the local mission and to soldiers in the Nebraska National Guard who are serving in Iraq.  If you have time, go to the website, check it out and make a few pillowcases.  They have several patterns but I follow the basic pattern.

Until next time!