Miscellany and My 1st Giveaway!

Look what I found in one of my purses today: the missing dresden plate for my African Heart quilt. This post explains how I thought I was done putting together all of the plates - only to count that I had 29 plates. I scrounged together some scraps to make another, not realizing that this little guy was hiding in a bag - probably from a trip to a quilt store when I was trying to find some printed background fabric! I guess I will make a mini quilt or something out of it! Last weekend I found this vintage doll quilt at a yard sale for $2. I am thinking of cutting it up to make another patchwork sleeper. Do you like how I am training my toddler to hold up quilts for me?

I also found this cool vintage fabric at another sale for a quarter.

I've decided to do a giveaway for the first time on this blog. I made this Birdie Sling quite a while ago and have only used it a few times. I hope it's not too tacky to giveaway something that is not in brand-new, mint condition - but the bags are piling up in this house and I haven't been using it hardly at all. Just leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name this coming weekend.

My sewing progress has been slow going lately. I am just tired (probably because of the pregnancy) and we've had lots of gloomy-weather that has made me return to my first loved hobby: reading. It doesn't help that that Mendocino clamshell quilt is driving me nuts and very boring to do....... Hopefully I will snap out of this soon!

Dots and Ties

This top has been done for over a week but between the weather being so rainy and overcast and never having a "helper" to hold to the quilt for a picture- that explains why I am late posting this. We went to the North Billerica commuter rail station to take these pictures yesterday. I am very happy with how the quilt is looking so far but I really can't wait to quilt and bind it!

All of the "fans" are fabrics from my stash. I had to buy a whole lot of "That's It Dot" by Michael Miller.

When my son saw this quilt coming together, he said, "That's dots and ties." I thought that was pretty clever!

I plan to return to Laurena's Longarm Quilting to finish this up ASAP.

Wordless Wednesday

FSDC: Giant Peg Bear

I finally came up with an idea to do with my small pieces of Jay McCarroll's Habitat fabrics right before I left for Kentucky. I had all summer to do something and I really procrastinated this project. I am usually not so prone to putting things off - but I wasn't really excited about the fabrics and knew if I made something for my home - it wouldn't match anything.

So I decided to enlarge one of my most favorite softie patterns: the Peg Bear by Jhoanna Monte Aranez of One Red Robin. This pattern comes in the book One Yard Wonders. Normally, this bear turns out to be about 14" tall, mine is about 32" tall after blowing the pattern up to 200%. I sewed Habitat strips along with various solid pieces together and then quilted them onto fusible fleece. I used fleece, wool felt, embroidery floss, and safety animal eyes (from Joann's) for the face and tummy.

The best part of this project was that my son absolutely loves it. This is what he said when I gave it to him, "It's a bear! It's a big bear. It's cute, it's cute. I like it. I love it." And he hasn't really let it out of his sight since. He wasn't happy when I had to take it to the BMQG meeting on Saturday!

I am so glad that he likes it because it's awfully big to be kicking around a small apartment. I used over 4 bags of polyester stuffing.

For our next swap, our guild is doing a non-blind kitchen goods swap. We were asked to bring our own fabrics to give to our partner and simply tell the other person what we might want. The fabrics I received are from Alice, who brought a selection of delightfully soft Christmas fabrics. Alice is pretty flexible about what I can make her - so that's great!

These are the fabrics that I gave my partner. I told her she could do whatever she wanted too. I don't have anything handmade for my kitchen - so this is going to be fun. It didn't take me long to recognize, that yet again - albeit subconsciously - I went for a pallette of red, yellow, and blue!

Happenings

Thanks for everyone's kind congratulations on my baby news. We are excited!

Early this week I started and finished my project for the Free Spirit Designer Challenge. I am going to have to reveal it after this Saturday's BMQG meeting. Let's just say that I have made clothing, four quilts, and numerous softiestoys for my son and I have never received such a good reception for something I have made him - it made me very happy (especially considering the thing I made him with the Habitat fabrics is pretty whacky).

I am still plugging along on my dresden quilt and will have the completed top to show soon. Meanwhile - it was nice to see a picture of the quilt I made my sister in use in her new apartment in Colorado. I gave it to her this spring and I am so happy that she likes it.

Exciting News

Most people reading this already know the big news: I am pregnant. The baby is due February 27. I chose not to find out Gregory's gender and plan to do the same thing with this one. It is tempting to find out only because I could really get cracking on making lots of gender specific baby items. But I think it will be worth it to have a surprise.

Knowing that our lives will change drastically in about 5-6 months, I have been kicking the sewing time into overdrive. There is just SO much to do! After Gregory was born, I didn't really touch my machine for a good four months- I am only going to be busier with two children! In other exciting news, I am going to attend the Houston Quilt Market at the end of October. I am assisting with a modern quilting themed book that my amazing friend, Rachel, is authoring. We are still working out what my role is in helping with the book- but I am psyched to have an amazing weekend away with some great friends from the Boston Modern Quilt Guild. You have to have certain credentials to attend Quilt Market - so this was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn't pass up.

So as I prepare for the Market and a new baby - I need to publicly pledge to stop buying so much fabric!!! I kind of got in "vacation mode" in Louisville and allowed myself some indulgences - but I need to STOP and sew with what I have! There are so many sales lately - but I must resist :)

Back from Louisville!

The night before I left for Louisville, I decided to make some airplane pants for Gregory. I used the Bedtime Story Pajama pattern (Oliver and S) and Anne Kelle's airplane print from "Ready, Set, Go!" Traveling alone with a 23 month lap baby was daunting - but the flights couldn't have gone smoother. I was so happy to reunite with my husband (after a month long absence!) and have a visit with his parents in Louisville, KT. I had hoped to squeeze in a trip to Paducah while we were there - but it is a good 4 hour drive from Louisville and there definitely wasn't enough time! We had a nice time visiting with each other - we went to the downtown Science Center, Nick and I caught a movie (thanks for watching Gregory, Bob and Julie!), and simply had a nice time allowing grandson and grandparents to have fun together.

While I was there, a little bit of quilting was squeezed in: Julie showed me this gorgeous fan/dresden plate quilt that has seen lots of use within the family. I love the design and colors!

Julie's grandmother made several "boy versions" of Sunbonnet Sue:

In the Louisville airport, on our way out, we had some time to kill and were able to admire this crazy quilt from 1875. The strawberries that Gregory is pointing to are three-dimensional.

Since we returned on Labor Day, I have been wiped. It's also been raining non-stop and I haven't had a lot of motivation to do much of anything. But yesterday I finally got my act together and started putting the red centers onto the dresden plates - I am over halfway done.

I should've inserted this picture earlier, but here is a picture of the fabrics I bought at a Louisville shop. They had a quite the variety of modern and traditional fabrics. I was also shocked by the lack of markup on fabrics - flannel was $10-11 per yard and home dec was about $14. Local quilt shops around Boston sell those types of fabrics for as much as $20 per yard!

Yesterday I was hit by a massive cold and had to keep myself from napping in order to sleep at night. I occupied myself by pulling fabrics for a secret project:

I used the top left fabric as the inspiration for pulling complementary fabrics (it's Anna Maria Horner Garden Party). The fabric on the far right (Maryoshka dolls) will be the backing. Suggestions for simple quilt patterns are more than welcome!!!!

Progress

Luckily, Hurricane Irene was very mild for the area I live in - but I prepared for the worst- I even decided to go hang out at my parent's from Saturday afternoon until yesterday. The power flickered and that was it. During Gregory's naps I took advantage of my parent's cable and DVR and watched/listened to several episodes of "What Not to Wear" and "Law and Order." It really helped to get me through the very monotonous task of sewing the dresden plates onto the background squares: When I got home last night, I finished the last of these Children at Play blocks. I have to say that I like the fussy cut squares of these prints - but I find that these styles of prints limit my creativity a bit- I am much more used to using prints and color rather than trying to fuss with little character/novelty images.

I am off to Louisville on Friday to reunite with my hubby and visit his parents with Gregory. We were going to squeeze a visit of Paducah in - but there just isn't enough time. But you better believe I hope to squeeze a quick visit to a quilt store that I heard is excellent. I am really excited to be with Nick again and finally allow Gregory to see his grandparents- as it has been over a year now since we last all got together!

Mosaic Top Done!

You all might be sick of this quilt by now but unfortunately, at least one more post is coming (when I finally finish it!). I would love to hear opinions on whether I should add a few borders. I am thinking: 1st a small white border, followed two gray and purple borders that are a little thicker than the white (maybe 3 inches each?).

P.S. Thanks for all the empathizing and supportive comments regarding the Hushabye sampler that I hated. I'd never written a post like that because usually I like what I make. I am going to finish it - but not for a while - it's time to focus on other things.

Hushabye Sampler Top Finished

I don't know if I should share how negatively I feel about this quilt top. When I told my mom all of my complaints - she suggested I just throw it away - it was her reaction to my vitriole. I don't hate it enough to literally put it in the trash but it's been a serious struggle from the beginning. Here are some of my reasons for loathing this project:

#67. The fabric requirements for the pattern required that I buy certain amounts for the sashing and backing which both ended up being WAY too much fabric. The fabric I had to buy doesn't really go with the rest of my stash - so it's a waste. #88. I cut up two yards of the pink Hushabye owl print that ended up being a waste because my rows and columns of sashed blocks wouldn't fit properly around the panel I had cut. (Totally my fault!!!!)

#92. I hate doing sashing for quilts - it's not as easy as it looks and I rarely can do it right.

#102. I had my doubts about using the saturated brown prints in some of the blocks - and then I went ahead and clustered them all together - which makes it even worse.

#111. I liked Hushabye, but now I can't bear to look at it anymore. I am hanging onto some of my yardage of the owl prints - but the rest is being destashed on etsy.

I totally understand the wisdom of "finishing what you start." But I once read some advice on flickr to a woman who wasn't sure if she should finish up a hand pieced hexagon quilt that she hated. The comment said something to the effect of, "Sometimes we spend too much time and money on projects we aren't enjoying and it's often better to just move on and spend our efforts on things we are excited about/enjoy more."

Dresden Progress

Last week I finished up all of my dresden plates for the Dotty for Dresden quilt. There are 30, as I am adding a full column to the pattern in order to make the quilt queen sized. I am really pleased with how they came out. I put the pieces together randomly - just trying not to have same colors touching and having no fabrics repeated within the plate.

Friday night, I started another quilt:

All of my WIP's are kind of overwhelming me right now! This weekend I have been trying to put together the top of the Hushabye sampler quilt.... I would much rather work with the above projects but I will get to them as soon as possible.

World Quilt Show 2011

The World Quilt Show in Manchester, NH did not disappoint. The quilts on display were very diverse - there was something there for everyone! I love how they have quilts from all over the world - Japan, South Africa, England, Germany, etc.

I will be brief in my narration of the few pictures I show here:

I liked this one because it uses African prints - I am always looking for ideas on how to use my Uganda fabric stash! The work of Linda Schmidt was on display and it was nothing short of jaw-droppingly beautiful. I should've taken more pictures of her work, but these next two were some of my favorites:

This quilt was from Germany and I was mainly inspired by the unique color pallette.

This floral quilt was a collaborative effort from a guild in Capetown, South Africa. I thought it was absolutely gorgeous!

There were so many vendors at the show, it was a bit overwhelming. I was very interested in "Dusty's Vintage" - a small company in MA that sells vintage tablecloths, buttons, trims, and fabrics. I bought two cuts from the 1950's - the purple and red paisley and a lavendar/green floral feedsack - a full yard of each. I am sure it's rare to find such old and pretty fabric in such pristine condition. These fabrics are sitting on a backdrop of a new Denyse Schmidt Sugar Creek print - Whimsy Bouquet - I am going to use it to back my dresden quilt. After I got home from the show - I took my son to Nashua to hunt some down - I was a woman on a mission!

I also got this horrifying novelty print at the World Quilt Show, my son really loves motorcycles. PJ pants are in order I think.

Maybe saying he's "obsessed" is a better term......

A Goodbye Gift

I have been saving the selvedges (sp?) from my fabrics for maybe two years now. I don't really know why - I guess I started to see projects that use them now and then and I figured, "I may want these someday." I have come very close, on multiple occasions, to throwing them away - it just has added more clutter to my overflowing fabric stash. But there are some awesome projects that use them - there's even a whole flickr group dedicated to it and someone even made a whole dress out of them! Amy, from Made During Quiet Time, recently joined our Boston Modern Quilt Guild and she has an awesome tutorial on how to make a very cute armrest pincushion. I thought it would be a perfect going away gift for Monet:

Working with the selvedges was fun - I am now glad that I saved them. When choosing which ones to use - I simply looked for ones with lots of lettering or circle/colored dots.

I would recommend, when working with selvedges- when sewing them onto the background square - use a square a little larger than the measurement of what you want to end up with. I found that all of my sewing made the piece a bit wonky and I had to cut it to size at the end and some of the edges didn't end up having the "support" of the background square. The only alteration I did to Amy's tutorial was adding a flannel bag of rice into the pincushion in order to make it have more weight.

I gave this small gift to Monet at the end of our afternoon at the World Quilt Show. I will post about the show tomorrow. Right now I am feeling a little overstimulated by being at the show most of the day (SO many beautiful quilts and SO many vendors!) but I also feel a little overwhelmed. Monet was the founder and leader of our guild and has worked tirelessly to create a very meaningful organization and she also has been a wonderful, true friend. I am going to miss her terribly as she heads off to law school. Her departure not only means that I won't get to see her much but it also signals the transition for me to go from being vice president to president. I love the guild and I am excited to continue working as an officer - but of course it is a little intimidating! I have to say that I am more than grateful to Monet for providing a wonderful foundation to a group that I hope will thrive for many more years.

Strips and Bricks Top Completed

The night before my SIL came to town- I hurriedly tried to put this top together so that I wouldn't have the rows lying all over the place. I put in the movie "Catch Me if You Can" and was done by 10:30 pm. I was also in a rush because I thought I might want to bring it to Marden's to choose a backing - but I realized I had something in my stash that will do. I have to say that I am really happy with how it turned out. I am kind of surprised by its large size, even though I planned it that way- 90" x 92". The reason why I wanted to make this quilt is because I wanted an excuse to use some of the gray and black fabrics that I own and love. But I don't think I would ever be content to make something without much color - so that is why I added some blue and red prints (my favorite colors). I kind of like to think of it as a black and white photo with some color added to it.

Fabrics I used include Half Moon by Moda, Henna Garden, Cathedral by AMH, gray Wishing flowers, Daiwabo gray elephants, Pearl Bracelet, Avalon bikes, Ribbon Flowers from KJR, Cherry Wallflower, etc. The neutrals I used were Kona Snow, White, Ash, and Bone. The pattern was inspired from Strips and Bricks by Malka Dubrasky.

It may be a while before I get the opportunity to baste and quilt this beast but hopefully I can show its' completion soon.