Miss White Wall

Seriously Kimberly, the holidays are over!

2012-01-05T14:50:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, the holidays are over and I need to get back to this blogging business. It is safe to say I took a small quilting / blogging hiatus; and it felt GREAT! I completely overloaded and overwhelmed myself this holiday season! Like usual, my crafting list was far larger than necessary and completely took over every ounce of free time I had. I spent many a night up until 3:00 am just trying to finish one of the many projects occupying my work space. I finished 4 bags (like those shown below), two purses (a lot like this one), a pillow (first talked about here), 10 potholders (with this fabric), and a Puppy (quilt) for Mr. Matthew.

(Liam is getting big! The little man celebrated 6 months on December 22nd!)

I managed to get some sort of photo before everything was shipped off, but it was always rushed and the lighting wasn't the best. I will try and post about each of these projects a little over the next week or two. In addition, this lucky girl won the giveaway on Lauren's blog (mentioned here) and received a new sewing machine from Santa (aka my Dad and Stepmother). I now need to get it out of the box and make sure it actually works and wasn't damaged in shipping. Come on Kimberly, get your butt in gear.

(This is officially Liam's favorite Christmas gift from Santa, a singing rocking horse! Although his Johnny Jump Up comes in a close second!)

Speaking of butts, I'm hoping to be shrinking mine this year! ;) I know, I know, not a weight loss New Year's Resolution... I'm sorry to tell you, but that's exactly what I'm talking about. This year I feel as though I'm not completely setting myself up for failure. My mother and I are tackling it together, we're taking it day by day, and I just posted about it on my blog so there's no turning back now!!! I will keep you updated as the mood strikes.

Now back to quilting!

This first bag is one I made one of my very good friend's daughter, Leah! I made her this quilt for her Mommy's baby shower way back when before she was born and now this little darling has gone and turned ONE on us (December 8th)! I used this tutorial for the bags and it was so simple, I ended up making four of them for the Christmas season.

Here is the little Peanut... she is getting so big!!! I love you Leah!

So as noted, pretty in pink:

Isn't it just adorable? I love this honeycomb pattern!

And this next bag I made for one of my Aunt's Granddaughters for Christmas. There is nothing more fun than pink fabric!

If you're looking for a fun easy pattern that takes just minutes to make, I would highly recommend this one! The pattern is flawless and the finished product, adorable!

Thank you for visiting everyone, I hope your holidays were fabulous and fun too!

Tree Skirts a Plenty

2011-12-09T08:35:00.000-05:00

There is nothing that can put me more into the holiday quilting spirit than quilting multiple Christmas tree skirts... which is exactly what I did. Back in early October, I joined a quilting class being held after work on Thursday evenings. The task at hand, Forever Green Christmas Tree Skirts! I will start by saying that almost everyone in the class, excluding myself and the "teacher", was a beginner quilter. Some had never touched a sewing machine, thread a bobbin, ironed a seam or heard of a scant quarter inch... that didn't stop the fun!

This was quite an advanced project for such quilting newbies, but aside from the under-the-breath muttering, deep sighs, seam ripping, redoing, and numerous expletives, they really did tackle it like champs! I will start by noting that this is the most difficult thing I've ever made by a long shot, which may lead you to two conclusions: A. this was difficult and B. I'm apparently not one to step out of my comfort zone!

This tree skirt had multiple triangles (not my strength), A LOT of tedious paper-piecing (a first for me), some complex assembly (lots of little corners to match up), prairie points (quite difficult on the inside corners) and some pretty intense hand stitching along the back in order to bind the quilt. Despite the many hurdles and late nights, most of the skirts are mostly complete with the exception of a few (but honestly, as time-consuming as this project was, who could blame them?)

After the majority of the quilt was completed I began to help everyone with the second half of quilting, the most laborious part. I assisted in the assembly, cut, ironed and sewed on many a prairie point, basted to my back's discontent, and quilted every last one of them! There were 9 ladies participating in this quilting event and in the last week or two I have quilted 7 tree skirts, talk about an all time high for my poor Kenmore (also note the lack of finished projects in the last two weeks, this would be the culprit!)

So although I do not have pictures of all of them, and of the pictures I do have most of them are in a slightly uncompleted stage, I still wanted to share these beauties with you! At the end of the day, I am very proud of every single one of these ladies and their momentous accomplishment. They each deserve a pat on the back; this was not an easy task.

Simone's:

Laura's:

Sherry's:

Nancy's:

Sara's (note this quilt was quilted with a red, green and gold variegated thread):

Joan's (my mother):

and Mine:

Each Tree Skirt turned out very unique and diverse despite the uniform pattern that was used. Fabric selection gave each quilt a slightly different edge and a beautiful, distinctive finished creation!

Note to Readers: None of these tree skirts are being used as tree skirts! At the end of the day, no one could face cutting through them and creating a slice down the center and a large hole in the middle of their magnificent work of art! But don't worry, I think they make perfectly lovely Table Toppers!

Celebration of Life

2011-12-07T12:01:00.000-05:00

Today we lost someone very special at work. Someone funny, and cheery, and wise. Someone who was very special to a lot of very special people. Death is never easy, sometimes overwhelming, always inevitable and often unexpected. Shirley was one of the rocks that held our foundation together.

She came in every morning at the same time, said her hello's, set to work and if you were lucky gave you some tidbits on her adorable cat Callie (and boy did she love that cat)!

She told me stories of her youth (she apparently had a knack for undermining her mother), and always joked with me about my curly hair (which like her, I despise). She said in her old age her tight curls had all but disappeared as she joked, "And I don't miss them one bit!"

So as I sit here on lunch, mulling over the empty office beside me, I am again reminded of just how special every moment is, how incredibly sacred my seconds with those I love should be, and how truly blessed I am.

Always take the time to tell those you love, that you love them, reach out every chance you get and be thankful... I know I am!

Big Boy Chair

2011-12-02T07:45:00.000-05:00

Matthew graduated from the highchair long ago, but as is tradition in our family, he has been sitting in an elevated chair ever since with a computer chair mat underneath his seat to collect the bits and pieces that don't make it into his mouth. This happens to be Pepe's (my cat) favorite spot to lick up a light snack after mealtime.

Since Matthew is now in Kindergarten and is getting a little too big for his special chair, it only seemed right that he move on to bigger and better things. The problem however, is that he still doesn't have the best aim when it comes to food, and like many five year-olds still uses whatever is handy as his napkin.

So per request, (I cannot stress enough how much I love these) I was asked to make a special cover for Matthew's new chair, to perhaps mask some of the mess that is likely to accompany him in his big chair journey.

Using a towel that we purchased at Walmart, I crafted a cover that matched the decor of the room. I used a total of 4 seams so that it just slips over the top and bottom of the chair and provides the perfect drop cloth during those times when life gets a little messy.

The more we looked at the cover, the more we debated covering all of the chairs, beige really is a hard color to keep clean and this was such an easy project!

This also happens to be Pepe's new favorite chair to lay in during the day, must be something about the dark color and her white fur; she wants to make sure you can tell where she's been!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-30T07:45:00.000-05:00

Black Friday, Blue Skies, and Red Wine

2011-11-29T15:50:00.000-05:00

This year, I had a wonderful Black Friday. My mother, Liam and I drove down to the Waterloo Premium Outlets and shopped for the deals of deals. We lightened our purses considerably (purchased a few purses) and had a very good time.

We spent the night in Geneva on the lake at a very pretty hotel. We took Liam for his first swim in a pool and thoroughly relaxed, dined, laughed and enjoyed ourselves. We didn't do a lot of waiting in lines and we just tried to enjoy the beautiful sunny day we were blessed with.

On Saturday, after room service (so fun) we made our way to Joann's for the shorter lines. I found some really adorable fabric and added quite a bit to my stash. For the first time in a long time I didn't even look through the remnants bin, I just bought what I wanted.

I'm not sure if the crosswords or the Eiffel towers are my favorite but they both called to me from the shelves!

I cannot tell you why but I loved this Rooster fabric, love, love, love!

And I thought this fruit was pretty darn cute too!

Someone very special has a mother who clipped this pillow (also pictured below) out of a magazine and requested one if I found some free time. As I've said before, there's nothing I like more than requests.

So while I was in Joann's I picked up some very adorable fabric and mesh. I heard that the very special someone is very interested in dinosaurs as of late. So once I get these Christmas Tree skirts out of the way, I will whip up this pillow and get it in the mail for Christmas. I'm pretty sure my little brother Matthew would appreciate one of these as well.

And lastly, I purchased some fabric for potholders, (again by request) how wonderful! I've only ever made one but I can't imagine they should be that difficult, only time will tell.

I also purchased Insul-Bright, which is the special lining that goes inside of potholders and provides more of a buffer against heat. The instructions suggest including a layer of Warm and White batting to absorb any moisture. I am slightly unsure as to where the regular batting would go in an oven mitt? Should I put it inbetween the fabric and Insul-Bright or inbetween the Insul-Bright and inside of the mitt? Anyone have experience with this?

Please pass the Potatoes...

2011-11-29T08:35:00.000-05:00

This was Liam's first Thanksgiving! Next year he will be devouring a large plate of turkey, gravy, veggies, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and mommy's favorite, Mashed Potatoes!

We all had a very great time and I was able to get a fair amount of quilting done (it's easier when there are many hands available to hold the little one)!

Hope your Thanksgiving was filled with all things pleasant!

Construction Zone

2011-11-22T09:15:00.001-05:00

Please ignore the construction zone currently occupying my blog! I had no idea a few minor changes could completely mess everything up! I need to fix this...

Thursday = Quilting Day

2011-11-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

This morning, Liam woke me up bright and early, we played for an hour and I thought about my day. Today is a Quilting Day! Every Thursday I attend a "Quilting Class" or "Quilting Get-Together" with a few of the women from work. At 4:00pm, we set up our machines on large tables downstairs, spread out, someone makes a meal, sometimes we drink some wine, we laugh (sometimes silently curse) and quilt. I run home and bring Liam back with me (my mother and I trade off quilting with playing) and we have a great time. We rarely filter out of there before 7:30.

We are all currently working on Tree Skirts for Christmas! Tonight I am demoing how to baste and machine quilt since I finally added my prairie points. I brought as many quilts as I could find, plenty of spare batting and old fabric for practice. Many of the women are first time quilters so this should be a lot of fun and quite a bit frustrating at times. I have offered to quilt anyones' tree skirt who doesn't feel up to the task, it is a daunting one! I will check back sometime soon to give you the full run down!

In the interim... Please go check out my long-time friend Lauren's blog Craft My Life Away! Tuesday was her 1 year Blogiversary and she is offering a fabulous giveaway in commemoration! Lauren and I met in college and both studied accounting, you could say great minds think alike. She has always been an avid crafter and amazing knitter. I did however introduce her into the world of quilting, and she has been an unstoppable force ever since!

Overwhelmed?!!??!

2011-11-16T11:55:00.000-05:00

As I read through my blog reading list I keep coming across the same theme over and over again. We are all completely exhausted, thoroughly worn, stressed out, running behind, catching up, making excuses, giving apologies, and beating ourselves up. As I read the updates, my already jam-packed, quick-paced, whirl of a life begins to feel even more cramped and overwhelming. I find myself making more lists, noting more fabulous projects I want to start, worrying about Christmas shopping, counting the days since I last posted and obsessing over the countless WIP's I have sitting at home beckoning to me while I sit at my "real" job and worry!

When I get home I find myself hoping Liam will be able to entertain himself long enough to allow me to get some quilting in or I'll be forced to stay up until midnight while he sleeps and forgo the few hours of peace I get in a day because "I have to get something done!" Wait, wait, wait, this seems slightly backwards...

I think most of us put quilting in the hobby category. Quilting is so often the "thing" that gives because we; can't dress in dirty clothes, eat from dirty dishes, munch on un-bought food, live without sleep, or be content without devoting those few free moments to our children, they are only little for so long.

So tonight, I will go home and clean my room, finish the laundry, organize my life and play with Liam to his heart's content. When he finally falls asleep in my arms; I am going to hold him, kiss him, stare at him, squeeze him and love him fully without so much as a glance at the idle sewing machine sitting in the corner. "Tomorrow," I say quietly to myself. "Tomorrow I will conquer the world." Today, I'm going to be content just living my life!

A Kindergarten Smock

2011-11-01T08:16:00.000-04:00

My favorite 5 year old started Kindergarten this year, and boy were we thrilled! Although, Matthew has previously attended Head Start, this is his first year with a little bit more freedom. Kindergarten is a very large jump from Head Start, so along with a big school comes a big list of school supplies.

One of the things on the list was an art smock. The school recommends buying one at WalMart or using an old adult T-shirt. Well let me say that no little brother of mine need wear a used, oversized, plain jane T-shirt; so I got down to business.

I received this upholstry fabric from Liam's Aunt Kristine (this woman is a life saver). She happened to find it for 50 cents at a yardsale, talk about a steal!

Below is a picture of Liam with his Aunt Kristine, Uncle Scott and only cousin Logan (you'll find them mentioned countless times on my blog, they truly are a blessing!)

I started the smock by just taking measurements and praying for the best. I followed the idea behind this tutorial and kind of made the rest up as I went along.

Unlike the tutorial I sewed up the sides, I have found that little boys need clear arm holes and neck lines or they're sure to end up with a leg sticking out of one of them.

I put a fairly large pocket in the front because little boys like to keep trucks, cars, and various other life necessities always at their fingertips.

I put a strip of velcro along the back because a tie or snap is far too difficult, especially behind the neck.

We practiced getting into and out of it over and over again, until we finally got the hang of it!

It has been sent off to school and hopefully when we see it again at the end of the year it is covered in paint, glue, marker and glitter, because if not we will certainly question what IS covered in those things...

They grow up so fast! Love you little brother!

One Puppy, Two Puppies, Three Puppies, Four!

2011-10-28T10:13:00.009-04:00

My Little Liam and his Puppy inspired by this quilt at Red Pepper Quilts! I am submitting this quilt in the Fall 2011 Bloggers Quilt Festival, check it out!

When I was a little girl my fabulous mother made me a blankie, as she did with my younger brothers William and Christopher. Since I was the first child, mine was obviously the best and most unique and intricate as compared with my brothers' later models. This is/was my Puppy!

For obvious reasons Puppy was the "pet" name (no punn intended) that I gave my childhood quilt. It is the perfect size, made of cool feeling fabric and missing a lot of the original pieces (he is well loved). I say this "is" my Puppy because he still serves a very active role in my life (i.e. I still let him keep residence in my bed)!

I attribute a lot of my personality and individuality to my Puppy. He has been there in good times and in bad, through sleepless nights and home sick days, a tissue when I cried at 4 and when I cried at 24, in every place I sleep including cars, hotels, planes and even on vacation to Mexico and Hawaii (you should see the stumped look on TSAs' faces as they notice Puppy hanging out in my carry-on luggage).

Puppy has taught me that...

Some things never change, they just get older.
Home is where the heart is.
A mother's love is unconditional.
It's ok to cry or fall apart sometimes.
Everyone has something or someone they can't live without.

I always joked (although I was quite serious) that if there was a fire; Puppy was the first thing going out that window!

Since I'm quite positive my brothers always envied my Puppy and his steadfast love, they also chose to call their blankies "Puppy" as well; despite their total lack of any dog-like qualities what-so-ever!

This is William's (it went nicely with his boy doll, Dapper Dan; he loved that doll! My mother has since tried to find one for Liam to no avail):

And this one belongs to Christopher:

Liam has been very blessed to recieve a variety of blankets from all our family and friends. This one is from Jill; the mother of one of my very close friends.

Jill is also an amazing quilter and a fabulous person to be around (Liam just loved her)!

This quilt was fabric my grandmother picked up and I chose to bind in different orange fabric, I think it is very adorable!

This afghan was made by a family friend and wonderful person, Mary.

And lastly, this afghan was made by Liam's Great Grandmother, she makes truly beautiful blankets!

Although all of these blankets are more than adorable, none of them contained those, oh so necessary "Puppy" qualities... so I set to work!

My mother enjoys pointing out that ALL of the blankies she made were completed BEFORE the child was born. Now, as I enter this exciting and beautiful chapter of my life I have decided to follow in her footsteps. (Although I will tell you that Liam's blanket was not finished before he was born. I blame it mostly on him being born four weeks early, but let's be honest; I could barely put on shoes at 7 and 8 months pregnant let alone attempt to baste a quilt!)

This is what Liam's crib looks like so I tried to make his blankie along the same theme. I love the fishies and whales, blue and green go with everything baby!

The back and center pieces of the blocks are fabric from an old Pottery Barn sheet that was given to me by Liam's Aunt Kristine.

The rest of this quilt was made using mostly scrap peices and some stash.

I love using recycled fabric and scrap pieces, it makes me feel so thrify and resourceful! I feel it also helps to tell a story and stitches meaning into the seams.

I did an overall stipple pattern on the quilt and only deviated for one brief moment in this square.

Here, I put a heart to serve as a constant reminder to both Liam and myself of my love for him. He is incredibly special to me and I hope he loves his Puppy (or Fishie?) as much as I have loved and continue to love mine! Sometimes, he and I cuddle up with Puppy and I'm reminded of just how special he is and how lucky I am to be so blessed.

Even as I write this post, a tear sneaks out the corner of my eye, not unnoticed. I have learned that despite the heartache we sometimes go through in life, the love of family and friends will always surpass any obstacle, overpower all negative thoughts, break down those confining walls, and serve as a reminder that we are never truly alone and we are always loved.

Trick or Treat?

2011-10-27T22:22:00.000-04:00

Tonight was Fright Night in town! That is where all the local businesses stay open from 6:00-8:00 pm and hand out candy, treats and toys and have fun Halloween activities like face painting, cookie decorating and haunted houses. Liam was dressed up as a dragon and at four months old he was completely adorable and very tolerant, I'm so proud!

This is my brother Matthew! He was a champ! He is 5 and so very excited for Halloween this year! You'll notice he has two candy buckets in his hands; one for him and one for Liam... or Liam's mother. Someone should definitely recieve the benefit for Liam's cuteness, why not me?

We even carved pumpkins this year! From left to right, Pepe's (the cat), Mine with the apple, Liam's with the baby face and Matthew's with the angry face.

We had a really good time taking out the gooey insides, Oh to be young again!

More Beanie Bags

2011-10-13T08:05:00.002-04:00

They must be contagious! After the initial Bean Bags I had a request for additional ones, and there is nothing I like more than requests! It makes my life easy when I know exactly what to make. Not only that but they sent me fabric to make them with, it doesn't get any easier than that.

These Bean Bags are for my nephew's cousins and the fabric they selected is absolutely adorable! They were for...
Samuel:
Matthew: And Andrew:
I think they turned out great and I even had enough time to make little bags to keep them in. I've noticed that my little brother could have used something like this to keep his together!
Now I just need to get around to making them for Liam, I'm thinking either his name or the alphabet as it calls for in the original design.
The best projects are for children, they are so much more fun to make and rewarding to watch being used!

Speaking of being back, I'm also back to Work!

2011-10-06T08:33:00.001-04:00

Although NOTHING slowed down around here, I look every day for some "me" time to work on my outstanding projects. Speaking of my outstanding projects, here are a few that seriously need to be worked on. First there in this quilt I have named Pandora (the name speaks for iteself). This quilt needs to be ironed (it has sat around for WAY too long), basted, quilted and bound.
Next here is my fall quilt I started last year and never got the chance to finish, the quilt top is not fully assembled and therefore there is ALOT of work left on this one!
I recently started this quilt, inspired by this quilt and these quilts made by Amanda Jean at crazymomquilts. There is just something about green and pink that I absolutely LOVE!
These bean bags are a lot like the other ones I previously posted and deserve a post all their own, hold tight for further explanation later.
Here is a quickie of Liam's quilt which will absolutely have it's own post to come!Here is a smock I made for my little brother over the summer in anticipation for the start of Kindergarten, it deserves a post of it's own as well! See what did I tell you about my posts' queue, plenty to talk about!And lastly, since I am back to work I have also joined quilting night on Wednesday's at work. We are making a Christmas Tree skirt following this pattern. I really don't have much to post yet since we have only had two meetings so far. This is the centerpeice, and I will tell you that I was very hesitant to cut up my Christmas fabric (I absolutely love it) but I'm sure I will be very glad I did when I finally finish this adorable project. P.S. there's paper-piecing involved... not sure how I feel about that! ;-)

I'm Back!

2011-09-28T14:27:00.009-04:00

OK! Seriously this time, I am going to get back to blogging. At the end of 2010 I had far too much on my emotional dinner plate. In January through April I had tax season to contend with. In May and June I finished getting ready for the arrival of my baby, and finally folks in June the little boy was born; one month early, 6lbs 14.8oz and not a moment too soon.

He is the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me! That said, he is also the busiest! Who knew that being a single mother could be so difficult? Between the diaper changes, nighttime rocking, demanding feeding schedule, reoccurring picture sessions and constant responsibility, I feel as though I haven't had one moment to spare for anything!

I did however manage to complete my son's "puppy" (blanket) as we like to call it in our family as well as some other very small projects. I also managed to get Liam (my son) in for professional pictures and boy did they turn out ADORABLE!

Follow this link to see more of Meredith Austin's amazing work!

To ensure I don't fail this time, I already have some posts sitting in my queue just waiting for me to push the "Publish Post" button! Stay Tuned!

Beanie Bags

2011-04-03T20:39:00.020-04:00

So I have to apologize because I haven't posted in a very long time and my last post was quite sad. I have been through so much lately but I am slowly recovering and that is the important part. So all of life's heartaches aside; I have some really wonderful news! I found out on my birthday (November 13, 2010) that I was pregnant. I am having a baby boy due July 19th, 2011 and I couldn't be more excited. I will be embarking on this beautiful adventure as a single mother and I have faith that with all of my family and friends everything will be just as it should! That said, I have done very little quilting. Between the morning, night and day sickness, the sleepiness and all the first time mother aches and pains; I have had a very difficult time fitting some quality crafting time in. I am trying to do a better job at setting aside time for all those things I enjoy soooo much! I am 24 weeks so I should be far enough along to get some serious quilting done. Tax season is also slowly coming to a close April 18th, so I should have some more free time on my hands before the little one joins us in this big, exciting world. This is a project that I completed before Christmas last year and I just never got around to posting about it. I created beanie bags for my nephew "Logan" and my little brother "Matthew". They were 3 and 4 years old and just beginning to learn and understand their names and the alphabet. I found the tutorial here for the entire alphabet, however I only used the letters they needed for their names. After I gave the beanie bags for Christmas the requests started flowing in. I think they're a great tool for children learning to spell their names. I think Matthew really found it helpful to have the colors go from red to blue, it gives little hints if they get stuck. I used a special stitch that my sewing machine does on the top to sew on the letters, this tutorial uses fusible webbing which I found very easy to use and relatively pain free!

I have now completed three sets of names for three other little boys. I shall post them shortly, until I have something more substantial to occupy my blog. I dragged back out my autumn quilt I had started before my birthday and I am slowly making progress. I need to get going on a baby quilt for my little kicker! I have the perfect fabric backing already picked out, I've had it for quite some time and I absolutely LOVE it!

Thank you everyone for all your wonderful comments and helpful advice, it has meant so much to me. I have learned that with the help of friends and family, I can make it through anything!

Sometimes life is so much bigger than you're ready for!

2010-12-30T15:44:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure these quotes help very much, but I don't think they hurt either:

"When it rains, it pours."
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
"It's better to have loved and lost, then never have loved at all."
"No man is worth your tears, and when you find one that is, he won't make you cry."
"God never gives you more than you can handle."
"That which doesn't kill you will only make you stronger."

I'm sure there are more out there, but these were all I could muster. I have been absent from the blog world for quite a while, November 10th to be exact. I think that is because my life fell apart on November 13th; my birthday! 47 days later and I still lack the appropriate words of wisdom, a healthy view of what happened and the courage and strength to move forward.

There are things in life that dramatically alter the way you think and feel. Things that shake your very core and challenge your existence. Although I am healthy, alive, loved and sheltered I can't help but feel that I suffered a tragedy. I think the worst events are often those that have no real end, no final conclusion and drag on for longer then necessary, keeping the pain always at the forefront of your mind and life.

Through all the hurt, there are bright spots, happy moments, best friends, loving family and compassion. It is these things we have to hold on to and cherish because charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, and pain is temporary. Time will eventually heal the wounds of our heart and patience is the only way to get there.

I promise to try harder the next few weeks to post something inspiring, something crafty, something productive and something kind. I am ready to move forward and with the support of those around me I am positive that I can and will! So, if you have a moment I would ask for your words of advice and encouragement. Without truly knowing what I am going through it can feel like there is no way anything you say will bring me peace, but kind words and thoughtfulness often go further than you can imagine!

To everyone that has read my blog, has offered support, has pushed me forward, or pulled be back, thank you, I really couldn't do it without you!

Wordless Wednesday

2010-11-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

My Very First Mug Rug

2010-11-06T16:40:00.010-04:00

I'm officially addicted and in love... with both hexies and mug rugs.

I love how vibrant my mug rug is!

The colors are not from my traditional palette but they help to spice things up.

I really got into making hexies, I even made different sizes! I have a ton extra, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them.

They got out of hand and I just kept going.

Wouldn't this just make morning coffee that much more enjoyable??

Christmas Quilt

2010-11-05T17:16:00.015-04:00

Is everyone ready for Christmas? Although I've barely started my fall quilt, I am already done with my Christmas quilt.
It makes me want to watch Christmas movies and light up the fireplace. Did you notice that ALL of the stores have Christmas decorations up already? Can you believe that? We haven't even had thanksgiving yet, what about the cornucopias, the turkeys, the pumpkin pie? Are we really ready to give up the oranges, yellows and browns for red and green. Although I'm very happy with this quilt, it's going in the closet until December (where I think it belongs).
This quilt measures 62 x 72 and will serve as a lap quilt during the Christmas season, or whenever I'm feeling particularly blue.
Christmas always seems to make me smile and feel warm and comforted. I used three different types of quilting on this quilt.
The center was stippled using the traditional stipple.
The colored sashing was stippled using a loop technique and around the outside I tried something new.
I think it looks like Christmas lights all around the outside of the quilt.
I once had curtains that I had made out of the binding fabric. When we moved last year I decided to cut up my curtains and recycle the fabric.
Needless to say I have a lot more where this came from!
I just love the way quilts look all rolled up, it's so fun and warm looking.
I can't wait to use this quilt next to my Christmas tree!

Hexies

2010-11-03T21:35:00.004-04:00

I think I may be addicted... they are so cute and adorable!

I am in to all things trendy.

Maybe next I'll make a mug rug!

Another Baby Quilt

2010-11-02T18:33:00.016-04:00

Last weekend I did a lot of quilting and therefore I finished this pretty little thing. I'm having a difficult time coming up with a name for it. Hmmm... yup, my mind is still completely blank!

This quilt measures 41" x 55" and will make a gorgeous baby crib quilt.

One of the best things about this quilt is that it was made of mostly all scraps and completely of stash, not one fabric was purchased too recently. All of the white zig zags were pieced and are made up of different fabrics, I think it makes it look way more scrappy and quilt-like if that makes any sense.

I do enjoy when things are uniform, but sometimes I also enjoy a little variety.

I think these bunny rabbits are absolutely adorable, perfect theme for a baby quilt.

Don't even get me started on the binding, I really love the color, I think it makes the quilt that much more special.

This quilt has been washed and packaged and is off to its intended recipient. Currently the only quilts in my WIP list are for me... how exciting. I'm not sure that has EVER happened!

I was also able to quilt this Christmas quilt last weekend. I took a fairly large chunk out of my to-do list, quilting 2 quilts. I know what you're thinking; "It's too early for Christmas talk." Well, then I won't tell you that I watched The Grinch That Stole Christmas the other day, because you might think I'm crazy... (or I just really love the holidays)!

I saw soooo many pretty decorations for Halloween and fall. I love the colors, all of the oranges and reds, so fun and bright. We only had 13 trick-or-treaters, but I had a blast giving out candy with my husband. Halloween is such a fun time, and now we have enough candy to last quite a while!

Waste Not

2010-10-26T08:11:00.002-04:00

Have I mentioned that I LOVE Amanda Jean's "No Triangle Zig Zag Quilt Method"! I'm not really a huge fan of triangles, so this works perfect for me! The only problem I seem to have is that I end up wasting the outside scrap triangles. As you can see in the picture below, there are triangles along the outside of the quilt that are cut off from the edge of the quilt. These triangles usually do not contain enough fabric to be saved for scraps. However, I no longer have that complaint!
This time, by combining 4 scrap triangles into one block I was able to save the scraps that were cut from the quilt and create the beautiful squares shown below:

Aren't they all so pretty? They are a miniature replica of the color palette used in the original quilt. Now I just need to figure out what to do with them? Pillow? Quilt with other random blocks/colors in it? Doll Quilt? Stuffed cube, child's toy? Table runner? Potholders? Purse? Cat bed?

I really have no idea! It just so happens that there are only 7 of them (I'm not a huge fan of odd numbered items, so difficult to use without wasting something)... Such a dilemma! Any ideas?

Weekend Purchases

2010-10-25T18:30:00.008-04:00

There is something about remnants that I just can't ignore. I love them, I buy them whenever I find them, no matter how different, interesting, unique, colorful or dull. I have a true love-affair with fabric and I'm ok with it!

I love Remnants because they are:

1. usually 50% off,

2. just enough fabric without being too much,

3. usually something I wouldn't normally buy,

4. and always leftovers of what someone else thought was pretty or useful.

For all of those reasons they make a perfect addition to my stash!

Remember my last fabric purchase? I bought nearly 19 yards, this time, I've expanded to 23. I just can't help myself, I found the only fabric shop in the country where NO ONE goes there to buy remnants. I can literally just venture there once a month and walk out with over 30 100% cotton 1/2 yard pieces of fabric half-price.

So I purchased these...

and these...

and then fell in love with this fabric...

So I bought fabric inspired by it, to make a fall quilt around it.

Now that all the fabric is washed, dried, ironed and folded it can be put away and I can concentrate on more important things; like cutting into my new fall fabric and making a fabulously festive quilt!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-23T10:18:00.016-04:00

Last year I purchased some Halloween fabric and never got the chance to use it. So this year I put it to good use. Since I'm not sure I would get a lot of enjoyment out of a Halloween quilt, since it can only be used for about a week, I decided to make a bag/purse!
I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out! I love it so much, I gave it away. What can I say, it's my nature. I get more satisfaction out of something, by gifting it to someone else than keeping it! I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I really like this bag.

Complete with a Candy Corn inside, did I mention it is reversible? Upon completion Kevin and I sat around pondering what to do with a Halloween bag... to make a long story short, there isn't a lot of options aside from the obvious; using it for a week as your purse and storing it away until the following year.

However, if you happen to be taking little children Trick-or-Treating this would be a perfect (fashionable) item to carry all those necessary items around in. Like the extra hats and mittens kids so often discard while running door to door. Or the candy kids like to keep out of their candy bucket to pretend they don't have a lot (I always found people gave me more when my bucket looked more empty). Or to hold a purse which is now conveniently hidden in a festive, handcrafted bag. As I don't have any children, I thought of someone that did and shipped it off immediately to my sister-in-law! Shhhh, she doesn't know it's in the mail yet...

I'd like to think that Daisy was sad to see it go!

And Pepe too, who found it quite comfortable.

This is a process photo, I really don't use a pattern, or a guide, I just start sewing, cutting, assembling and pray for the best. It usually turns out pretty well.

I tried a new type of stipple, on the inside, just to be safe. I'm not that crazy about it. It might be because I've worked VERY hard at being fluid with my stippling and this doesn't require that technique at all, or because it reminds me of Frankenstein's bolts in his neck. Either way, I went back to traditional stippling on the outside.

Luckily this stipple wasn't that visible on the Candy Corns and actually looks kind of cute when not viewed on the batting.

I also made my first tag for this quilt, I was quite pleased with the way it turned out. It's not permanent, but at least it will get my blog out there for people to see.

And this ladies and gentlemen, is what happens when you "live" where you quilt. This folks, is "Life" not to be confused with "Neglect" (I really do love my quilting projects, I just also live with my husband, a cat, and a dog!) So perhaps, later on today, I will try to fix what Life has messed up and begin to sew these pieces together so Life cannot mess with them again.

Do your quilting projects ever get like this?

Dish Towel

2010-10-21T18:48:00.005-04:00

I finished my first dish towel. It is knit from 100% cotton yarn and it feels quite cozy. I had no idea how big to make it, it started off as a wash cloth and turned into a dish towel. Oh well, I do love the colors!

Secretly, I think Daisy does too! Although, don't be fooled, she's not gazing into my eyes, that's a treat I'm holding behind the camera, that she's watching so intently.

And the progress of my zig zag baby quilt...

Any name suggestions??? So far, I can't seem to come up with anything.

Quilting Update

2010-10-19T22:23:00.011-04:00

I have been quite productive lately. I was in another wedding two weeks ago...

And I have found time to quilt. I am currently working on a quilt in the beginning stages, just barely cut and sewn together, still in need of lots of ironing, assembling and a proper back.

This quilt will eventually be ANOTHER baby quilt. It will be a zig zag quilt with no triangles, my favorite type. I have come to realize that all of my friends are either getting married or having a baby, and it seems to be happening all at once. I suppose I will just keep going on my baby quilt extravaganza, after this one I don't believe there's another one in my near future, not that I know of at least!

I love zig zag quilts, they are so quick and a great scrap reducer!I also have a Christmas quilt in process that has been basted and is waiting to be quilted. I haven't decided the type of quilting I am going to use yet.And lastly, there is another quilt top hiding in my spare bedroom that is completely assembled and in need of some serious ironing and a VERY large quilt back. This quilt has been in process for over three years!!! It will be such a relief to finally be finished.

These are the only quilts in my quilting queue and it feels like quite a bit. Then I look at all of your WIPs and boy do they look overwhelming. I'm not even sure I could have more than 4-5 quilts in process, I get too excited. I find that I need to finish them immediately OR someone gets married or pops out a baby and I'm rushing to meet the impending deadline.

Either way, I can't wait to start another quilt, but only one. I don't think I'm ready for a WIP list 20 items long! Not yet at least.

Party Dress

2010-10-06T19:07:00.014-04:00

Now this quilt was definitely harder than I originally thought it would be. I try to keep baby quilts relatively simple, because:

A. the quilt is likely to get dirty,

B. there's not a lot of room to work with since it is so small, and

C. they can't really appreciate the time and effort it takes to make a quilt for at least another 20 years.

That said, I just can't help but complicate my life sometimes. I have been wanting to try a Bento Box pattern for quite some time and just never have the right moment.

So I figured, why not on my friend Jess's baby quilt. First off, let me start by saying the quilt turned out beautifully and is definitely a piece of art. I am so thankful it was Jess I got to make it for, but boy was it time consuming. Some of those pieces are less than an inch wide and there are 48 teenie tiny completed Bento Boxes.

I feel like the white sashing definitely helped to open up the quilt. Some of the fabric was busy and therefore it needed a lot of white to give it the clean fresh feeling.

I love how my friend Jess decided to go with a Zebra print in the baby room. It is absolutely a fun theme to work with, it really opens up the possibilities.

This was my first pink baby girl quilt. I have made many quilts for baby boys, twin baby boys and little boys. This quilt had me feeling the adorable little girl vibe. I am so jealous that Jess will soon have a little baby girl to dress up in pretty little pink dresses and frilly shirts. Leah is going to be absolutely adorable Jessica!

This quilt measured approximately 48" x 64", slightly larger than a crib quilt but hopefully one she will have for years to come. I might be in love with the Zebra print back, it is priceless.

I had the name picked out before the quilt was even finished, it just came to me and I think it fits perfectly. It reminds me of one of those adorable black and pink cocktail dresses that only a girl under the age of 16 can wear... oh the days!

If it wasn't pouring outside the entire week before I wrapped up the quilt I might have been able to take some prettier more vibrant pictures. Perhaps I can persuade Momma Jess to take some when Leah arrives! So exciting!

Can I Get Another Word Please?

2010-10-04T17:14:00.011-04:00

I know, I know, you are sick and tired of hearing the words "I'm busy!" But honest, I am! I only have 2 more weekends of craziness and then I will be able to resume my usual quilting obsession. This isn't to say I haven't accomplished much because indeed I have done quite a bit of quilting. I was just unable to share any with you because the projects were either for someone who might read my blog or the quilts were slightly incomplete. I like things to be a surprise.

So after my anniversary weekend I attended a wine tour with some very lovely ladies.

And boy did we have a blast!

And even more fun, this is the bday girl.

And a tad more fun.

Then last weekend I threw a baby shower with my friend Sarah for one of our best friends Jessica. She has got to be the most adorable pregnant woman I have ever laid eyes on!

Right?

This is the bento box quilt I made for her and baby Leah Nicole!

I have named the quilt Party Dress and I will post additional pictures at some point. This is a pic of the back, the theme of her baby room is zebra print, I was very very excited to give this quilt to her!

Next weekend I am in another wedding in Albany then I travel to northern NY the following weekend for my brother's birthday. After that, I am proud to say that I have nothing planned and I am looking forward to a little R&R.

Still Busy

2010-09-13T18:22:00.009-04:00

As the summer winds down my weekends definitely haven't. My husband and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary on the 5th of September. We had a wonderful time although I spent very little time doing anything crafty.

So this last weekend I buckled down and tried really hard, well sort of. My intentions were pure, my enthusiasm was present, my thoughts were in order... but so were my friends! And therefore, I accomplished very little aside from eating pizza, watching football and hanging out.

To continue the fun, today was my first day of work at a new job!

So, despite all the events I've attended and the very little bit of quilting I have done, I did manage to go fabric shopping. I guess you can say I had a little bit of pent up shopping energy.

I found some really pretty seasonal fabric.

And a bit more and some pink.

And some very adorable black, grey and white numbers.

As well as some very pretty blue and green fabric.

Now, the only problem is finding something to make.

I saw these in a store while I was on vacation, I thought they were absolutely adorable! I'm pretty sure I could make these, no problem.

I have also received a request for some superman inspired quilts for twin boys. I believe they are around 2-3 years old. I went shopping the other day for some superman fabric and this was the only pattern I could find, not in flannel. It seemed a bit violent for the recipients, or maybe it's just me?

I was hoping for something with a little less fighting going on, I feel like this is gang superman fabric with the graffiti lettering and such... the search continues!

If you find any please send me the links, I'm looking for something a little bit more adorable than the above!

Tis that Time

2010-08-31T18:29:00.007-04:00

I feel like my summer has flown by. If I wasn't attending a wedding, I was thinking about what to wear to one, buying clothes for the many showers and parties, sorting through gift registries, painting nails, doing hair, traveling or taking pictures.

My husband's sister was married this weekend and it was a flury of relatives, friends, events and excitement. I am happy to say the wedding was absolutely gorgeous and everyone had a great time.

I am however sad to say I have done VERY little quilting. I found it difficult to devote even a moment to my fabulous fabric addiction with all the cleaning and entertaining I have been doing recently. To top it all off I am happy to report I quit my job last week and I will be starting my new job in a few weeks time. I am very excited about this, it was a much needed change.

Needless to say, it has been a hectic month for sure!

And since I will be leaving for vacation tomorrow and will not return until after labor day, I figured I would leave you with at least a little something quilting related.

Above is my attempt at sewing together one of my WIPs. Pepe always enjoys helping me quilt, she is always ready to lend a hand in anything and is very eager to assist when comfy strips need wrinkling. She will always find the most inconvenient place to sleep, and therein lies one of the many reasons why I love her!

Basting Tutorial

2010-08-22T19:30:00.003-04:00

One of the most important and labor intensive steps in creating a quilt is the basting process. Although your quilting could very well not turn out perfect regardless, without a properly basted quilt, it definitely will not be what you had hoped for.

Basting is the process of aligning the top, bottom and middle (batting) of a quilt together so the quilt can be "quilted". (This entire process can be ignored if you will be sending your quilt to a long-arm quilter - lucky you!)

The first step in basting is to select the appropriate materials:

1. Quilt Top - All seams should be ironed to one side or open. The quilt top should be square and should be even enough to lay flat.

2. Quilt Back - If your Quilt Back is pieced (i.e. not a solid piece of fabric) you should iron your seams as you did with the quilt top and consider marking the center of each side of the quilt back and front with a pin. This will allow you to match up the top and bottom and ensure the piecing doesn't turn out crooked. If this is your first time basting, this technique might also help you put the quilt together straight. Your Quilt Back should be about 2 to 4 inches bigger on each side than the Quilt Front.

3. Quilt Middle (Batting) - As I use only 100% cotton fabrics in my quilts I also prefer to use 100% cotton batting. My batting of choice is Warm and White. When I first started quilting I used a polyester fill which I later found out was better suited for hand quilting. Although the quilts I made turned out just fine, there were puckers in the back and it was absolutely more difficult to work with. Your batting should be about the same size as your Quilt Back, maybe slightly smaller so you can see all of the layers when they are stacked in the quilt sandwich.

4. Basting Pins - Although average safety pins will work just fine, they make special curved pins especially for basting and boy do they work! Depending on the size of the quilt anywhere from 200-300 safety pins should suffice.
5. Crochet Needle or similar instrument - This is used to close the safety pins. Laugh now, but after 200 or so pins your fingers will become quite sore and you will wish you had listened.
6. Packing Tape - To hold the Quilt Back securely in place some people use masking, duct, electrical or painters tape. Use what you are most comfortable with or what you have on hand.
7. A spot to baste on (tile, linoleum, cement, hard surface) - Ideally this space should be large enough for the entire quilt. Basting half a quilt at a time is not only difficult but could also lead to inaccuracies or a mismatched Quilt Back. Be careful if you're working on a linoleum floor as the pins could dig into the floor. I don't mention wood in my list of approved surfaces because I just wouldn't want to put pin holes in your expensive wood floor. As I progress I find I don't hit the floor very often. As a beginner, I really scraped to get through the three layers. I suggest tile if available.
And we begin:

Lay out your Quilt Back on the floor good side facing down. Pulling the Quilt Back tight but not stretching the fabric tape down the corners. I typically will put 1-3 pieces of tape on the sides of the quilt as well so it lays perfectly flat.
Next, lay the batting on top of the Quilt Back. Smooth out any ripples starting in the center moving towards the outside edges. This is my favorite thing about cotton batting, it will lay perfectly smooth.
Next center you Quilt Top on top of the batting good side facing up. Match up the center pins now if you used them. Smooth out any ripples again starting with the center of the quilt moving to the outside.
As you will notice my batting is not as large as my Quilt Back and is barely as large as my Quilt Top. Do as I say, not as I do! This was leftover batting and it just happened to be the right size, just barely!

If you used any light colored fabric in your quilt, then now would be the time to make sure you can't see any loose dark threads through the light fabric. If you can, lift up that portion of the Quilt Top and remove it. Once you baste the quilt it becomes more difficult.
Next I start on one corner of the quilt and make my way around the quilt. I put a safety pin about every 4" making sure to go through all three layers of the quilt sandwich. I stagger the pins to create more coverage. Remember to keep in mind the type of quilting you will be doing. If you will be quilting near the seams put the pins in the center of the blocks. The more pins, the more stable your quilt sandwich, too many pins and you may have a difficult time finding a free spot to quilt.
In addition, I always put pins around the outside of the quilt, you don't want the excess fabric getting in the way.
Once complete, stand back and admire your handiwork. You might even consider a back massage or hot bath, this is far more work than it appears. Once fully rested, rip up that tape and begin quilting!

Playdate

2010-08-16T17:29:00.000-04:00

This might be one of my favorite quilts ever! I love the colors, fabrics, pattern, quilting and sashing. I love it all!
This quilt measures 45" x 58" a good size for a crib. I used a fairly large stipple therefore the quilting took no time at all. I went with a scrappy binding, solid back and random front block placement. For the first time ever I feel that the blocks are truly random, and it feels GREAT!

My little helpers definitely chipped in where appropriate! Pepe made sure to get right in the way while I was quilting...
And binding...

And Daisy helped out too!
I think they both get very jealous of the amount of time I spend quilting. The entire time I am making one Daisy runs around trying to lay on it (at least she has the right idea).

I will be sending this quilt off to its owner (an unborn baby boy) and I will miss it dearly. I have given a lot of thought into making myself a larger version! I really LOVE it so much and I'm sure they will too!

Sometimes I feel as though every time I make a quilt I have to learn how to stipple, baste and bind all over again. It would be great if I had a reference somewhere I could quickly look to when I got confused (which happens pretty often). In addition, I have a lot of family and friends that read my blog with little quilting knowledge.

So I've decided that over the next week I'm going to attempt to explain the basting and binding process and possibly create some nice tutorials along the way.
Aside from being a good reference point for me this will also solve a lot of those "how do you make a quilt questions?" So as I finished this quilt I stopped to consider "how" I was finishing it.
I was lucky enough to have someone teach me some of these techniques first hand, other bits I learned from reading blogs and looking through books. So my hope is that my tutorials can help someone else learn to quilt and along the way teach them the many joys of my favorite crafting project.

Do You Knit?

2010-08-12T20:26:00.023-04:00

We will take a break from the quilting blogosphere to talk briefly about knitting.

I have found most quilters dabble with their ability to knit or crochet. A lot of quilters originally tested the crafting waters with knitting or crocheting as they were too young to use or own a sewing machine.

Although I find quilting to be far more fun, and faster too; I decided to devote a little part of my world to the great knitters in my life.

One of the most talented knitters I have ever met is my husband's grandmother. She creates absolutely amazing pieces of art! This is an afghan she made us for Christmas a few years ago by special request.

And here is one she made for my husband as a child.

I have quite a few afghans lying around the house from various family members. I have one made by my Aunt:

One from my Great-Aunt:

And another from my Uncle:

So I thought I would give it a try myself. I've been knitting scarves for quite some time, simple knits and pearls, nothing fancy.

I created this scarf using a ladder as my muse:
From there I inspired myself to create my first afghan using the same technique. It has a checkered design, knit 10, pearl 10 and I started it about 2 years ago. The amount of time and concentration required to knit one throw blanket is immense, it makes me really appreciate quilting and my sewing machine!I won't even tell you how long it takes me to get from one side of this afghan to the other! Regardless I continue to knit day after day, you know why? Because hard, labor-intensive work builds character, or at least that's what I tell myself!

Here is another project I started quite some time ago. I used fabrics I was not that found of, cut them into strips and started to knit them together into a rug. Although this is pretty difficult and quite a waste of fabric, I find the finished product really adorable. Now I just have to keep going and finish this thing!

What crafting projects do you struggle with?

I've Been Busy

2010-08-06T12:49:00.007-04:00

I've been busy cutting, ironing and sewing, and therefore I have not been diligent about posting my progress. I don't think I've mentioned it, but when I quilt I am deep in thought. Sometimes, I don't even do anything but sit, make notes on a piece of paper, and contemplate my finished product.

There is a lot of math calculations and planning that goes into a quilt, it's not all fabric and fun. I mean it is to me, but to the outsider looking in; it's difficult!
In the picture above there is a lot of planning, cutting, staring and thinking going on.

And finally, the less difficult part of quilting begins, after all the pieces are cut!Here is another quilt that has been taking up my time. I started it about a month ago when I saw this post.

I had the colors all picked out for a few months, ever since I bought that patterned center fabric. It's one of those inspirational fabrics that makes you want to design a quilt around it. And lucky me, Amandajean already had, in the exact color scheme I was looking for.

And as I begin to baste, Pepe takes a seat to watch.

Yardsale

2010-08-04T20:43:00.006-04:00

Don't you just love yardsales? I absolutely do! Most of the time there is nothing worth the dollar, but then sometimes you get REALLY lucky!

Last weekend I went to five yardsales, they were all horrible. Everything was overpriced and far from good condition, so I finally gave up searching and went home. Then to my surprise, my next door neighbor was having a yard sale and the deals were phenomenal!

I got this chair for $3, it can easily be recovered if necessary or left as is, I LOVE the polka dots!
For some reason, Daisy doesn't like to be left out of a photo opportunity.

I know you're asking, "Do I have kids?" Nope, but maybe someday, so in the interim this will sit in my closet. $3 is $3 whether you have a child or not. Besides, my cat does think it is a fun place to sleep.

Did I mention that it's a rocking chair... soooo cute!

And last, since this is a quilting blog, I found a sewing machine. It is not in pristine condition, but absolutely worth $5. I turned it on, it works beautifully and comes with a few different feet.

I will probably use this when guests come over and we have duel crafting projects, I can think of a few times when this would have been handy to have around the house. It did not come with a manual so it's a good thing I'm mechanically inclined, seems to work a lot like my Kenmore.

Yes, there were other purchases as well. I also purchased some life jackets for a dollar a piece in pretty good condition. We have a boat, which I often refer to as the "bucket of aluminum" in our garage, lol.

Overall, the best $12 I've spent in a long time!

Scraps

2010-07-29T06:29:00.007-04:00

Seeing all of these scraps give-aways makes me want to at least be useful with mine. So I decided to use some scraps and make a blue potholder. Although this used far more scraps then I expected, it obviously didn't use nearly enough. I guess I'm going to have to make some kind of spiderweb quilt or something! Or i could continue to make hundreds of potholders and give them out as Christmas gifts, just kidding! lol
I've always felt very different towards scraps. Like when do you have enough? Should I start using them now? Or do I wait until the variations between my scraps is much greater?
This potholder didn't use that many so I'm not really concerned yet. But do I have enough for a quilt... perhaps not.
For the longest time I only quilted in country pattern fabric so my scraps are not as fun or colorful as they could be. Then again, neither is my stash, we're working on it. The fabric I buy in bright colors for baby quilts has definitely been helping! One purchase at a time.

How to Make a Yo-Yo

2010-07-27T06:40:00.001-04:00

Start by deciding how big you want your finished Yo-Yo to be. Then create or find a circle approximately 2.5 times that size in diameter. Ex. For a finished Yo-Yo of 2", you will need a 5" circle (2" x 2.5 = 5").
I have found that an old cd works perfect as a Yo-Yo template.
Next, choose your fabric. You can make a Yo-Yo out of nearly any fabric (as they did initially with old clothes). However, light weight fabric makes the best Yo-Yo's because it bunches in the center more easily and creates a flat Yo-Yo. (All you fabric lovers out there had no idea Joann's fabric was often better for Yo-Yo making because of it's light-weight!)
Trace a few circles onto the fabric using fabric pens or pencils.
Next, cut out the circles.You will need a needle and thread that matches your fabric.

Thread the needle with 12"of thread and tie a knot in the end. If you have thicker, more durable thread or wish to double up the thread it will create a more lasting Yo-Yo. I typically use double thread.
Next start with the fabric circle facing good side down. About an 1/8th of an inch from the side stitch through the fabric and pull the knot tight on the inside if the fabric.
Fold over the side of the circle about 1/4" so your stitch is coming out of the fabric facing you and going back through the two pieces of fabric stitch again away from you.
Continue all the way around the circle, folding over the side and stitching up and down about 1/4" apart. Consistency is more important than the actual length. Too far apart or close and you could end up with a mountain in the center or a large center whole.
Once you're back to the start, holding the fabric close to your last stitch, pull the thread so the circle bunches in the middle (good side of fabric facing out).
Tie a few knots securing the thread to your desired scrunch. Again, the actual tightness doesn't matter as much as the consistency with all of your Yo-Yo's.
Clip the thread and push the Yo-Yo flat, I've seen some people flatten them with an iron.
Last, tie another knot in the thread and start again with a new fabric circle. Another 1,399 Yo-Yo's to go! (If you're making a coverlet)

Yo-Yo

2010-07-26T07:30:00.001-04:00

Per wikipedia, "The Yo-Yo is a popular toy consisting of a length of string tied at one end to a flat spool. It is played by holding the free end of the string and pulling..." Wait, wait, wait, wrong Yo-Yo... Now those are the right ones!

The history of Yo-Yo's started somewhere between 1920 and 1940, or at least that is time period of their popularity. Which, interestingly enough, also corresponds with the US popularity of the modern day Yo-Yo toy (1930's and 1940's). Fabric Yo-Yo's are also called "Suffolk Puffs", "Pom Poms" or "Rosettes".
I believe that you rarely notice things in life until you have an experience or reason for noticing them. Like when you buy a new car; then you see that exact make and model everywhere! Did everyone, all of a sudden, run out and buy that specific car? Or perhaps, did you just not notice them before your purchase?
The same situation holds true for me and Yo-Yo's. I don't believe I'd ever seen a Yo-Yo until Spring of 2006 when I visited my in-laws house and was met by this most beautiful quilt!
Within a few years I saw it mentioned in a blog somewhere and for the first time, my fabric circle quilt had a name... "Yo-Yo"! And suddenly, I saw them everywhere; tutorials, online, and in blogs!In December of 2009 I decided I was going to make a Yo-Yo quilt, quite an undertaking if you consider the above quilt was made from roughly 1,400 Yo-Yo's. I thought 4 a day would be enough to finish the quilt in a year and then I could spend the following year assembling the monstrosity!

In January or February of 2010 I saw a quilt with Yo-Yo's stitched into it on the front cover of an LLBean catalog, followed by a pillowcase in Bed, Bath & Beyond with the same idea.
Were Yo-Yo's returning to popularity like leg warmers or retro shirts? In July 2010 there are hundreds of tutorials and many projects that incorporate those little round objects into their designs (see Oopsie the Octopus or this Pillow) and many of which are being commercially made .
Well let's just say I have somewhere around 400 Yo-Yo's complete, that's not 1,400, but nothing to shrug at either! The hardest part is separating the scraps I have used from the colors I haven't! In addition, my mother-in-law, inspired by the antique quilt and with a little help from her daughter-in-law also embarked on the Yo-Yo challenge. Her Yo-Yo template is about double the size of mine and therefore should make the process a little faster!

Below are some more photos of this quilt. It is my understanding this quilt was made sometime around 1940 by my husband's paternal great-grandmother and her friends. It is made with scraps of old clothes and serves as a coverlet for a full bed.
Little did they know how much this quilt would someday be cherished!

Yo-Yo tutorial to follow...

Camping

2010-07-25T18:31:00.009-04:00

We just got back today from a 4 day camping trip...
and boy was it exhausting...
A little bit of rain...
A little bit of sun...
A little bit of humidity...
and a lot of wet dog!
I think we're all happy to be home and ready to quilt, well at least I am!
Laundry, here I come!

A Wedding Gift

2010-07-20T06:14:00.009-04:00

Speaking of quilts made for wedding presents, here is one that my husband and I received for our wedding. It was made by one of my very good friend's mother. She is an avid quilter with a long-arm quilting machine. The detail in this quilt is absolutely beautiful. All of the little pieces make my head spin and remind me how new I am to quilting, and that I am still an amateur with a lot to learn. She did the colors in black and white because that was the theme of our wedding.

She originally designed the quilt to be taken to the wedding for everyone to sign with best wishes for the bride and groom. My mother and I couldn't bare to let people write on this amazing work of art. Besides, could they really have something important enough to write on this masterpiece.

Last time I visited I believe she was saying she taught a class on this quilt. She is definitely an inspiration to me! In order to complete the quilts I made for my mother and mother-in-law in time for the wedding, she taught me how to use her long-arm and helped me to finish both of the quilts (Brisk Breeze and Nature's Nine Patch). They both turned out beautifully! It's so nice to have someone who will take the time to teach you, so rare in this world.

This is where everyone was supposed to sign... no way!! Too gorgeous!

And the quilting was phenomenal, so perfect for the occasion. Daisy thought she would get into the photo opportunity as well, she's tired. "Please mom, sit still and put your camera away so I can go to sleep!"

...And my next project, I'm keeping the design for this one a secret until it is unveiled.
I have the quilt top and bottom complete, I need to iron, baste, quilt and bind and I will be done. That actually sounds like quite a bit, perhaps I should start another in the interim, two projects at once hardly seems like a challenge.

Purchases!

2010-07-14T07:21:00.006-04:00

In anticipation of amandajean's quilt along (I'm way behind) and the next quilt I am making I needed to purchase more batting and sashing materials. In addition, I found some fat quarters I couldn't live without! The yellow and white are remnants, and the orange was a color I realized I didn't have in my stash... no orange, how sad! I have found that I am not drawn to either orange or purple, I need to work on my fabric selection in the future.
Here is a close up of the top fabric, I thought it was absolutely adorable, I would have bought more but they only had it in a fat quarter. Soooo cute!

I bought an entire bolt of Kona Cotton White, I have a feeling this won't last me much more than 2-3 quilts, I tend to enjoy the use of crisp white sashing (really opens up my quilts). I also purchased some more Coats Cotton quilting thread in Natural... I find this thread is best for quilting. The color blends very well with most colors.

I had a 50% coupon for Joann's and therefore purchased 10 yards of Warm and White batting. I haven't yet got up the courage to purchase an entire bolt (40 yards). Although I know I will never stop quilting, a tiny voice in my head says, "but what would you do with 40 yards?" For now I will stick to 10 and frequent Joann's until I can get up the courage to purchase 20 yards, we will work our way to 40.
All fabric is washed, ironed, folded and put away (yes, all 8 yards of the Kona Cotton too), perhaps a sneak peak at my stash will be warranted eventually!

Nautical Stripe

2010-07-13T07:15:00.008-04:00

I finished up the binding for this quilt in the car on the way to the shower. That's what I love about small baby quilts, they take no time at all and the binding is a breeze. The couple I made this for just had a baby last month and according to their registry, they are using a nautical theme for the baby's room! Nautical Stripe measures 42" x 52" and is the perfect size for a stroller, car trip or to pack in a diaper bag!
I couldn't help myself, I had to make the back with pretty baby fabric, you only get to use it so often. I'd say this quilt is reversible, nautical when in the bedroom then flip it over for some fun baby colors!

For the quilting I used a back and forth stipple I will call the "wave stipple". I like how the quilting looks on the strips, this is one of my more favorite quilting techniques.

And a close up of the back! Yes between all the adorable elephants, turtles, giraffes, lions, kittens, chicks and blocks the fabric does say "cute as a button!"

I believe I am going to send this quilt out some time this week! As the recipients are the relatives of some very close friends, I am still waiting on the address! Below is a picture of the quilting process, quilt is basted and waiting for me to flip the switch on my sewing machine and start quilting. Again I used A LOT of safety pins for basting, it really does make quilting that much easier! (I bet next you're going to ask where we eat, as I'm obviously quilting on the dining room table! My husband often asks that same question, one of the joys of living in an apartment!)

I have a few more quilts in the works but haven't been that motivated lately to really dig in and start my next big project. I think I'm deadline driven, I find it so much easier to dedicate my time to a quilt when a deadline is fast approaching. I think that's because I can put it in front of exercise, cleaning or cooking if it "has to get done soon!" Perhaps I'll start on a few more of the baby quilts I have in my quilting queue! Talk about a solid deadline!

Busy Weekend

2010-07-12T21:10:00.008-04:00

We just got back yesterday from my sister-in-law's bridal shower, everything was very beautiful. Although quite hot, the weather cooperated most of the day and everyone had a great time!

Below is the grand opening of the monster quilt. Everyone seemed quite pleased, as did the bride! She saved the best gift for last! ;-)

And my nephew opened his quilt as well! The moment it was on the ground he pounced immediately upon it. He knew exactly whose picture was on the quilt and seemed extremely thrilled, as did his mother!

In addition I finished another baby quilt and was able to take some pictures of a quilt I made last year for my mother-in-law (a gift from me to her at my wedding) as well as a picture of a special quilt made by my husband's great-grandmother and her friends sometime around 1940.

Pictures to come shortly!!! Don't worry!

Kermit

2010-07-08T05:55:00.010-04:00

My first "Film Strip" quilt finished, and it is beautiful! I love the vibrant colors and little Kermit displays, for the first time EVER I wouldn't change A THING about this quilt, I think it's perfect. I hope my nephew enjoys sleeping under it as much as I enjoyed making it.

As I haven't gone home to my parents in a while, I was forced to baste this quilt on my kitchen floor. As you can see, my kitchen floor is rather small and therefore difficult to baste a Full size quilt so I had to baste half of it at a time. This is the second half:

I used 390 saftey pins on this quilt, more even than the King quilt and I LOVED it. It made the quilting process soooooo easy and I would do it again in a heartbeat!

As you can see I used a different stipple technique for this quilt. I'm not sure what its technical name is so we'll go with the "loop" stipple. This might be my favorite kind of stippling, I also used it for the quilt "Sunny Day".

This quilt is so vibrant, it's bound to be a perfect birthday gift for a three year-old.

I LOVE the back and binding too! It was just so much fun!

This quilt measures 88''x64'' and should fit a Full bed quite nicely. After I took the pictures I washed and dried the quilt creating lots of puckery goodness! Both "Kermit" and "Frames" are wrapped and packed and will be delivered to their recipients this weekend. Wish me luck!

Frames

2010-07-05T14:04:00.008-04:00

Finally finished with "Frames" and oh so excited. This is the King size quilt I was making for my sister-in-law and her future husband for their wedding shower on July 10th. Could not have finished it a day sooner! Boy that took a long time to cut, sew, piece, iron, baste, quilt and bind! And I think I might stay away from beige for a little while. I've definitely had my fill! I think it turned out very nice, almost has a vintage look to it.

This is my favorite picture of the quilt (below). Little can you tell it's 90 degrees out today which makes picture taking both perfect with the sun and painful with the heat!

I used a scrappy binding, I think it gives it a little bit extra color!

Here's a picture of the back so maybe you can see the quilting a little bit better. I stippled the inside, and border and stitched straight lines around the larger blocks. I am quite pleased with the way everything turned out!

This quilt measures 106'' x 94'', the perfect size for a King mattress with a pillowtop! The largest quilt I have ever made and probably will ever make again! No large disasters, or even small disasters for that matter, just very exhausting! So excited to be done, I hope the bride and groom love the way it turned out!

Quilt Along

2010-06-30T16:17:00.004-04:00

I am considering becoming a late joiner to amandajean's quilt along found at (crazymomquilts). I can't decide whether or not to keep or toss the yellow/beige and whether or not to consider a few light blue fabrics.

Thoughts? I have been wanting a pink and green quilt for quite some time, I am even debating pulling those bottom three greens as they have a blueish hue to them.

In addition I think I'm going to change the dimensions of the quilt a bit to fit a Full/Queen bed as those are currently the only beds I have in the house. This will be the first quilt started for me, intended for me, and finished for me by me (or so she thought)!

And I can breathe again...

2010-06-29T17:31:00.003-04:00

I am officially done stippling/quilting the beige quilt (eventually I'm going to need to start naming them). I have attached the binding and I am slowly making my way around the outside. I would say I'm about half way there.

All you get is a glimpse. When it's done and washed I'll post another picture!

That said, true to form I've already started seriously working on another quilt! I say seriously because I am always quilting, but not always with the same intensity. This one is for my one and only nephew! How exciting, I love that his mother did his room in primary colors and that his favorite character is Kermit (the fabric is adorable), makes the quilt so much more fun to create, especially after all that beige!

These are my plans and the fabric I am using for the back of the quilt. His father is a fireman, so I think the fire trucks are priceless! And who wouldn't love the green polkadots I'm using for the binding. I am so excited to finish this quilt!

This pattern is called Film Strip, I saw it on amandajean's website (crazymomquilts), although I modified it slightly to include Kermit as the main attraction! Close up...

Well I just got back from taking my dog Daisy to the vet, turns out she has an ear infection. Never a dull moment and time for dinner!

First Post Ever!!!!

2010-06-23T18:39:00.003-04:00

Can I start off by saying how incredibly excited I am to be starting my own blog, I have been dreaming about this for years, and I'm finally doing it! I am currently in the middle of 4 quilts, numbers 14, 15, 16 & 17, which is completely normal for me! (See my "Completed Quilts Page")

Currently the largest task on my mind is the enormous King Beige Quilt I am making by special request. Beige is not the easiest, most-forgiving or prettiest of colors, and therefore, this quilt might be one of the hardest quilts I have EVER made.

Last Saturday I basted the monster on my Mother's basement floor (I could find no other space large enough for such a task)!

Tell me, what do you think? Too much beige? Or did I make it work?

I used roughly 288 safety pins!!!!!

I am now proceeding to quilt it, I am starting off with straight lines, sewing about 1/4'' on the inside and outside of each side of each row and column. Upon completion I am going to stipple the inside squares and stipple the border. Any thoughts? Suggestions? I am thinking dark green and blue binding!!!! I better get back to quilting, I'll let you know when I resurface!