Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Waste Not

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?

Monday, October 25, 2010

Weekend Purchases

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!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Happy Halloween

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?

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Dish Towel

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.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Quilting Update

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.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Party Dress

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!

Monday, October 4, 2010

Can I Get Another Word Please?

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.