Katie Mae Quilts

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

At the Quilter's:

Big Blue

Adoption:
Application Submitted - 2/12
Home Study - in progress

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 1

In Progress: 16

Linked:

Life in Pieces' Fifteen Minute Challenge
What A Hoot's BOMs Away!

Design Wall Monday - Skorca! in Assembly

2012-02-27T09:27:00.002-06:00

Yes, assembly!

All the Ohio Star rows are together! And it looks awesomely insane. Insanely awesome?
I totally forgot about the backward hourglass in one of the stars. I'm going to fix it. Orderly chaos, people.

The border has been picked - a penguin fabric I had stashed, with a strip of iceberg blue. To separate the penguins from the Skorca. Of course.

Ten more blue pieces and a good day of red paper piecing left!

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 9

2012-02-26T06:00:00.001-06:00

Um, so there was a sale...

$2.99 a yard on all sale fabric.

I tried to limit myself to basics (those dots are 54" so even more bang for the buck)...or baby quilt stuff...or 3.25 yards of awesome candy cane binding.

And yes, over 5 yards of the 26 are Sandy Gervais. I don't want to talk about my addiction.

I finished Sew Starry, so I get to count the back and the binding out. That makes a dent in 26 yards. A teeny tiny dent.

Used this Week: 1.33

Used Year to Date: 19.74

Added this Week: 26

Added Year to Date: 63

Net Used for 2012: (43.26) yards

Check out more reports at Patchwork Times!

Fleece Friday - Yellow Bird

2012-02-24T15:43:00.000-06:00

Last Angry Bird for a bit!

He's yellow and he's angry.

Obsessively Stitching tutorial, not as hard as I thought sewing the triangle would be.

Shake ya tailfeather!

And the group shot.

The Dude asked for a slingshot for his birthday.

Someone help me.

Sew Starry - Finished!

2012-02-23T15:59:00.000-06:00

My first bigger-than-a-wall-hanging (even though it's...a wall hanging) finish of 2012!

From the Made in Cherry Quilt-Along at Pins and Bobbins. Pattern by Sarah Fielke of The Last Piece.

There were four size options - I, of course, chose none of them. Mine is 40x40, made from 2" squares.

The fabric is three colorations of Felicity's Stash by Makower, and two colors of unknown thread fabric. They match pretty well, so they could be from the same line, but I only had fat quarters without the proper selvage.

I decided to go orderly instead of random in my placement. If you decide to do this, use the coloring page here. I used a lot more reds, especially in the points.

{Obligatory Oklahoma Wind Shot}

I did the quilting myself - cross-hatching in the star, radiating lines in the corners, crossing lines in the triangles. It's very dense for me, and I very much like it. In fact, I keep staring at my husband's Steeler's quilt and imagining the quilting I could add. He thinks I'm staring at him.

The back is plain muslin, and I'm not showing a picture because I haven't buried my threads yet.

It will be hung on the wall in my sewing studio, which is almost set up to the point I'm ready to share the full thing. Almost. I need to vacuum first.

Linked:

Can I Get a Whoop-Whoop?

Finish It Up Friday

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday

Sew and Tell at Amy Lou Who

WiP/FMC - Life in Progress with the Military

2012-02-22T12:09:00.000-06:00

The first bit here is going to be a bit heavy, so just scroll down to the pictures if you don't want to read about life.

So... We're in the process of adopting from Korea.
{I know. I talk about it A LOT.}
But then my husband was put on a deployment list, and we put life on hold. Then he went on from the deployment list to the moving list, so we rushed to finish up the last bits of paperwork.

Then...
{I bet you know where this is going...}
Yeah. He's deploying.

I threw a bit of a hissy fit. We've put off the adoption process for five years, and this specific adoption for six months, because of the military holding us in limbo.

Cried. Prayed. Called our agency.

They rock.

The application is in, and the home study starts immediately, so that everything can be sent to Korea before he leaves.

And then the Dude and I have a lot to look forward to - Daddy and a brother/sister coming home in the winter/spring of 2013.

{And then we move.}

Anyway, on with the WiPs!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - still Sew Starry. Who would have thought cross-hatching would take so darn long? Anyone who only did it for fifteen minutes a day, probably.

I quilted it for fifteen minutes every day except Monday (road trip to Stillwater!)
I want to get it squared and bound today, so it's time to pick a new FMC!

I'm making my first mini-quilt for the Ellison Lane contest. It is not modern - built from log cabins and courthouse steps - but it's something I've wanted, so... I'm making it! Any guesses?

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - 6/10 blocks - skipped ahead to #9 because I'm out of background fabric. LOVE this one. So simple but so cute.

Plus, look how cute the bonus triangle from the flying geese is! It's going to make a great couple of pinwheels.

LQS Saturday Sampler 2012 - 3/36 (new blocks to work on)

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - lots of blue filling in... I'm so ready to start assembly!

Made in Cherry - see above

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot - the blue box? That's my Swoon fabrics... (Newest block to the side.)

Untouched This Week:

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

At the Quilter's:

Big Blue

New Projects: 1

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 17

Linked:

Design Wall Monday - Skorca!

2012-02-20T09:27:00.000-06:00

I see a light at the end of the Skorca! tunnel!

Including the side that doesn't fit on the design wall, I have 24 more blue sections to piece. I'm about halfway through piecing the elements for that.

And then 22 red squares.

And then assembly!

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

And check out Jaybird Quilts' new Scrap Sunday!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 8

2012-02-19T08:49:00.000-06:00

This is one of the last Objects of Desire layer cakes on the internet.

Happy Valentine's Day to me!

On the used side, there was a half yard in the bunting.

Used this Week: 0.5

Used Year to Date: 18.41

Added this Week: 3

Added Year to Date: 37

Net Used for 2012: (18.59) yards

Check out more reports at Patchwork Times!

Fleece Friday - Mustache Pig

2012-02-17T15:57:00.000-06:00

Things I will not be putting on my resume: can sew pig snout straight.

Still from the tutorial at Obsessively Stitching. I photocopied it at 72% reduction (legal to letter setting) to get a slightly smaller pig.

This guy is more the "right size" according to the Dude.

Because evil egg-stealing pigs are a certain size. Of course.

WiP/FMC - Stomach Bug (Redux)

2012-02-15T09:00:00.000-06:00

I just...hate stomach bugs. That is all. I'm going to bleach my house and take a nap now.

Sew Starry is still my Fifteen Minute Challenge - poor thing! I thought I'd be done by now, but the quilting is taking longer than I thought.

{It's dark and dreary and rainy today. Sorry about the pictures.}

All the sides are done and I'm slowly cross-hatching the star. I quilted fifteen minutes every day except Saturday (Pinewood Derby) and Tuesday (stomach bug.)

Big Blue is finished and off to the quilter's!

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - 5/9 blocks - nada this week

LQS Saturday Sampler 2012 - 3/36 (new blocks to work on)

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - I've been posting this sucker for more than a month and none of you noticed the second block in the third row is wrong? ;)

Made in Cherry - see above

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot - trying to plan out the directional prints in this one

Untouched This Week:

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 16

Linked:

Valentine's Day Bunting

2012-02-14T10:50:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!
We had a snow day yesterday, so the Dude and I used the time to do some Valentine's crafts.

A couple of weeks ago, I got the leftover scraps from the kids' sewing class at my LQS - the polka dots from Deb Strain's Always & Forever. There was fusible web on the back, and I thought about peeling it off to salvage the fabrics.

But then this was on Moda Bake Shop. And peeling fusible web off is really, really hard.

My hearts are 4.5" and backed in muslin scraps, because that's what I had.

And my mantel is a little less boring.

Remember when there was colored Rice Krispies for holidays? I swear I'm not crazy... Anyway, I set out to recreate that.
Sprinkles are not effective.
I was smart enough to add them at the very last minute, but they still got messy and somewhat melty.
Still pretty festive, though!

I also pressed a heart into the Dude lunch sandwich with a cookie cutter, and I'm going to lunch with my husband. He has to work late, so the Dude will be my dinner date. I'm happy to get special time with both my boys!

Linked:

Fabric Tuesday
Tuesday at the Table {She's having a giveaway!}

Design Wall Monday - Skorca! (Yes, Still.)

2012-02-13T11:42:00.000-06:00

SNOW DAY!

Which leads to design wall pictures like this.

He's having fun hunting out his favorite fabrics.

I did some paper piecing on Friday, so there's a good bit more red up there. It's starting to look close to finished!

But first, I have to go build a snowman. And make Valentines for school tomorrow. And eat the Rice Krispie treats we made. I love snow days!

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 7

2012-02-12T09:04:00.000-06:00

A couple great finishes this week!

First, Big Blue got finished - at least, the top did, and I don't have to think about it until it's back from the quilter's.

Since it was a commissioned quilt, I didn't count the fabric in until it was done. Which, had I known it would have taken me until 2012, I totally would have counted it back in 2011.

Of the 15.5 yards ordered, there's two yards left of the white floral for pillowcases, just enough of the dark blue for pillowcase trim, and no Kona. Plus I used 2/3rds of a yard of last week's Kona purchase.

I also got this month's Saturday Sampler blocks.

And we have a Pinewood Derby winner!
The design is his, as is the paint/sticker scheme. (I tried to tell him green and red/white/blue doesn't go, and got a "Mooooooom, this is MY car.")
At the weigh-in, he was exactly two quarters short of five ounces, so Mom bought him the win. :D

Go green!

Used this Week: 13.66

Used Year to Date: 17.91

Added this Week: 15.75

Added Year to Date: 34

Net Used for 2012: (16.09) yards

Check out more reports at Patchwork Times!

Fleece Friday - Green Bird

2012-02-10T16:22:00.000-06:00

The Angry Bird obsession is leading to fights over the Fire.

"Dude. Give me the Fire. I need to check on My Country."

"But Mom, I'm close to three stars on this level!"

"I am running a country! That is way more important!"

{Did I mention this is my husband's Fire?}

From the tutorial at Obsessively Stitching. I think the beak is too low - I'm going to do some plastic surgery and reattach it higher. I'm also going to add a couple stitches in between the two beak pieces to hold it together.

I am apparently WRONG in making the top feathers green. Oops.

Linked:

Sew Darn Crafty

Big Blue - Now With Big Blue Borders!

2012-02-09T13:05:00.000-06:00

It's a good thing the Giants won the Super Bowl, because otherwise I don't think I would have come up with such a great name for this quilt.

{Yes, my yard is dead. It's winter, but it refuses to snow for pretty pictures.}

Big Blue measures a whopping 105x115" and consists of ninety 10" Hunter's Star blocks.

My sister, who commissioned this, did not take my baby nephew out of his Giants onesie for the entirety of the playoffs. Team devotion starts at an early age!

I got the borders on in a marathon session yesterday.

Due to the weight, I took it nice and slow, one block at a time, while watching the best show ever. I don't know which I love more, Firefly or the Kindle Fire.

By the way, if you have your pin bin right in front of your drink, you're guaranteed to drop at least one pin in your Coke.

I dropped Big Blue at my quilter's today and it feels so good to have that out of the way!

Minus the binding. Ugh, I have to bind that sucker when it comes back. Double ugh - that's 450" of binding.

I should probably save a couple episodes of Firefly for that session.

Linked:

Can I Get a Whoop-Whoop?

Finish It Up Friday

One Thing, One Week Challenge

WiP/FMC - Big Blue

2012-02-08T08:49:00.000-06:00

Seriously. 91x101", and I haven't even added the borders yet.

I'm dreading the borders - this sucker is HEAVY and pulls a lot at the machine. And all the pins are stabby (but so worth it for those perfect points. And I am not usually a pinner.) I'm very thankful this one is going to a professional for quilting.

Poor Sew Starry stayed as my Fifteen Minute Challenge quilt due to the time spent on Big Blue.

I quilted one side section each on Wednesday-Friday, drew in the rest of the lines on Saturday, watched the Giants kick the Patriots' butts on Sunday (oh, is that not sewing related?), and continued quilting Monday-Tuesday.

I like the side pieces, but I'm not really sure how I want to quilt the inside of the star. I have a couple more fifteen minute sessions before I decide.

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - 5/9 blocks - nada this week

LQS Saturday Sampler 2012 - 3/36 (caught up so far)

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - all the Ohio Stars are assembled. Filling in the blue as Big Blue's leaders and enders.

Made in Cherry - see above :)

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot - nada (did I mention how BIG Big Blue is? And how time consuming BIG is?)

Untouched This Week:

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 16

Linked:

Design Wall Monday - Skorca! & Hunter's Star

2012-02-06T11:15:00.000-06:00

All the Ohio Stars are done, and I'm slowly filling in the blue.

I didn't get much done this weekend because we hosted a Super Bowl party - woo Big Blue! But now I'm avoiding all the pans that need to be washed and working on assembling the Hunter's Star and adding to Skorca!

Assembling long, long rows = super tedious. But it also means I'm almost done!

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times, and other Orca Bays at Quiltville!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 6

2012-02-05T11:56:00.000-06:00

Well, since we're into a new month, it's about time to say goodbye to the black, right? And I did it so spectacularly, too.

Three yards of Kona White, one yard of the turtles for burp rags, two yards of the purple batik for a t-shirt quilt.

Quilt store had a Super Bowl sale... That's two yards of Sandy Gervais (Merry & Bright, Zippity Doo Dah), 1/2 yard of flannel gingerbread men, a three yard kit, and seven fat quarters.

Won a giveaway on Sarcastic Quilter. Eleven fat quarters, plus pins, a cute quilt notebook, and a pattern kit.

And speaking of giveaways, I won these from Heather a while back and forgot to post about them! Don't they look great in my kitchen?

I also bought and used one yard of Kona Tarragon for Sew Starry. Which, the top is finished and I'm working on the quilting, so at least I can count the top out!

(Is that Yoda green? Yes, yes it is.)

Used this Week: 2.0

Used Year to Date: 4.25

Added this Week: 17(!!)

Added Year to Date: 18.25

Net Used for 2012: (14) yards

Check out more reports at Patchwork Times!

Fleece Friday - Green Helmet Pig

2012-02-03T16:01:00.000-06:00

By popular demand...

Actually, just by demand.

Felt Food Friday will be Fleece Friday for the month of February. Specifically, someone NEEDS a full set of Angry Birds.

The nose is very crooked - it's a battle wound, right?

Tutorial from Obsessively Stitching - helmet is makeshift. I also skipped making the eyes separate from the body and just appliqued them like the red bird.

Linked:

Can I Get a Whoop-Whoop?

Finish It Up Friday

Sew Darn Crafty

WiP/FMC - Seeing Stars

2012-02-01T13:38:00.000-06:00

Big progress on the star quilts on my list this week. In fact, if you consider Swoon a star, that's pretty much all I did.

First, for the Fifteen Minute Challenge, I pieced together Sew Starry's remaining points on Wednesday-Friday, pieced the two middle sections together and figured the math for the solid pieces on Saturday, cut the solid on Sunday, and pieced it together Monday-Tuesday.

How easy is that? Fifteen minutes a day for two weeks, and I have a wall hanging for my sewing nook. That still needs to be quilted... Or maybe a border first?

I have seven rows finished on my sister's Hunter's Star - and more importantly, I cut 120" strips for borders. Continuously. It was a little terrifying - if I slipped up, I would have ruined a LOT of border. But I didn't, and I'm close to the assembly stage!

{lots of trimmings}

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - 5/9 blocks - #5 redone this week - my original had too much print. I replaced it with neutral and, eh. It's okay. It's just not very exciting. Maybe the quilt will need a not-very-exciting star.

LQS Saturday Sampler 2012 - 3/36 (caught up so far)

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - almost all of the Ohio Stars assembled!

Made in Cherry - see above :)

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot - another block done!

Untouched This Week:

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 16

Linked:

Design Wall Monday - Skorca!

2012-01-30T10:58:00.000-06:00

The good thing about moving the design wall - again - is that as the pieces fall off, they get put back on in a more random way. Saves me the trouble of mixing up the blue blocks.

Getting pretty close to the end... But someone remind me that there's a column of blue/red needed for the right side before I start sewing this whole thing together.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 5

2012-01-29T19:31:00.000-06:00

This week was Krafty Kids at my LQS, so about a half yard in and out for the Dude's pillow.

He's doing pretty well!

My helping payment was the scraps again.

Man, I love a bag full of scraps.

Used this Week: 0.5

Used Year to Date: 2.25

Added this Week: 1.5

Added Year to Date: 1.25

Net Used for 2012: 1.0 yards

Check out more reports at Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Carrots

2012-01-27T16:46:00.000-06:00

I told you I was going to force a veggie pick this week. Carrots are the Dude's favorite.

Dude: "What's that green stuff on top?"

Me: "The stem. You use that to pull it out of the ground."

Dude: "Why are they pointy?"

Me: "Seriously, have you never seen a real carrot before?"

Baby carrots are the same price as regular carrots here, so I go for the convenience of pre-cleaned and peeled. So, yeah....he's hasn't seen a real carrot in a while. Oops.

Tutorial found here.

I added lines to make it more carrot-y, but they're a bit too subtle in the same color thread.

And now the Dude is walking around doing his best Bugs Bunny impression. Which isn't that great, since he didn't get his two front teeth for Christmas.

WiP/FMC - First Rows of Hunter's Star

2012-01-25T17:58:00.001-06:00

I like this quilt, but man, does it involve a lot of trimming. Strip piece the star point, trim; strip piece the other star point, trim; square that piece, add the triangle, add the other (trimmed) side, trim...

But hey - two rows! (And 72 blocks to trim.)

For my Fifteen Minute Challenge, I'm still waiting on my mom to make a decision on sashing for Frolicking Pinwheels, so Sew Starry became my FMC this week.

I pieced each section in fifteen minutes every day - two halves of the center on Wednesday and Thursday, star side pieces on Friday-Tuesday. I'm on track to finish the star pieces before the next set of instructions come out - yay for 15 minutes of daily dedicated work!

This website was on the Quilting Gallery yesterday, so I started making a couple four-patches with the whites I'm using in Skorca! and the leftovers from Sew Starry.

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - 4/9 blocks - #4 finished this week

LQS Saturday Sampler 2012 - 3/36 (caught up so far)

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - slowly adding pieces to Ohio Stars...slowly...

Made in Cherry - see above :)

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot - not only did I work on a layout on Monday, but I finished a block for the first time since November!

Untouched This Week:

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 16

Linked:

Ivy and Elephants' What Is It Wednesdays

Design Wall Monday - Skorca! & Sew Starry

2012-01-23T10:55:00.000-06:00

Hmm. Not sure I'm going to keep the name Sew Starry. But it's okay for now.

Skorca! is moving along. I like it better the more blues I get up there.

The bottom is part of the star for the Made in Cherry Quilt Along. I decided on a uniform layout instead of random, because it's mine and I'm anal like that. It means I have to plan the half-pieces a little more - lots of the pinks, not as much of the others.

I also plopped Swoon down in the walkway (briefly) to get an idea of how many 8" blocks I still need and what color combinations. I think I need about six more. My plan is to cut the necessary pieces in advance so I don't run out. (Weird. I know.)

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 4

2012-01-22T11:09:00.000-06:00

I don't really have much to add - nothing finished, nothing really purchased.

I did buy this at an estate sale. My great-grandmother's quilt has a few pieces that are shredded, so I've been on the lookout for replacements. These might not quite fit the era, but I think they'll blend pretty well. Plus since it's only one block, I don't feel guilty tearing apart an antique.

The piece came in a bag with this...

There are a few flowers that need to be added, and I'm sure the birds are looking at something... Anyone embroider and want it? There's enough fabric for the front and back of a small pillow.

And this cute little apron. I'm not sure if the bunnies are supposed to have been embroidered? They seem a little out of place in black. I might play around with them before sending this to my younger niece.

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 1.75

Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 0.25

Net Used for 2012: 1.5 yards

Check out more reports at Patchwork Times!

Also linked:

Colorado Lady's Vintage Thingies Thursdays

Felt Food Friday - Pizza

2012-01-20T16:53:00.000-06:00

This was an easy, yet satisfying one - much like pizza in real life!

There's several good tutorials online, but I liked this one the best. I used foam instead of stuffing, and it's perfect for pizza slices.

I put velcro on my cheese so that you could have your slice with or without pepperoni. Yes, I know felt sticks to felt, but "not well enough" says the Dude.

I have got to get off the junk food kick. Next week, I'm forcing the pick of a fruit or veggie!

WiP/FMC - Not Very Much Progress

2012-01-18T15:42:00.000-06:00

Very little progress on my Fifteen Minute Challenge, especially. I moved the blocks around a couple times, and that's about it. Saturday-Monday I didn't even sew, since I was in Texas. My husband and I talked a lot about future plans on the car ride, including my sewing, so does that count?

Frolicking Pinwheels

A friend asked to see it with and without sashing. Any one have opinions?

Hunter's Star, round two - 78/90 dark half-blocks - and 50/90 blocks -one more strip of the dark blues and I'm done! With, you know, the initial piecing.

i *heart* this wallhanging - started and finished last week!

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - 3/9 blocks - #3 finished this week

LQS Saturday Sampler 2012 - 3/36 (caught up so far)

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - the wall hasn't changed since Monday, but I made a huge pile of the QSTs needed for the Ohio Stars.

Made in Cherry - 180 2.5" squares and 20 3" squares, ready for piecing

Untouched This Week:

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 1

Completed Projects: 1

In Progress: 16

Linked:

Pins & Bobbins' Made in Cherry

i heart this wall hanging

2012-01-17T11:43:00.002-06:00

This was a spur of the moment project - I gave a presentation on quilts last Friday and decided on Wednesday to make something in wall hanging/table runner size.

I thought about just doing a heart out of scraps and HSTs - similar to the star in the Made in Cherry Quilt Along.

While Googling, though, I found this on eQuilters, and decided to go for it.

Oh.My.Goodness. I'm now addicted to log cabins. I just let loose and cut anything from neutral or pink/red scraps. I'm very much a matchy-matchy (anal) person, so letting clashing fabrics in was a bit terrifying.

For a while, I couldn't "see" the heart at all - I posted a picture on Facebook and it wasn't until I looked at it on the computer instead of the wall that it looked right.

Now I want to go buy a huge pile of fabric so I can make it EVEN SCRAPPIER.

I'm not thrilled with the quilting - some swirly free-motion would have been better. But I can't do free-motion, and Paula was busy with the OKC quilt show, so this is what it got.

My blocks are 8.5" unfinished, with 2.5" centers and 1.5" logs. I put the same red in the center of each cabin, even the all-neutral blocks, because it's cute heart fabric.

It finishes at 24x32" and is backed in muslin.

Oh, and the emus I mentioned on Sunday?

Sticking its head inside the white truck. It managed to get two bags of food out of the cars in front of us. We rolled up the windows.

Up close and way too personal with a llama.

Feeding zebras.

{At the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch outside of San Antonio}

Linked to:
Fabric Tuesday
Sew Darn Crafty
Whoop Whoop Fridays
Finish It Up Friday
Sew & Tell Fridays
Slash the Stash

Design Wall Monday - Skorca!

2012-01-16T09:06:00.000-06:00

Still Skorca!

Still will be for a while, as it's a leader/ender for my sister's Hunter's Star.

Hmm, I'm lacking in black Ohio Stars. Should probably work on that this week. And red. I really need to get moving on the reds.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 3

2012-01-15T09:58:00.000-06:00

There would be more here, but DH convinced me to join him in Texas for a conference instead of going to the Oklahoma City Quilt Show.

So yay for family time, boo for buying lots of yummy fabrics I don't need. I guess. The family time has been a LOT of fun - we got to see an emu attack a car!
And before we left, I made this.

It's a heart made out of log cabins, and oh my goodness, I am addicted to making these now. More details when I get home - it was done entirely from scraps and stash.

Used this Week: 1.75

Used Year to Date: 1.75

Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 0.25

Net Used for 2012: 1.5 yards

I'm in the BLACK!

Check out more reports at Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Popcorn

2012-01-13T08:34:00.000-06:00

This...was not the greatest idea.

I used this tutorial, and freehanded several in a row, stuffing as I went.

Except I can't freehand, so my shapes... Well, whatever - real popcorn comes in many shapes, right?

Stuffing while sewing is also quite difficult, despite how easy it looks in tutorials.

So the Dude only got six oddly-shaped pieces of popcorn. I told him popcorn is a choking hazard, anyway. (He didn't buy that excuse.)

The Rest of My Christmas Sewing

2012-01-12T16:19:00.000-06:00

Last Christmas post! Let's just all agree not to look at the date.

I made a little drawstring bag for my niece's ballet and tap shoes. She wanted to wear it as a backpack, so I made buttonholes in the bottom and threaded the ribbon through. Faster than buying grommets, though less sturdy.

And, the present of the year...

Oh yes - we NEEDED an Angry Bird. It's a recent phenomenon for the Dude, as we just put Chrome on our computers. No one tell him it's on Dad's Kindle Fire or we'll never see that thing again.

{The Dude's rendition of an Angry Bird scene}

{I was told I need to make a golden egg}

The fabulous tutorial is at Obsessively Stitching - and yes, I'll be making all of them over the next couple of months.

One note, though. Make sure you use "anti-pill" fleece. As you can see, my red guy is already pretty pilled up from excessive handling in the last couple of weeks.

WiP/FMC - of Boys, Fabric & Permanent Markers

2012-01-11T14:48:00.000-06:00

I used my Fifteen Minute Challenge this week to finish Frolicking Pinwheels.

It hasn't really been touched since I sliced off part of my finger while working on it. Mostly for that reason, but also because I dislike squaring HSTs bigger than my 6" ruler. So over the past week, I fixed and cut the last two strip sets, and sewed the last four pinwheels, no more than one per day.

Now I just need to decide on a layout - sashing or not?

Regular Quilts:

Hunter's Star, round two - 56/90 dark half-blocks - and 30/90 blocks(!!)

This is the only time you'll see it on the design wall. It doesn't need to be laid out, and at 9x10 10" blocks, it won't fit anyway.

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - 2/7 blocks - #2 finished this week

LQS Saturday Sampler 2012 - 3/36

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - slowly filling in the gaps. This is where the aforementioned boy, fabric and permanent marker comes in. One of the issues I have with my quilt is not all of the black pieces are black enough.

The cow print being the primary offender. This makes the black Ohio Stars not stand out as much. Solution? Tape off the irritating QST and hand the Dude a black marker.

These are clouds, so I'm told. And see how the cow print on the left needs the same treatment?

Made in Cherry - my new sewing room has a big open wall, and I'm going to fill it with a big scrappy star made of these. Actually, a small one - I'm cutting my squares to 2.5" and should end up with about a 40x40" wall hanging.

Untouched This Week:

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 2

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 16

Linked:

Life in Pieces

Grinch Quilt - Finished!

2012-01-10T16:27:00.000-06:00

My other Christmas Quilt. :)

This was my niece's Christmas present, using the panel from the Grinch collection. Which, like Rudolph, was not printed straight or easily trim-able. I managed to get the blocks to an even 11.75" tall unfinished, and did some fancy math to lay them out.

I used almost every little bit in the sashings, borders and backing. To the point that my quilt teacher would have yelled at me, had she known how close the top and backing were in size.

I love the quilting - single crosshatch diamonds, with every other line then tripled. I'm glad I had enough time to go back and add the extra lines, even though I had some trouble with the quilting.

First, the snap-in spot for my walking foot broke, so I had to tape it together.

Then, well, that problem on the left kept happening.

The binding is the same candy cane stripe as Rudolph. I wish I had more!

Finished size: 50x60"

{maybe...I'll update after I have my sister measure!}

Linked to:
Fabric Tuesday
Sew Darn Crafty
Whoop Whoop Fridays
Finish It Up Friday

Design Wall Monday - Skorca!

2012-01-09T13:16:00.000-06:00

Bit by bit, Skorca! grows.

I like it better now that I have the blues facing the right way.

I've been catching up on it in between my sister's Hunter's Star blocks - one day I'll do a bunch of QSTs, then assemble some Ohio Stars, then work on the blues.

The one thing I haven't worked on in a while is the red, since it's paper piecing.

And then along came this...

I know, I need another quilt-a-long like I need another hole in my head. That's why I have double pierced ears, people.

And I have two bags of selvages. Two string blocks a week for 40 weeks? No problem!

In fact, that, plus the red block in Skorca! and the St. Paul's Cross blocks, means I'm finally going to set up my Centennial Singer for full-time paper piecing. This way I won't have to change the stitch length and needle every time I want to do a block.

And, bonus with the quilt room move, the ironing board is the grey on the left, which is so much better than its former hallway locale.

But it does mean the cat's chair is moving somewhere else.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 2

2012-01-08T11:48:00.001-06:00

Got my first blocks for my LQS's Saturday Sampler yesterday.

The pattern is Round Robin - three classic blocks each month. The original plan was Civil War fabrics, which I was happy with. Then the store decided to offer the blocks in solids with a black background. I didn't even hesitate to change my mind!

{Shoofly}
The funny thing - ask any of the modern quilters and they might call it a modern design.

{Eccentric Star}
The store is advertising it as "Amish Style" because black with solids is the staple of very early Amish quilts, since they used their clothing scraps and that's what they wore.

{Contrary Wife}
That's why I find it so hard to "define" a quilting style for myself - what's old is new. I've been hand-repairing my great-grandmother's quilt, full if bright solids and cheerful cottons. If you didn't know any better, you'd think this was made in the last year, not fifty years ago.

Of course, my LQS owner says I can't define my style because I made a hexagon novelty quilt and a Tennessee Waltz in the same month. She might be right.

Anyway, enough philosophy! I'm happy with the blocks, whether it's modern or Amish style. They're definitely MY style.

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 0

Added this Week: 0.25

Added Year to Date: 0.25

Net Used for 2012: (0.25) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times and check out more BoMs at What a Hoot!

Goals for 2012

2012-01-07T21:58:00.000-06:00

Looking at my WiP list, I think my word of the year will be focus. I need to focus on a few quilts at a time until they're done, and not start TOO many new projects until I've whittled down the WiP list.

And I say that knowing I'm going to do Pins and Bobbins' Made in Cherry Quilt Along.

I separated quilts by quarters, for Quilter in the Gap's Finish-A-Long. I'm not saying I won't work on any out of its quarter (or start any extras), but I'd like to finish the ones listed by the end of each quarter.

Quarter One

Hunter's Star, round two - I have more than half of the dark blue half-blocks finished, so I'll be to the assembly stage soon

Frolicking Pinwheels - 7/9 pinwheels done

Skorca! - not quite as far along on this one. I'm doing a 6x6 layout, so I have a ways to go still.

Quarter Two

LQS Saturday Sampler - 10/12 blocks finished. I'd like to finish this for my MIL's birthday in May.

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot - probably need to make about five more 8" blocks before assembly - which I might just make as part of I'm A Ginger Monkey's Quilt-Along. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a QA.

Chunky Log Cabin - 13 blocks finished. I forget how many I need.

Quarter Three

St. Paul's Cross - 2/?? finished. This is for my best friend's birthday in September.

Jarred Picnic Quilt - I've had the fat quarters for this for 2+ years. I'm going to make mason jars full of food (and candy) for a picnic blanket.

Fat Quarter Stars Quilt Along - if I keep up with the blocks (haha) this should be easy to assemble over the summer

Quarter Four

Dutch Pinwheels - I'm probably about halfway through the flying geese I cut for this one. No idea what the full layout will look like.

Star Wars Iotacons - mentioned this before. I'm planning on using scraps from this year's Saturday Sampler (plus other solids I've collected in the last few years) to make Iotacon versions of Star Wars characters.
Drunkard's Path - I'm taking a class in April on curve sewing, and giving myself a generous amount of time to finish it.

Oh, and then there's the unquilted list...

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

One every other month, plus keeping up with the finished quilt tops this year...doable? Maybe?

Felt Food Friday - Spaghetti

2012-01-06T18:06:00.000-06:00

I swear I did not encourage my child in any way to pick this.

I even showed him pictures of tortellini and ravioli, but he wanted straight spaghetti with meatballs.

So I whipped out the ShapeCut and sliced 1/2" strips of cream felt.

A wavy cut piece of red felt and brown yarn meatballs from this tutorial, and I'm done.

I might stitch the spaghetti to the sauce, because someone has already suggested throwing pasta at his Angry Birds.

Rudolph Quilt - Finished!

2012-01-05T22:01:00.000-06:00

Finished and gifted and FINALLY a post about it. Sheesh. I know. And there's two more Christmas posts to go. I may finish writing about Christmas before next Christmas.

Rudolph is a book panel from Hobby Lobby last year. The Dude is OBSESSED with Rudolph, so I picked it up with the intention of cutting the "pages" into quilt blocks.

Cheapy book panels? Not printed straight, and therefore not easy to square up. I finally got all twelve "pages" to the same size with minimal skewing, and then realized the quarter yard of red Rudolph fabric would in no way be enough for anything more than cornerstones.

I lucked out and found an online seller who had this red for the borders and backing, and white Rudolph for the sashing.

The quilting is three straight lines through each block. I was going to add more lines through the sashing, but it didn't look right. So I picked them out. Fun.

The binding is a candy cane stripe from Hobby Lobby.

Finished size: 45x55"

The Dude loves it, of course. And even better, he didn't puke on it during the whole Christmas car ride!

Check out more finishes at Whoop Whoop Fridays and Finish It Up Friday.

WiP Wednesday/Fifteen Minute Challenge - New Year, New Plan

2012-01-04T16:04:00.000-06:00

This year, I'm going to combine posts a little better. I felt like I was writing something almost every day and never had time to schedule finishing posts. {See: Rudolph and the Grinch. Or don't see. Because I haven't written them yet.}

So the Fifteen Minute Challenge will now be a part of my WiP list, since after all, it's a WiP. And I'm going to get back to my original plan - work on something that's been lingering on the Untouched List a bit too long for fifteen minutes every day before starting the rest of my sewing. First up will be Frolicking Pinwheels.

Finished:

Rudolph and the Grinch.

Regular Quilts:

Hunter's Star, round two - 39/90

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - five blocks behind...sigh...

LQS Saturday Sampler 2011 - 10/12 blocks done - need to do October and December

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - final instructions are out and I am busily assembling lots of Ohio Stars. I think I'll need 36 and countless other elements. Yes, I know #3 in the second row is wrong.

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 2

In Progress: 14

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday and see how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces!

Goals for 2011 - Revisited

2012-01-03T17:08:00.000-06:00

Last year, I made some goals. So how did I do?

1. My new nephew's sailboat quilt. Done!

2. My other nephew's iSpy quilt. Done!

3. Two t-shirt quilts. Made my neighbor's, but not mine. I have two more scheduled for 2012, so mine is even further down the list.

4. Finish the Cinderella quilt. Done! {Minus the applique.}

5. Finish the Charm Pack Quilt Along. Done!

6. Continue the Layer Cake Quilt Along. Done but unquilted.

7. Find something to do with my new pretties. Undone, and added Grinch and Cat in the Hat FQs to the pretties.

8. Tennessee Waltz for my mom. Done!

9. Dutch Pinwheels for my mom. Undone - I made flying geese on occasion as leaders/enders, but it's not been a serious project.

10. Frolicking Pinwheels. Undone.

11. Rudolph quilt for the Dude. Done!
12. Stash quilts - every quilt-along I did this year used stash, and Skorca is almost entirely from stash.

Eight finished goals, one finished but unquilted, and three not finished. Not bad!

And of course, there was the stuff I hadn't planned on doing at the beginning of last year.

Nine additional quilts finished.

And five tops unquilted.

Design Wall Monday - Skorca!

2012-01-02T18:40:00.000-06:00

We are finally home after 10 days and 50 hours on the road - it was brutal near the end, especially when we were stopped by {I think} the world's longest train two miles from the house.

I have a ton to catch up on - Rudolph and the Grinch posts to write - but first I threw in the laundry and sewed some of the Orca Bay blocks I missed while I was gone.

I'm...not in love. Yet. I think the Ohio Stars on the white pop, but the black ones are messy and less defined. I did decide to string the blue flying geese, and I like the flow it adds that way.
Bonnie's final design is a 7x8 layout - I think I'm going to do 6x6.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times, and more Orca Bay progress at Quiltville!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 1

2012-01-01T18:49:00.000-06:00

We're supposed to start fresh in the new year, but I feel a little guilty not counting the last week of 2011...mainly because I got...

...this and...

...this. Twenty-five fat quarters and two panels. Yay!

And I bought a little charm pack of black & white fabrics with a Christmas gift card, to supplement my Skorca!

So 2011 ends...

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 136.4

Added this Week: 8.07

Added Year to Date: 174.02

Net Used for 2011: (37.62) yards

And 2012 begins...

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 0

Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 0

Net Used for 2011: (0) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Smorgasbord

2011-12-30T08:51:00.000-06:00

Everything so far, minus the donuts that were packed in my hand stitching bag.

And minus a chicken leg, several strawberries, a couple eggs & the carton, an apple and one chicken nugget that are already lost. I think someone needs some kitchen organization in the new year.

Cheez-Its

Bacon & Eggs

Eggs & Carton

Pumpkins

Apples

Banana

Strawberries

Squash

Turkey with Legs

Potato Chips

Chicken Nuggets

Donuts

Christmas Cookies

Sunday Stash Report - Week 52

2011-12-25T09:46:00.000-06:00

Whew - I didn't get fabric for Christmas!

I got gift cards...and anything purchased this coming week doesn't count because I start at zero in the new year - right?

I finished Rudolph and the Grinch, but I still need to take pictures. They went straight from the dryer into wrapping paper.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Used this Week: 10.16

Used Year to Date: 136.4

Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 165.95

Net Used for 2011: (29.55) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Christmas Cookies

2011-12-23T20:49:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas!

I used regular cookie cutters, picked by the Dude, and traced onto cream felt.

Then I stitched the blue about 3/8" inside the line.

{The cross was easy. The tree was not.}

Then I trimmed them down and realized I wasn't planning on stuffing them, so the tracing was now on the wrong size of the cream. Oops.

So a quick retracing, stitched along the line, cut them out, sprayed away the line, and - Christmas cookies!

Next week: the so-far-smorgasbord.

WiP Wednesday & Fifteen Minute Challenge - Stomach Bug Edition

2011-12-21T16:45:00.000-06:00

The Dude had the stomach bug Thursday night, puked all night, and bounced back by Friday afternoon. I had the stomach bug yesterday, puked once, slept for 13 hours, and am barely moving today. I want to be a six-year-old.

But Christmas doesn't care about stomach bugs, so I had to keep working today.

I used my 15 minutes each day to prep the binding for Rudolph and the Grinch. By Sunday it was ready to go and I started alternating 15 minutes of binding with 15 minutes of present wrapping - a good way to do two hated tasks.

Plus it's really nice to have the binding all neatly wound up while sewing it!

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece - quilted, half-bound

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude -quilted, bound & awaiting threads clipped

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - four blocks behind...sigh...

LQS Saturday Sampler - 10/12 blocks done - need to do October and December

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - 50/112 B&W QSTs, 9/36 red strings, 34/175 B&W HST, 32/32 blue squares to become triangles, 4/175 B&W HST with additional triangles

Hunter's Star, round two

No actual sewing progress, but I did cut most of the pieces I still need for the half-blocks.

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 1

In Progress: 16

Don't check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday - Lee is taking the month off. :) But do check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces!

Design Wall Monday - Week 51

2011-12-19T17:45:00.000-06:00

Nothing, really. I took Debbie's suggestion and hung Christmas Stars on the wall, even though it's done. It's keeping the Christmas spirit while I finish the binding on the Grinch and Rudolph.

And in Skorca news!

Starting to look interesting... I wonder what these units are going to connect to. Seems like we've used a LOT of black & white and still not much of the main color!

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times, and more Orca Bay progress at Quiltville!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 51

2011-12-18T08:48:00.000-06:00

Thanks to the Friday Night Sew-In, I got everything for Christmas just about finished up!

Finished two dresses and two nightgowns for an American Girl - like last week, one from stash, one purchased.

I used two patterns for the A-line dresses - Simplicity 3929 for the top and Simplicity 2458 for the bottom.

The white nightgown is McCall's 3627 and the purple is Simplicity 3929 with sleeves from some other pattern. I don't recommend the second pattern with flannel - it's perfect for a cotton dress, but a little too thick for the neck with flannel.

I finished quilting the Grinch, despite a small hiccup with the walking foot.

The guide snap-in broke. Thank goodness for painter's tape!

Rudolph is also quilted, but I don't count them out until the binding is on, so...next week! Which is Christmas - but other than the binding, I just have to whip together a ballet slipper bag, so I am way ahead of schedule.

I also gave away two panels for Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day. They're all packed up and ready to go in the mail tomorrow.

Used this Week: 2.33

Used Year to Date: 126.24

Added this Week: 0.5

Added Year to Date: 165.95

Net Used for 2011: (39.71) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-17T08:32:00.000-06:00

I'll be back with my Friday Night Sew-In results in a bit, but first - giveaway winner!

Congratulations, and thanks to everyone who entered!

Felt Food Friday - Donuts

2011-12-16T16:18:00.000-06:00

There were going to be a half dozen donuts, with chocolate and vanilla frosting. And sprinkles. Tons of sprinkles.

Instead, there was tons of puking.

So there is a single, solitary donut with no sprinkles. The stuffing hole isn't even stitched shut.

And I have wiped down every surface of my house - and my kid - with Lysol.

Tutorials: here, here and here.

I used a CD for the outer circle - perfect size. I didn't cut out the middle hole until it was sewn shut. And I have a package of colorful skinny beads for the sprinkles.

Assuming we have defeated the evil 24-hour stomach bug (and not spread it to the parents of the house), I'll be whipping up cookies to decorate on our car ride next week. And the rest of the donuts to be sprinkle-fied.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 40

2011-12-14T17:59:00.000-06:00

It's Christmas. I'm not in panic mode...yet. I actually keep thinking it's the week OF Christmas already - and then I worry that I'm not in panic mode!

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece - basted & half quilted

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude - quilted!

Star Wall Hanging - finished top & "hanging" on my design wall

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - three blocks behind, planning a catch-up day! Er, probably in January...

LQS Saturday Sampler - November's block done - I really like this one.

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - 50/112 B&W QSTs, 9/36 red strings, 34/175 B&W HST, 32/32 blue squares to become triangles

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Hunter's Star, round two

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

Fall-gyle

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 1

In Progress: 16

Don't check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday - Lee is taking the month off. :)

Check out other BoMs at What a Hoot!

{And check out my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day giveaway here!}

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 16

2011-12-13T13:26:00.000-06:00

I've spent way more than 15 minutes in the sewing room every day this week - it's Christmas Crunch Time!

Tuesday - basted the Grinch

Wednesday - pieced Rudolph

Thursday-Monday - quilted the Grinch, made doll clothes

Monday - borders on Rudolph

So far the Grinch has diamond cross-hatching. I haven't decided if I want to do a couple of extra lines in there. I think it'll depend on time - I need to get Rudolph basted today so I can quilt while the Dude is at school. Rudolph's quilting will be even simpler than the Grinch's, so if I get done by Friday, I can add lines to the Grinch.

I tried drawing the extra lines, but, um, I can't draw with a mouse. I think it will look good {with thread} so I hope I have enough time.

I'm going to spend this week's 15 minutes prepping the binding for both of them, so they'll be good to go by next week. Oh, crap, I need to be ready for Christmas by next week! Okay, I need to spend 15 minutes each day ordering presents, and 15 minutes each day baking cookies, and 15 minutes wrapping presents, and...

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces!

Design Wall Monday - Week 50

2011-12-12T14:14:00.000-06:00

Still nothing! I'm being good and not starting anything until my Christmas sewing is done.

The design wall did make it out of the office to its new locale. It's directly across from the main windows, so it will have lots of natural light...assuming that the sun ever shines again this winter.

The bookshelf to the left will relocate to the Dude's bedroom. On the right, where the wall ends, is our treadmill. I always hated it in the main room because it's the first thing you see from the front door. Now you'll see a quilt! And since the wall is lightweight, I can easily scoot it over when I run.

And the Monday Skorca! update...

I am not following instructions - we are supposed to make 5-1/8" string blocks, cut in half. Unlike red, I don't have blue strings - in fact, I have a lot of large-ish blue pieces. Which is why I chose blue as my main color - I need that bin reduced so I can get the top on it!

So I cut 5.25" squares, assuming that I'll be able to trim up the blocks once they're matched to whatever. Hopefully.

I also didn't cut them in half yet - I don't want the bias edges loose in the box, so I'll cut them when they become blocks.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times, and more Orca Bay progress at Quiltville!

{And check out my Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day giveaway here!}

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day!

2011-12-12T10:29:00.000-06:00

Welcome! I hope you'll take some time to browse in addition to entering the giveaway, and feel free to follow me if you like what you see!

I've finished about a dozen quilts this year, I make felt food for my son's kitchen every Friday, I'm doing a Swoon quilt with three different block sizes, and I'm in the process of moving my sewing room.

While moving the sewing room, I sorted through fabrics and found these two panels.

{Frolic by Sandy Gervais and Love U by Deb Strain}

One was supposed to be the back of my niece's quilt...but I ran out of time to piece it. The other, I have two because I really thought my cousin would have twin girls...but she had boys.

My loss, your gain!

To enter, leave a comment about panels. Do you like them? Do you use them in the front or back of a quilt? Do you leave them as is, or cut them apart and rearrange?

{As usual, if you're a no-reply blogger, make sure you leave an email.}

Mr. Random Generator will pick a winner at 5 p.m. PST on 12/16.

Sunday Stash Report - Week 50

2011-12-11T13:02:00.000-06:00

Let's see... I finished the top for Christmas Stars. Not sure if I'm going to quilt it before Christmas or just tack it to the wall as is.

Two more American Girl dresses - one from stash, one from purchased fabric. They just need minor trimming and velcro in the back.

And I picked up the last block for my LQS's Saturday Sampler.

And the pattern for next year! I'm very excited about this one - simple, classic blocks in solids with a black background. I was happy with the original reproduction fabrics, but I think it's going to be even cooler in solids.

Used this Week: 3

Used Year to Date: 123.91

Added this Week: 0.75

Added Year to Date: 165.45

Net Used for 2011: (41.54) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Chicken Nuggets

2011-12-09T17:15:00.000-06:00

Mmm, quality dining going on here.

I used this tutorial and freehanded blob shapes on two pieces of sandwiched felt.

Those holes? Not big enough to turn the nuggets right side out. Definitely emphasize the curves while stitching - the shapes of the nuggets are the best part. Don't stuff them all the way full, so they lay flatter like nuggets instead of brown blobs.

Next week, donuts. Because why stop with the junk food?

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 39

2011-12-07T17:09:00.000-06:00

Might as well list the Christmas sewing first, since it was the majority of the work!

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece - basted! (no idea on how to quilt it yet...)

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude - top done (colors not nearly this yellow - I had to hide in the office to get a quick shot!)

Star Wall Hanging - finished attaching the borders

Advent Calendar - done!

Hunter's Star, round two - 90 light blue half-blocks, 18/90 dark blue blocks

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - three blocks behind, planning a catch-up day!

Argyle Quilt Along {Fall-gyle} - talked it over with my quilt teacher and I'm not seam ripping, so it's back to top done. Maybe I'll get it quilted along with the Christmas stuff over the next week.

LQS Saturday Sampler - started the HSTs for November's block

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - 50/112 B&W QSTs, 9/36 red strings, 34/175 B&W HST

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 1

In Progress: 16

Don't check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday - Lee is taking the month off. :)

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 15

2011-12-06T17:07:00.000-06:00

Last week was crazy busy, after two weeks of really busy, after a month of busy. But, our squadron holiday party turned out to be a lot of fun, and I have a list of what to do better next year.

I did get a little bit of sewing in the meantime, and finished the Advent Calendar.

Tuesday - added borders

Wednesday - nothing {drove to Wichita for a keg}

Thursday - added borders, cut backing

Friday - nothing {holiday party}

Saturday - quilted

Sunday - added binding

Monday - pressed the Grinch for basting

The back is just muslin with simple quilting. It'll never be anything but a wall hanging, so I don't see the point of a pretty back!

One member of the family is really looking forward to tonight.

The Advent Calendar is from the Moda Bake Shop tutorial. Charms are from 12 Days of Christmas and Merry & Bright. Flying Geese and binding are from my mom's old stash.

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces and more fabric projects at Fabric Tuesday!

Design Wall Monday - Week 49

2011-12-05T13:09:00.000-06:00

Absolutely nothing on the design wall, because I have a pile of stuff to finish elsewhere. Grinch, Christmas Stars - all ready for quilting. Rudolph will not go on the design wall since the Dude kind of lives here.

Plus, there's this...

We have a big open room for the dining room/kitchen/living room in the middle of the house. We don't have a dining room set, so that room started as a book nook. There used to be large bookcases on that wall. Now they're in the office and I'm...not.

And somehow I have to fit all of this in my nook.

I don't even know where my design wall is going to go! Right now, probably in front of the treadmill (which was supposed to move to the office but won't fit through the doorway.)

I guess that's just part of the joy of being a military wife. By the time we settle on an arrangement that fits, it'll be time to move and jigsaw ourselves into a new house.

In between cleaning shelves and moving furniture, I've been cutting squares for Skorca!

I'm trying to resist buying new fabric for it. I have the few dot scraps, and then just four other B&W prints I've been using. Not much variety, but it needs to be used, so... This is 47 of the 88 squares I need to cut to make my HST this way. And then I need to cut 88 whites!

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times, and more Orca Bay progress at Quiltville!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 49

2011-12-04T12:13:00.000-06:00

I am still suffering from a bad cold, but the squadron holiday party is over so maybe now I can recover. I celebrated by finishing the Advent Calendar!

The borders were on for the first day of Advent, and I got it quilted and bound yesterday and this morning. And yeah, I love it. The pockets are the perfect size - Rolos most days, Christmas movies on Saturdays (well, a note to check the DVD player), and Lego mini-figures on Tuesdays.

And the Dude made this! Okay, not completely by himself - he traced, a teacher cut, he sewed, a teacher guided on the curves. And when his teacher was Mom, she tried not to correct his mistakes....too much!

{That's the finished Saturday Sampler behind him.}

On the ins, I won this giveaway at A Quilter's Table. Not only is it a beautiful set of fat quarters - but next year, I'm going to make a Star Wars quilt in solids, so I see some Darth Vader, R2D2 and the Emperor in that pile.

And then there's this! I helped out with the Dude's sewing class yesterday, and my payment was the scraps. Woo!

Used this Week: 2.25

Used Year to Date: 120.91

Added this Week: 2.5

Added Year to Date: 164.70

Net Used for 2011: (43.79) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Potato Chips

2011-12-02T12:20:00.000-06:00

How cute are these??

Made from the Skip To My Lou tutorial - with the added stitching and pinked edges to make ruffles.

I stitched all the chips on one folded sheet before cutting them out.

The Dude designed the bag all by himself.

Next week: chicken nuggets! (I told the Dude people were going to think all he likes is junk food! Remember, there's been fruits and veggies!)

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 38

2011-11-30T17:43:00.001-06:00

This week and especially the last couple of days have been brutal on the sewing front. The Dude was sick - with croup, of all things - which he gave to me in the form of a bad cold. I've been texting and emailing people like mad because I have no voice to talk on the phone, and I'm in the final days of preparing the squadron holiday party. And then my husband came home with a stomach bug.

Thankfully, it will all be over on Friday - at least the holiday party part! And then we can all focus on getting better, and maybe getting some sewing done. The Dude is taking his first sewing class on Saturday - I'm very excited for him!

Hunter's Star, round two - 90 light blue half-blocks, 6/90 dark blue blocks

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - two blocks behind

Argyle Quilt Along {Fall-gyle} - top done until I start seam picking

LQS Saturday Sampler - picked up next month's, haven't started it yet

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - 50/112 B&W QSTs, 9/36 red strings

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece - top and back are pieced, ready for basting

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude - started cutting fabric

Star Wall Hanging - finished attaching the borders

Advent Calendar - my only near finish of the week. It just needs borders, thread clipped, minimal quilting and a wash to get rid of the embroidery guidelines.

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 17

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 14

2011-11-29T08:21:00.000-06:00

This week was all about the Advent Calendar. And then we started celebrating it with the church dates, but our online Advent calendar doesn't start until Dec. 1, so the Dude is thoroughly confused. So we're going with the Dec. 1 start date and I have a little more time to finish the Calendar.

On the wall with no border to keep Days 21-24 in place, no threads clipped, no quilting, no washing to remove the embroidery guidelines...

Tuesday - embroidered 4 days

Wednesday - embroidered 4 days

Thursday - embroidered 4 days

Friday - embroidered 4 days

Saturday - embroidered 4 days

Sunday - embroidered 4 days

Monday - sewed rows together

Between the holiday and having a bad cold, I didn't do much sewing, so it was easy to leave the machine set up for embroidery all week and just line up new numbers each day. Which didn't bode well for actually getting things done other than the embroidery. Doesn't life know I don't have time for a cold during the holiday season?

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces.

Design Wall Monday - Week 48

2011-11-28T12:31:00.000-06:00

Still Christmas Stars, still so close to being done.

The two side borders are attached now, and I decided I'm just going to bind it with the red instead of adding another border. Which means I should really just get it done instead of playing with....

Skorca!

The directions for step two call for 3.5" string blocks. I planned on just cutting 3.5" blocks because I don't have that many strings and I'm not going to cut some just for this. Then I checked my red scraps.

Uh, okay... They're almost all strings!

So now I'm six blocks in, powering through some stringy scraps and having way too much fun with these little things.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times, and more Orca Bay progress at Quiltville!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 48

2011-11-27T19:03:00.000-06:00

I accept that I'm not going to come close to zero in the next month. Maybe, maybe, close to -25? But it gives me a goal to beat for next year. That's, um, good?

I didn't quite finish the Advent calendar. It should be done, though unquilted, tomorrow.

I did buy this little stack - my only Black Friday purchases.

A yard of Grand Finale for Swoon borders and candy cane stripe to bind Rudolph and the Grinch. The Rudolph fabric came in the mail - one yard of the white for sashing, three yards of the red for backing and borders. I adore the red. It's going to be a great little quilt.

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 118.66

Added this Week: 5.75

Added Year to Date: 162.20

Net Used for 2011: (43.54) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Turkey

2011-11-25T15:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I used this tutorial, complete with removable drumsticks.
I didn't love the size of the bone compared to the drumstick, so mine ended up a bit funky looking after some trimming.
The Dude has already removed the drumsticks and turned them into...drumsticks.

Next week: potato chips! (Never browse felt food blogs with your son looking over your shoulder.)

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 37

2011-11-23T16:20:00.000-06:00

Lots of little finishes this week. Like...

...a Swoon block.

...90 light blue half-blocks for Hunter's Star, round two - halfway!

Quilt-Alongs:

Fat Quarter Stars - two blocks behind, but I whipped this week's together quickly. I think I was supposed to use my neutral. I'm probably going to take it apart and redo it. It's really bugging me.

Argyle Quilt Along {Fall-gyle} - top done until I start seam picking

LQS Saturday Sampler - need to pick up next month's, and do last month's

Quiltville Orca Bay {Skorca!} - 26/112 QSTs - I'm doing a half-size quilt...though 37x42" might be too small. When it's over and I know the design, I might add a row or two. Also, I'm doing "draw-and-sew-and-cut-and-press-and-draw-and-sew-and-cut-and-press" method, so I'm well over halfway.

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece - top done! And the back is pieced, so all I have to do is figure out how to quilt it.

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude - the fabric arrived yesterday!

Star Wall Hanging - finished piecing the borders

Advent Calendar - made the flying geese units and started machine embroidering them

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 17

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 13

2011-11-22T10:56:00.000-06:00

15 minutes a day and I have a Grinch quilt top!

{I know, it's really wrinkled.}

Tuesday - measured & cut red border

Wednesday - sewed red border

Thursday - measured and cut white border

Friday - sewed top/bottom borders

Saturday - cut flying geese squares for Advent Calendar

Sunday - sewed charms for Advent Calendar

Monday - sewed side borders

I realized this weekend that the first holiday deadline I had was Nov. 27 for Advent...and I hadn't started the Advent Calendar yet. I'm doing this one from Moda Bake Shop, and boy they're not kidding when they say it's easy.

Whipped this pile up in no time. I'm going to let the embroidery machine add the numbers, and this sucker should be on the wall in no time.

I'm also combining linky parties again. Over at the Quilter's Table, she hosts a recipe link up on Tuesdays. I'm not a great cook and all my recipes are from Alton Brown or All Recipes. However, I do have my favorite sweet potatoes recipe from my mother. Copied directly from her email to me.

peel and cut up the sweet potatoes

put in your pan with a little bit of water, half cup maybe
then put in some brown sugar - a cup maybe, a cup and a half? whatever looks good. I usually pinch off about 2 inches in the bag and just dump that in
about 2 tablespoons of margarine
sprinkle a little tiny bit of salt
cook until the potatoes are soft, maybe 25 minutes?
you have to turn the light down after they boil
then thicken the liquid with cornstarch mixed with water - maybe a tablespoon of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water?

Don't you love the exacting details of a family recipe? It's still usually the only thing I get right.

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces and other holiday recipes at A Quilter's Table!

Design Wall Monday - Week 47

2011-11-21T16:09:00.000-06:00

I'm combining link parties with this one.

First up, the design wall - Christmas Stars Wall Hanging.

I mentioned I was sewing the side 2.5" squares as leaders/enders. Except I never actually counted how many I'd need. My plan was two rows, to line up with the skaters on the top and bottom. Um, obviously I went past that. Luckily my Advent calendar will be the same fabrics, so I guess it's going to be getting a 2.5" squares border, too.

Second, Orca Bay. Which has already been renamed Skorca. Which is my favorite Penguins of Madagascar episode of all time. What? You don't have a favorite episode? You must not live with a six year old boy.

Bonnie said red is the most prominent, then black, then blue. My scrap bins said blue (the sky) is the most prominent, then black (the orca), then...um...maybe a touch of red?

{Skorca! Aaah! Who can be safe from the terror that swims the skies?}

3.25" squares are slowly becoming HSTs, which will be turned into the required QSTs. Skipper will be guarding the project.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times, and more Orca Bay progress at Quiltville!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 47

2011-11-20T09:54:00.000-06:00

This week's finishes are all pink! I'm so thankful for a niece and friends with daughters.

Ballet slipper bags, with tutus

Pink burp rags

Doll dress, modeled by my Cabbage Patch doll, Dorothy Kathryn. It's actually for an American Girl and not quite finished - I need to gather the waist a little more and hem it. But DK won't fit in it once the waist is gathered. Her poor arms barely fit as is.

Used this Week: 1.21

Used Year to Date: 118.66

Added this Week: 0.5

Added Year to Date: 156.45

Net Used for 2011: (37.79) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Steelers Quilt - Finished!

2011-11-19T09:36:00.000-06:00

Um, finally!

{My husband mumbles something about football season starting months ago.}

The design is my own, for the Xs and Os in a playbook. Also, hugs and kisses - but don't tell my husband that.

The yellow is The Name Game by Quilt Country (Moda), the black is Kona, and the Steelers fabric is...Steelers fabric.

It's backed in yellow minkee, and you can see a bit of the quilting. I outlined the Os, did three parallel lines through the Xs, cross-hatched the black border and did three straight lines with a cross in the yellow border.

Some of the quilting from the front.

All of the little HSTs in the second border are leftover double-stitched from the blocks. I still have a little pile of them to make a matching throw pillow. Lucky, lucky me.

It measures 53x63".

My husband is hoping it will get a lot of use in playoff season.

{linked to Whoop Whoop Fridays and Fabric Tuesday.}

Felt Food Friday - Squash

2011-11-18T16:54:00.000-06:00

Squishy squash!

Yet another one from the Simplicity 2445 pattern, and here's a similar tutorial. I didn't make the top right - I found it impossible to flip right side out, so I just cut a strip and looped it over.

Next week is Thanksgiving, so of course we're having a turkey!

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 36

2011-11-16T12:48:00.000-06:00

I missed making Swoon blocks. And I love how the corners in this one swirl.

Tried something new for this one - pressing the seams open. It's a very bulky block, especially in the 8" size. I found that my points weren't as neat, but it lays much flatter. I think in the future, I'll do a mix of open and nested seams.

The back is prettier, though.

Oh, and don't you just hate when you find out someone else is doing your "thing"? Cupcakes 'n' Daisies made a 6.75" Swoon block. And I thought 8" was small!

Finished quilting the Steelers Quilt, but it's too cloudy and windy outside for glamour shots. So have a sneak peek for now.

Hunter's Star, round two - 84/90 light blue half-blocks - halfway home stretch! The next strip will be half light and half dark!

Quilt-Alongs:
Fat Quarter Stars - two blocks behind (still! ugh!)

Argyle Quilt Along - top done until I start seam picking

LQS Saturday Sampler - won't be going this month, so pushed to the back burner

Quiltville Orca Bay - starts 11/18

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece - sashed out and border #1 is on

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude

Star Wall Hanging - me

Advent Calendar - me

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 1

In Progress: 17

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 12

2011-11-15T08:50:00.000-06:00

My fifteen minutes of Christmas sewing were the only non-craft-show sewing I got to do this week, so I'm very grateful for the forced opportunity to do some piecing.

Tuesday - pieced Rows 1 & 2

Wednesday - pieced Rows 3 & 4

Thursday - pieced sashing, Rows 1 & 2

Friday - pieced sashing, Rows 3 & 4

Saturday - nothing :(

Sunday - pieced all rows together

Monday - pieced backing, started plan for borders

It definitely needs a skinny red border to tie it all together. Then I have green and white Grinch-y fabric for the back, of which I can cut 3" borders. I think. I need to double check my math before cutting!

As leaders and enders, I pieced 2.5" squares for the Christmas Stars.

So now I have a box full of those to press and add as a border. Which needs to be done before I can start the Advent Calendar, which will be made of the leftover charms.

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces!

Design Wall Monday - Week 46

2011-11-14T15:58:00.000-06:00

Still the Grinch, just a little more seamed together than this picture.

All the rows are together and I'm working on the sashing.

But not until after I do something about this...

{I think my cutting mat is on that table somewhere...}

My sewing table went to the craft show and I'm not putting it back until things are a little more organized. My husband really wants to turn on his space heater and I really don't want him to burn down ~~my fabric~~ the house.

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 46

2011-11-13T09:04:00.000-06:00

Due to the craft show this weekend, very little normal sewing took place.

I decided on a whim to make pretty burp rags to sell.

I didn't really make a dent in my bin of novelty fabric (sad, isn't it?) but it did make a small dent in my stash report! Nothing else from the craft show counts - it's all leftover from last year. I'll be listing things on my Facebook page over the next week if you have a desperate need for an OSU burp rag. And who doesn't, really?

I also get to count the Steelers Quilt out! It's not completely done - I'm still burying and clipping threads - but it's close enough. Unfortunately, it's backed in minkee, and since that's 60" wide, I didn't have to buy very much!

Used this Week: 5.33

Used Year to Date: 117.45

Added this Week: 0

Added Year to Date: 155.95

Net Used for 2011: (38.5) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Strawberries

2011-11-11T17:00:00.000-06:00

Strawberries with a basket!

What? Strawberries are so not in season. This was the best I could do.

I used the Simplicity 2445 pattern, but this is a great tutorial and way easier. I used gold floss with a running stitch for my seeds, and hot-glued the tops on.

The basket is from this tutorial - I used stiff felt in 2" strips. It was actually very easy and I only had to stitch one spot. The rest will stay together on its own. (With 6-year-old play. Can not guarantee similar results with younger ages.)

And I love the blue stripe.

Next week, squash! We're prepping for Thanksgiving dinner in the felt kitchen.

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 35

2011-11-09T15:29:00.000-06:00

Fall-gyle is done...and not done.

I rushed to have it done and on display at a craft show this weekend, and some of the seams don't match. Not many, but enough that it's driving me nuts. I don't want to display something that's not perfect. I'm okay with being anal.

So I'm going to keep quilting the Steelers Quilt. I can get that done and bound easily before Saturday, and I have a couple others to display and some unquilted tops.

I also have all my craft-y stuff all over the living room - crayon rolls, burp rags, fleece scarves... OSU better not lose on Saturday!

Hunter's Star, round two - 72/90 light blue half-blocks

Quilt-Alongs:
Fat Quarter Stars - two blocks behind

Argyle Quilt Along - top done until I start seam picking

LQS Saturday Sampler - won't be going this month, so pushed to the back burner

Quiltville Orca Bay - starts 11/18.

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude

Star Wall Hanging - me

Advent Calendar - me

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels

Swoon A Little, Swoon A Lot

Awaiting Quilting:

Sunkissed Jewel Box

Steelers Quilt

Bad Romance

Layer Cake Quilt Along

Hunter's Star

New Projects: 0

Completed Projects: 0

In Progress: 18

Check out more at Work in Progress Wednesday!

Fifteen Minute Challenge - Week 11

2011-11-08T11:07:00.000-06:00

This is the week that I finally started Christmas sewing! Or at least planning it...

Tuesday - measured Grinch motifs and created a plan

Wednesday - measured Rudolph motifs, created a plan, ordered fabric

Thursday - cut Grinch motifs to size

Friday - added border to Christmas Stars, decided on second border

Saturday - ironed, started cutting Grinch sashing

Sunday - cut Grinch sashing

Monday - laid out Grinch

And here's what the Grinch will look like! Minus borders, of course.

Check out how others are managing their time at Life in Pieces!

Design Wall Monday - Week 45

2011-11-07T08:44:00.000-06:00

The last third of the Fall-gyle quilt.

My design wall might not be in the best place for pictures, but since it's behind the office door, I can easily tape my pattern up to follow. Then when the door is open, everything is neatly hidden from view.

Should be done with this quilt by this afternoon!

Check out more design walls at Patchwork Times!

Sunday Stash Report - Week 45

2011-11-06T11:20:00.000-06:00

So...experienced my first earthquake last night. I slept through the one on Saturday morning, but was awake for the record-breaking 5.6 earthquake on Saturday night. I thought it was the wind, at first - everything is the wind in Oklahoma.

We're starting to become magnets for bad weather - an earthquake, a rare heat burst in June, hottest summer on record, 2nd largest amount of snowfall in Spokane history, tornadoes hitting three different towns within two weeks of us moving there... We'll give fair warning to the next place we move.

In stash news, I bought 3 yards for backing the Fall-gyle quilt.

Nothing out - I'm still working on quilting the Steelers quilt. I should have both quilts done this week - I really want both on display at my annual craft show!

Used this Week: 0

Used Year to Date: 112.78

Added this Week: 3

Added Year to Date: 155.95

Net Used for 2011: (44.17) yards

Check out how everyone else is doing on Patchwork Times!

Felt Food Friday - Banana Redux

2011-11-04T18:32:00.000-05:00

And this banana turned out so much better.

I ended up cutting an extra piece of the pattern (Simplicity 2445) to make the peel fit.

I also made a regular banana, in case he needs one of those. You never know.

Up next: strawberries! And a basket for them!

Work in Progress Wednesday - Week 34

2011-11-02T11:52:00.000-05:00

I really don't know how you people with jobs do this. I've been running around like mad organizing fundraisers and venues for our squadron's holiday party, and when I get home, I don't have the energy to do a Swoon block.

I started piecing my Fall-gyle top instead - because offset seams and bias edges are so much easier than a Swoon block. Only 3/4ths of it fit on my design wall.

I'm also quilting the Steelers Quilt. This is my first "custom" quilting. I did three outlining lines in black on the Xs, and I'm switching to gold thread in the Os - unfortunately, this means a lot of knots to bury since the Os don't touch! Each border will get Xed and Oed in contrasting thread, as well.

A finish!

I got it done before Halloween, even.

Hunter's Star, round two - 60/90 light blue half-blocks

Quilt-Alongs:
Fat Quarter Stars - already behind a block

Argyle Quilt Along - started piecing

LQS Saturday Sampler - won't be going this month, so pushed to the back burner

Quiltville Orca Bay - I know, I have way too many projects, and Bonnie's quilts have an insane amount of piecing, and I'm far too controlling to do a "mystery" quilt... But I think I'm going to anyway. Starts 11/18.

Christmas Sewing:

Grinch panel quilt - niece

Rudolph panel quilt - the Dude

Star Wall Hanging - me

Advent Calendar - me

Untouched This Week:

Frolicking Pinwheels