Quilting in a Cold Front

Finally!! A cold front in Florida!!!  Well, cold at least for South Florida.  It's 1pm and only 60'F outside - I love it!  Unfortunately it will only last for about a day and then we will be back to the high 70's/low 80's.

I spent the weekend straightening the sewing room and working on my blocks for the Simply Modern Bee I'm participating in.  January is my month and I choose the colors red and aqua.  I made my block today as well as the block for my fellow Queen Bee who also choose red and aqua.  While I was at it I decided to make the February blocks since I know this month will be a bit busy.  The February Queen's choose shades of purple and purple and green for their blocks.

I'm still playing in the sewing room today and hope to finish a few more blocks on my Spin Cycle quilt.  I only have 15 to go!  I'm trying to be good and finish that project before I start the next one.  I just added a bunch of neutrals to my stash and can't wait to start working with them.

On the knitting front, I finally finished my Derecho Shawl that I was doing as part of a KAL with my friends who went with me to SAFF.  I love the colors!

Great start to the holidays....

...I came down sick and the washer did actually break.

Good news is the garage floor is now pristine clean because of the flood of water.  Also I was able to spend Friday at Sit-n-Sew at StitchCraft and finished four more blocks of my Spin Cycle quilt, had lunch with my friends and bought some new fabric.  I'll post pictures later when I'm feeling better.

For now...

Happy Holidays!!!!

Quilting and broken water heaters

Friday night my DH was doing laundry (I know! He does laundry!! Lucky me!) when we noticed water on the garage floor.  At first we thought our washing machine had finally gave up the good fight, but it turns out our water heater was the culprit.  On Saturday while I was waiting for my DH to get home so we could buy the new water heater I did a little quilting.

I was able to get all the quilting done on my Carpenter Star quilt.  I outline quilted the star and did a meandering stitch in the background.

I tried to take a picture of the back to show the quilting.

 

Hopefully today I'll find the time to sew the binding on so I can spend this week doing the hand sewing.  This quilt will be donated to Project Linus.

On a happy note, we successfully installed the new water heater last night!  The house is back in working order.

We have a winner!!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by on the Blog Hop Party!  I received so many wonderful comments and tried to respond to everyone but unfortunately I couldn't.  I do want you to know that I read every comment.  There were so many wonder fabric collections and designers mentioned, some that I had to Google.  My wishlist has just grown and I'm hoping to purchase a few pieces from some of these collections to add to my stash.

Here is just a sampling of some of the "must haves" that were mentioned:

Honey Honey (of course - my favorite)
Saltwater
Notting Hill
Architexture
Noteworthy
Flirt
Ticklish
Paris Flea Market
anything by Kaffe Fassett
Lotta Jansdotter's "Glimma"
Kokka Japan, Trefle Matroyshkas
Pam Kitty Love

Now on to the best part - the winner!  Up for grabs was a Gees Bend Quilt Kit.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

79

Timestamp: 2012-12-16 15:25:47 UTC

Julie December 11, 2012 12:20 AM

I don't have a must have collection....I'm up for anything!

Congratulations Julie!!  I will be sending you an email shortly!!

Blog Hop Party!!

The Quilting Gallery is celebrating it's 5th birthday with a Blog Hop Party!!!  Be sure to stop by and visit the Quilting Gallery and the other blog's participating in the Hop! 

 

Thank you for stopping by and visiting A Fiber Freak!  My name is Carolyn and I have been quilting for about 20 years.  I took some time off for a number of years but with the recent interest in Modern Quilting, I have been inspired to dust off the old sewing machine and get back to quilting.  There are so many fabulous fabric collections available today that it's so hard to decide at times what to add to the stash or work on next - I want them all!!!!

I try to quilt as much as I can but I also knit, crochet and tat so I can have many projects going at once and  much to share.  I started my blog as a journal of my projects and hopefully provide a bit of inspiration to others since I've been inspired by so many great quilting blogs. 

I'm currently working on a Spin Cycle quilt for my niece who is planning on joining the Air Force this summer.  I've only completed six of the twenty-five blocks but I'm confident I will have it done in plenty of time before she leaves us.

Now for the best part - a GIVEAWAY!!!  I am offering a Gee's Bend Quilt Kit by Windham Fabrics in the "Housetop Nine Block" pattern by Annie E. Pettway.  The kit includes the pattern and fabric to make the quilt (except backing fabric).

To win this fabulous kit please leave a comment telling me about your must have fabric collection.  I can't wait to get my hands on Kate Spain's "Honey Honey" collection.  It would be great if you also became a follower of my blog but not necessary to enter the giveaway.  The giveaway is open until midnight eastern time on December 15th.  I will randomly choose a winner from all comments on December 16th.  Please be sure your email address is available in your profile or comment (no email means no entry).  Sorry, the giveaway is not available for international shipping - US only.

The giveaway is now closed.  A winner will be announced shortly.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy the Blog Hop!

Just a little baking

Last night when I was supposed to be working on finishing the binding on my quilt:

I took this:

And transformed it into 7 dozen cookies - too many??

It's that time of year again for the annual cookie swap with my friends.  I'm looking forward to seeing all the goodies this year.  I made a family favorite - Brickle Drop Cookies.  I did make an apron to use during the holidays but I didn't want to get it dirty (go figure), but I'll be sure to use it tomorrow when I'm making latkes!  Mmmm!  It was a simple panel that I bought at Joann's and made in an hour - my kind of project!

Don't forget to stop back tomorrow for a giveaway!  I'm so excited!

Diva Dog II

I recently had a request to make another Diva Dog Quilt.  This is one of my favorite quilts, it's pink AND the fabric has Chinese Cresteds on it!!!!  I've been working on this quilt the past three nights after working all day and am very surprised with myself that I am already ready to hand sew the binding down.  Hopefully I'll get that done over the next few nights in between knit night, baking cookies, attending the monthly BOM at my LQS, knitting again and Hanukkah dinner - PHEW!

I'm participating in the Simply Modern Bee on Flickr and received my second block in the mail!!!  I'm one of two Queen bee's for January.  We both selected red and aqua as our colors.  My second block arrived from Renae and I LOVE the polka dots!!!

I also received my block from Rachel.  I'm getting excited for January to get here and see the rest of the blocks!

Don't forget to stop back on December 9th for a giveaway!!

More bee blocks and a KAL

I finally had time to return to my sewing room for the first time in a few weeks.  I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family but it is so tiring.  I spent the weekend finishing up some bee blocks.  The first is for the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild Bee.  The December Queen requested a shoo fly block using a text fabric that she provided.  I really like this block.

I also made the December blocks for the Simply Modern Bee.  One lady requested a block using yellow and gray fabrics and the other lady choose blues.

I was able to finish piecing a quilt top today that I will be donating to Project Linus.  I made a carpenter star using HST's.  I need to find time now to get it quilted.

On the knitting front, my friend K-Ro has been trying to distract me from knitting on my Derecho shawl.  We are making it as part of a KAL with our friend Charity.  I just started section 6 and K-Ro keeps placing Jedi mind tricks on me to distract me from knitting.  See K-Ro!! It's working!!  Tonight, I'm updating my blog instead of knitting!!  BUT, football is on tonight so I'll get quite a bit done this evening.

Remember to stop back on December 9th for the Blog Hop Party - there will be a giveaway!!

 

I just have to share a picture of my little man dreaming in his sock monkey bed.

Cathedral Window QAL

Last night I finally finished piecing the top to my Cathedral Window QAL that I've been participating in for the last two months.  I really love the end result, now I just need to figure out how I'm going to quilt it.  Some of the blocks are very thick because of all the fabric used to make the windows.  The quilt is also very heavy!

I'm also participating in the Simply Modern Bee online and we are doing the Garden Fence block by Hyacinth Quilt Designs.  It's an easy block that I've done before as part of the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild Bee.  There are two Queen Bee's for the month of November, one requested a block with orange/light blue/aqua colors, the other request purple and olive green.  I'm going to try and get them in the mail tomorrow.

On the knitting front, I made a Helvellyn hood last week using Araucania Limari yarn from my stash.  I have no idea why I would need a bulky wool hood in South Florida, but it was a fun knit and will probably come in handy when we take the Chevelle out for a drive on a cold winter night.

I've also been working making another Noro Striped Scarf since I've given away the last two I've made.  I'm using Noro Taiyo and Malabrigo Worsted (from the stash!!).  I love the color combination.

I'm getting ready to start the Derecho shawl as part of a KAL with my friends that I went to SAFF with.  I'll be using the Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock yarn that I bought at SAFF.  I love the colors....coral, slate and sugar!  So pretty!

I've continued to practice my new skill, tatting, and I finished a bookmark pattern that I found online.  It is shuttle tatted using size 20 thread.

My first tatting project!

I did it ! I completed my first tatting project, a little (and I mean little) butterfly.  Next I think I'll try something a little more complicated.

Recovering from SAFF

SAFF was a blast!!!  There was so much to see and buy.  It was great to see all the animals.  I really wanted to take one home!  I did stay within my budget and purchased some great yarns from Miss Babs, Unplanned Peacock, Fibro Fibers and Dragonfly Fibers.  My tatting class was great fun.  The first day it took me the full class hour before I could make two stitches correctly but by the next day I had it figured out.  I need to keep practicing and trying to get my picots all the same size, but I'm looking forward to making my first project.

We had time to visit the Black Mountain Yarn Shop in Black Mountain, NC on Thursday.  Donna was so friendly and had a great selection of yarns (and sweater quantities!).  We were very excited to see a full display of Mad Tosh!

Off to SAFF!!!

I'm leaving in less than eight hours for SAFF!!!  I've signed up for a tatting class.  I hope it's not to hard and I can figure it out.

I'm hoping to get lots of yummy yarn.  Hopefully I'll be recovered enough on Monday to post pictures (and get caught up on my quilt blocks).

Blocks, blocks and more blocks

I finished the next two blocks that are part of the Cathedral Window Sampler QAL.  I have two more to try and complete this weekend so I don't get behind on them since I'll be at SAFF next weekend!!

I also finished the October block for the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild Bee.  The October Queen Bee asked for the Japanese X and + block with an inspiration of sky, plants and water.

And I'm slowly making progress on my Spin Cycle quilt.  This will be a busy weekend trying to get ready for SAFF.  I have knitting projects to finish and the stressful decision of deciding what knitting projects to pack!  I have four blocks completed and I hope I can get a few more done this weekend.

Let's Strip It

I saw a great tutorial at the Missouri Quilt Co. using a jelly roll.  The pattern is from 3 Dudes Quilting called Let's Strip It.  It looked so easy and fun that I wanted to give it a try.  I've had a jelly roll of heart themed fabrics in my stash for awhile that I purchased at a LQS.  No idea why I bought, I probably figured I'd make something for my nieces but they outgrew the fabric.  So it was perfect to experiment with.  I finished the quilt top about a year ago but finally did the quilting and binding during the last few weekends. 

Under the Sea

I like to make small or miniature quilts.  I find it too hot here in South Florida to really use quilts but I love to make them (just like I love to knit but have no need for heavy wool items) so I like to make small ones to use as wall hangings.  I saw the "Under the Sea" quilt in the Darlene Zimmerman book "Fat Quarter and Small Quilts".  I love the simplicity of it and that it was just two colors.  I found two batik fabrics that seemed very calming to me and reminded me of the ocean.  I quilted the blocks with a criss-cross pattern and echo quilted the border of the quilt.

There were a lot of little pieces to sew together, but I really love it and think it would also make a great table topper in perhaps a fall colorway.  I found some great batik fabrics recently with a fall feel so I'm sure I'll be making another one soon.

On the cutting table...

This weekend I finished quilting a quilt that I pieced together about a year ago.  It's been a rainy weekend here so I wasn't able to get any pictures.

Last week I signed up for the Cathedral Window Sampler QAL.  Throughout the month of October, nine tutorials will be posted (two each week) for unique interpretations of the Cathedral Window block.  I've completed the first two blocks and am using fabric from Denyse Schmidt's Richmond collection.  And of course there are fabulous prizes to win!

In addition to completing the blocks for the QAL.  I cut out the fabric for my next quilt, Spin Cycle from Cluck Cluck Sew.  I love this pattern and the quilt will hopefully be finished in time for Christmas.  I found a fat quarter bundle of the Journeys fabric collection by Kathy Davis at TUESDAY MORNING!!!  I selected the lavender, blue and green fabrics from the collection to use in the quilt.

Vote Now

I entered the quilt that I made for baby Camryn in the weekly quilt contest at Quilting Gallery.  The theme for this weeks contest is "Quilts for Little Ones".  Please visit the site and see all of the fabulous quilts - especially Camryn's quilt "Life's A Hoot".