Tuesday, October 30, 2012

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.



Monday, October 29, 2012

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!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

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).

Friday, October 19, 2012

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!!

cathedral window QAL block 3

cathedral window QAL block 4

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.

october QAL block

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.

spin cycle block



Sunday, October 14, 2012

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. 

jelly roll heart quilt

jelly roll heart quilt close up

jelly roll strip quilt back

Monday, October 8, 2012

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.

Under the Sea quilt closeup

Under the Sea 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.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

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!

Cathedral Window Sampler QAL

cathedral window QAL block #1

Cathedral Window QAL Block 2

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.

Cutting Table - Spin Cycle Quilt


Saturday, October 6, 2012

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".

life's a hoot quilt 002

Weekly 
Themed Quilt Contests


Friday, October 5, 2012

K-Ro's Challenge

My friend K-Ro and I visited a quilt shop last year and we found this large allover floral fabric from the "Isabella" line designed by Lila Tueller for Riley Blake.

I loved the fabric, but K-Ro wondered how you would even use it in a quilt.  Thus the challenge was born.  I purchase a few fabrics while we were at the store, not quite knowing what I was going to do at the time.  Then I found a pattern from the M'Liss Rae Hawley book "Phenomenal Fat Quarter Quilts".  I fussy cut the flowers to feature them in the center of the blocks and carefully cut the borders making sure I kept the pattern on the fabric facing the same direction.  I quilted it with wavy vertical lines.  I think I was quite successful in the challenge.  Now I should challenge her....


flower challenge quilt closeup

flower challenge quilt 2

flower challenge quilt 3




Wednesday, October 3, 2012

All the Pretty Pooches

A few years ago I found this adorable fabric called "Pretty Pooches" by Michael Miller fabrics.  I bought yards of it.  Why you ask?  CHINESE CRESTEDS !!! I can't resist anything with little naked Crestie's on it, especially if it's pink.  I wanted a quilt with a simple pattern with the focus on the main fabric.  I settled on a basic nine patch pattern using coordinating fabrics keeping to the pink, black and white color scheme.  I quilted the dog fabric using a meandering quilting pattern and used a basic back and forth design in the pink squares and border.  I think this makes an adorable little quilt.  I'm thinking about offering it for sale, but it will be so hard to part with.

Pretty Pooches Nine Patch Quilt

Pretty Pooches Nine Patch Quilt

Pretty Pooches Nine Patch Quilt


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

I'm still knitting...

I haven't given up on knitting.  I know lately I've been posting more about the quilts then the knits but I've had a few knitting projects that have taken awhile to finish.  My mom has accepted that knitting is one hobby too many for her, so she sent me her yarn.  I recently finished this sweater for her.

moms sweater

I also finished knitting a shawl for my mom that seemed to take forever.   Once it's blocked I'll post some pictures.  In the meantime I'm on a knitting deadline trying to finish a special project before I leave for SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair) in North Carolina at the end of the month.

Untitled

I'm looking forward to the trip as I'll be traveling with two friends from my knit group.  I also signed up for a beginning tatting course which should be fun.  Check back at the end of the month as I'll be sure to post photo's from the trip.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Ticker Tape Scrap Quilt

Not long ago I gave a sneak peak of a pile of scraps that were to become my next project.

scraps for ticker tape quilt

I've seen the ticker tape quilts online and thought it would be a quick fun project to make a little wall hanging for my sewing room.  I made the little quilt in an afternoon.

ticker tape quilt

Ticker Tape Quilt

And of course, I have to have a Chinese Crested on it!!

Ticker Tape Quilt closeup