Leap day giveaway and new FO Feb

Yep, I'm having a give away.  But you have to look at all the new projects I started this month before I show you what I'm giving away - hint I've been on a jelly roll binge lately

New FOs for Feb :  

• Made in cherry, this one is more like made in sunshine (made in lemon doesn't seem right) 
• Zig Zag skill build - I'll quilt a different pattern on each row
• Fun with Strips 
• Sea Shards - I need help figuring out what to do with block 20 - I only had enough of the sea glass left overs for 19 blocks - dang so close

Made in Cherry

Zig Zag Skill Builder

Fun with Stripes - Donation quilt 3

Sea Shards

Stash report - it's too depressing I can't keep doing it.  I buy a lot of fabric, I make a lot of quilts, it all still fits in half of my closet.  I'm sending my kids to college and paying my bills.  As long as the priorities are right and it fits in the closet, I'm giving up the tracking.  Now watch, since I said that I won't buy any fabric for 3 months - ok lets just say 1.

Now for the Giveaway - I'm giving away a Jelly Roll  (surprise :)  Moda Bella Solids warm tones.  All you have to do is leave a comment between now and when I wake up in the morning on 3/1 and choose the winner.  That's easy right?

Stop by Cat Patches to see all the new creations that were started in Feb

And then check out Such a Sew and Sew for all the other leap day giveaways

Design Wall Monday

Sea Glass

I was sick most of the week with a kidney infection so not as much sewing as usual.  I was literally in bed for 3 days waiting for  those antibiotics to start working, this was after a double dose in the emergency room.  Can't remember the last time I spent that much continuous time in bed.  But never fear, those antibiotics came to the rescue and I was able to get some sewing done on Saturday.  Now that really is what made me feel better :)

Sea Shards

    
I finished Sea Glass.  This is my project fo the Jan Color Palette Challenge.   I know I'm a little behind :) I also did  a little work on the left over strings.  I cut up all the scraps I had with these colors and getting two quilts out of it.  This one I'm call Sea Shards since it's the left overs from the glass.  There was a tiny little problem.  Only enough shards for 19 blocks.  Dang it and I thought they were going on forever.  So I made another block.  Kinda like what I thought the fish might see if there were a beautiful sunset.  Ya, that's all I could come up with - hey I've been sick :)  If you have any ideas on what to do with that last block, let me know. I'm just doing a simple grey sashing all the way around and then a 3 inch border.   It's not easy trying to use up those  scraps.

Swoon Blocks

And last, I did get two more Swoon blocks done. 



Linking up with

FMQ Challenge - Feb Feathers

 I did two sets of feathers.  One on my DSM and one on Long Arm.  I'm fairly comfortable doing feathers on my DSM but have only been at the long arm for a couple of months now.  I choose a new pattern that I had not sewn on either machine.  Used the same fabric and the same thread.  When I do feathers, I mark the spine and add a few registration marks that show the general shape of the feathers, very easy marking.  What do you think, can you tell which was done on the DSM and which was done on the long arm? 

Stop by SewCalGal and see how others are doing with the feathers.  And if you have seen it already, Diane Gaudynski  has a great tutorial up.  I have both of her books and use them on a regular basis.

Design Wall Monday

After I finished Labyrinth I needed something easy to work on.  I had a number of stripe fabrics that I really want to make Autumn Blaze (Oct/Nov 11 Quilt Magazine).   And last week was the week for that quilt.  I had just enough for 9 blocks and the binding. The blocks were big, 15 in.  I added some borders to look like stripes.  The back is all my left over flannel, pieced together like stripes.  Calling this one "Fun with Stripes".  I was finally able to use my bobbin cam for a panto.  Oh goodness what a difference that makes!  being able to do the panto from the front is so much better for me.  I gained better control when I started using the micro handles.  I still need to practice, but at least now I feel like someday I'll get there.   This is the same pattern I want to use on Beach Glass.  I took the picture before the binding was put on while there was still sunlight. It's all done now.  This will be donation quilt number 3.

And speaking of Beach glass, I used the left over strings and made some blocks.  15.5 blocks!  Guess I just don't know how to estimate the number of strings needed for anything :)  Not sure what I'll do with them but it was nice to have both of these easy projects.

UPDATE:  Made in Cherry - done.  I made mine with charm squares (not cut down) so mine is  a little bit bigger.  I'm going to use this for one of the guest beds in our house.

Linking up:

 

FNSI

I'm pooped!!!  I sewed until I can't sew anymore.  I need another practice quilt before I quilt sea glass.  And this is it, fun with stripes.  I'm trying to make my donation quilts geared more towards boys and teenagers.  Quilts for kids and project linus need male quilts.  I do love making the little girly ones though and have a stash of pinks just waiting to be used.  Wait, back to the boy quilt.....Ok, so what do you think does this say Boy???  It's got purple in there and just a tiny hint of pink in one of the stripes.  But I think it's a "manly" purple and the pink just isn't noticed.See the green at the bottom from the wall?  I think I want to add one last border, just a tiny bit of green.  But I'm too tired to decide right now.  Good night!

Labyrinth Quilt is done and ready to ship

Steve and Lindsey's Wedding Quilt - Labyrinth

The binding it on, the markings are all washed out and it's ready to be shipped to the newlyweds :)  I'm so glad to have this one done.  You know what is worse than marking a quilt?  Remarking it cuz ya did it wrong.  But someone learned how to do ruler work :)  . Congratulations to Steve and Lindsey, the newest Mr and Mrs Daurio!!!  Linking up with Sarah, stop by to see what everyone is Whooping about.  And tonight is FNSI night, I'll be working on something easy!

the back

front details

back details - the back is flannel, nice and soft

done

The quilting is done!!

So excited, will post more details later, but here's a peak at the back. Still have to get the binding done and was the markings out on the front.  Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wed

Design Wall Monday

Ever have one of those projects that keeps fighting you all the way?   First it was the marking and then it was the quilting.  I was so close to completing the quilting this weekend but just had to stop. There's always next weekend.  Here's how it looks from the floor :) 
The back of the quilt is what is showing. You can see the top of the quilt here

This was really hard to spend a long stretch of time on so I had to take breaks every couple of hours.  I need something SIMPLE to do.  I've seen a few zig zag quilts lately and was thinking I wanted to try one until I saw one quilted, and then I knew I had to try one.  I found a tutorial here They used 3 inch strips, I just a Jelly roll. Actually two jelly rolls.  You need two strips of the same color to go across if you want a strip to be all the same fabric.  I'm going to use this as a skill builder.  Look at how Addicted to Fabric quilted hers   She did something different in each zig zag (is that the right way to say it :)  So perfect for skill building.  I"ll be picking out the different designs that I want in each row (that sounds better doesn't it.  But really this was super easy to out together. 

But one that was done and the quilting still wasn't done, I need more easy :)  So started on Made in Cherry, I have the 10 row for the center of the star together.  Not sure what color I should use for the background.  I'm thing either the orange or the yellow, what do you think?

I also finished 2 more Swoon blocks last week, you can see those here  But no more Swoon blocks this weekend, I needed easy peasy.

Linking up with Judy at Patchwork times, always amazing things going on over there.  And linking with Quilting by the River, more than just quilting over there. 

And then there were four

Four Swoon blocks done.  I also have the quilt marked as much as it's going to get marked and loaded on the frame - yippee!!

The Versatile Blogger

You can only imagine my surprise when I found out that Barbra from Cat Patches recognized me with The Versatile Blogger Award!  I was so unbelievably surprised when I saw this.  There are soooo many incredible blogs out there.  I've been blogging about quilting for a little over a year now and I just can't believe how much I've learned, how much I've grown and hopefully that I've been able to give a little back. 

One of those special blogs is Cat Patches.  Barbara was the host of "occupy your sewing room", hehehehe, like I need a reason to stay in there :)  But the rest of my family bought into that one so it worked.  And she has the New FO program which is just brillian!!  I don't have a lot of UFOs, yes I have some but I have extra fingers when counting them.  Her monthly program celebrates the new projects you've started,  Genius I tell you!  So stop by and she what she has going on over there if you haven't already.  Of course if you like cute cuddly kitties, she's got those there too!  Thanks Barb!!

Now the rules for this thing:

1. Add the award to your blog.
2. Thank the blogger who gave it to you.
3. Mention seven random things about yourself. (see below)
4. List the rules.
5. Award to 15 bloggers.
6. Inform each of those 15 by leaving a comment on their blog.

Seven random things about me:

1. I collect pigs
2. Favorite color is green
3. I'm a closet Green Bay Packer fan - actually I've recently come out of the closet much to may family's dismay :)
4. I love curved piecing and just don't do enough of it
5. When I'm at work, I look at the shirts that guys are wearing, and think about how their shirts would look in a quilt.  A couple times I've even asked them what they do with their shirts when they are done with. 
6. I want to raise chickens but need to learn how to build a chicken coop that my dogs won't get into.
7. I don't pre-wash my fabrics - gasp - there I've written it for all the world to see

And now the fun part!!  I get to give this award to 15 wonderful bloggers.  There are so many good ones out there, but this is where I'm starting - in no particular order - 

1. Desley at  Addicted to Quilts - just amazing quilting
2. Ann at The Bunkhouse- inspirational quilting
3. Joan at Leshenault  - if you haven't seen her feathers, you really need to take a look
4. Katie at Katie's Quilts and Crafts -  gorgeous fmq - and she convinced me to keep a wonderful quilt :)
5. Sarah at Confession of a Fabric Addict - who is a quilting angel with her ministry donation quilts
6. Em's Scrap bag  - another quilting angel with her Happy Chemo quilt drive
7. Kate at Swim, Bike, Quilt - another quilting angel, she organizes 100 quilts for kids
8. Sharon at Vrooman's Quilts - there's always something going on at Sharon's - definitely and Angel,  she was so busy sewing when hurricane hit New York
9.  Beaquilter - so many gorgeous and different quilts and ideas
10. Bonnie at In stitches with Bonnie she brightens my day, always makes me smile, she's Scrapalicious 
11. BillieBee  at  BillieBee's Blog - she's  a woman of few words, but her piecing is perfection
12. Jamie at L'Fair Quilts - she has some incredible patterns - so creative and inspiring
13. Brita at Scraps of Happiness - great quilts and wonderful quilting  - she makes me smile :)
14. SoScrappy   host of  the Rainbow scrap challenge - always something interesting over there -and colorful!
15. Kat at ScrapBox Quilts - she's always trying something new, she got tutorials and shares EQ7 projects - always full of encouragement

And these  are a very small portion of the talent that's out there.  As you can see each one adds a unique spin which just makes it so wonderful!  Be sure to stop by and say "Hi", you won't be sorry :)

Scrap Block Challenge

Oh I barely made this one.  Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is having a scrap block challenge.  I posted about it a couple of weeks ago but if you need the link again, here is it:  scrap block challenge 

I am suppose to be marking a quilt right now, shhhhhh don't tell anyone.  I just need to have a tiny bit of fun. Then I"ll mark the quilt.

My block is called Kitty Corner.  This is made with all 3.5 inch squares.    I call it Kitty Corner due to the adorable fabric with little kitties on it.  I only had enough for this one block and actually had to supplement with dogs, but they're super cute too.  Ok, now it doesn't look like much as a single block does it? But take a look at a quilt made out of these block.  Now it makes a little more sense huh?  And the border, 3.5 inch squares too.  A 16 block quilt with borders is 69x69, a 9 block quilt with borders is 54x54 - still a respectable size.  9 block loses a little of the circular motion there. And if you put full square in the corner you get something that looks like this. 

The HSTs I stack sometime up to 6 squares, line my ruler up with the 1/4 in line on the corners and cut.  This gives me a few extra bonus triangles which I just love!!  Look at those puppies, so cute!  The 3.5 inch HST - an added bonus does not have any dog ears when cut this way, I just love that.  Of course the bonus triangle have to be trimmed. 

I do use the Tri Rex Rulers for the blocks with the point in them.

Really, look how cute those kitties are peaking through the ruler :)

If you haven't used these, I do recommend them  It's a two ruler combo. One for the center piece and then the other for the outsides.  If you have fabric that has a right and wrong side, you need to take care and cut correctly for both sides.  Easy Peasy.

I posted the EQ7 file in the "Tutorial and EQ7" tab for any that are interested.  Ok, now I have a quilt to mark. The marking fairies did not visit while I was playing with fabrics :)

Design Wall Monday

Not  a lot going on in the sewing room this weekend.  Little Smiles stopped by on Saturday for the day.  So I spent the whole day just watching him while he slept.  He didn't seem to mind and well, there's only so much that you can do at 15 days :)  I did get some practice runs done before he arrived.  I'm trying to see what will work and what won't for Steve and Lindsey's wedding quilt.  I think I found things I liked and things that just weren't gonna work.   And really what else can you use mint green fabric with dog bones on it for other than practice. 

I did get quite a bit of marking done on the quilt.  The outer border and the largest of the squares is done, the second largest 1/2 done and I couldn't take any more, I had to sew!!  I tried to get a couple more swoon blocks done, but that didn't happen either.  But look at the bonus triangles I get from the swoon blocks, 8 of each.  I get 32 bonus HSTs from each block and I'm hopefully making 16 blocks, we'll see how I feel once I get to 9.  But if I do all 16, that's 512 HSTs.  I really hope there are enough scraps to do the chunky pinwheels, but we'll see. 

Don't forget to stop by Judy's to see what everyone else is doing.

Need some motiviation to mark a quilt

I love piecing, I love quilting.  It's the part between the piecing and the quilting that I'm not real big on.  And that's where I am with Steve and Lindsey's wedding quilt.  It's pieced, the backing arrived yesterday.  I have thread to get started, the rest is on the way.   But I have to mark part of the quilt.  I really don't like marking a quilt.  Here's what I'm thinking so far.  Not sure about the center star.  But I've got a way to go before I lock in on that design.   Must mark the quilt....wedding is coming up soon.

In my procrastination, I did finish the center of beach glas.  It looked better in my imagination.  But it was an excellent use of scraps.  We'll see if the quilting makes it look better to me.  I'm planning on  a big swirl panto, if I can do it :)  The last two have gone fairly well, but this one will require a little more skill on my part.  But must mark Steve and Lindsey's quilt first!!!