100th post and a give away!!

Can you believe this is my 100th post?  Amazes me.  That and I have 75 followers - wow!! So I'm having a give away.  I have an adorable layer cake - summer vacation, there are 2 squares of each.  Are the kids on those blocks not the cutest?  I just love the little girl.   If you would like to win this layer cake just leave a comment and you'll be in the running.    I'll pick a random number on Friday and announce the win.  I do appreciate all your support and comments.  It certainly has made me a better quilter!

And speaking of quilting.  I FINALLY started quilting the Baltimore Album quilt.  I was suppose to have it completed by the end of June for Myra's PhD (projects half done) Challenge, but this one just won't make it.  I was so terrified to get those first stitches going.  I have been practicing my feathers for six months specifically to get this particular one quilted.  I got it sandwiched and it stayed that way for 2 weeks.  I just didn't know what I was going to do.  I knew I wanted feathers, but now that it was sandwiched I looked and said "yikes, how do I put feathers on that????" and I knew I wanted some McTavishing, that was the easy part.  I even put a whole quilt together, quilted, binding done and cut another one before I made myself start sewing.  Once I got the first few stitches in, all was good in my quilting world again.    It was just those first few stitches.  I'm doing twirly feathers around the outside and McTavishing any where a feather won't fit!  I'm pretty pleased with it so far.  I have 8 blocks done; 4 blocks, the borders and sashing to go.   It won't be done by the end of June deadline, but hopefully not to long after that.  Here's what I have so far.  My feathers didn't look anything like that 6 months ago.  Really all it takes is a little practice and you can put a feather just about anywhere!

One more project started (my list on in progress projects was just way to small;) I start the Kaleidoscope QAL  I've never done one of these before, so I'm pretty excited.  We got the templates and cutting instructions this week.  I'm using the Moda Bliss fabrics.    A little undesided about the totally scrappy look, I may need to pair up some colors for a little more control.  I"m trying to deal with the control issues, but I think I did that with the suebobsquarepants quilt which you can see here

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Another HST project and another trade

Oh, look at what I got in the mail this week!!  These lovely fabrics were in trade for a Bargello book.  I just absolutely love them!!  And was surprised that the blue one was 1/2 yard cut!!  With the wonderful success of that trade, I think I'm going to try another trade.  I have the pattern from the Baltimore  album quilt from Garden City Gateworks  This set contains 101 - 112 plus the floral vine border.  All 13 patterns for 3 fat quarters of your choosing.  Here's a picture of the top that I have completed (oops never took a picture of the full completed top, but you get the idea).  I do tend to number my applique pieces so there will be numbering on the patterns, but they are all perfectly usable.  Here's a picture of the patterns that I have (picture does not include the vine pattern, but it's there).  Leave a comment if you would like to trade and I'll send you information privately.

And that's not all I got in the mail this week.  I won my second giveaway!!  This is from 100 Quilts for Kids those fabrics are just too fun!!  But it is a great cause trying to raise 100 quilts for kids by mid Oct.  I also read on one of the groups that project Linus and Quilts for Kids are in need of boy quilts.  Those girl quilts are cute and fun to make, but the boys need some cuddle time too!  If you have a chance and some extra scraps you may want to give it a try.

And  I did start a new project.  I know I am suppose to be quilting the Baltimore Album, but ugh, just not quite in the mood for that right now .  Another HST project. I saw this gorgeous quilt on Kati from the blue chair.  Here's the pattern from Lily's Quilts.   I love this pattern.  I have one block sewn together.  It's a big block, I used 3.5 in HST (unfiinished) so it's an 18 in block.  16 of those blocks will make a nice size quilt! 

I started quilting the Baltimore Album.  Honestly I had no idea how I was going to do it.  I know I wanted feather fill around the applique and some loose sort of McTavishing in between the applique.  I just got tired of not quilting it, so I jumped in - marked a few feather veins and went for it.  How terrifying!!!  But I think it's a good start.  Why are those first few stitches always the hardest???

Sparkle

I really needed to do something new, and I did.  I call it Sparkle thanks to Sarah.  This is my second Hands2Help quilt.  There are mistakes in this quilt, but Sarah was very nice to share a story about the Amish Girls and how they quilt.  She said ... "Amish quilter will intentionally work a mistake into her quilt, probably because they are so restricted on color and pattern, to make it uniquely hers.  They call it sparkle, and I love that!!".   I love that too and this quilt is filled with sparkle!!!  I did fix one large sparkle, but left a few others.  


This quilt was inspired by Jamie at L'Fair Quilts   She has such wonderful designs and when I saw that quilt I knew I had to make one.  I used some left over HST's on the back.  I also did not want to put those blue left overs back in the stash nor in the scrap box, so I pieced them together for a back.  I really love a pieced back.  I'm still improving my technique, and will get there with time.  But the journey sure is a lot of fun!


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Any one want to trade?

 I have a Bargello book that I will never use again.  I did make two of the quilts in this book and well, Bargello's are gorgeous, but I won't make another.  I did write in the book as you can see here.  Other than that, it's good as new.  So if you would like to trade this wonderful book for 2 FQs of  your choosing leave me a comment and I'll get your information though the email.

How did that happen???

Look what I got all put together!! I was so happy that I was able to keep all the rows straight, no labels and it went together so nicely. I only had to rip 6 seams for the entire thing. Then I put on the first two borders and was pleased as punch with the thought of the last border going on. When I looked a little closer - uh oh, there's a green star that is not right. Look at that!! How did that happen? Well I went back and looked at the layout on the design wall, and yep, it was wrong there too!! Dang it. Now I have to figure out how to get in there and turn those two little blocks around. I was sooooooooo close! And I did put this thing together excactly as it was on the design wall. I've been staring at this thing all week and only noticed last night. At least I did find it now rather than when it was sandwiched and quilting started. If I can get this one done by the end of July and shipped this will be my 2nd H2H quilt. We'll see how that goes!!

Finally something on the design wall!

I feel like all I've been doing for the last 6 weeks is FMQing.  I did finish the top for the Balitmore Album quilt, but just can't seem to bring myself to do any quilting quite yet.  I really want to be in the mood to quilt when I do that one.  Time to regenerate with some fun projects.   I'm working on this little number.  If I can get it done in time for Hands2Help, this will be my second quilt for a great cause.  I have until 7/31 so should be able to get this one done.   It was sooooo good to start something new.  I think it's just amazing the things you can do with HSTs.  Hmm, thinking it might be a bit of nightmare sewing it all together. I'll need to keep my seam ripper close by!  Lots of labeling to do.  I ran out of design wall space.  I have all the HSTs done and some left over for the back too!

Daughter number 2 was out this weekend.  She's expecting in January and we still don't know if she's having a boy or girl.   Soooooo we decide to start a boy quilt and a girl quilt.  The extra one will be donated to  100 Quilts for Kids.  Arlene fell in love with this owl fabric.  They have a boy version as well (she's really hoping for a girl).  So the theme is owls.  She was browsing the web and found some adorable owl pictures.  Here's what we have so far.  I think she will definitely have a one of kind baby quilt!!   She loves them and that's what really matters.

Ballerina Owl

Sherrif Owl 

Here's Ballerina owl, Sherrif Owl and Scooter Girl Owl.  Scooter Girl owl still needs stitching around every thing, but she just cracks me up!  Only one done for the baby boy quilt and that would Sheriff Owl.  What fun!

Scooter girl owl

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Finally a sewing day!!!

It's seems like it's been forever since I had a day to myself and could sew as much as I wanted. I've made some progress on the Baltimore album quilt. Top border and corners are done. I have all the satin stitching done on the bottom border, just need to attach it and do the corners. Soooooooo close!

But honestly I can't do another satin stitch today. I have these lovely fabrics on my sewing table just waiting their turn to be cut and sewn. Not sure what they will be but I really need to start a new project. I saw this gorgeous quilt on Kati from the blue chair.   I think I might try the pattern from Lily's Quilts.   If you have other suggestions I'm entirely open to them, would love to hear.

Oh and I did finish the Batik Braid quilt.  You can see it here.  That puts me down to less than 5 in progress and waiting to be quilted projects.  I think it's time to start another!

Don't forget to stop by Sarah's to see what everyone else has been doing all week. 

Old project done, new project started

Not a whole lot of sewing this week.  Work was a bit crazy and Saturday was spent at Lambau field with my grandson.  It was a great day, he's 9 and join the kids fan club for the Packers.  They had a training camp for the fan club this weekend.  It was a bit of hike up there, but definitely worth it.   They did a great job with the kids and it was my first visit to Lambeau Field (I'm a big Packer fan, in spite of living in Chicago area).

I did get a finish in, the batik braid is done!!  Woohoo!!  Just need to wash it and then it goes to my niece for her birthday in early July. Very happy with the quilting on this one.  It was my last practice quilt before the Baltimore album quilt.  I love seeing  the pictures of the quilts outside so I thought I'd give it a try.  I found I don't have too many places to spread out a quilt.  I'll have to work on that for a summer project.   I also pieced the back on this one, I had to do something with the left over layer cake.  I think it works.

And speaking of the Baltimore album quilt (my daughter calls it the Boston baked bean quilt).  I did get it back out and actually a little more than that.  I have the main part of the top and bottom border cut and fused.  I am hoping to get this one done by the end of June.  I have a 4 day weekend coming up and hope to get it finished then - I can do it.  Once I get a little more done, on the top and bottom border, I can sew it together and work on each of the corners. I'll be so glad to have this one done!!

It's been a while since I started a new project (April 29) so I think it's time.  I'm joining in Elizabeth's Kaleidescope Quilt along.  The fabric requirements are out, but doesn't start until June 23, which hopefully gives me enough time to finish the Boston baked bean quilt!


I just found out daughter number 2 is expect a little one!!!  So excited, we don't know yet if it's a boy or girl, so this should keep me busy until we find out.  If you have any patterns, for cute baby stuff, I'd love to see it!!

one of the side garden, a few things starting to bloom

I'll finish with some pictures of the garden, they are so relaxing and so enjoyable to me.  This is Rocco's first summer with us and he needs to learn not to dig in the garden.  He'll get there. It's taking me a while to get use to shade gardens but I'm getting there slowly but surely!

The swing where I took the picture of the braids quilt 

Rocco love the front garden, he did a little digging here.

garden just outside the front sewing room window

this is what I see when I look out my front sewing room window

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And the winner is.....

rubyslipperz from http://rubyslipperz106.blogspot.com/. I'll send you a private email to get all the vitals to send the layer cake.

The best tip I got was from Desley at http://addictedtoquilts.blogspot.com/ She said it's all about the posture. So the next time I was at my machine, I noticed my back was hunched, my shoulders were kissing my ears and my arms were more wrestling with the quilt. I told myself "straighten up silly, watch the posture". And then suddenly I no longer looked like a hunch back trying to quilt but like a real quilter. My back went straight, my shoulders dropped, my neck relaxed and the quilt was flowing through the machine effortlessly. Ah what an improvement. Thanks Desley!

And thanks to all who gave me some great ideas on what to do with the layer cakes. I still have one left so I think I'm either going to try that twister thing that everyone is talking about or the stack and wack. It's time to start something new!!