Design Basket and Design computer

How long has it been since I've had a DWM without mention of Orca Bay?  8 weeks I think :)  But it's done and the last post was Saturday.  Ah, it's that odd feeling after you finish a Bonnie mystery and think, well what's next??  How can you beat a Bonnie mystery?

On Cyberquilters yahoo group they have curved piecing as the bucket project for Jan.  I secretly LOVE curved seams.  I don't do them very often, but when I do, I LOVE them.  So while surfing the web, trying to get inspiration for quilting Labyrinth (please send me suggestions :) I came across the Montana Cartwheel.    I was in heaven, curves and stars, can it get any better???  Nope.  Well I quickly went to EQ and drew up the block. That was the easy part.  Then kept looking at that crazy pattern to figure out how it all goes together, I couldn't do it.  I ordered the pattern.  But while I was waiting for it to arrive, EQ was calling my name and here's what we came up with.  I call this one Center of my Universe. I need to work on the borders.  But you get the idea.  It took me three tries to get the block right but I think I have it.   Looks like one is missing huh?  I just didn't get that far, but you get the idea.  We'll see if this ever gets done or I just do 4 blocks and make it a trivet for the table.  It's fun. That's my design computer.  If you are interested in the EQ7 file it can be found here

I also started a new quilt that is called Beach Glass from  Quilts made Modern  They had a lovely stash of solids, me not so much.  But I did have a stash of beach glassish fabrics right here.  This is my design basket.  Filled with strings that will turn into strips like these on with gray in between.  I'm in love with gray right now.  I expect you'll be seeing a lot more of it for a while on my blog.  These colors really fit fairly well with the Jan Color Palette Challenge

Oh and one other thing, I am taking my first ever quilt class.  Yep that's right, I'm going back to school.  I'm taking The Quilt Whisperer - QW101!  Having a great time with it.  One more week and I should have some amazing ideas for the kaleidoscope quilt.

Linking up with Judy to see what's all the other design baskets, on the design walls and design computers.  On Tuesday linking up with Quilt Story - Fabric Tuesday.  On Wed there's WIP at Freshly Pieced
All the buttons are on the side bar, you'll be so inspired after visiting all those lovely blogs.

Orca Bay done, and look who's here!!

I'd like to welcome the sweet little Mr Smiles (Miles) who arrived on Friday morning, just in time for the weekend.  Isn't he adorable????  Goodness, he's just filled with all sorts of sweetness!  He's been here such a short amount of time and already he has so many people that love him! The quilt in my header, it's his :) Welcome Smiles!  Now that's something to Whoop about!!

I didn't get to go see him today cuz I have a fever, dang it!  But I did get to sew and I was able to finish my Orca Bay quilt. Ok so am I terrible?  I want to keep it and not give it to someone for a house warming gift.  Instead I want to give them Modern Mirrors, which I thought was really more appropriate for a young modern family.  I'm just trying to justify it aren't I??  Ok, here's the last look at Orca Bay.  I even tried a picture out in the snow.   I did an overall feather in the center and feathers in the small border all the way around.  Feather and swirls in the last border.  No marking anywhere!  Although  I should have marked the small border.

the back

And the Labyrinth top is together, now to plan the quilting for that one....

Linking up with Sarah, there's always something going on over there, lots of whoopin.

Linking up with Bonnie.   You REALLY have to stop there and see all the finished Orca Bay quilts, goodness they are gorgeous!!

Design Wall Monday

Donation quilt 1

Donation quilt 2

What a week!  I've gotten two donation quilts done (they help with practice quilting).  One is a pantograph that I think is finally good enough to at least donate. They were so bad before even the dogs didn't want to lay on those practice quilts!  I think the trick for me was get something with shorter lines, no long beautiful curving lines and no symmetry.  That  will all come when I get a bit better, which could be a while :)  Here's the donation quilts . The first one I showed the back before, forgot the front, it's the practice Orca Bay.

The second one is my first pantograph that I think is good enough to actually at least donate.  It's called Flipping ferns.  I think I"m actually getting better, but still need more practice.  I have a chair on wheels now and that seemed to help a lot.  It's pretty hard to quilt when your looking at paper and not the quilt!  This one is made of flannel, both sides, nice and snugly.

I did finish the top of Amy Ellis's Modern Mirrors from her book Modern Basics.  I love this pattern.  Not sure I like it with the fabrics I choose, but it is a great pattern.   This will be my first "real quilt" that will be quilted entirely with a pantograph....once I get good enough.  It may be a while before you see this one finished!

I also started one other quilt.  This may be a wedding quilt for Steve and Lindsey. I have another one planned, but not sure I can get it done in time...so here's how far I got on Labyrinth.  I had been doing so much easy sewing for a while that it took a bit of an adjustment to put this crazy thing together.  I had to slow wayyyyy  down for this one.  Only 2 more rounds and at least the center will be together.

Linking up with Sew Modern Monday and  Judy at Patchwork Times

First Fabric Stash Report for 2012

This year as part of my goals I'm tracking how much fabric purchased vs used.  I am counting all fabric purchased - backing and background included as I will be using those numbers for the fabric used as well.  I'm only counting fabric used once the top is complete and then I include the binding and backing fabric in the total for the quilt.  So this morning with my coffee I did an inventory of what was purchased vs quilt tops or quilts completed.    Lets just say it's way too easy to hit the "purchase now" button on the computer :) 

Purchased in the first 14 days of Jan.

• 15 yards Kona Snow (that should last for a while :)
• 5 yards of Kona Med Grey (yep I decided I'm finally going to put grey in a quilt)
• 5 yards Kona White (needed for a block exchange - my first one ever)
• 4 yards of sale fabric (couldn't resist - back to the purchase now button issues I have)
• 3 yards - 1 Little Apples jelly roll (part of the grey theme that I've been wanting to try)
• 6 yards - 4 smaller jelly rolls on sale - I'm speechless - but they are super cute :)
• 3.5 yards - Pat Sloan's Blogger Choice FQ pack - The fat quarter shop and I are pretty good friends right not

Used: (quilt yardage includes, Top, Back and Binding)

• 13 yards - Smith Mountain Morning - just guessing on this as the book was not handy 
• 13.5 yards - Apple Crate
• 3.5 yards - Baby Donation practice quilt 
• 5 yards - Baby Donations practice quilt (my first pantograph that's good enough for someone - I'll post that tomorrow)
• 12 yards - Modern Mirrors (I'll show this one tomorrow when the top is done)
• 15.5 yards - Orca Bay

Previous Report Total:  0
This Report Purchased:  41.5 (uh oh, how did that happen???)

This Report Used:  62.5

Year to date Total:   -21

Now that's a good way to start the year off isn't it.   I don't feel quite so bad about the purchases.  Although Jan tends to be month where I have the most completions and the least about of fabric purchased.  I'll wait until Feb to see how thing go.  I need a larger sample size before I start determining if there are some dangerous trends.

Fabulous Friday Finish!!

 Oh man that was close!!  I needed to have this done by 5PM today.  I finished it last night at 7PM, pulled it out of the dryer at 9PM.  But it will be going to little Meghan for her birthday today.  She's turning 10, yep double digits deserves a quilt :) This is the first quilt that I did completely on April.   The pattern for this is "Apple Crate" from the moda bake shop, can be found  here.  I love the look after it's been washed.  I used Hobb's 80/20 for the first time on this quilt and really like it, I think I'll use it more often

Apple Crate before washing, looks so crisp and neat

Apple Crate

Apple Crate back

And I finished the practice quilt - I think it's good and I'm going to give this a try on Orca bay.