My New Year Quilty Resolutions

 Sneaky Peaky of a start for #9

1.  Finish 12 Quilty projects in 2012
2.  Improve this blog.
3.  Participate fully and timely in my new Bee...Sew.Bee.Create
4.  Do more hand embroidery.
5.  Try my hand at writing a quilt pattern
6.  Enjoy some QALs but do not join every QAL!!
7.  Co-host a QAL with a friend.
8.  Be more open to trying new techniques.
9.  Be involved in a blog hop.
10.  Organize my sewing space into a more usable zone.

1.  Finish 12 Quilty projects in 2012
This seems to be a common goal amongst bloggers, very lofty for me in the theme of "finished" as I tend to be a bit of a "topper"...I will need to stretch to make this happen!  Among them should be the Civil War BOW I've been working on since June.

2.  Improve this blog.
I would like to post more often and regularly on this blog.  I would like to have tuts and quality posts :).  Probably should work on more blog design, I like a clean simple look though.


3.  Participate fully and timely in my new Bee...Sew.Bee.Create
Thanks to Melissa at happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com, I have jumped into the world of Flickr Bees.  I am excited to get to know this group of ladies and make some great quilts together starting in January.

4.  Do more hand embroidery.
This just makes me happy...I need more happy in 2012!

5.  Try my hand at writing a quilt pattern
I have so many ideas, I would like to focus and work to create a pattern and try to publish or market it.

6.  Enjoy some QALs but do not join every QAL!!
I will need to be judicious in choosing which to participate in, this goes along with getting more finished instead of having many pretty tops with few finished.

7.  Co-host a QAL with a friend. 
Still working on convincing friend, she hasn't officially agreed but I think this would be really fun to do!  "evil laugh"...friend...you know who you are...
  
8.  Be more open to trying new techniques.
I have avoided applique and paper piecing, for example in the past and want to continue to stretch and grow with efforts in those areas as I have done this year.

9.  Be involved in a blog hop.
This will happen in February...thanks Madame Samm!  The pic above is a peak at one of my projects, I am doing traditional and modern takes on a theme...

10.  Organize my sewing space into a more usable zone.
Goodness!  This should be number 1 on the list, my sewing area is full of "project piles"!

Are you working on your list?

Block 7 of Fat Quarter Stars QAL

I like the looks of this one when finished but must confess I am pretty tight with my rotary cutter and getting out the scissors to cut 20 template pieces is not something I looked forward to.  It did go together pretty easily though.  In order to better match my prior blocks I probably should have switched the beige with the green but I didn't think I would like all the dark in the center.  Hopefully, I can throw a couple more dark background blocks into the mix out of the 5 more patterns we have to go.  This has been a change from all the Fig Tree and Kate Spain fabrics I've been working with lately.  I really like the richness of the colors in this line but probably should have taken the time to introduce some solids into these blocks to give them more "pop".  Again, if you want to join us, use the button below or the website to find the patterns is: moosequilts.blogspot.com.

Merry Christmas!

Birdie Stitches Top Done!

 I finished December's block this afternoon and immediately got to the task of putting these sweet Birdie Stitches blocks together using the directions on Corey Yoder's Little Miss Shabby site : littlemissshabby.com.

If you would like to do this, grab the button from down below to take you to the patterns!  I have so enjoyed getting these patterns each month and doing the hand embroidery.  I will need to start back in on my Rabbits Prefer Embroidery from Bunny Hill so that I don't go through withdrawal!

Halfway done with the Fat Quarter Stars QAL

Here are my blocks 1-6 of the Fat Quarter Stars QAL from moosequilts.blogspot.com.  There's still time to join in, just grab the button below!  This has been a fun, no-stress QAL and I have enjoyed seeing everyone's variations on Flickr.  Mine is made with Moda's line Kashmir by Sentimental Studios along with a Primitive Muslin from Primitive Gatherings.  I am leaning towards alternating these blocks with an Irish Chain sort of block to make a nice sized throw but there is still time to change my mind as we have 6 more to go!

Christmas Present quilt top finished!

Well, here it is...my latest Christmas project.  Again, this is a modified design from Moda's free pattern for the Kate Spain Flurry line.  I added stars as cornerstones and the extra row with presents and "fa la la" on the bottom.  I also used primarily the 12 Days of Christmas Kate Spain line with just a few pieces of Flurry because I had a good variety of Layer Cake pieces that really read "Christmas wrapping paper" to me!

I used Microsoft Word to print templates for the "fa la la la"...

The font is an italicized and bold one called "Monotye Corsiva".  It seemed to match up best to the print that is in two of the presents.  I will back it with the same print as my Christmas tree skirt and use a green print to bind it.  Hopefully sooner rather than later but I'm guessing not before this Christmas has come and gone!  Definitely for next Christmas though!

FQ Stars and prizes...yay!

So I just got this picture uploaded to Flickr in time for the last drawing (ha-my Christmas project is shoved over in the corner just for the shot!)....and I won something.  How cool is that?  We just got the pattern for Block 6 so we are officially halfway through this QAL.  The button is below if you want to join us.  The latest block incorporates a cathedral window in the star which is the only way you will see me doing that technique!  Interestingly enough, we just had a tutorial on that very thing at Guild Tuesday night...suppose I should try to be more timely with this next one!  I will share my prize when I receive it.

Now back to "wrapping fabric presents"...Kate Spain's Flurry and 12 Days of Christmas fabrics look just like wrapping paper, don't they?

I am still working the borders on this one but am happy with the progress so far...I haven't run out of anything vital yet...it also truly needs a good press!

Christmas Tree Skirt in Use...

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  So here is my finished Christmas tree skirt, I think the straight line quilting looks great with all that white! 

This is it under the tree before ornaments or presents...

Christmas Presents

Here is my progress with my interpretation of the free Moda Kate Spain pattern for her line Flurry.  Of course, as usual I can't follow the pattern because I must do my own thing...the only thing I'm doing the same is the present block.  Here are 9 of the required 16 blocks in Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas fabric.  I LOVE how this fabric looks totally like wrapping paper!  The pattern calls for sashing with fussy cut blocks from the Flurry panel which I will change to white sashing and little pieced red stars for cornerstones.  Still thinking and designing what I want for the outer border but probably will have red stars in the corners if I don't run out of the red.  I am finally running out of stash on this line as this is my third quilt from this material.  I loved it enough to hoard a nice amount but that red has been dwindling!!  Now I must quit procrastinating and layer and quilt my tree skirt which will totally match this project, yay!!  Then I will come back to this and finish "wrapping my presents"!!

Fat Quarter Stars QAL Progress

Here are my blocks 1-4 of the Fat Quarter Stars QAL hosted by http://moosequilts.blogspot.com.  You can find the button down below to get to the posts.  It's not too late to join us.  I'm enjoying doing these in between the Civil War Quilt BOW (also button down below if you want these patterns included with Barbara Brackman's great history lessons) and my various Christmas projects.  I think they are coming out pretty well, not a lot of contrast between the colors but I'm liking the effect so far...everyone's pattern instructions have been easy to follow.  And who doesn't like a good star?!  With four done, I'm already thinking about possibilities for settings...hmm...what do you think?

Still Sewing For Christmas

Here is my finished top for a Christmas tree skirt, or, as the tutorial on the Sew, Mama, Sew! Blog by Monica Solorio Snow of Happy Zombie calls it: Christmas Tree Pants.  I am looking forward to putting this under the tree this year so I guess I better get cracking and quilt it!  A little unhappy that I will have to (yikes!) cut into it to make the finished skirt...but I should be able to muster the faith as I see several on Flickr that look great!  I am way behind on the QAL but in plenty of time for my tree!

Here we go again...

Mrs. Quilty-Claus headed home from a day of shopping, don't tell the mister but there may be some bolts of fabric hidden under that tree...

This is the first block in the "12 Days of Christmas' Sampler QAL from Sewsweetness.com.  I could not resist it's cuteness and so here I am in another QAL!  I am going to use my scraps from Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas as well as Flurry.  I love this color combo so much!!   I have done the Fat Quarter Shop's Mystery Christmas Quilt BOM from last year and am currently working on the Flurry free quilt pattern from Moda with the presents.  That read and aqua speaks to me...LOUDLY.
This pattern is paper-pieced (aack!) from Julianna of Project Town.  I simplified the pattern a bit to allow for quicker, easier piecing for my version.  You can find the link to this pattern and the 11 others at sewsweetness.com.  The QAL started today and continues until December 1st.

Progress...

Sorry, not the best picture, but here are my 16 blocks from the Quilt Uber-Fest QAL.  I am leaning toward putting a skinny (1/2 " to 1") red border around them after joining them together...then adding a thick(4 " or so) black and white border around that.

I would like to work in black and white again soon as I enjoyed the play of the patterns in the fabrics against each other a lot in this QAL.

Quilt Along anyone???!!

 Ok, I really am in a few too many of these, but it is so fun to see how everyone interprets the blocks so differently!  The Black, White, and Sometimes Red one is for Quilt Uber Fest found on the blog at http://bluenickelstudios.com/

 These started on October 1st and run daily through October 16.  My blocks look a bit different than the patterns...but I am really likin' the graphic looks of them.

The Batik one is for Blogger's BOM which started at the end of September.  It can be found at Canton Village Quilt Works http://www.cvquiltworks.blogspot.com/

Of course, to see more of my madness you need to look at my Flickr photostream as I am still doing the Birdie Stitches and the Civil War Quilt BOW along with a few others...

As always, I have justification at the ready..."I am using up my stash..."

Block 1 in Fat Quarter Stars QAL

 The button for this QAL can be found toward the bottom of the page, it's on http://moosequilts.blogspot.com/.  I enjoyed making the first block though you can see it is in need of a better pressing!  The first designer is Konda Luckau.

I am using a Moda line called Kashmir along with some Primitive Gatherings muslin for background.  The QAL just started today so join me :)...

One of My Favorites

 So I just wanted to share a quilt that I started in a class with Edyta Sitar last August...and yay! got back from my local laq Cathie a couple of weeks ago.  This one is super special to me, I love the colors and the design and it was made using "friendship half-square triangles" that several of my friends and even my aunt contributed.  Edyta had us all sew triangle squares out of beautiful fabrics she provided and then we swapped with each other to give us all wonderful variety. 

The pattern comes from a note card set she sells on her website, http://laundrybasketquilts.com/ called Hannah's Sugar Basket.  The layout is similar to a quilt in her book Friendship Triangles called Album Basket Quilt.

If you have the opportunity to take one of Edyta's classes I highly recommend it, she was so much fun and I am proud to show a finished quilt from her class, something I rarely end up with when I take a class.

Just look at the wonderful quilting!

 Here it is in the beautiful September sunshine...

I give away most of my quilts but this one is staying home!!  Now, dare I hope it cools of enough for me to snuggle underneath it?!

Black Eyed Susan quilt top finished!

Happy Labor Day to you all!  This is what I did today...I finished this sweet top I've been working on to celebrate summer...

 I used a free hand embroidery pattern from one of my favorite blogs, wildolive.blogspot,com. Thanks Mollie!! If you haven't visited her blog, you should as she has such neat things posted.  It's supposed to be a daisy but I think it stands in for a Black-Eyed Susan pretty well!!  I paired it with a Modern Cross block from Susan Beal's book Modern Log Cabin Quilting.  The two blocks are 10" each unfinished.

 The flower fabric is some I've had in the stash since purchasing it at our Quilt Guild's garage sale.  I fell in love with those posies (Pigtails & Pixie Dust by Kathy Brown of The Teacher's Pet) but didn't have a clue what I was going to do with it until I saw the embroidery pattern.  Then I thought the Modern cross block would compliment the flower block well.

I will probably try to take a better picture of the top when the weather cheers up outside, it's pretty gloomy today.  Until then, here it is on my bedroom floor...  It is 53" square.

 Is this flower too sweet, or what?  Makes me happy just looking at it!  I am probably going to hand-quilt this quilt but I am still thinking about it.  Any advice or suggestions on quilting?

Summer can't leave yet!!

This beautiful black eyed susan patch from my garden and a bit of material from my stash has inspired this:

More to come...

As I suspected...

Time got away from me and I have not posted for awhile...not an auspicious start, eh?  Good that I have a small audience lol.  I have been better about getting things posted on Flickr, there are several new blocks and I finished the Rockin' Robin QAL quilt top.  I managed to get a pic before the storm came in and I think it made for an interesting shot with the surrounding colors pretty similar to the colors in the quilt.

I am slowly getting caught up on the Barbara Brackman Civil War QAL and only have 23 more to go to catch up along with the one new block each week. 

I am also joining a QAL that Konda Luckau from moosequilts.blogspot.com is hosting with fat quarter stars.  It starts September 27 if you would like to join in the button is down below to get you there...

So this is blogging...

I made the comment to my quilt group the other day that I wasn't sure I would have anything to say on a blog.  They all started to laugh before I even finished the sentence.  Seems I have a way with words or at least a quantity of them leaves my lips...often...
I have been enjoying reading a lot of your blogs and tutorials and I guess I thought I would try my hand at providing something similar.  Would love to hear your comments on some of your favorite blogs and why they are the ones you keep going back to.
I have been finding myself addicted to a few Flickr groups lately, you can check out my photo stream to see my versions of the blocks.  I have a varied range of favorites, from hand embroidery to Civil War to Modern quilting.