A Little Applique'

Twelve...all twelve blocks are finished for my A Tisket, A Tasket quilt...thanks so much Anne!!! I'm hoping to add the final row and borders this weekend.

This darling block is one of my favorites...the vintage pink rick rack in the basket came from Stephanie and seemed to be absolutely perfect.


Now I can start on Anne's new block of the month...Snowbound--well, as soon as Rural Jardin is available that is...

Have a wonderful day...hope you get to sew!

Just Checking In...

More pinwheels...(Fabric Verna by Kate Spain...pattern "Jelly & Jam" by Joanna Figueroa).

Borders on my Hope Valley quilt...(Fabric by Denyse Schmidt, pattern "Off Kilter" by Heather Mulder Peterson).

Had to share a close-up of the corner fabric...I'd originally intended this fabric for the four corners but was an inch short and almost used the side border floral instead....SOOO glad I waited for more of my initial choice...just that little bit of additional contrast made a wonderful difference...this is one of those quilts that I just love...hopefully after it's quilted and washed I can get some great pictures.

I did get a lot of sewing in this week...my February Schnibbles is complete...can't wait to share it...and I also nearly finished another quilt I can't yet share. I pieced two quilt backs yesterday--I procrastinate on quilt backs for some reason--does anyone else do this? Any suggestions? One of my goals for 2010 is to piece my quilt backs immediately after finishing the tops. Oh, and another goal is patience...if I could just learn to patiently wait for the "future collections" on the United Notions page I think life would be much easier. I'm pretty confident about accomplishing the quilt back goal...the patience...not so much! Have a great day!

What I'm Working on Wednesday

I've been enjoying the rain...yay!!! After such a long dry spell here we are being blessed with rain, and more is on the way. I've been sewing and took advantage of some sun this morning to take a few pictures. I'm working on my A La Mode (pattern by Camille) pinwheel stars...love this pattern!

I finished the front and back of my January Fresh and Fancy Table Runner (pattern by Bonnie at Cotton Way)...hoping to quilt this and get it bound soon; I can't wait to start the February runner as well!

And I've been working with Verna by Kate Spain...this fat quarter bundle doesn't exactly look like this anymore...

I've already started cutting it for the first two projects I have planned. Oh, and I've been doing a little sewing (that I can't share yet) with Fresh Cottons by Joanna of Fig Tree and Company. I love this line...you can see some great pictures over at Kelly's blog and every print over at the Moda website. Hope you have a wonderful day...be back soon!

Piece O' Cake

I just attended a wonderful lecture and trunk show at Quiltique given by Becky Goldsmith of Piece O' Cake Designs. I have several Piece O' Cake books and have been working on applique' over the past year so that I'll be able to start one of their projects soon. I took lots of pictures and several pages of notes; I can't say enough about Becky's wonderful lecture, and her quilts were absolutely stunning--works of art each and every one!

I love, love, love all the polka dots in this quilt! After her lecture Becky graciously allowed us to look more closely at her quilts and to photograph them. They are so very inspiring!

This is a close up of one of the blocks from "Passion Flowers," a quilt in her latest book, Applique' Outside the Lines. The quilting on each quilt is also spectacular, and we learned that Becky does all of her own machine quilting on her Bernina; this quilt combines machine quilting and big-stitch hand quilting.

This was another amazing quilt...part of a four block quilt made up of blocks from Aunt Millie's Garden.

This is another block of the four-block version of Aunt Millie's Garden.

This is a close-up of "Picasso's Garden," also from Applique' Outside the Lines.

I love how she quilted the leaves!

You'll notice that these pictures don't show the incredible detail I was able to capture in the close-up shots, but they do show the size of the quilts. Becky is on the right in each of these photos.

Becky's lecture was incredibly informative. She spoke accompanied by a wonderful slideshow with photos that illustrated each topic. We learned about color, the color wheel, and value. Becky walked us through several photos that showed her design process using the quilt "Tree O' Life" from Applique' Outside the Lines as an example. Becky is incredibly blessed to have a wonderful husband who binds her quilts and even sews on labels and quilt sleeves! One of the pictures in her slideshow showed her husband busy binding a quilt! After the lecture Becky conducted a question and answer session which was also incredibly informative and fun. We learned that her favorite applique' thread is the Superior "Masterpiece" (50 weight).

I loved the closing lines of Becky's lecture: "Make your quilts to please yourself--your quilts are the bits and pieces you leave behind...they are your legacy."

Hope Valley Quilt

Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit...I fell in love with this fabric after reading this preview...


At first I was only going to pick up a few fat quarters. They were amazing, so I got a few more. After that I ordered the rest. And then I started trying to figure out what to make first.

After considering many possibilities... I just knew these fabrics would be perfect for the pattern "Off Kilter" from the book Livin' Large by Heather Mulder Peterson. I changed up a few things from the original quilt, using a light colored sashing/inner border rather than a darker fabric. I also used 20 different squares for the machine-applique'd centers rather than alternating two different prints. I ♥ this quilt! Outer border and binding fabrics are on the way...I'll share this one again!

Binding is completed on my Cobblestones quilt for the Fig Tree Club. I ♥ this quilt too! Have a great day...see you soon!

Happy

Pinwheels make me happy... all 42 pinwheels for "a la mode" by Camille are now complete. This involved making 168 half-square triangles. I recently had a couple of questions about half square triangles so thought I would answer them here.

I love the "quick quarter" tool which comes in two sizes. I use this whenever a pattern calls for you to draw a diagonal line and then sew 1/4 inch away from the line on either side. I don't draw the single diagonal line; instead, I line up the slits in the "quick quarter" tool with the diagonal tips of the square. Then I draw two diagonal lines using the quick quarter tool as a guide. These are my sewing lines-- I sew both lines then cut the block in half. I think this makes for a more accurate 1/2 square triangle.

I've also been using the Quilt in a Day "Triangle Square Up Ruler" when I want to ensure my half-square triangles are absolutely accurate. I've owned this tool for several years but only recently started using it regularly after reading some recent blog posts.

Next up is to make 168 flying geese units for "a la mode."

And to start on some Fresh and Fancy Tablerunners (scroll down on this post to get a good look at these patterns). Bonnie at Cotton Way designed these, one for each month of the year; I was so excited to win these from Bonnie because I love making table toppers! January through June are available now, and July through December will be available in March (I can't wait to see the rest)!

(Almost) Wordless ♥ Wednesday

Fabric...one jelly roll of "Make Life" by Sweetwater for Moda...(thank you again, Vickie!)

Pattern..."Jelly Filled" by Camille

Result...one fast, fun, great quilt!

Have a great day!

January

I love new beginnings; therefore, I love January. I've been catching up and getting organized. First I caught up on my Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop. Block 8 will arrive soon, so I was just in time!


It will be fun to have two quilts rather than one when May arrives!

I also have some mail I need to catch up on...on the left is some fabric I received from Cindy--three charm packs of Aviary by Moda, a fun Christmas fat quarter, and a delightful card! Thanks so much Cindy! I also received a fun package from Nanette with wonderful vintage fabrics and ring pincushion and star ornament (I'd been oohing and aahing over the rings and ornaments on her blog last month)--thank you Nanette!

Now...what to do for Charming Girls' Quilt Club this month...

Goal #1 is to finish my "a la mode quilt" using Simple Abundance--pattern by Camille and fabric by Bonnie and Camille. I love these stars with the pinwheel centers!

Goal #2 is to finish this quilt with Make Life by Sweetwater...

Goals #3 and #4 are to piece quilt tops using these fabrics...Meadowsweet by Sandi Henderson and Hope Valley by Denise Schmidt.

Goals #5, #6, and #7 are to bind these three quilts! I got the machine work finished the other day but have a lot of hand stitching to do--the middle quilt is a king-sized quilt (the first quilt I made using Fig Tree fabrics), and the bottom one is a double sized. Can you believe the bottom quilt has been finished for over 5 years without being bound...it's my oldest work in progress and will soon be finished! And finally...goal #8 is to finish my Tisket a Tasket quilt top---one block left!

I have a few other things I want to get to this month...including making a few things for a giveaway...my 200th post is coming up very, very soon...be on the lookout! Have a great day!

Quilter's Journal 2009

I've loved reading the wonderful end of the year/beginning of the year posts that have been showing up in recent days. It's been fun to see a re-cap of projects and ideas that have inspired me throughout the year. Keeping a journal of my projects was my primary purpose in creating this blog, so I spent a little time recently reviewing 2009 and putting together a couple of collages (in no particular order) of some of my favorite projects (although I can think of a few other pictures I should have added in).

I was able to reminisce about some of the projects and some of the people I've met through blogging...I started to list the highlights of my creative year but found there would be no way to list every person, every post, or every creative work that inspired me this year. Suffice it to say I'm truly grateful for random acts of kindness and for so many bloggers who make sharing their creative pursuits a part of their lives. Thank you so very much for the wonderful e-mails, comments, ideas, suggestions, and friendship.

Looking back over the past year has helped clarify my goals for 2010 which will include (in no particular order) finishing works in progress, better organization, scallops (yes, I've never done a scalloped border...must do that soon), a "Dear Jane" quilt, fabric, quilts, and patterns. In summary...I'm really looking forward to creating and blogging in 2010-- ! Thanks for being a part of the journey!

Parade Winners

We had two wonderful Tuffet parades yesterday with so many wonderful Tuffets! And now it's time to announce the winners! We have so many generous individuals and shops donating prizes...thank you so much! All shops donating prizes are well-stocked with Madeline Schnibbles patterns if you need to order one. We so appreciate them making it easy for you to find the patterns!

The cute tuffets above were made by Carrie herself, and two lucky winners, Sandy and Heather will receive one along with a layer cake. Make sure you read Carrie's post today...some fun information about what a Tuffet really is...along with a link to the additional information about Madeline!

Missouri Star Quilt Company is giving away two $25 gift certificates this month...one to Marianne, and one to Erica (no blog)!

Havasu Quilts is also giving away a $25 gift certificate...to Julie!

Another $25 gift certificate from Quilters' Paradise goes out to Eva D!

Oh...and a $50 gift certificate from the wonderful ladies over at the Fat Quarter Shop goes out to Regena!

Cottage Quilts also has a $25 gift certificate going out to Annette!

And a pattern and choice of Moda charm pack will be going out to Rita (no blog) from Quilt Taffy (I love the Quilt Taffy prize photos each month...so cute)!

And finally...Donna from Bear PawQuilts is giving a copy of the book Skinny Quilts and Table Runners to Lynda!

Just a few additional Schnibbles notes...we're keeping track of all who complete all 12 Schnibbles projects...there will be a special drawing in the end. If you've missed one or two...you can still finish them up and join in--just let us know when you finish a project so we can check your name on the list!

Also...we need to get mailing addresses for all participants for "something special" coming to you later this year...if your last name begins with A-K...please e-mail your "snail mail" address to me...and if your last name begins L-Z please send it to Sinta!

Well, that's it for now--I'm off to work on my February Schnibble!!! Thanks once again to Carrie, to all the sponsors, and to all of you for your wonderfully creative projects each month!

Tuffet Parade!

Happy New Year! Our January Schnibble is------

Madeline! I love this fun little quilt! I used two charm packs of Blessings by Moda...and had a lot of fun deciding on my color combinations. I really love the French General fabrics used in the original pattern--hop on over to Sinta's blog to see this version! One important note about the pattern...there are a few typos in the original pattern. Please head over to Carrie's blog where she will have a link to a pdf with the corrections. Sinta or I can also e-mail you this pdf file if you'd prefer--just send us an e-mail.

So...on with the parade...first up is Carol who finished these two Tuffets.

And these sweet Tuffets are by Edith (love the Picnic quilt too)!

And here are some Tuffets by Cara.

Followed by this Tuffet made by Eva D. out of fabric by Blackbird Designs...love it!

Carol used the new Sweet Liberty Tuffets pattern...they are darling in this basket!

I love, love, love these Tuffets in the tree by Julie!

And here are some fun Tuffets from Jocelyn.

Here is just one of the Tuffets completed by Di...you can see others on her blog!

And here is a Tuffet by Judith.

I love the title of Allyson's post where she shares these tuffets..."Tuffetry!" An Encourager came up with several ideas for her cute Tuffets...you can read about it on her blog as well!

Another great Tuffet by Angela.

Annette was able to use her finished Tuffets for gifts...that's what we were hoping!

Several ladies chose to display their Tuffets in baskets as did Bea'--terrific idea!

I love the fabrics in this Tuffet by Cindy.

And love these French General Tuffets by Dawn.

Erica (no blog) also made a friendship bag to go with her Tuffet!

Heather made several Tuffets...all from scraps!

I love these Tuffets by Jo--and she has the terrific idea to enlarge some of these to use for potholders!

Karen K (no blog) used "Sanctuary" by 3 Sisters for her Tuffet!

Kelly made this wonderful basket full of Tuffets...love them!

Love these "Yuletide Blessing" Tuffets by KJ Quilts!

Cindy of "Sew Cindy" turned her tuffets into coasters, and made a bag to keep them in...great idea!

So...make sure you head on over to Sinta's blog to see the rest of the parade! And come back tomorrow...we'll have some prizes and winners to announce! Have a great day...it's 2010!