A Quilting Life

March--Already?!

2012-03-01T11:53:00.003-08:00

Happy March 1st! And welcome to the parade for February's Another Year of Schnibbles! For those who are waiting to find out the March pattern...it's Bibelot! I have spent the last week going back and forth on which fabrics to use. In the end, I decided that this quilt is going to be draped over my great-grandmother's sewing machine; so, I figured using Curio by Moda (as Carrie did in the

Granny Squares & Blogger's Block of the Month

2012-02-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

I could hardly wait to make another granny square block--I was just going to do a blue/grey combination and at the last minute added in the organge...love this mix of color! I already have a plan for block 4, too! Saturday was Amy's day for Jackie's Blogger's Block of the Month. I love her block and think I could make a whole scrappy quilt using just this block (just another idea to add to

Sewing Just for Fun

2012-02-24T08:12:00.000-08:00

This bundle of California Girl has been calling my name...and since I'm waiting for some fabric to arrive for a couple of projects with quick deadlines, I decided to sew just for fun yesterday... I made some half-square triangles for a quilt that's been on my "to do" list for quite a while. And I made another Granny Squares block--think I'm going to try and make at least one of these a day

Back to Charm School

2012-02-22T04:00:00.001-08:00

Recently Mary from Country Threads contacted me and asked if I would be interested in participating in a blog hop for her latest book, Back to Charm School: More Fun Quilts from Country Threads (That Patchwork Place). Of course I said yes! Back to Charm School: More Fun Quilts from Country Threads (That Patchwork Place) Back to Charm School is filled with small projects that

Just a Matter of Time...

2012-02-21T16:06:00.000-08:00

Really...it was just a matter of time. My heart has been set on making a scrap quilt using the "Granny Squares" tutorial from Blue Elephant Stitches since the first time I saw the block. But I thought I'd hold out for awhile since I have so many works in progress. It seems like every day someone else has shared photos of their blocks--and seeing so many wonderful versions all over blog-land

Sonoma Rose

2012-02-20T11:44:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of Jennfer Chiaverini's quilt novels for quite some time...so I was really excited to get an opportunity to preview her latest Elm Creek Quilts Novel, Sonoma Rose (Elm Creek Quilts). While I love all of the books in the Elm Creek Quilts series, the ones set in different historical times have definitely been my favorites. Sonoma Rose is one of those historical novels and is set

Organizing, Sewing, and a Giveaway!

2012-02-16T14:31:00.000-08:00

I was hoping to get a lot of sewing accomplished the other day. But I decided to do a little cleaning and organizing in the sewing room first, and you know how that can sometimes go. One thing led to another, and pretty soon I was moving furniture and organizing things in a closet and 3 rooms. The sewing room was a complete shambles for nearly a day before I got it put back together; I'm happy

Blocks from the Farm

2012-02-14T12:12:00.000-08:00

I got a chance to work on my Farmer's Wife blocks the other day--I always have so much fun putting them together! This was a fun one...Block 62...Old Windmill. Block 61, Northern Lights was an easy one! And here is block 56, Maple Leaf. I'm still making my Christmas version blocks too, although my scraps are getting low for this one...I might have to add in a few more pieces of fabric.

Rejuvenated...

2012-02-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

I returned home late Saturday from an amazing quilt retreat held at the historic Ruby's Inn in Bryce Canyon, Utah. The retreat lasted from Wednesday until Saturday and was home to over 250 amazing quilters for a few days! It was so much fun to meet quilters from all over the country and to be inspired by their quilts, their fabrics, and their lives. I taught two classes Thursday and Friday (

A Giveaway...

2012-02-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

I fnished binding "Vintage Dishes" and am getting ready to go to a quilting retreat for a few days. I'm ready to have a fabric/quilty kind of vacation, and I'll get to teach a couple of classes also. While I'm away, I thought I'd leave you with a giveaway from one of my sponsors... To Enter a terrific giveaway for a $25 gift certificate from Natasha at SkyReve...

Second Time Around

2012-02-06T10:39:00.000-08:00

I know this quilt might look a little familiar...but really...this is my weekend sewing...I made another "Vintage Dishes" (pattern and fabric by Lori Holt). You know you love a pattern (and fabric) when it's just as much fun making a quilt the second time around! I made this quilt last spring for Lori's booth for Riley Blake at International Quilt Market, and since I'm going to be teaching

Cover Quilt

2012-02-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Quilts and More is one of my favorite quilt publications--they always have super cute projects that are quick to complete! And...the most recent issue has a quilt I pieced right on the cover! Last spring I had a lot of fun working on a project designed by my friend Kate Spain. It was right before International Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, and Kate's Terrain yardage had just become available

More Schnibbles

2012-02-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

To find out all about the winners from yesterdays amazing "Full House" Schnibbles parade...GO HERE!

Insert Snappy Title Here...

2012-01-31T22:49:00.000-08:00

Happy February! And yes, Insert Snappy Title Here is the perfect title for my post and...is the name of our February Schnibbles pattern. The quilt above is Carrie's original quilt from the pattern cover...isn't it gorgeous?! I love it! I can't wait to see all of the amazing i.s.t.h. quilts we'll be seeing next month. For now, though, we have some amazing versions of Full House to share. I

Just Stopping By...

2012-01-28T07:33:00.000-08:00

It's been incredibly busy/crazy (in a great way) around here lately. My school semester started this week (I'm teaching 2 English classes at a local community college), and I'm nearing completion of some big projects I haven't been able to share as of yet. But just like a breath of fresh air, one of my summer finishes arrived home the other day. The fabrics are Fresh Cottons by Fig Tree &

Pattern Testing...

2012-01-24T09:50:00.000-08:00

One thing I've been working on for the last week is some very exciting pattern testing for Kimberly at Fat Quarter Shop. Each year Fat Quarter Shop hosts a Mystery Designer Block of the Month. I always participate and love each of the quilts I've made from these patterns. The blocks are always wonderfully designed, and Fat Quarter Shop always includes plenty of fabric. I've been working my

Hopscotch

2012-01-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

Just before Christmas I got the chance to sew with Vintage Modern, a new Moda line by Bonnie & Camille! If you loved their earlier lines Bliss and Ruby, well then Vintage Modern is like the icing on the cake! I seriously heart this fabric...it's one of those lines where it's love at first sight! It was so much fun to piece "Hopscotch" for Camille (yes, I pieced the quilt, but she did the

Wordless Wednesday...

2012-01-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

Well...almost...seems I can't post without saying something. Thank you so much for all the motivation to work on this some more!

A "Work in Progress" Day

2012-01-16T12:03:00.000-08:00

You might remember these scrappy stars, made with left-overs from my Denyse Schmidt Swoon quilt. I wasn't able to make as many as I had wanted, so I've been trying to decide on another block to put with them. A little while ago I picked up some more Denyse Schmidt fabric and came up with a plan. Since there was no deadline for this project, it's been sitting a little while. It sure felt good

A Little Sample Sewing

2012-01-13T22:39:00.000-08:00

Just stopping in to share some of my recent "secret sewing" that doesn't have to stay secret anymore! Last week I got to piece together a sample for a fun table runner...out of some very whimsical patriotic fabrics! Introducing the Windy Point Park table runner made with Stars & Stripes by Mind's Eye for Riley Blake--did I mention these fabrics are really a lot of fun...I already have a few

Four Square Layer Cake Quilt

2012-01-11T09:21:00.000-08:00

Today I can finally share some of my recent sewing! My Four-Square layer cake quilt made with Reunion by Sweetwater for Moda is on the Moda Bake Shop today! A big thank you to Korindi of I Heart Photography for taking some pictures of this quilt for me. I tried to get photos of the quilt in my backyard, and it just wasn't working; Korindi was able to get these great photos just down the road

Goals and Giveaway Winner

2012-01-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

I just finished a project with these fabrics...Reunion by Sweetwater for Moda. LOVE this line. I'll be able to share very soon (later this week)! And, I've been trying to formulate my quilting goals for 2012 so I can officially start working on them. After reading so many amazing posts about goals and after re-evaluating the goals I set the last couple of years, I've narrowed it down to just

Favorites on Friday

2012-01-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about sharing a few of my favorite things with you on Fridays. Sometimes I'll share notions, rulers, and patterns. At other times I'll share tips and ideas. So to get started, today I'd like to share five of my favorites! Please note: this is not a sponsored post...these are just items I've come to use on a regular basis--they make a quilting life so much easier! First up

The Quilting Garden Giveaway

2012-01-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

What better way to start the New Year than with a giveaway! Ronnie from The Quilting Garden is offering these 7 wonderful fat quarters from the Flora collection by Lauren & Jessi Jung for Moda. To find out all about the giveaway and to enter please GO HERE! Note: Comments entered on this post will not be eligible for the giveaway. You must click the link above to enter.