Stitches and Scissors

Rainbow Plus Quilt

2012-05-24T14:22:00.001-07:00

I don't know what came over me to start another project but sometimes when a quilt gets you you can't stop. I grabbed a pile of my favorite fabrics in a rainbow and decided to make a Plus Quilt with them since I knew it would be fast and easy and I would get to enjoy more of my coveted fabrics. I had no plan for size I just decided to use what I pulled and the 6.5" template I have and cut out 5 squares of each print to achieve the plus. Once I got them all cut out came the hard part of a plus quilt. Figuring out how to arrange them all together so you like it. This is what takes the longest. Otherwise plus quilt are crazy easy and fast. It is just a square patchwork quilt after all. If you want a fast quilt I totally recommended it. As you can see I ended up adding in some fabrics in addition to the stack I pulled. I felt I needed some black and white prints and then needed some prints that had more of a white background to even everything out. In all I used 28 prints for this quilt. It came out to be 76" x 64" which is only because I do not ever follow a perfect 1/4" seam allowance. If you do, this quilt should have been 78"x 66". I used just one print for the back of the quilt. I have been doing this lately so that I can finish a quilt faster and not stress over making another quilt for the back with a pieced back. It makes the process easier and faster for me lately. I used Jay Carroll's Habitat fabric and if you are looking for the perfect fabric to go with it I have found it! Pat Bravos Oval Elements in Crocus. They are so gorgeous together. I also recommend using it as a binding since it is so soft and thin that it made the process epic for me! I achieved perfect corners. I really think the thin fabric made all the difference in the bulk at the corner to make it easier for me to get it to be perfect. I am totally converted to this for my binding now. I have already bought a lot more of the oval elements.

Bloggers Quilt Festival

2012-05-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

This year I am submitting my Interlocking Stars quilt that I made out of my favorite fabric line Park Slope by Erin McMorris along with Kona White. It took me along time to find the right pattern for these fabrics and when I stumbled onto this pillow I knew that I wanted use this pattern. I wanted to make a really large twin sized quilt so that it could be my youngest daughters bed quilt when she got out of her crib. She still is in the crib so I put it on my other daughters bed to get some pictures. This quilt really is a queen since it is 102" x 85". Luckily when I needed to lay this out my Mom was here to help me! Thanks again Mom. Here is the back of the quilt. The back is all Park Slope fabrics. This is the perfect girls quilt I think and now I just can't wait for Penelope to get into her twin bed so I can make pillows to work on the bed and we can enjoy this quilt everyday. Here is my original post with a little tutorial if you would like to see how to make this pattern.

My Favorite Patchwork Quilt

2012-05-09T18:32:00.001-07:00

I have finally finished this quilt. I first started it a year and a half ago, remember this post? I wanted to make a quilt with some of my favorite fabrics Flea Market Fancy, Katie Jump Rope & the ladybugs from Flutterby. Sometimes making a simple patchwork quilt is called for and I really thought it would make this quilt perfect. I cut the squares at 4.5" so they are finished at 4". The quilt is 58" x 78" and I quilted it in wavy lines around 2" apart. I am actually really in love with the back of this quilt. I had initially made the top super long without realizing it and once I did I unpicked a row of blocks and used them for the back of the quilt along with the blue and orange geranium print from Kaite Jump Rope. I love the back. Then I bound it in the green tiles print from Flea Market Fancy since green is my favorite color! I love so many things about this quilt and I am very happy that I used my hoarded fabric yet again in a quilt. I am really on a roll with using up my favorite fabrics. Here's to finishing a quilt that has been sitting in my sewing room for a LONG time :) It feels so good to get this one done and not sitting starring at me to get it done.

Little projects

2012-04-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

I know it seems like all I have done lately is make huge quilts and that is sooo true but I was able to make a couple of smaller projects recently. A couple of friends decided to do a little mini swap recently and I was in the mood to use more of my favorite fabrics, Far Far Away by Heather Ross along with some improv piecing.

I call it my Fairyland Mini Quilt. It went to Jeni as she shares my love of the FFA fabric.

It is 17" x 19". I quilted it in wavy lines which has been a trend for me recently it is my new favorite way to quilt.

I got one from Christina which is awesome since it is something that I would never have made myself. It is just so fun to have something different in my sewing room. I just love it. It is the small mini on the bottom of this picture. Thanks again Christina!

Then yesterday I was really in the mood to use a different colored solid after seeing Jen's amazing mini quilt. I used Kona Cerise which is more purplely in real life then in this picture. As you can see I again did wavy line quilting, I think it compliments the Mendocino fabric by Heather Ross so well to create the under the sea waves effect.

This pillow is 18" and has a zipper in the back and is going to a friend. I made it with her in mind so it isn't staying with me :)

Kelly decided to do a Quilt Along called My Precious. It is making everyone actually use their hard to find fabrics that normally just sit in their fabric storage. Which I have actually been doing all year. I cut into my favorite fabric line Park Slope by Erin McMorris to make Penelope a quilt, I made a Wonderland by Momo quilt for me, I then made Gweniveve a Mendocino quilt for her bed. Then just the other day I made a large log cabin quilt using up tons of my HTF fabrics, ladybugs by Tula Pink , Mendocino, FFA and Amy Butler.

I decided to push myself to get my second Mendocino quilt finished with the My Precious QAL. If you have been following my blog for a while, I have been at it for 5 years or more, then you know that Maverick stars are my favorite along with log cabins. I can never get enough of them. Since this quilt is for me I had to make my favorite type of blocks. This is what I have so far. I can't wait to get this one done. It will also be sashed in the Kona Azure like I did Gwen's since it will go on her top bunk even though I have told her this quilt is mine.

Sheesh that was along post with lots of different things in it huh? well I hope you are all having an awesome weekend. We watched We bought a Zoo last night and I loved it!!

Fairyland Cabin Quilt

2012-04-06T09:40:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to make a large log cabin quilt forever, I mean forrreeevveerr! Like 5 years or more but for some reason I never have made one. So Wednesday I decided when I woke up to make one and to make it using all of my hoarded novelty fabrics. I pulled out my Far Far Away 1 & 2 , ladybugs, Henna Garden, Mendocino mermaids, and so much more and started sewing.

This quilt was one of the fastest and easiest quilts I have made that is lap size or larger! It only took me 2 days to finish the whole thing.

The girls and I snuggled under it last night watching tv and it was so fun to stare at all the awesome fabrics. I think this is my favorite corner. You can also kind of see how I quilted it. I did wavy lines 1" - 2" apart. It took a long time but it was way worth it.

I used a Nicey Jane print for the binding but was missing a small section so I added in my aqua Mingle print which makes it really fun!

The back of the quilt is It's a Hoot dot in pink and a long strip of Farmdale blossoms in aqua. I really think aqua & pink is one of my favorite color combos! This quilt was so fun to piece together and I just love how fun it is.

Mermaid bed set complete!!!

2012-03-13T17:43:00.007-07:00

Whooo Hooo! I finished it today and couldn't take it anymore and showed it all to Gweniveve and let her have it early (her birthday is monday).

I finished the top and sent it off to my quilter since I wanted it quilted with bubbles which was just to perfect for this quilt for me not to spend the $ and have her quilt it.

Then I was working hard on pillows for the bed. I got a little tired and didn't make the pillow sham & the huge 22" log cabin that I was going to and just finished these 2 pillows. I still might make the other 2 soon.

The quilt is 87" x 72". I didn't need to make it a large twin since she has bunk beds and there is no need for overhang to hid a mattress.

Needless to say I am giddy & so is Gwenieve. This was my gift to her for her 5 birthday which is on Monday but I couldn't wait any longer to show her the finished product.

Here is a HUGE thank you to everyone that swapped with me so that I could get these fabrics to make Gweniveve her dream quilt. I only had to buy 2 FQ's of these mermaids everything else I was able to swap for from all my amazing friends.

See I was not lying when I said she is obsessed with the Little Mermaid. She own's a billion of them :) Plus all 3 of the Disney Little Mermaid movies and all the dress-up plus so many other things in her bedroom that are not pictured.

Now that it is on the bed I really can tell that I need to make another one for the top bunk. GULP. I have fabric left over but hardly any of the mermaids especially the aqua mermaids are all gone :( It is on my list to make another one in a different pattern.

I took a video of her as she walked into her room but it is taking forever to upload to youtube so I will come back to add it to the blog so you can all enjoy! Here it is!

Henna Pinwheels Mini- Modern Mini Challenge

2012-03-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

I decided somewhat at the last minute to make a mini to try to win some of the great prizes that Jennifer is offering for her Modern Mini Challenge.

I have been wanting to make a interlocking pinwheels mini since I saw this one. I also have been really wanting to use my Henna Garden fabric from Sandi Henderson's Farmers Market & Meadowsweet lines. I had all of them until last week when I swapped out my speckle (grey) one, of course this was before I even had thought of this quilt. This quilt has all of the Henna Garden minus the grey one.

Quilt stats:

Mini quilt 20" x 21"
Interlocking Pinwheels
Henna Garden by Sandi Henderson
Kona White
Quilted with white thread using wavy lines

I really love this little mini and I think it is going to go on my sewing room wall along with my other mini's.

It's All Mine! Quilt

2012-03-02T13:59:00.002-08:00

I finally made myself a quilt. I think it was my 2nd quilt that I ever made around 5 years ago that was the last time I made a quilt for me. I recently decided that I LOVED Momo's Wonderland line and for some reason I only like this line if it is used all together. I don't really like it separately. So I decided to do some major swapping & was able to get my hands on 2 layer cakes. This allowed me to add another row from the second layer cake since I am so tall!

This quilt is perfectly simple. This is the very first quilt that I have ever made where it is all made from one line. The front, back and binding is all Momo's Wonderland line. It makes this quilt one of my softest quilts!

Since the quilt is so simple I decided to free motion quilt flowers in each square. It actually was really easy since these are the flowers that I draw on paper all the time.

Straight out of the dryer. I just love the krinkle.

I doubt this quilt will ever be folded like this for a long time since I am always cold. It is so pretty I just love these colors all together.

This quilt measures 75.5" x 55.5" Expect to see it alot since it will always be with me well until summer hits.

Penelope's Star Quilt

2012-02-16T13:28:00.001-08:00

Well it is all done! I started with this stack of fabrics....

...and ended up with this awesomeness. My favorite pattern plus my favorite fabric line is a huge thing!

Quilt stats:
Queen 84"x 100"
Sent to a long arm quilter, Pattern is SPLAT by Anne Bright
Used Park Slope by Erin McMorris
Kona White

Tutorial for Interlocking Stars Pattern is here.

Here is the back which is a whole other quilt on it's own. I was just going to have it be the blue flower print but I didn't buy enough so I had to piece in some log cabins. Which of course I love now and I am glad that I didn't buy enough fabric for the back. I just think that the back doesn't really matter since it is going to be on a bed and not seen, but who cares right? She may want it on that side sometimes.

I bound it in the fuscia pebble print which I love! Well I love the whole line :)

I don't want this quilt to get used everyday so it is put away until Penelope gets moved into a twin bed, right now she is still in a crib. Then hopefully it will be on her bed for years to come :)

Working on my WIP's

2012-02-07T14:46:00.000-08:00

Well I have finally started on my quilt from Christina's Retro Flower Pattern. I have sooo many pink fabrics since I do love pink but for some reason I forget to sew with them. So I am finally going to make a whole pink quilt! I mean my favorite fabric EVER is the pink ladybug print from Tula Pink's Flutterby fabric line.

Christina's pattern is shown with each flower as one fabric but I decided to make mine scrappy since really scrappy things are my favorite! Ignore that I am not the best person at sewing all of my points so that they match up I am fine that they don't since I am not a perfectionist :)

I have also made 4 blocks for Gwenieve's mermaid quilt! I pulled out some Kona solids to go along with the fabrics.

This is totally out of my comfort zone sewing with so many different solids, I tend to stick with white and I am always happy but this fabric was screaming for all the different solid colors. It makes me nervous but I know that when it is all done it is going to look really great!

I also am sewing slowly on my new bed quilt using the Bowtie pattern, I have squares next to my sewing machine and sew some everyday so it is coming along. It is a HUGE quilt I am going for so it will take awhile :)

How is all of your WIP's coming along?

Infinity Scarf or Figure 8 Scarf

2012-01-24T13:16:00.000-08:00

I was getting alittle depressed thinking that it was my birthday coming up. I really hate getting older. I know it is dumb but I can't help it. Age scares me. Anywho I decided to go to a LQS to use up my 30% off they give for your birthday and bought some fabrics. This made me finally give in to the expensive Voile fabric to make myself the Infinity Scarf.

I used Anna Marie Horner's tutorial but I didn't use Velveteen or flannel like alot of people do. I used both Voile on both sides.

I was going for a accessory piece and not really something to keep me warm. I love the colors and the fabric is so soft and light. It really came out perfect and I love it. I might try to make one smaller next time but I love that this one is big and makes a statement.

I am 32 today and it is somewhat depressing. Couldn't I have stayed in my 20's for the rest of my life?!?!?! Oh well. Atleast I have a really great scarf to wear today to make me feel better. That and also getting to go to one of my favorite resturants Benihana's.

Finishing my WIPs

2012-01-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

This year I actually made a New Years Resolution for the very first time. To finish all of my WIPs before I start anything new.

Yesterday I started working on my Bowtie quilt which is a Cal King that will go on my bed. I made 2 of them and I am going to try to make 2 of them everyday.

Did any of you make any New Years Resolutions???

Instagram a photo a day challenge

2012-01-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

I forgot to take my first picture until today but I am still counting it. Brought to you by Fat Mum Slim.

Penelope's Star Quilt - tutorial

2011-12-31T15:54:00.000-08:00

I finished the top of my Interlocking Stars quilt today! Just in time so that I can count it as a 2011 finish. As you know I used my favorite fabric line Park Slope by Erin McMorris. I have loved this line for years and I am so happy that I finally choose a pattern for the fabrics and cut into it.

The quilt is 102"x 85". I made a rather large Twin size quilt since I wanted it to hang to the floor and not have to have a bed skirt. The quilt will go on Penelope's twin once we move her out of her crib.

Erin helped me to figure it all out on paper before I started.

Here is the breakdown:

6.5" blocks (they will be 6" finished)
14 Columns
17 Rows
47 Stars (47 prints for this quilt I doubled some of mine)
14 Fillers (fillers are just a square with 2 star points on them)
191 White squares

Cut out all your fabric first:

You need 47 prints for this quilt ( Park Slope is only 30 prints so I doubled 17 of the prints to get a total of 47 stars )

Cut out (5) 6.5" squares of each print. For a total of (235) 6.5" squares of your print fabric (there is 47 stars and each star is 5 squares)

Cut out (191) Kona White 6.5" squares

Then sew all the star points using this tutorial but don't sew the block together.

Trim all of the star points

Then lay the whole quilt out. This is what takes the longest as you need to piece it all together like a puzzle. Some stars do not have all 4 points on them. The points that are left over are your " Fillers" these are the ones you use to fill in the blank spots for the outside of the quilt. Just look at the quilt picture to see what I am talking about. They are points for the imaginary stars :)

After all of that was done I took a picture of it (just in case things got out of place) and started sewing it all together. I sewed it altogether in blocks and then sewed the blocks together in rows. Not all of your blocks are going to have the star in the center as shown in this picture. I just started sewing the blocks together starting in the top left corner of the quilt that was laid out on my floor and the first block just worked out to have the whole star.

If you have any questions just ask them in the comments. Hopefully this makes sense.

This quilt is just to large for me to quilt so I will be sending it out to the quilter I just need to find one first. I can't wait to get this one back and bound so that we can all enjoy it!

Christmas Presents

2011-12-24T11:14:00.000-08:00

This year Erin and I collaborated and decided to make each other Mini Quilts for our Christmas gifts. We each looked through our favorites on flickr to get an idea of what to make. I decided to go with a Plus quilt since Erin had a ton of them in her favorites and I knew that she had never made one yet.

Both Erin and I love green and aqua so I knew that is what I was going to make hers with but we did decide ahead of time that we had to have a piece of the orange Henna Garden & green moon dot fabric. I love that we did that now since I love the orange plus in the mini.

I washed it before I mailed it out to her since the crinkly look is just one of the best things about quilts.

We waited until we got eachothers in the mail and then got on Skype to watch eachother open them.

Erin made me a Wonky Snowball mini. Isn't it so great???

It looks great on my wall of mini's. My wall is a little out of place right now since my parents are here and staying in my sewing room so once they leave in a month or so I will get my room back together and take another picture.

I also made my friend Sara a boxy make-up pouch since she had said she loved mine.

I followed this tutorial but I added a strap and another tab. Next time I make this I think I will make it larger.

Well I am all done and ready for Christmas to get here. Tomorrow is going to be so much fun with the girls opening all of their gifts.

Giveaway Winner

2011-12-16T21:12:00.000-08:00

I picked the winner with the Random.org

#50 Which is Kristy from St. Louis Folk Victorian or Love Old Houses on Flickr which is hilarious since Kristy was my partner in the last Spicing up the Kitchen. Looks like you will be getting another package from me Kristy :)

Tyson's Quilt

2011-12-13T10:05:00.000-08:00

I finished the quilt I made for my Brother & his family for Christmas. I am pretty sure they don't read this blog so I can share the quilt with you before I mail. I started by calling my SIL and asking what they wanted for Christmas and she said they would love one of my quilts. This was a surprise to me since no one in my family had asked me to make them one. She told me the colors and I sent her a picture of fabrics to make sure she liked them.

Most people that don't sew or quilt do not understand how expensive and time consuming it is to make a quilt so I didn't want to make a quilt and not have them like it. That would suck! So once she gave me the go ahead with the fabrics I drew on a piece of paper the half circle for the drunkard path block. I drew out my own since all the downloads avalible were not the size I wanted. I wanted a large block so I would not have to make as many squares. Since I free handed it the block it came out alittle more square than circle but I love it now. I will be making a pdf download available soon so you can make this block to.

With my parents here for a couple of months I was able with the help of my Mom with the girls to get the top done in a day! It is 54" x 70".

Then the next day was the weekend and I rested since I came down with a bad cold. On Monday I was able to baste and quilt it.

I decided to spiral quilt in each square/circle and then to do straight lines on each side of the seams on each sides of the rows.

It is love.

Here is the back of the quilt you can see the quilting better.

This quilt is so fun and I think it is on my list next for me to make us one. I already have the fabric picked out for it.

For the back of the quilt I found an Alexander Henry print that is red and aqua which are the main colors of my brothers house and used what I had in my stash. Added in some Kona Azure and Kona Red for the binding to finish it off.

Now I just need to get this folded small and tight to fit in a box to mail it off to my brother so they can get it for Christmas!

The Sew Mama Sew giveaway is still going. Click here for the post to enter.

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway! CLOSED.

2011-12-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

I decided to giveaway a copy of the Sew to Swap book. I had a lot of fun contributing to this book if you want to read more on the book here is my post on it. I purchased this book with the thought in mind that I would give it away on my blog then remembered Sew Mama Sew giveaway day was coming and I thought it would be perfect!

This book is perfect for any crafter! Just leave a comment on this post and make sure that your email is provided so I have someway of getting in touch with you.

I will leave this giveaway open until December 16 at 5 p.m. PST. Don't forget to go over to Sew Mama Sew blog to enter more giveaways!

sewing the little things

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

I have a list. A long list. It is in my head (I really need to write it down I might sleep better). I am trying to mark off the smaller items before my parents get here which is in 5 days. I have made alot of progress.

Erin and I decided this year to do something different for each other for Christmas. We have never talked about what we are getting each other but this year decided to make mini quilts. I started making small squares in rainbow colors which are both of Erin's favorite.

I made her this mini but then after binding it I was not completely happy with it. It was to small and had things in it I knew Erin wouldn't like so I decided to start over and keep this one for myself. It looks great on my sewing wall.

I do love the straight line quilting that is Erin's favorite!

Then I started another one for her that I love and I am completely happy with but I will have to show you a picture of it after she receives it. Here is a small peek.

I signed up for a secret Santa swap among some of us on twitter. I am completely happy with my partner and knew exactly what I wanted to do. We did not have to make something we can buy something as our gift but I was in the mood to make my partner their gift. As you know I am obsessed with the Interlocking Stars pattern and I can't get enough of it. I thought it would be a perfect fit for my partner.

The mini quilt is along the larger side at 19.5" x 23.5" . I used Kona Ash since I thought my partner would like that instead of my signature white.

I usually don't do anything on the back of mini quilts since they get hung up on walls and you never see the back anyway but I had some extra squares so I though I might as well use them.

I have also been dying to make Jeni's awesome drawstring bags since she made one for Sewing Summit. Then she made a great tutorial. I finally got around to making both of my girls one. The only thing that is a pain is making the bias tape I hate making that it takes forever. I am so buying ribbon the next time I make one. Which probably won't happen since I make things last minute and won't want to run to the store LOL.

Gweniveve is a blue girl. Remember this quilt for her? So it was easy to make hers.

Penelope as you saw on my post yesterday, loves Minnie Mouse. I do not buy Disney fabric, to much for me, so I decided to do my own take on Minnie for hers. I raw edged appliqued on the Minnie which is totally not perfect but hey she is only 2.

The girls were in heaven. All day they carried around their bags and used the ties to carry them like backpacks and kept putting little fun things inside. This is why I sew. I love when people enjoy the things that I make.

Left on my list is some boxy zippy's for makeup and a pillow. Let's see if I have time in the next couple of days.......

still here.

2011-11-30T13:53:00.000-08:00

I always told myself I would only blog when I wanted to and not because I felt I had to. I would hate for it to feel like a job. So I am sorry that I have not been blogging as much as I used to. Erin and I were just talking about all of this the other day and then Megan said it perfectly yesterday on her blog. Dito to everything that she said. I have been sewing though and being busy with Penelope's birthday and Thanksgiving.

It was Minnie themed since that seems to be her most favorite lately. Luckily enough it was an easy cake for me to make since I try to make the girls their cake every year.

Then Thanksgiving was here and we went to my in laws for the day. Were I neglected to take any pictures. Terrible. I am getting lazy for sure. Oh wait I did take a picture of one of the pies I made on my lap on the way to my in laws. I do love homemade pies way better then store bought. Apparently all I was thinking about was Pumpkin Pie that day, can you blame me?

I sewed a couple of the great gathered clutches for a friend. One for an auction to benefit her mommy group and the other for her. Where I finally achieved perfect zipper ends thanks to this diagram. Don't sew on the ends at all!!! Who knew.

I had a good hair day. I had to take a picture to document.

I went to Disneyland to meet Jen from Mjandco! I was so excited to meet her in person finally after knowing eachother forever on flickr. We did a little fabric swap she was awesome to offer me a piece of the Mermaid fabric that I am collecting to make Gweniveve a quilt. The kids got along great and even though it was crowded we had a great time.

I have been sewing alot of the small things I have on my list since I wanted to get them out of the way before my parents get here ( on Monday!) so that my Mom and I can sew all the big things on my list. I will be back tomorrow with that post.

I hope everyone had an awesome Thanksgiving and you are all hanging out with your family and having fun. I love to play games and lucky for me I have a husband who plays them with me.

It has begun.

2011-11-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

I have bitten the big one. I have cut into my beloved Park Slope fabrics which is my favorite fabric line.

It has taken me along time to decide what pattern to use. It put alot of pressure on me since I didn't want to get it wrong. But I think I have got it right since I am in love with it already.

I am making a twin size and shooting for 85"x102" so that I have a good size overhang to cover the mattresses. I am so excited about this quilt. It has been awhile since I felt really inspired to make a quilt.

My parents are coming to stay with us for a couple of months and so I should be able to get alot of sewing done. I have 4 large quilts in the works so lets hope I can get them done! It is driving me crazy that I have that many WIPs.

Mini Quilt Challenge - Oh My Stars!

2011-11-11T10:04:00.000-08:00

I wanted to join Amy's Mini Quilt Challenge since mini quilts can just be anything they can turn into a quilt, pouch, mug rug, or my favorite a pillow. So yesterday I worked long and hard on my mini.

I have been wanting to make the interlocking stars quilt for a long time now since I saw Faith's awesome one and then Amber made a pillow version that was scrappy and I was hooked!

I of course turned my mini into a pillow since pillows are my favorite things.

I already have my fabric for my quilt version of this pattern. I am finally going to cut into my beloved Park Slope prints and make a twin size version ASAP. I am that in love with this pattern.

If you want to see some more awesome mini's and what everyone has done with them go over to Amy's post and check out all the mini's that have been linked. Also you can still join and link up your mini quilt!

I have come back to add my quilt stats as I have seen alot of people doing that in their posts:

size: 18" x 18"
design: inspired by Faith's Interlocking Stars Mini
fabrics: Kona White & lots of my favorite fabrics
Block sizes: 2.5" squares 3 blocks by 3 blocks
Quilted: White Dual Duty thread straight line quilting on each side of the seams

Sew to Swap - blog tour

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Over a year ago I was asked by Chrissie Grace to be apart of her new book about the online swapping community. I would be making blocks along with many other amazing quilters I know online and all the blocks would be made into quilts just like we do when we join a quilting bee or other swaps online. I was so excited!!! Stressed to since it was my first experience doing something like this but everyone was so great. The book has all the information on how to make a quilt from start to finish which is perfect for those that are still new to quilting plus it tells you how to run a swap either online or in person. I have to say swapping is what is so great about this online sewing community.

Here are the ones that I participated in making. The first one was the Vintage Hourglass quilt. It was alot of fun to work with vintage fabric since I had not made anything with it before.

Then I made nine patch blocks out of my stash of yellow & grey. Isn't that such a great color combo? I really love the colors but I have never made a quilt with them yet I am thinking I need to now.

Laurie Wishbrun gave us fabric from her Tuffed Tweets line to make curved blocks. I decided to make a Drunkard Path block. I bet you can all find the one I made in the quilt.

One of the quilts that I loved doing the block for the most was the siggy block. We were asked to make wonky maverick stars and you know how much I love them! Here is the block I made.

It looks like my block is the last block in the top row.

Needless to say this was a great experience and really fun. I am still waiting for my copy of the book but I can't wait to see it in person that will really be the icing on the cake for me! I know you will all love to read about all the fun things you can do with the online swapping community and pick up a copy of the book to find out. The publishers are offering a special discount to our readers to:

Get Sew to Swap now for just $14.99 ($10 off the retail price!). Visit the Martha Pullen Online Store and use promo code SEW2SWAP to get your exclusive discount.
{Offer expires Nov 30, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. Special Price in US Dollars, for items that are “in stock” only. Martha Pullen Company reserves the right to correct pricing errors.}

Don't forget to check out Chrissie's post about the book. It also contains the list of the Blog Hop so you can check out everyone's post. Thanks again Chrissie for this awesome experience.

Halloween & Mendocino

2011-11-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

Halloween was great yesterday! Gweniveve is obsessed with The Little Mermaid (which I love since it is my favorite Disney princess) so of course her costume would be easy.

Isn't the wig awesome? My MIL got it for Gwen at DisneyWorld.

She is getting so grown up!

My Mom had made an awesome Candy Corn costume for Gwen in 2008 so we thought it would be perfect for Penelope to use it. Might as well get another use out of it, plus it is adorable.

I wanted to compare the two in the costume so the top row is Gwen and the bottom row is Penelope.

The girls and I. I was looking at my FIL since he was taking pictures to.

Well it turns out that Gwen is dying for me to make her a Mermaid quilt and has been asking for one for a couple of months now so I have decided to try to get as much of Heather Ross Mendocino fabrics as I can to make her a quilt. I am putting this out there since some of you might have some that you are will to part with and swap with me?!?!?! Pretty Please.

I only have a FQ of swimming sisters on white with aqua octopus seen here.

Thanks everyone and I hope that you had an awesome Halloween!

Scrappy iPad case

2011-10-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

After looking at all the awesome iPad cases online I had to make me one. I decided to make mine scrappy and I knew that I wanted a zipper since that seemed to me that it would be more secure and safe especially with my 2 girls always wanting to play with the iPad. After seeing this pillow I knew that I wanted to use the same fabrics for my case. Those roses from Heather Ross's line Far Far Away 2 are some of my all time favorite. Today I finally had a little time to whip this case up.

I lined it with Decor Bond and also with batting so it is cushy. I quilted it since of course I love the quilted look.

It is lined with another great print, from Erin McMorris called hopscotch it went so well with the roses.

I think I will be making alot more of these scrappy cases to sell in my Etsy shop since Christmas is coming soon and I know alot of my friends & family might like them to give away as gifts and I am in the mood to make alot more of these!