Splendorfalls

bloggers quilt festival spring 2012

2012-05-21T20:14:00.000-05:00

I chose my Single Girl quilt as my Blogger's Quilt Festival quilt for the simple fact that making it felt like a right of passage. The templates, the cutting, the curved piecing, the shifty linen...I really honed my quilting chops on this one. I will forever be more confident in choosing more complicated patterns.

Fabric selections came straight outta my stash. I chose aqua, orange and yellow to contrast against the natural linen. I became very good friends with Mary Ellen while Best Pressing all the linen and have since gone through two more bottles. I love the lavender scent. Quilting is therapeutic for me and now I can say it's aromatherapy too. Don't you love multitasking? Eat your heart out Madge!

I had this quilt long arm quilted due to it's weight (linen = heavy) and size (queen). In fact because of the weight I decided not to keep the quilt for myself. A dear friend purchased this quilt from me at a holiday sale and I'm so pleased that it is being used and loved.

I hope you are enjoying all the beauty and stories of this years Quilt Festival!

giveaway day 2012

2012-05-21T19:26:00.000-05:00

Don't you just love Giveaway Day?

I know you have lots of blogs to visit so I'll cut right to the chase.

I'll draw two names on the 25th and announce them on this post.

The first will receive a Moda Modern Workshop Jellyroll.

The second will receive 8 Tula Pink Parisville Fat Quarters.

All you have to do is leave a comment and make sure I have a way to email you.

Best of luck!

Thanks to Sew Mama Sew for hosting this always fun event!

Congrats to Jeana (Jelly Roll) and Chibidani (FQ's); I've sent you both an email!
Thanks for visiting and entering everyone; it's been fun!

mazed

2012-05-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

My friend and fearless St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild President, Kristy Daum, has just released her very first quilt pattern called Mazed! We are all excited for her and to my delight she has kindly provided me with a few patterns to give away on the ol' blog.

All you gotta do is leave a comment and check back here on Friday to see if you won!

I'll choose two random winners.

I was able to play with Kristy's pattern in the testing phases and had fun making a little pillow out of some Heather Ross scraps, Pure Elements by Pat Bravo, and a solid grey.

This pillow is made up of 9 Mazed blocks and it was really fun to play and decide how to orient them.

I went a little crazy on the quilting, experimenting and also adding some fun pom pom fringe.

Doesn't it look all cozy in my library chair?

If you can't wait for the giveaway - you can always purchase a copy at Kristy's Etsy shop!

Use the coupon code BlogHop52012 to get 15% off the pattern price until Saturday 5/12 10pm CST.

If you want more chances to win the pattern you can check out giveaways at these blogs:

May 9 - With Thread in Hand

May 11 - Live. Love. Create

Let's congratulate Kristy on her first pattern!

Let's also congratulate our winners QuiltNutCreations and capitalaquilter!

in print

2012-04-29T17:42:00.000-05:00

Last year I won a spot in a book and I'm happy to report it's finally in print!

It's a pretty traditional quilt book that uses jelly roll's in all the patterns.

Here's the quilt I submitted, called Sense of Direction.

The fabric I used was Modern Workshop by Moda.

It's all quilted up and featured in the book along with the pattern,

and an alternate version showcasing different fabrics.

little bits

2012-04-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

I recently moved my fabric to some different shelving and was able to spread it out a bit.

I feel bit gluttonous because it looks like so much more now, but I'd be lying if I didn't say I loved it and thought it looked pretty!

The beginning of a peach raspberry cobbler I made for Easter.

It was so pretty that I had to share.

Have you made a cheater cobbler?

Fruit in the bottom, dry white or yellow cake mix on top (I use half-ish).

Pour about a stick of melted butter on top of the dry mix.

I also reserve the juice from any canned fruit and pour that on top too.

Cook at 350 until its brown and bubbly.

Sometimes there are little uncooked powdery bits.

You can check on this while its cooking and if so you can scoop out some juice and pour it over.

It's super sweet, so I like to tame it down with ice cream.

And last but not least Lou Bee blocks for beautiful Jessica who requested pleats!

hot pads

2012-04-16T06:00:00.001-05:00

A gillion years ago (yes, really, a gillion) I cut out oh I don't know, about 20 sets of hot pads.

This is what I do. You know me.

I loaded up on bias tape, I was ready.

I free motion quilted about half in a flame design (get it? hot pad? too obvious?) which seemed like good progress.

Well.....that's about the time I tried to finish one.

Hmm...tight curves, too wide bias tape...it didn't end well.

And so that's about the time I gave up.

Well my Mom decided she was up for the challenge and tried a few.

It took some trial and error, but she got it!

Turns out the best way was to do the edges like you would quilt binding.

I had always intended this Flea Market Fancy scrap set to be for me and my

Mom recently finished them up and gave them to me.

I love them!

I totally ripped the general design off a set of hot pads I currently own and love.

They are lined with Insul-bright and goodness they look cute next to some vintage Pyrex!

Thanks Mom!

echo echo echo

2012-04-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Oh dear. See this beauty? I'm smitten with it.

It's been in my possession for one whole month and so far all I can bring myself to do is stare at it!

Cindy of Hyacinth Quilt Design made this pouch for me as part of a St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild swap.

I squealed when she said it was for me!

Cindy also included these delicious extras that I loooove.

Umm chevron ribbon? Yes please!

Cindy the care you put in everything you do is evident and

I appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into this swap.

It was a pick me up I really needed and it brings me joy every time I see it!

I'm telling ya; she hit the nail on the head.

Look what I was working on when I received the pouch!

Yup a quilt with Lotta's Echo.

modern patchwork

2012-04-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

I'm very excited to share with you three projects of mine that can be found in

Interweave's Modern Patchwork publication that hits newsstands today!

An easy Chevron Patchwork Apron.

A quick sewing Cell Phone Case.

And a quilt called City Beat.

(sorry for the sub par picture)

The issue has lot of really cool projects as well some great information about modern quilting.

The first thing I want to make is the Patchwork Evening Clutch by Amy Ellis!

Pick up a copy; you won't be disappointed!

stlmqg pouch swap

2012-03-02T06:00:00.002-06:00

It all started with the machine pieced hexagon tutorial over on Tallgrass Prairie Studio.

Then I remembered this lovely zippered pouch I saw on Flickr a while back.

My first machine pieced hexie efforts were not perfect, you can see the puckering, but I'm not sure something I hand pieced would look much better? I have thumb arthritis so I can't do much hand sewing; this alternative is pretty exciting to me! I have a hexagon die cut for my Sizzix Big Shot Express so I didn't even have to cut any fabric by hand!

I decided to make some more Elizabeth Hartman Perfect Zip Bags since I enjoyed making them so much the first time. The orange bag was just a test - the green one is for the STLMQG Pouch Swap!

My second attempt at the hexies went much more smoothly and I hope my swap partner likes the fabrics I chose! Two of the fabrics could be hints; just sayin'.

Have you seen the supplies at Jo-Anns to make reusable diaper covers? I bought some of the water resistant stuff to use as the lining of these pouches. It was a little tricky to sew, but it's probably worth it for the functionality. I got the idea from the President of my Mom's Guild who used it in a pouch she made my Mom.

Can't wait for the March meeting to deliver my creation to it's intended owner!

little bits

2012-02-29T06:00:00.001-06:00

Washi and Hello Pilgrim

Small towel for my pretzel making/loving brother.

Thanks again Jenny!

Improve block for Lou Bee: Lynne.

farmers wife

2012-02-28T06:00:00.003-06:00

You might have guessed by my lack of posting about Farmer's Wife progress that I had given up, and if you did, you were right. I believe I made just 18 blocks before calling it a day. Those tiny templates were just so SMALL! I admire all those nimble fingers out there who are seeing this quilt a long to the end.

I made a simple little baby quilt with the blocks I had, sashing in white and backing with Little Folks flannel.

Quilted it up with some straight lines.

I do love Good Folks. Sigh. Swoon.

Not sure I'll ever tire of it.

sparkle punch part two

2012-02-26T16:41:00.000-06:00

{waves hands in the air enthusiastically}

It's done! It's done! It's done!

Sparkle Punch is done!

I am very pleased with the finished quilt and love seeing all those DS Quilts prints in one place.

I originally intended to quilt in a crosshatch pattern, but after doing the first direction I decided it would be too much and just left it.

Binding is a red dot from the first DS Quilts Jo-Ann fabric line. Of my favorite prints.

The back is blue only because I felt I had too much blue in my stash.

I'm real methodical like that. He he.

{wink}

I love that this pattern is a modern twist on a traditional star and I love that the DS Quilts fabrics kind of have the same vibe - a little vintage a little modern.

Crazy good thanks to Oh, Fransson! for the instructions!

pillowcase gifts

2012-02-14T19:38:00.000-06:00

I made these personalized pillowcases to give as birthday gifts for some neighborhood kids.

Paper pieced letter pattern is from kelbysews and

the pillowcase pattern is the Roll it Up pattern from All People Quilt.

a haiku for solids

2012-02-10T06:00:00.002-06:00

Solids are rock stars.

Such a pretty solid stack.

Solids are my friends.

You may have noticed that I've been reevaluating how I use and purchase fabric.

I'm also working on doing a better job at sewing with what I have.

Have you heard that bacon commercial on the radio where they guy talks about how good bacon is?

How you can put it on salad! Salad!

That's me and solids. You can make a quilt entirely out of solids! Solids!

Trouble is I don't think I've ever made a quilt out of just solids!

SOLIDS!

Until now.

I have a plan and will report back when my mission has been accomplished.
{which lets be honest, I'm sorta hoping you forget about and don't hold me accountable}

Cue the mission impossible theme!

ETA: Just realized I did make one quilt out of just solids already. It was the jelly roll 1600 race!
So let me add the caveat that I've never 'designed' a quilt out of just solids!

ear bud pouches

2012-02-08T06:00:00.002-06:00

After seeing a fellow guild member make a few of these as gifts they went right on my mental to-do list.

I finally got around (he he) to making them a week or so ago.

The free tutorial to make your own Circle Zip Earbud Pouches is over at dog under my desk!

Easy. Cute. Functional.

What's not to like?

frenchies

2012-02-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

I needed a Sparkle Punch break mid way through and decided to make a few purses using the Amy Butler Frenchy Bag pattern. I'd made this purse years ago and held on the the pattern.

One for my niece made from AMH Garden Party and Lou Lou Thi with a little Ta Dot accent.

One for me made from AMH Lou Lou Thi and Joel Dewberry Aviary 2.

They aren't perfect, but were still fun to make. I got lazy and decided to try and use the Pellon Craft Fuse I had on hand instead of what the pattern recommended - that was a mistake; too crunchy. I followed the pattern exactly except for adding the piping accent between the main purse and the top.

sparkle punch part one

2012-02-03T06:00:00.002-06:00

I knew I wanted to participate in Elizabeth Hartman's Sparkle Punch Quilt-Along as soon as I saw it.

What better than to use fabric I have on hand?

You might remember my disappointment about how little of my DS Quilts stash this project ate up.

Anyway I cut and I cut and had this stack of pretty 3.5" squares.

Then I cut more and sewed and pressed and sewed and pressed and trimmed

320+ little 3.5"star parts.

Honestly at this point I was feeling a little tired of the sewing and pressing and sewing and pressing, but once I got the top half of the quilt up on the wall I was reinvigorated and ready to sew it up!

All this is sewn together now and I'm about a quarter of the way done with the bottom half.

I really like this pattern. It's equal parts modern and traditional with the added bonus of improv stars!

If stars intimidate you, this might be your pattern.

I'll post part two when the quilt is complete!

scrappy doo

2012-02-01T21:06:00.000-06:00

You may recall a while back when I was excited about my new scrap system of color separated plastic bins.

I thought, at the time, that this would make sense for me. I thought I'd need a piece of orange and be able to head right on over for some orange! It would save me time and since those scraps were so organized I'd surely use them more right? Sure it was taking up a bunch of space on my shelf, but it was going to be worth it! All in theory of course. {smile}

Fast forward to now. Do you know how many times I opened those boxes in the last five months? Less than five. Do you know how many times I actually "filed" my new scraps? Less than one. Turns out, the super organized scrap storage systems are not for me.

The new plan?

1) be more judicious about the scraps I keep.

2) throw them haphazardly into scrap basket.

3) when the basket it full, cut, share, and trash.

So decide on a scrappy project and CUT what I need. SHARE what I don't, TRASH the itty bits.

My Mom is working on a new quilt that I think will turn out similar to this one that Crazy Mom Quilts did (which I LOVE) using mostly my scraps. For the past few Fridays we've sat for an hour or so going through my scrap bins. I cut out a square to keep for a hexie (you can read why I'm keeping one hexie of each at this post) and Mom cuts whatever she wants out of the rest. I tossed anything tiny and gave the small but usable stuff to a friend.

I'm currently down to just a little more than this.

Ahhhhhh....

It feels so good to be using up and sharing all that fabric that was just sitting there.....aaaannnndddd......I cleared off enough room on my shelf to bring my scrapbooks up from the basement! I'm excited to be able to have these out to look at and share with the Little Miss - after all I made them for her!

Scraps out. Scrapbooks in. Happy me.

I have to thank Jenny for inspiring me to really think about my scraps. She's been a woman on a mission cutting her scraps to use and it really got my wheels turning. Thanks Jenny!

crafternoon

2012-01-23T06:00:00.003-06:00

Crafternoon this weekend was paper covered lids! We scraped up all the recycled food jars we could and hauled out the Modge Podge to make these fun covered lids featured over on design sponge many moons ago. Fabric would be just as cute and maybe even a little bit easier to manipulate.

highlight of my day

2012-01-20T06:00:00.001-06:00

In the waiting room at a doctor's office a few days ago I was delighted to be able to spell the word "quilt" while playing Scrabble. Seriously, made me giggle with joy.

It truly is the little things.

pretty pillowcases

2012-01-18T06:00:00.001-06:00

The St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild is working on collecting pillowcases for the All People Quilt 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge and I finally had a chance to sew up a handful.

This was my first attempt at pillowcases and I was delighted at how fun and easy they were!

(I used the Roll It Up Pattern)

I couldn't resist sewing up a special little case for the Little Miss.

I had just purchased this cute purple sheep fabric at The Quilted Garden intending on making some PJ's, but the lure of the pillowcase was too strong. I couldn't resist.

Here it is on her bed with her Santa-made heart pillow and Panda No. 2

(yes, there is a Panda No 1)

{smile}

oh dear

2012-01-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

No no, I don't have unusually petite hands and use Car's Band-Aids.

This is Little Miss.

First thing that happened was her hand getting smashed in the car door across the knuckles.

You can see the bruising.

As if that weren't enough, she then somehow found one of those little yellow Olfa containers.

{Quilters, you know were this is heading}

Long story short she had picked up a small rotary cutter blade out of the container and cut her fingers.

She silently came into the living room to give the empty case to my Mom and that's when we saw the blood.

As I was rinsing and cleaning her right hand in the sink trying to see where the cuts were, I noticed her other hand was bloody and she had it clinched tight. As I unfurled her fingers, looking for more cuts, I discovered the rotary blade in the palm of her hand.

How on earth it didn't cut her little hand I'll never know.

It could have easily been so much worse.

We thought everything dangerous was put up and she had an adult less than two feet away.

It all happened so fast.

Sigh. I guess this is why they say accident's happen.

We all felt terrible though.

One because the blades were there in the first place, another because he was sitting 'right there', and me because I should have taught her about rotary blades and how sharp they are (I use one practically every day for crying out loud!).

Kids are so amazing though. She was completely healed up in a weeks time.

I honestly think as adults we were more taken aback by it than she was because we possess the knowledge regarding how much worse it could have been.

Phew.

excess

2012-01-13T19:54:00.001-06:00

Having decided to participate in the Sparkle Punch quilt a long over at Oh Fransson, I pulled out my stack of DS Quilts fabric from Joann's to start cutting. I thought, "Yes! This is really going to make a dent in all that fabric!". I probably even subconciously thought, "...and justify all those fabric purchases!". Halfway through the cutting I realized I was wrong. Really really wrong.

Seriously - the stack doesn't look any different.

Notes to self:
1) You do not have to have every print in every Denyse Schmidt or Anna Maria Horner Line.
2) Just because Fat Quarter bundles don't count as yardage on Hawthorne Threads doesn't mean you have to buy 1/2 yard sets.
3) Repeat after me: Fat Quarters are your friends.
4) It's only fabric.
5) Something you like more will eventually come along so use what you have NOW.
6) Don't buy more of something just because you are afraid of the Flea Market Fancy Effect*.
7) Remember how stupid and gluttonous you felt when consumed by the FMFE?
8) Remember how you had FMFE fabric remorse and sold/traded it all at a loss because you felt bad selling it a price as high as you paid for it?
9) Keep saving a hexie sized piece of your favorites; having a small piece helps you let go of the rest.

*The Flea Market Fancy Effect (FMFE) is when a fabric line becomes hard to find and desirable once it's out of print selling for ridiculous amounts of money.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this conflict of hoard vs. use. In every other aspect of my life I am quick to purge unused items. I'm ruthless with my scrapbook supplies, clothes, books, and household goods etc. Fabric is the one exception. Of course, not all fabrics fall in this category. For me, it's primarily Denyse Schmidt and Anna Maria Horner fabrics. All my other fabrics I use like normal person, with no strings attached.

In 2012 I'm making it a priority to sew more often with the hoarded fabric and practice conservatism on new purchases. With the upcoming Flea Market Fancy re-release and new DS Quilts lines hitting Joanns every 4 months or so I would be wise to heed my own advice.

12 days gift 2011

2011-12-29T17:45:00.000-06:00

I almost forgot to share what I made for Midwest 12 Days!

I made 20 of these cute little organizer wallets. Yes 20.

The tutorial is available over at lbg studio if you'd like to make your own.

Why so many?

Well 12 for Twelve Days of course, then I made a few as gifts for friends.

The rest I'll use as teacher gifts!

These were completed before vacation and before the grey plague (mostly dead - ha!)

I'm currently fighting; I just forgot to share!

perfect zipped bags

2011-12-27T19:07:00.000-06:00

A while back Elizabeth Hartman updated her Perfect Zip Bag pattern and I finally had a chance to sew a few up just before Christmas. Eh hem, yeah okay it was Christmas Eve...sue me. {wink}

Look at that! A practically perfect zipper pouch corner. That alone made me happy but the way Elizabeth attaches the zipper is different than anything I've ever seen and I was very happy with the results of that too!

I am so proud of the quality of these bags; they really turned out top notch!

I can't say enough good things about the pattern.

Isn't that zipper pull cute? I picked that up at Fabric Nosherie a week ago. Always good stuff there!

I've been pretty much a sewing/crafting slacker with vacation and Christmas in December. It also doesn't help that I've been sick twice this month and this second go-round is particularly sucky. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be flagged on some sort of Illinois DEA list for buying so much medicine.

I can't wait to get well and start some new projects in 2012!