Much better!

Linking up to TNT Thursday at Happy Quilting!

 

You know how sometimes, although a design might be OK, its just not striking you? And, although the purpose of this particular quilt isn't to do some earth-shattering new design, it still has to feel "right" to me before I start sewing these pieces together. This has been a new type of process for me with the charm pack. This is the first pre-cut pack I have ever used. EVER!  I added a few additional fabrics in the same colors to extend the number of HSTs I would have to work with. My only plan was to create all of these HSTs and then see where it took me. In the past, while I have never followed anyone else's pattern, I have ALWAYS planned out the design on paper/computer before I start cutting into any fabric, and I'm not usually a scrappy type quilter either. Its a good thing to be outside my comfort zone for a minute! I woke up this morning with a clearer picture of what I wanted - Less predictability with the color, but still a definite organizational component.

This one has that "feel good" aspect to it for me. I still might do a bit of shifting around with some of the pieces with respect to values or hues but I'm much happier with this now! Yeah!

Another option?

On the fence...

Think I'm trying something else too.

A girly quilt

This is something I'm working on for my niece...

She is turning 6 soon, but more importantly, she is becoming a big sister. I will be putting something together for her new little brother, and want her to feel special too. I love this fabric line - Good Fortune by Kate Spain. Purple is my favorite color and I love the fact that Good Fortune has both blue violet and red violet! I added a few extra fabrics to add a bit more variety. I still may change out some for other fabrics, but I am finding it difficult since most of my stash fabrics are old and the colors are simply wrong.

This is a layout I am thinking about. Trying to decide if I want to go more random with all of the diamonds, some of the diamonds or leave it alone. Isn't it nice that we can store the different options digitally and look at the results side by side virtually instantly? Modern quilting at its best.

This is one of those times when I am focusing more on getting the project done than agonizing over the design. For my first time EVER buying pre-cuts, I am happy with the fast assembly and options.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we went to our mountain house and I was able to get my Travelling Medallion on the Guest bed for a quick pic. I think it looks great on the bed as it was intended!

Staying Cool

This is really more a question of BEING cool - or not.  I am hoping that this water bottle holster will be a "cool" thing, and not a reason for my kids to take some ribbing on their upcoming school trip. It is three days of touring historical sites and amusement parks and they are required to carry a refillable water bottle.

What do you think? Is this going to be OK for my 7th grade boys? The strap is removable and so this could be clipped to a belt loop with a carabiner clip instead - Less man-purse-ish that way? Problem is that the athletic shorts don't come with belt loops....

I used the tutorial here and modified it to fit our larger bottles. Mine have a lightweight denim lining, and I decided to add a flap to the top of the pocket. I also put a pleat in the pocket to allow more depth for a small sunscreen stick or a pair of sunglasses/clips. The strap has a thin layer of batting inside for extra comfort.

Fingers crossed that these get the stamp of approval or otherwise I might be sporting some camo with skulls!

Bloggers Quilt Festival - Traveling Medallion

If you are visiting my blog because of the Blogger's Quilt Festival Spring 2012, welcome! This blog is very, very new to me and I'm still working out the kinks but I am thrilled to be here.
This is a Group Quilt, Bed size, and it was hand quilted.

I think this quilt has an interesting story. This quilt is recently finished, although it was pieced in the early 1990s.

Back then, I was joined in a Progressive Border Swap through AOL's quilting message boards. I jumped in with 5 other ladies and we each made a center block. Around the circle they traveled, being added to by each quilter. There were pretty strict guidelines for each round - triangles, curves, turn on point and even applique. (A first for me!)  It is a full size quilt measuring 80 inches square.

Unfortunately, I have lost the names of most of the quilters who participated in this quilt, so if it looks familiar to you, I'd love to hear from you!! I wanted this to be hand quilted since it is a traditional quilt - but into the closet it went waiting for its chance to be worked on. And it waited... and it waited. Shortly after the top was made, my husband and I moved, and immediately thereafter, I got pregnant with twins. Suffice it to say that many, many years have gone by since I have done any more quilting - the twins are about to turn 13!

Years went by and every so often I'd pull it out and think to myself, "Someday..." Finally I got off my butt and took it to Lancaster and found an Amish quilter to finish it for me. As you can see, she did a beautiful job and I am excited to have it finally complete!

This quilt and its (long) journey have inspired me to begin quilting again!

I have just finished a new quilt top and started this blog to keep track of my work. The internet has always been my "bee" and this quilt is a perfect example of the wonderful things that can happen through online friendships and the community spirit of quilters.

Finally a top!

I finally finished the last of the blocks, sewed the rows together, and this morning completed the top! I now need to determine if I want to add some deep red or black borders to bring it up to twin size, or leave it as a couch-quilt. It is currently 60 x 72.

Here it is! Got a moment (without wind) to photograph it outside:

It is bold and I think it turned out well. Technically I am happy - points are pretty crisp, and I had no problems putting it together. All the blocks were a consistent size!

I am very glad I switched out the center two blocks. They provide a bit of a focal point without standing out too much. The first ones I had, which I may use as part of the back, would have been far too gray for what I was going for.

All in all, a great "warm-up" project after a long quilting hiatus!

Blocks are completed - YES!

Phew! It took me an extra week to get the last 8 blocks done. Of course I was without spouse all week, and doing things like getting MRIs and finding out that I in fact did break my ankle in that skiing accident. I guess its understandable that I didn't sew much at all.

I am very glad to have all of the blocks finished and I hope to get some time to sew tomorrow. Once I get them together, I have to decide if I want to add about 6" borders to the quilt to make it more of a useable twin size or if it's OK the way it is. Since I'm not in love with it, I may leave it and move on to the backing. Still need to find the right fabric so I can put together what's in my head for that. I need to figure out who I should send this to for quilting. This is a new area for me, so this quilt will be a trial run!

Then I think I will make a quick quilt for the new nephew that my brother and his wife are waiting patiently to adopt from India. They could get notice to go pretty much at any time now, so I think that should be my next undertaking. I bought a bunch of Michael Miller Backyard Baby fabric after falling for the bugs in jars fabric. I'll be adding a bunch of blenders in brighter shades to give the quilt some pop! It will be a simple design, but hopefully they will be happy. (Of course I will have to do something equally cool for big sister, won't I?)

Happy Mother's Day!

Beagle love

Only 8 blocks to go

I finished my Variable Star blocks yesterday. I got in a groove and finished up faster than I expected. That  gives me hope that I will also be able to finish the last 8 pinwheel blocks this weekend! Yea.

I am thinking of trying to go out to a local shop today that is having a sale and see if I can find some good backing fabric. I have an idea for the back of the quilt to use up two tester blocks that did not work from a value perspective. If I can find some 108" fabric, I will only need 1.5 yards and it will be simple to put together! Fingers crossed. Here are the two blocks that seemed "too gray" for the center of the front.

And a trip to pick up some new dress pants for my twins who will be attending a friend's BarMitzvah next weekend. Need time to hem if necessary!

Warming up

Well, it has been a while since I've really sewed, so I thought to myself, hmmm.... Maybe it's me, and not the machine. Yep. I had the bobbin thread going the wrong way. Seems that it worked ok until the thread started to get low and then it was horrible. All is good now, and I sewed a bit yesterday with even correct tension! Yippee!

There are 18 blocks (9 each of the Variable Star and what I'm calling the pinwheel star) in the last "round" on the red and black quilt and I am hoping to have half of them done by the end of today. I have all of the variable star blocks underway (HSTs sewed). And I have 4 blocks nearly completed. I'd love to get all of the pinwheel blocks done over the weekend so I can get the top completed!

I have way too many ideas running around in my head and I'm getting a bit restless with this quilt. It's fine, and it was a good warm up project to work out the kinks in my brain and my machine, but it's not me. Not colors I love, not a style I really love either. It's fine, but I'd like to move on now!

Oh, and my ankle needs an MRI to see if it is really fractured, not just a sprain. Another week of non-weight bearing until I have the MRI and get back to the doctor. I don't even know what I'm hoping for at this stage.

Machine troubles

Yesterday I was working on a bunch of HSTs for the red and black quilt and noticed that the stitching was uneven and the bobbin tension was completely out-of-whack. I tried to adjust it with no luck. I have had this machine for about 15 years, and it is a pretty basic one, but it has served me well. I guess I will have to take it to someone for servicing.

Right now I'm on crutches with my left leg in a boot after a skiing accident that left me with a high ankle sprain. It's been 4 weeks of non-weight bearing and I am getting rather stir crazy. But, taking the machine in will be an adventure, to say the least. Crutches are not my friend.

In the mean time, I guess I'll be designing more than sewing. Shoot. I really want to get the red and black blocks done and the top completed so I can move on to something I am more interested in...

This perhaps?