Goals, Motivation, and Finishing What You Start!

I can't remember if I told you all (and I'm too lazy to go searching back) about the goal I set for myself at the beginning of the year.  It was that I couldn't start any new projects until I had my current projects list finished (or at the very least, under control!).  At the time my WIP list was hovering somewhere around 14 quilts. Ridiculous!  As you can imagine it was feeling daunting and overwhelming.  And my sewing room was out-of-control messy.

Blue/Green String Scraps Baby Quilt

Now that we are half way thru the year I thought it'd be fun to do a little progress report to show myself how I am doing.  

I am happy to say that I haven't started a single new project in 2012 (block swaps and bees don't count) that wasn't already in the works!  Can you believe it?  Neither can I!  

Baby "Children at Play"

Seems my normal mode of operation goes a little something like this:  Start a project off with a flurry of excitement and activity, get stuck on one thing (like finding a backing or making the last few blocks, etc...), only to put it aside for "later" and then start another new project. I figured out that my normal turn around time for any given quilt is between 6-9 months.  Seems a little crazy seeing how I sew every day.  Lots of sewing should = Fast turn around, right?

Leftovers from Ashlees' yellow and grey

I am happy to report that so far this year I have completed six bigger quilts (my finishes on the sidebar), with five little baby ones waiting for their bindings. (Yay, me!)  ALL of which where started LAST year.  (Boo, me!)   I still have three more bigger ones to go, but can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.  As an added bonus, my sewing room is cleaner and my mind is less cluttered.  Go figure!

Now that my WIP list is under control I am dying to start some new projects.
I've got some ideas... But since I just got my copy of Sunday Morning Quilts I will probably start there.


Here's to finishing what you start!!!
Emily

Vera's Apron Surprise

I've been in cohoots with our friend Kevin for over a month now to surprise his wife, our sweet friend Vera, for her birthday last Saturday.  Kevin has guest posted on our blog previously and asked for some help to make an apron for Vera--because apparently the last one he tried to make for her didn't turn out as he had hoped.  As a trade for the many nice things he's done for us I told him I would make it.

This is me modeling, not Vera.

I'm so pleased with how it turned out.   Kevin picked out all the fun pretty fabric (love the combo) and then I went to work.  I added a few embellishments here and there: like the rick rack trim, bias tape edged hem and the pockets.  No apron should ever come without pockets.  And I have to say that I just love top-stitching.  I think that just makes the project so much polished and professional looking.

Happy (slightly belated) Birthday Vera! 
I am so glad we really were able to surprise you.

Notes:

• Used a combination of Simplicity 3752 View A and "Summertime Blues", pg. 98 from A is for Apron.
• 1 pkg. large rick rack--white.
• 1 pkg. 1/4" double fold bias tape for the hem--white.
• Remnant piece of 1/2" wide single fold bias tape--yellow.

Inroducing the Amish Buggy Block Swap

I have been intrigued with Amish Quilts for some time now.  They are beautiful in their simplicity, timeless in their design, and all out amazing in my book!

When I came across this quilt I knew I wanted to replicate it.  And what better way than with a block swap.  (You know I love a good block swap!)

So, I am happy to introduce our very first block swap! Yay!

 

Here's how it will work:

1. Everyone will use their own fabrics.  ~ The only stipulations on fabric are that it MUST be a true solid (NO print on print), NO white,  and nothing too thin (if you can see thru it, don't use it).  Other than that, use whatever you have on hand.  Just remember the golden rule of swapping: Don't swap what you wouldn't want in return!

2. Feel free to send in as many blocks as you want in groups of 5.  So if you want to make some potholders, send in 5 ~ a small wall hanging, send 10 ~ how about a small throw, send in 40.  Whatever number you feel comfortable making.  (I'm aiming for 40 for myself.)

Your blocks CAN ALL be made from the same 2 fabrics.  The variety will come when we swap those with what others have sent in.

3. When your blocks are finished you will mail them to me along with a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope.  Shipping Deadline will be July 15th. Please make sure you attach the correct amount of postage to both envelopes you are mailing.  Also please include a card with your name/address and # of blocks you sent so I can keep track of everyone.

4.  Once I receive everyone's blocks I will mix them up and send them back out.  You will get back the same amount of blocks as you sent in. 

Block Directions:  We will be using this tutorial, except that we will be using 2 1/2 inch strips, NOT 2 1/4".  Your block should measure 8.5 inches unfinished.

So, who's in?!

If you are active on flickr you can sign up here.

Not on flickr? Just sign up on this post.  Easy as that.

(I've read and re-read this post a million times, so I have no idea if it even makes sense anymore. Feel free to ask questions if you need clarification...)

*Pictures and directions used with permission from Karen Griska*

Red + White Progress

I'm so excited! 

My red and white blocks have started to trickle in for my quilt club ladies!!

(Can you guess which ones I've made??)

A little mock up shows how perfectly perfect I think this quilt is going to be!  :)

Scrappy Quilt Project Update

O.K. maybe this project isn't going to take me a year like I originally had thought.  I really like making these blocks and I can see where the number of rectangles I've cut may never end....especially as I add a few more here and there as I finish other projects.

I'm about halfway through the 90 blocks needed for this quilt.
Here is a peek at what it is going to look like.

After this scrappy project is complete I want to make Amanda Jean's "Checkerboard Quilt", pg. 128-131, from her book Sunday Morning Quilts.  I'll use 3" squares because I already have LOTS and LOTS of them cut and sorted for my class quilt projects that I've made in the past.

But first...this one.

Ashlee's Yellow and Grey

Ashlee's quilt is done!

And it didn't even take me another 9 months to complete.  Thank goodness!

Up Close

 Isn't it pretty?  Ashlee and I make a good team.

 The fabrics are a hodge podge of yellow and grey's she and I found at my LQS.  The main ones are from Joel Dewberry's Aviary line (...I think!)  

The yellow/grey color combo is super popular right now, as you might have noticed!
I have started collecting my own yellows and greys for myself a little quilt. :)

 

The backing is also by Joel Dewberry (Medallion maybe??), with a yellow gingham I can't remember, and a grey print from Aneela Hoey. How's that for sort of helpful?! :)

On a side rant note:  See how the medallion print design is not straight on the top and bottom edge?  What's up with that??  Seems it was not printed straight on the fabric. I have no idea if that was a mistake on the bolt I got or on all of them, but I was super annoyed and frustrated.  I tried to make it less noticeable and still keep it straight.  This was the best I could do.  So, fabric makers, just a note:  If you are printing such a huge design on fabric please make sure it is straight!  I can understand if a "cheap" print is off a bit, but this one should not have been.  Just saying...

Details:
Finished Size 60" by72".
Pattern from an Old Red Barn Quilt Along.
I have made it before. That one is living at our Mom's house.

Quilted by Lynn in an all over loopy design.

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday.

Look who tried paper piecing...and Survived!

This paper pieced flying geese block has been one of my favorites for a long time.  (There are a million beautiful versions of it but this one and this one are personal favs!)  I've just been too busy too chicken to actually try it.  That is one of the great things about joining a virtual quilting bee, though. You are forced to step out of your comfort zone more often than not.  

I was a wee bit scared when Sheetal announced it as her pick for our May Bee Vintage Block.  But I dove in...and I'm happy to report there were no tears, no bad words, and only minimal amounts of seam ripping involved.  Not bad for a first attempt.

I actually made this red + white version as a tester to the vintage sheet one.  I am going to use it in my quilt club anniversary quilt.  I think I've mentioned that I'm asking for red and white blocks for that project.  Won't that be so pretty?  I think so...

Color Blocked T-shirt dress

Once again I've had this pattern (McCall's 4510) for awhile--trying to decide exactly how I wanted to make up this dress.  I was leaning towards a black and white version but then I found some thrifted knit sheets--$3 each for full size.  Brown and orange together--got the O.K. vote from my girls--and so I went for it.

And.....if it didn't turn out exactly how I liked then I wouldn't be out much money or effort.

The beauty of this dress--besides being made from t-shirt fabric and super comfy--is that it can be dressed up, like I did for Church with a pretty necklace and heels.  Or it can be dressed down with some sandals and worn on a summer day to the park with the kids  or out running errands.

I'm really happy with it.
The only change I made on it was to NOT put the little back neck loop/slit closure in.  Instead I just bound the neckline like a regular t-shirt and called it goo.

I REALLY wanted these earrings from Forever21 to go with this dress. 

But, alas, the orange ones were sold out.  Wahhh!
I'm still on the hunt for something similar to wear with this outfit.

Peanut Butter Syrup

Last weekend the young women at church had a pancake breakfast fundraiser for girls' camp this summer.  We had quite the assortment of gourmet syrups and toppings.  This recipe was one of the biggest hits.  Most of my kids just put peanut butter on their pancakes anyway--so this was their favorite.  Our friend MaryAnn was more than willing to share her yummy recipe.

Peanut Butter Syrup
2 cups sugar (**half brown sugar and half white sugar is o.k. and even better if just making plain maple syrup)
1 cup water
1 tsp. maple extract

Combine above in a saucepan. 
Stir occasionally and bring to a boil. 
(This maple syrup is great on pancakes and waffles as is.)

Add 1 cup creamy peanut butter (MaryAnn uses Jif). ***I tried it with Peter Pan and the syrup separated.
Stir with a whisk until combined. 
Serve warm. (way better warm than not)

Enjoy your breakfast!
We sure have with this delicious syrup.

The Last of the Grandma Quilts

I FINALLY got my Grandma Quilt done over the weekend.  Yea!!
But since we've talked on and on about these quilts over the last year, I can't think of anything more to say about it.  I'll just leave you with a few pics and move on...

 

self-portrait

Quilts #1-3,  Renae's,  Squares 

I thought it would be fun now that the Grandma Project is completely finished to show a collage with all the quilts we made.  Six in total.  All different and unique, but equally cool in their Grandma Awesomeness!  I'm sure (and I think my sisters would agree) that Grandma would be very happy that we recycled her shirts into such beautiful creations!

Details:

Hourglass Inspiration and Tutorial

Backing:  light blue/white striped thrifted sheet from my stash

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday 

Quilt Club Blocks for May

For May it's Rochelle's turn to host club.  

She is a lover of blue, more specifically dark blue.

So here's what I came up with for her.

 

I was going for a sort of "trip around the world" look. 

 The ladies tend to use lots of dark sashing in their quilts, so I thought the white would pop nicely against all the dark.

For this block I was trying to do something different than my usual 2.5 square/postage stamp style block.  If you want to make your own, start with 3 7/8" squares and cut into HST.  Should come out to a 12.5" block like mine.

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I also wanted to show you Kae's finished quilt top.

 

 As you might remember, in March she asked for red/white/blue blocks.  

Well, she was so excited to receive such lovely blocks from everyone that she showed us her finished top at our April meeting. (You can see that even my ugly block made the cut.)  We were all pretty excited to see that it turned out so great. (See? Dark sashing..) More importantly, Kae loved it!!

Swimsuit Empire Band Insert {Color Blocking}

Although our local pool doesn't open 'til June 9th, I've already been working on swimsuits.

It's probably because we've had such an awesome Winter, i.e. almost no snow and 70-80 degree weather in March.  It's hard to not think about swimsuits when it is that warm in MN.  It was our warmest March E.V.E.R.!  And we loved it.  O.K., well I loved it.  My kids lamented the lack of snow, but I thought it was just lovely.

One of the easiest way to "fancy" up or embellish a regular tank swimsuit is to add a contrasting band on the front piece so that it gives it the appearance of an empire style suit.  You can also add it onto the back, which I don't always do, but it is done in the same manner.

I've posted a bit about this technique before: Color blocking, as it is called.  However, today I'll give you a bit more detailed instruction on this technique.

Truly this is so easy.

Here are instructions to add an 1-1/2 inch finished inset band piece.

• First, on the already cut out front piece of fabric, all I do is measure down about 1-1/2 inches from the armpit and cut straight across the entire front in a straight line. We now have 2 front pieces--top and bottom.  NOTE: If you are working on a little girl's suit: i.e. size 6 or less, you may not want to measure down as far to begin with. 
• Then on the bottom half I measure 1 inch from that previously cut edge and cut another strip across. 
• Remove that one inch strip and toss it in the trash.
• From your contrasting fabric you cut a 2 inch strip the width of the suit. Make sure that the stretch of the band is the length of the suit--greatest stretch going around your body.
• Sew the strip to the top half using a 1/4 inch seam.
• Attach the strip to the bottom half also with a 1/4 inch seam.
• And voila! you have a 1-1/2 inch empire insert strip in your suit.
• I then carefully (on low heat--i.e. silk or polyester setting because otherwise you could melt your swimsuit fabric) press both seams towards the insert band.  This just makes it a little easier to do the topstitching.
• Topstitch (optional, but I prefer it) with a 2,5 Stretch Twin Needle and the band is complete.

This shows the backside after the topstitch.

Once this part is done you assemble the remainder of the swimsuit as the instructions indicate.
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A Note about lining:
Instead of cutting the front lining pieces to match the cut pieces above I cut one entire lining piece using the pattern before altering for the color blocking.  This reduces the bulk at the seams.  However, I primarily do this because daughter #3 is extremely particular about how things "feel".  She wants it to be smooth against her body and not "itchy" as she says it is otherwise. 

Super cute store bought Target suit that #3 refuses to wear because of these "itchy" seams.

Whenever I ask her if she likes a particular piece of fabric her response is always, "Let me see."  She then proceeds to touch and feel it before deciding if she likes it or not.  She is all about feel and THEN the look of the fabric. 
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This method of color blocking is also great if you have some fun swimsuit fabric leftover and it isn't big enough to do anything else except use it for a empire band or side insert.  And really you can do this on any size swimsuit.  I recently made a 2T suit for one of the neices using this little insert and it turned out so darling (see right below).

Here's another that I've worked on to reduce some of my swimsuit stash.

You can find these 2 suits (girls size 10) and others for purchase in my shop.

And my Miss B. wanted this combo for this year.

The Hawaiian girl print I've had for quite some time.  This is what was salvaged from the flop of a swimsuit top I had tried a couple years ago.

Color blocking allows you to change an otherwise simple suit into something fun and interesting.  I've got a few more ideas about color blocking that I need to make up. This year does seem to be the year for this technique.  So why not go ahead and try it on one of your suits.

Quilt Club Block Catch Up

The ladies have decided that since we started our Anniversary Quilt Idea in March that we need to play catch up for the months of Jan/Feb.  Lucky for me as I hosted in January.  I told the ladies I wanted red/white blocks, sort of like traditional red work.  (I have this kind of awesomeness in mind.)  Won't that be so pretty?   

For February, Nelda wanted shades of blue.  

For whatever reason I have tons of blue in my stash.

 (Inspired by this)

 And a little menagerie of 9-patches

I love that I'm getting lots of mileage out of my 2.5 inch scrap bin these days!  I would've thought for sure after finishing my scrap-tastic quilt that I'd never want to see another small square again, but that is definitely not the case. Let's just say I can sew a 2.5 inch squares like nobody's business! 

In other happy news, today I am off to see an old friend.  Total spur of the moment trip, so unlike me, and quite possibly the world's worst time of year for our family, but I'm not thinking about that.  Instead I'm thinking only of Me, on an airplane, by myself, for the weekend!!  WooHoo!  I'll deal with the aftermath when I get home. :)

Start of a scrappy project

I don't need another project...at all.  BUT Emily has such awesome scrappy quilts (here and here) that I've coveted wanted to make one myself.  I just haven't quite got in the mode (or mood) to do it until recently when I found the pattern I want to try.

I happened upon this book at my thrift store and decided it was worth the $1 or so that I paid for it. 
It is called "More Favorite Traditional Quilts Made Easy" by Jo Parrott. 

The two that I really want to make are her Geese in Flight, pg. 23

and Scrappy Rectangles, pg.39.

I'm starting with the rectangle project first. 
I've been cutting rectangles out of my scrap stash and collecting them in a bin.  After a fair amount I decided to go ahead and make one block to make sure it was what I really wanted to do.

This project will be ongoing for probably the rest of the year.  No really.  I'm not kidding.  It takes 1620 rectangles to make 90 blocks.  I don't yet have enough 2 x 3 1/2 inch rectangle scraps cut out and so for now........89 more blocks to go.

I'll keep you updated sporadically with my progress.

More Thrift Store Goodness

I was beginning to get a little frustrated that I hadn't found anything good in my last few months of thrift store hunting, but then I found these lovelies.

Here is what I have planned for them:

Big Floral sheet on the left:  I think this one is so pretty!  I had no plans for it when I bought it, just couldn't pass up it's loveliness.  But since my my Bee Vintage Group is starting up round two this month maybe it could be the inspiration for my next bee blocks.  I love the colors!

Big Pink Stripe:  This one is so soft.  I'm using it on the back of my blushing squares quilt.

Dainty Floral on the right:  I've been in search of this particular sheet for about a year.  I have an exact match that my girls have been using as curtains in their room.  Now that I found another one their window will finally have two panels.

What about you?  Any good finds lately?

 

Easter Looks

We didn't get all the Easter dresses done in time to actually post them for Easter.  But here is what my girls wore for that day at Church.

Daughter #1's style is much simpler and more relaxed than the others.  She is all about comfort and then if it happens to look good too, well that's a bonus.

Here's what she wanted for her Easter outfit this year.

Simplicity 2850 Top
And happy day, we didn't have to adjust the neckline on this pattern to make it modest enough. 
This is probably one of her fav tees.

Simplicity 2609 Peasant Skirt
We only did 4 layers instead of the longer 5 because of the amount of fabric we had.  But it was a nice length and she was happy with the result.
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Daughter #2 is always very particular about what she wants. 

For those of you who sew for your kids and they have not yet voiced an opinion about what you are making for them.  Gear up!  The time will come, it always does, when they will no longer wear what you think is awesome for them.  It may happen when they are 2 or 5 or 12, but I guarantee it will happen.  And no amount of bribing or cajoling will change their mind to wear the creation you present them.  From experience.....just saying.

Her dress was inspired by this Land's End shirtdress and after searching and searching we used pattern New Look 6587 to make her pretty pale yellow linen shirtdress.

She did the majority of the sewing.  I mostly took care of serging, attaching the collar, and the snaps.  The rest was all her.  She did a really good job and received LOTS of compliments on Easter Sunday.

We couldn't find buttons to match so we ended up using snaps (19 sets) instead.
We had to adjust the neckline up a bit and then she wanted 3/4 sleeves with a cuff.
Lengthened it about 4 inches.
She found the belt at the thrift store for about $3.  
And she is pleased as punch.

I think I need to make myself and daughter #1 one of these dresses too.  Should start looking around for the right fabric choice.
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And finally for Daughter #3
We used pattern Simplicity 5645 and some lavender linen that I had originally planned on using for myself.  The skirt I made I didn't care for and so cut that up and used both that and the remainder yardage to make her dress. 

I used a little embroidery scallop detailing option on my machine to dress up the edges some.

Love this fabric....rats, so sad it didn't work out for me.

Quilt Club Blocks for April

For April, Geraldine is hosting quilt club. 

 She happens to be the oldest member at the spry age of 87.

She requested lavender and yellow blocks.

I had no purple/lavender fabric in my stash whatsoever, so I had to "borrow" some from Geraldine. :)

Here's what I made...

Block instructions Here

No instructions for this one.

Doll Quilt Received!!

I finally received my doll quilt from the swap.  And I couldn't be happier! 

This intricate little log cabin quilt arrived on my doorstep just as I was beginning to think I'd been forgotten. Okay, not really, but I was definitely feeling impatient and anxious while I waited!  :)

Funny thing is, I had Debbie and she had me!  That was a surprise.  I had no idea we'd be swapping to each other.

(For whatever reason, I couldn't get the color right in any of the pictures I took.  This one is close, but still not exact.) 

Look at the awesomeness!  She quilted the back separately from the front. 

And as Leslie said, "Ooooh, French knots!!" 

 Oh, I noticed. 

I wish you all could actually see it in person, though.  I mean look at this... 

The piecing is teeny-tiny!  Each log cabin piece measures 1/4" wide.  

Ridiculous!  

I am definitely doing this swap again!