Fabric Postcards, Finished Project, and a Decision Made!

Thanks to a couple snow days, I've been able to get several projects done and/or started! Hooray for snow days! I don't like long winded posts any more than the next person, so I'll try and make these updates quick.

First off...Fabric Postcards. These are going to be mailed to my Valentines in the Flickr Fabric Postcard Swap group. I'll say it again...these are so much fun (and addicting) to make! 

"Puppy Love"

"WHOOOO Loves You?"

"Young Love"

Next up, the BBP mini quilt is finished. Thank. The. Lord. I never did figure out the problem with the chicken feet(for lack of a better description) on the back of this. I gave up after the sixth or seventh time un-quilting it and decided it would be a practice piece for getting in the groove of free motion. And as long as no one studies the back of it, it's fine!  On a side note, I did free motion work on two of the postcards pictured above and there were NO problems at all...the back looks fine on those. Weird.

And finally, I made a decision on the fabrics to use in my Independent BOTM group! Thanks to everyone who gave input! I was all set to go with the Hello Betty fabrics. I took them to JoAnn's to get a coordinating solid. I picked out a lovely soft white...

...and then I saw a bolt of butter yellow. I like yellow, but it's not something I'd normally choose as the main fabric for a quilt. However, it just so happened that I had the Spirit fabrics with me too--you know, just in case. I figured it couldn't hurt to try them out together. That yellow sang next to the Spirit fabrics!  My lighting is not the best so the fabrics are merely humming in these photos. Trust me, it's a lovely combination even though it is not at all what I had in mind for this quilt!  

The colors are a bit off here. Thanks, Crappy Lighting!

This is closer to the actual shade of yellow. 

If you missed the original post, these blocks are part of a pinwheel sampler that I'll be working on in my BOTM group. I'll make one set of blocks at a time, one month at a time, until December. It's going to be really hard not to make these up in advance. I might have already made the March blocks, just sayin'.

What projects have you been working on this weekend?

And She Can't Make a Decision Either!

I need help!

I've signed up for an Independent Block of the Month class/group coming up at the local quilt shop. Rather than follow a set pattern, we're getting to choose our own project and set our own goals for finishing it, but we will be sharing our projects monthly in a group setting. Brilliant idea!

For my project, I've decided to do a pinwheel sampler quilt and I'll be using the Pinwheel Sampler Quilt-a-Long posted over on P.S. I Quilt. Lots of examples of this quilt/blocks here. There are a few blocks I may change up and I'd like to add cornerstones(maybe) but the finished product will most definitely be a pinwheel sampler. They're my favorite, along with log cabins.

And now for the decision that I'd like your help with. I have three stacks of fabrics and I cannot make a choice. So maybe you can offer some opinions? Please excuse my crappy lighting situation and know these are all much nicer in person. SO, do I go with...

Hello Betty for a fun retro look? I love these fabrics. Seriously.

Spirit by Lila Tueller for a modern version?

Or my new stash of Jay McCarrol's Garden Friends for a kooky-mod quilt? 

Note to self: There's enough of this for a Turning Twenty quilt.

And then there's the sashing. I love love love a quilt with lots of white, so I'm thinking white or a soft creamy white would work for each.

What to do? What to do?

I'd love your input.

PIFS, BOTMS and UFOS

As promised, here's a look at the PIF (Pay it Forward) gift that I received from Gin. It's a lovely crochet hot pad. So pretty! I envy you crocheters...I tried to teach myself to crochet while we were holed up at my brother's place during the Ice Storm of 2009 but it didn't go so well.

My duty now is to make three PIF gifts to send along. Those are not going so well either. Remember when I learned to insert a zipper? I was so smug and sure of myself then... I had planned on making zippy pouches as my PIF gifts. I haven't been able to insert a decent zipper since! But I'll keep trying and I do have some lovely little scraps of fabric that may eventually turn into zippy pouches, just maybe not for PIF.

On to my most recent BOTM. THIS is my February Block of the Month. My mother, my sister and I get together once a month, head to the quilt shop to pick up our kits and get the low down on putting them together from the shop owner. We then shop a bit, head to Cracker Barrel for brunch/lunch and then back to my house to make our blocks. It's been a lot of fun! I've had a mishap w/my March block, so I'll have to show it off later, when I do it the correct way!

And finally, my newest UFO. I used a box of fat quarters that I'd received for Christmas TWO years ago. I love the colors and patterns of these fabrics! The quilt pattern is from the book McCall's Quick & Scrappy Quilts. The border was improvised as I didn't have enough fabric to do what the book called for and I had LOTS of scraps left from the fat quarters. It's not perfect and there are several things that I didn't get right, but I'm proud of it nonetheless! This quilt has been added to the stack of two other quilts that I've pieced but not yet attempted to quilt, hence the UFO status.

In my next post I WILL be showing off the FIESTA apron I received in the Hot Mama Swap! It's fabulous!

A quilty year?

I had big quilting plans for 2008. After all, in October of 07' I made this quilt to my satisfaction and without much difficultly.

(my first quilt)

I got very excited at the idea of becoming a quilter and really thought that a year and a few months later I'd have some real quilting experience, not to mention some finished quilts, under my belt.

Um. Nope.

But I DID make three small lap quilts for Christmas 08...

(Scott & Jackie w/their quilts) (Shea's quilt)

and I ALSO completed the quilt top that I started in a Nov. 07' class...

And there was that block of the month group that I joined but only half way participated in.

So I accomplished a little here and there but overall, 2008 was not a very quilty year for me.

So I'm calling it here and now. 2009 will be my quilty year.

I have plenty of books and magazines to get me going. I have a box of fat quarters and stack of fabric waiting to be made into a quilt. I even have about six blocks started for a scrap quilt. I am ahead of the game, right?

I've come across a few blogs that I can turn to for inspiration in my year of quiltiness. Many of these blogs feature other crafty goodness as well. Blogs such as:

• Happy Zombie
• Crazy Mom Quilts
• Melly & Me
• Tallgrass Prairie Studios
• Bad Gal Quilts
• Anyone Can Quilt

I'm sure there are many more out there to be discovered. I'd love to hear about them!

See? I've got a good start. In addition to the bloggy inspiration, I've joined Block of the Month again. This time, I got wise and chose the 1930's fabrics that I kicked myself for not going with last year. Not only have I completed the first block waaaay ahead of the deadline, I've finished my entire set of setting blocks for the first quarter. WooHoo!

I think the reason I never got into BOTM last year was that I SO disliked the civil war repros that I used. Which is weird because I loved using them in Shea's quilt(pictured above) but surrounded with off white fabrics, they made me want to strangle myself. THIS(though the colors appear washed out by my flash) makes me much happier!
Having Mom and Jackie join me for BOTM this year has also upped the enthusiasm. The three of us go to BOTM together, head out for a late breakfast/early lunch after and head to my house to work on our blocks together. Fun!

OK, I'm ready to get my quilt on!

October BOTM and Wonky-Scrappy Log Cabin Blocks

I actually finished my October block in time for BOTM! Yay me! Never mind that I've yet to finish July, August or September BOTMs and I have 10 packs of Irish Chain blocks to finish by December! Right now, I'm proud I finished this one!It's called Old Windmill...I'd love to see it in fun retro prints and bright colors. I know I say this every time I finish one of these but I just do not like my color choice of kits. What was I thinking??

I think I'm going to do BOTM again next year just so I can have 30's prints!

I also wanted to share a tutorial for Wonky-Scrappy Log Cabin blocks that I came across a while back. SO easy and so much fun to put together! It's one of those projects I've been thinking about for a long time but couldn't work up the nerve to try. I should have tried sooner! I whipped up three blocks in no time tonight. I can see where making these could get very addicting. Best thing about them...all scraps!

OK, so mine may be a bit overly wonky compared to the tutorial. But I don't think that'll matter when they are side by side in quilt full of wonkiness.
Log cabins are one of my favorite patterns, right after pinwheels. Check out some beautiful log cabin scrap quilts(wonky and non-wonky) here and more log cabin quilts here. And a non-wonky tutorial can be found on this blog.

More of what I did on my Bloggy Break

In addition to shopping, movie watching, disc golf and making the top, I did some sewing whilst on my bloggy break last week. I whipped up this little craft apron. This was my first try at this type of apron, and I sort of made it up as I went along. I think it'd be nice to wear while crafting of course, but also perfect for vendors at craft shows for keeping up w/money and such with it's deep pockets. AND since it incorporates gingham(and if I don't get anything else made), I can use it for the next Tie One On project.

I also made this cherry apron as a special request. If it weren't a size small and weren't for someone else, I'd be sooo tempted to keep it! Luckily, I have one more yard of this cherry print fabric! I lined this one, too. Not nearly as tricky as I thought lining would be!

And THIS I have to share with you, my crafty friends. I discovered it at the last Block of the Month meeting. Incidentally, this is my Churn Dash block...and no I haven't warmed up to these fabrics yet.The shop owner always shows off her newest fabrics and products during BOTM. This month, she had these awesome kits for cell phone bags(also great for ipods, ID, etc.). The kit uses pre-printed fusible web. You simply iron it to your fabric, fold, sew, and flip...and there you have it! They are so easy to make it almost feels like you are cheating! I added the little clip on this one to use it with a purse that has rings on the strap. I love making them! I plan to make one with a loooong strap to use to carry my passport while in Europe.

You can buy the kits online at QuiltSmart. You know you want one!

And on a completely unrelated note...we're getting Dish TV today! WooHoo! It's been two years since I've have more than five channels and a clear signal. This is cause for celebration y'all!

Danger Will Johnson! and other stuff

I'm pretty proud of my robot apron, minus one screw up that I may or may not fix...depending on if I decide to put it up in my Etsy shop. I wanted it to have a bit of a 50's look, hence the pink/black combo of fabrics and all that ric-rac. I may have to try appliqué again. It was fun and not as hard as I imagined. I have enough of this silvery/gray fabric to make at least two more robots and I think another apron may be in order and perhaps an appliquéd bag.

Until I can think of a better name I'm calling it "Danger, Will Johnson!"

Thusly named in honor of Ann who is a longtime friend but new to my blog... "Danger Will Johnson! Danger Will Johnson!" Yeah, we know the kid from lost is space was Will Robinson...ya'll don't have to correct us. (wink) **next day edit** I removed the picture of myself doing the "Danger Will Johnson" arms...it was too dorky, even for me.

And look what I found...a song about robots from They Might Be Giants!

I made a second apron this week...I found this cute sleepy owl fabric at JoAnn's and couldn't resist it. I decided on a cafe apron since this style is simple, flattering and shows off the fabric nicely.
In other crafty news, I finished my MAY block of the month block today(I'm only a month behind). This block is called "ShooFly".

Friendship Stars & NOT the High Kings...the week late post.

I forgot to share my Block of the Month last week. So, a tad late, here it is...a Friendship Star. Even though this was an easy-cheesy block, that didn't stop me from waiting till the morning of the meeting, hence going way too fast and doing a sloppy job. I must say that I am not digging these fabrics for these blocks at all anymore. I think it's the off white border that makes me not like them. These civil war repro fabrics used with a more modern block would be very nice, they're just toooooo old fashioned combined with these traditional blocks for my taste. And I like old fashioned! I wish I'd have chosen the 30's repro fabrics for this quilt.

AND last week Shea and I should have been at the High Kings concert at the Ryman in Nashville, but they went and postponed on us! We'll be waiting until September now. But never fear! I have located a youtubey that I think will lessen our longing for Irish folk singing until then. I hope ya'll enjoy it! Shea, this one's for you!

Weird and Funky Butt-Ugly Quilt Block of the Month

Back in the Fall I decided to learn how to quilt. I took a machine piecing class and made a couple Easy Lap Quilts from Bend the Rules Sewing for myself and my family for Christmas.

My local quilt shop does a beginners Block of the Month Club. I saw it as a way for me to learn some piecing techniques, keep up the quilting momentum, meet other new quilters(and some experienced ones) and improve at quilting. I paid a ridiculously low price to join(10 bucks or something) and I get a quilt block kit each month. As long as I complete my quilt block and bring it to the monthly meetings, I get a new block kit and instructions on how to complete that block at no additional charge. I do pay an extra 2 bucks per month for the Irish Chain setting block kits, which brings the grand total t0 34 bucks for a queen sized quilt top.

I had an entire month to finish my block for Block of the Month. Did I? No. C'mon ya'll. You know me better than that! I waited until the last possible minute to start. The meeting was at 2p.m. today I started at 11:00 a.m. today. I thought I'd get it done in plenty of time, even have time to run by Walgreens and grab some moisturizer and new lipstick beforehand. HA!

The first cut I made was a good 1/2" too short. I was supposed to cut 4 - 4.5 inch blocks. I saw 4 and got scissor happy. So I immediately panicked because I knew there was no fabric in my stash that will go with the Civil War repros that are in my kits. I used CW fabricsfor Shea's Christmas quilt but didn't have any of that left over.

The fabrics I normally buy tend to buy look like this:or thisor this
Not exactly Civil War-ish, huh? After 30 minutes of digging around and trying to find something that would match I came across the fabric on the left(the one on the right is what I was supposed to have used). It doesn't really match but it does go with the tones in some of the prints that are in the Irish Chain kits, which I have yet to begin. I had no choice but to use it, lest I go to BOTM club empty handed and pay $5.00 for not getting my block done. Oh, the shame and humiliation! So I proceeded with my non-matchy fabric.Everything went downhill from there. I tried two other fabrics, made a couple triangle blocks thinking that would help, it didn't. My seams are nowhere near 1/4 inch, I cut another piece too short and ended up piecing my pieces back together. Nothing matches up...it's just a mess. This is what I get for getting in a hurry instead of planning ahead and taking my time, a weird and funky, not to mention butt-ugly quilt block. BOTM started at 2:00; I finished this ugliness at 1:45. Next time, I'll complete it before the day of the club meeting. Lesson Learned.

I decided to make one of the March blocks tonight so I didn't run into the "I've messed up w/fabric and don't have time to get to the quilt shop before my block is due" dilemma. It did go much better and turned out much prettier but somehow, I don't know how, it's 1/4" too short all the way around. Aaaarrgh! Those of you who are quilty...would it hurt anything to leave it 1/4" short? Can I fudge when I put the blocks together and make it work or should I just re-do the outer border?

Whew. I'm worn out from all this bad quilting. I am hopeful that it'll all work out in the end when the whole thing is together and I'm not focusing on individual pieces.

Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to finish up a shirt pattern that I've been working on. I thought it was going to be supercute when I bought it. Not so much. Can you say mu-mu? Can you say Two-Ton Sally? Tune in later for the rundown.

I am not cut out for roughing it.

STILL no power at home. It's been five days now, ya'll! My poor kitties are freezing their furry little behinds off. We do check on them daily, though.

Thursday night we got the bright idea to try and stay at home with a kerosene heater for warmth. We left the comfort of my parent's home and got back to our house around 7p.m., fumbled through the dark trying to locate flashlights and get candles lit so we could crank up the heater. Once the heater was running and after a dinner of Oreos and Coke(when all the food in the fridge is ruined, whatcha gonna do BUT eat Oreos?) we thought we would be in for a cozy night at home. Standing near the heater, it was heavenly, the warmest, snuggliest air was circulating around us. However, once we moved three feet away from it our teeth instantly began to chatter. Still, we figured it would eventually heat our bedroom to a nice sleeping temperature and we could turn it off, sleep under a mountain of blankets and be only mildly uncomfortable during the night. After a while, you just want to be home, you know. Well, we made it till about 10:30. Despite the heater and the mountain of blankets, our house was like an igloo. We called my mother-in-law and spent the rest of the night at her house. I have once again realized that I am not the "roughing it" type. We will not be attempting to stay at home until the electricity is back on and we have some heat! Looks like it could be Monday before we are able.

Today I have my Block of the Month meeting. I had planned on working on it this week and then, whoops, no electricity= no sewing. Mind you, I had a MONTH to get it done, but I wait till the last minute for everything. This means I was up till 1:00a.m. this morning finishing my block. Mom has a nice new Singer sewing machine and is far more skilled at sewing than I, so it worked out well that I had to get it done here. She helped me get it squared up and looking good. Thanks Mom! Initially, I wasn't thrilled with the fabric selection I chose for my kits, but now that I have one block done, I think I'm going to like it! This is called Chain Link and I'll find out today what the next block will be.
My apron arrived from the Sassy Apron Swap! It is lovely! I will be showing it off, so stay tuned!

Yesterday afternoon, Mom and I headed out to JoAnn's and I added to my already overrun fabric stash with some fun fabrics for aprons to go into my still empty Etsy shop. Chickens and cherries and dishes, Oh my!


****12:30p.m. update**** We have electricity back! Woo Hoo!