FQS Bella Parade

Shruti from 13 Woodhouse Road, in conjunction with the Fat Quarter Shop, is hosting an event in May called FQS Bella Parade. Each of the 31 Bella Solids will be featured, with suggestions of prints and other solids that work well with them. I was asked to find fabric suggestions to coordinate with LAVENDER!

There will also be a quilt-along led by Bry of A Blond Quilts to make her Cacophony of Colors using every one of the 31 solids.

Not sure I'll join the quilt-along, but am definitely interested in the 'parade.'

W.i.P. Wednesday

Checking in again on W.i.P. Wednesday! Houseguests and family matters kept me from the sewing room for much of the week. But I was able to make some progress . . .

Ongoing projects
Block-a-palooza quilt along - I got the setting squares and rectangles cut and began piecing. I'm about halfway done, but at least can share a glimpse of the fabric I chose to pull my block-a-palooza blocks together using Jaybird Quilts' setting 3 - a white dot on green for the center setting squares, and a white and green gingham for the border rectangles. Both the dots and gingham echo fabrics in my blocks. I should be able to show you a completed top next week!

My supernova needs basted. Hopefully soon!

Need to do
* Cappuccino Bali Pop quilt.
* Stash quilt - Sew Katie Did's zig zag quilt.
* Aneela Hoey's Comic Strip Quilt using sherbet pips 
* A birthday quilt for my daughter
* Black and red table topper/runner for my Mom's friend.
* Quilts for our siblings.
* The last project from the Pioneer Women Sewing Circle.

That's all for now! Head on over to Freshly Pieced to see more great works in progress! So many great projects and people to inspire you!

W.i.P. Wednesday

Checking in again on W.i.P. Wednesday!

Finished Projects 
coming home using Origins by BasicGrey - I had some issues with finishing up this one, but it looks great now that's it's done. Washed it up immediately, just to enjoy that quilty goodness. This is a nice little quilt from Camille Roskelley's book, simplify. I'll definitely be doing one of her patterns again.

Ongoing projects

My quilt top for the Supernova Quilt Along with Lee of Freshly Pieced is complete!

I also got the backing pieced, so next up is basting!

Block-a-palooza quilt along - need to get those setting pieces cut and pieced to finish the top - the next sewing I hope to do.

Need to do
* Cappuccino Bali Pop quilt.
* Stash quilt - Sew Katie Did's zig zag quilt.
* Aneela Hoey's Comic Strip Quilt using sherbet pips 
* A birthday quilt for my daughter
* Black and red table topper/runner for my Mom's friend.
* Quilts for our siblings.
* The last project from the Pioneer Women Sewing Circle.

That's all for now! Head on over to Freshly Pieced to see more great works in progress! So many great projects and people to inspire you!

Quilt Along

Now that I'm heading towards the "finishing" stages of my current quilt alongs, Block-a-Palooza and Supernova, I'm on the hunt for a new one starting in May. So far, I've found Bella Parade Cacophony of Colors, which looks interesting - it uses 31(!) Bella solids. But I'm wondering what else is coming up out there in quilt blog land?

Live and Learn

After a great FNSI finishing up my Supernova top, my quilting this weekend went downhill from there.

First, I decided to tackle stippling my little Coming Home quilt - pretty much made TO STIPPLE. A have been so scared of stippling, even took a machine quilting class with that in mind, PRACTICED (though honestly, not in a few weeks), and I really want to master this! Things started out well . . .

But about 4" later, I freaked out. I couldn't get my rhythm, got overwhelmed, and messed it up. I know the project isn't that big (about 36" square), but the thought of trying to stipple it all was too much and I took out what I had done and straight-line quilted the whole thing! Now that I'm binding up that little quilt, I am disappointed I didn't stick with it or at least put it away for another day. Sigh.

Second was facing the next steps with my Supernova, neither of which I enjoy - piecing the backing and basting. I had lots of odds and ends of my batiks left, and thought I would use those to piece the back. Unfortunately, they were all different sizes, so basically, I just started piecing them together. Ok, so I'm not really happy with this either:

But it's done, and barring any last-minute decisions, I'll be using it. At least all of the fabrics are beautiful!
I have some ideas on how to quilt this project, so after I face the dreaded basting, that'll be next.

Confessions over. Today's a new day.

Supernova

Well, last evening for Friday Night Sew-In, I worked to finish up my Supernova quilt top! So pleased to have it done.

I'll repeat briefly for the FNSI group, that I bought all the batiks on a recent trip to Hawaii. The blues, greens, & gold are reminiscent of the waters of the Big Island, the background is KONA Sand, and the black batik represents the lava seen all over the island. What great memories in this quilt!

Now to go see what other Friday Nighters worked on!
(Wow - 184 of them!)

Friday Night Sew-In

Half-way through the evening, it dawns on me I meant to sign up for the Friday Night Sew-In, a monthly event sponsored by Handmade by Heidi and Crafty Vegas Mom. Honestly, I didn't think I'd get to my sewing room tonight, but am sure glad I did! I better get back to work, and tomorrow I'll share what I'm working on!

Anatomy of a Quilt

Just sharing a little slideshow of my latest completed quilt. The 'process' is half the fun of quilting. Of course, some of the steps give more pleasure than others . . . and there's nothing quite like a "finish!"

Make your own picture slideshow

("Geese in the Park", by Freckled Whimsy, using Kate Spain's Central Park)

Bloggers' Quilt Festival

Just learned about this upcoming event today . . . how fun does THIS sound? Check out the event last fall - sooo much inspiration!

W.i.P. Wednesday

Finished Projects 
I'm excited to have a finished quilt to show today! Freshly back from the quilter's, I was able to get the binding on (looove doing the binding!). So here is "Geese in the Park", using Kate Spain's beautiful Central Park.

(Dare I say, I was disappointed, and somewhat surprised, that Central Park got beat out in March Madness. . . sigh)

Ongoing projects
The Supernova Quilt Along with Lee of Freshly Pieced was where my real efforts went this week. I'd sneak down to the sewing room early and late, to piece just a bit. Am happy to say I have eight of the nine blocks done. Tomorrow Lee will post instructions for the next step, so I won't be too far behind. I must say, I haven't enjoyed piecing a quilt this much in ages - such drama! I am thinking of rearranging my block placement once they are all done - we'll see.

Block-a-palooza quilt along

coming home using Origins by BasicGrey.

Need to do (Wow, this list hasn't changed much in the past weeks. Hopefully soon!)
* Cappuccino Bali Pop quilt.
* Stash quilt - Sew Katie Did's zig zag quilt.
* Aneela Hoey's Comic Strip Quilt using sherbet pips 
* A birthday quilt for my daughter
* Black and red table topper/runner for my Mom's friend.
* Quilts for our siblings.
* The last project from the Pioneer Women Sewing Circle.

That's all for now! Head on over to Freshly Pieced to see more great works in progress! So many great projects and people to inspire you!

Supernova

Wow. I don't think I have ever made a quilt with such drama at every turn! Every time I stitch new pieces together or finish another block, I am awed by how they change the look of the whole - for the better! I am totally enjoying the sense of discovery in this quilt. And I confess, it is great encouragement to have my qa buddies give their accolades!

Blocks 1- 4; 5 to go . . .

Once, Twice, or More

It all began with this gift from my dear friend. . .

A table runner using the "Crossroads Table Runner" pattern from Anka's Treasures' Charmed and Dangerous. It is still one of my favorite runners ever, and was my introduction to straight-line quilting.

Eventually, I hunted down the pattern and made one for my daughter. . .

And then for my coworker . . .

And now, this week, for my niece and her new hubby . . .

Every once in a while, there's a pattern that is so fun to make, with such lovely results, that I use it over and over. What about you? Do you have a pattern that you keep making again and again, or is it just me?

W.i.P. Wednesday

Finished Projects 
Well, life didn't allow for much time in the sewing room this last week, but I DO have a finish! The little sneak peek from last week became this table runner, made from my Hawaiian batiks.

I really do love this pattern from Anka's Treasures by Heather Mulder Peterson.

Ongoing projects
Block-a-palooza quilt along - I found fabric for the setting squares and border - just need the time to cut and piece! Glad at least to have a plan now for finishing.

coming home using  Origins by BasicGrey. Still waiting for a chunk of time to brave the stippling I want to do.

The Supernova Quilt Along with Lee of Freshly Pieced continues! Seriously have not had a chance to start piecing, but I DID get my background fabric, KONA cotton solid in 'sand'. I really like how it goes with my Hawaiian water prints. Hope to have my first block pieced and posted soon!

My Central Park quilt has been quilted. I pick it up tomorrow!

Need to do (Wow, this list hasn't changed much in the past weeks. Hopefully soon!)
* Cappuccino Bali Pop quilt.
* Stash quilt - Sew Katie Did's zig zag quilt. Hoping to use fabrics from my Scrap Swap, as well as dig into my stash. I have received all of my Scrap Swap packages, and look forward to using them.
* Aneela Hoey's Comic Strip Quilt using sherbet pips - an obvious choice!
* A birthday quilt for my daughter
* Black and red table topper/runner for my Mom's friend.
* Quilts for our siblings.
* The last project from the Pioneer Women Sewing Circle.

That's all for now! Head on over to Freshly Pieced to see more great works in progress! Talk about inspiring!

Fresh Sewing Day

Lily's Quilts and Sew Fresh Fabrics are hosting a monthly event on the first of each month where you show something you've been working on the previous month that made you happy. I think what I most enjoyed working on this month was my "Geese in the Park" quilt using Kate Spain's amazing Central Park fabric. Loved the colors, it was a fun pattern to put together (pattern by KarrieLynne of Freckled Whimsy), and I can hardly wait to get it back from the quilter any day now, and bind it up!

Be sure and check out the other joy-giving projects at Lily's Quilts!