A Revelation

Last night I puttered in the sewing room a bit, making up one last x and + block (for now). I'll get 10 in the mail to Sarah today for swapping.

And I cut out fabric for the Sparkle QAL.

But mostly, I quilted. First I basted up my Tangerine Tango top. I mulled over quilting patterns, and finally came to a decision. So on to marking. I usually dread this part. Between the choices of a marking pen that doesn't mark well, or blue painter's tape that doesn't stay put, I prefered neither. So I was pretty excited I had a new option to try!

Nicole of Mama Love Quilts had just posted about her use of a hera marker. {rush here}

I kind of remember hearing about this little tool before, but I had no idea how amazing it was. Basically you just make a mark on your quilt with the rounded end of the tool, and voila! The mark is easy to see throughout the quilting process, but not visible when you're done!

It worked like a charm marking up my quilt top, and my quilting was done in no time! 

Do be sure and visit Nicole's blog- she does some amazing work! I'm so glad we got connected!

Linking up with Friday Night Sew-In.

Random

Last night was Friday Night Sew-In. I had really planned on accomplishing alot more, but in the end I only have two blocks to show, both for the 4x5 modern Quilt Bee. These are fun blocks to make, but I can't say they are quick.

I did manage to tidy up my sewing room, though, and got a Christmas tree skirt pattern in the mail that I'm thinking of making, Wonderland by Empty Bobbin. You know, since I have nothing else on my w.i.p. list. Not. Anyway, more on that later, but you can check out the link to see the pattern.

There's something else I wanted to tell you about - a Holiday Tutorial Contest. Basically you link up tutorials you've made in 2011, and there are three categories - Gifts for Friends, Gifts for Little Ones, and Deck the Halls (Holiday Decorations). I linked up in category one with my Mini 'X' Quilt Top Tutorial, thinking a Mini 'X' would be a perfect little gift for a friend. There are all sorts of fun ideas for Christmas give-giving, so check it out whether you've written a tutorial or not. {here}

Lastly, I'm thinking a give-away is in order. Check back tomorrow for the details!

So Far, So Good

Well, last night was Friday Night Sew-In, and I really pushed to get my last two Swoon blocks done.

When I realized there was no way all nine blocks would fit on my design wall, it began to dawn on me how big this quilt is going to be! I glanced at the pattern - 80" X 80"! Yikes. I was really wanting to quilt this one myself, but what you don't know is I have written on my sewing room white board: "68X72 TOO BIG." Meaning.....I have really struggled with quilting that size of quilt. I'm hoping, since it's been a while, that I can manage quilting my Swoon, as I actually have a quilting plan.

Meanwhile, I laid the blocks on the floor to get an idea how they'll look together. First tentative layout:

I'll probably be playing with the layout, but till then, I'll just celebrate Swoon blocks: Complete.

Friday Night Sew-In

What do you do when you have a list of projects that you really need to get done, maybe even by a certain date? If you're like me, you start something new that's not on the list! Actually, the new project I chose to work on last night is on my list - just not the short-list that needs to be completed in the next several days.

But, in celebration of completing all the blocks for one project (Cappuccino), delivering my quilts for 100 Quilts for Kids to Project Linus, and hearing that Sibling Quilt #1 arrived at its destination {project detail here}, I decided to do exactly as I pleased. Which was to cut into Shades of Grey.

I was so thrilled when I won this FQ pack from a Daisy Janie giveaway in May. Wow. Obviously, it sat around a while, waiting in the project line-up. But I've known for a while what I wanted to do with it - "Sister Pairs", a block designed by Jan DiCintio herself. Though Jan made her original blocks with 5" charms, I wanted to use the whole stack in this one project, and make bigger blocks. So I've cut four 9" squares out of each fat quarter, and I'll end up with 12 rectangular blocks.

A few days ago, I asked opinions about which solid to use with my greys. The commenters pretty much tied - Spearmint (my original thought) or Curry. While I was debating, I got a text from daughter dear - "I think you should use the Spearmint!" Thanks for the tie-breaker, Rachel! So Spearmint it is!

The blocks are different than anything I've done before. You make random cuts, piece and trim, and put back together. Once they are all pieced, I'll need to trim them all to the same final dimension. So, I was able to make five blocks! Kinda fun.

Linking up with Friday Night Sew-In!

Friday Night Sew-In

Last night was Friday Night Sew-In, and it was all about my Summer Sampler! First off, she needed to be basted, and thankfully, it was a lovely evening, which allowed me to baste yet another quilt on the deck!

And then, of course, it was on to quilting.
Spray out the bobbin case.
Wind a couple of bobbins with my new Aurifil thread.
Install a new needle.
Screw on that walking foot.
And begin.

Finish It Up! Challenge and Friday Night Sew-In

Last night was Friday Night Sew-In, and I worked most of the evening on the backing for the Dream Big quilt I've been working on. I had what I thought was a good idea, to create a focal point for the back with 'modern crosses', inspired by Don't Call Me Betsy's latest finish, and then 'fill in' with the large pieces of Central Park fabric left over from the front. Well, it didn't turn out quite like I'd imagined - much more scrappy than I'd hoped, but I think we'll go with it. I'm so inspired by other pieced backs I see online, but never quite 'get it' to my satisfaction. Anyway, I'll be sending Dream Big off to my long-arm quilter next week, as it's a tad large to tackle with my machine. Meanwhile, I've ordered the binding and plan to have that made up by the time the quilt comes back home.

 completed top

modern cross detail on back;

weather precludes a full photo today . . .

Yesterday I joined the Finish it Up! challenge, sponsored by Meg of Fashioned by Meg. It is suggested to only list projects that are actually cut out, so "Dream Big" is my first major w.i.p. listed. Also included will be "Light and Shadow" Bali pop quilt and "Gentlemen Caller", the last quilt in my Prairie Women Sewing Circle series.

Bali pop strips for Cappucino Light and Shadow

bow-ties for "Gentlemen Caller"

There are oodles of other projects listed on my sewing room white-board, but none are actually cut out, so we'll add those as we go along.

I'm linking up with both Friday Night Sew-In and Finish it Up!. . .

 

The Race is On

With the Kaleidoscope quilt along starting on June 23, and a Half Square Triangle class with Katie Pedersen of Sew Katie Did on June 29, there's really some {self-induced} pressure to get a few projects either finished or well on their way before the end of the month!

Central Park Dream Big

Prairie Women's Sewing Circle #6

Sherbet Pips Comic Strip

Not to forget Cappuccino Bali Pop "Light & Shadow"! Lots to do this week, and hopefully I'll be able to join in on Friday Night Sew-In this Friday, June 17.

Meanwhile, linking up with {Sew} Modern Monday today!

W.i.P. Wednesday

It's W.i.P. Wednesday! 

Ongoing projects

Yay! I faced my nemesis

and basted my Comic Strip Quilt!

Dream Big got cut out during Friday Night Sew-In.

Cappuccino Bali Pop quilt is ready to start piecing. It's real name is "Light & Shadow" by Brenda Henning.

The last mini quilt in the Prairie Women's Sewing Circle series is cut out.

Just Swell sewing machine cover - fabric all chosen from stash and first pieced strip done.

Block-a-palooza quilt along needs basted and quilted. (This will probably be waiting a while.)

Need to do
* Shades of Grey.

* Stash quilt - Sew Katie Did's zig zag quilt.

* Quilts for our siblings.
* DS Fairgrounds.

Be sure and stop in over at Freshly Pieced to see lots of fantastic projects! Have a great day!