100 Quilts for Kids Postscript

It was fun to be included in Kate's 100 Quilts for Kids flickr mosaic (see here). My sherbet pips quilt is all washed up and ready to go.

I just finished up a Storytime Squares quilt too. What a fun and quick little pattern by Rae Hoekstra of made by RAE! {find tutorial here} Most of the print fabrics I used are from Denyse Schmidt's new "Sugar Creek" line, but you'll see some "Fairgrounds" and other miscellaneous goodies in there too.

And, since Project Linus welcomes finished quilt tops, I am taking my finished Block-a-palooza quilt top, along with the backing I have pieced, and binding that's ready to adhere. Though this top is from my very first quilt-along (what fun!), it's just too big for me to quilt on my machine, and I think someone else might appreciate it more.

Revised to add this last-minute picture of Block-a-palooza

Lastly, I gathered up the charms I'd gotten in a recent Spoonflower swap, made a fun pouch for them, and have offered them to Kate as a prize for the 100 Quilts effort. Hope someone really enjoys them.

I've appreciated being able to support this good cause, while helping children in my own community. The quilt drive goes through October 15, so there's still plenty of time if you want to join in.

Finish it Up!

Another finish NOT on the Finish it Up! list - go figure. Kaleidoscope got finished up (see here) and pretty much made my week.


1. Dream Big Finished!

2. Light and Shadow Bali pop quilt 

3. Gentlemen Caller Finished!
4. Kaleidoscope Finished!
5. Summer Sampler Series
6. Afternoon Snack table runner


The Summer Sampler is coming along nicely. Wow, I did not anticipate as much paper-piecing as we've done. I confess it's not my favorite technique (last night's block was a doozy!), but the results are sure nice. But I have 10 of the 12 blocks done, so I'll get a breather soon. I'm starting to mull over how to finish this citrusy quilt - if you have any ideas, please feel free to share them!

Oh, and I have some swap-news. In today's mail were my charms from the I-Spy Spoonflower fabric swap hosted by Gen X Quilters!

Fun little prints - from trucks and rain boots to bicycles and sushi, little French bunnies and animated sandwiches, fruits, and veggies. Quite a varied little selection here, all delightfully custom printed fabric created at Spoonflower.


Well, the sewing room is calling, so I better pay attention. There's more to be done!

Quilt-Alongs, Swaps, & Such

Even though I would have liked to sleep in on this lazy Saturday, there were benefits to waking early . . .

I was able to pack up my 100th post gift to send to Tiffany - Mini Swoon, along with a few fat quarters.

Momo dots, Kona Tourquoise, & a Valori Wells Wrenly print

I was able to cut and pack up my charm squares for the Gen X Quilters' Spoonflower Swap.

Spoonflower cluttered fruits

My Prairie Women Sewing Circle quilt #6 outgrew the design wall and was moved to the floor, where {bless him} hubby helped lay the rest of the blocks and setting pieces out. Believe it or not, this feels like a huge accomplishment - now I can at least stack the rows all up and continue with the sewing.

sunny Saturday - yay!

Lastly, again with hubby's help, we played with the layout of my Kaleidoscope quilt along triangles - at least got an idea on the design wall, so I can start piecing those too.

Whew! Talk about a sense of accomplishment! Feeling pretty good about all that . . .

Quilt-Alongs, Swaps, & Bees

One of the main reasons I started blogging was to join the online quilting community in a fuller sense. Right away, I jumped in quilt-along-ing with Block-a-palooza, Socken, and later, Supernova, which in itself was a profound quilting experience. Now, I am eager to start Kaleidoscope next week, with prints from my stash.

Mostly Denyse Schmidt Fairground, with a Katie Jump Rope plaid,
Amy Butler Lotus dots, Michael Miller Ta Dot, & Cloud Nine Nature Walk.
A prized piece of Flea Market Fancy Green Dot is on its way to round out the collection.

I ventured into the swap arena with safe, low-commitment SewSara's Scrap Swap and  A Little Fabric, A Little Chocolate {Swap!}. They were fun, and gave me the confidence to join Gen X Quilters' Spoonflower Swap, with its slighty higher {read: custom fabric} stakes, and flickr's Scrapbuster Swap, where we'll swap modern Scrappy Depression blocks like these . . .

photo credit: JulieFrick on Flickr

And I confess, when I started blogging, I had high hopes to eventually join a quilting bee. And that I have, just this week! The [3 X 6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee seems a perfect 'first bee.' I can hardly wait to be assigned to a hive next week.

So. Progress is being made. Quilts are being created. Community is being built. Fun is being had. I've made some bloggy friends, who I enjoy sharing progress and ideas {and life} with. I find great inspiration in seeing the work of my fellow quilters, and I'm learning some things. All in all, it's a good thing.