My kind of Spiderweb

I finally got around to working on the July Quilter Bees block for Nichole. She sent so many pretty fabrics and requested we each make a Spiderweb block.

I had been looking at them lately and I'm so happy she requested them. It pushed me to step out of the comfort zone and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

If you've never seen a Spiderweb quilt before.. this is an example of what it looks like put together...

pic courtesy of flickr

Her quilt is going to be so pretty! What a great stash buster!! Pin It

Catching up!

I sat down this morning to catch up on all my Quilting Bee blocks. I had 4.. yes 4 to do.

The first was for Adrienne - She had requested that we make a "mini quilt" block. It is 20 x 20 inches. This is what I came up with.

I'm not 100% in love with it. I was limited on my colored fabrics and wish I had used them differently. But that's what happens when you are designing as you go.

The second is for Angie - she requested circles and was very open to any kind. She is making this as a charity quilt for ALS Hopes and Dreams Quilt Challenge. She asked that we each make a smaller signature block for the back as well.

Can't wait to see this one complete - her fabrics were so pretty.

And the third is for Sorrel - The story about her quilt is very touching! It is to finish a quilt that her Grandmother started for Sorrel's cousin, Adam. But her Grandmother was never able to finish before she passed. Adam has downs syndrom and he is a HUGE LA Lakers Basketball fan. He just recently moved out on his own and Sorrel is going to give this to him as a house warming gift. How sweet!!

And the fourth.. well.. it was supposed to be for Dorrie. BUT.. ready for this.. I can't find the envelope of fabric. I know I opened it.. I looked at it.. and then I must have packed it. I'm sick about it.. it's not like me to lose something like that. I'm guessing it's in a box.. stacked in either my dining room or my sewing room. Hopefully she will forgive me. :-)

So now I'm all caught up and the sewing machine is going into it's safe styrofoam box this afternoon. And it will rest there until I am moved into our new house in Minnesota. I'm going to miss it because sewing is how I relax and unwind.. I always say if I didn't sew.. I'd drink.

So looks like I'd better get me a 12 pack of something later today.. that should get me through this week.. you think? Pin It

A busy little Bee!

I have been falling behind again. I have so many projects on my plate right now... and really need to catch up.

I have two months of Bee Blocks that I need to do. The March block is for Adrienne - here is her fabric

She has asked for a mini quilt and I finally have a plan!! It's going to be sooooo cute!

And I just received this gorgeous bundle in the mail today from Angie..

Her request is for Circles... I've never done circles before so I'm excited and a little scared - but I know I will love them. Can't wait to get started!

And lastly - a question for you guys. I've been making these corn bags for awhile now.

They are good for either a hot or cold pack. They have a removable (and washable) cover. I was wondering if anyone was interested in a tutorial? If so - I will post it.. just let me know.

Now I'm off to clean up my sewing room so I can get in there and be creative later.

Pin It

Drunk Love

Back in my 20's, a post title like that one would have a pretty juicy story attached to it.. followed by a "what have I done??".. then you would say "It's not as bad as that one time Heidi". LOL

Thankfully.. those days are over and you don't come here to read stories about my single girl adventures... although that could be fun.

Anyway, I finished another block for my fellow Quilter Bee Buddy, Sharon. The pattern name is "Drunk Love" and it was fun to make. I haven't done very many 'wonky' projects but it was pretty easy. 

 

Now to get this packaged up and ready for the post office tomorrow! I have a busy day planned. I have an errand to run close to downtown Phx - so while I'm in that area, I plan on hitting The Quilted Apple.

It's not one of my favorite stores - they rarely seem to get any new fabrics. BUT.. back in September, I won a $100 gift certificate during our annual Shop Hop. I posted about it here. So my plan is to stock up on solids if they don't have any other fabrics that catch my eye.

Besides - there is no such thing as a 'bad' quilt store.. just different levels of heavenly. Pin It

Quilter Bee Block for Theresa

I'm a little behind on my quilting bee blocks. I finished these Jewel blocks for Theresa.

I get nervous when I'm given creative freedom. I'm a people pleaser.. so I'm always worried about them liking it. But I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. Her quilt is going to be so pretty.

Now I just have some for Sharon to work on. Then I'll be caught up until the next package shows up. If you have never been in a quilting bee - you should try it. It's a great way to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone!

Pin It

Quilters Magic Wand.. and Lisa's Block

As I sat down to do the block for my fellow Quilter Bee, Lisa, I pulled out my handy tool called the Quilters Magic Wand. Have you ever seen these? I found mine at my LQS a while back.

They have multiple uses - but my favorite is to use it for half square triangles. The wand is a 1/2 inch wide with a line down the middle. You set the line on the corners.. then trace a line along each side.

Above is my drawn lines.... Then you sew on the lines...

And then cut down the center.

Press open and whalah.. two half square triangles. How simple!

Below is my Churn Dash block that I made for Lisa. I will be mailing it back to her tomorrow! It's hard to tell by the picture, but her fabric is so pretty. It has yellow and corn flower blue flowers. So pretty and feminine.

I'm excited to see her finished quilt!

Pin It

Quilting bee do over

I am in an online quilting bee and love it! December was my month to mail out fabrics to everyone in the bee.

I selected the new Astor Manor from Moda as my fabrics - and Amandajean over at Crazy Mom Quilts was kind enough to allow me to use her tutorial for the Star Sampler quilt.

So, I got it all together - mailed it out.. and have started to receive some blocks back. They are so pretty. I started working on the setting blocks to go between the stars and that is when the problem occured.

My original thinking was that I would use a semi solid red from the line that I didn't use in any of the star blocks.. I thought it would be a good accent. But instead of being a good accent - it over powers my star blocks.

SO.. I am going to my LQS today and picking out something else to use in place of the deep red. Thank goodness I had only made 3 setting blocks so far.

And - something exciting.... My LQS is having a "Meet the Teacher" event today for the up coming classes. And I'm going to sign up myself and my sewing buddy, bobbi, for a class the end of January. It is being taught by Moda designers Barb and Mary of "Me and My Sister Designs". We will be making one of their new patterns!

The ladies at my LQS said that Barb and Mary are a ton of fun! Bobbi and I can't wait for the class and I'm excited to meet them today when I go there to register! Pin It

The proof is in the pudding..

I have finally packaged up my material for the virtual quilting bee! I have the month of December and have known for some time what pattern I would be using.. but life kept getting in the way. And then there was the math.. argh.. I had to sit down and figure out how much of each fabric for each individual block. I hope I did the calculations correctly!

They will be going in the mail tomorrow... I'm taking them to the self service post office.

The fabrics are all so pretty.. but you'll have to wait for a better picture until it's done. It's going to be worth the wait.. trust me.

And here is the pile of packages.. get ready Quilter Bees... stalk your mailman.. warm up those sewing machines! It's time to SEW!!!

Pin It

I'M LATE....!!!!!

Sorry... this is not an announcement of the baby kind. At this stage in my life, the words "I'M LATE" have an entirely different meaning! Thank Goodness!!!! LOL

I finally finished my October Quilting Bee block for Anna. I'm so sorry that it's taken me this long! But it was my first such block and I hope she likes it! I wanted to get more creative with maybe adding a tree.. but I was afraid to mess it up. I will be mailing it tomorrow.

And now I just have to share something sweet. Nearly 12 years ago last summer, before kids.. we brought home a cute little white fluff ball... we named her Biscuit.

Then, for our very first Christmas with her, I thought it would be fun to get Santa hats for my husband and I and take a fun Christmas picture.

Well, when I pulled the first Santa hat out of the shopping bag.. our little Biscuit went CRAZY!!! We let her have the hat.. and after swinging it around a few times.. she settled down and started to suck on the white fur. Eventually falling asleep. So adorable.

Anyway... to make a long story short.. She gets a new Santa hat each year since.. I picked one up for her this past weekend.. and this is how she's spends her evenings.. suckling on her "mama" as we call it.

It just shows that you are never too old for comfort!!

Pin It

Something old.. something new.. how's that go again?

I know you've already seen the picnic quilt - but I thought I would share some pictures of my kids enjoying it at the park last Sunday...

As I mentioned in the picnic quilt post - this is a pattern from the book Material Obsession. What I forgot to point out is that I got the idea to use the pattern for a picnic quilt from one of my Quilting Bee Buddies. Here is her picnic quilt.

And next.. this is a bag that I made last night. My husband requested it for the daughter of someone he works with. She was in the hospital recently and he thought it might cheer her up a bit.
And I'm loving the fabric so much that I might have to make another for myself.. I'm really obsessing over "Cotton Blossoms" by Moda lately.

And here is a wall hanging that I am working on for my Mom. I need to get it quilted so I can get it in the mail to her soon!!! I love the colors!

Come back in a few days.. I have an adorable baby blanket that I can't wait to share.. the fabrics are in the dryer as we speak.. I'll be sewing it tonight after dinner.. a walk with the kids and the dog.. and maybe a load of laundry.

Pin It

Bags.. bugs.. and tiny houses

I've been trying hard not to post anything until my giveaway is over this Saturday. I wanted to keep the giveaway at the top so people would see it.

Well, I can't wait anymore.. I have too many things to talk about. It's been an eventful week at my house.

First - I got an awesome surprise in the mail from my sewing buddy. She made me this bag..

she also sent me this pin cushion...
Isn't it cute? I love it.

And she included a small moleskin journal to keep in my purse. Now I can stop carrying my big one with me. I get good ideas in the strangest places.. like sitting at the school waiting for one of the kids.. or at the dr's office.. or even in the middle of the grocery store. (Can you tell by the places I frequent that I have a very exciting life?!)


Next - One of the benefits of living in the desert is that we can have picnics in the park all winter long. We live just a block from a park and we walk there a lot when it's not 110 degrees outside.

So, I have planned to make a quilt for the park. Since we like to lay on the ground.. sometimes we bring our lunch or a good magazine. I found the pattern in the book Material Obsession. If you don't already have this book.. you should consider getting it. It's fantastic!

The pattern I selected takes 12 fat quarters and some other fabric. I want all my fat quarters to be various bug fabrics (get it.. for the park). I have 6 so far.. I will be searching for the other 6 on the shop hop that starts tomorrow. I will be visiting 10 valley quilt stores in 9 days.

And lastly - I received my fabrics in the mail today for Anna.

Anna is one of the members of the online quilter bees. Her instructions say she would like us to make a tiny house square(s). I'm excited... I've never done a block like this and look forward to learning something new. To see what they look like - you can either wait for me to make them and post em.. or you can look here and here.

I will be posting the winners of the Giveaway on Saturday afternoon.. so come back this weekend and see who the lucky ducks are!! Pin It

Meagans Block

So my Friday Night Sewing buddy kicked me to the curb last night. She said she couldn't get her butt off the couch - we've all been there! (and I forgive her)

I worked on my block for the Quilting Bee. I had to make a block for Meagan with the fabrics she sent me. The grey is the common color that she said will tie all the blocks together - but it was the smallest piece of fabric that she sent. I hope she likes what I did. I went with a more traditional pattern.

I can't wait to see her finished quilt! Her colors have me totally intrigued. And of course, after I was about 1/2 way done.. I thought of a few different ways it could have been done.

Now I just need to get it in the mail to her! Pin It

Quilting Bee off and running

I joined an online virtual Quilting Bee. I'm very exciting about this - I've never participated in one before and am looking forward to the next 12 months.

I received the fabric for September's square from Meagan.

I love the challenge!! She sent a note with some basic guidelines but there is still a lot of freedom to create! I have a couple ideas and am finally ready to put them together - but NOT THIS WEEKEND!!! We've got family plans.

Now that school has started - I have my mornings to sew again before I go to work each day. I love this time of day. School doesn't start until 9 - and I'm an early riser. So I have at least 1 1/2 - 2 hours each morning to myself (and the dog). LOVE IT!!!

One last note.. I was going to baste and quilt the Christmas Table Topper from previous post and ran into an issue. The pattern says 2 yards for backing - but it's not enough. The finished quilt is 58 x 58. And do the math.. 2 yards is 44 x 72. So since I have some piecing to do, I'm going to spice it up a bit. Can't wait to show you.

Pin It