block lotto blocks

I have received almost all my block lotto blocks, so I started deciding on assembly yesterday.  This is what I decided on for layout:

I was thinking about adding sashing/cornerstones between these blocks, but I have decided against that - but that means I need to make more blocks to get a decent sized quilt (I just don't have the want/need for any more undersized quilts).  I will have a total of 48 blocks - so in a 6x8 layout, these 9'' blocks would make a 54x72'' quilt.  Too narrow for my taste.  So, I've decided to make 16 more blocks to make it 8x8 layout and 72x72 - and then I'll probably put a narrow border to bring it to 75x75 or so.   I've dug out some OLD charms of reproduction fabrics that will 'go' well with this mishmash of prints I think.  We'll see if I have enough.....

wedding quilt sneak peek

well, the wedding quilt is quilted/bound and is in the wash and will be ready for it's photo-shoot this afternoon!  I have to have hubby and our younger son hold it (it's too wide for one person to hold!) this afternoon so I can get some decent shots.  Here is a pic of the quilt label though.  I love how it turned out (and pray it's colorfast, guess I'll know in a little while!)

design wall Monday

It's hubby's birthday today, and he has the day off, so I'm posting this real quick so we can spend the day together :)  This is my latest hexagon flowers:

mom's wrapped in red quilt again

I went to my mom's to baste the triangle quilt, and had to snap a pic when I saw her 'Wrapped in Red' quilt on her bed :)

pieced on her Featherweight, quilted on her 1960's Kenmore.  FMQ feather wreaths people!  On a Kenmore sewing machine older than me!  I wish the pics showed the quilting better, I only had my phone with me to take pics.  A lot of Moda fabrics here - and some Connecting Threads and some other various reds.  Unfortunately, one of the reds from Connecting Threads bled, even with 4 color catchers :(  It's not really noticeable unless you look close though.

Anyhow, off to start quilting on the triangle quilt!

3 more urban 9-patch blocks

I finished 3 more urban 9-patch blocks yesterday :)

Friday finish (on Sunday)

I did finish this on Friday, just didn't get around to posting it until today :)

I made another pillow to go with my Pezzy Pillow and my circle quilt.

Here it is before adding the back/binding:

and after I finished it (hubby was turning the lights off around me as I was sewing the binding late Friday, LOL.  He was ready for bed......)

I have a quilt in mind I'm going to be starting soon.  I want to finish my urban 9-patch quilt top first, and finish quilting the triangle wedding quilt, then I'm going to start a postage-stamp-ish quilt with WeePlay+mono pez prints (minus the pink ones) from 2 jelly rolls.

Spectrum Brights Charm Swap!

Another huge charm swap!  Don't miss out!  The confused quilter has a great post about it here.  I've joined...........and I should have my charms from the other swap soon!

not much of a gardener......

I'm not much of a gardener, but I think I pulled this project off pretty well :)

The terra cotta pots and teapot are new, the strawberry planter I've had for about 16 years (it has hens & chicks in some holes, and moss in others)  My husband hates the moss and spots on the planter, I love the old weathered look :)
I drove a metal garden rod into the strawberry planter, then added the terra cotta pots one by one tipping them one direction, then the other, filling them with soil/plants as I went.  When I got to the teapot, I cut the garden rod so it wouldn't show out of the top of it :)  I think it turned out pretty well!  All the plants are trailing plants, so it should look really cool once they really start growing! :)

WIP Wednesday

This is something I hope to finish today......

I have 3 more rows to add to the top, then I can baste/quilt this pillow cover.  These HST's are SO tiny.  I can't believe there will be 121 HST's (242 pieces) in this 17'' square pillow!   I think I will bind it in red the same as this pillow:

and I hope I have enough red multi Pez to back it in.....

Quiltville's linky party

Today, Bonnie from Quiltville is having a linky party!  The theme is ''whats on your bed''.  My favorite quilt (Meadowsweet Argyle quilted by the fabulous Angela) is on my bed and has been since I finished binding it.  I think I'm going to have to get something more springy/summery on the bed, but I love this quilt so much......

one of my fur-children

yes, this is one very spoilt doggie.....  on my bed, on my favorite quilt (quilted by the fabulous Angela!), and on the quilt blocks I'm trying to put together none-the-less!  Lucky she is so darned cute.......

Moda Bake Shop leftovers bonus tutorial

I am so happy to announce that today I have a quilt featured over at the Moda Bake Shop!
My quilt is ''Renaissance Waves'' and was made with a jelly roll of 'Redwork Renaissance' and some yardage from the same line.  Here is my finished quilt:

Now, I am going to show how I made my storage bag/tote from the leftovers from my Moda Bake Shop quilt!

First, take 10 of your leftover 'tubes' and open them up.  These can be totally random, or however you wish.  You are going to be making two 25-patch blocks from these.

 From either the extra from your backing, or from your filler strips, cut 2 1/2'' strips and frame your blocks.  I chose to do mitered corners because I used the stripe, but you can do regular boxed corners.

Now, cut 3'' strips from some of your other leftovers and frame just 3 sides of each panel.

The unframed edge is going to be the 'top'.
Join the two panels together at the bottom so it looks like this:

Now, treat this as if it was a little quilt - and baste and quilt as desired.  I chose random straight lines on the diagonal.  Trim your quilt up along the edges so you have nice clean lines to work with.

Next, you'll be making the handles.  Take the remaining leftover 'tubes', and open them up.  Join them together into two equal length handles (15 patches each).  Cut two strips from some of your leftover yardage 2 1/2''x 30 1/2'' and two strips 1 1/2'' x width of bag.  Match the scrappy strips up with a 2 1/2'' strip of leftover fabric (I used the panel fabric from my quilt), and with right sides together, sew down each side with a 5/8'' seam allowance.  Yes, 5/8'' seam allowance.  This will give the handle several layers when it's turned right side out so it's nice and sturdy without the use of an interfacing.

turn them right side out and press

stitch along each side of the handles 1/8'' from the edge.  You can also do a decorative stitch on these (I decided to do a flower stitch along the center of my handles) TRIM the ends after stitching to give a nice straight/clean edge.

Now, align one of your handles along one of the top edges of the quilted bag.  I aligned mine with the inside of the handle to line up with the inner seam on the outer blocks in the 25-patch. Pin these with RIGHT SIDES together and raw edges lined up.

Now, take your 1 1/2'' strips and press them in half.  You are going to be making a binding-of-sorts with them for the top of the bag.  Pin this to the top of the bag with raw edges together.  Stitch binding/handles to top of bag with a 3/8'' seam.  Reinforce stitches at handles.

Turn binding toward the back and stitch two seams to hold it in place and to reinforce the handles more.

Unfortunately, this is where I lost a few pics from demons possessing my computer.  For some reason, if I delete pics on my camera with my computer, the computer gets confused and deletes the wrong ones, UGH.
Anyhow, after you have finished the top edge/handles, now is the time to make this into a bag.  I used French seams for my bag.  You can use regular seams and zigzag the edges if you prefer.  I know my old sewing machine wouldn't have handled French seams on this many layers (especially the top edge where the binding is).  So, for French seams, you place WRONG sides together, and stitch a scant 1/4'' seam.  Then, turn so it is RIGHT sides together and stitch a 3/8'' seam.  This encloses the edges and makes a neat seam.
Now, to box the bottom to make the bag stand up on it's own.  This tutorial shows pics (ahem, for which I seem to be missing) on how to box the corners.  Or this one is good too.  I stitched my boxed corners so they are just over 4'' at the stitching line.  I didn't do the French  seams here, but you can if you wish (start with a shorter seam if you plan to do that).

Now turn right side out and you have a perfect quilted bag to go with your quilt!  Great for storage or for taking it along in the car!

 

To fold the quilt to perfectly fit in the back, first fold it into quarters.  Then, fold the longer edge into thirds, then finally fold that in half.  It will fit perfectly into the bag with this folding method!

foundation paper piecing

What do YOU use for foundation paper piecing semi-intricate patterns?  Printer paper?  Freezer paper?  Water soluble stabilizer?

This quilt is near the top of my 'to do' list.    Yes.  I have QADD.  Bad.

I won the lotto!

I won the lotto............  the *block lotto* that is! :)  I can't believe I've won........  I *never* win anything!!!  (now I should check my Washington lottery ticket I guess! hehe)
This was the group of 9 blocks I made for my entry in the block lotto.......

I've decided to keep 4 of my own blocks, and send the other 5 to another winner(s). 

I got next to no sewing done this weekend..... (I helped hubby on this instead).  And, now, I have several orders from my ebay store, so I need to work on *that* sewing instead of quilting today, boo..........