Windows

This months Schnibble pattern from AYOS is Dimestore.   I made a slightly smaller version of the pattern using Sweetwater Sunkissed charm packs.  I've named my quilt Windows.

Through the entire assembly process, I was so sure I was going to like this one.  Based on my fabric choices for the 'window panes', I wasn't getting a good deal of contrast.

I almost stopped at just the quilt top and called it done but then I do enjoy FMQ and practice is a good thing.  So a quilt sandwich I made.

All I did was a basic stipple FMQ but once quilted, the quilt came to life.  I still need to add a binding and I'm thinking once it is washes, it will get even more character.

Looking forward to the Schnibble parade on Sinta's and Sherri at A Quilting Life tomorrow.  First of the month is always exciting - you get to see what everyone else has done with the pattern and get your next challenge.

Happy Stitching!

Fabric, fabric, fabric!

I've got a couple of BOM underway but I'm very tempted by this BOW called Grandmother's Choice.  Each Saturday, block instructions and a history lesson on the women suffrage movement. 

 I was stash diving last weekend and found these lovely yard cuts from Vintage Modern (Bonnie and Camile).  I ordered up some solids to complement.   I know the fabric isn't true to the time period but I'd really like to play with this beautiful fabric.  

First block should be available this Saturday (I think) so can't wait to see what this is all about!  Any one else doing this one?  

I have been lucky in giveaway land recently.   First up are these fun fat quarters from Alderwood Quilts.  THANK YOU for all of this fun fabric!  I've got a couple of ideas what to do with it and pinwheel blocks are likely in my future!!  

Then during their recently series of giveaway days, I won this amazing stack of fabric from the Henry Glass blog.  I need to design up a special quilt for this one.  I love the chocolate print with the hearts.

THANK YOU to Alderwood Quilts and Henry Glass!

Happy Stitching!

FMQ - August Challenge

The August FMQ challenge from SewCalGirl was brought to us by Wendy Sheppard.   The idea was to make Jester's hats.  I did practice this one ahead of time on paper - not sure it helped.

But once I put the fabric under the needled, I found this one very challenging.  I kept getting myself tangled up and actually restarted two times to cover the 12 by 14 piece of fabric.  I started off  free hand and then after stitching myself into a corner, drew on the fabric with pencil.

The best section (in my opinion) was my very first section.

Happy Stitching!

Tetris Block 6

Final block from the Tetris Quilt-a-long from Happy Quilting.   I choose to make my blocks from 2 1/2 squares taking advantage of batik strips I had in my stash.

And all six together - these were so much fun to make!   Without sashing (which I don't think I'll do) or a border (uncertain), this mini is 36 inches by 24 inches.

Happy Stitching!

Sea Glass block 8

What a fun BOM In Color Order HST continues to be.  Here is block 8:

Here are the blocks so far.  I will assemble them without sashing because I really like how this looks together.

Each of my blocks are 12 inches - four more to go.

Happy Stitching!

Pure Results

Uncertain about what border to add to my queen size quilt, I blogged about it (link) and got some great ideas. I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions.

While I've not yet decided if I'll use this as a bed or a extra large couch quilt, I decided the border was needed so it could be a bed quilt.  I added a narrow inner band of solid brown from my stash (finishes at 3/4 inch) and then an outer border of my favorite prints from the line (finishes at 3 inches).  

Isn't she a beauty?  I think the border helps frame the quilt nicely.  

And because my DH and DD held the quilt with only minor complaining, I have to include another picture in honor of my quilt models.

Fabric: Sweetwater Pure
Pattern: Schnibble Lincoln (with modifications)

All ready for my LAQ - now I just need to name the quilt!

Happy Stitching!

Schnibble Dime Store

This month's Schnibble is Dimestore (image from FatQuarterShop).

I decided to use my stash charmpacks of Sweetwater Sunkissed.   For the center of each of the blocks, you could use a light print from the line- which is what is pictured on the sample - or just a background color.

I went with a light print from the line.  I had some layer cake squares leftover and had enough to make a slightly smaller version of 3 by 3 blocks instead of the 4 by 4 pictured.

I still need to get the outer border on and plan on using the light gray the is in one of the blocks.  

I am second guessing my use of the light blocks.  I think i should have gone with white for both the blocks and the outer border so that things would pop better.

Perhaps things will look better once quilted.  What do you think?

Happy Stitching!

FNSI Results

I had a productive although not necessarily very picture worthy FNSI last night.

I made some HST.  (Try to contain excitement!)

I did block 5 in the Tetris Quilt-a-long from Happy Quilting. 

One more block to go!  I choose to make mine with 2 1/2 squares.  Loving it!

I also did some decision making and prepping for adding the border to the quilt I blogged about here.  No exciting photos but I did make decisions after laying out all different fabric combination layouts.  I hope to get the quilt all finished and ready for LAQ later this weekend.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Stitching!

Batik NY Beauty

I picked up a FQ set of these pretty blue and gold batiks with the intention of making some NY Beauty blocks.

I got started on two of them - they are clearly unfinished but I am happy with how they look so far.

FNSI tonight and I hope to get a bit more done!


Happy Stitching!

Opinion please!

My family and I spent a week at the NC beach last week.  Weather was wonderful - a mix of sun with some rain.   We tend to spend the morning and late afternoons / evenings on the sand which means plenty of time in the middle of the day for quilting.

I pieced together my large size Schnibble quilt using Sweetwater Pure fabric.

Couldn't resist the photo location for the above photo - my daughter and I are behind the quilt and holding it as high as we can. 

Here is another view - more true to color.

Need some opinions. What should I do for the border?  I am worried that the quilt is overwhelming as a bed quilt.  I love the colors but it feels like I have too much going on.  The Schnibble calls for a inner border (probably 2 inches) and then a piano key border.

If I continue to make this a bed quilt, it needs roughly 5 inches to get it the size I want.  If I just make it a larger than normal couch quilt, I'll call it done!

What do you think?

Happy Stitching!

Tetris week 4

Yet another fun block:

to go with the other 3 that I made previously:

I need to get a photo of them all together!

Happy Stitching!

Assembly underway

Assembly is progressing quite well and I've the six sections all pieced together.  

As each section is put together, I press it, inspect to make sure my seams are all good and square things up.

One technique I use to keep track of where each piece belongs is to mark a small piece of fabric that I use as both my leader and to keep track of how to reassemble the quilt.  If you look carefully at the photo above, you can see them hanging there.

Fabric is Sweetwater Pure, pattern is Schnibble Lincoln.

Happy Stitching!

Blocks ready to go!

I now have a pile of 41 stars and 80 stripe blocks and ready to assemble my Schnibble Lincoln queen sized quilt.

The actual pattern calls for a 9 by 9 grid but I wanted to do something bigger so I went for 11 by 11.

Too busy?  It looks a bit overwhelming all laid out on my design floor.

I decided to assemble it in pieces - breaking it up into about six sections.  I find this much easier to deal with that doing long rows of 11 blocks.

But, to keep my design safe, I needed to keep the family from stepping on it....  like my solution?

I set up a nice blockade!!! 


Happy Stitching!

Tetris block 3

Block 3 of the Tetris Quilt-a-long from Happy Quilting. 

Here are all three of the blocks so far - this is going to be one happy quilt!

Happy Stitching!

Stars and Stripes

My Schnibble Lincoln (queen sized) quilts calls for 41 stars:

and 80 strip blocks.  I cut all my strips and tested everything by making 4 blocks.

This picture doesn't give a very good view of the variety of fabrics - here are 20 of the stars.  Slightly more than half have the same light colored background.  For the rest, I used various fabrics from the line - Sweetwater Pure.

I've an appointment with my LAQ at the end of August.  I think I'll make it.


I've been enjoying the Think Christmas blog hop and today's day five of the!  Grab a cup of Mulled Cider and visit these talented quilters:

 Crazy 'Bout Quilts
Dexter Days
Cherry's Prairie Primitives
Somewhat Fanciful
Craftluver Marianna
Quiltscapes
Prsd4tim2 
Moments
Ruthanne at That Other Blog 

(To see the whole week's schedule visit Santa Leslie.)  If you missed it, my entry was here.  Thanks again to everyone who visited and left lovely comments.


Happy Stitching!

Stripping

Blog post got your attention?

I've made all the 41 stars needed for my queen size Schnibbles Lincoln quilt.  I'm modifying the pattern so that I could use my Wing-Clipper ruler yielding star blocks at 8 1/2 inches.  These means instead of blocks consisting of 3 strips, I needed to go with 4 strips.  (Dividing 8 1/2 by 3 would leave me with odd cutting widths so I went with a standard 2 1/2 inch strip instead.)   Fabric is Sweetwater Pure.


Did a few sample blocks and now off to zip through the rest (at least I hope so!)


Thank you for all the wonderful comments from my day at the Think Christmas blog hop.

Today's day four of the Think Christmas blog hop!  Grab a cup of Hot Chocolate and visit these talented quilters:

 Grandmama's Stories
Sandra Kaye Designs
North Hills Quilter
Lv2sew
Quilty Doodads
Quilting in South Carolina
The Raspberry Rabbits
Charise Creates
Traveling Quilter
Nancy B at That Other Blog
Selina Quilts

(To see the whole week's schedule visit Santa Leslie.)  

Happy Stitching!

HO HO HO

Ho Ho Ho!!!!!

For me, Christmas means Santa Claus, Christmas Trees and quality family time.  Christmas in July?  Perhaps because of this incredibly warm summer in NC with temperatures often in the 90s or hitting 100, I dream of SNOW!  

Introducing Crystal - my single snowflake miniquilt.

A closeup of the stitching.

and the view of the back - 

This block is 10 1/2 inches - wouldn't it be fun to make a quilt filled with all different snowflakes?  

I hadn't made paper snow flakes since I was a kid.  Somewhat like riding a bicycle, one never forgets how but those first couple of attempts - especially the upper right corner - aren't very pretty to look at.  The bottom one served as my inspiration for my quilt block.

I took a piece of white fabric and prepared it with iron on adhesive.

Then I folded into a cone like shape - adhesive side touching.- and cut the snowflake freehand as I had the paper.

I then carefully unfolded and TADA!!!  Snow in July!  I ironed it onto a blue solid and had fun thread painting the snowflake and I outlined the cut areas.

Thanks for coming to visit me in the blog hop.  Leslie and Madam Samm - thanks for getting us organized!  Please grab a cup of Hot Chocolate and visit these talented quilters that I am fortunate to share day three with!

Sheila's Quilt World
A Passion for Applique
Cherry Blossoms Quilting Studio
Jane's Quilting
Sew Me Something Good
>>>>>>>>>>A Stitch in Time  <<<<<<<<<<
Aurea at That Other Blog
Quilt Times
Marcia's Crafty Sewing and Quilting
Patchouli Moon Studio
Quilting by the River

(To see the whole week's schedule visit Santa Leslie.)


Happy Stitching!