FNSI Results - 12/9/2011

Froggy Blanket

Was in JoAnn's one day and spotted this cute little froggy cuddly crib quilt.  Well, I just happen to know the sweetest little 2 year old who loves frogs.  Of course I had to snatch it up!  I finally got around to doing it last night and it turned out really cute.  It is very soft, I kept petting the fabric!  I can't wait to give it to Brynn! :)

FNSI Results - 10/21

Started the Christmas cathedral window table topper Friday.  Had to work all weekend, about ready to go to work now too, so I didn't get as much done as I would have liked. 

This is the first time I have done this block and I think it is going really well!  I can't wait till I get to the hand sewing part.  :) 

2011 Row Robin Finished!

I got my quilt back! OK, I received it in the mail Friday night - but have been working like crazy and this is the first opportunity to post any pictures. 

My quilt name is "Springtime out in the Garden".  The ladies have blown me away with their creativity and sewing skills.  My row really looks like an amateurs next to theirs.  I am not complaining, I have come along way this year!  The last quilt I worked on was definitely my best. 

Now I need to decide how to finish it.  I am thinking of doing one wide border row all the way around.  I just need to figure out what color.  Any ideas?

Row 1 by Me in Missouri
Row 2 by Judy in Arizona
Row 3 by Peggy in Florida
Row 4 by Lara in Florida
Row 5 by Theresa in Michigan

Don't forget this Friday, 10/21, is Friday Night Sew In (FNSI).  Sign up and join us!

Row Robin - Southwest Theme

I did it!  I just finished my last quilt row for the 2011 Row Robin I was participating in.  Judy, the person's quilt I had, picked Southwest as her theme. 

When doing the row robin, the quilt top owner starts their quilt out with the first row and establishes their theme.  The send it to the next person in the circle.  We each add a row using their theme in our own interpetation.  Really gives you a chance to do something you might normally do and is a fun way to meet and make new friends.  We started this December 15, 2010 and we had to Feb 15th to finish the first row and send it on to the next person.  Each row is 12 X 60. 

This was definitely the best row I completed.  I am a pretty new quilter/sewer and I would have the darnest time getting everthing to measure up right.  I really took the time squaring up as I went along.  Each of my 12" blocks were 9 patch units.  I made sure that during each stage I trimmed and measured.  It takes a little longer but it is sure worth it! 

My only regret is that I didn't use a muted background fabric.  I love my row by itself but when I saw some of the other rows when I went to join my row seems a bit loud.  Oh well, it is a color celebration!

p.s. I should be getting my row back soon too, I will post pictures when I get it. :)

Christmas fabric giveaway — Winter Song!

Christmas fabric giveaway — Winter Song! Enter by September 25th for a chance to win. Follow the link to enter.

Across the Sea Quilt-Along

I have joined the Across the Sea Quilt Along, my first quilt-along!  I am so exited to get started.  This past week was cutting all of the pieces.  I just got my fabric so I am cutting everything today.  The quilt-along is designed to be finished in 8 weeks, take a peek at the schedule here.!  We also have a Flickr group for the quilt-along.

Since Christmas is right around the corner I purchased a Christmas Fat Quarter Bundle from Connecting Threads.  I am doing a creme background for the front and an ash background for the back. 

It is not too late, join us!

August Friday Night Sew-In is Tonight!

Reminder tonight is FNSI.  Don't forget to sign up at Handmade by Heidi!

The Friday Night Sew-In is a virtual get together hosted by Handmade by Heidi and her cousin Bobbi (aka Crafty Vegas Mom).

They try to schedule the FNSI the 3rd Friday of each month. Here are the participation guidelines.

1. When the sign-ups are posted - add your name to the list with a link to your blog.
2. Make a post on your blog - letting all your readers know about the sew-in. Spread the word.. we could all use the virtual sewing support and encouragement.

3. On the night of the FNSI - Get your house settled, put on your comfy jammies.. maybe make a cup of tea or pour a glass of wine.. and sit down to work on some of those projects.

4. Then, sometime on Saturday - publish a post about what you worked on.. show us a picture or two on Flickr. There is a FNSI group on Flickr if you haven't already joined. Totally optional.

The name of the Flickr group is FNSI.

Each month they giveaway something awesome to one lucky participant.. some times we select 2 people.

Fabric Buy - Southwest

Just ordered some fabric for the row robin southwestern them quilt from http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/.  Also snagged me some Kona Cotton Solid White & Black.  You can never have enough white and black! :

Can't wait till it all gets here!!





Row Robin

Mailed the quilt that I was working on for my Row Robin today.  Boop really let us do whatever we wanted to do. Our favorite block, color, theme,  etc. Everybody really took a queue from what she did for her first row, Betty Boop and blues.  I love the zig zag pattern I am seeing all over the place, really want to do a whole quilt with this pattern, so I decided to do this for my favorite block with her blue theme.

I think it turned out really well.

SNEAK PEEK...I have already received the next quilt I am to work on, got it on Saturday (this is the last one and then I get mine back). It is "Something Southwestern".  I have so many ideas for this row.  I took a snap shot of this great fabric that is already on the quilt.  I love it!  Such vibrant color.

This Friday is Friday Night Sew In.  Don't forget to sign up at Handmade by Heidi!

July Friday Night Sew In!

OMG it is that time again!  I let last months completely creep past me and just realized it is today for July.  I am in.  I haven't been doing in sewing the past month.  Making a career change and it has had stuff all up in the air.  Time for some me time.  Hope you can join us.  Head over to Hedi's and sign-up.

I believe I will be working on my hexagons.  If I get really productive I have a really cute apron pattern that I have been wanting to do, maybe I will do that too! :)

12 Week Goals

Posted my 12 Week Goals on my fitness blog, my journey to a fit and healthy me!  I would love to have you comment and follow me over there too!  Thanks!!

Finished Redwork Embroidery Quilt!

I am so happy with the finished quilt!  All the redwork emboidery is done by hand.  While I was doing the embroidery I was slowly collecting red fat quarters in different values, I wanted the quilt to look a little scrappy. I am just loving everything about it!  Especially the cute triangle border. I didn't do a label but am now thinking I should go ahead and make one. 

Now I need to come up with a name for the quilt.  :)

Redwork planned for FNSI

I am getting so close!  I have 8 of the 9 redwork embroidered blocks done.  I thought I was done and was taking them out for the picture and realized I still had one more to do.  Oy!  I plan on getting that one done tonight or darn close.  Tomorrow for Friday Night Sew In I plan on cutting out the rest of the red and white strips and sqares and sewing the top together.  I am so excited to see it coming together. 

Join us for the Friday Night Sew In!  Sign up and let us know you will be participating and then on Saturday blog about what you did Friday. :)

Garage Sale Haul!

Don't know if I can call it a "Haul", I only spent $3 and purchased 3 things! LOL!  Last Saturday was my Mom and I's first weekend hitting the garage sales.  I was so excited to find, in perfect condition, this hard back Great American Quilts 1987 book.  They were only asking $1! It even still has the templates in the back. :)

Look who it is!! Fons & Porter!!
I love watching Fons and Porter on my PBS channel Saturday mornings.
I DVR and save the episodes. :)

Plastic templates in an envelope in the back of the book. 
I didn't realize these were here till I got home. Bonus!

Bloggers’ Quilt Festival: Spring 2011

So excited to be participating in the Bloggers' Quilt Festival: 2011!  My entry is my Mama Swan.  I finished this quilt last year and now have it framed behind glass proudly displayed in my house.  I only started dabbling in quilting around 2009 and was really struggling.  This was a great project for me, a beginner, as you didn't have to worry about points, or measuring an exact seam allowance.  :)  One of the fun parts about this quilt was seeing it go from a live photo to a quilt. Bonus, getting to view all the entries for the contest - so many different interpertaions! 

I entered the Bernina "Stitch This" Challenge in May of 2010. The challenge was being held at QuiltingArts.com and the prize...a BERNINA aurora 440QE. I didn't win, but I am really really happy with my finished Mama Swan. It is the first time I had ever done anything like this.  I am still learning all the different techniques. One thing I have learned during this process, there is no wrong or right way when doing an art quilt.

Finished Mama Swan



Creating the water part of the background and tracing my photo. Applied "cut out" filter in photo shop in the photo to help identify the different values.

The base background.

Creating the Swan


Row Robin - Mardi Gras

Working on a new quilt row for the 2011 Row Robin. This person's theme is Mardi Gras! I have already completed 1 block, golden wedding ring.

I really took my time with this one even though it is a paper pieced block I wanted to try and make my fabric last. This seems to be my biggest issue with paper piecing, so much wasted fabric. So I measured each section then added 1/2 inch and blocked it. I then created templates for each section and cut the fabric. I am saving this block and all of the pieces in a clear plastic envelope in case I want to do it again. All of the hard work has already been done!

I really like the black with the color, it really makes the color POP.

Golden Wedding Ring Mardi Gras Block

Row Robin - Mardi Gras - without my row added.  Looks Great!!

Redwork Quilt - Work in Progress

Finished a few more embroidered redwork blocks for my quilt.  I have a total of 9 emroidered blocks to complete and I have finished 5, almost done with my 6th one.  I have been collecting different red designed fat quarters to make a sort of scrappy quilt look to go with these blocks.  The pattern I am following can be purchased online for $8 here.  I picked mine up at JoAnn's or Hancock's.  Can't remember which. :)

Redwork Tomato Pin Cushion

Redwork Tape Measure




Sweet Seams Sewing Pattern

 

Redwork Dressform

Finished my latest redwork hand embroidery quilt block. 



Redwork Dressform

I have a total of 9 redwork quilt blocks to hand embroider.  I have 3 completed. The quilt theme is sewing and it be a wall hanging for my sewing area.  Here are the other 2 blocks I have finished.




Redwork Needle and Thimble



Redwork Sewing Machine



Mod Podge Necklace

I am loving the new necklace I made yesterday! :)

First I gathered my supplies and found some images that I liked online and printed them off on my color printer.

I used a clear round stone that you can get in the gardening section of JoAnns.  These are the same ones you might use to make a magnet.  I have seen on Etsy where people sell better quality square tiles for this purpose.  Find the clearest stone and match up to the images you have.  Carefully cut out your image and then Mod Podge to the back.  After waiting for it to dry I then used Mod Podge Dimensional Glaze to give it a nice professional looking seal.  I used E6000 to glue on my jewelry bail.  All done! 

My FNSI Results

Finally getting a chance to post my results for last nights Friday Night Sew-In. Today has been crazy busy, in a good way. DH and me went to the movies and late lunch today, took my son driving for 2 hours (he is 15 and has his permit), spent sometime at JoAnns and even did some cleaning around the house. :)

So last night I decided to practice, practice, practice. I am a newbie to sewing and quilting and need to practice on accuracy and what really does 1/4 inch look like when sewing on my machine. I have a 2.5 inch strip jelly roll that I decided would be my victim perfect for half square triangles. So I got to town ironing the strips and then using my Fons and Porter half square trinagle cut out the triangles. I then chained pieced the half square triangles together. I did press the seams and then decided to open the seams to both side.

Here is some of my work in progress.