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