Summer Recap

Well, it's been awhile since I have blogged. My apologies if you have missed me!

So I have a little recap of what I have been up to this summer.

I'll start with my finish for the store sample:

 

The pattern for this quilt ended up being super easy to put together. I had a ton of leftovers, So I used some to piece the back:

 

I also added a close-up of the quilting from the back. I did this on my own machine here at home. I did an allover feathering design. This is always my favorite free-motion design:

 

This quilt has already made it back home to me. According to my aunt, the pattern and fabric sold out right after they put this quilt up in the store.

How cool is that?

 

I also put together a cute summer bag:

 

This is the 'Pinafore Bag' by Me and My Sister Designs. I made this out of some Amy Butlers that I had stashed away. It was not easy to cut into this yardage, but I loved the end result. This bag is awesome- it's cute enough to go anywhere, and it will fit all sorts of baby paraphernalia!

 

This next quilt is my Bohemian Kaleidoscopes:

I finished this in June for the wedding of my husband's cousin.

 His cousin had told me that they had an "Eclectic Bohemian" feel to their home. I have always wanted to try a kaleidoscope quilt, and felt like that this would be perfect for a Bohemian scrappy quilt.

I loved this quilt. I ended up pulling out ALOT of my Kaffe Fasset and Amy Butler prints for this.

The red border with the 'exploding' kaleidoscopes were a last minute decision, because it just needed 'something.' - It really did give it that special something that it needed.

Like I said, I loved it, and so did my husband. (He didn't want to give it away)

The newly-weds loved it!

My only regret is that I didn't get a better pic. The above pic was taken in a hurry with my cell phone as we were packing up the babies to drive out to Massachusetts.

(That was an experience - an almost 2 year old and a 6 month old on an 11 hr trip...)

 

And I have been making clothes for the kids:

These are a pair of pajamas for my little man. Little projects like these help to keep things fresh and interesting.

Like they say, "Variety is the spice of life."

 

This next one is a quilt 3 years in the making:

I started this quilt in the summer of 2010. It was my first attempt at applique.

I loved pairing the colors together for the flip flops. They are all outlined in black button-hole stitches (by machine).

This has been sitting in my finish piles for the last 3 years, because I didn't know how it was going to be quilted. It's amazing how things change in 3 years.

3 years ago, I was not confident in my machine quilting abilities, and did not want to quilt this quilt for fear of screwing up something I loved so much.

I was able to use my mom's long arm for this quilt- I ended up quilting the black background prints in bubbles and did little loops in the pink sashing. The green border has a palm leaf sort of motif going on.

Here is a shot of the back:

 

Can't wait to use this on the beach next weekend. Both the kids love this quilt. My little man has been 'trying on' each of the flip flops.

So funny.

Have a wonderful afternoon everyone.

It is great to see you all again!



Sunday Stashin': Holy Amy!

I joined the Amy Butler Charm swap that is being hosted by Rachel over at Sew Happily Ever After!

I took the very last spot. Woo hoo!

This is my first fabric swap ever here in blog land.

I'm so excited.

I started looking through my stash and was incredibly surprised at how much Amy Butler I actually had!

 Look at all of that!

Where did it all come from and why haven't I used this yet?

Are there any designers that you collect that you just can't bring yourself to cut into?

I'm envisioning some English Paper piecing for the charm squares that I will receive from this swap. I am flying out to Idaho for a week for work at the beginning of June, and am pretty sure my company will not pay the extra baggage fee for me to bring my machine along. ;)

So, I need to plan a good hand stitching project for my down time - and plan ride!

It's looking like I'll be sending the Love Sunspots and the Daisy Chain Deco Rose.

 

I'd also like to report that I have completed all of the zig-zagging on my Lilly Pilly quilt. Now I need to embroider a few pairs of feet and eyes and she can be basted!

 

And, I had my helpers in the sewing room with me today.

#1 'helping' me with my stash.

 

#2 keeping an eye on my progress. Gotta make sure she learns early!

Look how excited she was about me finishing my zig-zagging!
 

Funny story though: My foot kept getting confused between my foot pedal and her bouncy seat.
 

Have a wonderful evening everyone!!

 

I'm linking up with Fiona at Finding Fifth for her Sunday Stash Linky Party.

 

First Quilt Finish of 2013!

I finally have a finish for 2013!

This is my Valentine quilt that I started back in 2009.

The quilt top has been sitting in my basket these last three four years, just waiting to be quilted.

This pattern for this quilt is called "Celebrations."
I bought it at one of my favorite quilt shops in the area, The Quilters Garden. I believe that it is designed by someone 'in-house' at the quilt shop.

AND... I did actually finish this quilt before Valentine's Day!!

 

Speaking of Valentine's Day- I did manage to get my sweet #2 all fancied up for the holiday. I stitched a few rosettes together, added buttons, and glued them to an elastic headband.

Then I dug through my stash and came up with this darling tiered skirt.

I used this tutorial  by Makerland.

(There is a little math involved if you are using the US measurement system)

She's going to be 3 months old tomorrow, can you believe it?

 

Anyway, the lovely folks at Riley Blake posted their BOM video this week, and I was able to assemble my paper pieced block for February:

I am loving the monochromatic look on this heart.

It did take a little thought when planning out my paper piecing.

It was a good opportunity to whip out the colored pencils:

A couple firsts with this block:

1. I used the fusible interface method of applique.

2. I hand stitched my applique to the foundation block.

Super easy!

So now my January and February blocks hang out next to each other on my design wall.
I totally love this mystery block of the month idea.
So excited to see what block will show up next.

And I'm totally loving the machine paper piecing right now.
I might be loving it so much that I might take the Farmer's Wife plunge.
But more on that later.

I hope you all have a wonderful night.

I'm linking up with the lovely Pat Sloan for Show and tell.
And with Vickey with Gingersnap quilts, who is hosting TGIFF this week.