nittany round up...

{note: 1 more day - today - to enter into the drawing to win a copy of Seaside Home! Just leave a comment on this post.}

So, I think March 14th officially means that 2011 is over :) I finished these blocks some time ago, but wanted to share the last few months of the Nittany Block Swap. I really enjoy block swaps, but because of time [coupled with the fact that I didn't find a new swap that seemed interesting AND was looking for a new member] I am not currently participating in a monthly swap.

September: Kelly was going for more of a modern look. It was fun to have boundaries but still be allowed some artistic control. I am sure this will look amazing when she finishes with it!


October: Tammy wanted a Moda Bake Shoppe pattern. The fabrics are GREAT; I really like the secondary pattern that forms when you put these blocks together.


November: Shari is into upcycling men's shirts right now. I am a huge Kaffe Fasset fan, so the finished look is right up my ally. Some of them are still a slight bit wonky despite my best pressing and cutting efforts. Cannot wait to see all those shapes come to life in a finished quilt!

I have to get back into the project that the ladies helped me with!! The center is pieced, it just needs some borders and a few blocks for said border and it will be complete!

months gone by [in the nittany block party]...

Yes, I am a little behind in SHOWING my blocks for the past many moons from the Nittany Block Party, but I am happily on time with FINISHING them :) I'm not sure why a whole month to sew one block always seems like a stretch. Given the right month, I could probably push out a whole bed sized quilt. For me, it seems like there is always a bit of anxiety that comes with making a block for someone else - if it is a creative task, there is always the question of the other persons taste; if it is a 'make this block' month, I am worried about the limited amount of fabric provided in the event of an oops moment. I feel quite accomplished to be getting my blocks on their merry way home on time and in the correct month. April's block for Tracy - using THIS tutorial. Great block, definitely testing my hst skillz. May's block for Freida - love how the coal kona sets off all of those little colorful prints! The hst inquisition continues. June's block for Amanda - using THIS tutorial. Beautiful, simple... and, yes, filled with hst's! July's block for Jessica - using THIS tutorial. Definitely a new one for me. I really enjoyed building this one [even if it did end up 1/4" off - seriously not sure how that happened, perhaps something to do with not having a 'true' 1/4" seam allowance and tons of seams] I was up in August and I cannot wait to show you more of that project :) Block swaps are wonderful ways to connect with fellow crafters and to learn new skills! If you haven't joined in on the action, I would suggest you check out this flickr group. Remember not to over-commit; start out with one bee and make sure that you can keep up with that one.

stop, block, and roll...

I sew and blog as a hobby... you know something that you do voluntarily, something with limited outside pressure or force... So sometimes, I get behind on my blogging and I have to force myself to be okay with that. No one will die, my income will not be affected - in short, no major tragedies are happening because I disappear off of the interweb for a time. And though I have not been posting, I have been lurking around some inspirational blogs and continuing to craft.
Keeping up with the Nittany Block Party has been going well. In March, Dena asked us to make mod mosaics using the Oh, Fransson tutorial. I really love this finished product and enjoyed the process to boot. Yes, there is a tinge of surprise in that statement. I was hesitant to dive in, but now want to start a quilt of my own using this technique. Oh the options - scrappy, coordinated, color wheel style, all of one line... I think they all have their particular appeal.

In February we made improv style rectangular and square blocks for Rachel.

I also wanted to share with you the final installment of blocks for the Blogger's Block-A-Palooza quilt along. Are you impressed that I had all of my blocks completed in a timely manner? [even before finishing instructions were posted!] In fact - these blocks are now in a completed quilt top that I finished two Sundays ago! [if you want to see these blocks a litle closer, click on the image to head on over to my flickr]I also have another top completed using an Odyssea charm pack and am putting the binding on a baby quilt made with a Lovely charm pack. So, no sewing slacker here [just a posting slacker :]

Last week was spring break around here... spring break with snow accumulation doesn't seem very springy to me. [this unfortunate weather is, by the way, why my pictures on this post are so muddy :[ Here's to hoping for sunshine [SOON]!

new york beauties...

Has it hit you? You know, that moment of craft inspiration. You are poking around flickr, reading blogs, at a quilt guild meeting and it just hits you... "I NEED that" says the little voice in your head. That moment of inspiration hit when I saw Jennie's gorgeous New York Beauty blocks. The love was so intense that the fact that I had never successfully done any paper piecing didn't even phase me. I had been bitten by the quilt bug. Next step: load up on more brights and small black and white prints.

It was a labor of love - and some of the blocks were completed with the help of my block swap friends. I couldn't help but add the paper pieced flying geese border. All of the little prints make it feel almost like an I spy quilt - which is pretty cool in my book.

Now, like many a project before it, this little quilt will be stacked on the to-be-quilted pile. Are you tempted to start work on some New York Beauties of your own? Stay tuned - I have a giveaway coming up in the next post!

new year, new swaps, new blocks...

Blame it on the crazy number of snow days so far this year, or missing my online family, or the need to experiment and try out new blocks... Whatever the reason I am ready to get back into the quilt along and swap scene over on flickr and around the blogosphere. The block swap group I was in last year came to an end in December, so I was quick to find a new swap for 2011. The Nittany Block Party [and Heidi] welcomed me with open arms. Heidi took on January and sent us some beautiful Bliss fabric and Modify Tradition Magic Cross tutorial. I enjoyed this tutorial - fairly simple and great step by step instructions.

I am also excited that the Scrappy Pincushion Swap is entering round 3! I put together this mosaic to give my partner some inspiration. Can you sense that while my feet are in snowy Ohio my head is definitely at the beach?? Summer can't come soon enough!

Moving on to my current quilt along... I jumped on board with Quilt Dad's Bloggers' Block-A-Palooza - a 17 stop tour of some very talented bloggers. Each of the block tutorials will be completed using Sweetwater's new line Sunkissed. I, on the other hand, NEED to do some stashbusting [really, I prefer to collect and drool over fabric than actually use my beauties]. Nonetheless, I did it, I cut into my Amy Butler Lotus stash. So far I am not regretting it. The last stop on the tour is the actual quilt layout - I am thinking that I might want to set this one on point though. I think it would be fab to alternate the finished blocks with solid blocks of the tree peony fabric.

John put his creativity to work coming up with block #1. He calls it Flying Over Fields. I chose to put my flying geese together a little differently so you get a star-like design.

Then over to the amazing Oh, Fransson blog for Elizabeth's amazing block Word Play. True to form, she had us cutting [& re-cutting] lots of little squares for this patchwork. It definitely has an interesting look.

How 'bout you? Any exciting new swaps you are joining in this year?

falling off the face of the earth...

I'm still around - even if my online persona has been mia for quite a while now! Again real life has taken me away from my computer. Between the holidays, pre-classwork, a masters level course intensive, and being stuck in Georgia any spare moment has been filled. Rest assured, my crafting addiction has not taken a holiday. I have projects to complete, pictures to upload and edit, and lots to post about and share in the coming days. Above is the final block for the Block Swap I was a part of in 2010. I joined in on the Nittany Block Party and my first fabrics have arrived - can't wait to get back into the swing of things!

How do you keep up with posting when life gets crazy?

swap-o-rama...

Yes, this is another post about swapping :) I'm not sure if you know Ayumi, if not then you definitely need to meet her! Maybe you just don't realize you know her, she has several projects that have been featured in the beloved Stitch magazine [which is going quarterly next year! yay!] She not only makes lovely things, she has a kind heart. I have been oohing and aahing over some Mister Donut fabric that keeps taunting me around blogland.

On special occasions my mom and I would go to Mister Donut before school. I always loved the twisted creamstick/glazed donut things covered in chocolate. They are special memories, the Mister Donut was replaced by a Donut Connection, and then finally a pizza shop. Many have forgotten the smell of fresh baked donuts [we don't even have a Dunkin Donuts in our area]. Anywho, I gushed over Ayumi's stash and she agreed to a swap. What did she want? A crabby pinnie of course :) So meet Miss Crabby, all decked out in pink!

If you want to make one for yourself, my humble attempt at a tutorial can be found here. I am pleased with how she turned out and glad that she has found a happy home!

For the Block Swap 2, miss rabidchipmunks asked us for a disappearing nine patch using some funky Halloween prints. A lot of fun, even if I did cut one of the blocks wrong :)

I am enjoying seeing all kinds of beautiful color outside my window - I love fall. Hoping to fit in a few more warm days though!

summer swappin'...

[can you hear the Grease music?] summer swappin' had me a blast, summer swappin' happened so fast... Those of us in the Block Swap 2 are headed into the final stretch, the bee started in January and will end in December. I have really enjoyed tackling new challenges and learning loads of new techniques! My month was August and I fell in love with the New York Beauty blocks that Jennie was making! [check her beauties out here! The tutorials are here] [more details on my blocks when I receive them all]

For July, Cindy wanted to make a color wheel quilt using the Pieced Scrap Border Quilt tutorial over on Red Pepper Quilts. It went together really easy and I love the final look - this will be great once the rainbow of colors is set together!


In September, I got to refine my curved piecing skills with a drunkards path block for Frieda. She sent us over to the Sometimes Crafter tutorial and all the pictures made it super easy to follow.

I love stalking all of the wonderful swaps over on flickr, but am hesitant to commit to 'one more thing' - what swaps do you just love?

crabby pinnie {the tutorial}...

[note: I have had a couple of people have trouble accessing the tutorial on google docs. I am happy to 'share' the file with your google docs account, just choose that option after logging into your account. I have also uploaded the tutorial as a photo onto flickr.]

Scrappy. Pincushion. Swap. My new favorite swap! I really enjoyed round 1 so I have signed up for round 2 - I think the hardest part is deciding what to make. Last round I made 3 or 4 different pinnies before ending up with crabby {who I think turned out quite nicely}. He is happily living in his new home across the pond. Perhaps you would like a crabby to call your own? Here is a link to his tutorial {I put the pdf up on google docs - PLEASE let me know if you have any trouble accessing it!}.

I would love to see a picture if you make one :D
enjoy.

pillow talk swap...

If you have been following along for a little while, you know that I have been overcome by pillow fever. They are just such quick projects for the wow factor that they provide. Plus they have given me the chance to practice my machine quilting [still nowhere near ready to take on a full size quilt]. I joined the Pillow Talk Swap in round 3, which is currently wrapping up. [WHAT?! you haven't checked out the beauties in that swap? You need to click on over there right now... well finish readin' this post first maybe :]

I didn't realize how much of a challenge this would be. The bar for quality and creativity in this swap is set very, very high. I went through no less than three pillows and zillions of design ideas, before I settled on this pillow. This isn't exactly like any of the pillows in my partners inspiration mosaic, but all of her/his faves seemed geometric and I think this fits the bill.

This block is a combination of different patterns: kaleidoscope [using my new ruler!], coin, and bunches of half square triangles. Fabric used is Blush by Basic Grey for Moda and a white Bella Solid - and a tiny bit of French General. The binding fabric is something from my stash, so I'm not exactly sure of the designer or line.

Hope s/he likes it - I'm super nervous!

disappearing june...

Who finished their swap block in the first half of the month? [hand raises] It's me. It's me! The rest of this month is going to be gone in the blink of an eye, so I thought it best to get Leslie's little block on its way. This was an easy-peasy month - she sent nine 5" squares and asked for a disappearing nine patch. This was my first try at these and I think it has become a new fave. [tutorial for disappearing 9s] I have a charm pack that 'needs' to be used. I love how people have used solid fabrics to make the finished quilt look like it has sashing. Here's an example of what I mean.

I finally closed in on my design for the Pillow Swap - let's just say lots of half square triangles in the works!

spring block swappin'...

Well April may not have had the whole lion/lamb scenario happening, but May certainly did! May ended and June began with terrential rain storms and on Saturday we were visited by a tornado! Many folks near us had shingles torn off their homes, trees uprooted, and flooded basements. We were lucky with only 'secondary damage.' You may be wondering what I mean by secondary damage... Living in small town America means that a tornado is the talk of the town - and yes, that means you have to go drive by it [and not watch where you are driving]. So as I was stopped behind someone turning left, the person behind me rear ended me. Apparently watching people pull a giant tarp over their house was the thing to look out for. No major damage that I know of - we will probably take the car to get checked out at the dealership to make sure that is the case. Nothing says Sunday like hanging out on the side of the road with our friendly neighborhood police officer :] storm details

On a friendlier note, we had some little visitors in our yard the other day! Three little birdies were scattered around our yard last Tuesday. Momma bird was responding to their tweets, carrying worms around to each one of them.

Oooh, look - something crafty on a craft blog :] Mary sent us on an adventure, this was my first attempt at foundation piecing. She provided the fabric and the printed muslin squares. I was able to finish 1 1/2 blocks, it was fun to learn but I still struggle with choosing the right size fabric piece to use.

p.s. still looking for a couple of testers for my sewing machine cover tutorial - any takers?

still alive and crafty...

Yep, I'm still here. During my first year in the blogosphere, I have definitely noticed some spring/summer trends. There is a sense of remorse and abandonment when nearly a month goes by and my blog has gone untouched. I am consoled when I check in with google reader and see the multitude of post titles with sentiments like 'I'm back,' 'missing in action,' 'sorry it has been so long,' etc. It looks like the spring and early summer months are universally busy, and my life is certainly no exception. Regardless, I have managed to eek out a few projects that I hope to share with you soon [even some UFOs - imagine that!]

For now, I'll share with you my swap blocks for April [no worries - they were finished and sent long before this post, in fact my May blocks are posted at this point] Jennie requested blocks using Riley Blake's All Star fabric. We were given creative control over the design with the only requirement being the block would be 9" finished. This was my first wonky star attempt - I really enjoyed it! I have already made nearly 20 stars since this one. Super easy following the tutorial over at The Silly BooDilly.

This was a wonderful opportunity to hone my skills with the kaleidoruler I recently purchased. I love these blocks and I am finally getting the hang of this ruler and the ABSOLUTE need for cutting accuracy [I'm afraid I've grown far to fond of the 'wonky-modern' process :]

What has been keeping you consumed this spring? Any projects coming together for you? I'd love to hear :]

note: I am looking for a couple of people to test out my sewing machine cover tutorial. Anyone interested? It's my first full on tute and I want to make sure it's accurate and clear.

spring trading post...

I am kinda hooked on swaps - it is so exciting to send off a special gift to someone that you've never met. [and then to wait for the mailman to come each day :] I like researching; checking out their blog and flickr photostream - finding out what they gravitate towards. The ORBC quilting group is in the middle of a May swap, and here is what I sent off to parts unknown:

I really enjoy re-purposing vintage items. I used a raw edge applique technique to bring this tea towel back to life.

I also sent along a set of six Hunky Dory prints by Moda. Hope she enjoys :]

block party...

Can it really be April already? Didn't 2010 just begin? I'm not sure where the time goes, but it certainly does go by quickly. March was Carin's month for the block swap. We are both avid followers of the Oh, Fransson! blog - which you simply must peruse if you have not been there! Elizabeth offers up a variety of fabulous tutorials [in addition to some for-sale patterns]. Carin asked each of us to make a block using the 'Map of the States' tutorial. The process was a little time intensive, but I liked the finished product.

While I had the waxed paper out, I decided to try my hand at a block using my stash. I think it turned out pretty well - and SURPRISE it's a pillow now . [YES, the obsession continues]

I have a tiny bit of this Japanese print left in my stash - I love that I could use it as a focus fabric is in this project.

I am enjoying playing around with machine quilting. I am certainly not ready to take on a larger project, but making quilted pillow tops is fun for the time being!
This pillow is looking for a home in my etsy shop.

swappy...

Finally finished with my February swap block! Melissa asked for a machine appliqued tree block similar to the cluck. cluck. sew. tutorial. I auditioned alot of designs to try and incorporate a little bit of me into the design. I actually drew this pattern out with my tablet [getting a little better at drawing on my computer, yea for me!] She sent along steam-a-seam 2 and I LOVED working with it :] Because of the tackiness of the adhesive, you could play around with where you wanted your pieces until you ironed it to make it permanent. Another plus was that it was much easier to take the backing paper off of the fabric without removing the adhesive in the process - I end up with alot more frayed edges when I use wonder under. I think with my next JoAnn's coupon I might experiment with it some more!

Oh, by the way: you MUST check out the giveaway over at a la mode fabric :] she is a little crazy and it is showing up in what she is voluntarily giving away!

building blocks...

This is my first official contribution to a block swap! I was persuaded [it didn't take much] to join in the fun of a swap - and so far, one month in, it has been great. This month's block was for Hope from Going Sew Crazy, she sent some lovely strips of fabric, many from the Be Merry line by Riley Blake and a coordinating linen. I hadn't made a string block before, but it went together like a charm. [I used the Film in the Fridge tutorial] I hope she enjoys it; can't wait for February!

note: i'm not sure I could have fit more links in this short post :)