up next on the quilting block...

As I shared earlier - I do indeed have another quilt neatly folded and ready for the quilting to begin. [alas, I still wish I had the patience or the machine or the skill to quilt a full size...] The Bloggers' Block-A-Palooza quilt is finished!

This is attempt numero 2 at on-point piecing. The basic on-point construction in my Diving for Diamonds quilt was simple enough. Upping the skill level for this quilt I attempted to add sashing. Which didn't quite turn out as I had planned [i.e. don't look too close at some of the point/intersections]. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what had to be sewn to what and in which order for those to work out - so if anyone has suggestions or a tutorial they can direct me to, I would love the help!

The leftover blocks I made are destined for pillows. This was a great qal - always something new to look forward to on Mondays and Thursdays! I was a little hesitant to make the cut into my Lotus stash, but I think it definitely paid off :) Well, a little dog is lovingly staring up at me asking for a food bowl refill - Have a great Wednesday!

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]!

extrinsic motivation...

I'll admit it; gold stars were an important part of elementary school. Generally I am a pretty self motivated person - doing things because they are right or should be done, but occasionally I am encouraged by the promise of extras. John posted on the Blog-A-Palooza page that there are midpoint giveaways in the works. The fine print: all of our blocks, #1-#8 must be posted in the flickr pool. Now I have been doing pretty well keeping up with this quilt along [my block 8 was finished on Saturday] - but what I don't do well is take pictures, edit said pictures, upload, and blog about my projects in a timely manner. The promise of possible free loot is what made this post happen. Above is block #7. I like to think of it as a personal gift that Heather gave to me. Boy did I need a little break from flying geese and tiny squares! The block looks great and is easy to put together [there was a moment of pure bliss when I realized the relatively low number of seams I had to deal with when sewing rows together :]

Block #8 required the use of some applique muscles. No needle-turn here, thank you. Simple Heat and Bond Lite did the trick and I machine stitched around the shapes. Angela's basket is a little different. It isn't at all that I am super creative [especially since I borrowed this arrangement from someone else!] - my choice to change the layout was because I couldn't seem to fit all those triangles in a pleasing manner.

So there you have it... Block #9 will soon be awaiting my attention already :)

i'm a joiner [blog-a-palooza update]...

As I shared with everyone a few posts ago - I got the bug and am swimming right along in the fast current of online swaps and quilt alongs! Here are the latest blocks I created for the Bloggers' Block-A-Palooza quilt along. I am doing fairly well keeping up with the blocks [just not so well with sharing them online!] Above is block #3 designed by Amanda over at Sasikirana Handmade. I love the incidental bear paw pattern that forms in the corners! It is like a tricky little optical illusion :)

Block #4 is the brain child of Cherri. The simple look of this block is really nice - love how it highlights the pinwheel fabric.

Moving right along is block #5 by Kaye. Did I mention they like flying geese in this quilt along?

And the flying geese just keep on flocking in with block #6 by Monica. Click on over just to see how fab her tutorial looks - amazing what a talented artist can do with Adobe Illustrator!

The sun may be out and about today - making it a record breaking TWO DAYS in a row! It never ceases to amaze me who exciting a 40 degree day can be as we approach spring.

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?

quilt festival...

Though this post may look familiar, I assure you it is new :) I didn't expect to be chatting about this quilt again so soon, but I am excited to be participating in Amy's Online Quilt Festival. I loved looking at the quilts last year, but was new to the online seen, so I didn't jump in. I wanted to share this quilt because it was my introduction to the online quilting community. I had just started blogging and fallen head over heels for the new modern look; the brights, geometric shapes, lots of white, random/free-form piecing - I was hooked. I joined in Quilt Dad's round of the Old Red Barn Quilt Along and this quilt is my finished product! Life is better with my flickr and blog friends around, I enjoy the inspiration and community I find. This is the first modern bed sized quilt I have finished and the first quilt I have completely finished since Derrick and I were married. Definitely a memorable quilt in many ways!
Be sure to check out the many beautiful quilts that have been entered this year! Amy does such a wonderful job of organizing the Quilt Festival!

pièce de résistance...

How very international of me to have a blog post title in French :D I am so excited to FINALLY be able to share my finished wonky log cabin! All quilted up by the wonderful ladies in the quilting group at UCC. I love the finished look - clean, modern, fun, bright.


The quilting is simple and clean - a diagonal grid. The grid on the center is slightly larger than the one used on the border. A quick job of marking with a quilting ruler!

And no bed is complete without a mountain of pillows! These were some of the first pillows I made [and clearly I liked them as I haven't been able to stop making pillows since!]

Best of all, the warm and white batting is so cozy; and that's important as the nights get colder! Sophie definitely approves :D I have to add that, even though this photo looks posed - there is no other photo I could have taken. I tried to take a pic without her in it, but she is a persistent little bug and kept jumping on the bed!

snowy zig-zag...

I apologize for my absence here on the world wide web - life moves as an incredibly fast pace [moving faster some months than others]. My crafty pace has not slowed terribly, however. I have been busy, unfortunately very few of those projects are anywhere near finished. I prefer to share only 'done' craftiness with you so that you don't get bored looking at the same colors, patterns, techniques, etc. for weeks at a time.

As some of you may know, I closed my eyes, crossed my fingers, and dove into the wonderful world of online quilting this past summer. I joined the Old Red Barn Quilt Along over on Flickr and finished the top for my wonky log cabin quilt [it's in line at the church to be put on the quilting frame - but it will have to wait until this summer!] Wonky was round 3; zig-zags were round 2. I have been so tempted to try zig-zagging, but the occasion never presented itself... until now! I am working on a little quilty project [to be seen later] that featured pinwheels. I ended up with quite a few leftover 3.5" squares - which I turned into half square triangles. And then inspiration struck... and this zig-zag pillow was the result [I'm calling it snow trails]. Half square triangles are like the cheese of the quilt world - you can add them to anything and organize them in so many ways - oh the versatility!

So I made the back envelope style - I always like that you can remove the pillow form and replace it if the need arises. [plus - there's one of my little tags! yea!] The pillow is currently hanging out in my etsy shop.

I hope you're digging your way out of the snow if you are reading this in the northeastern US! [and bracing yourself for more of the white stuff :]

pillow expo...

It is always exciting when I can showcase a FINISHED item in my post, and today I have three! I can hardly believe it myself, but I followed through with making coordinating pillows for my wonky log cabin. In total, I made four pillowcases and three throw pillows. I love them!

Nope, can't take creative credit for this one either; but didn't it turn out well? (thanks cluck. cluck. sew.) I love the little nest in the center, and isn't it perfect to go with the wonky log cabin?

Remember this one from a post awhile ago? This one was the most time consuming - I made a template from a picture with the aid of photoshop. Then I traced the template onto wonder-under. Several hours of cutting, ironing, and zig-zag stitching later - this pillow finally emerged!


I love selveges... I didn't know that I loved them til everyone else began using them, but I do. Check out the selvege flickr group for more inspiration.

Update: The two larger (18") pillows are 'envelope' style, so the covers can be taken off. The selvage bolster is sewn closed.

wonky revelation...

So, here it is - the finished wonky log cabin; reveling in all of its glory. I must say I am a bit impressed with myself; this is the most expedient quilt project I have ever worked on! I really do love it! I finished coordinating pillowcases this weekend and plan to take on a couple of other pillow projects to complete the bedding. (namely the anthropologie pillow with the giant applique mum)

The next step is to have it quilted. I live to piece and hate to quilt, I am simply not patient enough. My thoughts are to have the center done with a diagonal grid and the outside border with a smaller diagonal grid. Should be simple enough; now to find a talented quilter who fits into the budget!

wonky world...

Just an update on my wonky log cabin. The quilt-along officially began August 31 - so I am just one month into it. Here is what has been accomplished: collected fabrics (check), purchased square cutting template (check), cut about a billion strips (check), completed 7 blocks (CHECK!)


These are just the latest that I have completed. Have a favorite? Check out all of the amazing work that is going on with others in the quilt-along.

wonky post...

I am excited to share my first few blocks for the Old Red Barn Co. Quilt-Along!

In the beginning, the outer border was all white - it just wasn't working for me. So I wonkified the white border and added yet another one. In the end, the blocks will be sashed together with white strips, I just didn't like how wide they ended up being when you placed to blocks together (both with white borders).
I would love to hear your thoughts :0)

something wonky this way comes...

The quilt is now in progress! The rotary cutter and mat came out of hiding and yardage became 3", 2", & 1.5"strips.

I am anxiously awaiting the last few Internet finds I ordered to complete this quilt. I really LOVE the flowers on green - I'm thinkin' pillowcases. (READ: Having a hard time cutting this piece up!)

A novice to the 'wonky world,' I decided to test out a block using scraps. I enjoyed the improv style, but this will be a somewhat time consuming project. With each additional strip, the block needs to be pressed and rotary cut. Let's just say there is alot of up and down from the sewing machine. I am excited to see this quilt finished in all of it's wonky glory!

note: I made this block into a purse, it's for sale in my etsy!

this just in...

The thrill of the hunt, the excitement of th catch, the anticipation of the arrival of your newest ebay purchases! I unabashedly love ebay - even just 'watching' items is fun. I recently stumbled across some sale fabric at Mrs. Miller's in Charm. (note: do NOT go here to buy just one fabric, it doesn't work!) Moda: Blossoms by Urban Chiks This, of course, coincides with my new plan to join the Wonky Log Cabin quilt-along!

After checking out ebay, I got a FANTASTIC deal on a jelly roll (40 - 2.5" strips). They normally run around $30-$35 - a steal at $15+$4s/h! I was so excited to find a bonus 1/2 yard included for free - I highly recommend this seller.

Finds from Mrs. Miller's in Charm: