Mini Swap Quilt Arrived!

I participated in the Mini Teal Swap recently and told you that I was hand stitching the binding last week. I finished that and put it in the mail Thursday. I am anxiously awaiting Heidi's reaction. I hope she likes it!

After signing up for this swap, the organizer randomly paired up recipients (she did have some criteria, like did you want to make a mug rug or a mini quilt) and I laughed out loud when I got my partner's information. I was paired up with my niece Heidi in Bellingham, Washington! 

She and a friend have a wonderful Esty shop called Bobbin's Lullaby and they make the cutest things. As I was deciding what to make, I began to feel like the pressure was on to find something that would even be remotely as cute as they things they create. I finally made my decision, bit the bullet and started sewing. 

I can't show you what I made just yet because according to the USPS tracking system, Heidi won't receive it until later today. Sooooooo, after I find out that she has it, I'll post a picture here.

BUT...... I got my mini from her and I LOVE it!!

The back is fun too and I love the simple quilting lines. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

She even added the corner pockets for me. I have it in the hooks right now because I am auditioning where I want to hang this. I have narrowed it down to a wall in my sewing room or above the grand kids' bookcase that is right between the living room and kitchen. Although I really like it in my sewing room, if I put it above the bookcase more people will see it. I know the grand kids will see it and comment on it if it's above the books. Mmmmmm. Such a dilemma! Maybe I'll rotate it and change it when I change my seasonal wall hangings. I'm liking that idea. :-)

I love hand-written labels! 

Thanks Heidi! And thank you Beth Kerr Helfter for organizing the swap.

Design Wall Monday

I have been quite lazy with my blog postings lately so it's been quite a long time since I've posted for a Design Wall Monday. Really, I have been busy but the timing just hasn't been right to post something in progress on a Monday. 

Well, today is different and I have something on the wall on which I'm still working. I should be happy that I've been completing things and don't have them "in progress." Yep, that's the story I'm sticking with. :-)

Hopefully the next time you see this it will be a completed table runner. Done, done and done (pieced, quilted and bound)!

I like how this is turning out. The pattern calls for this to more scrappy but I wanted to use up the left over four red and blue fabrics from a previous project. As a matter of fact, the gold and white are left-overs as well and I'm hoping to have enough of scraps for the binding as well. I think I'll go for the gold and piece the backing totally from scraps; and I am positive that I have a big enough batting scrap to use too. :-)

What's on your design wall today?

Check out what other quilters are creating today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

and

Monday Making

Binding

In an attempt to get things cleaned up and more organized around here, I decided that I needed to start tackling that "Tub of Shame" that has tops ready for quilting. The backing and binding fabrics are with each top, so what is the problem? 

 

I say that I have been super busy and not had time to do much, but in reality it's just that I really stink at time management. Yes, I've been busy and have had deadlines to meet, grand kids to watch, classes to teach, etc. but I'm sure I could have used my down time more wisely. I'm not beating myself up here, I am just admitting that I really could empty that tub if I tried. I have other tops ready for quilting as well, but in most cases I don't have the backing yet so they have not been put in the tub.

This past weekend I had quilting and embroidery that needed done for other people, so I decided to grab a quilt or two from the tub and work on those as well. Since it had been a while since I've actually quilted, I figured that I should "practice" or get back into the swing of things on one of my small quilts before working on one for someone else. Great plan, right?

I thought so until I had issues with the machine and couldn't quilt. Good thing I have a wonderful friend who came to the rescue and let me use her machine! I was able to finish the three quilts promised to others and even quilted one of mine! (By the way, the machine is "in rehab" and I'll be without it for at least 2-3 weeks. YUCK!!)

Two of the quilts are delivered and the third one will be later today. (I had to bind that one so it took me longer.) Mine is ready for binding, which I hope to machine stitch down tonight and have it ready to hand stitch Sunday evening. 

The picture isn't great, but this is a variation of a 1600/jelly roll race quilt that I made quite a while ago. It was made using a number of Kaffe Fassett fat quarters and I began this when Jack and I were in Washington Island. (I don't even want to try to figure out when that was. I just know it's been a while.)

It's quilted with the Alfresco panto and I like how it turned out. It measures 66" x 84," so it's a decent size. I have no plans for this, but am sure I'll figure out something. Maybe this is will be a sample I'll use when I host the "Strip Club" charity sew-ins. One of the groups always makes one of these quilts and I think the other sample is kind of boring. 

I have binding to hand stitch down on the mini teal swap project I made, but I can't show that yet. I don't want to ruin the surprise for the recipient. I also have binding to add to my project for a Halloween blog hop in which I'm participating. 

Being at this stage on these projects makes me very happy!

Hooking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict today. Check out what other quilters have been finishing up as well.

Tip Tuesday! Videos

"Tip Tuesday!" - Videos

I love learning new things and then sharing that knowledge with my quilting friends. So, every Tuesday I'll provide some tips, hints, tricks, tutorials, shortcuts, etc. that I've learned over the years and share them here on the blog. 

"Tip Tuesday" will be a collection of information about a wide variety of subjects garnered from a large variety of sources.  I am not an expert by any means and do not take credit for being the great wizard behind all of these hints and tips. I will gladly give due credit whenever possible.

These tips will be archived and accessible to you just by clicking on the "Tip Tuesday" tab above. 

Read, enjoy, and be inspired!

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I was recently introduced the some videos that I thought were pretty well done and decided to share them here. They are from Craft Academy (in England) and are geared to beginning quilters, but I'm sure you'll find them interesting, no matter what skill level you are. 

“This is a Know Nothing Quilting Beginners MUST WATCH Video! Includes Details On The “INFAMOUS” 1/4 Inch SEAM!

There is one long video that covers a basic introduction to patchwork, cutting strips, squares, half square triangles and finally quarter square triangles.

Besides the basic information video, there are two short video that deal with perfecting the 1/4" seam allowance.

http://www.keepnuinstitchesquilting.com/a-must-watch-for-know-nothing-beginners-includes-details-on-the-infamous-14-inch-seam-1-long-2-short-videos/

Take a look and tell me what you think.

I'm always looking for good video for my students, and I think I'll be sure to pass this along to them.

That's really one of the things I love about quilting. Most people are so willing to share and help other quilters. :-)

Embroidery

It seem that this time of year is the only time I embroider any more. 

Quite a few years ago I started making the Homecoming sashes for our local high school. They are nothing fancy, which is what they want, and they are a heck of a lot cheaper than ordering them as they did in years past.

So, once again the embroidery unit of my machine is getting a workout. 

It's doing a nice job and I'm happy for that. Perhaps I should use it more often, It's kind of like calling an old friend. I think of it often, but just never take the time to do anything about it. Mmmmm, maybe I should embroider some quilt labels or embroider some towels for Christmas gifts.

Tip Tuesday! Color Theory for Quilting

"Tip Tuesday!" - Color Theory for Quilting

I love learning new things and then sharing that knowledge with my quilting friends. So, every Tuesday I'll provide some tips, hints, tricks, tutorials, shortcuts, etc. that I've learned over the years and share them here on the blog. 

"Tip Tuesday" will be a collection of information about a wide variety of subjects garnered from a large variety of sources.  I am not an expert by any means and do not take credit for being the great wizard behind all of these hints and tips. I will gladly give due credit whenever possible.

These tips will be archived and accessible to you just by clicking on the "Tip Tuesday" tab above. 

Read, enjoy, and be inspired!

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I know that I've discussed color in past Tip Tuesday! posts, but this one is so good that I just had to share. I found it over at Sew Mama Sew.

Deanna McCool is a writer and technical editor for the sewing and crafting industry and she has shared some color theory tips to help select prints for quilting. She discusses light vs. dark, saturation, complementary colors, and proportion and how each of these impact your quilt. 

It is worth the read!

http://www.sewmamasew.com/2015/08/color-theory-for-quilting-learn-about-color/

Bailey Shae

It didn't all go as planned, but all went well and Bailey Shae was born a little after midnight on Saturday. I think she's adorable, but then again, I'm grandma.  :-)

I love this picture! They were all so tired, but who couldn't smile after the arrival of the bundle of joy?

Even Bailey is yawning!

And just like her oldest sister, she had a head full of dark hair.

We took the other kids to meet their new sister Saturday late morning and they were so excited!

Quinn is already such a good big sister and I think she's ready to do it all over again. 

Sadie just can't believe how cute Bailey is and told us that a number of times. She did tell us that it's ok that her name isn't Apple Blossom. :-)

 

And Ronan gives Bailey a two thumbs up approval. He even gave her the "serious" (mouth-closed) smile. :-) You can't ask for more than that.  

And cousin Avery gives her kiss of approval. 

Lynn grabbed the chance to hold her for just a minute before taking the other five kids to her house for the day and night. (And I thought it was loud with just the three kids at my house for two days.)

Grandpa Jack held her for a few minutes. We'll go back this afternoon so he can give her the "new baby talk" which includes a, "We've already loved you for nine months and we are so happy you're here." 

Zach is already the doting father - again!

And of course, there was one final "sibling time" before heading to Lynn's house for the day. The kids are so excited and they can't wait to get Bailey home. Of course Quinn and Sadie are excited to share the news with their teachers and classmates.

As I said before, life sure is good!