Layer Cake QAL Week 6

Week 6!!!!

Finally reached the half way point. If you are quilting along, give yourself a pat on the back:)

Here are my blocks so far:

Block 11

Block 12

Now that we are half way there, on the /materialgirlquilts blog there is a link up and giveaways.

 So if you are following --don't forget to link up!

Here is all 12 of my blocks all together. I changed up the order to make better sense color wise.

 Of course in the final quilt top there will be a border around the blocks with cornerstones.

Layer Cake QAL Week 5

Still working on the QAL

This is (late) Week 5 

Block 9

Block 10

There is still time if you hurry to catch up and Quilt A Long!

Layer Cake QAL week #4

Still working on the QAL from MaterialGirl QAL

Here are my blocks for this week.

You'll have to forgive my pics being a little blurry.

 I did not realize that they were so blurry until after I uploaded them! ((Tired eyes from work))

The left image has the x and plus print by Allison Glass in Adobe and 

Trade Blanket in Steel by Parson Gray.

The right image has the x and plus print again by Allison Glass in Grass and 

Feathers in Indigo by Allison Glass.

I absolutely adore the Feathers line and wish I would have bought WAY more when the LQS close to me closed down! 

Layer Cake Sampler

I was looking around for some new inspiration..a new little something to sew up. 

I found the Layer Cake Sampler on Material Girl Quilts website. 

It's not to late to join up!

Here is my progress so far:

Week One:

Picked out my fabrics 

(they might have been purchased in 

my biggest fabric buying

splurge ..eva eva!)

Block 1

Block 2

Block 3

Block 4

Block 5

Block 6

Mostly what your seeing fabricwise is Joel Dewberry and some Andover.

If you really just are wanting to see is my fabric-binging . . . .

 The stack to the left top corner is of course for this QAL. The stack to the right is V&Co Simply Style charm pack and a stack of 1/2 yard peices, then to the right is the Kate Spain Sunny Side and a 1/2 yard of my favorite raindrop print for a binding. Below that are a couple yards each of  Joel Dewberry Notting Hill and J.D. Bungalow print and a green print that I just liked (Denyse Schmidt Free Spirit). Then to finish up this stash-frenzy is a couple of charm packs of the BooCrew. 

I think it is SO obvious that when I took the first 3 pictures

 for this post I had NO idea how to use my camera yet!

A 100th Post Giveaway and Make Something! Reveal

 

So now it is Week #4 of the Sew can she Its A New Year Sew Along

 

and I've been busy (still) prepping for Kids Clothes Week which starts Monday.

 

I'm done with the Make Something! step for Sew Can She sew along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided to do a tote bag with the sewing

 (red and kona bone) log cabins.

 

I am going to use this as my library bag.

 

I read...A LOT and I could really use a bag

 to keep them in so I don't misplace one.

 

I used some scraps to make the bag lining and the straps.

I also used some non-fusible heavyweight interfacing I had left over from the musketeer hat I made A LONG time ago.

 

 

Who doesn't love a scrap-tastic project?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second thing I made was pillow with the other set of logs I did.

On the back of the pillow (I apologize no photo) I did a invisible zip in the center of it.

 

At some point a spot cleaning the pillow just ain't gonna get it done, ya know.

So being able to remove it was a must in my opinion.

I used this FANTASTIC foot-the Invisible Zipper Foot.

 

 

 

I got mine off Amazon DIRT cheap even with shipping.

Totally worth it.

I just can't figure out why in the world did I struggle

for so long installing a zip with out one???

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyhow on to the reveal!

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

In closing I would like to have a giveaway in honor of my 100th post.

 

 

 

I'm giving away from my own stash a mix of things to replenish your supply after KCW maybe?

1 French Curve

3-14" jacket zippers (Navy, Black and Beige)

1-20" HEAVY duty black reversible zipper

4 Cones of blue Maxilock

4 Cones of white Maxilock

12 Jean tacks (jean buttons-you'll need a hammer to install these)

5-3" jean zippers (Camel, Dark grey, Green, Medium Blue and Brown)

 

Just enter using the rafflecopter and the winner will be emailed

 and given 3 days to respond before I draw another name.

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mini Log Cabin Week#3

It is week 3 on the Sew Can She sew along.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought I would check in and show my progress.

I have all my quilt blocks done and squared up.
Now I just gotta figure out what they are going to BE.

 I think the owls are going to be a pillow.

I think this might end up a tote bag
with the single block centered on
the opposite side.








I don't think that this a hard quilt block just time consuming.
Each block is just 4.5" square so each "log" before sewing is only 1" wide.
 It is a lot of pressing and squaring but the end result is really cool. 

 

 





So just because I am a crazy person I've decided to partake in the
SewCanShe It's a New Year Sewalong on top of KCW.

It is already a couple of weeks in but we're making mini log cabin's.
I've never done log cabins before but it is a more traditional quilt block
that I've always wanted to try.


I'm so crazy that I'm even doing two different log cabins.
Not for a quilt top though! Only two pillow covers.

I'm doing a red and ivory sewing themed one
and a Owl/pink/green and ivory.
((I added solid pink and green strips to the owl set after taking my picture))

Here is my progress so far.

Fabrics pulled and cut--DONE!
Next up--Piecing and pressing.






 

I need opinions....

I'm done with the girl version of the Oh Deer! quilt's blocks but I cannot decide if I should do the same striped borders like on the boy version or go with white...

Possible girl version

-OR-

Boy version with striped border

So, what do you think guys???

White or Stripe??

   

The Death of a Laptop

So sorry about the lack of posting...

My laptop died and I still haven't bought a new one. I have to use the Big Man's laptop in the interim.
The screen went completely black and I've sent it to my baby brother to see if he can revive it from the dead. I sincerely hope that he can!!

Anyhow on to the fun stuff :)

 

I put the sea green quilt upon the rack recently and did a lazy loopy-loopy design. Then when I was pinning the binding to it I realized that I obviously was inspired by something with out realizing it...

I also did up a vintage pattern for the little man that you have to see! 

Another day though, I have not taken pictures of it yet. 

 I used this fabric as an accent that I just LOVE...I think it must be out of print now(it's from 2009?), I can not find it anywhere. Good thing I still have a yard or two!!
It's Michael Miller's Bot Camp.

Finished Apple Jack Bento Box

This is the finished project. It measures 60"x60". The fabrics used were Kona Natural and Apple Jacks by Tim Beck for Moda. It is the Strip peiced Bento Box pattern found HERE on Quilts of Love.

I quilted using  my Brother SE400 and a Flynn Quilt frame. I just did a stipple pattern--

1st FMQ adventure Woohooo!

This quilt was made for my Nephew that will be making his appearance in June. It was gifted as a baby shower present:)

An apple a day...

Yay! Almost there! The binding is made for the Apple Bento quilt and is being sewn on!

  Dontcha just love these little apples? I saw them and I knew that they would be the perfect binding.

 

Don't look too close at my free motion. It was my first attempt and my stitch length leaves much to be desired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have some extra binding and I would love to see it on a hemline of a little girls white skirt.

 

I have a vision lol

Quilting the Bento

I finally got the bento quilt top done and sewn together. It is using the Tim Beck for Moda "Apple Jacks" line and is made with a Jelly Roll (or 2 1/2" strips cut from yardage).

 

 

 

 

Then I had to grow some cohones and try to figure out how to use the Flynn Quilt frame I bought after Christmas. For those of you that do not know what it is HERE is the website. I was scared let me tell you. I watched the video like 3 times and then took my laptop into the sewing room to watch while putting the contraption together. I'll do a full review on that  later though.

I'll just say it was not for the faint of heart.

Apple Jacks

So I finally started cutting into my Moda Apple Jacks fabric. I love it so much and loved just looking at it; but I bought specifically for a little boy's quilt, so it had to be done. It is for my nephew Eric who is making his arrival sometime in June. I actually got mine from Fabricworm.com back when it was available everywhere...not so much anymore. 

Anyhow, I have been dying to make a bento box quilt so I am using this strip pieced method I found on QuiltsofLove.Blogspot . Her blog is chock full of great tutorials, pointers and tips so I highly recommend you check it out!

The best part about this quilt is that it only takes 27 2.5" strips of the solid and half a jelly roll (or 20 2.5" strips) for a 60x60 quilt. :) I have almost enough to make a second quilt! 

The only fabric you don't see here that I am using is the apple print I picked out with the aqua back ground. I think it will be perfect for the bias tape!

Three Rivers Quilters Show

The weekend before Easter at the last possible second I heard about the Three Rivers Quilters Show .

I made the instant decision that the next morning I was going to pack myself in the car and drive there. Nevermind the fact that I get lost in Pittsburgh pretty easy and that I wrote down very sparse directions on the back of an envelope...I got only a little lost. 

I thought I would share my favorites:

Goose Feathers--Barbara Cornell

Wedgewood Wonder

Ambridge Quilt Rappers

 This one almost looked to have extra batting under the block centers. 

Very cool.

 

Ew! There's a bug on my quilt--Carol Hartman

I love all the little bugs quilted on there, it was a metallic-y thread too.

 There are other quilts that I really liked but I am kicking myself now for not writing down the names or taking a picture of the tag. I apoligize in advance if these are your quilts-PLEASE message me so I can give you credit for your awesome work:)

I really liked this one. Blue is my favorite color and I really liked all the white space too.

This one might be Fran Dreams in Black & White & Color All Over by Kathleen Kucerovy.

This was my almost 3 yr old, Hunter's favorite. I let him take his own picture (if you can't already tell). It was taken from his stroller.









Although one of my FAVORITE small fabric stores was there it was kind of light on vendors. I really was looking for "more" fabric. Special or popular designer type stuff like Moda/Riley Blake type stuff.

The one vendor I did buy from was LOOM exquisite textiles. They are my favorite when I can get down to the strip district in Pittsburgh. They have website  HERE but really the best way to shop them is to actually GO, it is such a cool little place to see!