Sunday, May 29, 2011

A Shared Project...

The dogs needed a floor pillow in the dining room.
Kisa needed a new crate pad.
So, I got out some reversible quilted fabric
that my friend, Janer, had given me.

We used the smaller floral print side for the dogs...
we thought it was a bit less feminine for them
(and it matches the room better).

We used the larger, brighter floral print side for Kisa.

I machine sewed the edges & Julie
stuffed them, then hand sewed the opening...
Ta-da!
We have two new pillows for the animals.

A big one (32x40 inches) for Tag & Manley to share
(and they've already been taking turns using it!)...
 


And a small one (12x18 inches) for Kisa.


They seem to like their new pillows, so we're happy.

 
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Friday, May 27, 2011

Laying It All Out...


I've started laying out
the pieces of the sunshine quilt.
Of the 16 fabrics in this quilt,
9 of them are medium value.
It's taking some work to place them, for sure!
To have contrast between the pieces,
I'm working with values
as well as patterns of the fabrics.

Here's what I have so far...
 

What do you think? 

I think that there are a few pieces I could move...
but you know how that goes.
Move one.
Move another.
And another.
And so on.
So, I'm leaving this.
For now, anyway.

What I show here is taking up my entire 'design wall'.
Gonna need to figure out how to lay out the rest of it.

It's a 3 day weekend, so I'm hoping to get a lot done on this.

What do you have planned for the next 3 days?



Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Summer Sunshine

Doreen.
Oh, how I love her.
She's been my friend forever.
And, ever.
We don't see each other.
Ever.

She is a ray of sunshine...
beautiful inside and out.
She has the cutest dang giggle.
She has cancer.

I am making her a sunshine quilt.
I'll take photos as I progress with this.


Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Blogger's Quilt Festival::Spring 2011

Amy, of Amy's Creative Side, is once again hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival!  This is a fun time for all blogging quilters to share a quilt that is special to them.  Click on the button to check out and be inspired by all of the special quilts.


The quilt I'm sharing will forever be one of my faves.  For a couple of reasons...the fabric and the purpose.  

The moment I saw this fabric, I was in love.  It is Kashmir III by Sentimental Studios for Moda.  It's an older line and  difficult to find anymore.  I was fortunate to find a fat quarter bundle and yardage.  Yet, it sat unused for a very long while because I wasn't sure what to do with it.

When I heard that a coworker's sister had pancreatic cancer, I knew that this was the intention of this fabric...to become a quilt for Carole.  I went with a simple look...a lap quilt made up of nine-patch blocks with sashing and a floating squares border.  

Carole loved it.

I feel very blessed that I was able to make this quilt for Carole...to help provide her with some comfort.  


Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Friday, May 13, 2011

Coins & Bees...

I was able to finish a few things this week.

I made a coin purse for Joyce
that matches the purple tote
I made for her (shown here).

In the Aqua & Red Block Bee,
we have two blocks to make each month
for the next 6 months.

 We were given complete freedom with Carrie's block.
This isn't what I originally intended, but this
is what my block for her ended up being. 

Erin (Why Not Sew?), wanted a wonky star block.
Following this tutorial
I quickly put this block together.
Wonky stars are fun and easy peasy...
I love it!
 

I have another tote to make
and then I'll be caught up.

What have you been working on?



Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Box...Part Two!

Another box arrived from Cathy.
Please go here to read about the first box
before continuing with this post.
You'll have a far greater appreciation
for what I'm about to show you if you do.


I promise.

I'll wait.

Okay, ready?

The second half of what Cathy and I
wheeled & dealed about arrived!

PLUS MORE!

more yardage of Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt...

Gypsy Rose yardage to go with the
jelly roll and layer cake previously received...

Objects of Desire jelly roll...

Patisserie jelly roll (unrolled), turnovers and layer cake...

I don't know what this is,
but I wish I had more...
I love it!

miscellaneous yardage...

I think this is Tina Givens...

More yardage, which is much prettier in person...



Plus, she sent d-rings and purse handles!

 Seriously, I do not need to buy another
piece of fabric this year!
Or the year after, methinks.
Other than to finish a project, that is.

This woman...what a giver she is.
Thank you so much, Cathy!


Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

Birthday Celebration!

Yesterday was Kaylynn's birthday party.
Julie and I had a lovely time in the company
of my sons and their families!
Kaylynn was crowned
Princess Kaylynn
and loved being the center of attention!
Here is what I was working on last week...


Not quite square, it measures about
19 x 20 inches after being laundered.
I used Kona solid in White
with scraps from the quilt I started
last summer for Kaylynn.
I guess I'll need to get that one finished!
Go here to see the Paris Park quilt top.

Princess Kaylynn loved her new doll quilt...
 It was a great day!


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Hold Everything!!!

Today is Miss Princess Kaylynn Marie's 6th birthday!
Happy Birthday!
I love you more!

Doesn't seem that six years could have gone by already...
 

Her birthday party is Saturday.  Can't wait to spend a bit of time with her.  But, guess what?  I don't have a gift!  Yet.  I was going to make doll clothes.  But, I changed my mind because I had a better idea.  Better for me, anyway.  {grin}  I started on it tonight.  It's a fun little project...not necessarily a very original idea, though.  Best part of it is, I get to use leftover fabric from something I started for her last year.  You'll see it in a few days, so that's all I'm going to say about it right now.

I apologize in advance to those of you who are waiting for me to finish something.  Life interferes in all of our best intentions.  As does that day job of mine.  I will be back at it in a few days and will crank things out.  Promise.

  

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

One More Thing...

I just finished this little tote for Joyce's granddaughter, who wanted one like Gramma's (click here to see Joyce's tote).  They aren't exactly the same...not at all.  I used the same fabric is all.  I think this will work for her...least, I hope it will.  Now that it's done, I know that the strap (handle) isn't long enough, so I'll need to make and put on a longer one.  edited to add:  Done.  It's now long enough to go over her head and hang across her body.
This measures 6 x 9 x 2.5 inches...not sure how practical it is, but it sure was fun to make!



Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Mother's Day Gifts.

I neglected to mention that me Mum was going to have arthroscopic surgery on her knee.  Well, it was done yesterday and she is doing really well.  Julie is up there with her for a few days.  

Late Saturday night, it occurred to me that if I hurried up and got them done, Julie could take the Mother's Day gifts with her that I had planned on sending through the mail.  So, I hustled and bustled and made these two super simple coin purses.  I even remembered to put a coin in each one! One is for my favorite aunt/godmother, Bev, and the other is for me Mum.

They measure about 3 1/2  x 4 1/2 inches and are just the right size for a credit card, i.d., and some money.  That's a pocket in front for I don't know what.  Whatever you want.  I just wanted one there.   
The darling fabric is from the seemingly bottomless box of fabric I won from Cathy of Quilting on Turtle Hill about a year and a half ago.  

That's all I have for now.  Hope you are having a good week so far!


Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Sunday, May 1, 2011

How to...

I've been asked to explain how I made the t-shirt quilt shown here.  Sorry, I have no photos, because I wasn't planning to do a tutorial.  

A few resources can be found here and here

The t-shirt blocks came to me already cut into 9 1/2 inch and 4 1/2 inch squares and already had the interfacing ironed on.  My first step, then, was to decide on the arrangement.  I laid the blocks out on my bed and played with them until I had the look I wanted.  To add inches to the quilt, I decided to add a narrow sashing between each block, so I cut 1 1/2 inch X 9 1/2 inch strips and sewed a strip to the right side of each of the t-shirt blocks...all but the ones that ran along the right side of the quilt.  I used Kona solid in Navy for the sashing and border.

After sewing the sashing to the blocks, I needed strips to go between the rows, so I cut several 1 1/2 inch strips times the width of the fabric .  I sewed all the strips together, took the average measurement of the rows and then cut them that length.  When sewing rows together, instead of sewing row 1 to 2, then add row 3, then add row 4, etc., I sew rows 1 & 2 together, then sew rows 3 & 4 together, then sew rows 5 & 6 together...etc.  Then, I join each section of 2 rows together, then each section of 4 rows together...you get the idea, right?  Course, I didn't mark the rows, so the quilt ended up with the bottom half on top, but it worked out okay.  Once the rows were attached, I added a 3 1/2 inch border all the way around.

ohyeah, now I had several 4 1/2 inch blocks to use.  I had originally intended to put 4 of them together with sashing to form blocks, but decided that a row of them across the top would be more fun.  After I did that, I still had blocks to use, so I made a strip to put into the backing.  You know how I love pieced backings!

I used denim for the backing and, as stated above, I added in a strip of the smaller blocks. I used the 'reverse bag' method of putting this quilt together...I put the right sides together with the batting on top and machine stitched all the way around, leaving about 2/3's of the bottom open so that I could turn the quilt right side out.  After turning it, I hand-stitched the opening and then top-stitched 1/2" from the outside edge all the way around.  I also did a row of top-stitching next to the seam of where the border attached to the t-shirt blocks.  I basted the quilt with safety pins.       

Susan wanted it kept simple, so I tied the quilt, instead of machine quilting it.  I used Navy perle cotton.  Double strand twice for each tie.  The ties were placed on every junction of the inner sashing and then in between each of those.  I did not tie the center of the blocks.

The quilt measures 75 x 90 inches.  If I ever make another one, I won't use denim for the backing.  I liked the look and it was perfect for a young man, but it was very heavy.  Also, I will cut at least 12 1/2 inch squares.  There were several squares that, once the seams were made, didn't show the entire design.

*I used my walking foot throughout the construction of this quilt.  

*I used a ballpoint needle because my Naomi Janome skipped stitches if I used a regular needle on the knit fabric of the t-shirts. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.  The links I added at the top of the post have additional information that you might want to check out if you are considering making a t-shirt quilt.  



Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10