June

Introducing June....

This is the April Schnibble for the AYOS parade.   The pattern is called Summer and the fabric chosen is California Girl.   I made a slightly smaller version than the pattern called for - this quilt measures roughly 25 inches square.

I did an overall loops and swirls.  I am very pleased with how it turned out!

This finish is linked at Sew and Sew.

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Happy Stitching!

Summer Schnibble

I hope to find time this weekend to FMQ my mini-Schnibble and my mini mini Schnibble. The pattern is Summer and this is part of AYOS April challenge.  Instead of making one larger quilt, I decided on two quilts.


The first is 5 by 5 blocks so roughly 24 by 24 inches.

The second is 3 by 3 blocks so roughly 14 by 14 inches.

The photo isn't doing the best job capturing the gorgeous colors of this fabric line California Girl.  Still need to name each of these although the name of the pattern Summer works just fine for me!


I've a giveaway for two fat quarters of beach themed fabric from my Monday blog post - please take a minute to enter here if you haven't done so already!


Happy Stitching!

FMQ April Challenge

April's FMQ Challenge by SewCalGirl involved learning a new method for transferring FMQ designs onto fabric.  The only other time I attempted to transfer a FMQ quilt design was a few months ago when I used a light box kitchen window.  Although it got the job done, it was a bit awkward.


This method involves using a piece of tulle to transfer the design - you first trace onto the tulle with a sharpie and then from the tulle to the fabric with a fabric safe pen.   I was certain I had a piece of tulle somewhere but found only a spool of tulle about 6 inches wide in my (messy) closet. 

 Given the symmetry of the design we were transferring, I made it work by coping 2/3s of the design and then rotating my hoop to finish copying the other 1/3 onto the fabric.

It was fun to practice my FMQ skills on such a small piece.  I quilted the backside and used a contrasting thread so I could really see what I was doing.  

The other side is actually the front - my BINGO card!

I will defiantly use this method again.  Transferring was so easy.  I do need a larger piece of tulle - the small piece worked ok - I was able to transfer the design - but the edges of the tulle were not as tight as they needed to be in the hoop.  My actual FMQ went ok - I realized afterwards that putting the pieced part down meant the mini quilt didn't glide quite as smoothly as usual.  But, it got the job done.


Final day for the Table Topper Blog hop - please enjoy visiting with our final list of ladies:

Mary 

Marianna

Thearica

Kelly

Marnie  

Pauline

Mdm Samm

Finally, if you'd like to enter my giveaway for two FQs of beach themed fabric, please visit my blog post here.

Happy Stitching!

A second pillowcase

FNSI sponsored pillowcase creating in support of Conkerr Cancer.  I blogged about my first pillowcase here and decided to go ahead and make a second one with the fabric I had purchased - ignoring the directional aspect of it!!   The car / truck fabric was just too cute not to use.  I've now two all done, washed and ready to be mailed.

I enjoyed all the wonderful comments yesterday from my day in the table topper blog hop.  Everyone was so kind and I got some insights into great beaches around the world!  Today, Madame Samm has lined up the following lovely ladies for day 7 - please visit:

 Jennifer m

Roxanne 

Syd 

Selina 

Connie

Patti

Jane

If you'd like to enter my giveaway for two FQs of beach themed fabric, please visit my blog post here.

Happy Stitching!

Sand, Sun, Surf.........

I am excited to be participating in Madame Samm's blog hop for Spring Table Toppers!!  

Every summer, my family is fortunate to be able to vacation on the NC Outer Banks.  There are several lighthouses one can visit but the most iconic is the Hatteras lighthouse.  

Although the photo doesn't show it well, I stitched on the phrase Sand, Sun, Surf on the blue sky and OBX on the sand.


This mini was a great project to try several new (to me) techniques.  It was the first time I tried to reproduce a photograph - my inspiration was this photo:

It was the first time I try painting with thread - and this was SO MUCH FUN!

and

And it is my first every blog hop!

To celebrate all of the above, I am having a small giveaway of two fat quarters with a beach like theme.  (I used the lighthouse fabric on the back of my mini.)

To enter, just leave a comment and tell me where your favorite beach is located.  One comment per person - you don't need to follow my blog although I'd love it if you did.  Giveaway closes Saturday evening April 28th at 11 pm est.  Winner will be contacted via email.


Samm, thanks for organizing such a fun blog hop!  Now it is time to go visit the other lovely ladies participating today:

Christine

 Just Carol 

Patty D (that's me!)

Wendy

leanne

Elaine M 

Judy C

Happy Stitching!

Directions Matter (FNSI & BINGO)

Directions matter.  Reading them ahead of time is always a good idea.


During FNSI, I also learned that direction matters as well.   Our task for FNSI was to make pillowcases for Conkerr Cancer.  I purchased a yard each of very cute fabric.  

When I studied the directions last night (which are very clear, very easy to follow), it was clear you needed a piece of fabric 40 1/2 by 26 1/2.  If I wanted the owls and trucks to run across the long way on the pillow, the largest piece I could cut was 36 by 26 1/2.  Ugh!  I didn't realize that by buying directional fabric I really needed 1 1/4 of a yard to get a piece 40 1/2 by 26 1/2.  Lesson learned - directions matter and direction matters.


Luckily on the same shopping trip I had bought some Peanuts fabric for no other reason then I liked it.  (Does there need to be another reason?)  So I was able to get a pillowcase done - it is so cute!

Did anyone else trip into the same problem?  Did you just make the pattern go the wrong way or did you improvise somehow?   I will definitely make at least one more pillowcase but will need to order some more fabric first!


Heidi & Bobbi - THANKS!!!  This was an awesome idea!!


My son (from college) called via Skype smack in the middle of FNSI so I lost some sewing time but enjoyed talking to him.  I was able to get one more thing done last night - Bingo card.  I am linking this up and will be participating in the May for Me!  You have until the 22nd to link up so if you haven't already done so, check it out.  I put off the making of the BINGO card for far too long but finally went diving into my scraps and was able to find enough unique squares.  (My piecing accuracy is really atrocious so hopefully there are no points deducted.)   Information and instructions can be found here.

Here are the squares:


B:  Bird   Bean  Cupcake  Lighthouse  Tree
I:   Snow  Carrot  Corn  Muschroom   Coffee
N:  Robot  Ornament  FREE  Stripe  Dragonfly
G:  Swirl  Letter  Leaf   Onion  Tomato
O:  Horse  Dots  Cowgirl  Broccoli  Flower


Happy Stitching!

Typewriters Two!

The March Schnibble was Bibelot.  I used my Circa 1934 charm pack and made two little quilts.  I finished the quilting and attached my bindings!


In this one, I did some straight line quilting and used charms to make the border like the pattern called for.

This was the first time I did straight line quilting on a quilt.  It was fun and I love the way it looks!

I did a second one as well.  The quilting was also straight line but for this one I started in the middle T and then did a spiral square getting bigger and bigger.  In this picture, I laid it on top of the first quilt.  You can see I used a fabric from the line for a solid border.

Quilts hung outdoors make me smile.

And now it  is time for day 3 of Madame Samm's Table Topper Blog Hop.  She has organized 46 of us to participate and today's the day to visit:

Vickie

Shanna

Deonn

Mrs Pickles 

Sharon 

My day is Monday, April 23rd.  Stop back then - I'll have a small giveaway to celebrate!

Happy Stitching!


PS   I am linking this finish at Sew and Sew.

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Geese in formation!

I enjoyed a nice spring evening this past weekend sitting on my back porch and trimming my flying geese blocks.  I'm tempted to buy one of the rulers that are especially designed for flying geese but I made do with my regular ruler for this.  I really love the fabric line - California Girl.

And now it is time for day 2 of Madame Samm's Table Topper Blog Hop.  She has organized 46 of us to participate and today's the day to visit:

Kris

Marcia

Jenny

Sheila 

Josie

My day is Monday, April 23rd.  Stop back then - I'll have a small giveaway to celebrate!

Happy Stitching!

Pillowcases for FNSI

Please join us for this week's FNSI .  We will be doing a big group hug as we create pillowcases for Conkerr Cancer.  


Here is the cute fabric I choose.  I'll accent in a solid color.

Run (don't walk) over to Heidi's blog and sign up here.  (I'll wait.)


Now that your Friday evening is planned, brew a cup of tea and settle in for day 1 of Madame Samm's Table Topper Blog Hop.  She has organized 46 of us to participate and today's the day to visit:

Jacque 

Lesley

Sharon

Dawnmarie

Piece Peace 

My day is Monday, April 23rd.  Stop back then - I'll have a small giveaway to celebrate!

Happy Stitching!

Ready to hop?

The delightful Madame Samm has organized a great blog hop journey for table toppers.

What's a table topper?  Think of this as a mini quilt displayed on a wire frame.   I made one of these earlier this year and proudly display it in my kitchen.

I've made a new one for this blog hop and can't wait to show it off.  My day is Monday, the 23rd.  I'll have a little giveaway associated with my hop post and suspect there may be other giveaways along the way so enjoy all this wonderful mini quilt inspiration!


This is the schedule:

Monday April 16th

Jacque 

Lesley

Sharon

Dawnmarie

Piece Peace 

Tuesday April 17th

Kris

Marcia

Jenny

Sheila 

Josie

Wednesday April 18th

Vickie

Shanna

Deonn

Mrs Pickles 

Sharon 

Thursday April 19th

Leslie 

Jennifer 

Karen 

Katherine

Friday April 20th 

Marlene 

Charlotte 

Leslie

Darlene 

Jane

Michelle

Cherry

Monday April 23rd

Christine

 Just Carol 

Patty D

Wendy

leanne

Elaine M 

Judy C

Tuesday  April 24th

 Jennifer m

Roxanne 

Syd 

Selina 

Connie

Patti

Jane

Wednesday April 25th 

Mary 

Marianna

Thearica

Kelly

Marnie  

Pauline

Mdm Samm

Happy Stitching!

Gaggle of geese

Geese alert!

Not that kind of geese - the kind found in this month's Another Year of Schnibble

The pattern is called Summer Day and I've chosen California Girl as the fabric.  Just love Joanna's fabrics.


I was very excited to have won in the March Schnibble parade and my two charm packs of Rouenneries Deux arrived!   One of the fabrics I used in my JL quilt Romance was from Rouenneries line - the prior version - so I know I really love playing with these charms.   Thanks Sinta!

Happy Stitching!

HST Quilt-along

This month's HST block was a pinwheel block.  I'm not sure if I'll put a border around each block or not - doesn't it look fun all set together?

It's not too late to join in the fun - just visit In Color Order.


Happy Stitching!

On to the next quilt

With Romance off at the LAQ, I've been trying to work through the details of the quilt for my sister who celebrates a significant birthday later this year.  I've this stash of I Love Lucy fabric I want to use - her absolute favorite show - but am trying to figure out how best to tone it down a bit.  These fabrics are busy.


Here is one idea for a block.

I went to a local QS on Saturday to look for some matching solids.  These bella prints matched the best but now that I have them home, I'm second guessing myself on the pastels.

I also found this very cute fabric - purchased only because I love Charlie Brown.

And some batik charm squares - love them!

Happy Stitching!

Hoppy Easter

Last weekend, my daughter and I made Easter eggs. Nothing overly creative here - just fun quality time.

I made this bunny quilt last year.  Have a great weekend!

Happy Stitching!

Lucy quilt

I posted a bit ago about planning on making a quilt for my sister who celebrates a significant birthday later this year.  I had bought a whole bunch of fabric with a Lucy theme (her favorite) but had no plan in mind.  Time to start experimenting.  I made a star block - star blocks are my favorite.

(If you are a Lucy fan, you'll remember the episode of Lucy in the Chocolate factory - this fabric has her pink hat and all the chocolate she stuffed inside it.)


The star was fun to make and also the LARGEST block I've ever done - it finished at 16 1/2 inches!


Here is my pattern sketch - I'm thinking several large squares surrounded by smaller ones.  I may go with a third size but first I'll make a few samples.  

You can (hopefully) both see the scale of the block against the sketch and see my random design of large squares and small squares representing the stars.  The fabric is a bit busy so I'll use some solids to balance things out a bit!  (The colors are a true in the photo below.)

Happy Stitching!

Romance is done!

I finished my Jacob's Ladder quilt this weekend and am in love.

I call her Romance.

The quilt is roughly 72 by 63 inches and is made up of 9 inch JL blocks.  The fabric used is Luna Notte by 3 sisters and Rouenneries by French General Deux.

I will be having her LAQ.  (Never used a pronoun with a quilt before but Romance is a she.)

I ended up with enough fabric to make 4 more HST - roughly a piece of each print that was 4 by 8.  I had just enough!

Happy Stitching!