Weekender Under Way!

I have wanted to tackle Amy Butler's weekender bag for at least two years now.  Everytime I see one, I have bag envy, so I finally decided to buckle down and try it.

I think I have been cutting out the pieces for almost a week!  Not that it's that hard, just the kids have been that crazy and I have been that tired, so finally, I have everything ready to attempt the real steps, although somehow this seems like real progress!

Of course, looking at my pile of cuttings, now I have to remember which pieces are which!  LOL  I am using fabrics I have had for a while and since I didn't have complete amounts, it's gonna be a bit patchwork!

If you're interested in joining, I have started an Amy Butler Weekender Bag support group, so we can all share the ups and down, highs and lows, and frustrations that go along with this project.....but remember the end results is someone will have bag envy and it won't be you!!!!
http://www.flickr.com/groups/1961046@N21/

Quilt on a Porch

That's the only thing that came to mind when I took the pictures.....with several of my neighbors and passer-bys looking at my a little funny (but then again, my neighbors are used to me doing odd things now and then!)

My Echo quilt for Kelly's My Precious QAL is finished!!!!!  I love it....the design is from the book Scrap Basket, it's such a great pattern and super easy to follow....with most of the seams being problem free lining up....because we all love that!

I decided since Echo is such a modern line, I wanted clean quilting, and opted for the diagional lines, typically, I do free motion meandering...but I like this for this one.

I am really happy with it, and have now decided I need to redo my entire bedroom in Lotta;s Echo line, I think I might use this as a wall hanging above our bed!

The Patchwork Prism!

So.....I have loved Anna Maria Horner's designs for a long long time (well....long to me, 3-4 years, I mean that's a long time right!).  So when I was reading her blog, which incidentially is really funny and heartfelt.....I stumbled upon her patchwork prism quilt.
If you go to her website through Janome....you can find and download the pattern for FREE!!!!  heck yeah, right!
http://www.annamariahorner.com/janome_me.html

Now.....with several other quilts in the works, I was not going to attempt it anytime soon, but then sweet diesel designs (http://sweetdieseldesigns.com/) posted she was hosting a QAL, and with some amazing prizes to be had....I need to buckle down and start it.  IT....is quilt number three that is in process...along with my precious quilt using echo and my swoon!

I started with the purples, after two attempts at making the templates....I found out that paper templates laminated don't work well....so I switched to cardboard.  But with the purples done, I thought...piece of cake

BUT......once you are done the center prism color it actually gets really difficult to select your colors!  I was kind of surprised, because I love patchwork.....but depending on what your colors are next to....depends on how they translate within the quilt.  Because you are using pale and medium colors, they can actually read differently based on the neighboring color!  And within the quilt, the pale's create smaller prisms that should sparkle or pop.....that is tricky!!!!!  really tricky actually

I ended up cutting each piece of fabric and placing it on the design wall one at a time, so that I could gage what worked and what didn't.  It took me days to cut everything, and I even scrapped some of the fabrics that I had already cut, because they looked pale at first then started feeling medium!  I felt a little overwhelmed......but with my last piece cut this morning, I am ready to start the presewing!!!!!  and I love it!!!!

I mentioned this quilt was a monster right?  It had to be taped to my design wall because the last row didn't fit, but I couldn't not see it completely together!  And I have actually made a few changes after taking this photo, because some of the pale's again seemed to turn into medium

so.....soon we will sew!!!!

Me, My Precious and a Pillow!

Sewing AND blogging is hard work!!!!!  I have been great keeping up on my projects, horrible keeping up on posting about them!
Anyway......I finally got around to trying Cathedral Windows!  I have to say, they are beautiful, I just adore the way this pillow turned out......it's rare that I keep something I make for myself, this little beauty will be staying though!

Tanks to Jaime at Sunflower Seeds for her wonderful tutorial!  It was so easy to follow, with great instruction and photos, if you are wanting to try this, def check out her blog:
http://jamiemueller.blogspot.com/2012/03/cathedral-windows-sew-long.html

And.....I am hard at work on my "precious".......my echo quilt, the pattern is Over and Under by Kim Brackett and it's another fun to do and easy to follow pattern....with beautiful results!  This is the second quilt I have made from her book Scrap Basket, and I have to say......the book is well worth adding to your collection!!!!
Here is my Precious so far, I am working on the backing now and hope to have a few more pics this week!

and....finally...me!  I was online looking at Gypsy Caravan the other day, which is the first line by the amazing Amy Butler, and if you have ever tried to find it, it's next to impossible.....but not any more!  Amy has re-released the line and I am dying to get my hands on it!  While I was dreaming, I saw a post on Amy's blog about "show me your stash"......so I decided, why not!
Amy's contest goes on until May....and the prize....some nice fresh Gypsy Caravan!!!!!  So yeah....I had to enter, Amy's fabric and design are what created my passion for sewing, so here is me....and my stash (most of it anyway!)

check out Amy's blog to find out more information!

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/stash.php

My Precious QAL

So......who doesn't hoard....errrr....I mean collect fabric.  There's always one fabric collection or line that is precious to you.  You look at it, you touch it....and then you put it right back away for safe keeping, never to be cut for fear that life as you know it will end!

Enter Kelly and her Prcious QAL......yup....Kelly has challenged us to use tose beloved fabrics and make something, anything.....use it and adore it!  Free yourself from fear and cut into it.

So....as much as I don't want to...( I do want to use this fabric, I just don't want to mess it up and I do feel like it should sit longer so I can gaze lovingly at it)......I'm going to cut into my Echo stash.....which I have been scrambling to buy for the last 2 months before every single lick of it is gone!

And, while I'm at it, I think I might even cut into my last bit of the first release of FMF.......sigh.....these itty bitty scraps have sat in a baggie for two years, maybe I can find something that suits them

so.....feeling brave?  inspired?  crazy!  Jump on into this QAL...there are even prizes!  Yup......prizes, all for doing what you love to do anyway....sew!

Here is Kelly's flickr group....should be fun!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1930196@N21/discuss/72157629747988315/

Mine, Mine, MINE!

Finally......I managed to finished a quilt that is intended for me....and I'm keeping it!  whew!!!!

The last quilt I finished went to my mom for Christmas, with all my precious, collected for several years Amy Butler fabrics, so this time, this quilt, was going to be for me....really.
I went to the Lancaster quilt show a few weeks ago, and Janie Lou, one of the vendors had this kit in her booth. I had seen the Feather N Stitch fabric before and knew I liked it, but then I touched it and wow......what soft amazing cotton!  I was sold, I had to make this quilt!

There was a little be of a mishap when I calculated the amount of fabric needed for the back.....so the quilt is different then originally intended, but I love it!

And.......pin basting while the quilt was hanging....worked like a charm!  No nasty creases or folds!

Aurifil Thread Design Contest

I love those mornings when the kids are quite and I can actually read my blogs :-)  It doesn't happen very often, but they have discovered this cute little movie called Rio, and are hooked, and it gave me time this morning to read Katy's blog http://imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/2012/04/aurifil-thread-anyone.html  about the Aurifil Thread Design Contest!

I am finding a new love/mini addiction to thread.....I am just so amazed at all the lovely colors, so of course.....I headed over to Lily Quilt's http://lilysquilts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/would-you-like-to-win-some-aurifil.html for all the fantastic fun and information

I don't know how many of these collections I will do, but I am aiming for a few, because they are so inspiring!  It only takes a few minutes to make, and if you have the time, you really should....because they are fun, and the colors are beautiful!

My first collection is inspired by a seaside cottage......soft blues and greens and little peaks of color here and there.  Whenever I think of quilts, I always think of a shabby chic little seaside hide away :-)