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 :-)

A New way of Basting

well....at least for me, not sure if other people do it this way or not?

I have always, always had problems when it comes to basting the quilt, no matter what I do I constantly have creases.....usually at least one mega one.  I typically bast my quilts on the floor, tape the ends down and layer the "quilt sandwich"....which is how I was taught, but it has never worked well for me.

Today....I wanted to bast this quilt that I'm working on just for me!!!!  but my back hurts and I twisted my knee, so crawling across the floor to pin bast it didn't seem like the brightest idea.....so I thought, taping it to the wall might be better!

So....busted out some pant hangers and decided the best wall space was the laundry room doors.....taped the bottom layer to the wall, then taped down the batting, and then put the quilt top on and pin basted.
I should start quilting it tonight, so hopefully this new way works and no mega creases!!!!!  Fingers crossed!

Close up of my soon to be for me quilt!

It's Been a While

You know, life gets in the way and you get distracted and stuff right???  I have been "not" sewing for almost a year, other then a little off and on and other then gifts for people....but finally I am back in the game and sewing and quilting just for the fun of it!  Imagine that!
I was also horrible at keeping up with my last blog, so this is me, trying to get back into the virtual world and be a good girl and keep up with things!

I got off to a good start, I went to the Lancaster PA quilt show with the Baltimore Modern Quilt guild and my dear friend Heather who I met on flickr...and we had a blast!  I felt so excited and inspired all day......I figured why not splurge on get a new machine...and let's not be frugle,  let's make it a Bernina!!!!

So say hello to Bernadette

And if a new sewing machine wasn't amazing enough......we actually met Jay McCarroll!!!!  I almost passed out!  He was so so nice and he talked to us for a while, which was totally cool of him, since he was on his way to meet his sister.  Such a good sport!!!!  Love you Jay!

So...here we go......let's jump in with both feet!!!!