[ project # 4 ]

Project # 4, for the Project Linus pile.
The green polka dot came from my friend Jessica (who donated a gift card for fabric purchase ) Thanks Jess ! The other material is all from my mother-in-law. She took me to a local Wal-mart that was discontinuing their fabric, so all the bolts were 50% off.
She bought me 35 yards of assorted fabric. Yes you read that right. 35 yards. If fabric was crack then she would be my dealer. I love her !
I also quilted this a little different. I used a wavy line, every inch, inch and a half. I liked the way it looked in my head, not completely sure I like the way that it actually came out. Used green gingham for the backing. The finished size is : 37 inches by 46 inches.

Quilts for Kids [1]

My kit from Quilts for Kids showed up last week. This is a volunteer program sponsored by Downy, Touch of Comfort.

When I opened my kit I squealed when I saw the pink and lime green, not to mention cupcakes !
Very easy directions and pattern. I had the top pieced together in no time.
I quilted it using my usual squiggles.
The back is lime green and I used some fabric out of my stash for the binding. My favorite pink polka dots. The kit comes with a label that you attach to the back. You write your name and a name for the quilt. There is a section on the Quilts for Kids website where you can load a photo and the quilt info and "keep in touch" with where your quilt went. Pretty cool huh ?

[ wee play ! ]

My mother in law bought me two of these "Wee Play" charm packs from Moda. 40 squares of THE cutest fabric already pre-cut (thank you, thank you, thank you).
I put them all together and made this adorable (at least I think so !) baby quilt.
I free motion quilted it, using my squiggles. I am slowly getting better and might even try some new designs here soon !
The back and binding is also some adorable fabric from the Moda line that finishes off the quilt just perfect. The completed size is 27 x 36 inches.
It's one of my smaller quilts, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character !

Project # 3 in the donation pile.

[pink practice]

When I first got my new sewing machine I needed something to practice my free motion quilting on. I dug out my scraps and pieced this little blanket up right quick.
I know I have mentioned this before, but I love pink and lime green. Throw a little white in there and I am as happy as a clam in mud.
Once I was done I wrapped it up all nice and pretty and sent it away to a friend who is expecting a baby girl in March. It's just the right size to keep her warm in her car seat, or let her lay on while getting a diaper change, or she might even decide to carry it around as her lovie.
I can see making many more of these in my future.

[stars in my eyes]

I really like how this quilt turned out. The star fabric was something my mother-in-law gave me years ago, I've had about three yards of it folded in my fabric stash for a very long time. I pulled it out and used it in this quilt and I still have more than a yard left.
I love the combination of blue's.
The quilting on this one was a breeze ! Not a thread breakage in site. I have no idea what the difference was between this one and the last one, but what the heck ! The back is made from the star material as well as the binding.
The finished size is 44 x 58 inches, and I am very excited to add it to the Project Linus donation pile.

[duplicate]

Remember the Sweet 16 quilt I did this past summer ? It came from a quilt kit that my mother-in-law bought for me ? I made this scaled down quilt from the left-overs. In fact I still have scraps left over from this quilt. Good stuff.
This quilt was a complete pain in the butt from start to finish. My new machine kept having issues in a major way. The upper thread kept breaking over and over and over again. I did everything from cleaning out the bobbin area, changing the already brand new needle, adjusting the tension and even changing the thread. It was frustrating.
I did the binding in this bright and cheerful lime green. I love lime green.
The backing is the same floral material from the front. This quilt is going into the Project Linus donation pile. !

crap closet

This is what I lovingly refer to as my "crap closet". If you say it really fast five times in a row it sounds like "craft closet". In other words it's were I keep the goods. It is a coat closet, and yes it is smack in the middle of the hallway.

It is what it is.
I keep all my fabric folded and stored in the clear totes. Batting that is left over from another project is piled next to the fabric. All that loose Marine Corp stuff you see ? That's stuff for a project that my mother-in-law dropped on me.
I keep my quilts folded on the hangers. I also keep my tops to be quilted in here, basically anything that is done or going to be done at some point. The boys like this system, they know when they get cold they can open the closet and grab a quilt. The only one not in here right now is the military quilt I just finished for Ryan. That one is up in the bonus room, and of course Gavin's birthday quilt which is halfway on his bed and the floor.
Then there are my two sewing machines. I decided to keep my Brother machine. It still works fine. I piece my tops and backs using it, and I actually use it to wind my bobbins while I am working with my quilting machine. I have an emotional attachment to my Brother, without it there would be no blog. The rest of this junk falls under the scrap booking category. Or since I don't really scrapbook anymore, I like to say "paper crafting". Whatever that means.

My super huge cutting mat is hidden behind that rolling cart of "paper crafting" items. Everything fits just so and it works as far as being able to have quick access to things when I have a minute, hour, day to spend quilting.

My dream is to one day have a dedicated space. With a long desk where I can keep everything I am working on right where I left it. Trash can's that are built into the underside of the table, scissors that don't disappear and a nice display for all my thread. Also a fully functional coffee pot would be an added bonus.

I can hang a "NO BOYS ALLOWED SIGN" (but make exceptions when no-one is looking).

Crap room doesn't sound nearly as fun as a crap closet though.

[snow day]

We were stuck inside with a snow day today. I had this idea scribbled down in my idea book for awhile now.

I do other things beside just quilt. Once and awhile. Like dig out all the broken crayons from the pile, diligently peel the wrappers off and then anal retentively separate them all into colors.
I really did not feel like firing up the ole' oven for such a short project, so to start with I soften the crayons up with my hair dryer. Then my hand got tired of holding it and I moved over to the microwave.
I was a wee bit terrified of burning the wax and have my house smell like the refuse of the Crayola factory, so I probably did not melt them long enough ( the lumps might have been a pretty good clue...)

Also I couldn't think of a feasible excuse to come up with if I ruined the microwave.

Once they were melted down I stuck them in the freezer and forgot about them.

When I remembered I had to run the mold under some warm water in order to pop them out.
My favorite one is the blue sparkly one. Kegan likes them all and Gavin could care less.

[ for Grandma ]

Grandma's quilt is completely finished !
The binding and backing match. Really cool green paisley fabric. It was a perfect match for the fabrics on the front.
The finished size is an even 50" by 50". I hope my Grandma loves it as much as I loved making it for her !

[ pulled a muscle ]

My Grandma's quilt has been patiently waiting in the to-do pile for awhile now. Since the end of summer anyway. It was going to be sent out to the long arm quilter to be done with a fancy pattern, until I received a new sewing / quilting machine for Christmas.

Thanks Mom !
So I practiced my free motion quilting on some scraps until I got the hang of it, then I decided to go all out and quilt my Grandma's blanket. Ambitious, I am.

This is called stippling. Basically it's just a free hand squiggly motion all over the quilt. No rhyme or reason, just go with it. Pretty easy to do although I went through about 5 bobbins and I pulled a muscle in my shoulder moving the quilt underneath the machine.
It took me around 3 hours, give or take. I took a few coffee breaks, changed some diapers, let the dog out etc etc. I still need to attach the binding, which matches the back of the fabric (somehow I forgot to take a picture of that....)

I am hoping to finish it up and get it into the mail for my Grandma by next week.

creative 2010

Last year I made a resolution to make and then donate some quilts to the Project Linus Organization.

The mission of Project Linus is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers” and to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

What better organization don't you think ? Anyway last year I got side-tracked, but this year I am all about making and donating. In fact this top, which is my very first one of 2010 is going to be a donation.
It got the seal of approval from Kegan. I like it due to the fact that it's blue and it's boyish, two things that strangely don't happen that often in my quilting. The back will be the same star pattern and it will be bound in a red dot fabric. Just wait until you see my new quilting machine.

Instead of sending my quilts out to be quilted, now I am the proud owner of a new sewing machine that allows me, YES ME ! To do the quilting.

SHUT UP !

I am excited, can you tell ?

Here is to an exciting and creative 2010.