Trying to get back in the groove

Ugh. More sickness! I swear, I'm cursed. And this time, the boy has got it too. :( Sufficit to say, I've not been very productive on the quilty front. But with the guild meeting coming up on Thursday, I had to get my groove on.

Here is this month's block exchange block:


The fabric choices were left up to us. The instructions said that she preferred "a vintage look with reds, greens, browns, and beiges or off-whites." I had a lot of fun picking out fabrics for this block. I think they work together pretty well.

The only downside to this block is that I actually had to do some calculating. There were no cutting directions. The only instruction was that the four-patches and the half-square triangles should be 4.5" and then be put together to create an 8.5" block. Math with a head cold? Not my cup of tea, to be sure! But (despite the horribly askew picture) my block did end up the right size in the end.

Meanwhile, I also managed to get the binding on the "Little Sheep Quilt." It just needs a label and then will be ready to send off to the new baby! I haven't made the label yet, but the fact that the binding was done made me feel like I could go ahead and start on the next project:


These fabrics are going to be made into a "Stacked Coins Baby Quilt." (And oh, my gosh-- let me tell you, the Moda Bake Shop rocks! So many cool ideas there!) But instead of using a couple of charm packs, I went ahead and dug through my stash and created my own little stack o' 5" squares. I'll be using Kona cotton Snow for the sashing and borders.

Hopefully, I'll be able to start sewing on it soon. (The baby girl is due in a couple of weeks!)

Playtime: the elephant block

This afternoon, I managed to complete the next block in my Playtime quilt, the elephant:


Once again, because I was wanting to do hand applique, I had to reverse all of the line drawings in the pattern (since it was designed for fusible applique) and then figure out the placement order. As in previous blocks, I also used a vinyl overlay to help me with positioning of all the pieces. I did all of the applique by needleturn with freezer paper on top. A little bit of embroidery finished off the block. The block is 14.5" x 12.5".

This was also another block where I needed to supplement the kit fabrics. The fabrics it included for this block were kind of funky:


The more I thought about it, the more I didn't like the idea of a brown elephant. So I visited the local quilt shop and found some greys that I liked a lot better.

The elephant is actually not complete yet. He still needs some wheels on his wagon as well as a pull-cord. But the pattern says those parts will be completed in months 4 and 5.

Here's my virtual progress on the quilt thus far:


Hopefully, I'll get the whole top section all put together for real next month!

Shop hop adventure

Over the last three days, I hopped to 16 different quilt shops in the second annual Northwestern Washington Tri-County Quilt Shop Tour. Each shop on the tour had a different block pattern that they shared with customers on the tour. And each shop designed a quilt using the 16 different blocks. It is pretty amazing how different quilts using the same 16 blocks can look. Seeing all of those amazing designs was a big part of the shop hop fun for me.



In my little slideshow above (which hopefully works... I've not tried this before), you can see all of the awesome variations. It's really neat how the style of finished quilts reflected the personality of each shop. I think my favorite quilts were Fourth Corner Quilts (done in bright, happy Amy Butler prints), Calico Country (the patriotic theme was great and I love how they broke up one of the blocks and used it as cornerstones in the border), Folktales (the wool applique in the center was fantastic!), Keepsake Cottage (what's not to love about using red rick-rac in the sashing? Fabulous!), Fabric-Etc. (such a unique layout and the little quilter's village was so cute!), and the Quiltmaker's Shoppe (the scalloped borders and the quilting were amazing). Most of the shops offered patterns and/or kits so that you could re-create their quilt. (So if you see one you love, you should definitely call them and ask about it!)

Because I managed to visit all of the different shops, I actually have the patterns for all of the blocks. Yay! I'm planning on putting them to use this week as I make some blocks to enter into my guild's April block lotto.


And of course, there was some shopping. The budget was tighter this year, so I had to watch my spending. But I did get some fabulous fabrics (mostly for use in my Jane Stickle and Playtime quilts), a couple of patterns (future Christmas gifts, if I can get my act in gear!), and some silk thread (because I keep hearing tell of it's awesome applique powers).

The boy and I traveled together on Thursday and Friday. He was a real trooper, but by the last shop on Friday, he was done. I mean, really, really done. I don't foresee any more shop hopping in our future... at least, not without a shop hop buddy who could help entertain and keep an eye on him. But overall, we had a great time. He was well-behaved (if a little energetic!) and happy. On Thursday, we even took a fun park break between stops.


Today, the boy stayed at home with papa, and I headed out on my own. It was a nice change of pace just being able to take my time at each shop and really look. And, as always, it was so fun getting out and visiting so many quilt shops. Each shop is so unique and it never ceases to amaze and inspire me.

Shop hopping!

The boy and I have been busy the last couple of days. We've been on the road visiting quilt shops in northwestern Washington on the second annual tri-county shop hop. We've been to eight shops so far, and I'm hoping to visit the rest tomorrow.

I'll be back with a report soon!

Quilting along: progress!

Inspired by the prodigious Zonnah, I've been plugging away at the Oh, Fransson! Quilt Along. On Monday night I managed to complete the last of the blocks.


I also was able to successfully cut out all of the sashing/borders I need for the top of the quilt (after some somewhat stressful calculations). I was a little short for my cutting plan, but I had just enough fabric to piece the rest of what I needed.

Last night, after spending much time working on setting up a layout that I liked, I proceeded to put the top together.


Now all that's left is to add the outer sashing, and I'll have a completed top!



Hopefully, I'll be able to get the rest of the sashing on in the next couple of days. But then this quilt will have to be set aside for a bit so I can do some catching up on my other projects. Fortunately, the recipient of this quilt is not due to appear until summer. So I've got a little time before I need to finish it up.

Jane Stickle Quilt: H-12

Block number/name: H-12 “Hannah Lou’s Hearts”

Date completed: March 24, 2009

Number of pieces: 9

Notes on block: Chances are, I would have never noticed how Jane completed her block if Anina hadn’t made mention of it. And then I would have missed out on a cool opportunity to fussy cut! (Not to mention make things more difficult for myself…but let’s not go there.) Once I knew that the original used teardrops, I had to try it that way. Fortunately, my appliqué skills were up to the challenge (thank goodness for freezer paper and toothpicks!). I’m pretty tickled at how well it came out.

The fabric is from In the Beginning’s Floragraphix II line. So very pretty. I'm so glad I found a good block for showcasing it.

Quilting along: sashing shortage

I felt so certain that I had 2 yards of this fabulous Alexander Henry print (Traffic Jam). But in reality, I actually only have 1.5 yards (some of which I've already cut for other projects). The Quilt Along fabric requirements suggest 1.75 yards. Ooops!

Well, not one to be swayed from my vision by something as small as lack of fabric, I've come up with a plan. I had already resigned myself to having to piece my sashing and borders since I have a directional print. So, now I'll just have a little more piecing to do.


Here's my plan:


The red "X" is the chunk that has already been cut out. The 3 long strips will be for piecing the outside vertical borders. The 12 strips will be for piecing the horizontal sashing and borders. Then the shorter strips will be for the vertical sashing. All together, I'll have just enough for the top. Unfortunately, I won't have any to use on the back of the quilt. But I can live with that.

I think this will work. I really, really HOPE this will work. Wish me luck!