Scrappy Trip

After sitting out a couple of rounds of Julie Hirt's Scrappy Trip Around the World Quilt Bee I decided it was time to participate again.  Of course, Julie's announcement that she would be ending it after a few more rounds this year certainly lit a fire under me to get back to this quilt. I currently have 18 of these blocks from past rounds and am not sure how many or big I am making this quilt but a couple more rounds sound perfect.

The hive I am in this time are speed demons and quickly set to work on their blocks so I decided to join in and get them off the to do list.

Here they are:

For Lee...Loved her color choices

The pink and orange really shine in my Kaffe Fassett fabrics

 



For Jennifer...these are her color choices

 

For Jane...she wanted modern and bright

I must admit I struggled with this one. Most of my moderns are text and not bright.

 

For Sandy...Black and White with a pink center stripe

Love the typewriters and all the text prints

 

For Laurie...Black and White with a red stripe in the center

 

I had a great time picking out the fabrics and putting them together.  Everyone's color choices were so much fun to work with.  I can't wait to get all my blocks. Three of them are made already and look fantastic!!!  Can't wait to put them with my current group and arranging them.

I have been busy over here moving my sewing room from upstairs where I had a 13 by 26 foot area to downstairs where I have a 10 by 10 foot room.  I am also using our sunroom for over flow and set my handiquilt frame up out there that hasn't been in use for over...I don't really know the last time I used it...maybe 6 to 8 years ago.  I never really liked it since I just use my domestic on it but with all the modern quilting embracing straight line and squiggles I thought it was time to give it a shot again.

Keep Stitchin'

It's A Sister Swap Thing

This summer I had the pleasure of taking part in the 'It's a Sister Thing Swap'' that Michele from Quilts from my Crayon Box hosted for the second year.  I mistakenly didn't take part last year and almost had myself convinced it would be hard to make time for it this year with my busy summer schedule.  Luckily, I committed and found time because it was a blast.  If you missed my earlier post about what I received from my assigned 'sister' here is a picture of the great treasures that Mary from Needled Mom made for me and here is my previous post when I received them.

She did a wonderful job making me feel so spoiled and pampered!  It was so fun opening up all the presents she had individually wrapped and ohhhing and ahhhing and with delight with each new find.


While Mary was busy stalking my blog and choosing what to spoil me with I was busy stalking Grace's blog City Mouse Quilter.  I read her blog front to back but a couple key points struck me immediately.
1. She loves going to the beach but needed a nice quilted tote bag to take with her.
2. She loves Kaffe Fassett fabrics but seemed to be collecting them and I can relate they are so gorgeous to oogle at who wants to cut into them.  I'm in the same boat and hadn't really put them together into a project yet so that was added to my to do list.
3. She is really into Civil War fabrics and reproductions and I happened to have some that I didn't like---(they'd make great hand me downs to my new sister) 
4. She likes Spearmint tea and Pumpkins --- never found the Spearmint tea and ran short of time for a pumpkin project and although fall is fast approaching it just wasn't the right time in the peak of summer.
5. She would love to go on a Bonnie Hunter trip but fears flying.  I so related to that.  After 2011 I just lack the confidence to board a plane but would love to travel.  I also would love to see my grandchildren grow up so it is safer to stay on the ground.

With the above facts, I set to work on a pillow top cover using my Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  I had seen this pattern in the June 2005 issue of The American Patchwork and Quilting magazine that Ricky Tims designed called 'St. Elmo's Fire'.  It is a paper pieced pattern that I envisioned would showcase the Kaffe fabrics wonderfully.  I have never made a pillow cover before and must say I might be addicted to them now.  I can't wait to find the time to make a few of these babies for me.

Here's what attracted my attention but as you can see it looked a little crazy and was in need of a little modernization. Here is how it translated into a pillow for Grace featuring Kaffe fabrics.

I really think it looks much better with the one, neutral color for the background. It helps the Kaffe fabric's be the stars they deserve to be.

Next I set to work designing a tote bag for Grace. She lives near Cape Neddick lighthouse...at least I think she does so I tried to draw it out in one corner of the bag.  I added some ships to the harbor.

On the backside of the bag, I put her name and a lobster that I got the pattern of Janeen from Quilt Art Designs.  I shrunk the lobster down a bit so it would fit my area but it did make it a little tougher to paper piece but I somehow managed.  Not the best decision but it worked out.  Grace loves her lobster and I had to have him on there.  I added a zip pocket to the inside and a divided pocket on the inside too for stashing things in there where you might want to find them quickly.  I based my bag on this free tutorial you can find here.  I substituted my panel for the canvas it called for but otherwise followed this pattern and added pockets to the inside.

The pocket has little mice on it and it just stuck me as appropriate for the City Mouse Quilter but honestly it never crossed my mind when I was making it...he hee hee.  In the mood to truly spoil Grace, as August 27th was her 65th birthday, I decided to add a Journal to my list of must makes for her. 

I added the Tim Holtz metal piece to it.  It reads---encourage your hopes not your fears---
I thought this to be great advice but not always easy to manage.  The girl was an orphan block I made a few months ago for a project I am still having trouble getting off the runway and probably will be junking so I thought it would make the perfect journal cover. She was inspired by art from Andrea of Southendgirlart that I found on Pinterest and is one of my few attempts at sketching on fabric.

Last but not least I threw in the hand me down fabrics to pass along to Grace and a new pen to start her off journaling with.  Happy Birthday Grace and best wishes for a great year ahead!  I really enjoyed being your stalker sister this Summer and passing on some goodies to you.

A big heartfelt hug and many thanks to Mary and Michele for making this swap so special for me!!!
Bless you both for helping to make my busy Summer extra special and full of smiles and creativity :)

Keep Stitchin'

Sister Swap Update and Squishy Mail

This weekend I had a wonderful deluge of squishy mail.  It had me doing a happy dance and smiling from ear to ear.  I recently won some charm squares from Alida from Tweety Loves Quilting and love the assortment she sent.  The colors are going to be fun to work with. Check em'out.  She  is running a series of giveaways with her Monday linky parties so be sure to stop by and check out the details.  She loves seeing what we are all busy doing.  She has some great paper piecing patterns that need tested and I hope to find time to squeeze one in soon.  I am just so far behind on my commitments right now.

Those lips are just a hoot.  They are going to be especially fun to add to a project.

Then I have been anxiously awaiting my Kaffe Fassett charms from the swap that Stephanie organized over at The Quarter Incher.  This is Round 2 and wish I had seen Round 1 and gotten in on that action.  I adore the charms that everyone included this round.  Great selections!!!

Look at all that fabulous color.  You can tell I am a child of the sixties.  I adore all that craziness :)

I also had a purchase come as I found it hard to resist the Curve Ruler that Jenny does all her fabulous patterns with at Sew Kind of Wonderful.  Her latest blog hop really made it too hard to resist anymore.  I also had to get her Metro Hoops and Metro Twist patterns, too. 

But the best package of all was my package from my 'Sister' from Michele's--- It's A Sister Thing Swap at Quilts from my Crayon Box.  I decided to participate this year and it has been an awesome swap and I am sooo sew glad I didn't sit this one out. I already hope she does it again next year! This one was all about spoiling a new friend.

I received a fabulous assortment of goodies from Mary from the Needled Mom blog.  I have been happily following Mary for a couple years now and it was fantastic having her as my sister angel this Summer. She made me feel so spoiled and it is certainly the same feeling I have been shooting to give my Sister that I was assigned so it was a blessing to feel pampered in return. 

Look at all the wonderful goodies Mary has been busy preparing over the Summer for me:

I love that Embroidery!!!  It is always great to get something there is no way I could do for myself.  Mary must have a fabulous machine.  I love my Juki but it only straight stitches and my daughter's machine does decorative stitches but being a cheap machine it doesn't do them well.  A friend here in town recently bought a Pfaff Quilt Expressions 4.2 and I am going to schedule some play time on it soon. 

I love to cook...baking in particular and love the apron.  Once upon a time I even was a Pampered Chef consultant.  My husband always teases me that I bought more than I sold.  Hey...they treat their consultants well and I can't pass up a good sale. What's a girl to do...Shop, shop, shop.  Love the monogrammed  napkins and the potholder is simply beautiful.  Love her color choices.  She made to sure to throw all that yellow in for me and you can't go wrong with that.  I love her pink fabrics, too. Mix it up with all that white and black and I adore it.  Do you see those cute shoes in the black and white print???  I love me some good whimsy, too.

Talk about whimsy, those frogs are over the top adorable.  They just chase away all the blues and make me so happy.  Can't help but smile at them right back.  It is a post card but to me it is an awesome piece of art and I LOVE it!  I think they might be planning a picnic on the quilt in front of them.  The journal will definitely get lots of use, too as I love keeping track of things and those batiks are so beautiful.  It gets me so ready for Fall just looking at it and I will love using it all year long.  Can't wait for fall evenings and doodling in my notebook, maybe a fire and some hot cocoa, too.

Thank you so much Mary!! You are an amazing woman ( She is one busy Grandma) and have been an awesome 'Sister' to me for this swap!  Wishing you all the best always, thanks again for all the love you have pampered me with I truly feel blessed to have been your 'Sister'

I shipped my package to my secret sister today and can't wait till she gets it!!!  She has a special day tomorrow but unfortunately my package won't quite be there in time.  She should have it by week's end though.

Keep Stitchin'

Scrappy Trip Blocks

  I love the newest round of Scrappy Blocks I made for my Hive this month.  I hope everyone loves them as much as I do.

Ivana requested low volume prints with the occasional pastel print.  Calling it sweet and low all around.  I recently found this bird print and thought it complemented all the other fabrics perfectly and added to the sweet-a-bility of this block.

Next Salley wanted low volume greys, very pale aquas and a raspberry pink/red as the feature strip.  Here is what I came up with:

I made the mistake of using a strip of noteworthy from a jelly roll.  Mistake that I won't do again. It was just a little shy of the 2 1/2 inch width, but I got it to work.  Hope it will be ok :)

Tricia wanted purple, aqua/teals, gray, and pink.  I really like this one!!!

 

Debbie wanted lime green with blue and yellow.  I had a hard time finding a yellow that I thought looked nice with lime green.  Luckily I found one fabric with a combo I liked.  Overall, I surprisingly ended up liking this one.  Hope Debbie will, too.

 

Our Beekeeper, Mariana requested bright happy colors. No blacks or browns. She likes florals and geometrics and said Have Fun!  Wow...I had the hardest time because the choices were so huge and varied.  Her flickr page showed that previous blocks varied immensely so I finally just let go and put together some fabrics that appealed to me.  I hope she will love it.  One thing I will have to say I love about these scrappy blocks is that when you put them all together, they work so nicely together.  Even though the colors, hues, values, tints are all so widely different they look wonderful together.  I don't think I have ever seen one of the tops put together that I have not loved.  So with that I let go and let faith guide my final decisions.

I will get these posted this week and on their way.  Looking forward to the next round of swaps already. 

Look what I found in my mailbox today:)

This one found it's way to me via Spain.  Thanks so much Mariana.  I love it!!!  My colors are Brown, Green and Blues.  I adore the wide range of fabrics I find in all the blocks I receive.  It is definitely, fun watching all the blocks arrive from all their destinations and seeing my scrappy trip top grow each quarter.

Keep Stitichin'

March Madness ends

I don't follow March madness despite this blog post title.  In fact, since it messes up my favorite TV shows for the month...I hate March Madness.  So when it ends I am over the moon happy!!!  But since that seems to be a great title for my life this month, I am glad to see it end and I hope to find time to finally get my Sewjo back on track. 

Why is it every month when Kristy from Quiet Play posts that it is almost month end and highlights some of the other peoples blocks made with her free Sew Kitchsy pattern for the month...I am shocked to see I haven't posted mine yet.  It is always one of the first things I do each month.  So far the patterns have been pretty simple and quickly go together.  I really love how this month's block turned out.  Why haven't I posted or linked it up before now???

I love the color of this bowl.  When we bought our truck a few years ago from a private party the home we bought it from had a collection of vintage yellow bowls on a high shelf...simply gorgeous!!!

This week I got my tree block done for the Quilt Doodle Doodles BOM.  Love how the colors on this one turned out.  I had cut the squares out earlier in the month but it took awhile to find time to piece it together.  This week I ordered the Accuquilt die for 2 1/2 inch squares.  I got the die that will cut 9 at a time.  I figured this BOM will make excellent use of it.

I am finishing up my commitment to the Scrappy Trip blocks that I am swapping from Julie Hirt's Scrappy Trip block swap.  They are due to be shipped April 15th.  Just got the taxes done so it must be time to get these done, too.  Here is a picture of the 5 blocks I received from the last swap, plus one I made and two I have received from this round already.  They look so good together.

I love receiving these and I must say am addicted to making them for the other ladies, too.  Great way to add fabric to my stash.  Love anything that helps me do that!

Here is the five I am currently working on before they are opened up and sewn together into the finished blocks they will become today.

Also on my to do list today is to cut all my charms for the Kate Spin charm swap hosted by Michele from Quilts from my Crayon Box.  I thought these were due tax day, also but they need to be mailed by April 5th.  I have one fabric cut and will cut up the other three today.  I grabbed two spots like I did last time.  I am hoping to be able to make a couple charm quilts from one group when I add them to last swaps charms.  One group of charms from the two swaps are becoming a hexagon quilt that I have had in mind for a while. 

These fabrics are just delicious.  I can't wait to get all 112 x 2 charms back :)
 

Keep Stitchin'

Adoring and Aspen

  I received my mug rug from my Quilting Gallery partner, Holly, this weekend.  I love quilty mail and Holly made me an adorable set of mug rugs that I am so proud to call mine!!!   I have been enjoying my coffee all weekend on them and look forward to many more mornings with them.  These are my only mug rugs which make them all the more special since my daughter swiped my other ones.  Holly's are perfect and they match the colors in my house really well.  Big plus!!!  

Holly's bird mug rug looks so much like the pattern one she really did a great job creating it...see what I mean...awesome!!!

Her applique is fantastic and I love all the quilting she did on both of them.  Thanks so much Holly!!!   I adore them and look what else she included in my package.

Well you know I adore that...that was very kind and thoughtful Holly and I appreciate your kindness and all the hard work you put into my new mug rugs more than I can eloquently express.  THANKS!!! 

I will share a little about Milwaukie's quilt show in a later post but know that we enjoyed it very much and spent too much money there.  Good thing it is a couple weeks before the next one so my wallet can recover.

I shared my woodpecker Forest Quilt A Long Block recently and although the next block is two feathers that I really do look forward to making, the third block in the series really piqued my appetite to see created so I skipped ahead to it.  WOW!!!  This block is entitled Aspen Grove and I love the fall colors of aspen and birch trees...especially since yellow is my favorite color and I adore the beauty of fall trees.   I called this a kick ass design but didn't realize it was my ass that would be kicked creating it.  SIX hours of creating is what it took to put this block together.  Can you believe that!!!  I don't think I will be making another on of these anytime soon but thank goodness it turned out fantastic!!!

If you overlook that thread bomb in the center that I should have swept off there before I snapped the picture...I think you will agree it was a successful endeavor.  This block was designed by Caroline of Trillium Design.  The pattern is available for free to anyone brave enough to accept the challenge she has set for us. 

You know that reminds me of one of my favorite quotes  "Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth.  Tame the dragon and the gift is yours" ---Noella Evans

Well thanks to Caroline for putting this dragon in my path because the gift he held in his mouth is now mine!!! LOVE LOVE it.

Owls mug rug

I finished my second mug rug for the mug rug swap that Quilting Gallery is hosting this month.  I was so excited to have a set to keep myself since these were my first ever attempt at mug rugs.  Well let's just say that it is a really good thing that I have a swap partner out there...somewhere over the rainbow...making me a set because my daughter came over this weekend, got one glance at them and quickly claimed them for her new house.  She called them a house warming present...how was I to say no to that.

Here is a picture of what she found irresistible:

I did briefly get to enjoy a cuppa joe with my new rug and then it left all too soon and I will soon be sending the second one along with one of my birdhouse mug rugs to a special someone this month to enjoy.  I hope my partner will love it as much as my daughter does!!!

Busy weekend doing spring cleaning in the sewing room although it doesn't quite look better yet.  For some reason getting organized always means blowing the place up first and right now it looks like an 'A' Bomb went off in my quilt studio.  Hopefully I can get it under control this week.

Keep Stitchin'

My First Mug Rug

I told myself I would cut back on swaps this year and devote myself to working on my own endeavors.  However, I could not resist this mug rug swap organized by Michele from the Quilting Gallery.  I think I was one of the first to sign up...Yikes!!!!  I have no willpower.  Amanda from the Patchsmith made the patterns for us and they were simply irresistible to me.  One is called Winter Birdhouse and I still need to complete the second one entitled Two Owls.  I figured since I am suppose to be devoting myself to working on stuff for me, I might as well make two of each pattern. One for my partner and one for me.  I have been wanting to make a mug rug for myself for a long time and since I may not get the one from my partner till April, I couldn't wait and made myself one to keep and start using ASAP.   My morning coffee will be as happy as me each morning with such a special place to sit on. This way I will have four mug rugs when I receive the two from my partner and yes I am thrilled I took the plunge on this swap.

I know the picture makes one house look taller than the other but they are identical.  They are due to be shipped by the 18th of March so I had best get going on the Owls.  I have them started and hope to finish them by the end of this coming weekend  if not sooner.

Sweet Skating Sue

I got a very nice present in the mail right before Christmas.  I received my Sweet Skating Sue mini quilt from my swap partner.  It is so adorable.  I love the face she gave her and the fur trim on her jacket.  The arm she gave her is also something I absolutely love about her.  Don't ya just love the path her skates made in the ice?  I added her to my sewing room walls and am so grateful for the extra friend up there with me. A big huge thanks to Rebecca for all the love she put into my sweet new wall hanging. I love what she did with the pattern to make her unique and one of a kind and will treasure for years to come. Thanks Rebecca!!!

    Skater Sue

I finished my Skater Sue mini wall hanging for the swap that Michele from the Quilting Gallery organized and that Jennifer from Sewhooked  provided the pattern for.  I am very happy with the finished results.  I had never done so much fill in free motion quilting on a project.  I usually stick to stitch in the ditch and do the mininum amount of quilting because I am so interested in getting the project done.  I must say it was nice working on a mini quilt when doing the extra fill in!!!  It finished out at 21" x 21".  Bonus is I got it completed with a week to spare on the mailing deadline...go me!

I hope my swap partner likes it.  I had a lot of fun putting it together for her.

 Swap City

November threatens to speed by quickly while I try to get my swap obligations under control.

I may have over booked myself but I feel like I might be catching my stride now.  I have the following going on this month:

• I am participating in the Quilt U Be Mine swap from Michele's Quilts From My Crayon Box.  I can't share the block that I am working on for my partner because it is a surprise but here is the block I sent on the way to the first person in my group.  I won't see it until it is returned to me in February.  In the meantime it will travel around getting borders added to it each month till it finds it's way back to me.

• I am also participating in the Quilting Gallery/SewHooked  'Sweet Skating Sue' mini quilt swap  here is my mini quilt so far.  I just need to quilt it now. It is going to finish at about 22 inches square.
• I am also making 12 Christmas blocks for the Christmas Block swap hosted by Aunt Pitty Pat   .  I am making a block featuring two xmas presents. So far I have two done and two half done.  Here is what they will be looking like. I send 12 of these and get a variety of 12 different blocks back. I can't wait to see what the ladies send me.