I'm going to start 2013 off with a Block of the Month, a quilt along and a whole list of projects already started. There is not going to be time to slack. My sewing room has to be cleaned up in order for all of these things to be accomplished. I did a kaleidoscope quilt along but never a BOM. I challenge myself to keep up!

I finished my MQG mini quilt exchange today. I thought I would never finish. Good thing because it is due tomorrow night! Will let you know how my exchange partner likes it.

Sewing at the store for a few hours tomorrow. Maybe I will work on my No Negative Space quilt. This is a quilt I started because I found a box full of Dresden Plate leftovers. The background was chosen by my friend Rickie during a discussion about fabric for another quilt. If you squint the background almost looks solid. Maybe? I know these fabrics are old but they were already cut! It is twice this size now. I love it.

No Negative Space WIP  Dec. 2012

Until next time have fun whatever you do.

KIP (Kaleidoscope in Progress)

It wasn't as difficult to sew the blocks together as I thought. There were only a couple that were a bit off. I have not worked with bias cut fabrics that much and next time I think I will starch my fabric before I cut it. Besides handling, the fabric stretches when it is ironed not PRESSED. Overall I was very pleased with the way it turned out. 

Posting these pictures has really helped me see the things that need to change (the blue block) before I get them all sewn together. It didn't work this time because I made last minute changes and didn't photograph it before I began sewing. The things you learn through this process. Learning and having fun, what a concept!

Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts is having a quilt along starting Monday so go on over and check it out. It's for her birthday, so join in.

Until next time, happy sewing.

I Think I've Got It

I have been working so hard sewing these blocks together I forgot to post pictures! After a few changes I think this is the final placement of blocks. That star in the center just started happening so I ran with it and I thought it came out rather nice.


I think if I did another one of these quilts I would include a lot more fabrics. I found myself running into the same fabric at every turn. I have over a dozen different ones but when there are two on each square that cuts it down to six. 


I no longer have a fear of templates as long as they are the thick acrylic ones! I don't seem to do well with the ones you cut out of the plastic sheets. Being exact is not my strong suit. Plus they are hard to cut accurately.

I didn't seem to have too much trouble with the seams of the blocks. I hope putting the blocks together is as trouble free as the blocks were. All the blocks don't seem to be created equal! We shall see.


Thanks again Elizabeth for including me in your Kaleidoscope QAL . I am so looking forward to seeing everyone's quilt. 


Until next time, happy sewing everyone.

Kaleidoscope

No sewing on Saturday or Sunday because I was with the girls. Lots of hours at that machine today though. I started out arranging the Kaleidoscope scrappy but soon realized when I had it on my design wall that it was going to take a lot more fabrics. Since I had already cut 10 kaleidoscope pieces of each of the many fabrics I used I would make all the kaleidoscope pieces the same and the corner pieces the opposite in value. I put about 20 blocks on the design wall to check it out and with that decision made all I had to do was sew all 35 blocks.  

Pressing the seams open is a real chore but a necessary one. 

I have never made a quilt in less than a week but I'm on my way to making two in a week starting with the warm cool one! I will have to take time to quilt them soon so they will be completely finished. 

Happy sewing.

I Am So Excited!

I am going to send you over to Staci at the confused quilter to see the story of my yo-yo quilt. She did such a wonderful job and I loved sharing my quilt so much I started my own blog. Well, in my travels this morning I came across a yo-yo quilt along hosted by Penny. How exciting is that!  I'm a little ahead of the group because I make yo-yos at night when I'm watching TV. Yo-yos out of modern fabric are very cool. Just a small sample of this years crop.

I have been hard at work this week finishing up the first of two of my warm cool quilt along.

Yesterday I cut 200 kaleidoscope pieces and corner pieces for my kaleidoscope quilt along.

I am also working on my 'No Prints Allowed' piece for Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild. I can't show you that one yet. That isn't due until July so I have some time on that one. 

Joining the quilt along groups really keeps me on my toes and motivated to finish projects. Just what I need since I have a hard time sticking to a project once I know how it is going to look. My usual mode is to want to start something else. Thank you Jeni, Elizabeth and Penny for hosting these quilt along groups and allowing me to participate.

Happy sewing until next time.

Another UFO Finished

Along with cutting my 5" squares for the Warm Cool quilt along I have quilted and put the binding on a wall piece I made for the girls playroom. I started this a year ago. I so I am glad to have it off my design wall and going to their house. These are two and a half year old twin girls that I have been involved with almost since birth. They have no local extended family so I am their Auntie Sharon. I made this piece to be used as a grow chart but was afraid that if I quilted the white part you wouldn't be able to write the name and date on the fabric. It is 12" x 44" so as a beginner quilter it took me all day to do the quilting. It is raw edge applique so I used lots of thread! Not a good picture but it will have to do.

Need to make a decision on the Kaleidoscope quit along fabric. Put together one group of fabrics. I think I will add more to go with these colors. I'm used to flying by the seat of my pants. You have to be organized to do a quilt along! Good to be out of my comfort zone.


Until next time, happy sewing.

My First Quilt - Along : ) : ) : )

I have never participated in a quilt along and think it is high time did! A friend in Portland and I are going to do the same one that she found hosted by Elizabeth at Don't Call Me Betsy . (I love her blog name and the story behind it.) It will be lots of fun. I have been known to have some issues with templates but I'm sure I am up to the challenge. Now to pick out some fabric.