Design Challenge Excitement

I know, you are wondering what the above picture has to do with a design challenge?  Well, let me tell you! :) :)

The quilt guild I attend decided to have six members participate in a design challenge.  We were each given 20 blocks that are 6 1/2" unfinished.  The photo shows only a few of the 20 blocks I was given.  All of the blocks are the same design, but are made from scraps and the majority of us received sets that had no color coordination whatsoever....totally scrappy!  The above blocks were made using one 3 1/2" center square, 4 identical 2" x 3 1/2" rectangles, and 4 identical 2" squares.  (I'm still having a hard time believing that one person willingly made 120 of these blocks, divided them into 6 groups of 20, then GAVE THEM  AWAY! My goodness....120 blocks is a quilt top!!!!!!!!!!)

The Challenge:

1.  Use at least TWELVE of the blocks in your completed design.

2.  Keep notes so that you can create a "pattern" that will be included in a future monthly newsletter.

3.  Select a month for your design reveal.

Guidelines:

1.  You can add to the blocks, creating larger blocks

2.  You can cut the blocks into segments

3  You can add as many additional blocks to your design as you want provided you use at least twelve of the      blocks you receive.

I've never done anything like this before, but I'm up for the challenge!  Ideas are running through my mind at a frantic pace.

Can't wait to share my design thoughts with you very soon....hopefully in the next day or two!

Happy Quilting!

Teaching My Daddy to Sew!

I'm finally getting around to writing a very special post.  This past August, we planned a family vacation to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.  We reserved a beautiful cabin that would accommodate us along with my parents (who we planned to kidnap on our way and force them into taking a break from the real world).

I have several different stories to share about this vacation but for this post, I will concentrate on my Daddy.

Our cabin was reserved for 9 days and the only worry I had prior to our vacation was...HOW WILL WE KEEP DAD OCCUPIED SO HE WON'T GET BORED AND WANT TO GO HOME EARLY!!

On Day #1....Dad was content to sit and read on the front porch (along with his constant companion...his 3 pound, toy breed Mi-Ki named Zealy).  She is sitting on the porch swing next to him.

On Day #2....Dad was content to teach Kirsten all the ins and outs to shooting pool.

On Day 3...Dad was content to help the rest of the family put together a jigsaw puzzle.

On Day 4....Dad was content to rest. :) :)

On Day 5....Dad started to show the beginning signs of boredom!  Oh boy!!!!  I had taken two of my vintage Singer Featherweights to have some mother/daughter bonding (sewing) time and on this day, Dad started insinuating that he could sew better than both my mother and me.  I do need to explain to everyone reading that my Dad had never sewn one stitch in his life....but he's always had a talent for thinking he can do anything!  :) :)

With a big smile on my face I said... "Sure, Dad....if you want to sew, I'll teach you!"  Of course, I had to remind him that he did indeed need to put his doggie Zealy down on the floor in order to use both hands while sewing!!! :) :) :)

My Mom and Dad, getting ready to sew side-by-side (once he puts the dog down that is!)

Thankfully, I had packed quite a bit of different fabrics, including lots of pre-cuts (jelly rolls, charm squares, layer cakes, etc.)  Even though I would have NEVER DREAMED my Dad would want to sew, I had brought the PERFECT fabric for my Dad...a layer cake of pre-cut 10" squares of big construction trucks.

The Sewing Lessons Begin!

Dad sewed and sewed for two straight days until he had completed his very first (and possibly only :) :) quilt top!

I brought his quilt top home with me after vacation, added a red inner border and a wider outer border using fabric from the same line.  We ended up with a quilt large enough to fit a full size bed!

Time to quilt....

I used a royal blue tone-on-tone for the backing...and a quilting design called "Swoosh" from Urban Elementz.

Not a great photo...but here is a portion of the quilt hanging from my banister....

Spread across my queen size bed....

I used the red fabric in the border to bind the quilt also.  While on vacation, I thankfully remembered to write a label and have Dad sign it...the best part!!!

The quilt is currently here in New York just waiting to be mailed to Dad or hand-delivered whenever I get to make a trip back home.

Teaching my Dad to sew will always be a special memory I will forever hold in my heart.  He really did an awesome job and needs to make a few more quilt tops!!!!  He has lots of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who want quilts made by him now that everyone knows he can SEW!!!!!

The secret is out now Dad....better get busy!!!!!

Amanda's Christmas Quilt

Today let me show you the Christmas quilt I made for Amanda (twin to Emily in my previous blog post).  In all the excitement of giving it to her, I forgot to take a photo of her holding the quilt (kicking myself over that one!).  

Amanda's tastes are more whimsical and her color preferences are more vintage modern.  

I used another layer cake (pre-cut 10" squares of fabric) and again made a disappearing 9-patch design.

This first pic shows the blocks prior to sashing and cornerstones....

Now with sashings and first border....

Oops...I guess I forgot to take a photo once the final wider red border was added....sorry! :)

I searched again through my stash of fabrics and found the perfect backing piece....

Are you ready for a big ol' belly laugh?!!!!  I know I have a tendency to keep everything.  I know I rarely can get rid of anything....but this is hilarious....even for me!!!!!

The receipt was still pinned to this piece of fabric.  The receipt is dated July 17, 1991 for 6 yards (exactly what I needed to back this quilt), and the price was $1.00/per yard!!!!  

Amanda wasn't even born until 1992!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time to quilt it.....

I used a panto design called "Swoosh".  It can be purchased from Urban Elementz.

Quilting is finished....

Close-up....

I use any and every spare minute I can find to work on my projects....even if it means hand-sewing binding in my car (in the cold) while my youngest has basketball practice.  Aren't my fingerless gloves adorable?? LOLOL

Label on the back....

I'm just so glad I was able to get both girl's quilt finished before Christmas actually arrived so they could enjoy them for a few days over the holidays.  By the way, YES I know I have more daughters but my oldest received a quilt on her birthday in 2013 and my youngest asked that I NOT make her a Christmas quilt.  heehee

Until next time!

Emily's Christmas Quilt Recap

I was so busy during the month of December trying to finish gifts, etc., that I got way behind on my blog posts and now need to do some catching up.  Now that I think about it...I think I'm ALWAYS playing catch-up whether it's the holidays or not....must be an age related thing! :) :) :)

Now that Emily and Amanda (my twins) are out of the nest and in their own home, I enjoy making them special gifts.  This year I decided to make each of them a Christmas themed quilt.  Emily is a very traditional girl and likes traditional Christmas colors and designs...red, green, gold, etc.  She browsed through my Christmas fabric choices and made her decision.  Originally I had only intended to make her a sofa/lap sized quilt but then she and her sister both liked the idea of a twin size quilt instead.  They thought they could drape a twin over the sofa if they wanted, but it also leaves the option of covering a future twin guest bed, etc.

I wasn't attempting to make an intricate, extremely time consuming quilt...just something quick, easy and Christmas themed....especially since I needed to make two different quilts!  I decided to use a layer-cake (10" pre-cut collection of fabrics), make a "disappearing 9-patch" block, use sashings and cornerstones to separate the blocks and a border to finish it off.  Easy peasy!

On the design wall...sashings attached, just needing borders.....

Time to quilt it on the long-arm.....

The quilting design I decided to use is called "Snow Winds".  The paper or digital version can be purchased at Urban Elementz.  

The quilting looks so pretty on the quilt.....

Another view...

I wish I could have gotten a better picture, but there wasn't enough room to get the "WHOLE" quilt....

I used a pale yellow/gold fabric with golden Christmas bells on the back of the quilt.  Isn't it cute?  Of course, I also had to include a label in the bottom corner.

Emily was very happy with her Christmas quilt thank goodness!

Now I need to gather photos to share Amanda's quilt in a different blog post!  There's ALWAYS something needing done! :) :)

Happy Sewing!

My Big 50 Birthday

It happened....didn't matter how hard I tried to hang onto 49...December 20th came, along with a bunch of fun and left me a new member of the 50 club!

To begin with...remember all of those birthday blocks I've been making throughout the entire year and mailing to others all over this world?  Well....it was MY turn yesterday.  Unlike the others (who tended to open their envelopes as soon as they arrived in the mail), I actually saved mine to open on my birthday.  I had 14 packages to open yesterday.  There are still a handful left to come, but the bulk of them arrived in time to open on the BIG day!

I had been numbering the packages as they arrived over the past month or so and planned to open them in the exact same order.....

Also, if you remember, the other quilters had requested specific colors for their quilts.  I did something entirely different and requested SCRAPPY!  I told them to make something THEY would like and if they liked it then I knew I would be thrilled with it!  Anyway...I've never met a color I didn't like! :) :)

The first package I opened was from Chris in Australia.....

The second package was from Annette in Wisconsin....

The third package was from Chrissy in Massachusetts...

The fourth package was from Debra in Missouri....

The fifth package was from Jean in Wisconsin...

The sixth package was from Lynne in Virginia...

The seventh package was from Karyl in North Carolina....

The eighth package was from Mabel in New Jersey...

The ninth package was from Virginia in Texas...

The tenth package was from Gael in Australia...

The eleventh package was from Wanda in Texas...

The twelfth package was from Hollie in Texas...

The thirteenth package was from Diane is Florida....

The fourteenth package was from Terri in New York City....

Aren't you just green with envy!!!!!  Oh my goodness....this is going to be one gorgeous quilt!  Once the other packages arrive, I will start playing around with placement and come up with a setting for my quilt top.

BUT....just for the fun of it...I DID go ahead and start laying them out on top of my bed.  The lighting is terrible in the room but it gives you an idea....

Then a little moving around...

Ooooooooooooooooo....this is going to be SO pretty!  I can't wait! :)

Along with all the birthday block packages, I received flowers from friends in Virginia that included lovely black "Over The Hill" balloons. :)  My daughters also gave me flowers.

Dear hubby Ray washed the dishes for me (which happens to be an awesome gift by the way!) and he even thought to stop by the grocery store and pick up a cake! :)

I was able to have three of my four daughters with me to celebrate (it's hard when my oldest daughter and her family live a 12 hours drive away).  Amanda and Emily thought their gift was hilarious!!

Yes...my daughters are all rotten to the core! :) :) :)

So, at the end of the day I can honestly say that turning 50 wasn't nearly as bad as I had anticipated.  It's certainly better than the alternative!!!!! :) :)  My youngest daughter said...."Well Mom, at least your just Over The Hill and not under it!"  Gotta love my girls!!!!!