Monthly Archives: December 2011

HtbaS - Episode 61

Short and sweet this week since I wanted to get done before the kids woke up! I talk about the BDSI and coming NYSI, buffalo quilting, and using the Charming Stars pattern from Moda Bake Shop.

nysi

Charming Squares Quilt Top using Kate Spain Terrain:

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Christmas Crafting Round-Up

Finished Projects
I don’t necessarily strive to make it a Handmade Holiday every year, and if I did I think it would drive me batty. I did make several gifts this year, though, so here’s the list (and I’m probably forgetting something):
My parents recently redecorated their house with the help of a professional. Apparently professionals think that multiple counted cross-stitches done by one’s 11 year old cat-loving daughter don’t necessarily have a place all over the house, so all my precious, precious pieces were put lovingly into a box (note: I am totally fine with this, and mildly surprised they all stayed up as long as they did). I put a note with this piece that they needed something I made to hang up in their house replace all those festive felines, and this particular pattern reminded me of my grandparents farm.  I added in the smaller quilt blocks to bring it up to a size that would fit a standard frame, and did some light hand- and machine-quilting.
We’re not quite done with Christmas here since we’re exchanging gifts with my husband’s family on Saturday,  but I’ve already started gathering up decorations to put up. I’m excited to reclaim my house!

Boxing Day Sew-In is here! #BDSI

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Here’s the basic dirt on the fun sew-in day we’re organizing!
  • Visit Sandy’s blog for details on how to participate and enter in the giveaways, and also on some ideas for charitable crafting today. I’m sponsoring two FQ assortments as prizes!
  • You can post pictures of your projects in the BDSI flickr group (and also answers to some of the mini-tasks Sandy will be posting).
  • I’m too excited to write more! You can follow the conversation on twitter by using tweetchat to track the BDSI hashtag. Here’s a quick and dirty link to follow.

HtbaS - Episode 60

You found me! Yay! I talk about my jelly roll race quilt, making a coupon/loyalty card/notepad holder, cutting pieces for a king-sized trapunto quilt, and my Terrain layer cake quilt.

See Sandy’s websitefor the BDSI plans!

Notepad holder exterior:

Interior:

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Sampler Blocks and Jelly Roll Race

Finished Projects,
I picked up the sampler blocks for the Houses and Grandma’s Garden last Saturday, and put the last stitch on the flower block today.  My daughter got sick last night, which was the first real tummy trouble we’ve had since either kid was a baby. I consider us lucky and full of intestinal fortitude.  She seems to have recovered, so we’re hoping the visit to see Santa is back on for tonight!

Here’s the last House sampler block (provided by the store, anyway- I plan on making 4 more for the wrong side of the tracks):

 And here is the Grandma’s garden block. I chose the quote “Comparison is the thief of joy” for this one:
And I also whipped up a jelly roll race quilt last weekend to donate either to Wellspring Living (the Atlanta MQG charity for 2012) or Project Linus - I’m not sure what the timetable it for collecting for Wellspring, hence the uncertainty on where it’s going:

 

This wasn’t a particular brand jelly roll, and I think it was mis-priced because I remember getting it for $5 at a quilt show. I got matching fabric for the back at A Scarlet Thread.  I just straight line quilted it along the jelly roll strips.

HtbaS - Episode 59

I talk about fusing the moose (not an euphemism), finishing the Snowbunny, and the dreaded podcast feed changeover.

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Oh hai, Moose!

General Quilting

This is my fused applique project I just finished putting together today (sorry, Jaye - took me less than a week, instead of the two I estimated). I’ll be quilting it tonight and tomorrow, and since it looks like I’ll have it done before Christmas I can give it to them.

This pattern is a Bigfork Bay Cotton Company pattern (Summer Serenity, I think). Pat Sloan just interviewed them on her podcast.

Follow-up! Zapper is unimpressed by mooses, but remains as helpery as ever:

Zapper says: “In your face, moose! And also cancer.”  She’s doing great, and my thanks go out to everyone’s kind words in light of her diagnosis.

Snowbunny Quilt - FINISHED!

Finished Projects
Meet the Snowbunny!

This is the All Stars quilt pattern by Cozy Quilt Designs in throw size.  I made enough blocks for the twin size, so I used those on the back (pics lower).  I picked the name Snowbunny because the direction the stars point remind me of floppy bunny ears.

(bunny picture courtesy of  Stonecrest Stables)
And since I did that survey, I canned both options for the inner border and went with something completely different.
I don’t know that I’m in love with the nine patches in the corner, but it’s what I had to do because of the striped border. I cut all the outer border strips WOF (and had to match the stripes when I sewed them together), but in restrospect should have done either the sides or top/bottom along the grain for the stripes to point in the same direction. Or pieced them in the center of each border piece so it looks like a chevron. But I wanted enough to use for the back so I could spare the length.
Here’s the back… more of the stripe print.  The leftover star blocks I put on the back, flanked by the light jelly roll strips that I didn’t use in making the blocks. And then I went with some of the teal that I liked for the inner border but couldn’t put next to the stripe fabric.

HtbaS - Episode 58

I give some updates on the homefront at the beginning. Quilting talk starts at 7:30.  I talk about the All Stars jelly roll quilt pattern and what I’ve learned in making the quilt center.

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Opinions Requested!

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I’m working on my Fruitcake quilt, and it’s almost time to put the inner border on.  I didn’t get yardage from the Fruitcake line last year to do this, so I’m going to work from my stash.  I’ve got two choice right now, shown below:

 So, do you think the teal or the brown? The brown is my safe zone, but I like the teal because I like teal but am not sure it goes with the striped fabric for the outer border. So…

What color for the inner border?