Monster Bash {Quilt}

 My first 2017 finish....a Halloween quilt....am I early or late is the question?

To continue with the 2016 Theme of Sewing my Stash, this past October, I rummaged through my precut bookcase and found one remaining Halloween charm pack.  It was Monster Bash by Moda Fabrics I had bought to use as a backup option for quilt I made a client called Trick or Treat Quilt. However, I eventually found the original charm square pack she had requested like the original I had made.

I also pulled some stash for background, Essex Linen in Natural, and added a few leftover Riley Blake Lost & Found layer cake cuts from my Halloween Checkmate Quilts.

 This block is suuuuper easy to make using Material Girl's tutorial HERE.

Even Button became interested and very involved.  He loved "flipping" the pieces.

And he was so determined that we finish the quilt, he helped me with the piecing on the machine since he was determined to have it finished by the end of the weekend. We both agreed we liked the thin black with wider linen borders to make it larger.

I didn't have a good amount of yardage I liked for the backing, so I did purchase some fabric from Joann's.  We chose this Witches on Brooms on a gray background.

I was skeptical when I brought it home because I realized there weren't any gray blocks on the front, but went with it because I have no plans as of this moment to make another Halloween quilt since we currently have five.  I then changed direction from the original orange/brown dot fabric for the binding and pulled this black and white dot from my stash.

I have to say that I actually liked the gray background now. The white and black spiderweb blocks read that same tone.

I REALLY enjoyed quilting on the linen. In the past, I've been a bit frustrated that my quilting hasn't "shown" up and sorta blends in.  But the Essex linen played nicely.

I origianlly had intended to do spiderweb blocks and only did one small corner and changed direction with the more floral center.  The border is a wavy triangle all around.

I love that it will blend right in our more formal room, we jokingly call The Library.

Halloween 2016

I think it will bring in some color for Halloween?  

Don't you?

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 50" square

Pattern: Disappearing Four Patch (Tutorial at Material Girl's)

Fabrics: Moda Monster Bash, Riley Blake Lost & Found, Robert Kaufman Kona Black, Robert Kaufman Essex linen, Joann Fabrics Witch and Black and White Dot

Quilted: Freemotion on Handiquilter Avante

The best part?  When I finished the binding and presented it to Button? 

His response was "WE made that mom!  Great job team!" with a double high five.

He makes my day in an instant!

Moda Love Charm {Quilted Throw Pillow}

This year is what I call the Year of the Leftovers.

After finishing Peanut's Quilt, I still had some charm squares left because the pattern doesn't use the entire pack.  My first instinct was to just cut them into 2.5" squares for my hexie stash, but then I recalled that there was a "mini" version of the original Moda Love Pattern.

And then sticking with my "use all my stash" comimttment, I found this Essex Linen in blue to use with it. I still haven't mastered working with linens and small blocks, but hey, its a process and I used up the fabric that was just going to collect dust!

I decided I would just make another fun pillow cover.  Either for my studio or Button's room.  With that in mind, I used an off white linen scrap I had and made a blue gingham binding.

I did my hidden zipper back and quilted the front with straight line quilting in the four quadrants.  

Lessons learned?  No linen backing.  And stick to matchstick quilting to hide all my small piecing sins.

Button declined it for his bedroom, even though it matches his quilt and pillows, and it is now in my studio.  Sometimes its good to have your lesson learned quilted works out and and about!

Peanut's Baby {Quilt}

My sister is having a baby very soon and his nickname is Peanut. Unlike me, she is not surprised by the gender of her babies, but keeps their names a closely guarded secret. 

I was very late in giving her other boys their quilts, Primarily Sean and Gabe in the Hat. This time I wanted to get a small quilt done before my new nephew actually arrived!

The Moda Love Quilt has popped up in my friends' Facebook feed and I also noticed quite a few being made on Instagram. It is a layer cake pattern, but includes charm and min charm patterns also.

I found my Moda Mod Century by Jenn Ski charm pack, in my stash, that I had picked up a few years ago which I paired with Kona Snow from my stash.
I love the orange, reds and blues for a boy.

The trickiest part was deciding what colors were going to be the full squares and HSTs. I grabbed my colored pencils and made quick work. After making the HSTs and playing with the layout on the design wall. 

I blinked and had a top. It pieced quickly, even when I added a small border to make it slightly bigger than the original pattern.

I loaded it up on Ole Betsy, and decided on a FMQ circle quilting based on a pantograph I saw online that I now intend to purchase for the future.

The coordinating blue flannel backing quilted and washed very nicely for a sweet new baby.

And the orange swirl by Moda gave the edges the pop and the draw to the center that I wanted.

A tiny printed label on the back and it was sent off posthaste to her. I beat the baby's arrival!

Quilt Stats

Size: 36" square

Pattern: Moda Love 

Fabrics: Mod Century Charm Pack by Moda, Orange Marble Swirl,
Kona Snow, Joann Fabrics Flannel

Quilting: Free motion circles on HQ Avante longarm

I definitely plan to use this pattern again, possibly in the Layer Cake size!

'Tis the Season {Giveaway}

I feel like I just said "I don't do giveaways often" just a few weeks ago.  Well, here I am, doing another one.   However, this feels right! 

 A Lucy's Crab Shack charm pack!

Thanks for stopping by!  If you want to hang out and look at some of my projects and tutorials, I promise, I won't bite.

To enter the giveaway just answer:

If there were actual elves, what would you love for them to do for you before the holidays?

If you are feeling like you like one chance isn't enough? 
Become a new follower, or tell me you have always been following (leave a comment) for an extra entry.  However, not necessary to win!

Giveaway Details

Winner will be chosen randomly

Open until Friday, December 13th at 5 pm PST (7pm CT)

 (psst...if you are no-reply commenter...please make sure you leave me your email)

 Item will be shipped no later than Friday, December 20th.  Sorry...I can't get it to you by Christmas, but think of the possibilities for the New Year!  Note: Yes! Will ship internationally!

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Now after you comment?  

Get your lovely self over (or back over) to

Sew Mama Sew is gathering the troops to deliver Giveaway Day again!  Her bi-annual gathering of blogger's giveaways!

Be sure to go check it out.  Supplies and handmade items abound!

Forget Dipping My Toe...

How do I tackle My Ridicoulously Long List?

I dive right in!  Head first.

I picked out all the stitches on these pants last night.

I am going to try to re-hem these pants for son #2.  Think I can get the creases out?

via Instagram

I also took a bit of time yesterday to piece Lyla's quilt between house chores, doctor appts, and two soccer games.

Had to post the "blowing in the wind shot", right?

I am a bit annoyed that I messed up my block rows....again.  Not only the rows themselves, but within the rows.   It amazes me how I do that all the time!  Good thing it is supposed to be random.

I am on the fence about the applique I designed.  I thought the block was bigger than it was when I designed it...her name is on the edge.  But I think I can make up for it all when I take her out to Ole Betsy.    I already have the binding ready to go!

 I was also able to lay out a Moda Charm Pack I had bought last year, but never used.

I have been meaning to make a Halloween quilt for someone with it.  Now that I have Spiders and Webs and Spiders and Webs, part deux, I think a third halloween quilt would be a bit much for me.

Good thing my little sis is putting on a silent auction for her FRG (Family Readiness Group) up at Fort Lewis, Washington.    I asked if I could donate something.  She pretended to protest profusely.  

She obviously wasn't too convincing....

I need to finish it up cutting and piecing today so I can quilt and take pictures this weekend for her!  I would love to do something REALLY amazing, there are so many charm pack quilts out there, but because of the time constraints, it looks like I need something fast!  I am trying to adapt the Line Dance Baby Quilt over at the Moda Bake Shop to a bit bigger size.

Luckily, I finished the night off with some light reading.  

Via Instagram

I can officially renew my nursing license and not worry about it for another two years.

 I was pretty happy with all my progress.  Not too shabby, is it?