My Google Reader says...

I have 810 posts unread.

I will be honest...the T-shirt quilt put me behind 400 and now my newest projects have set me back the other half!

Finished:

First Communion Banner

This is hung at the end of the pew of the the little girl or boy on their special day for their first communion.

 I am extremely happy with the design!!

Plaid Tote Bags

I was asked to make some bags for the two students that "won" the office helper of the day.  I used some leftover denim material and a red check inside for the liner.  They supplied some used uniforms for the school plaid.

 

Second Sharpie Roll

I thought I would make myself one, after making Bunny one HERE.

But mine didn't turn out as well as his!  You can read up about it HERE.

In Progress:

Raggedy Ann Doll:

A friend wanted a Raggedy Ann Doll for her daughter's birthday at the end of the month.  I found this sweet doll on the internet.

I have her bow, and most of the head/body, and arms cut and seamed.  I am waiting for some fabric to be delivered to do her legs, skirt, and shirt!  Easy pattern to follow and

Princess skirt/Disney shirts

Zoo animal quilts for twins:

Remember William and Connor's quilts?

 

I am starting two more for a pair of twin boys!

I am in the layout, cutting mode.  I even found some binding I made from the last one that I forgot I had?  I must have made THREE pieced bindings!!!  So that is good luck, right?

The only thing I am stuck on is the fact that they are twins.  I want them to have two different animals, because I am pretty sure that is important to mother's with twins and the twins themselves eventually...so I should stay away from having two animals, right?  I am stuck!

No Progress

Retro Flowers QAL

Twin quilt for nursery

Christmas quilt 

Baby girl quilt kit 

Thank you quilt

Merry, Merry Snowman BOM

Do. Good Stitches Blocks

Linking up with Lee at

Anyone know how many posts Google Reader can hold?  I think I might be approaching the max-out?

If you get random comments or replies from this blog from me on posts from a while back...it is because I am finally catching up!

 

If not, I am just busy quilting...or at least that is the story I am sticking to, okay?

Sharpie Roll

My somewhat of a tutorial...

 I had a few requests for a tutorial on the sharpie roll and I have to be completely honest.

I feel like a fraud.
The rainbow strips were NOT my idea!

 I was inspired by the book:

Purchase here at Amazon.com

I don't want to reveal too much of her instructions, but her roll was for colored pencils (and VERY beautiful) and mine had to accommodate the thick sharpies and was made by Bunny and I.  I wouldn't say we are necessarily good at beautiful together!

However, he still gets HUGE kudos for choosing fabrics to match from my scrap bins and fat quarter stash!

  Not to mention helping me piece it!

 

With that said, I am going to just share the changes I made to fit my needs.

The colored strips had to be shorter and wider.  

I started with the length above from the book, but they were obviously too long, right? 

I settled on cutting each colored strip measuring 7.5 inches by 2 inches. To make 1.5 inch strips when pieced with 1/4 inch seams.

And my pocket and pocket liner were 4 in x 36 in. 

 NOTE:  Your length will vary depending on how many markers you have.  I had to decide on this measurement AFTER I had pieced all of my colored strips together.

On the second one I made for myself, I just folded a 8in x 36 in pieced of fabric, but still did a nice top-stitch at the top edge.

I used cotton instead of canvas on the second one for the pocket, and I have to be honest that I am not happy with it.  The canvas/bottom-weight scrap we used on Bunny's is much stiffer and doesn't make this funny shape.

It also could be due to the fact that I am HORRIBLE about following bias directions when I am just trying to get a project done.  Anyone else?

When it is time to layer it all together, the book recommends flannel as a batting.  I used it and can honestly say that it is awesome and will use it for lighter projects in the future.

As for the ties...Bunny's was included in the sandwich so that both ties are on one end, however, I thought I'd give it just one little twist for myself.

Okay, confession...
I actually forgot it!! 
 But I never panic, just go with the flow.  I am actually happy about the new placement.  A quick hand sewn job off center about 2 inches (if you do it in the center it won't wrap right)

One last tweak? 

 When it recommended to just go up and down each seam for the "quilting" part? I did that.  But I also top-stitched the entire perimeter of the roll.

If you are looking for a book with great gift ideas...I HIGHLY recommend it!  The projects are categorized by the length of time each project takes.    Isn't that the hardest thing for most quilters/crafters to figure out when we are doing last minute gifts?

You Would Think...

That I would be done with quilting after the hours spent on the t-shirt quilt last week...

FINISHES:

But as soon as the T-shirt quilt went out the door, Bunny and I were determined to finish his Sharpie Marker Roll Saturday afternoon!

And we did!!!!

I am actually so jealous to see all 26 colors that I want to make one for my own pack of 24!!!

He did such a fabulous job matching up the colors from my scraps, that I think I am going to have him help me with mine!


 Oh...I forgot...the T-shirt quilt. 

More pictures HERE!

IN PROGRESS:

Do. Good Stitches.

 

I am so excited to recently be included in this charity bee!!!  I am going to be a quilter for the Imagine at Do. Good Stitches!! Which means I am responsible for two blocks a month and a quilt every so often!  So now you will be seeing a blocks in my WIP posts!
This month includes this color palette

....at least I hope I have it right!

NO PROGRESS:

Retro Flowers QAL

Twin quilt for nursery

Christmas quilt 

Baby girl quilt kit 

Thank you quilt 

NEW PROJECTS:

Secret project. 
 I hate when I see this on other blogs because it is such a tease, but I don't want to ruin the surprise for this person!!!!  I finalized my design, worked out my cutting measurements, and ordered the fabrics this past Sunday!

Merry, Merry Snowmen (by Bunny Hill Designs)

 Yes...I joined my first Block of the Month. I had to have it.  I can't imagine a better fabric (French General) or style for my family room if you remember my change in Christmas decorations HERE.  It started in February, so I have to catch, up...

I am not exactly sure how all this happened...I am guessing I am a little crazy...

Linking up with the only other people that quite understand the crazy...

Quilters.  We are a strange breed, are we not?