Pineapple Fun {Mini Quilt}

"Be a pineapple.  

Stand tall, wear a crown, and be sweet on the inside."

This year, the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild decided that they wanted to do a mini swap again.  Last year, I didn't have one and it was so fun to watch everyone open and then steal away minis from each other, white elephant style.

This year, I decided I wanted to do something fun like the pineapple quilts I have been seeing around lately. I confess, I saw just saw a block on line, quickly did some quilt math, and pieced the top with 2.5" inch unfinished squares and HSTs from fabric that I scrounged from my scrap bins.

I then added matchstick quilting. 

I loooooove matchstick quilting on minis and throw pillows.

I had a lot of questions on Instagram when I posted the photo in progress.  

I used four different colors, white, light yellow, dark yellow, and a green in 50wt Gutermann using varying widths and varying stitch lengths (generally 3.0-4.5).  I have had so many questions about it that I will be making a video very soon to share.  Stay tuned!!!

The backing was a fun green print I have had in my stash for quite awhile.

I had some fun with the binding and added a bit of black and white with the yellow to frame it.

I added a printed computer label and then just used Heat n Bond to secure it to the back since it was a mini wall hanging.

Quilt Stats:

Measures: approx. 12.5" x 19"

Pattern: Pineapple Block

Fabrics: various yellows and green from stash, Kona White

Quilted: 50 wt Gutermann on Babylock Symphony

I had a great time and so glad to be able to participate this year.  

Hexie Caddy {Pincushion}

 I love mini swaps.  Making them.  Receiving them. However..... 

It's the extras that always confound me!

Enter in my go-to "extra".  The Hexie Pincushion Caddy

Tutorial is available at Penny Hands.

This time I chose three colors from the Cotton and Steel with Essex Linen

Made my Hexie and rectangle templates.  One of the rare times I use glue under protest.
Then I simply handstitch them together....

Our Favorite Part!

Add stuffing and you have a fun gift!

And for size, that is not a small pair of scissors and those are large corsage pins for scale.
I put some colorful gel pens so it can be a pencil holder too!

I think it went perfectly with her mini, if I do say so myself.

Quiltcon Prep

My phone app is telling me only 3 days left for QuiltCon.

I really am ill prepared.
This weekend, I had to make some decisions based on priorities 

the auction quilt and

son #1 birthday quilt won.

But I'm going to give my preparation list a go. At least I had some pins made this past week? 

The one thing I know is that in the end it won't matter if I do or don't get my "list" complete.  I just know I want to enjoy the experience as much as possible!

Mini Quilt, Sketchbook Cover, Pencil Roll, and Totes....oh my! {Swap}

I was so excited to receive my partner!  I squealed when I realized I recieved the sweet daughter of the actual founder of the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Swaps on Instagram!

I thought of a million of things to send her....it all of a sudden overwhelmed me because I knew I couldn't send every and all things to her!

So I started with her fabric and bought a FQ bundle of one of her favorite designers, Jen Baker with Art Gallery Fabrics

Geometric Bliss.

Then I scanned through every nook and cranny of the internet for my partner. It had to be special.

"Girl on the Swing" kept glaring at me.

I did mine a tiny bit different than the original tutorial that Aneela Hooey does. 

Instead of overlapping, I left a tiny bit of white space in between. I'm not sure why, but I just seemed "right" for this mini quilt.

I can honestly admit that "sketchy" applique quilting is not my forte.  I did my best to make the girl on a swing with her bunny companion.

The other change I made was making leaves instead of apples. 

And cut some flowers from one of the fat quarters out so that it lived in the border too.

After that, I decided that since my partner liked to draw and sketch, I would make her a journal cover and pencil roll.

Linen and patchwork of the Geometric Bliss.  Tried to keep it simple.

And then a little rainbow inside the pencil roll.  I LOVE this pattern by Joelle Haverson from the book Last Minute Patchwork+Gifts.  I have used it for versions of other rolls more than once before.

I had started another foundation pieced cupcake block in the middle of all the swap sewing because my partner's birthday was this past week.  I had planned for it all to arrive for her birthday, but in the end, I'd rather not rush during this busy family time in our lives.

What to do with the cupcake block? 
I had intended it for the sketchbook cover, but it felt too big for it. 

I decided on a tote.  A QAYG project. Completely impromptu and fun! 

The back I cut a large piece of the big floral and then worked my way around.

 Linen top and bottom edges and handles.

I was asked if I used a pattern the other day and I did not.  I have made so many totes over the year that I rarely refer to patterns unless they require fancy pockets...I skipped those this time!

I stuffed the inside of the bag with some yummy chocolate and Valentine Goodies that I didn't get a chance to take a picture of...

I sure hope she loved it!

Secret Swaps and more {WIP Wednesday}

I love secret swaps, but I hate that I can't share very much until the big reveal.  

It seems like it is a great big tease for those around me!

I have been having fun designing this idea for my swap partner.  My only worry is that it just won't work out!  It has been fun seeing what the other gals are doing in our Imagine Circle @ Do. Good Stitches!  I would be happy with ANY of the items I have seen so far.  I'm also glad I stayed strong through most of the year and waited for the perfect swap event, since I only allotted one swap to myself this year!

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My Christmas countdown list hasn't been getting any smaller than the day I announced my long list.  I have been going back and striking them out and everytime I view it, I don't feel any better!

I blame my kids.  Seriously?  How dare they need me to take them to basketball tryouts, practices, and games!

Lucky for them, they had nothing Tuesday, so I was able to make some progress on one of my Christmas gifts. I still feel like I am just biding my time so I can panic and rush it all in December!

I just realized that I have a lot of handsewing in my near future....

What is everyone else doing?  

Are you a busy bee or are you just hanging out...waiting for the holiday rush?

Who-who-hoop la-la

 I finished my Hoop-la-la swap project.  Off to the mail TODAY!

I think it is a pretty happy hoop!

 

 An owl that says "who-who" even though I always thought it was "hoo-hoo".  I, of course, HAD to research it..and most say "who-who" apprently!  What do you say?

   I really love these two birds.  I don't know why...I just do!

Wavy white lines for movement and brown thread for bird outlines, music notes, and phrases!

 White felt backing.  Instead of a label, I just wrote directly on it.

 I wouldn't call this a blanket stitch, but I used a similar technique by sewing down and angling out ahead...I just didn't capture the thread to make that "L" shape you get with a blanket stitch. 

Hoop Stats

Measures 8" in diameter

Pattern:  Adapted using Anita Peluso's Little Birds Quilt mini quilt pattern

Techniques: Pieced, quilted, appliqued

Fabrics: Moda: Eat Your Fruits n'Veggies by Pat Sloan and Mod Century by Jenn Ski and one piece of craft felt.

Thread: Guttermann

 Process Thoughts

My thoughts on things I would or could do better. 
I have been told recently that I am way too hard on myself, but I feel strongly that every project is a lesson to be learned.

• Consider making red fabric row in the middle shorter.  With the red row smaller, the white strips would be much taller and accommodate the birds and owl better.
• Consider mixing the colors all over. I was going for blue sky and green ground, but not quite sure if I expressed that well.
• Use a non-white WOOL felt for the back.  But it is the back, so it shouldn't really matter, right? 

I sure hope my partner likes it!!!!!!!

Name Game Swap

A million moons ago...okay three....I signed up for the Name Game Swap Round 2 on Flickr.

It was my first swap, and I was really excited because I had seen amazing mini quilts in the first round.  I was TERRIFIED to join.  Was I good enough?  Could I be creative enough?  Could I make my swap partner happy?  But I wanted my own mini quilt so badly, that I threw caution to the wind and signed up!  I can honestly say, that I was so glad I did!

I know I showed sneak peaks, long ago.  I have had several requests to get it in it's entirety posted.
Well, here it is!

My Artist's Palette Mini Quilt

My partner is an Art teacher in Florida.  She stated that she would like something she could share with her class.  She also wanted something incorporated from the area that the quilt came from.  I think she was hoping somewhere more exotic than good ole Texas!

I am very pleased with MOST things about it.

I am very proud of myself for designing a foundation piece to make the flying geese "paint globs".  The little bandanna swatch would not have been my first "red" choice, but I really wanted to include a piece of Texas in there like she instructed!

I am so proud of myself for stepping out of my loops and meandering FMQ box.  First time for pebbles and swirls.  I admittedly, know it needs some work, but I love the look it gave.  I also stepped out of my white background box!

It was also first time I have used a black and white binding that is all the rage for mini's.  I would not normally choose it.  I was actually tempted to do a pieced rainbow colored binding until my Aussie friend Sharon at Lilabelle Lane steered me to the the black and white and I am so glad I did!!!
Thanks Sharon!!

The one thing I am not happy about? I am not thrilled with my paintbrush. I either over-quilted it or and I am disappointed in my embroidery of her name.  I REALLY wish I had used my embroidery machine to do a nice bold font.

 
The grey stripe for the brush tip?  It blends too much with the gray background?  I tried to add quilting to mimic the brush bristles.

And I made sure I added a quilt label. 

I sometimes forget...Oops!

__________________________________________________

So enough about what I did....
LOOK AT WHAT I GOT IN THE MAIL!!

Amazing. 

Right?

Of course, my eye went straight to my logo first.

She even used felt and a button like my logo!?!?!?

Then I was distracted by her double fabric flowers with buttons as centers. 

 Her letters...perfection.
 Her binding? Immaculate.

Oh and more buttons.....

Button with a butterfly on it!

 Even the backside was as neat as the front. 

Where did mine come from?  

Czech Republic.

HOW COOL IS THAT!?!!?

And then as if the quilt wasn't enough, she sent me these two goodies too.

A cool elephant button...I think made of ceramic?  It will have to go on one very special project!

An adorable zipper pouch.  Seriously adorable.  I don't even want to use it and get it dirty!!

Needless to say.  I loved this swap!  It gave me the courage to get out of my box.  It stretched my quilting brain and fingers.  And it broke the ice for me to jump in a new one.

This time Hoops-la-la is on my horizon.

via my Flickr

Hoops that caught my eye?  Also may help my inspiration?
 Anyone I know joining in?