Button’s Globe {Teacher Quilt}

This year, Button and I got together in April to plan his thank you quilt to his teacher.

Button requires a little extra patience and care at school and we were grateful, as a family, for her extra kindness and support. We pulled out the Spelling Bee Book by Lori Holt that I had made the Joy pillow, butterfly and fox pillows.  I had originally planned to do letters, but he fell in love with the Vintage Life layout with the globes since his favorite subject seems to be geography.

He immediately became “bossy” and insisted on the fabric choices he pulled from my stash. 

I quickly was able to piece the blocks together. 

There was a bit of a slow down while I chose what to do with the “wire”.
I settled on a twisted chainstitch with a brassy gold perle cotton. 

We ran to the store to buy some sashing and border fabric.
He spotted the dotted blue fabric from the heart globe and we soon had a finished top to quilt. 

I was excited to be able to use my new Prostitcher program to do the crosshatch quilting on the globes. 

And also able to have fun and do free motion quilting everywhere else.  Stippling in the block backgrounds, wishbone in the sashing, and wild feathers in the borders. 

His backing choice wasn’t exactly what I would have chosen, but I just couldn’t argue because he was so determined to make decisions about her quilt.

We had fun digitizing his heart and signature for the quilt label. 

And I loved how excited he was to gift it to her. 

Quilt Stats:

Measures: Lap Size 

Pattern: Vintage Life by Lori Holt

Fabrics: Various scraps and stash. Sashing, Border, Backing and binding Joann Fabrixs. 

Quilting: Crosshatch and free motion on HQ Avante and Pro-stitcher

It was fun to see her open it

and also to see the reactions of his classmates and her!

And now it is summer....his favorite and my time of the year!!!

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.  

Rainbow Interrupted {Quilt}

My first donation quilt for the year.

This quilt is for my son's elementary/middle school program. It is a fundraiser luncheon to raise money and awareness for the kids that have special needs. I have been wanting to do the Strip and Flip Pattern by Allison Harris at Cluck Cluck Sew for quite some time. 

This quilt is utterly and completely made of scraps and stash.  Even the batting was pieced batting scraps. 

I made adjustments from the original tutorial because I wanted mine to be more lap quilt rather than a baby size. Lap quilts seem to fair better at auctions than any other size. 

I can't recall exact changes, but I do know I adjusted my strip widths to be 3" instead of two.  I also made my "flip" section wider so the overall width would be proportional to the length. I basically made two quilt tops WOF to get the larger cut. 

I promise I didn't waste, I 

cut a significant strip width so that I could finally use my butterfly fabric I bought from my friend Bree at Distant Pickles. 

Side note:  I still have a bit leftover and plan to use it on another backing someday. I tend avoid pieces backings as of late and the only piecing I seem to do is a vertical or horizontal strip to add width or length.

The luncheon was very beautiful and successful. As I was leaving? The person that won it, pulled me aside to ask me how she should take care of it. My response to everyone who asks me that when they recieve one of my quilts?

 "Love it. Love it. Love it.  And throw it in the wash on occasion."

  I was soooo happy that it went to someone who knew me and was going to a family who will love it.

Stash

Ever since Monday when I posted the giveaway and started reading everyone's comments, I started thinking about how quilters use the term stash for their fabric! 

According to the urban dictionary?

We all sound like we are drug addicts or something!!

Which brings me to what I am calling my Black Friday haul that I mentioned on Wednesday.

First, my awesome friend Bree at Distant Pickles messaged me to let me know Joann's was offering their 40 yd roll of Warm and Natural batting for $209.99. It is normally $449.00. Not to mention she shared a free shipping code with me. Wow, right?!?! It was too good to pass up.

I wish I had a better photo of my box and batting, but it is too heavy for me to lift right now.  The boys plopped into the garage.  Just picture it as a HUGE roll of batting.  I think I will have enough batting for the next ten years....or maybe not?

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I also noticed that my Facebook quilting friends were abuzz about the sale on craftsy.com. I just had an email yesterday and it seems they are still having some really decent deals on pre-cuts! Since I had birthday money I shopped for the first time for bundles that I loved. No plans. No particular person in mind. 

Riley Blake!! 

I couldn't pass them up.  Recently, I have really been intrigued by their lines and wanted them!

Fly a Kite, Scoot, and Simple Life FQ Bundles and Fox Trails Layer Cake

I also picked up these extra pre-cuts. 

 Scamper bundle,  Chicopee design roll, and Bernatex.  

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Oh....and it doesn't end there! 

 My friend Tracey at Traceyjay Quilts was destashing.  I couldn't pass it by.  

Blush.  
Yardage and about 32 Fat Quarter cuts.

  Perfect for the quilt I have planned for my aunt who is battling breast cancer!

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I am wondering....how many of you took advantage of all the amazing Black Friday sales?!?!

  I used to hate having my birthday right before Thanksgiving as a kid.  It seemed that everyone was distracted about the coming holiday.  But, now?  I think I am starting to like it!!!!

Speaking of stash....it isn't too late to enter the giveaway for the Amy Butler bundle.

I think it would look very nice in ANYONE's stash!!!

My Space

I didn't have any plans today for a blog post since the boys and I are in the midst of first week of school activities.

It seemed to be karma that Moda is having a linkup party to show off our stash!

Precuts  (Jelly rools, Fat Quarter Bundles) on the top of the bookcase

Recently, I was Sidetracked and I finally moved my quilting fabrics out of my closet into the main room of my studio.  I made mini bolts which seem to be all the rage.  Moved out a old rack that held my ribbon, and replaced it with a tall bookcase.

It was the best decision I have made in my room in a long time. 

I still have felt, fleece, and various home deco  fabrics in the closet.

 But by moving the cottons and quilting fabrics it has relieved some space for my WIP projects in bins and baskets!!

The rest if the room is quite a mess right now. 

I have school uniforms and other school paraphenelia being embroidered with school logos and names and monograms

I have my oldest son's bedroom curtains waiting to be ironed and hung. My new iron taking up space and waiting for a few more loads of laundry to be ironed.

Someday, I'd really like to take everyone on a detailed tour of the storage and such, but all those UFOs, WIPs and chores need to be finished by this day's end.

Go check out some other rooms at Moda Bake Shop. 

Click Image

I am going to go and get some ideas.