Precut Primer {Review and Blog Hop}

  Back to school arrived with a bang as soon as we returned from vacation a few weeks ago.  It has been a little more stressful than other years since we just moved to the Salt Lake city area and we also sent of our oldest to college.  

Normally, back to school feels like "back to business" for me.  A time of the year when I hunker down and focus on quilt projects for customers and gifts.  When I was asked to participate in the Precut Primer Blog hop, I knew it would be perfect to kick-start my way back into the studio.  Fat Quarter Shop publishes books that never steer me wrong. 

The book by Me and My Sister Designs is really, really clever.  And I mean. Clever. 

There is a quilt project for each grade. I spent a lot of time flipping through the book saying things like "OOhhhh. I know which jelly roll to use for that one."

Or "Oh!  I've always wondered what to do with that fat quarter bundle that has been collecting dust!" 

Precuts can sometimes be the bane of a quilter's existences. They are hard to resist when they go on sale. We convince ourselves that we can just buy a precut of a new fabric line to appease the need for the pretties without making a huge investment in yardage.  This book hits all the high marks for having options for charm squares, jelly rolls, layer cakes, and fat quarter bundles. 

Just like my academic career, I decided to be an over achiever and start one of the larger quilts, the 8th grade, with a Daysail layer cake by Bonnie & Camille.   I find it fitting since I've just recovered from my second son graduating 8th grade this past spring and now have another 8th grader this year!

Time for my confession.  I just started the project three days ago.  

I am a procrastinator.
 I knew I could do a small project, but I really, really wanted to make the entire quilt.

I am THAT student that burned the midnight oil to get the paper done or study for a test.  The night
before. All night long. 

 I read recently a study that said it is because I'm an eternal optimist.  I don't remember hearing that in my Psych 101 class my freshman year in college, but I'm going to go with it.  Needless to say, I did feel a bit like Button looks up above after I powered through. But I could not have done it without the easy instructions and eager excitement to see the finished project. 

The eight grade quilt top!

 The only reason it isn't quilted yet is that I have another quilt on my longer set of long arm leaders which needs to be completed as soon as possible.  And I would like to really take my time deciding on the pattern I would like to quilt to compliment this beautiful pattern.

But...here comes the over achiever  part.  I did sneak in this other project I have been dying to do.

I call it my Inspiration Board. 

I've been wanting to have a board in my studio other than my design boards to pin up quilting plans for current project or my freehand practice sketches to trigger ideas while I'm in front of the longarm.

The 8th grade quilt doesn't use all the layer cakes in the pack, so I grabbed two to make a block and set it in a blank "canvas".  Made a quilt sandwich.  Quilted.  Then I attached it to an insulation board exactly like my portable design boards.

It turned out exactly the way I wanted it to. I swirled. I pebbled. I feathered.  I bloomed.
 

I went a bit crazy.  I even did a ghost block to mimic the solo block.

The only concern is that I might get sent to detention for breaking the rules and using only one block. 

Maybe if I can convince the principal that I can pin up my inspiration sketches....practice, practice, practice, right??!!!  

I already have the backing and binding fabrics waiting!!!!

If you are just finding about this book, I encourage you to check out the other quilty classmates that have joined in on the fun! Follow the week long blog hop at Fat Quarter Shop to see all of their Precut Primer quilts, and you just might learn a thing or two! 

September 2, 2015
Me and My Sister Designs
Moda Fabrics
Pat Sloan
April Rosenthal

September 3, 2015
Corey Yoder of Little Miss Shabby

September 4, 2015
Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side

September 7, 2015
Jane Davidson of Quilt Jane
Heidi Grohs of Buttons & Butterflies

September 8, 2015
Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

September 9, 2015
Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting 
Lissa Alexander of Moda Fabrics
 

There is also a giveaway at Jolly Jabber! They are giving away five copies of Precut Primer to five lucky FQS fans. For a chance to win a copy of GET OVER TO THE Fat Quarter Shop blog before the bell rings (September 9th). 

Marquette University {Quilt}

This quilt is exactly how I pictured it when I decided I would make a quilt for his graduation.

The pattern Rah, Rah Rally (by Melissa Corry) caught my eye quite a long time ago. I took a quick screenshot before I had a pinterest account and I will admit...It took quite a bit of investigation to find it. 

Luckily, he still had not decided which of the eight schools he wanted to go to up until the beginning of February. It gave me time to purchase the book, Moda Sweet Celebrations Featuring some Moda Bakeshop Chefs. 

As soon as I had the go ahead, I scrambled to order Kona solids (Corn Yellow, Blue Jay, White, Marine). I also picked up this aaaaaaamazing Minky by Shannon Fabrics. 

Embossed Geo Cuddle in Midnight by Shannon Fabrics

I had a few oopsies on the logo. One that  I forgot to mirror correctly. One that was too small. I felt like Goldilocks when I got the size "juuuust right". 

He is taking it to college with him and I loved that he had it on our recent family vacation to Lake Powell. 

Our favorite vacation place, my favorite college kid, and a quilt.  

Who can ask for more, really.

Quilt Stats: 

Finished size: 71" x 88"

Pattern: Rah Rah Rally by Melissa Corry (Moda Sweet Celebrations Book)

Fabrics: Kona Yellow Corn, Kona Blue Jay, Kona White, Kona Marine, Shannon Fabrics Embossed Geo Cuddle Fabrics

Quilting: Free motion square quilting on longarm machine.

My Little Big Man

An accidental photo taken at the perfect moment during the quilt photoshoot.
  Lake Powell, Utah.

My Little Big Man,

There you were.  Plopped in my arms the first time.  Quiet.  Content.  Your eyes closed as if you were just not ready for the big world, but peeking every so often to see what all the fuss was about.  You took my breath away, I loved you so much.


There you were.  Crawling around.  Stopping to sit.  Then you would turn around and give me that sneaky grin because you caught me watching you about to get into something.  My heart would burst with love.


There you were.  Toddling about.  That perpetual “Oh?!” look because you were caught throwing the remote or phone in the trash.  In that way you pretend that you didn’t do something...but you realized you did something naughty...but maybe I wouldn’t notice.  I loved you so much, because...how cute were you?

There you were.  A big brother.  So sweet. So gentle with your brother Jacob.  I sometimes was afraid you would strangle him with all that love you had for him.  I was so scared that I couldn’t love a second child. That I loved you too much I wouldn’t have room. Your love for him eased me and I realized I didn’t have to split my heart.  It just grew bigger.


There you were.  Always in a dream world.  Tossing stuffed monkeys up in the air.  Lining up your Little People toys and cars.  Playing video games in the grocery store aisle with your fingers moving a joystick that wasn’t there.  I knew you were a daydreamer, but also needed a sense of order like me.  I love that we had that in common.

There you were.  A big brother again.  So capable. So ready to teach your other brother how to be a big brother to Jonathan.  A mentor.  A leader.  If a heart can have pride?  Mine certainly does.

There you were.  Struggling in school.  Daydreaming in class. Fighting me tooth and nail to do homework.  But then taking control in fourth grade. Showing me that you didn’t need me anymore.  I knew then, that you were going to be ready for any challenge in your future. You understood success because you experienced and understood failure. You gave my heart confidence.

There you were.  Scraping your shoes out in the dirt.  Knees bent.  Glove at the ready.  Prepared to spring and catch any ball coming your way.  Or standing at the line on the court.  Spinning your tennis racquet.  Ready to take on the biggest and baddest.  You never cared.   You were like a Titan.  I loved your fearless heart.

There you were.  A big brother again.  You held your sister Jamie so sweetly.  So gently as she passed.  You had your heart broken.  We all had our hearts broken.  But you stood strong and made me laugh in the car just twenty minutes after I had just wailed my pained soul out at the entrance of the hospital.  You made me laugh all the way home.  I will always be grateful for that.  You will always have my undying love.

There you were.  Conquering what seemed to be the impossible.  Acceptance to Strake Jesuit Preparatory High School.  You changed that day.  You became more confident.  More capable than I have ever seen.  My heart was less scared for you.

There you were.  A big brother again.  You knew how much that little boy was going to heal us all.  James worships the ground you walk on. They all do.  You are worth worshiping. My heart worships you.

There you were. Driving. Looking out your review mirror at me.  Spending more time with friends.  Locked up in your room.  Separating yourself.  Getting ready to leave the nest.  Preparing my heart to let you go.

There you were.  Hands shaking.  Ripping open the envelope.  Crying.  Joyful. Thankful.  Your greatest childhood dream and accomplishment.  Acceptance to Marquette University.  My heart soared for you.

There you are.  Listening.  Agreeing.  Disagreeing.  No matter what? Always there.  Becoming the man you are today.



I will miss you. But I'm so happy for you and your adventure. Be the difference.

I love you, My Little Big Man.

Gypsy {Quilt}

 This Gypsy Quilt was made for the new owners of our Houston house.  They put a contract on it and they kindly agreed for us to lease it back until the end of the school year so our boys could have some sort of routine before we moved to Salt Lake City in the summer.  

I chose this kit from my stash because it had so many pinks and purples and screamed "GIRLS".  Ironically.  Our house was trading 4 boys for 4 girls and this was perfect for them.   I don't normally buy a ton of kits from Joann fabrics, however, this one was on clearance when the store moved from small store to their super store.  It had 14 fat quarters and was a whopping $3.99.

 Really.  How could I resist?

The blocks were quick and easy to construct. 

 It was all about making each one as scrappy as possible. 

I really don't miss having my machine in the garage!!

Since I was going for "quick" and easy. I loaded it up and chose the Daisy Galore pantograph.

 The backing was also from my stash. A hot pink floral and stripe from Joann's circa 2007.

I framed it out with a purple floral binding from my stash. 

Excuse all the wrinkles.  I had it all packed away so the movers didn't misplace it before I left it behind.

 When asked why I felt the need to make the new homeowners this quilt?  I simply say that I was every grateful for them to be so accomodating.  We were able to host After- Prom night for our oldest son's "last hoorah!"  We were able to have our families from afar and come celebrate our oldest son's graduation.

Quilt Stats:

Size: 54" x 63"

Pattern: Joann Fabric Kit

Fabric: Joann Fabrics

Batting: Warm & Natural

Quilting: Longarm Daisy Galore Pantograph

Debonaire {Quilt}

[deb-uh-nair] adjective
1.

courteous, gracious, and having a sophisticated charm:

a debonair gentleman.

The definition describes the man that helped restore my aunt's antique treadle I inherited. He was our neighbor in Houston that had an amazing wood workshop and did gorgeous work. He offered to help me out when he happened to walk in our garage and saw the cabinet in such a state. 

The restoration of the machine head is an entirely different, lengthy post for the future!

I was so excited, when we started discussing veneer replacement versus restoration.  There was horrible water mold stains and the top that lifts had severe rippling and lifting....not to mention that the veneer had been replaced on the sides the wrong direction by a family member in the past.  I asked him if I could pay him and he wouldn't let me. We finally agreed I would hem some curtains for him. I felt like I was getting a better part of the deal.

As our moving date fast lay approached, he rolled over the refurbished treadle.

Not only did he fix the broken lift, he replaced the veneer (in the right direction) and even made a wooden wheel to match the only three I had!!! 

I knew then I had to make a quilt for him and his super, lovely wife. Hemming some curtains was just not going to be enough. But it had to be quick.  I raided my closet and instantly knew that my Debonaire quilt kit from the Fat Quarter Shop was perfect. 

And boy. It was a painful sacrifice because I really, really was excited about the quilt for our family room. 

See how it matches my chairs!??!?

And my most favorite "traditional style" fabric on the planet.  French general.

I also looooved that this quilt also kept my SewMyStash2015 goal strong.  

I had bought the 108" backing fabric for my grandparents quilt and had just enough leftover for this one. 

And the choice of doing a Lida pantograph in beige thread was perfection!

I also made one of my embroidery labels. I spent one evening designing about 8 quilt labels on my software. And the next day stitching them out. Worth the trouble. 

I'm so glad I was able to make it in time before we moved.  

Quilt Stats:
Size: 54" square

Pattern: Debonnaire by Rachel Griffith, ItsSewEmma

Fabric: French General by Moda Fabrics

Thread: Natural Linen by Superior Threads

Quilting: Lida Pantograph on Avante Longarm

 Unfortunately, I cannot find the final finished photo.  We took a quick one with hubby's phone because my camera was packed away.  Somehow, the photos were lost when we moved them to Dropbox. 

But every time we Facebook message or text, they remind us that they use it every night!!!!