Tuesday, December 28, 2010

December Le Petite Project

I finished my December Le Petite project today.  I am so excited about how it came out.  It was really fun to make.  I really liked the way the prairie points looked pointing up instead of down, so I modified mine.  


I also made mine with with fat quarters I bought and I cut them with my Accuquilt.  I love my Accuquilt. 

My relolution for the new year is to complete a project (quilty or otherwise) before beginning another one.  So far I am already getting a jump on it by finishing this today.  What are you planning for the New Year????

 I hope everyone has a Great 2011.

Happy Quilting ;)
Laura

Monday, December 27, 2010

LCQA BLOCK 4 and Lots of Christmas Fun

I finihed Block 4 just under the wire.  I am really enjoying this QuiltAlong, it's just that I have been busy with Christmas presents.  (Like everyone else in Blogland :)  Here it is.....
Can't wait to see what Block #5 will be.

Santa was very good to me again this year.  Most all of my presents had a "Quilty" theme.  I got gift certificates to French Knot Quilt Shop, a new rotary cutter, a Central Park layer cake, a Giddy jelly roll, a purse kit with beautiful fabric and some bling to attach and I got a set of Leaves Galore rulers.  I am so excited about all my new treasures!!  I am thinking about using the layer cake for the Bloggers Block-A-Palooza.  We shall see.  A couple of friends and I are making a quick run to Humble to a very cute quilt shop there on Friday.  Who knows what I will come home with, Hee, Hee, Hee.

I love Dr. Seuss

I really like fabric,
You know that I do.
When there is a giveaway,
I always enter,it's true.

I like the way it smells,
The way it feels and looks.
I like it almost as much
As Dr. Seuss Books!

Here is the link to a great Dr. Seuss fabric giveaway.  (I hope I win!!!)

http://www.dawnsquiltcorner.com/2010/12/happy-new-year-fabric-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DawnsQuiltyFun+%28Dawn%27s+Quilty+Fun%29

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Lovely Fabrics!!

There is a wonderful fabric giveaway on Retromummy.  Go here to enter and have a look around.

P1013738

Friday, December 10, 2010

Happy Birthday

It's not my birthday today, but one sweet baby girl is one.  Go here:  cuttopieces.blogspot.com to wish her a happy day (and register for a fabulous giveaway!!)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Getting Ahead

I decided to get a jump on things yesterday and made my 3rd Layer Cake Quilt-Along block.  It feels great to have it finished already!  That makes THREE deadlines in three days, now.  Wow, at this rate, I might get Christmas gifts made before that deadline, too, LOL! 



Here is my block.  (not sure whether I like this one or not.  It will have to grow on me........or maybe I will modify it later. 

Monday, November 29, 2010

Layer Cake Quilt-Along

I really liked making the second block of the Layer Cake Quilt-Along.  It looks much more complicated than it really is.  Thank you Moose on the Porch Quilts for hosting this project.   Here is my second block:

I have made two deadlines in the last two days, so now on to Christmas presents.....

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Mini Churndash is Finished!!!

I am so excited that I finished my second Le Petite project.  I love having a challenge.  It keeps me motivated.  If I had just decided to do a small project every month for myself, I would probably find other things to do and let myself off the hook.  Doing it with others out in blogland keeps me accountable and encourages me to continue.  I am very happy with the outcome of this project, although I wasn't so sure about halfway through.  I tend to be drawn to large graphics in my fabric choices and while I feel this would have looked better with smaller scale prints, I do like the colors and the overall finihed appearance with this small quilt.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Oh I love Parisville

If you are like me, and you love the new line of fabric by Tula Pink, called Parisville, go to this blog and register for a chance to win some.  (I did)  http://giveaways.jaybirdquilts.com/2010/11/sponsored-giveaway-featuring-wondrous.html

Lucky Duck Dreams

Colleen at Lucky Duck Dreams has a Christmas fabric giveaway.  If you would like the chance to win, go to http://cyarnell.blogspot.com/2010/11/guess-what-was-at-my-front-door-and.html? and enter

Monday, November 22, 2010

Strandz

If you would like some great ideas, go to this blog and read.  Great quilts and some easy-looking projects I can't wait to try.  (and BONUS--there is a giveaway.  Check it out!  http://mystrandz.blogspot.com/2010/11/fabric-giveaway.html )

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Paper Piecing

I went to a paper piecing class today with a friend.  We made a log cabin.  It was fun and turned out really cute.  I think I will make it into a pillow for a Christmas Present.

Happy Quilting, ;),
Laura

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Green Fairy Quilts

If you are a follower of Green Fairy Quilts, you know what a great site it is.  If you haven't been there yet, you are really missing out.  She is offering a great giveaway and has previews of the newest Moda pre-cuts for early 2011.  What a treat!!! Check it out.

http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/2010/11/big-birthday-giveaway.html

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Fabric Giveaway and a Great Blog

Go to http://retromummy.blogspot.com/ to check out a great blog and leave a comment for a chance to win some beautiful fabrics!

Schnibblets

I am working on my Le Petite project for November.  This schnibble is called Butter Churn.  It is amazing how tiny everything is.  (I know that is the point of this project, but this is my first experience with piecing such tiny squares.)  Here is my progress so far.
I am using Saltbox by Moda.  I love the fall colors.

P.S.:  The funny title of this post is a shout-out to my quilting friend--that's what she calls Schnibbles...LOL!

Happy Quilting, ;),

Laura

Monday, November 15, 2010

Go!

I don't know how they can keep offering Accuquilt GOs for free, but it is such a bonus to us that they do. 

Here is Another Accuquilt Go giveaway!

So, click here to go to Mandy at Made With Love By Mandy for the first giveaway and then click
here to go to Lily's Quilts for a fabric giveaway to help Lily celebrate.

Good Luck and

Happy Quilting ;),

Laura

My Prize Arrived

I won a prize for entering the Layer Cake Quilt Along and it came today.  What a great gift!  I can't wait to start on one of the cute quilts in this book by Moose on the Porch Quilts.  THANK YOU SO MUCH KONDA LUCKAU. ☺☺☺

Here is what I won:

Block 1 of the Layer Cake Quilt-along

I finished block 1 of the Layer Cake Quilt along hosted by Moose on the Porch Quilts.  It looked much more complicated than it was.  I thought the instructions were very easy to follow and I might just make an entire quilt using this one block pattern.  I am using a Tweet Tweet layer cake.  I decided not to include the appliqued circle in the middle because i didn't want to cover up the cute birds in the center.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

GO! for it

If your are not a fan of Lavender Ridge, you should be.  It is a great blog.  And, they are hosting a giveaway for an Accuquilt GO.  Rush on over and check out the wonderful blog and enter while you are there.

http://lavenderridge.blogspot.com/2010/11/go-giveaway.html

Monday, November 8, 2010

WOW--Quilt Festival Was Amazing

What an experience!  So many fabric lovers in one enormous place.  The quilts on display were incredible.  I wish I could have photographed them all to share.  There is such amazing talent in this world.  And anyone who says quilts are not art, is just plain crazy.

We took two classes and began two quilts, that I can't wait to start on again.  One is Crazy Nines by Lynda Faires.  We assembled all of the blocks and now just have to add sashing and borders and the top will be finished.  I love the way this one turned out.  I will post a picture as soon as it is complete.

The second class was Picadilly Circus by Lynda Ballard.  It is very easy, but looks very complicated.  I finished two blocks and have 10 more to do, but the good news is that all the pieces are already cut out, so it should be easy to complete. 

The vendors were very nice and I had a chance to try a long-arm quilting machine.  It was so cool.  It would be so much fun to have one of those amazing machines!!! (maybe I'll win the lottery)

We ate well, stayed in a nice hotel and bought some of the most beautiful fabric I have ever seen or touched in my entire life. 

Can't wait till next year :).

Happy Quilting ;)
Laura

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Quilt Festival, Here We Come!!!!

I can hardly believe I am actually going to the International Quilt Festival tomorrow.  A good friend and new quilter and I will be leaving tomorrow for a weekend of fun in the land of Quilts.  I have never been before, but have been told it will be wonderful and amazing.  I will update when I can. 

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Paganini

I took the challenge to complete the Le Petite projects for a year.  I was soooo crunched for time with work commitments, an applique class I began last week and traveling to see my daughter play college volleyball.  But a goal is a goal and I am determined to make it!!! I can't believe I did it, but I toted my sewing machine to Belton, TX and sewed in the hotel, and finished the binding on the 3 1/2 hour trip home.  I DID IT!!!!!  I am famous for starting projects and not finishing them (ask my DH, no....wait....don't go there).  Anyway, I am turning over a new leaf, and here is the proof:


The blocks are made using two Verna charm packs by Moda.

Be sure to click on the Le Petite button on the side or go HERE to see all the great quilts.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Quilt Festival Quilt

I am not new to sewing but I am very new to quilting and blogging.  My very first quilt (done the right way) is the one I am showing in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I have muddled through some in the past, but had no idea what i was doing.  I decided to take a beginning machine quilting class with a friend at work and this is what I made.

I am very happy with the way it turned out and think I will just hold on to it forever because it is really special to me since it is the first one.  (I may change my mind later, but for now I want to keep it.)  Around the same time I decided to take the class, I began a blog and decided to chronicle the making of my quilt.  I love blogging and all the bloggy friends out there that give me such inspiration and encouragement. 

Go check out the other quilts...Blogger's Quilt Festival

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Green Fairy Quilts

There is a great site called Green Fairy Quilts.  It is really cute, has great prices on fabric and BONUS, they have a giveaway.  Check out her flower quilt.  It is beautiful!!! (while you are there, sign up for the giveaway.  Leave my name and I will get more chances to win.....thanks)

http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Ironing Board Cover

I came across the Ironing Board Challenge and decided that my ironing board needed a new cover.   The old one was too thin and getting worn.  So I made a new one. It is bright and cheery and much thicker and sturdier. 

Here's the OLD.....











                         and Here's the NEW!!!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!

Go Here and Vote

Here is the link to vote on some items made from the Irridiscence collection of fabrics.  They are awesome.  You could win a prize for voting, blogging and spreading the word, but most of all you get to see these fantastics fabrics and the beautiful items made from them.

http://splittingstitches.blogspot.com/2010/10/giveaway-yep-another-onespread-word.html

It's Finished!!!

I am so excited, proud, happy.....I finished my first quilt!  It took 8 lessons and some homework and I love it.  It turned out better than I expected.  (I don't know if any of you out there in blog land have ever had this experience, but i reached a certain point in the quilt top and really didn't like the color configuration.  I love the fabric, but was wishing I had place the colors differently.)  I plugged away, committed to learning, carefully piecing and finishing.  It came out great. (I think so anyway.  I would like to know what you think) 
 
I followed all my quilting marks on the quilt top and one-by-one removed the (300) basting pins as I went.  My hands were cramping and my shoulders were sore, but I got it done.

I quilted a 1/4" seam inside each of the green squares and diagonal lines crossing both directions of the tan/butterfly squares.

 I stitched in the ditch on both sides of the brown egg inner border and stiched a straight line in the center of the outer border with a wavy line on each side of the straight line.


This is the front of my finished quilt!!!!
And this is what the back looks like.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Found another GO! giveaway

Here is the site for another AccuQuilt GO! giveaway.  http://www.badlandsquilts.com/2010/10/accuquilt-go-giveaway.html 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Now Back to Quilting

This week we marked our quilt tops so we will have machine quilting lines.  It was very time-consuming, but still fun.
Look very closely-- the pencil lines are hard to see






Next we "sandwich" the layers. We put the back down first, right side down, then the batting on that and smooth it out and then put the top on last, right side up, smoothing all layers.



After getting all the wrinkles out of all the layers, we basted the layers together with safety pins.......LOTS AND LOTS OF SAFETY PINS.  I used 300 and could have used more. (look closely, they are there..)

Fast and Furious

Well, my life has been running fast as usual.  My husband and I went to Mississippi to watch our daughter play Volleyball in a tournament at Mississippi College.  It was great to spend a little time with her. 

On the way back, we stopped in Vicksburg and went to the battlefield.  It was absolutely beautiful.  The weather was cool, the sun was shinig and there wasn't a cloud in sight.  The trees all around were just beginning to change.  It was very inspiring to just imagine what those men must have gone through battling in the woods and hills of Vicksburg, Mississippi.  Here are a few of the pictures I took:





Friday, October 1, 2010

Fun Giveaway

There is a book giveaway to sign up for on Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Go check it out!!
http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Just for Fun

I took a break last weekend from my quilt and decided to just "Make Something Fun".  I purchased the glass dessert dish for 69 cents at our local Women's Shelter Thrift Store and the rest was scrappy, (everything was found already in my posession).  Some of it from past projects, such as the lace which was from a dress my daughter and I made for a peagent at the college she attends.  The pink fabrics were from previous sewing projects for friends and family.  The beads, well the ones that resemble pieces of pecans came from a trip to New Mexico with my very dear friends/neighbors.  The other beads, no telling.  Anyway, it was fun and cheap!!  (and I think very cute in the end)



A sweet treat for someone!!


Happy Quilting :),

Laura

Batting, Backing and Binding, OH MY!!

Well here is a picture of all my finishing fabrics with my quilt top.  The more I look at them all together, the more I like it.  Can't wait to see it finished.


Happy Quilting :),
Laura

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

More Adventures in Quilting

It still amazes me how much I am learning from my quilting class.  Today was a non-sewing day but still fun and very interesting.  Before class I picked out my backing, batting and binding material.  This quilt is still evolving.

We talked about machine quilting patterns and about marking the quilt top.  There are so many, many different things that can be done during the machine quilting process that range from simple "stiching in the ditch" to very complex patterns.  I am still deciding which route i want to take.

After drawing the pattern on the quilt top, the layering comes next.  I will lay the backing out on a large flat surface, (face down), lay the batting on top of that and then lay the quilt top on top of that, (face up).

When everything is smoothed out i will begin basting with safety pins.  Starting with the middle, i will put pins over the entire quilt through all three layers.  Lyric estimates about 300 should do the trick.  This will stabilize the three layers so that nothing shifts during quilting.  I'll post pictures of the process when i get to each stage.  Thanks for following along.

Happy quilting :),

Laura

P.S.  MLF, you didn't let any cats out of any bags.......

Monday, September 27, 2010

Yay, It' a Quilt Top!!


This past week we learned how to measure for our borders. We measured across one direction in three different places and then averaged the meaurements.  Then we cut 2 strips in that size and sewed them on two sides down the direction we measured.


After sewing and ironing the first two border pieces, we measured across the other direction repeating the process.  When all 4 inner borders were in place, we repeated the entire process for the outer borders.

The result is awesome.    It made me say, "Yay, it's a quilt top!"  (What a difference borders make!)









Here is the finished product!  Let me know what you think.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Moving Along to Class #5

Wow what a difference between class 4 & class 3.  Up to this stage, progress has been in small pieces.  Now it finally looks like a quilt!!!

First we measured our squares to make sure they were 91/2 inches square.  (I had to do a little trim here and there, but most were close)

Next I sewed two different squares together matching seams and corners.







I continued alternating squares and sewing each row of two to the previous one, until i had 5 rows of two squares each.










I then repeated this process sewing rows of three alternating squares each.

The next step was to sew the sets together to form a 5 square X 5 square block.









It really looks like a quilt now.  Tonight we will begin putting borders on the edges.  YAY.

Hope you enjoy this.


Happy Quilting :),

Laura

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

So, since lesson #4 is tonight, I figured I better finish my homework and fill everyone in on the process of the second block for my quilt.  Here goes.....


Step one is to make a set of 31/2 in strips sewn together (like in the first block) out of the two different fabrics shown to the left, and cut them in strips.  This will become the middle strip of the block

The next step is to to make half-square triangle blocks.  You will need to cut 37/8 inch squares from 37/8 in strips.








On the back of the light colored square, draw a line diagonally from one corner to another. Then draw lines 1/4 inch away from the center line on each side















Place the two squares with right sides together and stitch just inside of of each outer line.
































Cut the square in half down the center line.

















Iron each half open to make 2  half-square triangle blocks.  Repeat the half-square triangle blocks, as you will need 4 to complete the block.













Cut 31/2 inch squares from the same fabric in the center of the middle strip illustrated above.










Sew two  sets of the following:

Two half-square triangle blocks at opposite angles with a middle square in between. (in the picture on the left, these are the strips on the left and right of the center strip.)  Sew all three strips together in the order in the picture to the left.
TA-DA.....

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Class #3

Well, a few short hours (OK, 7 hours to be exact) and our third class will begin.  I absolutely love it.  I surprise myself with how much I look forward to Tuesdays.   Even when I have finished my homework for the week, I find myself constantly wandering into the sewing room to find something to do.  I think I might make another quilt in the same pattern, but with different fabric, at the same time.

I made a new ironing board cover Sunday.  The old one was too thin and getting worn.  The new one is bright and cheery and much thicker and sturdier. 

Here's the OLD.....











                         and Here's the NEW!!!

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!


By the way, during my classes, I have learned that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks.  Quilting techniques are very different than other sewing techniques.  You pin, cut and sew seams differently.  It's great to learn something new....

More later on today's class!

Happy Quilting :),

Laura

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Sewing the first Blocks

Well, Class was GREAT!  We tested our stitches to make sure we had 1/4 inch seams and began sewing strips together to make 9-patch blocks. 



First we sewed two dark strips with a light strip in between.



Next we sewed two light strips with dark in between.



This is what they look like after being sewn together.



The next step is to cut them in strips.




After cutting them into strips you sew the strips together to make a 9-patch square.  Sew two darker pieces together with a lighter piece in the middle.



I did my homework last night and I am ready for the next lesson.  This is so much fun!!!


I hope I inspire someone to try quilting.

Happy Quilting :),

Laura