Fat Quarter Star #10

Block #10 for the Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along came out yesterday, and since I was home today I whipped up this fancy little star.  So cute, eh?!! 

Block # 10 is called "Milo's Star" and the pattern/directions can be found on Moose on the Porch Quilts' blog.

And here are the 10 stars thus far... I have ideas already for sashing & borders but it really depends what fabrics are available in the local fabric stores. 

The next few weeks are going to be crazy busy for us, so the sewing machine has been tucked away for a week of two.  :(

January Quilt Blocks

 I have been taking it pretty easy this month in the sewing department.  After a busy Christmas, it was nice to catch up on things around the house; I worked a few shifts at the hospital, and I had 2 photo sessions which required hours of photo editing.

I told myself I was not able to tackle sewing until the photo editing was done... and so now that's finished, I have been sewing for the past few days... Ahhh... bliss!!

The first 2 quilt blocks are for the Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along:

Block 8  - "Easy Spinning Star" 

Block 9 - "Make Mine a Double"

All 9 blocks so far - 3 more to go.

My local quilt shop, Traditional Pastimes, has a few BOM on the go, and I am doing the "Freebie 15" quilt along... if I go to the shop on the 15th, I get the main block for free (provided my quilt block is done) and I simply need to purchase the companion for that month's block.

First up is the "freebie 15" - the log cabin designs were supposed to be really narrow strips, but I gave up and cheated, substituting a block then finishing the final 3 rounds of the cabin.  

The original log cabin centre required strips of x/16th"  - ??seriously??  I can barely sew a straight x/4th" any given time.  I'm still pleased with how this block turned out.

Block 4 Freebie - "Skipping Stones"

Block 4 Companion - "Riptide"

Freebie 15 & Companion & 18 small hour glass units (3.5" x 3.5")

The first 4 Freebie 15s & the companions

When the Freebie 15 & Companions are done, there will be 24 12" blocks + all the 3.5x3.5" hourglass units... I can hardly wait... it will be a large (queen or king-size) quilt... and oh so nice.  Too bad I don't have a cottage by the ocean.  :)

Happy New Year!

 Happy New Year to 2012!!

Now that Christmas is past, I can show 2 quilts that I finished in December last year but I just couldn't add them to this blog because they were Christmas gifts for 2 of my sisters.
I have 5 sisters so that is a lot of quilts to make... and that will probably be the extent of my quilt giveaways as quilts do tend to be quite expensive... but I love my sisters dearly and so I don't mind splurging on them.

Gift #1: Modern Patchwork Squared Quilt Along Quilt (P2QA)... done!

Don't you just LOVE the quilting my friend Dalene did on this quilt??? !!

Leaves were quilted along the borders.
The brown with polka-dots was the backing.

My sister Christina loved this quilt.

 Gift #2: The Summer Sampler Series Quilt Along (SSSQA).  This quilt required a lot of paper-piecing and it was a lot of fun.

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Dalene quilted this one, too.  I just LOVE the pink stippling done on this quilt. 

My sister Rochelle loved this quilt.
(Her daughter Maleah is hiding behind this quilt - haha)

Now onto other projects:

The Christmas Tree Pants that I made fit quite nicely under our tree.

I finished Block #12 for the Birdie Stiches Quilt Along 2011

All 12 blocks (Canadian edition) of Birdie Stitches Quilt Along 2011

Block #6, "Cathedral Star",  for Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along

The first 6 blocks for the Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along.

Block 7, "Twinkle of Hope", for FQSQA

I didn't like my final edition of last month's Freebie 15 Companion, so I purchased another block & pieced it together the way I preferred...  This one is called "Pebbles".

Block #3 for my local quilt shop Traditional Pastimes "Freebie 15" quilt along.
This block is called "Ripples in the Sand"

Freebie 15 Block 3 Companion - "Snails"
(The colours are a tad yellow on this pic b/c of the lighting.)

I am not planning any new projects at this time as I have a few items that need finishing:
- 3 quilt tops that need batting, backing, binding, quilting
- ABC quilt that needs to be started... then completed
- piece twelve 9.5"x 9.5" stars together into a quilt
- work in progress on FQSQA & the "Freebie 15" quilt blocks

Hopefully, this will be the year that I will finally complete some photo albums!!

What is on your to-do list for 2012??

Keeping Busy but Slowing Down

With Christmas just around the corner, I have been busy but definitely slowing down.  It's been a time of catching up on those small projects in my sewing stash, and it feels so good to get this accomplished.

Cotton/flannel baby receiving blanket & foam block with tags.

Baby Sun Ray Toys

Block 5 "Strawberry Fields Star" for Moose on the Porch's quilt along.
Fabric: "Indian Summer" by Riley Blake.

Block 2a for Sand and Sea Glass quilt along

Block 2 for Sand and Sea Glass quilt along
I kinda messed this one up a bit... and I wish the star points were brown instead of the cream.  Oh well.

12 - 3.5" hourglass blocks

I finally finished the last Star Sampler block.  I was unable to finish this set b/c the local quilt store where I had purchased this set closed.  Another local quilt store has helped me select this star with a "courtyard steps" centre.

All 12 stars - done.
Now to decide how to set them into a quilt top... but that will have to wait until next year.

This quilt top has been sitting in bits & pieces on my sewing project stash for what seems forever... so it feels nice to get it done.  I'll finish this one next year, too.

Keeping Busy

I have 3 quilts for sale on Etsy: the Little Forest Quilt posted previously & the first 2 crib quilts pictured below.  

If you are interested in purchasing a quilt, please order through Etsy or contact me directly.

November block for Birdie Stitches Quilt Along

 I started another quilt along through my local quilt shop Traditional Pasttimes: 24 - 12.5 x 12.5 blocks to be done Oct 2011 to Sept 2012; there will be a lot of little blocks that will somehow be incorporated into the quilt when the blocks are done.

Sand & Sea block - October 2011

Sand & Sea block - October 2011

Sand & Sea small blocks

BLock #4 for Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along

Flannel scarf.
My sister visited me 2 years ago and she had this style scarf on.  It was so easy to make, and I even had the flannel & velcro for the past 2 years, but I just didn't sew it together.
This scarf will be lovely when it gets really cold here in Calgary.

My first attempt at a zippered pouch.  Not perfect, but good enough.

I finally just finished up this table runner.
This was a quilt along that I started earlier this year and I just never got around to doing the 5th block.
I like how this Tea Runner turned out.
I think I'll add this one to Etsy, too.

Sew Fun

I am trying to keep NOT to busy with my quilting as there is still a mountain of sewing & quilting to be done.

My most recent quilt-along was a Christmas Tree Pants Sew-Along "because not all trees wear skirts".  We always get a real Christmas tree at Christmas time, and the little tree skirt I have just doesn't fit nicely under the tree - especially since the tree "holder" is a large heavy plastic dish-like container with special screws to hold the tree in place.  

Now... I am happy to have a home-made tree skirt pants for our tree this year.

Bring on Christmas!!

First I made a bunch of stars

Then I added some sashing & a border... and DONE!!
Quilt top measures 51" x 51"

Back of Christmas Tree Pants

Last day of October but I finally finished my edition of the October block for Birdie Stitches Quilt Along.

Block #3 for Fat Quarters Stars Quilt Along

All 3 stars so far.
Fabric: Indian Summer by Riley Blake - so lovely!!


I am now also on ETSY!!
I have added 3 quilt tops to Etsy & they are for sale.