Fun Filled Weekend

Phew! My weekend really began on Thursday last week. My sister and I drove into LA's Fashion District to shop for fabrics. Our goal was to gather fabrics for her photography studio. It was a success! She needed my textile know-how and I needed an excuse to visit the heartbeat of fabric. She thanked me for coming by purchasing this super cute vinyl for our family camping trip coming up. And I found these cute red & coral melamine dishes at Wal-Mart that match perfectly.

It'll be the cutest camping table ever! Thanks sister!

Check out that crazy hair! I look like I just walked off a 10 hour sweatshop shift. Ha! Hope I can tame the mane on our camping trip. Then again, it might keep the bears at bay.

Warning!!! This is a heavy picture post.

Friday was a melow day at home. I did however beigin Swooning again.

I was the most excited about this fabric combo. This one will probably be my favorite. Or I might say that everytime I make a block, we'll see.

Saturday, was super fun! I attended the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach. Sadly it is the last time the festival will be held here. But I'm so blessed I got to go. Here is the loot I picked up for a steal.

Some Anna Maria Horner prints and the Hex N Moree by Jay Bird Quilts. I went with my mother-in-law and it was a pleasure to walk about the gallery with her. We were on a mission to be inspired for a guest room quilt. We took lots of pictures. I can't wait to see what design she decides on. Here are just a few of my favorites.

See a modern theme?

And on Sunday we went to XGames.

Here are my boys in their happy place.

I'm sure you can imagine I'm looking forward to a slow week ;)

<3 Lindsay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My New Bundle

I've been getting lots of fabric time in.  Over the holiday weekend I finished binding a quilt (photos yet to come), and planned out my next quilt with these lovelies:

There are some of my favorites in here like Anna Maria Horner's Field Study, Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope, Hope Valley, Chicopea, and Flea Market Fancy.  Also some Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, Martha Negley, and Jay McCarroll.  I'm sure you can see Aqua is the main stream color, accented with deeper blues, cranberries, browns and golds.  I'm Swooning again. It's gonna be awesome!  

Speaking of favorites, cuddling my boy on the beach is one of them.

He didn't want his picture taken, again... But too bad.  I love him so.  Sadly he split his lip open today, not too bad, but water play is currently postponed for a couple days.  What to do with him now?  

 Oo ooo, I almost forgot!  I also picked up my tickets to the Long Beach Quilt Festival Aug. 2-4.  I can't wait.  I've wanted to go the last few years but we are usually on holiday.  Bummed we aren't going on holiday this summer, but happy to be attending the Quilt show.  When I picked up my tickets I was informed it was the last one (at Long Beach).  Anyone know why?  More info here if you want to attend:  http://www.quilts.com/home/shows/viewer.php?page=SummerFestival

FWQAL :: WEEK 5

Okay I know I'm a day late, almost 2 days, this week with my blocks.  I try to pick one hard one and one easy one each week, and this week... I picked a really really hard one. 

[38]  Four Winds

Quote from the letter that inspired the block:  "We have dried out, drowned out, hailed out and burnt out.  Always we drew together, looked in each other's eyes and whispered 'Tough!  But we have each other and the children.  We'll make it.'" Mrs. W. R. Hutchinson County, S. D.

Man this block was tricky.  There are 72 pieces in this 6.5" block.  Tough block, yes, but nothing near what this sweet lady had been through.

[92]  Streak of Lightning

Quote from the letter that inspired the block:  "But even in times of depression can not materially affect the farmers living as the do the city man's, for he has his food from his own soil, vegetables, fruits, grains, milk and meats; so, financially, I would say his is the most independent of occupations."

Mrs. S. M. M. Franklin County, Ohio

 

 

Mommy's little helper holding the blocks in place.  Sweet little hands.

Fabrics Used:

[92] Greenfield Hill, by DS Quilts and Kona Cotton Ash

[38] Greenfield Hill + Katie Jump Rope by DS Quilts, Peas & Carrots by American Jane and Vintage Sheet (white)

 

Blocks Collectively

My little helper, arranged the layout.  He loves to play with the blocks.  It was hard for him to take his hands off for this picture.

My Little Helper

He asked me to take his picture, but then he began to hide.  Hense the shy, but also curious look on his sweet face.  This two year old has got me pulling my hair out one minute and melting my heart the next.   I love this stage, just as I've loved every stage of his development.  I wish he would stop growing, but I also love it when he surprises me with the most unexpected new words.  Kids truly are a blessing from Heaven. 

Have a great Sunday everyone!

Lindsay

P.S.  I also finished the pillow to match this quilt, but forgot to take the picture this afternoon when the camera was out.  Next post, I promise;)

Katie Jump Rope :: A Finished Quilt

Quilt Top

Finally!!! My Katie Jump Rope Quilt is finished.  This makes me SO happy!  I've been working on this quilt longer than I wanted to.  The cutting and piecing of this bow tie quilt was simple, but the applique of the center ties was a little more time consuming than I had anticipated.  Not sure if corner piecing would have been much faster though.  I was limited with the size scraps I purchased, so applique was my only option for this pattern.  And I've really wanted to make a bow tie quilt ever since I fell in love with the collection.  I am so happy,  I'm smiling:D

detail of blocks

Okay, so I made this pattern up myself and gathered some helpful tips from a similar quilt done on Flickr! here.  Although this quilter had suggested a double-sided fusible web, I used stitch witchery and it was fabulous.  Possible pattern coming soon.  I just have to compile my steps.

Quilt Back

Quilt Stats
Size: 55" x 68"
Fabric:  Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt, Kona Cotton White & Ash

Binding

I wish it wasn't so HOT out!  I'd love to cuddle up with this quilt right now.  I'm working with very small scraps left over for a toss pillow.  This is a great start to a beautiful weekend, don't you think?

hugs,
Lindsay

Progress Report - Katie Bow Tie

Okay I know I promised better photos, but this whole 'sharing a camera' thing has got to end!

I'm gonna purchase me one next chance I get;)  Anywho, sorry for the lame quality from my phone camera, but here is my Katie Jump Rope Bow Tie Quilt all laid out for piecing the top. This should go quickly.  Can't wait too.  And wouldn't you just know it,  I'm 1 square short.  Oops!  At least I have a little bit more green left.

Other post about this quilt:

Summer Cottage Quilt Finished
Friday Already?


Thanks for stopping in,
L

Friday Already?

Wow that week went by fast.  I was hoping to get more sewing in this week, but we were spontaniously gifted a few days in Big Bear Lake at a timeshare.  We left at a moments notice and boy was it worth it!  We returned on Wednesday for our nephew's High School graduation.  So I did get a little sewing in.  Here is my update.

My Katie Jump Rope Bowtie Quilt is slowly coming along.  Since I had only very small amounts of each print, I had to applique the knot onto the center.  Slow going...I'm still blanket stitching and regretting the process all together.  I really Really REALLY don't like slow progress projects.  Although its taking a lot of time, I do think this will turn out looking really good and the blanket stitch will give it that real bow tie look.

Farmers Wife Quilt Along update:
Well last night I realized I'd printed out the templates incorrectly and that explained why my first two blocks were just under 6" each when they should be at about 6.5" each.  So I've started again. But the GOOD NEWS is that I got another set of fabrics that greeted me when I returned from vacation.  On the right in the above picture is the Greenfield Hill FQ bundle by DS Quilts in Dogwood.  Are you catching on?  Yep thats right, I'm going GREEN!!!  Farm-like, don't you think?  I just love green and if you I ever get a chance to post a picture of my living room, you'd agree.  I've got Kona solids heading my way as well to help tone down the busy prints in each block.  So more to come next week.  Jack's doing an overnight at Grammy's this weekend, so I'm sure to get a few more blocks done or shall I say Re-done!

Back to our trip...we had an amazing time.  I literally checked out the moment we left the driveway.  I dropped the ball on a couple of things too, but all has been forgiven.  Here is a family pic we managed to take using a stump as a tripod.

The only problem I have is... a fear of wildlife... you know the scary kinds like the quiet ones that somehow sneak up on you like mountain lions, bears, wolves, and snakes.  Unfortunatley this sometimes puts a damper on my enjoyment of 'The Great Outdoors.'  I have a really hard time with overcoming this fear.  I think having a dog would lesson this fear greatly, but we aren't ready for that right now.  Seriously all the times we've gone hiking, we've never come across anything, so you think I'd get more comfortable over time, but NO.  Especially now that we take Jack along.  And of course, right when we are scoping out a picnic area, I spot this:

Yep thats a RATTLE SNAKE! 

Thankfully this photo was taken from the safety of our truck, but only about 4 feet away, and it wasn't rattling.  So we chose another place to picnic but not too far from here.  So we ate fast and kept Jack really close.  Phew,  glad thats over!

love,

lindsay

Summer Cottage Quilt ~ Finished

Okay,  I'm really REALLY sorry for the gap between posts.  Sharing a camera with my hubby who uses it for work makes my posting few and far between.   I promise I'll work out a system so we aren't held up in the future.  I've been dying to share this beauty with you for a week now.   So here is my Summer Cottage Quilt...

These colors remind me of turquoise beaches, coral sunsets, and iced cold Arnold Palmers (tea & lemonade) My favorite drink.  Ahhh...

I quilted this one in straight lines using the walking foot for the first time.  Still takes a lot of quilt wrestling, but its was much easier than the free motion.  Still,  I can't believe how well this turned out.  I love the way the bricks line up and the quilting compliments its structure well.

Summer Cottage Quilt stats
Finished Size: 41" x 47"
Block size: 7" x 4"

Fabrics Used:

• Darlene Zimmerman's 1930's prints from Little Darlings, Granny's Fourteen, and Mama's Feedsacks for Robert Kaufman
• Monaluna for Robert Kaufman Mingle - Yellow Dots
• Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solids in Aloe + White

The plaid print takes up most of the backing, but I also used some left over scraps to piece a strip across the middle.  I have a thing for plaid.  I wish I had more of the tea cups, and aqua floral prints.  They were also favs.  I've had these FQ since last summer as well as a few other coordinates, but they became half aprons and sold very quickly at a boutique fair last October.

I've listed this quilt in my Simply Mae Shop on Etsy here.

On to the next project::

I'm so, SO, so excited to share with you something I'm very happy to have my hands on.  I finally bought a collection of Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope prints, yeah!!!  I've had possession of some prints over the past couple years, but my desire was the whole collection, of course!  No way was I gonna pay $200+ for the FQ bundle on Etsy.  Really?  I know I can still buy the queen size Single Girl quilt in Katie Jump Rope already finished here for the same price.  Given, its not made by me.  I really want to make my very own Katie Jump Rope Quilt, just for me, ya' know?

Anywho, I settled for 9" x 11" set, (scraps really) on eBay at a ridiculous price, BUT after hours of math to get a good size quilt I took the plunge!  I started cutting and piecing a couple days ago and am so anxious to see the final blocks.  If I did the math right, my quilt will be 56" x 70".

Here is my progress so far:

You're probably thinking patchwork, but I've actually got a LOT of applique ahead of me.  Another first.  But with my sewing background, the real challenge is just the time.  Confession, I'm not super patient.  Pray for me:D  Check back soon as I promise to share more of my progress, while its actually happening;)

Thanks for stopping by my blog,
Lindsay