A Year of Quilts!

It's been a little quiet on the blog lately.  I'm getting ready for the first of two Christmas (yes, Christmas) craft fairs.  I have 31 quilts for sale and hopefully most of them will go!  The first one is this weekend and the next one is three weeks later!  I'm in the process of labelling everything and getting it all packed up.  And, if anyone has ever wondered how I came up with the name for my shop, here's your answer...

 

 

I turned my back for three seconds...He just can't resist a pile of quilts!  Looks like some of these will need to be re-washed. Thanks, Stewart!  For those of you who are local, the craft fair is this Sunday (November 4) at St. Thomas Aquinas in North Van!  See you there!



FRIDAY FINISH!

What to do with a piece of fabric too cute to cut up...Make one of these...

 

 

A whole cloth baby quilt!  This print is so cute I just couldn't bear to cut into it! I also tried a new binding method...

 



 

This is the first time I have machine-stitched the binding.  I found quite a few tutorials with different methods but ended up using the one I found here. It was a bit fiddly but I like the fact that the stitching is so secure and the quilt can stand up to many washings!  I'll definitely be doing this again with this adorable fabric...

 

 

Another Alexander Henry print - Flea Market Friends!  Isn't it sweet.

This was purchased in Bellingham yesterday along with this...

 

 

I see a little pouch made from this!

 

I'm linking up (again) with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday (wow, two weeks in a row)!

 

FRIDAY FINISH (FOR REAL THIS TIME)!

Just finished up this fun little quilt this afternoon (in time to link up with Friday Finish at Crazy Mom Quilts!

 

I love how quickly this came together with the giant blocks (see previous post)!  I was anxious to try a new FMQ pattern...

 

 

I'm calling this 'organic boxy stippling'.  It's certainly not perfect, but it was great to try something other than my usual meandering! You can see it a little better in this photo...

 

 

I used Kona chartreuse for the back hoping it would show the quilting (which might have been a mistake)! This is why I added 'organic' to 'boxy stippling' - in other words, less than perfect! Overall, I like the look of it and will definitely give it another try in the future!  The inspiration for this quilt came from here! All fabrics in this quilt were from my stash (except for the back)! I love making a quilt from what I already have on hand!  Perhaps I should try a girl's version. Hmmm!



JUST SOME STUFF I'M WORKING ON...

Here's a few projects in the works.

 

 

These blocks are HUGE!  They finish at 12 1/2 inches. They are the biggest blocks I have ever made!  What's nice though is that I only have to make 12 to get a nice-sized little baby quilt!  I've always thought I didn't like big blocks, but I'm loving these!

 

And, I can't wait to cut into these...

 

 

Chum Chum Bear! Isn't it cute...and so different from the blocks above! This is one of the things I love about quilting...all the variety of fabric to choose from!  It's never-ending! 

 

And, just to prove (again) that I actually do make quilts, here's a recent finish for my shop!

 

 

Not the best picture, but you get the idea!

Now, off to make some peanut butter cookies with a new recipe - perfect for the fall!

 

FINISH IT UP FRIDAY!

 

Well...almost! I finished up this little quilt this afternoon (except for the binding)!

 

 

I really like the way this turned out!  It was pretty quick to put together with a charm pack of Bungle Jungle and a few borders!

 

Also, check out this fabulous sewing machine...

 

 

This picture was taken in a museum in Icy Strait Point, a tiny little town in Alaska we visited on our recent cruise!  You can't tell from the picture, but this machine was HUGE, probably the biggest sewing machine I have ever seen! I assume it was an industrial machine in its day!

 

A LONG BREAK!

I knew it had been a while since I last posted but I didn't know it had been this long!  Not a lot of sewing around here lately. We had a hot spell and I couldn't face sitting at the sewing machine.  I did manage to get these made, though...



 

These are a custom order for my shop! These little patchwork quilts were done the "hard way" meaning no strip piecing. Each  2 1/2 inch square was cut (a total of 588) and painstakingly stitched together!  I do love patchwork quilts but I think it will be a while before I make another!

These took up a lot of my time and I'm looking forward to getting started on something new!

 

A QUICKIE!!!

Just a quick post..I finally had a chance to get some work done on these...

Aren't they cute!!! I found a great tutorial for these mini blocks here!  I made one block quite a few weeks ago and finally had a chance to get some more done!  Can't wait to get this top sewn together!  Do I dare attempt some hand quilting on this one?

Now, back to men's synchronized diving!  Oh yah!!!