Blogger Quilt Festival - Small Quilt

My second entry into the Blogger Quilt Festival, hosted by Amy at Amy's Creative Side is called "Spring Butterflies."  This quilt was finished just in time for this festival and I'm very excited to be sharing it with everyone.  I am entering it into the small quilt category, as it is a baby/toddler size quilt.

This quilt was made with a simple 4-patch square and a charm square to create the pattern.  I love how the diagonal lines are created with the placement of the 4-patch squares and charm squares.  I love when a binding is able to achieve this because I feel like it gives a frame to the quilt, to help focus the eye somewhere on the quilt.

I did the quilting myself on a long-arm.  A simple meander with butterflies mixed in, as there are butterflies in the charm squares and the backing fabric, hence the name of the quilt.  I would like to believe that my quilting has gotten better as I have practiced using the long-arm machine.  I do not own one, but I rent time at my local quilt shop.

One last picture of the back with the front, which ties it together perfectly.  If you are checking me out for the first time welcome.  The Blogger's Quilt Festival is running between September 18 thru September 30.  I'm going to head over there and see what everyone else has entered.  Thank you to Amy for doing a wonderful job of hosting and putting this all together.  

Thanks for stopping by!

-Christina

Blogger Quilt Festival - Scrappy Quilt

I am participating in the Blogger's Quilt Festival that is being held by Amy's Creative Side for the first time.  The first category that I am entering into is the Scrappy Quilt category.  The quilt is called "Spinning Love."  This quilt was finished in the middle of the year, and given as a belated wedding gift to a great couple that my husband and I are good friends with.

I started out with a group of fabrics mixing it up to create a scrappy look in the 4-patches, but kept it similar with the pinwheels.  The pattern I used is a Bonnie Hunter pattern entitled Patches and Pinwheels.  I believe she is the Queen of Scrap quilting.

I did the quilting myself on this quilt with a simple heart design turned clover design on a long arm, and I think it turned out pretty well.  I'm working on trying to perfect the drape on a chair, but it did not work out very well.  I'll get it right next time.

If you are checking me out for the first time welcome.  The Blogger's Quilt Festival is running between September 18 thru September 30.  Thanks for stopping by!

-Christina

Spring Butterflies Finish

I have finished a quilt entitled "Spring Butterflies," perfect timing for everyone in the southern hemisphere, while the northern hemisphere start to prepare for winter with fall, which started yesterday!  This quilt was on my Quarter 3 goals, which I am making great progress on!  I can not believe I have gotten as much as I have, but there is still a lot more to go.  This quilt is perfect for the new addition in the family or friend circle.  Made with some classic nursery colors for a little lady's nursery.

I think the quilting is wonderfully done, my first time doing butterflies, and each one is a little different, and it adds a great effect to the quilt, making it look softer with the simple meander.

Last picture is the comparative of the front and back of the quilt showing off the wonderful print I found for the back.  A little darker pink with butterflies and flowers on the back ties it all together wonderfully!

This quilt has been listed at my Etsy shop, and ready to ship when someone buys it.

Linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.  Check back later for my entries into the fall festival at Amy's Creative Side.

-Christina

Design Wall

I am finally joining in on posting about my design wall!  I do not have a design wall, as our space is just too small (I sew at our kitchen table), but I laid out everything on the ironing board.  I think it is suitable.  I started work on my September OMG hosted by Heidi at Red Letter Quilts.  This is my progress so far.  I have the border blocks all completed, I just need to trim them, and I started on block A.  I'm making great progress towards my goal.  I have figured out that while watching Gilmore Girls is the best time for me to be drawing lines on the squares I get to stitch and flip at a later date.  I hope to make my goal early (before the last day) this month, but only progress and time will tell.


My goals for this week are to finish the cross stitch of my verses from the Torah, which visit this post if you would like to learn more about it.  Then I want to trim my border blocks, and start to put together block A with all of the units that I'm in the middle of making.  Lots to do, I better get to it.

Linking up with Patchwork Times, and Sew Fresh Quilts.

-Christina

Easy Weekend

This weekend has been a relaxing weekend, watching lots of Gilmore Girls (November 26, I'm looking forward to), and making some progress on this beauty.

I have to finish it by September 30, as that is the deadline I given myself/the organization that I am making it for.  The organization is called Torah Stitch, and it is based in Canada.  They are having stitchers stitch different segments of the verses of the Torah onto Aida cloth and sewing it together to create a scroll which will become an art exhibit.  If you want more information check it out here.  My real goal, as long as I am able to stitch the times I have set, is to finish it by the end of next weekend.  I only have a little less than 2 and a half lines left.

Linking up at Kathy's Quilts to see what everyone else is hand stitching today.

Christina

Puppy Love

Introducing Puppy Love!

A commissioned quilt that I just finished!  It did not take very long to do, the top was quick to piece together as it was easy.  The quilting was a pantograph (my first time), and took about 3 hours due to my inexperience.  I still have to figure out how to move the quilt forward the correct length to make sure the quilting motif does not overlap, if there was an easier way than what I was doing.  The binding I was able to finish while watching Gilmore Girls during the evenings.  I did label this quilt, which I sewed into the binding.

I am really proud of this quilt, my piecing has improved (as I have learned from everyone), and I was able to quilt the whole thing.  This quilt is part of my Quarter 3 goals.

Now to start work on a wedding quilt for November, which is my September OMG.  It is not going to be finished at the last moment this month (ha! famous last words).  I hope to do a design wall post on Monday about my progress over the weekend about this quilt.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Christina

September 2016 OMG

Wow, where has the beginning of September gone already?  I'm sliding this in at the last second it feels like (and is).  In June I had the one monthly goal of cutting the pieces for a wedding quilt, which I finished.

However, the pieces have sat over the summer as I finished up some other projects.  Well these projects are almost done, and I'm going to make some good progress on getting this top done.  My goal for September is to get all of the the Border blocks, and Block A completed, plus start on Block B, and draw the 460 diagonal lines I need to draw for some stitch and flip that will take place in later blocks.  It sounds like a lot, but it should not be too much for me to accomplish.  Maybe I can get even further?  We will see at the end of the month!

Below is a picture of the finished quilt, however I'm going to be making it bigger than this picture to fit a king size bed!  I can not wait to see how it all turns out!

Linking up with Red Letter Quilts for September's OMG.

-Christina

A Top Finished!

I finished my quilt top in the knick of time for the deadline of my August OMG!  (Don't you just love the evening sun shinning on it, it gives it a nice effect.)  I just had to sit down and do it, plus finish all of the little things that needed to be done before I could started the quilt top.  Well it got all done this month, and I could not be more happier.  I have to get this quilt fully done by September 15, and I have an appointment to rent a long arm machine on Sunday (I'm so happy I did not say I was going to finish this quilt this month), and then trim up and binding.  Maybe I will get it all done before the end of the second weekend of September?  We shall see, but I'm excited for how quickly this came together.  Now it is time to think of my September OMG.

Linking up to Red Letter Quilts, Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

-Christina

Yippee! A Small Finish

I have finally made some one hour baskets, and doing three at a time did not take very long at all.  The pattern is from Crafty, and can be found here.  The hardest part was turning them inside out, because I did not leave a big enough gap.  I also modified the pattern to make 3 nesting baskets, which turned out perfectly!  If you need baskets, I would definitely recommend this pattern because you can create the baskets with whatever fabric you want, and they are useful around the house to put your odds and ends in.

This is my FOURTH finish for my 3rd quarter finish a long.  I'm beyond excited to have that many things done, and we still have another full month to finish things.

Off to link up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Fridays!

Christina

A Day Late, but a Project Finish!

I finished these cute baby booties this week.  They are for two families that recently both had girls.  I enjoyed the pattern, which is Maggie's Stay On Booties, found here on Etsy.  I did decide to do velcro instead of snaps.  I just did not like the snaps I was using, they were way too hard to snap.  These booties took forever because I was afraid of the construction part of them, well I finally got over my fear (by giving myself a deadline) and I got them done.  I feel I am cranking out finishes left and right, as this is another finish from my Quarter 3 goals!  Now to keep them coming as I'm going to be working on my bigger projects that still have a lot of work left to do.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Fridays.

Christina

Woodland Cuddles Finish

I have finished this cute woodland quilt!!  I made it out of woodland creature/motif receiving blankets and minky, with a backing of flannel.  I love the binding on it, I feel like it makes the quilt pop and gives it an ending.  The recipient (aka Mom and Dad) are very excited about it, and I think it came out perfect for his nursery.  The pattern was my own design, and the quilting was a simple meander/swirls on the long arm that I rent time on at my local quilt shop.

I was trying to do a nice chair drape, and I have not yet fully mastered it.  Not bad for a try though.

This is my second finish for my Quarter 3 goals!  I hope to keep them coming!  Linking up with Whoop Whoop Fridays with Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

-Christina

August OMG

My July OMG did not go well.  I got my fabric ironed, and I even started to cut the fabric out, but I did not finish cutting or start to put the quilt together.  I have a deadline looming, so my August OMG is to finish cutting the quilt pieces out and put the top together.  I hope to get the top long armed the first weekend of September.  This way I am able to get the binding put on and completed before my deadline.

Before I can start sewing, I need to finish the baby shoes I'm currently working on and some one hour baskets so I can get baby presents out to some new babies.  Once I complete these things, then I can switch out machines and crank this quilt out.  I like to put a quilt top together on one machine.  Fingers cross this happens quickly!

Checking out what everyone else is working on at Red Letter Quilts.

-Christina

Slow Progress

I'm working on these baby shoes yet again this week.  I made NO progress from last week as time ran away from me.  I did get the binding sewn on, plus a label, via machine.  Now I just need to turn it.  We are going up to the mountains this weekend for a day of R&R and family time.  As a result I like to bring up some hand work and a book, and let me tell you, I have plenty of hand work to keep me busy while up there.  I'm going to work on the binding and the Torah cross stitch that I should have sent out by now, but I'm still working on it.  The turtle wins the race right?

Linking up to:
Sew Fresh Quilt for Let's Be Social

Check back on Friday.  I have another finish to share, which turned out so cute! (It is not the baby shoes)

-Christina

My First Bed Size Quilt Finish!!!

I can officially say that I have finished my first bed size quilt!  I have made A LOT of lap quilts, baby quilts, and table runners, but never a queen size quilt.  Well, I have now finished one, and boy have I learned a lot.  When I first started this quilt in March 2014, I had done a lot of quilting, but never worried about seam allowances, or knew how to cut properly/some basics, but by following blogs, looking at a lot of tutorials and trial and error I can say I have learned a lot.  I am very proud of this one, and it is now belongs to its rightful owners for their wedding TWO years ago!  The name of the quilt is "Spinning Love," which I think is very appropriate as it just dances with the pinwheels.  The pattern is from Bonnie Hunter called Patches and Pinwheels.

A close up of the pattern, and you can not tell the quilting from here, but it was done via long arm, and turned out great!

Now I'm on to my next quilt, which is for a commission.  It is going to be lap sized, with some cute  labradors and paw fabrics.  It is going to be a quick sew, but I have to cut the fabrics and just sit down and do it.  Then I have a few others on tap that need to be done by November.  I think I'm going to be a very busy girl!

One more, I just couldn't resist.  I love how it looks like it dances when you see the whole thing, and you see me holding it, plus our apartment complex.  This is one of my Quarter 3 goals which makes me very excited to finish it and see what else I can accomplish this quarter!

I'm linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Up Friday and at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Fridays!

-Christina

Slow Progress on Booties

I have been making slow progress on these cute Maggie's Stay On Baby Booties.  The pattern has many different sizes, and I am making two different sizes for two moms.  While making these I feel like quilting is more my forte, not really making clothes.  I just need to sit down and just get them done.  That is my goal this week, along with getting a binding made and put on a quilt.

This one turned out cute, and I can not wait to list it in my Etsy store, as I have no baby girl to give it to at the moment.

I'm sharing over at Sew Fresh Quilts.  I can not wait to join her sew along for the MOD Paw Bear Quilt in September!  Now to find my fabric for it.

-Christina

Quarter 3 Goals

It is now half way through the year, which means it is time to post my quarter 3 goals.  There are a lot of quilts to get done, and some of them are so close, like just the binding needs to be done to get them off of my list.  See below for my goals for the quarter.

1. Baby quilt with forest friends and minky fabric.  I just need to bind it after I square it up (progress from last quarter!).  This quilt was intended for an arrival in September, and I will be seeing him in July (can not wait), but I want to get it done before then. T-minus one week!

2.  I just need to trim up this quilt and then bind it (progress from last quarter!).  This was for a wedding that happened almost two years ago....do I need to say more?

3. Repair clothing.  A lot of these have small holes that I need to sew up, or the hems have fallen out and I need to replace them or a plastic support has fallen out of the dress that I need to sew back in.  These are not hard repairs, I just have to sit down and do them (no progress from last quarter, the repair pile actually grew by a few things).  Hopefully by putting them on my list again, I will accomplish it this quarter.

4. Sew on binding for a cute baby quilt.  It was an intended gift, however it will not go to it's original recipient.  Instead I'm going to stick it in my Etsy store when I complete it.

5. A quilt for a wedding in November.  The pattern is going to be Flower Garden from Connecting Threads, and I want to get it completed, because I still have another quilt to finish for another wedding that month, only six days apart.  I'm going to have fun with that.

6. I changed the pattern, I just have to take out the sewing and braiding I have done and start from scratch with the new pattern I have.  I am excited to start this project over again.  These were to be Christmas presents a few years back.  My goal for Q3 is to get two out of four done.

7. I have a commission quilt that needs to be done in the middle of the new quarter.  The fabric is washed, it needs to be ironed, cut, top needs to be put together, and finished.  It is going to be very cute.

8. I have two pairs of size 3-6 months and 12-18 months each of little booties to make for baby shower gifts.  They are for little girls who are quickly approaching 3 months, and so I need to get these done early on in the quarter.  I love both fabrics.

9. Another baby shower gift that I need to finish is making a set of 3 baskets, that nest in each other.  The fabric combination looks weird, but one is for the inside and the other is for the outside.  It should look good in the end.

10. I love to cross stitch, and I signed up to take part in an international cross stitch of the Torah.  I was assigned five versus and I am currently working on it, and I need to get it done in the next month for the deadline they have given me.

11. I have a bridal shower to go to soon for a very close friend.  I like to cross stitch marriage records, and I have picked out a pattern and gotten the fabric, I just need to start it and get it done before the bridal shower.  It is going to be a tight squeeze, but I think I can do it.

12. Knit five scarves for Operation Gratitude.  I like to knit while we watch TV in the evenings and I felt like Operation Gratitude is a great cause to knit for.  I have a bag and box of yarn to knit up, and currently I'm working on the bag.  I will only make a dent in the bag, but a dent is a dent in a yarn stash...

Wow!  Those are a lot of goals, but they are building upon what I need/want to get done.  I will get most if not all things done and I'm excited to get them all done.  I can not wait to see what everyone is planning to finish in this quarter.  Linking up with A Quilters Table.  I'm off to my crafting corner.

Christina

July 2016 OMG

I need to start the commission quilt this month, which is due in September.  As a result for my July 2016 OMG I am going to iron the fabric, as it is already washed, cut out all of the pieces, and start to put the top together.  I would love to get the top to the point when I'm about to sew it all in rows.  With the few free weekends I have this month, as long as they do not get stuff booked in them, I should be able to get this done, and NOT at the last minute.  The pattern is simple, labrador fabric as center, with the green bordering the labradors, and the paw prints as corner stones, and it is only a lap size quilt.  We will shall see what name it tells me to give it while I'm working on it!

I can not wait to see what everyone else is working on this month at Red Letter Quilts.

Christina

June 2016 OMG Finish!!

Yipeee!  I finally finished an OMG before the end of the month sprung upon us!  My OMG for June was to cut out the pieces for a wedding quilt that I need to get done by November.  I was able to finish.  Are they not pretty, with labels and everything?

I'm hoping that I can start machine piecing them together on this lovely holiday weekend, but first I need to finish some baby booties, prep and sew on 3 bindings to quilts that are quilted so I can start hand sewing them down, and switch out my machines.  I want to piece this quilt on my Featherweight that I learned how to service at the beginning of the month, and it is ready to come out and play.  Now to think of my July OMG....

Linking up with Red Letter Quilts and Sew Fresh Quilts.

Christina

Small Finishes

Last weekend I attended a baby shower, and I was able to crank out a few baby gifts before I went.  The theme of the baby's nursery is The Last Airbender, which is a TV show that came out around 2005 ish.  I like to make gifts that go with the nursery theme, and I found some fabric with the four elements, which is a big part of the show.  (I'm not sure how it all ties in, as I never got into the show, but it is popular)  I made four burp rags, four bandana bibs, and a tag blanket.  They were appreciative, and I had a lot of fun making them.
(Inspector Kitty tried to get into the picture...)

During the week I also finished a baby quilt, for a baby who was born in December....I am a little late on it, but I did finally get it done.  I am very proud of it, as I think it turned out very cute.  The nursery theme is Dr. Seuss, and the quilt's name is "Oh the Places You'll Go!", which is also quilted in the middle.  I was able to do the quilting myself on a long-arm that I rented time at my local quilt shop.  To finish this quilt was one of my Quarter 2 goals, and I am very happy to say I got it done.  I did put a label on it, and I was able to get it into the mail for its intended recipant.

I just love the texture that the quilting created on the quilt.

A small update, I was recently able to sell the machine that I bought used, and did not really like using.  This is exciting for me because eventually I will be buying a new sewing machine with the ability to embroider as this is something I am interested in doing.  I have a list of qualities I would like in a machine, and I have narrowed it down to two brands, but the next big step is test them out and get to know them.  I will let you all know which one I decide to buy, and maybe even ask opinions.

For now, I am linking up to a Whoop Whoop, and Crazy Mom Quilts.

Christina

Table Runner Completed!

A table runner, a UFO, just needing its binding, for over a year has been completed, and a Quarter 2 Goal has been completed. I love how this one turned out.  I quilted it using the free motion option on my machine, the stitches are not all perfect, but it was not nearly a disaster as I thought it would be.  Of course the easiest thing to do was what took the longest to do, which was making binding and handstitching it on.   Check out my cute kitty, making sure the work I have done is to her satisfaction.  It was more like she wanted to be in on the action, as my new comforter makes for a great background!

I have learned a lot about squaring up, and not sewing directly on the line (thank you Bonnie Hunter and her post on C&T this month), along with using a scant quarter of an inch, but it is all a learning process.  Which means the next time I make this specific pattern I will be using my new knowledge and put it to the test, along with another time I have points and doing the stitch and flip method of triangles.

I even put a label on it, however it will not be going in my store.  Instead it will stay in my home and live on my table.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts, and I can not wait to see what everyone else is working on.

Christina

June OMG

My one monthly goal for June 2016 is to cut out all of the pieces for this soon to be gorgous Flower Garden Quilt, purchased from Connecting Threads.  This quilt is for a wedding that will be taking place in November.  In addition, I have a second quilt to complete in that month along with a commission quilt to be completed by September.  I am going to be busy this summer sewing up a storm, and I look forward to it.

Christina

Where Did May Go?

At the end of April we bought a desk, a mighty big one.  It has been wonderful being able to put office related items in said desk, however the purchase came with some conditions from my husband.  These included cleaning and organizing my craft corner, and sprucing up a few other areas in the living room.  We moved furniture around for the desk, and then I got to work on organizing.  We even got a storage unit to store my craft supplies to had more room in our living room.  I organized, organized and organized.  I thought I would get it all done Memorial Day weekend....then I started a book series, and I could not put it down.  Oopps, now we are in June and I did not finish cleaning the areas I wanted to clean, and finish my May OMG, which was to glue fabric to templates for English Paper Piecing.  I just have 49 circles left, and I was able to get all of my flower petals finished.

Oh well, we move on, I will just have to work harder this month and let you know about the two classes I have already taken in future posts.  I hope to have a lot of finishes, which I will be sharing as I get them done.  I can not wait to share what my June OMG will be, but first here is to having a good, busy, and productive month!

Christina