Weekend Getaway!

I got together with a few of my quilting friends last weekend and had a blast!  We decided to camp out in my empty house since we aren't moving until May.  

I started with a car full of stuff!

When I got to the house I already had fabric mail in my King Kong sized mail box!

When Ali arrived, she immediately started tackling my disorganized mess of fat quarters!  Gotta love friends who will fold your fabric!

The first night we all hung out, talked on our phones, and ate brownies!

The girls (including some that couldn't make it) gave me the most amazing housewarming gifts!!!!  I was really floored at the thoughtfulness and generosity.  Seriously, I have the best friends!

Ali even made this print for me!  You can't tell in this pic, but it's mounted on a block of wood!  I love Ali's prints and I think I may have order some more for my new sewing room!

The Great Wall of FQs

The next day we went to this fabulous store near my new house!  Those are BAGS of fat quarters!  The store is in total disarray, but they have lots of great stuff.  Sadly, they don't offer any guild discounts or sales of ANY kind.  That's right, they NEVER have a sale!  I guess that explains all the unsold FQs, huh?

After we realized there were some hard to find Anna Maria Horner prints in that mess, we weren't too proud to crawl around on the floor to find more!  Kaelin was the master at finding these gems!  Sadly, the store isn't online nor do they ship.  They don't even know what they have!  Seriously, it was nuts in there!

This was my loot!

In case you're curious what's in each of those rolled bundles.  AMH heaven!

We stuffed our faces with Mellow Mushroom pizza after an exhausting morning of fabric shopping!

And we even managed to get in some sewing!

As I drove home through the hills of Tennessee I was already planning our next get together! 

I Have Talented Friends

Since I'm in the process of moving and don't have anything new for you, I thought I'd brag about my friend!  She lives down the road from me and she also quilts/sews.  Her name is Melanie--and isn't she talented?!?!?  No, she doesn't have a blog and she's barely on Flickr (quarksandwidgets), but she loves modern fabric and she does spectacular work.

She made this beautiful quilt using primarily Tula Pink's Prince Charming line.  I LOVE how she used the large scale print as a thin border!  You can't tell in this picture, but there are cute little frogs peeping out just along the top--and nowhere else!  Adorable!  She's selling this quilt in her etsy shop for CHEAP!  Dirt cheap people!  She also has a Swoon quilt in Prince Charming that she's practically giving away.  Just FYI!

The Joel Dewberry on the back is so unexpected to me, but it matches perfectly and is so cute with the little bits of Prince Charming at the bottom.  Ok, I'm done bragging now. :)  

Proud QAL Mama!

I'm so so so proud of you guys!  All 179 of you!  Look at some of the great things members of the My Precious QAL are cranking out:

Lots of you are pulling fabrics and starting the scary process of cutting.  I know it's hard, but it's worth it!

I've had a few questions about "does this fabric count?" or if it's too late to join.  The answer to that is that any fabric that isn't brand new counts.  My requirement is that it is something you've been hoarding or reluctant to use.  Please don't submit any old project just to enter the giveaways.  I want this QAL to push you to cut and use things you normally wouldn't.  If you're not a hoarder or reluctant to use any of your fabric, this isn't the QAL for you.  I'm not trying to exclude anyone, I just want everyone participating to understand the spirit of the group.  You can join any time.  The blog post with the button to link up your project for the month will go up close to the 15th and will be left open for a few days.  I will post details on the group page too once the blog post is up.

For any of you looking to hoard some Echo, my friend Tracey has two FQ bundles of the entire Echo line for sale!

This Train is Slowing

As much as I'd love to show you a bunch of completed projects day after day, this train has to slow down!  I'm moving in two weeks.  Yikes!  So the blog may be a bit quiet here soon, but I'll still be checking in regularly on Flickr!  I'm going on a little girls-only vacation next weekend with a few quilting friends--you may have heard of them: Kaelin, Ali, Cherie, and Cara!  We're camping out in my empty house in Tennessee.  We're going to christen it with lots of new fabric after we explore the local stores--did you know Leah from Burgundy Buttons lives there?  Oh yeah!  I made this bag for my trip!  I was actually pattern testing for Michelle .  Check out the bags you'll be able to make with this pattern:

Hello!  Fabulous!  The pattern will be available for sale really soon.  Don't worry, I'll keep you posted!

I made this one too because it went so quickly!

I finally cut into my Recess layer cake and made this quilt top!  No more precious Recess!  The pattern is from Cluck Cluck Sew called Easy Bake.  I forgot there were only 40 pieces in that layer cake so instead of a 6x7 layout I had planned, I had to go with 6x6.  Yes, I could have done 5x8, but I don't like narrow quilts.  I'm not narrow so why would I make a narrow quilt? :)  I had thought about keeping this one, but my oldest kid told me it looked "crazy nuts" so I guess it will go in the shop when it's done.  I can make a matching pillow with my 4 left over blocks too!  I was thinking of making a custom appliquéd pillow for whoever bought the quilt.  The blocks that are left are the light colored ones so a bright red or navy monogram would look super cute. Ok, just thinking out loud there.

I hope you all are making progress on your precious QAL items!  Check out Darci's pillow

And Michelle's blocks:

Tanya's block

and I know we're all drooling over Amy's quilt!

Chuga-Chuga-Choo-Choo!

I think I can!  I think I can!  I think I can!  Three blocks down in the My Precious QAL!!!!  My goal was to do 20, but I discovered after sorting my Heather Ross stash that I really only have enough color variation for 16.  That's ok, 16 is plenty for a quilt!

I was happy to be able to use a tiny bit of KJR ribbon flowers in this one!  I only had a tiny piece left from my KJR quilt scraps so it's fun to put it to use!

I have to be honest, this one was hard for me.  I may have hesitated for a while about using the Jungle Book fabric.  It's my only piece!  That's also almost all of my Tula Pink Flutterby green lady bugs!  *sigh* It's tough trying to set a good example sometimes when all I want to do is put my fabric safely back into its bin......whole, perfect, mine.  All mine.  Anyone else having trouble?  :)  Have you guys checked out the Flickr group?  Lots of great goodies are getting ready to be sliced!  Sarah is already off to a great start!

Did you know there are more than 100 people joining in now?!?!?  I'm totally blown away!!!  You guys are awesome and so brave to cut into your precious stash!

Setting a Good Example

I'm trying to set a good example for those of you who are participating in my QAL (read about it here) so last night I made this quilt top!  I used my one and ONLY piece of Heather Ross beach scene fabric. 

This is an example of how you can use your fabric without even cutting it!  I designed the quilt around the dimensions of the piece I had.  I used three shades of Kona blues, Kona tans/creams, tangerine and white to create the top.  

I even have my precious Heather Ross blue, orange, and brown dot fabric all ready to cut for binding!  How are you all coming along?  Have you decided what fabric to cut?  Are you getting cold feet?

Oh, and Elizabeth of Don't Call Me Betsy tagged me in a getting-to-know-you sort of post so here are my answers!

1. Do you have other hobbies other than quilting?  

Reading and cooking.  I prefer actual books to anything on a Kindle or e-reader.  Sometimes I checkout audio books from the library and listen to them while I quilt.  Also, I cook, I don't bake.  I hate the precision of baking (pretty much the exact opposite of Elizabeth's answer to this question!)  I like to experiment and, frankly, if I learned how to bake well I'd weigh a thousand pounds!

2.  What's the smallest size scrap you save when quilting?

2.5" square and binding scraps

3. How many of your quilts do you actually own? 

Six.  Two couch blankets for myself, one t-shirt quilt of my hubby's, a Christmas quilt, one quilt for our bed, and one small quilt I made for my oldest son.  It's not a lot compared to how many I make, but the joy is in the process for me, not in the keeping.  It makes me sad to see stacks of quilts in closets that go unused.  What's the point?  Why not sell them or give them to someone who will use them?  Just my opinion.

4. Are you a pre-washer, or do you wash your fabrics after the quilt is finished? 

 I only prewash flannel or if I'm making clothes.

5. What do you do while you sew?  Listen to music?  Watch TV?  Enjoy the silence?  

I listen to music or audio books, always!

6. How many blogs do you read? 

uh, too many to count!

7. What is your favorite food?

bacon, anything with bacon!

8. Are you a morning person or a night person?  

though most of you won't believe this, I'm a morning person.  The only time I stay up past 1130 is if I've had a long nap during the day.  My kids are usually up by 730 and I like making the most of the daylight! :)

My Precious QAL

I'm so very excited to officially announce the My Precious Quilt-a-long!  We all have some fabric in our stash that's our favorite or the stack that you've been most reluctant to use.  Wonderland, Mendocino, FMF, Park Slope, Munki Munki, Full Moon Forest, Neptune, Katie Jump Rope, Good Folks, Bohemian, Garden Party, Recess, Swell, or whatever YOU hold dear, it's time to use it!  The fabric doesn't have to be desirable to anyone but YOU!  This QAL is designed to push you, not to compete with other people for who has the most sought-after stash.

This is going to be the most relaxed QAL ever.  You don't even have to make a quilt!  How's that for relaxed!  All I'm asking is that you take fabric precious to you and make something, anything!  Make quilt, a pillow, a table runner, a mug rug, a mini quilt, a bag, a pin cushion, a pot holder, an apron, etc.  I really don't care what you make, as long as you're using the fabric you never thought you could cut.  It's not doing anyone any good just sitting there!  It's time to use it!

This is the start of my own quilt.  I'll be using my Heather Ross stash to make a rainbow of log cabin blocks.  My goal is to make at least 20 blocks (each finish at 15").

Rules:

1.  You must use fabric that you've been hoarding.  Not your regular old stash.  The special stuff.  You know what I'm talking about!  The stack you occasionally bring out to pet or maybe the precious scraps you've been saving forever.

2.  It does NOT have to be hard to find or out of print (HTF/OOP), but it can't be brand new.  I'll admit, my original intention was for everyone to use these types of fabrics, but realistically I know that not everyone has them in their stash.  My only request is that you please don't pick something just released.

3.  This will be a summer-long QAL.  On the 15th of May, June, July, and August I will host a linky party here on my blog where you will share what you've made with your precious stash that month!  It does NOT have to be a finished quilt.  IF you are making a quilt with your selected fabrics, you can post the blocks you've made.  If you are making a smaller project, the project must be completed.  Got that?  If you commit to making a quilt you can post your completed blocks or completed quilt (if you're super speedy).  If you're making a smaller project, you must have a completed project to link up.  You must post something new each month to be entered into the drawing for that month's prize(s)

4.  There will be at least one prize per month for anyone who links up.  Only one entry per person.  Winner(s) will be chosen by Mr. RNG.  So far prizes have been donated by:

•  Jeni from In Color Order is donating a FQ bundle of vintage sheets
• Kaelin from The Plaid Scottie is donating a bundle of HTF fabric
• Brenda from Pink Castle Fabrics
• Tula Pink herself is giving something!!!!  
• Fat Quarter Shop is providing two $25 gift cards!!!!
• Elizabeth at Don't Call Me Betsy is donating 2 charm packs
• Stefanie at Stationery With Style is donating 3 sheets of personalized sew-in labels
• Katie at Bike, Swim, Quilt is donating some fabric
• Nest Pretty Things (one of my favorite etsy shops) is offering a pair of earrings!
• Christine from Sew and So Much More is offering some of her cute handmade pins, a pincushion, and a charm pack of OOP Heather Ross (yum!)
• Jenny from Cut.Sew.Iron.Repeat is giving away a charm pack of OOP Alexander Henry prints!
• Linda from Handmade by Linda is giving a flat bottom pouch of your choice!
• My friend, Dar, is donating a charm pack of the COMPLETE Katie Jump Rope collection!
• Sarah from Blue Print Textiles is giving a FQ bundle of HTF fabric AND a copy of her upcoming pattern!
• Rachael from 2nd Avenue Studio is giving a bundle of HTF fabric and one of the fabulous templates she helped create with Jill at TabSlot on etsy.

5.  I've created a Flickr group HERE.  I'd really like it if everyone considering linking up would also join the Flickr group.  I promise we don't bite!  This is where you can post in-progress pictures, discuss ideas for how to best use your precious fabric, swap for other precious fabric, and, in general, have someone to hold your hand while you cut, cut, cut!!!

6.  Get ideas from our Pintrest board!


7.  Your project can do double duty!  If there is another QAL, swap, gift, or project you want to do, you can kill two birds with one stone if you use your precious fabric!  

So are you in?  This QAL is all about being brave.  You can do it!  Grab a button (on the right side of my blog) and tell your friends!

Fat Quarterly and a New QAL!

My project is featured on Fat Quarterly's blog today!  Go check it out!  Pssst!  If you're new to my blog, I'm having a 20% off sale right now in my etsy shop!  Use the code "BIGMOVE" at check out!

It all started with this quilt top from Jeni.  I loved it and I wanted to copy it immediately!  I'm thinking of starting a little QAL, but you don't even have to make a quilt!!!  The only rule is that you have to use whatever fabric you've been hoarding!  It doesn't have to be hard to find (though that's always fun), but it does have to be something you've been reluctant to use!  You can make a quilt, a mini, a bag, a pouch, a pillow, whatever!  Stop petting your precious fabric and make something fabulous!  If you are participating in any other QALs, you can do double duty!   Kaelin is helping me get things started and we're working on a Pintrest board HERE for inspiration!  I'm also going to see if I can get a shop to donate a prize for anyone who participates!  I'm still working out the details so stay tuned and get that rotary cutter ready!

UPDATE:  prizes are already being donated!!!!

Rollin' With My Homies

A friend of mine told me I was on a roll yesterday and I immediately started singing the song, "Rolling with my Homies".   I'm sure most of you know the movie this is from!  This quilt was a custom order from a friend of mine who is having a baby.

She doesn't know what she's having so she wanted something somewhat neutral.  She picked all the fabrics--and she likes the pink, even for a boy!  I thought they were such an interesting choices and I was super excited to work on this.  Lots of HSTs in this one!

She asked for a little special square on the back so I made this with some of the scraps.  

Back view

I also finished this quilt top for my etsy shop!  It's a fun, scrappy mix of blue, pink, red, and white!  My friend, Christine, cut too much of these fabrics for the King size quilt she is making so she swapped with me for some of her leftovers! 

She included lots of Heather Ross for me!

In other news, I registered for Sewing Summit this morning!!!!  Who's with me?

Oh and remember:

 SHOP NEWS:  I'm moving at the end of the month so from now until April 20th you can get 20% off in my shop (excluding custom order quilts) with the code "BIGMOVE"  Please help me clear out my shop so I don't have move more stuff!  :) Tell your friends!

A New Baby and My Very Own Quilt!

SHOP NEWS:  I'm moving at the end of the month so from now until April 20th you can get 20% off in my shop (excluding custom order quilts) with the code "BIGMOVE"  Please help me clear out my shop so I don't have move more stuff!  :) Tell your friends!

I set a new land speed record with this quilt!  I found out a little after 1pm that my husband's cousin gave birth to her first baby.  

By 5pm, I had a completed quilt!  It would have been done sooner, but I kept changing my mind on fabric!

I used my Wonky Alphabet letters.

I backed it with some pretty red and aqua Bliss print!  Voila!  A baby quilt in the space of an afternoon! 

I also completed the quilting and binding for my Far Far Away quilt!

After much harassing by Flickr friends, I've decided to keep this one for myself!  It didn't take much arm twisting to be honest.  I love it.  It's super girly and super soft.  With two boys, a husband, and a boy dog  my house could use a few girly things!

I also got to test out my new fabric labels from Stefanie of Stationery with Style.  Stefanie is so sweet and awesome to work with!  She designed my blog, cards, labels, stickers, and anything else I can think of to match!  Love ya girl!  The fabric labels aren't up on her website yet, but just email her and she can create custom colorfast labels for you in any size/style and with whatever you want on them! 

For the back of this one I used Kona Cerise and bound it in Kona Lime.  It's my new favorite thing to snuggle.....besides my kids. :)