A little home decorating.

 

Here's a sweet display in front of my cutting table in the sewing room. A pic of the baby, some finger painting, an unfinished little quilt top, and some ric-rac garland!

 Today, a need to clean/organize the house turned into an opportunity to hang some quilts for decoration! Above is a pic of my the gorgeous DQS9 quilt that I received - now hanging on my sewing room wall.

 

Here is a little display in Allie's room. I plan to add a couple little girlie doll quilts here too, once I make them. The word cloud is from www.wordle.com (you have to download a tool that will take a screen shot of your wordle, then print it in color. The frame is a vinyl decal I got for $2 at Target, I'm kicking myself for not buying the other pack of them!

Finally here's a quilt I've been wanting to post about. No, I didn't make it. This was made for DH when he was born, by a friend of his grandmother. I believe it was machine pieced and definitely hand quilted (impeccably!). It has spent it's first 27 years in a box in a closet (maybe in the attic?). So the dilemma is, is it worse to hang it and risk a bit of damage over the years, or to hide it away in a closet for the rest of it's existence? I think it's too beautiful to hide. It was never ever used since my mother-in-law was afraid to mess it up. I think the first time my husband ever recalled seeing it was when I pulled it out of the closet!

Blogger's Quilt Festival



For the first time this summer I participated in an online swap. I was lucky enough to happen upon the Doll Quilt Swap on flickr, just as they were taking names for the 9th round. I signed up and hoped and hoped that I'd get in (there were about two hundred of us this round I think). I got the email (on my birthday no less) congratulating me that I got in, and a few days later received information about my partner. DQS is a secret swap, so we know who we're sending to, but not who we're receiving from.

Center panel - notice the hand stitched rainbow of circles.

Having never done a swap before, I decided to go way out of my comfort zone and challenge myself to do all the things I'd never done before. I'd never actually sat down and planned a quilt. So I did. I sat down with me nieces and colored half a dozen pictures of what I wanted this quilt to be. I went with a rainbow of colors based on my partner's likes. The grey was all me (I am really addicted to using grey fabric in everything). I had been wanting to try out the cathedral window quilt block for a while, but had been too chicken to do so. I tackled and decided I loved it but it needed to be smaller. I scaled it down to just under 3" finished (6" to start, rather than the normal 9" or 12").

Close up of the windows, stitched down by machine.

It certainly took me a long time to iron and fold all those pieces, but it kept amazing me how great the blocks looked. Partway through the ironing, I changed up my plan a little, adding some sashing to add a bit of interest. It all came together without a problem. Once it was all assembled I backed it with a pink printed fabric (my partner voiced her love of pink) and added batting (not traditionally done in a cathedral window quilt).To attach all three layers I did some big, bold hand stitches (I'd never done before either) to highlight the circle-ness of the central panel. Finally I did a piped binding that I'd recently seen a tutorial for.

Piped binding.

In the end I'd worked so hard on this quilt, literally spending hours and hours with it, that I was scared to send it off. It sat in my sewing room, completely done, for weeks before I sent it (still on time mind you). I really love this quilt. I don't think I have it in me to make another one, but it was totally and completely worth it. I sure hope my partner loves it as much as I do!!! By the sound of the thank you she sent, she does!

I poured my heart into this quilt. How could I send it off to someone I haven't even met?

Now here's the real story behind the quilt. This summer I joined a doll quilt swap. Did I learn a ton about quilting and myself? Yes. But most of all I learned about a community of ladies (and a few men) who really are there for each other. They really care and support and respond in ways that I didn't know was possible via the Internet. I have friends in real life, who I've known for years, that haven't supported me half as much as these ladies did this summer. They're stand up people. They make you laugh and look forward to checking in each day. Do I know all of them by name (their real names)? No. Do I know that I can turn to them and find support? Yes.

The back, highlighting the quilted circles.

The quilt that I nearly wrote about today is Rosemarie's Quilt, which started midway through the Doll Quilt Swap - Through various group discussions on a couple different flickr groups I somehow went out on a limb and asked for help making blocks to make a quilt for my niece (age 4) who has cancer. Two days later I had envelopes coming to my door from all over the world. Most of the people who sent them were from the Doll Quilt Swap. How can I send away a quilt that took so many hours and so much love? I got more than enough in return. I got community. Sharing, sewing, and talking about Spartacus. What more could we ask for? Here's hoping that I get in for round 10!! :)

Want to see more pictures? I documented each step here.
Check out all the other awesome quilts over here.

DQS9 Recieved, More Mug Rugs, etc...

Can you believe it? I finally received my DQS9 quilt from my swap partner! No it didn't actually take a long time to get to me, I've just been stalking my post man ever since I sent mine (which was on the early side of the send dates). Here it is:

It came from Karen (flickr: Enola05) and it's spectacular! I really love it!!!!! It's hanging on my living room wall right now (until I get some hooks in my sewing room wall!) Did I mention that I love it? That Yellow binding really makes the whole thing pop!

***

Mug Rugs: I can't seem to get enough! This time I've tried the quilt as you go method. I really enjoyed it. I'm not willing to do a whole quilt this way right now, but I loved the fun of it!

My two swaps this month (Pincushion Swap  and Mug Rug Swap) are wrapping up... nearing the "mail by date"... So I'm about to go off to personalise these up with some embroidery etc. More pictures will come. I also have made a couple more pincushions playing around for the Pincushion Swap that will be pictured later.

Speaking of swaps... on a whim last night I decided to see if I'd be accepted into the {Urban} HOME Goods Swap. To even join this group on flickr you have to be "approved". Kinda nerve wracking if you ask me, but I did get the approval today so that's cool... maybe I'll be invited to swap the next round?! I've totally been drooling over every single thing that has been sent in that swap!

Swaps starting soon!

Ever since joining the DQS at the beginning of the summer, I've been hanging around a couple other flickr groups, waiting for them to start another round of swapping. Two of these start up very soon. First, the Scrappy Pincushion Swap, which stops taking names at 6:00pm today (eek that's ten minutes from now!), will be announcing who's in this round/who their (secret) partners will be by Sept 5th... and swaps will be mailed out by the first of October. Pretty cool. I really hope I get in. :) These swaps are fun.

Next I started stalking the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap as soon as ms. flossy blossoms started it up. I believe for this one, everyone who signs up is in. For this one sign ups end the 31st, we'll have our partners by the 4th, and will send our swaps out by Oct 1st. Apparently Eminem is going to swap too... lol (at my excitement that I was the only "E" named swapper, suspiciously Eminem and the Easter Bunny decided to join... tricky ones them).

Why swaps? Well the community is great (a lot of the ladies from these swaps are also in the DQS), and it's really quite inspiring to see their creativity. Swapping makes me think more, try harder, push my boundaries, learn new things...etc. Pretty fun. Not to mention that these two new swaps (providing I get in) will be pretty quick once I decide what to make - since each project can be finished within a single nap time. :) Much more to come!

Also ---- My DQS9 partner, Rebecca, received her package in the mail this week! :) She loved it! And I'm glad!

Mug Rugs and Other Stuff.

Mug rug #2. I love these. they're quick and fun and useable. :) This one actually, was my first flickr picture ever to be put on "explore" which for the record I really don't understand. (how do they pick them and where do I go to find mine?) I looked through pages of explore pics today, and didn't see mine. Figures. :) But I got a couple comments from random people saying they'd seen it there.

Also, my doll quilt for the DQS9 is all finished, pictures taken, wrapped, and sent! I keep checking the USPS site for tracking - obsessively. I really would cry if it got lost! I hope my partner likes it!!!!

Here's a stack of blocks for Rosemarie's Cancer Killin Quilt. :) I've got just about enough... all layed out, numbered and ready to be sewn together. I'm still expecting a couple more blocks from people who have said they're sending them. Those will go onto the back of this quilt, or into the one for Katee (Rosemarie's sister). As of now I have 15 remaining blocks for Katee's I'll do what it takes to fill in the gaps. It'll work. :) I love it so far. Here it is all laid out.

Please pardon the terrible dark picture. It was daytime and sunny when I took it... but the size and shadowyness of my living room just didn't work for it! :) This pic is mostly for me to reference should I loose a couple of those numbers in the sewing process. :)

Mod Bento Block Swap

The giveaway post is here.

As the Doll Quilt Swap 9 winds down (yep I just finished the quilt yesterday), I've been thinking about joining another swap or two. I'm not really sold on the whole "quilting bee" although I think I'd learn a lot, I don't really have the fabric or postage to be doing that sort of huge project. I like the idea of doll quilt swaps because I like the finished product... neet and tidy. I've decided to join the Scrappy Pincushion Swap, which not only inspired me to make these,

but it is also hosted by the same people as the Doll Quilt Swap (lots of the swappers are the same too). The scrappy pincushion swap starts up as the DQS9 winds down, which is perfect!

Then I started looking for other swaps... and a friend from the DQS9 swap told me about the Mod Bento Block Swap. It's a pretty cool setup. You make as many mod bento blocks as you'd like to recieve, then send them to the swap mama with a self addressed prepaid envelope, and she'll send you that many blocks from the ones other people send in! I like that there's really no rules other than fabric choice (which is right in my comfort zone), and date of sending (which is two weeks from now - perfect).

So yesterday I set out to give it a try! We're using Film in the Fridge's tutorial, which is awesome! Here is the block I made yesterday, and the two I made today! I've been taking extra care to measure/cut/sew/trim meticulously... and mine actually ended up at the prescribed 16" square! Pretty awesome!

Finishing up my swap quilt, and starting some other projects.

The giveaway post is here.

After trying out hand quilting/embroidery for the first time in ages (for my DQS9 quilt) I found that I actually really enjoy it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not all for the detail and perfection that most like... but some words here or there, and a nice running stitch, that's more me. After finishing my doll quilt swap quilt I wanted to play around a bit more with hand quilting/embroidering, so last night I whipped up this. It's about 16" x 18" (guessing) and is made up of my current favorite fabrics. I quilted in the ditch, and sewed on the binding, so I don't have to worry too much about the fabrics shifting. Notice that little hedgie, I love him. The bikes... awesomeness! :) I can't wait to play with this! lol.

As I mentioned above, I did indeed finish my quilt for DQS9 (yesterday). I sewed on my label and it's all ready to go. I'm not going to send it just yet though, I need more time to say goodbye! It's definately the most challenging quilt I've made, and I purposely chose aspects to add to it, so that I'd learn a lot as I went. It's awesome!!! Here's a snippet of the back - there's a rainbow of circles there, and pink because well, what else? lol. I did piped binding, and hand quilted it.

I'm sending some goodies along with it too. A handmade quilted card (for me to send my partner a little note), a needle book, scissors, a spool holder, and a mini tapemeasure. ...and more! :) Gotta keep them guessing!

Quilting Math: Part 1

Whenever I make a quilt, my sketchbook starts to look like a math book. I don't like to buy more fabric than I need for a project, and I hate to have to run to the store to buy more mid-project if I run out. So before I buy fabric to sash, bind, and for the back, I do the math.

Today I'm going to break down for you how I figure out how much fabric to buy to sash a quilt. This sample I'm using is the measurements and sketches for my DQS9 quilt... so it's doll size.

Here's the sketch. The shaded area is made up of my blocks, and will be sashed in a lattice style. The sashing will be strips that are cut 2" wide, and finished at 1.5"

To determine how much fabric is needed for the sashing, I first add up all the areas sewn horizontally to the sashing.

3+3+3+3+9+9 = 30

Then I add up the total height of the finished quilt (from the top down I've got: 3+1.5+12+1.5+3= 21

Then I add one inch (for wiggle room), and multiply this number by 2 (since I'm using two strips of this length). 21+1 = 22

22 x 2 = 44

Now add the two numbers together 30 + 44 = 74

So you'll need a strip that measures 74" x 2" to sash this quilt.

Since quilting cotton usually is printed on the bolt as 44" wide, we'll take our strip length (74") and divide it by the usable inches of the fabric (I usually bet on having 42" of usable fabric once the selvages are removed). So.

74 ÷ 42 = 1.76 (round up to the nearest number, 2)

Meaning you'll need two cuts, selvage to selvage to equal 74 inches.

Now if you've already got that fabric by the yard on hand, you'd go ahead and cut two strips that are two inches wide each. Sew them together, sash your project and go on your way.

If you have to buy fabric for this project, it's easiest to buy a 1/4th of a yard.

***

Here's how to figure out the yardage if you've got a larger project. For instance for this string quilt I'm working on, I'm doing just a basic border around all four edges (the string part is 45" x 31") I'm putting an 8" border around the string section.

For this project I'll end up needing 5 strips (selvage to selvage) that are 8" wide.

The math you'll have to do for this is 5 (number of strips) times 8 (width of strips)

5 x 8 = 40

I'll need 40" of fabric... divide this number by 36 (the number of inches per yard).

40 ÷ 36 = 1.11 

I round up to the nearest quarter of a yard, so I'll be buying 1 1/4 yards of fabric for the sashing of my string quilt.

Lots of progress!!!!

Naptime is just about over (the babe is making a bit of noise), and I totally accomplished my goal for this week in one naptime! I got the remaining windows sewn into place on my Doll Quilt Swap quilt... and the sashing has been chosen and sewn into place. I decided on a whim to test out Trisha's tutorial for faux piped binding... which turned out AWESOME! That took a bit more time, but I managed to get it all sewn together, attached, and sewn down! So, all that is remaining for this quilt is a bit of free hand quilting and a label. All to be done on our upcoming vacation (if I don't get it done sooner).

The only bad thing is that my camera battery died before I finished... I seem to have lost my battery charger so I ordered one on amazon... only $5 but it's going to take until next monday to get here!

While we wait for the pics of the finished product, here are some pics of the auditioning of sashing fabrics. I chose green (Kona grass green).

Inspiration!

Look what arrived via Amazon.com today!

Now I'm off to drool!

And hopefully get some huge progress going on my DQS9 quilt. I need it to be finished (minus the hand quilting) by the end of next week. I still have all the edge windows (on the middle section) to sew down, sashing to be done, and basting/binding/etc! More pictures to come!

Progress on the DQS9 quilt and some playing around.

Here's the center piece of my quilt for the Doll Quilt Swap 9... It's turning out really great! I'm really in love with the colors and the grey. It is a lot of work though, and I do hope my swap partner loves it! I think that I am going to leave those edge triangles grey and just fold them down and sew them blank. Then embroider in them... we'll see how it goes. I have to finish all the border pieces though, which include a lot of half windows... which is a lot of time. I need to buckle down and finish the machine sewing part of this soon so I can work on the embroidery/hand quilting... which I'm not very practiced at. Give myself time for the inevitable mess-ups/re-do's.

Here's a little fun quiltie I made up the other day. I have been admiring the close, strait line quilting on these pieces here. So I had to try it out myself. I love that multi-colored floral fabric at the top - the stiching is in a verigated baby-colored thread and it matches just perfectly. I need to remember that color combo. This is about 7" square.

How cute!!!?? These little squares are all half an inch square. I used the tutorial here. It all started at about nine inches square... and ended up here!

I backed this little piece, quilted in the ditch, and bound it with a satin stitch on my machine. Now Nancy (my sewing machine) has her own little quilt to show off! How sweet!

DQS9 Progress

I've been making some great progress on my Doll Quilt Swap progect. After waiting for two weeks and then some, for my fabric to arrive (don't order from Fat Quarter World - I'm not even going to link them the prices were enough for me to take a chance... it's been almost a month and still no fabric and still no refund)... I ended up ordering it from fabric.com in the end... and it came in about three days. Thankfully they'd restocked it! I did get a lot of progress done on it while waiting for the fabric to come in. Here's a picture of all my little squares folded and ironed all perfectly.

I used the tutorial here, which was very helpful. I am, however, sewing the windows open by machine. I'm not much of a hand sewer.

Now with the fabrics in hand, here's my progress photo. Pretty cool. I've got a few of the windows sewn open, and that whole bottom pannel is done and ready. I chose lots of AMH Little Folks fabrics from my stash, and added two pink AMH Good Folks prints, and a couple purples and greens from my stash to round out the "rainbow."

I hope my partner likes it! She said she likes rainbow colors and modern fabrics. That's all I took from her likes, the rest (tons of grey, and AMH loving) comes from me. Now I need to get working on the second one, because I don't think I can part with this unless I make one for myself!

Lots of randomness going on.

I recently bought a couple yards of purple fabric to sash this quilt top. I want about a 10" border around the outside, which will make it aprox. toddler bed size. Why is it that I suddenly want to cut into that purple Kona to use on every other project. I know that I bought it specifically for that quilt, and I don't want to have to run to the fabric store when I get the inspiration to actually finish it. But... it's so inticing. I think I need to buy more.

I'd really like to just chop it all up and use it to make more of these blocks. I really enjoy them. Or to make some improv. blocks with tiny square centers and teeny tenny borders etc then huge purple borders than more teeeny borders. How many purple quilts do I need?

I've thought of doing these blocks (above) as the back of the string quilt... but I think they are way cool enough to deserve their own quilt. I've been thinking of making them into a baby quilt for my friend Kayla's new baby (due any day now)... but I've never actually given a quilt away... I'm affraid I'll get too attached. And I don't see Kayla ... ever... so I'd never get to see the quilt again. And, would she take good enough care of it? lol. Silly I know.

On to the discussion about the fabric I ordered two and a half weeks ago that still isn't here! Don't shop at Fat Quarter World... well they're closing up shop anyway. I ordered two yards (one of each of two prints) of AMH good folks fabrics to even out my rainbow assortment for my DQS9 quilt.... I was really expecting the fabric to get in by lets say...last week! I've been tracking the shipping (supposedly 2-6 day shipping that I spent $6 on) and it's been at a sorting facility (aka lost) for more than a week. I'm really hoping that they'll at least refund my shipping cost (since $6 for two yards was rediculous anyway). We'll see. Either way, Fabric.com has restocked those prints and I ordered it from there last week, since I'm tired of waiting with the project on hold. Here's hoping that something will come in today or tomorrow!

Here's my DQS9 progress so far (ok well I've finished ironing the last few squares...) no colors yet in the windows, as my palate depends on how pink/purple the ordered fabrics are in real life. Hopefully some great progress soon! Of course I need to start cutting/ironing more grey squares since I really think I need one of these for myself too!

Doll Quilt Swap 9 and the Process Pledge

 

Here are some of my first sketches for the Doll Quilt Swap. I'm thinking of doing cathedral windows, which involves a bit of folding and ironing and then some pretty curved sewing (which I'm doing by machine not by hand as is traditionally done). Last week I did a little sample of this (at the bottom). I think I'm going to test out using white fabric for the base then adding gray squares peeking out of the "leaves" (the narrow ovalish parts) to add some more contrast. Then using bold saturated colors (not the primary ones here - thanks pack of 24 crayons) for the windows. 

I was sketching out some color options. I want to use a full rainbow of colors but to tone them down with some gray and use the white in between to really make it pop. My options shown here helped me to decide that for my sanity (and since my fabrics will work better) I am going to do a random placement. 

I haven't picked out my fabrics yet because I've been visiting with family all week. That comes next week! I can't wait! Hope my swap partner will like this!