Christmas Presents

Well it is that time of year again where everyone is just so busy with decorating, Christmas shopping, wrapping, sending out Christmas cards, holiday programs and parties.  Sometimes I feel like the holiday season is such a blur and I am a robot just going through the motions.  I am trying really hard this year though to enjoy this holiday season because my kids are 6 and 2 and they are just growing up too fast.  My oldest just lost her first tooth!  Which means I haven't actually done much quilting or sewing these past couple of weeks.  However, I did decide to sew up these super cute gift bags though.  Aren't they just adorable?

I used this tutorial from Amy at Positively Splendid, which you can find here.  They really are pretty easy to make.  I made the smallest size, which fit gift cards and candy goodies perfectly.

I was also super exited because I finally received this book in the mail!  I was so excited to get it.  It is a signed copy of Quilting Wide Open Spaces by Judi Madsen, which you can purchase here.  There are a few designs of hers that I would love to quilt up and this book tells you how to do just that.

I also wanted to take the time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I can't wait to see what 2014 brings!  See you then!

Happy Quilting!

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The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - Winners

I still can't believe that we are all finished!  Everyone did such a great job!  I know that both Janice from Better off Thread and I really had a great time hosting this Quilt Along.  We had 15 people link up in the final linkup, and the winners were chosen using the "Random Number Generator".

Here are the prize winners!

• A fat quarter bundle of Santa's Little Deer donated by the Fat Quarter Shop goes to Nicole from Modern Handcraft. 
  
• A $30.00 gift certificate from Green Fairy Quilts goes to Jen at Acts of Craftiness.  
  
  
  
• A fat quarter bundle from Robert Kaufman Fabrics goes to Sandy at Upstair Hobby Room.
  
  
  
• A $50.00 gift certificate from Sew Modern goes to Martina from Sunshinequilting.
  

Thank you so much to everyone that participated.  All the winners will be contacted through e-mail so they can receive their prizes.  Happy Quilting!

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Giant Starburst - Fabric Requirements & Cutting

Megan from Canoe Ridge Creations is hosting a quilt along for her Giant Starburst Quilt.  Now I usually don't join quilt alongs because I have a really hard time following through with them, however, this one looks rather simple to do and it looks like I should be able to keep up.  I am hoping anyways!  

My plan is to do "Version 2" and make it for the couch that is in my quilting studio.  I am going to use the following fabrics from Angela Yosten's Flats collection, which I purchased from the Fat Quarter Shop.  I just love these fabrics.

The background fabric that I plan on using is this white, which is a Moda Bella Solid called Porcelain (9900-182).

For the binding, I plan on using another fabric from Angela Yosten's Flats collection called "Rouge on White Bias Stripe".  I think the stripe and polka dot mix are going to look really nice for the finishing touch to this quilt.

I have also finished cutting out most of my fabrics.  I ended up being several inches shy for the 11 1/2 inch squares for three of the color fabrics, so I ordered more fabric today.  It should be in early next week for me to finish cutting up those 3 squares.  However, for the most part I am ready for the next step, which is assembling the quilt top!

Happy Quilting!

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The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - The Big Reveal!

Welcome back to the next and final post for the Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along.  Today is the day for the final "Big Reveal" of our advent calendars as well as ideas for what we should put in the pockets.  Shown below is a copy of the schedule so you can see where we are at and what comes next:

• August 19th - Announcement of Giveaway and sponsors
• September 2nd - Quilt Along begins:  Choosing fabrics and fabric requirements
• September 16th - Cutting and layout variations
• September 30th - Applique techniques (machine, hand, puff-paint, ironed on).  The options are endless for how you would like to add your numbers to the pockets.  
• October 14th - Piecing
• October 28th - Quilting ideas
• November 11th - Binding
• November 25th - The Big Reveal and ideas for what to put in the pockets.

If you want to see more details on the Quilt Along please go here.  Remember you can join in on the fun at any time!

I cannot believe we have reached the end!  Time has just flown by.  I must say that I have been thoroughly impressed with all of the calendars that I have seen so far!  You guys really have done a remarkable job.  I will say that this is the very first quilt along that I have actually been able to keep up with and see to fruition, so I am pretty proud of myself for that.  I also want to give a special "Shout out" to my friend Janice over at Better off Thread.  It has been such a pleasure hosting this quilt along with her and she has been a really awesome person to work with over the past couple of months.  Okay, now to the fun part.  We get to see everyone's finished project.  I am so happy and pleased with how my calendar turned out.  My kids just love this.

I decided to fill my calendar with a couple of things.  My favorite items are these little holiday books.  One package is called "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the other one is "Frosty the Snoman".  You can purchase them from Barnes and Noble for about $10.00 each.  My oldest daughter is in first grade right now and we are currently working on her reading skills.  Now these books might be a little easy for her, but I think they will be some fun quick reads for her to read to the family each night.  I can't believe how perfectly one book fits into each pocket.

Of course you can't have an advent calendar without some chocolaty goodness!  Since these children are definitely mine, they have most certainly inherited their mother's love of chocolate!  So I am including a treat for each kid in the pockets as well.

So tell me, what have you guys decided to put in the pockets of your advent calendars?  I can't wait to see.  Also this is the final linkup, so make sure you linkup because we have some fabulous prizes available and I definitely wouldn't want you to miss out!  So please link up.  The link up will be open until next Sunday, December 1st.  Winners will be chosen at random.  Janice and I will announce the prize winners on Monday December 2nd.

Happy Quilting!

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The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - Binding

Welcome back to the next post for the Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along.  Today, we are talking about binding.  Shown below is a copy of the schedule so you can see where we are at and what comes next:

• August 19th - Announcement of Giveaway and sponsors
• September 2nd - Quilt Along begins:  Choosing fabrics and fabric requirements
• September 16th - Cutting 
• September 30th - Applique techniques (machine, hand, puff-paint, ironed on).  The options are endless for how you would like to add your numbers to the pockets.  
• October 14th - Piecing and layout variations
• October 28th - Quilting ideas
• November 11th - Binding
• November 25th - The Big Reveal and ideas for what to put in the pockets.

If you want to see more details on the Quilt Along please go here.  Remember you can join in on the fun at any time!

I have noticed that all quilters bind differently.  Therefore, I thought that I would show you my "binding process".  First, we need to add the "corners".  This is where the rod will be inserted, so we can hang up our advent calendar.  Just take the 4.5 inch squares and fold them diagonally.  I attached them using an 1/8 inch seam allowance.  Elizabeth Hartman uses the same process in her tutorial, which you can find here.

I decided to bind my quilt in the red snowflake, which I also used for the hanging pockets as well.

I find that the corners are the hardest part to go around.  I position the binding so it will fold over nicely just like you would wrap a present for Christmas.  Yes I am particular on my corners.  Also when you come to the two open ends, I open the binding up so it lays flat and sew the two ends together and then refold the binding back over, so it looks like one continuous piece.  (I wish I would have gotten a picture of this step, but I didn't.)  After I have done that, then I just sew the binding onto the quilt using a 1/4 inch seam allowance.

Next I prefer to hand sew the binding onto the back.  I use these Clover clips to hold it.  I absolutely love these clips!  You can purchase them from any quilt shop or even Joann's.

I like to stitch underneath catching the quilt back and the "inside of the binding", so you don't see the stitching.  Just like the picture shown below.

I am halfway finished sewing the binding onto the back of the quilt.  Here is the front and back of one of my finished corners.  See, no stitching can be seen.  I just love it!

This week, I plan on finishing up binding the last two sides of the advent calendar with everyone else.  I am really excited to see everyone's finishes.  Everyone has been doing such a great job.  Also you should really hop on over to Janice's blog and see her beautiful "pebble quilting".  It was a lot of work but she got her calendar quilted up and bound!  Don't forget to link up and get your project finished because there are some really great prizes up for grabs!  The link up will be open for the next two weeks.

Happy Quilting!

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Almost Finished Quilting Studio

I am very excited to show you the progress that I have made cleaning up my quilting studio.  I have made great strides and I definitely do mean great strides.  You saw the before pictures, which you can find in my blog post here.

Well here is the view from the stairway now.  Talk about a total transformation!  I am just loving it.  I have a floor again!

Here is a picture of my fabric stash.  I separated it into categories such as "Girl Fabric", "Boy Fabric", "Halloween", and "Christmas".  I even gave my daughter a shelf for her craft supplies.

Here is the alcove right across from my long arm.  I decided to hang my design board above my machine and I love it.  I think I may add a second design board.  Apparently, I have a lot of orphan blocks that I haven't finished the projects for.  I am hoping that if they are all exposed, I will figure out something to do with them.

I know it isn't perfect, but it is a huge improvement from before and it is a start right!  At least I have things more organized then they were before!

Happy Quilting!

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The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - Quilting Ideas

Welcome back to the next post for the Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along.  Today, we are talking about quilting ideas.  Shown below is a copy of the schedule so you can see where we are at and what comes next:

• August 19th - Announcement of Giveaway and sponsors
• September 2nd - Quilt Along begins:  Choosing fabrics and fabric requirements
• September 16th - Cutting 
• September 30th - Applique techniques (machine, hand, puff-paint, ironed on).  The options are endless for how you would like to add your numbers to the pockets.  
• October 14th - Piecing and layout variations
• October 28th - Quilting ideas
• November 11th - Binding
• November 25th - The Big Reveal and ideas for what to put in the pockets.

If you want to see more details on the Quilt Along please go here.  Remember you can join in on the fun at any time!

I am so glad we have finally reached this point in the quilt along!  The quilting is my favorite part of the quilting process.  I really struggled with how I wanted to quilt this project.  I practiced some swirls and I didn't like how they were going to look on this project.  I like swirls that are fuller rather then just having them go in a straight line.  I played around with a meandering stipple, loops, and loop / double loop combo.  I decided on the meandering loops for my project and I absolutely love how it turned out.

I also wanted to share some of the "practicing" I did with you as well.  Here is the meandering stipple, loops, and loop / double loop combo.

Well I can't wait to see your finished quilt tops.  Some of you had such great piecing ideas, I just can't wait to see what you come up with for the quilting.  Janice from Better off Thread was thinking about doing some pebble quilting on her quilt top, so don't forget to check out her post to see what she decided to do.  We are almost finished, so don't stop now because there are some really great prizes available for the final linkup! The linkup will be open for the next two weeks.

Happy Quilting!

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A Little of This and a Little of That...

I received a fun package in the mail over the weekend from the Fat Quarter Shop.  I ordered some of Bonnie and Camille's newest fabric line Scrumptious!

I absolutely love it and I couldn't resist purchasing some of it for a project for my girls.  Aren't those mini charm packs absolutely adorable!  They are both getting American Girl dolls for Christmas this year, so I wanted to make them each a doll quilt for their dolls!  Here are the fabrics I plan on using for my oldest, Melia.  She will be getting the "Look like Me" American Girl doll.

Her favorite colors are pink and orange, so I think these fabrics will work out perfectly!  Here are the fabrics that I will be using for Mae's quilt.  I plan on purchasing a Bitty Baby for her.

Her favorite color is pink and I think the aqua stripe will make a great binding.

I have also been rather busy cleaning up my space and my husband has too.  He put up this peg board for me to hang my rulers and some of my other quilting supplies on.  I can't believe I have that many rulers!  I even have room for "future" items as well.

I also received some great input from Teresa at Quilting is my Bliss to hang my pantographs in a hanging shoe rack.  So here is that.

I wish I could find a gray, black or red hanging shoe rack, but couldn't, so white had to do.  At least I will have an easier time locating my pantographs!  Well hopefully in another week I will be able to show you the rest or my space.

Happy Quilting!

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The Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along - Piecing and layout variations

Welcome back to the next post for the Countdown to Christmas Quilt Along.  Today, we are talking about piecing and layout variations.  Shown below is a copy of the schedule so you can see where we are at and what comes next:

• August 19th - Announcement of Giveaway and sponsors
• September 2nd - Quilt Along begins:  Choosing fabrics and fabric requirements
• September 16th - Cutting 
• September 30th - Applique techniques (machine, hand, puff-paint, ironed on).  The options are endless for how you would like to add your numbers to the pockets.  
• October 14th - Piecing and layout variations
• October 28th - Quilting ideas
• November 11th - Binding
• November 25th - The Big Reveal and ideas for what to put in the pockets.

If you want to see more details on the Quilt Along please go here.  Remember you can join in on the fun at any time!

Both Janice and I felt that the instructions for piecing the quilt top were rather straight forward.  Janice chose to use the "sequential" layout and you can see her post about it here.  I chose to do the "random" layout because my daughter knows her numbers rather well and I wanted her to practice recognizing them, so she has to search for them.  I absolutely love how it turned out.

I think it needs borders, but I am not going to add them because I think then it will make the quilt top too big.  It is already on the large size, but I still do love how it has turned out.  Here is a couple more pictures of it.

Now we are moving to my "favorite" part of the quilting process, which is the quilting.  Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of space to do a lot of fancy quilting, but I think it will be fun nonetheless.  I can't wait to see your finished quilt tops.  You all have been making some really great progress!  Don't forget when we are all finished, there are some really great prizes for those who do linkup their "final project".  The linkup will be open for the next two weeks.

Happy Quilting!

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