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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