What was I thinking???

This quilt definately comes under the heading 'What was I thinking?'

I did so many things wrong.

The biggest thing was using a floral backing.

I knew better when I started that my stitching wouldn't show up but it was the best match I had on hand at the time. So I should have just done an all over design - mistake #2.

I definately shouldn't have quilted in so much detail.

If it's not going to show then why do it.

I did get in alot of practice. 

This is called 'Strips and Salsa" and was real quick and easy to put together.

There are alot of choices to make when deciding how to quilt a quilt.

I knew I was going overboard but I did it anyway.

Another Block

As you can probably tell this is paper pieced.

When I got home from work on Monday I didn't feel like quilting so I decided to work on my forgotten BOM.

It took all evening to do this one block.

I have seen something called Fun Dation for paper piecing. Has anyone used it and how good it it?

It is like a stabilizer that you put the pattern on and you don't have to tear it off if you don't want to.

I would love to know how it works in a project

Blogger’s Quilt Festival

Festival will run May 17th – May 31 2013

Amy's Creative Side is hosting the Blogger's Quilt Festival where we have the opportunity to share quilts we have made and be inspired by all all the great quilts entered.

Each person can enter up to 2 quilts and there are multiplw categories.

Once the quilts ore linked then they will be nominated on then voted on.

It would be nice if you voted on mine.

I have decided to enter my wall quilt I recently finished using Anita Goodesign's Roosters and project design.

I worked up all the pieces in the hoop and basically did a 9 patch.

Then I chose 4 of the Roosters and embroidered them onto the 9 patches.

I then had 4 quarters that I sewed together.

And I decided to add a piping around the edge.

This turned out so nice - It was such a good design from Anita Goodesign.
It was quilted in the hoop and worked out to be about 36" square.

I will be entering it on the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

It would be great for this wall hanging to win.
Mine is in the wall hanging category on Blogger's Quilt Festival

Go vote for your favorite.

Go to the Wall Hanging Quilts page to nominate and vote

Quilter's Favorites

I thought I’d join in on Geta Gramma's (Geta's Quilting Studio) Quilter’s Favorites and impart some of my habits.  I’d like to say they were tips but they are just some of the things that I do that seem to work well for me.

Some of my favorite notions………..

Like most quilters and sewers a good seam ripper is a must. In my case many seam rippers.  I have a tendency to lay them down, knock them on the floor, under the sewing machine or behind the machine and I spend a lot of valuable time looking for one.  

Another item I like to have around is basting glue with the pinpoint tip. This comes in handy for many purposes.  My original use was for applique.  Then I started using it when I match up the ends on my binding.  Now I don’t have to trial and error it to get the perfect seam.  I also use it when I piece my backing fabric.  This keeps my seam from rolling on me.

When piecing a quilt I love my ¼” foot.  I use it on the entire quilt top and I know all my seams are the same.

Precision cutting. All the years I have been quilting I would make the pieces fit.  After all they were all cut the same so they should work out – right?  Wrong.  It might take a little extra effort for trimming up but it is so worth it – the pieces fit together so much better and the top will lay a lot smoother.

Then of course Iron – Iron – Iron.  I like to spray starch my fabric before I cut.  I do this by spraying on the top side and ironing on the bottom.  This way the spray starch gets absorbed into the fabric.  Then I iron my pieces as I sew – precision cut and then iron again before I put all the blocks together.  I also use a pressing cloth – which for me happens to be a cloth diaper.

Like I said earlier these are some of the things that I do that make my quilting easier – these are my habits. They might not work for everyone but they seem to do well for me.

For more sharing of tools, tips, tricks and tutorials go visit Geta's Quilting Studio for the complete list of bloggers participating in Geta's Quilting Favorites.    

Giveaway Winner

Before I announce the winner of my Giveaway I'd like to say I'm sorry for not replying on all the commnts and for being so late in announcing the winner.

I had a family emergency and left town last Wednesday and didn't get back til last night.

I really appreciate all the comments and all the followers - thank you

And for all the mothers out there Happy Mother's Day

 

Now the winner is.......................

 

Happy Cottage Quilter said...

Wow what a great giveaway! My favorite color is probably pink. Although it would be a toss up with Blue :-)

May 6, 2013 at 12:20 PM

 

Thank you everyone - Hope to hear from you again on the next Giveaway

 

 

Giveaway Day

Actually it's Giveaway Week.

Swe, Mama, Sew is hosting

The giveaway starts today and ends on Friday May 10.

As usual I have gathered up a few things I thought could be used.

An apron kit................

A fat quater bundle with 5 fats..................

A 2 yard cut of fabric.............

and a fine line fabric marking pen.

Now for the details--

To enter just leave a comment stating your favorite color.

For a second entry let me know if you are a follower (old or new)

I will draw a winner on Friday (May 10) night.

Thanks for stopping by. 

Quilt with No Name

I had a bunch of charm packs and thought I'd make a simple quilt that I could share with everyone.

Turns out with everything that has been going on it took a little longer to put together than I thought it would.

It's still not complete and still has a few issues but I have to put it aside for awhile and get back to other projects.

I did do some persision cutting which makes all the difference in the world. 

I use to just sew the pieces together and wonder why they didn't fit exactly right. 

A little extra time to do it right will make it go together easier and look so much better.

Quillows

Sorry I've been away for awhile - taking care of some family things.

I had a customer that wanted some quillows so I made him two-

 the one with the cats and the one with the fish

All the rest of them are baby quillows. 

I tried to get some decent pictures but with the iphone this is the best I could get.

I also meant to get the sizes before I folded them up.

(not the sharpest tack) 

The one below is 'cars' -and I know it is wintery but the fabrics were just calling out to me 

And being in LA I just had to make a LSU one. 

On my way to Chrstmas

I have always wanted to make a Christmas quilt and always waited until Christmas to start thinking about it. 

So I figured I'd get a jump on it this year.

I had these designs that I've been dying to make so I got started on it.

 

There are 3 sets and they are all so cute 

I can't figure out which I like more.

My daughter has already claimed it.

I'll have more pictures as I go along.

Believe me it won't be an overnight job.

I'm having a little bit of a problem with puckering.

I know I'm using enough stabilizer. So what's up with that.

I guess I'll add another sheet and see if that takes care of the problem.

I think once it's quilted it will be ok.

 

 

 

Another in the Frame

I loaded this up last week and have been deciding exactly how I wanted to quilt it

Now I just need to find more time so I can get to it.

(Notice the red snappers - I really do like them))