12 Days of Christmas

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Kim

Temecula Quilt Co. had a free Block of the Day for twelve days starting on Christmas Day. I watched as it grew interesting. Then I decided I wanted to play along. But one thing, my machine was not working and in the shop. I also wanted to do it in patriotic colors. I ordered a charm pack of Prairie Paisley II from eBay and they came in yesterday on Day 11.

Today, I got all the blocks done. Each block is onlly 3 1/2” inches square.

Here they are in order… notice a pattern?

Day 1 CIMG0827

Day 2 CIMG0828

Day 3 CIMG0829

Day 4 CIMG0830

Day 5 CIMG0831

Day 6 CIMG0832

Day 7 CIMG0834

Day 8 CIMG0836

Day 9 CIMG0838

Day 10 (sorry for the blurriness of the photo) CIMG0839

Day 11 CIMG0840

Day 12 CIMG0841

Each day, the number of the day correlates to the number of patches in the block. I also did not repeat a fabric in another block – so each fabric only appears in one block.

I am looking forward to seeing how they set these. The mystery will be revealed tomorrow (the 6th). It only took me about two hours to make all 12 blocks. I did re-make block 7 because at the end I noticed each of the blocks except that one had no fabric repeats, so I remade that block.

Cutting and Cutting and more Cutting

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Kim

This week, while Bessie* was at the spa, I got some cutting done.

First, I cut out the two blocks that I am behind with for the Fat Quarter Shop’s 2011 Designer Mystery Block of the Month

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I also cut out the two blocks I am behind in for the Fat Quarter’ Shops “Love Letters” Block of the Month

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I cut out the remaining blocks for my Jelly Roll Quilt along quilt (UFO) – sorry, no photos.

I finished cutting for my Bliss Quilt

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I also got two new quilts cut out, Folded Log Cabin and Terrain.

The Folded Log Cabin comes from this book:

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and here are the strips cut and pressed ready to go. I think I will wait until my 6600 comes along with her even feed foot to start on this one.

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I also got another quilt ready to go, using Terrain by Kate Spain

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*Bessie is what I decided to call my 6500. I just think that sounds like a hard-working name; one that conveys that she isn’t afraid to work hard.

First Aid

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Kim

While surfing blogs last week, I found a cute first aid bag for the sewing room. While I didn’t copy the bag, the idea was what I used; a first aid bag.

Each month, I host a bee for a list of about 35 ladies – anywhere from 15-25 show up each month. We have been meeting for almost three years. We meet at a community center room that is big enough to hold us, which is nice.

We do have a first aid kit that I have been bringing for the last 8 months or so, but it isn’t very attractive, just an old bucket with a lid on it (maybe ice cream or something similar).

I made this little zip pouch from a pattern in an older “Quilts and More” magazine. I’ve seen better zipper patterns than this one; but it turned out ok for what it was. I just hope it is big enough for our supplies. I did add a lanyard clip on the strap for it to be hung in a location that is convenient to find.

Flurry

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Kim

I recently completed another top… Flurry.

Kate Spain designed the fabric and the quilt was inspired by her free pattern.

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It is quite a large quilt and I had originally intended it to be an advent for my kids… but as you see, it is hanging near the ceiling and only about a foot off the ground. My kiddos wouldn’t be able to hang the advent numbers.

But it does look great behind my tree:

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even if it does make my tree look little.

Geometric

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Kim

Over a year ago, I bought some fabric at a local quilt store. I fell in love with the print, so I bought some coordinating tone-on-tone fabrics.

I have been wanting to start this project for a while, but I had to wait to find a perfect pattern for it, and not have so many new projects going at once (haha, I know). When I found out I was able to go on the retreat, I wanted to start that project.

I cut all the fabric out and got the blocks completed at retreat. As I was adding the last borders, Judy posted about a quilt she made for her husband Vince… The same quilt. It was her design, Peaches & Dreams.

CIMG0649 Shown at guild the other night, this top is king sized.

I will say, after working on the different brands of fabrics, I know why now I prefer to work with Moda fabrics the most. It doesn’t slip as much when your working with the same brand of fabric – the weave seems to interlock better and prevent slippage. Moda also doesn’t fray as much as some of these fabrics – at least I don’t notice it as much. I don’t want to start a controversial thread about my fabric is better than your fabric, I just know what I prefer to work with. It is just a shame that the four LQS’s don’t really carry Moda here, they would get a lot more of my business!