New QAL

Hi: Been most of the summer since I have posted. Been very busy making quilts and smaller projects. I have taken lot of pics but have not spent any time posting. Sorry about that but I do enjoy sewing and playing in the summer.

Moose on the Porch is starting another QAL starst this time. I so enjoyed the last one I am starting this one too. Starts next week and I plan on using all of my own fabric in my sewing room. NO NEW FABRIC WILL BE PURCHASED FOR THIS QUILT...THAT IS MY VOW. USE UP MY STASH SO I CAN BUY MORE.
Thanks moose on the porch.

Lunch bag tutorial by Buzzing and Bumbling! Great fun

Yesterday I made this great little bag for my granddaughter. I owed her one since I made her brother a Cat in the Hat bag. It will hold all her dolly treasures. I also made her doll, Emma, a blanket that matches the bag. I found the tutorial at this blogspot.
http://buzzingandbumbling.blogspot.com/2011/06/lunch-bag-or-purse-tutorial-and.html

I had no real problems with the constuction or the instuctions,except I put the seam of the bag right where I put my tie. Should have made them opposites, but no worries Hannah will love it anyway. Plan on making a few more too and will correct my errors then. I used denim in the bottom and handle for more stability. Iw was a good choice worked out nicely. I will also make the handle just a bit longer. All in all a great tutorial and nicely done. Thank you Linda.

Here is a picture.

Simple Things QAL - boy what small pieces!!

WOW!! I spent the other day cutting the pieces out and when I was finished it dawned on me how small all these pieces were. Spent yesterday and today sewinig them together. Had to take a break and show what progress I have made. The pieces actually went together pretty easily. I was surprised too cause those small pieces are not as easy to work with as I thought. The only part I changed was on the pin wheels I did not cut the first few threads, I pressed open my seams, something I learned from another QAL while making flying geese. The seams lay just as nicely. What luck because I sure was not looking forward to ripping them out and redoing them.
Here is a pic of what I have finished so far.

Oh, I also put together 2 backing fabrics for two other QALs I finished. They will mail off to my quilter, Millie, of Millie's Quilting.

It also rained cats and dogs today!! Not that I wanted a lot of rain but we sure needed it.

Simple Things QAL cut pieces today

Well, summer has been coming along. School is out and I am on vacation. Did nothing for 2 days, a little yard work, barn work then nothing. So today I decided to get working on this QAL. Not too much trouble cutting out the pieces. Choosing fabric background was not easy but decided on a yellow plaid type fabric. and for the other pieces I chose some scraps I had purchased a long time ago. I sure hope they all go well together. If not we will have a hodgepodge quilt top.
Here is the pic of the pieces. Have not cut out the rectangles yet, wanted to do a post first.

PS I quilt offering a give away by one of the sponsors.

PS I quilt, http://www.psiquilt.com/2011/04/sponsor-giveaway-green-fairy-quilts.html, is offering a give away from Green Fairy Quilts. Great store to shop at. I have gone there many times...on line that is. Fast to ship and great products.

http://greenfairyquilts.com/

Block a Palooza few more pics Finished TOP!!

Could not fit all my pics in one post. Oh boy! Had one more to show the finish

ed top.

Block a Palooza completed top

Well, finally finished this quilt along. I will miss doing these blocks. I enjoyed it very much. The color scheme was beautiful and I loved working on them. Here are the rest of the blocks and my finished top. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Block a Palooza 9-12

Well got through the next 4 blocks. All of them were fun to do and I had no trouble at all with them. I am running low on fabric and have had to subtitute or fudge some of the fabric colors, but I have sooo much fabric I am able to do okay matching the color scheme. I am really enjoying this quilt along and can't wait for the sashing and finished quilt.

Here are a the pics!!!

Pot of gold give away

#links

Cat in the Hat Bag!

This weekend I found a pattern for a easy tote bag from Kristina McCarthy of Sew Prim Khris. She was right it was easy to do. I made it for my grandson and used left over Cat in the Hat fabric. This bag came out beautiful and I plan on making more. Here are a few pics to share.

Here is her blog address if you would like to check it out. www.sewprimkhris.blogspot.com

Block a Palooza 5, 6, 7, and 8

Well managed to get the next 4 done in one day. Cut them out at once and sat a sewed them all. Again, I enjoy this quilt along cause it so fast and I love all the flying geese, getting good at them!

Here are the pics.

I love the basket block 8. I was surprised how well I did with it. Used pins as I did not have any fusible stuff. Need to take a trip to the quilt store. ugh! Love it but my pocket book doesn't, I have no self control!! lol.

Okay here are all of them together. Can't wait to see the finished quilt.

Millie's Quilting - She did 2 of my quilts

I finally sent out two of my quilt tops to be quilted. There are so many quilters to choose from and I am not even sure how I found Millie but I did and to my good fortune. I sent her out my raw end circle quilt that was inspired by Cluck Cluck Sew! and Millie did a fantastic job. I still have to complete the binding.

I also sent out a scrappy quilt, Millie called a postage stamp quilt, who knew I made a postage stamp. I thought I was just getting rid of more of my scraps. In any case, she did a great job on that also. The postage stamp is big and I have to say I am not looking forward to the binding but I really want to finish it. I plan to give it to my son, why, because it is long enough to cover his whole body. Many years ago I gave him a log cabin but it was too small to cover him. Turned out to be a lap quilt.

I will post the pics when I complete them.

THANKS MILLIE!! YOU DID A GREAT JOB!!

Block a Palooza- first four

HI: Can't sleep and since I haven't posted in a looong time I thought I would use the sleepless time to update pictures, blog and just plain catch up.

I have been working hard to keep up with the block a palooza quilt along sponsored by Quilt Dad and I did manage to get four completed. I used the same fabric as instructed, mostly because I just am not that good a putting fabric together color wise and I am tired of using my stash and deserved to buy some new fabric. So here are the first four.

I enjoyed putting these together and the instructions on them were pretty good and I had no real problems. Although I will say on block 2, which I put together perfectly, with one small exception. You must read all your instructions. I got it all together and found it was too big and did not meet the same size requirements. I missed a very important step in the instructions, that was to trim each 9 patch to size, then assemble the block. So I had to rip out the seams and reassemble the block. Sometimes we get too cocky and think we know where the designer is going. Not so. READ YOUR INSTRUCTIONS TWICE,CUT ONCE AND SEW ONCE.

Anyhow I love this quilt along, it is fast, fun and will be ready in no time. Thanks Quilt Dad and all the designers. If you want a fast quilt along join this one.
Block a Palooza! It's a really cool quilt along.

Sliced Coins Quilt along - Use up scraps

I stumbled again on another blog. This one is Don't Call me Betsy and she's doing a Sliced coins quilt along. Looks like I might get rid of , oops use up! a lot of my scraps and old stash. Whooopie maybe I can buy some new fabric.

I will keep you posted on how it goes. Will start this weekend.

Layer Cake quilt along block 7

Well I did the next block in this quilt along. It was fairly easy to do and I enjoyed putting it together. Here is a pic of the block.

I also put them all together so I could see how they looked. They seemed to go okay except the block 6 is a bit out of place. I will have to redo it so it fits in better. Here is what I mean, see!!

So here I go back to make another block to fit in better.

2 new quilt tops almost done.

Had a nice week sewing and managed to put together two new quilt tops. For kids; a funny baby quilt top, throw, or wall hanging. Not sure what it will end up being. Either way it ends up it's just the cutest and funnest fabric to work with. Just need to quilt it and bind it.

The 2nd quilt I purchased the kit on sale at The Fabric Cafe, called Snowvball Quilt and it is in pinks and yellow. I have to say I don't normally have trouble with instructions, but this one ugH!, gave me some trouble. It was not as clear to me as it should have been. Although in the end it seemed to have come together pretty well. A few errors that will cover up well with quilting. Oh and just enough fabric to make the top, no mistakes allowed. I did manage to cut it out and fudge some triangles. I don't usually give advice to quilters more experienced than me but I may have to write them and tell them where I had trouble interpreting thier instructions. Maybe it will help someone who is just learning to quilt and follow instructions.

Here is a pic of it up to the 2nd set of borders, which I am still sewing together. When it all done I am sure it will be beautiful and some little girl will cherish it. At least I hope so.!!

Birdie Stitches block of the month January 2011

I started and finished my first block for the Birdie Stiches block of the month. Very cute block and fun to do. I had a lot of 2 1/2" squares I had bought off ebay a few years back. They are fabrics from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Really wanted to buy new fabric but could not justify the expense. I must use up my stash first. I followed the sample, but after seeing the flicker posts I will try veering from the samples a bit.

I had a lot of fun with this block and I have already started piecing and preparing for the next month. Can't wait to see what comes next!!

Cat in the Hat Quilt almost done!!

I spent two days putting together the cat in the hat quilt. I used the panel and half yard fabric. I will have enough to do two quilts. Here is a picture of how my 1st quilt top and back came out. It has been sitting on the floor waiting for the quiting inspiration to hit me. Not sure how to quilt it. May do just outlining each block or stiple or squiggley lines all over. Just not sure yet.

I am really happy with the way the quilt came out. I know the quilting will cinch the deal and I want to do a nice job. Quilting my own tops has not come easy to me.

Birdie Stitches BOM

Stumbled on another nice blog with a very creative lady. I will give this block a try. I will use up my stash and add a fabric to it. Love to do embroidery. You can sit and watch TV and think too much about what you're doing. Plus winter time is a good time to do it. I will post pictures as I go along.

We are expecting some snow today and since the Jersey Shore is such a crap shoot we never know what we will get. Suppose to be only 1 - 3" but we will see.

Stumbling to blogs can be great!

I was checking out the normal blogs I follow, and the number seems to be growing. There are so many creative people around the world it is humbling. I thought I held my own in crafts, quilting, sewing and anything other thing I do, but some of these folks are absolutely amazing.

Gum Tree Designs is amazing. Here is her blog -- http://www.gumtree-designers.com/

Carol at this mmacjt is also very talented.
http://mamacjt.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-i-did-on-my-christmas-break.html

Check these blogs out for lots of inspiration and just to see some amazing work.

Hope you enjoy your day. The sun is shining here.