WIP Wednesday – 02-06-2013

2 / 6 / 13

I finally got to work on my Skill Builder Block of the month. I love the fabrics I’m using so much and that alone should keep me motivated!

Check out my first block:

Isn’t that just so pretty? Much of the fabric came from my stash, but the “instigator” of this palette was the background fabric and a focus fabric (no picture) which both came from Marcus Fabrics. The line is called “Bold Moves”.

And I finished month 2 of Blogger Girls Block of the Month from Open Gate Quilts. Nobody said you had to complete month 1 before month 2. Yep, that’s the way I work sometimes.

I’m using all blacks, tans and creams for this quilt. It will be a challenge for me and completely different from all of the other bright fabrics I’ve been working with this year.

I picked out my fabric and printed out the instructions for the Sugar Block Club’s February BOM. That counts as work, right? Sometimes that’s the hardest part!

And lastly, I’ve been working on a little machine applique tutorial for an upcoming project. Here’s a little peak:

The plan is to do a little introduction to machine applique and follow it up with a cute little project that will be perfect for the month of February! Oh, I just love hearts!

Now check out what everyone else has been working on at WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Have a great week!

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What’s up Wednesday

February UFO – Plan B

2 / 6 / 13

Thank you for all of your kind advice for my February UFO – “Rabbits Prefer Chocolate”. Many of you thought that I should stick with hand quilting and that I would be happier in the long run. And some of you said, “Get it done!” by machine.

One of my followers, Rosa, thought that I should pick another quilt out of my cupboard and finish it by machine while I take my time hand quilting the Rabbits. Great idea, Rosa! Why didn’t I think of that?

So here is my February UFO, “Oh My Many Stars”!

The original pattern came from the magazine, American Patchwork & Quilting and was designed by Alex Anderson. You can still find the pattern at the APQ Shop here. I switched up the stars and added pinwheels to the center of the chain blocks.

I started quilting this over a year ago (probably two) so some of the work is already done. It is a fairly large quilt though, about 80″ x 80″. Yep, I’ll be ~~busy~~ busier!

And in the meantime, I’ll have my “rabbits” to keep me warm while I sit on the couch stitching away.

I’m linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes.

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UFO for February

2 / 4 / 13

I actually have a cabinet dedicated to UFO’s (plus my pattern stash). On the bottom shelf are quilts that have been basted, but not quilted. On the top shelf are quilt tops waiting for the next step.

Since it’s February, and Easter will be here before you know it, I chose my “Rabbits Prefer Chocolate” quilt to finish this month.

This is a pattern by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs. I hand appliqued all of it and the plan was to hand quilt it. I got as far as thread basting it, marking it and stitching a small square by hand.

Here is a close up of one of the blocks:

I am so slow and non proficient at hand quilting. It’s hard to get motivated when I know I could quilt this on my Bernina and be whizzing along!

So that’s my dilemma. Do I keep trying the hand work or give up and go for the quick finish by machine?

My bunnies and chicks won’t mind either way! They just want to be able to show off for Easter!

I’ll let you know how it goes!

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Sew Thankful Sunday: 02-03-2013

2 / 3 / 13

Welcome to Sew Thankful Sunday, and for today, it is also know as Superbowl Sunday! And in my neighborhood of northern California, we are super excited to have the 49’ers playing!

It’s also the beginning of a new month – February! It’s a great excuse to add some hearts to the home decor. So let me share some of the lovely hearts I’ve seen recently on the internet and that I’m sew thankful for!

This is a sweet quilt with the most beautiful shades of pink by V and Co. It was made using ombre fabric from her Simply Color line for Moda. You can buy the pdf pattern here.

V and Co. also has a cute little heart pincushion tutorial on her blog that is just as sweet as can be:

And Ellison Lane Quilts has been spreading the love with her Spread The Love Blog Hop. You should check out all of the great projects that everyone has shared:

Valentine Hop Tutorials — Share The Love Blog Hop Tutorials and Giveaways

And Vicky at Mess for Less has something that you can put right on your front door – a heart wreath made out of fabric scraps! I’m sure I might have a few of those lying around!

I have been wanting to add some free motion quilting lessons of my own, but I’m sew thankful and happy to share an easy free motion quilting tutorial for clam shells that Elizabeth has done at Don’t Call Me Betsy:

Clamshell Loop FMQ on solid — Clamshell Loop FMQ Tutorial at Don’t Call Me Betsy

It’s a little short and sweet for today! I have to get some Superbowl food ready for our little cheer section at home. Go Niners!

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WIP Wednesday – 01-30-2013

1 / 30 / 13

{WIP} Work in Progress….

I have been working on my blocks for the Sister’s Ten Modern BOM at Gen X Quilters. Here’s the fabric that I’m playing with:

I have the first block completed and the second one is almost there.

I am loving the tangerine and apple green together!

I have been busy working on another project, but I can’t show it to you yet. Maybe I can tell you that it has something to do with hearts and the Moda Bakeshop! I’m so excited!

I’ve also been cleaning up the Tutorials and Tips & Techniques section of my blog. It’s a little easier to find what you’re looking for now.

You can see what everyone else is up to for WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Happy Quilting!

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