Blogger's Quilt Festival 2010

I just read that yesterday marked the start of a wonderful on-line quilt festival!  I remember seeing blogs participating in this last year, but last year at this time, I didn't have a blog - or a quilt to enter!  So, this year I'm excited to get to share one of my quilts!  Yay!!

This is the quilt I made for my friend Laura's bridal shower.  (I shared this quilt already here, but Amy said it's ok to share an already previously shared quilt.)  I'll admit, I fell in love with this quilt when it was done and had a really hard time actually giving it away.  But, she's told me how she likes to use it, so I'm happy it's being loved!

This was the 4th quilt I ever made (the 3rd in recent times).  I had fallen in love with the Alexander Henry Starling fabric in a quilt made by Elizabeth from Oh, Fransson!  So I used the different birds as centers of some of the squares and put coordinating fabrics around them.

I didn't follow a pattern in making the quilt.  I had seen many similar quilts created by other quilters and just choose a center square size myself and decided how wide of a border I wanted - and how much sashing to add.  And...ta da!  A quilt was made!

As I said, this was my 4th ever quilt - and I also wanted to try something else I had seen others do - a pieced back!  I think I succeeded - and do love the back too!

I learned a lot about doing "quilt math" with making this quilt without a pattern!  There are a few things I would do differently, but I still love this quilt (and hope to make a similar one for myself one day)!

To see all the quilt festival entries, click on the button below.

A Finished Quilt!

I feel like I haven't finished a quilt in quite a while - but I finished one up today!  I posted this quilt top a few weeks ago and was able to get it quilted this last week and finished the binding today!

It's backed in a very pretty soft argyle flannel.  I've never quilted with flannel before, but I read some recommendations and did pre-wash the flannel (I don't pre-wash my quilting fabrics - ssshhhhh, don't tell!) since I was afraid it would shrink much more than the cotton quilting fabric.  That seems to have worked well and I think I will use the same method on my next two quilts that I have flannel backs for.  I did wash the whole quilt today after I finished the binding - and the back was not too loose or too taut.

I quilted this one with spiraling squares inside each square.  I used my walking foot to help with the flannel feeding with the rest of the quilt.  It worked well for me!

One of the squares has an appliqued "a" for the little girl who is getting this for her birthday.  I did free-motion around the "a" to make it stand out a bit.

Pictures, to make up for yesterday...

I felt like a very bad blogger b/c of yesterday's pictureless post.  So to make it up to you, here are some pictures of what I've been so busy making that I haven't been a good blogger.....

Haven't forgotten about you....

I haven't forgotten about my little blog here, I'm just very busy sewing for Nov. 20.  All my spare time is spent glued to my sewing room.  I'll try to get my hubby to take a few pictures of what's all been going on and post them out here soon!

WIP (Work-In-Progress) Wednesday

Happy Fall!!!  We had a few really hot days, but now we're back into nice cool fall weather - and I'm loving it!  Having it cooler does make sewing easier - that iron just heats up my sewing room!  So, I've been sewing quite a bit and have lots to share with you!!!

I finally got brave and tried the free motion "drawing" that I've been seeing around the blog scene for quite a while.  I think it turned out pretty well if I do say so myself!  :)

I have some plans for these little guys and have the green birdie already started into his project - see...

This little birdie patchwork is going to be made into a zippered pouch like this one...

I think this pouch would be great for putting cosmetics into for a trip or carrying small craft projects or all sorts of things.  I was very excited to make this one and can't wait to make some more!

Speaking of small craft projects, I've also been working on these ornaments - some stars and turtledoves.  I wanted a project that I could take along to work and these will be good for that.

Another completed project for the craft fair is here too...and there will be additional versions of this guy to come too!

To "fancy-up" the pocket, I put some bias tape along the edge.  I think it makes the back look more finished.

I also finished the quilt top for another quilt - again using the little owl print, but using what I call "sherbet" colors instead of the colors in the first quilt top.

And one final finished project is a birthday shirt for my godson who turns 4 in a week!  (Since he's only 4 and not surfing the web, I think it's ok to post the picture of his gift before he opens it.)

WIP (Work-In-Progress) Wednesday

Amazingly, another Wednesday is here - and I have a post for you today!  I have been busy sewing and planning, even if I haven't been posting much lately. Getting ready for my first craft fair is a LOT of work.  Here are a few of the things I've been working on...

This is a little Christmas tote bag - just the right size for using as a gift bag or carrying lunch to work or....you get the idea!

Here are a few more that are done and/or in the process of being completed.  I really love the fabric - it's very whimsical!

This is a little girl quilt that a friend asked me to make for a one year old girl's birthday.  I'm also going to put an appliqued initial in the lower righthand corner too.

I love the little owls in the fabric.  In fact, I liked it so much that I bought more fabric and am in the process of making another quilt using the owl fabric with some different colors mixed in!