I-Spy Quilts

Over a year ago, I decided I wanted to make an I-Spy quilt for Cullen. Earlier this year, I participated in a swap for I-Spy quilt squares, which left me with 200 different squares! How awesome!
As I started sketching out ways to arrange them (with sashing or without? 9 patches based on background color?), I realized that I had enough to make TWO! So I began separating the definite boy squares and girl squares, then divided the gender neutral ones. Borders and appliqued names later, here are the finished quilt tops:
I have Aubree's quilted, straight lines on either side of the seams of the squares, but I still need to do the borders. I hope to get Cullen's basted and started on the quilting tonight. I somehow lost the FMQ foot for my machine, so I need to order another one, since I planned on doing FMQ on the borders. Unless any of you have other suggestions? I thought about just doing diagonal lines evenly spaced, but I don't really want to quilt THROUGH the names :-/

Some more bee/swap blocks!

I didn't make it to the post office in time to mail these out today (I was SIX minutes late, can you believe that?!) but this first picture is of the two blocks I made for Glen in the 15 Minutes Play Scrap Bee for June

And this is my block for Linda, my June partner in the Block Swap Adventure

I hope the recipients like the blocks I made them! Now, if I can get little man to go back to sleep I can get some more stuff done tonight! :D

Over two months!

Wow, have I been a slacker or what? Well, at least in my virtual and sewing life I sure have! I do have an excuse though-- several valid ones, but I understand they're still just excuses ;) I am finally caught up in all of my swaps though (I apologize to everyone who received stuff late from me these last couple of months!)

After spending two and a half months without my babies, I picked them up from their daddy in May, and then started school less than two weeks later... So between school four days a week, working a couple nights a week, the video card on my laptop being out, spotty wireless internet for the desktop, and the kiddos, it's been hard to find time to sleep, let alone give my sewing machine any exercise or post on the blog! I think we have finally settled into a routine, and I have gotten quite a bit of sewing done this week. There are a few pictures I can't post (at least not until the recipients get them!), but there are a few I can!

These are blocks I finished up tonight, for the 15 Minutes Play Scrap Bee (May's blocks *sigh*). Sara wanted island and lake blocks. It was such a unique and fun idea!! I never would have thought of a block/quilt like this. (June's blocks are just as different!)

It certainly has my head reeling with new ideas for when it's my turn :)

And these are my April blocks for Kate in the Let's Bee Together Bee...

I made the slanted diamonds one first, then realized I had missed where she asked for pinwheel blocks. I sent them both to her, hopefully she can use the diamonds on the back, or for something else entirely maybe!

Speaking of my turn and LBT, I have also received a few blocks from the Let's Bee Together Bee, as May was my month... I need to take an updated picture of the blocks I have received so far, so I will share that tomorrow. For now, though, it is time to head to bed-- my kids like to wake up with the sun! Glad to be back though :)

♥ Jorie

DQS10 and a few blocks

Although I haven't been posting much, I HAVE been sewing like a mad woman lately! Unfortunately, I keep getting creative bursts late at night, which means I waste most of the day in bed :/

Awhile ago I ordered these fabrics with DQS10 in mind. My partner seems to like bright and warm colors, modern prints, and I just so happen to love Joel Dewberry so what better excuse could I ever find to order some up? Then after browsing through my partner's photostream and blog, I wanted to make something that would fit alongside those choices, but not be too similar. This is the idea I came up with-- you can see how precise I am in my sketches hehe:

And I posted a picture on flickr when I finished all the blocks a couple nights ago:

I am still elated at how many people liked and "favorited" the picture! I saw something very similar once a long long time ago, before I was a quilter myself, so all I had was a picture in my head. I am not sure if this is how that quilt was pieced or not, but it worked for me and I am still proud of myself that when I sewed all the blocks together, everything matched up, I didn't even have to trim the whole thing-- That's a first for me! I guess we really are our own toughest critics, eh!

Now all the blocks are sewn together and I am having trouble choosing how to quilt it. I am thinking maybe just "outline" the edges? I bought a pretty multi-red thread (sorry but the actual word for it is escaping me all of a sudden) with the idea to use that on the white parts, but maybe I should just stick with white thread? I am running out of time! Any one else have any other ideas?

On another note, I did receive these two very cool blocks from Charlene, my partner for March in the Block Swap Adventure:

I am loving this swap so much! I can't wait until I can put them all together, I think this quilt is going to look fantastic! Thanks again Charlene!

A little progress

Last night I finished my part on Hollie's quilt top. Tomorrow I am sending it on its way to Julie and working up my idea for Terrie's! Here is the sneak peek of Hollie's:

I hope she likes it!

I also made this hexie flower, for Maria in the Inchy Flower Swap. It was supposed to be sent last month, but obviously I am still playing catch up (so that means she will get more than just one)! Tonight I am making my flower for Jane and a couple for Maria.

I also made this block a few nights ago, but can only post a sneak peek for now! It is getting mailed off to my partner Charlene in our Block Swap Adventure! I hope she likes it!

Good and Fun- a Round Robin

*sigh*
I am always late these days.
ALMOST caught up though!
Here is my center for the Good and Fun Round Robin. I actually originally wanted the center stripes to be slanted, but as I started piecing them together I realized how horrible my math was and that if I did, not only would I be wasting alot of fabric, but it would be alot more work than I planned! I ended up just trimming it to a decent sized rectangle, but I actually love how it turned out.

Now that my center is different than what I envisioned/planned I am even MORE excited to see what Julie and the other gals come up with! AND don't worry, I included PLENTY PLENTY PLENTY of extra fabric to be played with :)

And on a side note/off topic, those of you who follow along know that I recently moved across town. Well, now I am moving across country. In two weeks. *gasp* When it rains it pours, right? The good news is that once I get home to Chicago, everything will settle down quite a bit. I'll be working less, be back in school, and surrounded by family. I can't wait :) BUT that means this next week I am going to be a sewing fiend to try to get everything I can done, not only this month, but also for March! Wish me luck :)

Block 8 is done!

Hard to believe we are already 2/3 done with the LCQA! Here is my block 8:I was iffy about using two of the same prints but different colors, but I love how it turned out! Only four more blocks to go!

A (partial) FINISH!

A few nights ago, I finally finished sewing my strips into blocks for the Postage Stamp QAL....

It was 1230 am (ish).

Then before I went to bed I REALLY wanted to lay the all out and see what my finished top would look like:

Then I realized that I hadn't pressed the blocks yet... 48 blocks, that took awhile. It was almost 3am by then (I took a few breaks for various reasons).

I was so in love with my progress that I just couldn't stop then! So I kept going. I didn't feel like I was up that late, but before I knew it, it was past 5am and my quilt top was done (and pressed!)

Totally worth it!

I really want to quilt it myself, but it's pretty darn big for my little machine (There's a 6'5" 300+lb man holding that quilt top up for me!). I wanted to do pebbles inside all the solid squares, and I think I could do it since I wouldn't have to move the whole quilt much at a time. What do you think? Suggestions? Ideas? I don't want to send it off if I don't have to, but I have a Brother CS6000i, and the throat on it isn't that big. I had trouble stippling a 55x75 quilt, and this one is a good 5-6" bigger length and width-wise!

Help!

LCQA Block 7

Wow, I can't believe we are already on block 7 of the Layer Cake Quilt Along! More than halfway done :) Here is my block:

And here they are all laid out together!

I am starting to think I may have bitten off more than I was ready for! Hopefully tomorrow I will get some more time at my machine to show of some other stuff I have been working on. It feels so good to be using my machine again! :)

Scrap-Bee

Well, I *finally* finished Victoria's block for 15 Minutes Play's Scrap-Bee. Just in the nick of time, I believe. I have one more block to make for another Bee/Swap, and a few other miscellaneous things and I am all caught up.

Here is the block I made for Victoria:
It was really fun to make, but made me totally step out of my element! (That's a good thing!) I think I am really going to enjoy this bee!

I also finished a quilt I was making on commission. It looks amazing, and has taken me soooo long to finish, but unfortunately I had to give it to her today and didn't take a good picture beforehand... Hopefully she snaps a few for me, since this is the best I have:

The pic was taken before the quilting (meandering loops and occasional "hidden" hearts using a brown-green variegated thread), and before the binding. I am quite proud of the finish, even if I got down to the wire with completing it!

Side note- I really need to get a new camera now. This iphone is great for many things, but detailed pictures with good lighting is not one of them. *sigh*

A few more things...

I finished block 5 of the Layer Cake Quilt Along this afternoon during naptime:
I really love this block! I made a mistake sewing the wrong strips together, and basically wasting a nice chunk of fabric (although I will find something to use it for later, I won't be able to repurpose them into this quilt), but I cut a little more and did it the right way, haha.

I also finished this month's block for "Let's Bee Together," a bee started by Linda, of Stray Stitches. It just so happens that she also took the first month, so my block is for her! Here is a sneak peek, but I will show the finished block when she gets it! :)

I have a few things I am trying to cross off my to-do list before I pack everything up to be moved, so hopefully I can get them all done tonight and tomorrow!

Block 4

I'm still around, but not getting much done in the sewing side of my life. I'll stop keeping everyone in the dark, and long story short, Shaine and I are separating. It's not exactly my decision, and not what I want, but we both have things to work on and he thinks it will be better if we aren't living together for that time. I am renting a townhouse a few miles up the interstate, and slowly moving my stuff over. That, combined with working and recovering from the holidays has really put a cramp on my time!

However, a few days ago I got block 4 of the LCQA done. I had cut all the pieces for block 5, but made some irreparable mistakes while sewing them together, so I am redoing the whole thing. Here is block 4 though:

Hopefully I will have some more to share soon! I have another project I am working on, but it isn't picture-ready yet :)

It's done! (FNSI Results!)

Well, my Friday Night Sew-In turned into a Saturday morning sew-in, due to some unexpected houseguests last night, but I have finished up all the goodies that are going along with my pillow for the Pillow Talk Swap!
There's the pillow, a mug rug, a drawstring bag (I used this tutorial--so fast and easy!), and some leftover triangles cut by my Go! Cutter for my partner to use however they see fit! Believe it or not, ALL of these were made using less than a fat quarter of each of the prints!

Now I am not sure if I am more excited to receive my own pillow or for my partner to receive hers! Making a trip to the post office on Monday! Should be a nice Christmas surprise for her :)

One Flower Wednesday

Seeing as how I have become quite enamored with these little hexie flowers, I have decided to jump in and share my flower garden by signing up over at Journey of a Quilter, and sharing my progress!

For my first One Flower Wednesday post, I am actually going to share TWO. These are two flowers I made during the road trip back from Kansas while it was still light out enough to do so.

They were made using the 2.5inch squares I cut from my scraps using my AccuQuilt Go! cutter. I have decided I am going to go back to basting them through all the layers though. I feel that it is sturdier that way, especially since Mister Cullen likes to play with them and he knocked the paper out of one of them.

I know I said I was going to share pictures of the new fabric I got, but I decided I will hold that off until I get the other package I ordered and share it all at once :) Happy Wednesday!

LCQA Block 3

I finished block 3 just now.
I love how it turned out! I was worried about having such a dark background fabric, when most everyone else had a light one, but I think it will be okay in the end!

I also took apart and trimmed all my squares in block 2. After putting them back together, the block now measures the exact same as the other two.

I guess I won't skip little parts of instructions anymore ;)

To join in, head on over to Moose on the Porch Quilts, or click on the button on the right hand side :)

Flowers in November

It's starting to get chilly here in San Antonio. Yes, I realize some of you probably have snow already, or that its much colder than our 50ºF weather, but here's the thing-- I H-A-T-E the cold! If it drops below 70, I am a huge baby about it. Anytime I have to wear more than shorts and a tank top I get grumpy. Well, to combat the chilly temperatures, I have been making a few more hexie flowers.
They remind me of springtime and warmer weather! Cullen really liked this blue one, I had to trick him to get it back!

Both of these are for ladies in the Inchy Flower Swap, even though it isn't even my turn to swap with them yet! One hexie flower a month is simply not enough ;)

I've made great progress on my partner's pillow for PTS4! Almost done, so I will have another sneak peek soon :)

Pillowtalk progress, hexies, and more

I have all the blocks done for my partner's pillow. I wasn't completely satisfied at first, but the feedback I have gotten from the wonderful group members on the flickr group has been helpful!

The points don't measure up perfectly, and I have actually taken things apart more than once or twice. (Ignore the outside wonkiness... I haven't trimmed it up yet!) Normally, if it was staying here I wouldn't be such a perfectionist, but the pillows that come out of this group look so fantastic that I don't want my partner to be disappointed at all!!

I mentioned the boxy pouch I made that came out smaller than planned, right? Well it just happens to be almost the perfect size for my hexies:I printed the hexagon template from here. I am still waiting for my LQS to get the papers in. I know, I could just keep photocopying and cutting, but I'd rather pay for the convenience in this case!

Anyway, block two of the Layer Cake Quilt Along has been released! I would love to get it done today, BUT I do have work tonight, so we'll see. Plus, if I do it now, I'll be dying for the next two weeks until the next one is released! ;)

LCQA Block 1

This is my version of the first Block of the Layer Cake Quilt Along:I am using Migration by Holly Taylor for Moda. I had been contemplating whether or not to do this quilt along, and after seeing the first block, I decided to jump on in! I can handle one block every two weeks (I hope!). I cut the pieces while Cullen ate breakfast, and sewed them up while Aubree napped and Cullen had quiet time, since he is rebelling against naps lately. Not too bad, I think! One point that didn't quite meet up (and I was SO careful with my seam allowances), but the final block lays flat and measures what it is supposed to, so that works for me so far!

Anyone else participating in this quilt along? Leave your link if you blogged about it!

Also, here is a picture that made me laugh today, taken by Glenna, of Hollyhock Quilts. It is from the Quilt Market/Festival in Houston this past week:

I think the picture should be titled "You know you're in Texas when...." hehe :) I really wanted to make it to festival, but with the new job (starting tonight!), and the kiddos, it just wasn't happening this year. Ah well, maybe someday, right?!