Two for one...

As promised I said I would let you in on a few of my loves this year. So to begin I thought I'd share a two'fer. The first is a new budding love...tea!  Let me clarify this, I'm a coffe drinker.  It got me through college...along with peanut butter and Kraft Mac & Cheese!!  Love my first cup in the morning. Love even some of the flavored coffees, but something unexpected happened last year. Typically I could drink a cup of coffee and go to sleep without any problem...until last year!  What's up with that?  Oh yeah, I'm over 50 and sh&@ happens. So I thought I'd give caffeine free tea a try because decaf coffee is an oxymoron in my book.  Well, I've learned that I don't love "regular" tea.  Don't get me wrong, it's okay but no love there. Then some others were recommended and I gave them a try.

I can now say I love the Bengal Spice tea and I'm enjoying this whole tea experience without the caffeine.  So if you're looking for something hot, but still want to get to sleep before 2:00am try some of these or let me know which teas you love!

Now for love #2......

I love finding a new pattern...having the fabrics just come together and then starting that new project!

This is just one example. I usually have many projects going at the same time...because I love to start new ones :). And yes I do finish them, but starting them is my favorite part. Anyone who knows me and quilting knows I really don't like to add borders. No particular reason, though I'm sure a psychiatrist would have a field day trying to figure out why. When they're done I'm happy, but not as happy as when I start the next one!!

So there you have it two of my loves for 2014.  

I’m fine and you?

Okay, I promise not to mention all the rain, heat, crazy weather we’ve had in the past week (beyond this sentence) if you don’t mention how long it’s been since I posted something here…alright, enough said! 

Last year we hosted a Half Square Triangle (HST) exchange where participants either signed on for 6 months or the whole year.  They brought in the required HST and I “shuffled” them up and returned them each month.   Then I gave them until June 1, 2013 to complete (relative word) something using these HST.  Now keep in mind they had anywhere from 504 to 1008 HST!!  Also I didn’t say they had to use them all or put them into just one project.  Well, on Saturday we got to see what some of these creative ladies came up with! 

These are just a few…if you go to our website and check out the Inspiration page you can see much more.

After the showing was all said and done a group of us were sitting around trying to come up with another exchange.  So this is our idea…keep in mind we’re trying to keep it simple.  We are going to do a four patch exchange.  Since we’ve done a nine patch on several occasions before we didn’t want to do that again and we didn’t want to make it something that would take a lot of time (like so many blocks we love) to complete each month.  So, the final quantity and all the other “rules” haven’t been determined yet but if you’re interested in finding out more just drop me a note (info@southamptonquilts.com) and I’ll let you know more when we know more!  I’m hoping to start it in July so it can run through to the end of the year…let me know your thoughts!!

Well, I’m glad to be back in your computer and I’ll be back soon  :)

Take care….Nancy

My summertime challenge blocks….

almost up to date!!  According to my calendar I should have 26 blocks done as of today.  I have 21 done and 5 almost completed…so I figure by midnight tonight they will be done.  It’s funny though each day that I thought I was caught up and would take a picture to share…poof it was another day and there I was one behind.  So last week I was going to be so smart and get ahead by 4 days and…poof I was behind by 3 days.  So, before it’s tomorrow and I’m behind again here is a shot of the finished blocks on the wall:

And now a shot of the 5 “almost done” blocks attached to my machine next to the bowl that is my inspiration for the block colors!

I just love this little bowl that Beth gave me…I didn’t want to put anything in it because then you wouldn’t see the pretty design.  I couldn’t just leave it out on the table unprotected from cat paws!!  So I have it under the acrylic extension table where I can admire it…and pick out just the right colors for my blocks!!

By August 31 I should have 73 blocks…I better get going!

I hope you’re enjoying your summer and having fun with blocks…

Summertime quilt block challenge…part 1

I sent out an email not too long ago showing this summers quilt block challenge.  Since summer officially began yesterday I should have two blocks done and I DO!  Of course the summer is still young and anything can happen.  I’ve decided to keep you updated on my progress here rather than continually send emails.  If you’d like to check in on how I’m doing visit back from time to time and please let me know how you’re doing as well.

I decided to make my blocks using the 1 1/2” finished Half Square Triangle paper (same folks that make the paper we are using for the HST exchange).  So for those that need visuals I’ve taken my block in steps for you.

I’m using three fabrics per block:  background, fabric A and fabric B (each block will be different).  You will need 4 Half Square Triangles each of background/fabric a, background/fabric b and fabric a/fabric b.  You will also need 4 squares of background fabric…in my case 2”.  So I took the HST paper and cut it into segments each will give me the 4 I need.

Following the instructions I stitched on the dashed lines and cut apart on the solid lines. 

So now I have all my pieces and parts for one block.

Here’s my finished block…start to finish about 40 minutes.

Until next time…happy summer!

I’m back……

Wow, what a surprise when I checked into the blog and realized it’s been over 3 months since I finished blogged something.  Where did the time go…on yeah, shop hop, freak snow storm, no power, no Halloween, Thanksgiving, Anniversary sale…and not much time in front of my sewing machine.  But just today (and it’s Friday) I actually finished two some things!  When the Grinch fabric came in earlier this year I had great ideas, but that’s as far as it went.  Then I found this really easy quilt…surfing the web.  Mary calls it “My favorite quick donation quilt” or quick-strippie.

I think it should be called “My wicked fast, super easy gift quilt”!  It only takes 3 fabrics, an hour (if that) of sewing.  Then “quilt as desired” stitch in the ditch works…bind and gift!  Of course I haven’t done the quilt and bind part yet, but all in good time.

My second “finish” is quilt-as-you-go placemats.  I needed new placemats in the Christmas theme and I’ve been hooked on the quilt-as-you-go technique.  So I dug around in my stash closet and pulled out reds and  greens and a fun fabric for the back and got to work.  I sort of based it on string quilts where you start in the center and work out.  Then I trimmed them down to the size I wanted…I can see I’ll be making more of these.

I’ll bring one by the shop if you’re interested…as long as I don’t spill dinner on it!!

Until next time…

Bright it is!

I couldn't decide if I'd finish the BRIGHT or WILD project for this Friday...the weeks weather told me to go BRIGHT...and look as I'm writing this I think I see the sun!!  So here it is

Firecracker by Jaybird Quilts












This was fun to do and a little quirky.  It uses the Lazy Angle ruler which makes it go together quite nicely...thanks Janet T. for introducing me to this designer.  We have so many bright tone on tones and the pattern only calls for fat eighths so of course I had to cut a few bundles just in case someone else just HAS to do one too.

Well my Friday friends I have to make this my final "Finish it up Friday" until after Shop Hop.  There are so many quilts running around in my head that I must have ready for our weekend...and of course I want them to be a surprise...that I really should concentrate.  I'm sure though that I'll give you a sneak peek at these projects in progress!!  So check back during the week from time to time.

Enjoy the sunshine this weekend....

This is either very late or some what early…or both!

Let me begin by saying I really did finish something last week but not by Friday…Saturday, I even have a witness!  Right Maureen?  Tap, tap, Maureen?  Back me up here!  Anyway, if you’re familiar with “Little Golden Books” such as “Saggy Baggy Elephant” or “Pokey Little Puppy” this is from the “Tawny Scrawny Lion”.  The fabric looks just like the books illustrations.  Now the panel came with instructions to make it into a soft book, but alas I was feeling challenged and couldn’t make sense of it.  So I went onto Quilting Treasures website  www.quiltingtreasures.com and searched through their free patterns and found this easy pattern using the fabrics!  I made just one slight change in the instructions.  They call for 3 1/2 yards for the outer border…what?!  Well, if you cut it 1/2” narrower and put the green of the strip next to the quilt center (instead of the blue) then 1 2/3 yards works just fine.  So here is was last weeks “Finish up Friday”…

 

 

 

Now onto this week (tomorrow).  If you’ve been to the shop lately then you’ve seen this runner on display in different fabrics.  It’s similar to a runner seen online called The Ten Minute Runner, but I like this version better…just my opinion!  And, I bet you already have the pattern…if you have the Spring/Summer 2011 Quilt Sampler that is.  Turn to the last page…opposite the back cover…simple, simple, simple!  Don’t have the magazine?  Not to worry -  we have plenty!!

So, let’s do the math…last week was late finishing by one day and posting by six days.  This week was finished early by four days and posting by one day…I’m guessing that I’m really only two days late!! 

 

I’ll try to be on time next week…

Halloween cats, spiders, candy corn & bats!

I just had to use this fun fabric with the cats in costumes but really didn’t want to cut it up too much.  So I used an oldie but goodie pattern from Thimbleberries.  Originally it was used with a fabric line that had an all over tree print…thus the name of the pattern “Tree Farm Throw”.  We’ve used this pattern with all sorts of prints ever since (thanks Cheryl)…so I knew it would be perfect for the cats!

Now I think I’ll take it to the shop with me today and if I’m lucky I just might get it quilted!  So drop in and visit if you like and see my fur friends up close!

It’s still Friday…right?

Well I was really torn today because there were two things I really wanted to finish.  So which would I do first…the one I should do or the one I wanted to do.  Now don’t get me wrong the “should do” I really wanted to finish, but the “want to” kept creeping in and pushing the “should do” aside.  So I did a bit of both and finished the “should do” before I let myself settle in and finish the “want to”.  Have I got you completely confused yet?
Let me start by saying my favorite season is Autumn and my favorite colors are…you guessed it autumn colors…reds, oranges, greens, golds and browns.  So when all these fabrics start arriving at the shop I’m like a kid hyped up on too much candy.  What will I do?  Which fabrics to choose first?  Will I do a project from a book or a pattern?  A new pattern or an old favorite pattern?  I think you get the picture.  Now last weeks project was the quilt-as-you-go placemats (in fall fabrics) from the book Fast & Furious Holiday.  They were so much fun to do I had to do another one from the same book…take a look.

It’s a table runner with pumpkins…it was also a learning experience.  Best to READ the instructions and not simply LOOK at the pictures and think you know what to do.  I LOOKED at the first picture and I SAW the four background squares on the pumpkin rectangles and thought “Oh yeah, sew corner to corner on the square, trim and flip it out.”  WRONG!!!  This will not give you the nice rounded edges for the pumpkins…good thing I have plenty or fabric!!  Everything goes together much easier once you read all the instructions before taking your rotary cutter in hand…I’m just saying.
So that was my “should do” (that I really did want to do).  So what was my “want to” that kept getting in the way??


I love mysteries but they have to grab my attention right away…this one did…good book!  So now I must get the next one in this series and I think my next project will have this fabric as the main print…


Cute Halloween print....any ideas what I have in mind?!

Fast…Easy…Done!

Last week, if you recall, I was getting ready to try a new charm pack but had to substitute a few charms with fabric from my stash…and got somewhat side tracked!  After my mess reorganization was finally finished and everything put in its proper place (please don’t open THAT closet!) I could start in on my project.  This was so much fun and fast and easy and as of 14 minutes ago…done!  If you’re like me and really need instant gratification try out one of Gudrun Erla’s quilt as you go projects.  As you’re piecing the top you’re quilting it as well…so when you’re done all you need is a binding.

The placemats came from the book fast & furious Holiday and I’ve already decided to do the pumpkin runner next.  From her first fast & furious book there is a baby quilt on the back that’s calling to me…I’m all about fast…easy…done!

Now I’m off to make some headway on my churn dash blocks…or should I start that pumpkin runner…hmmmm!?!

So what did you finish this week?

I think this should count…

…as a Finish it up Friday!  Yesterday I picked up this wonderful charm pack that I’d decided to make placemats from.  The pattern is in Fast and Furious Holiday by G.E. Designs.  OK, so I needed 38 charms and the pack came with 40…but you know how some just don’t “talk” to you…well I had to pull out 6.

Next step, find 4 more that would play nicely from my “beside the cutting table stash”.  This is where all the bits of leftovers go after I’ve finished a project and before they make it to the cubbies in the closet.  Without any trouble I found 3 right off the top…and then

I started digging (please note that there was a very large pile to the left and much more on top) and separating.

Still looking for just the right final 5” square!!

Well, since I started this I might as well finish all the piles…it was falling over anyway!  All nicely separated piles by color or type…ready for the cubbies!

So there we were…Rosebud and me…finally found just the perfect square.

Are you wondering where this is going or how it should qualify as my Finish it up Friday project?  Well, these piles didn’t make it to the closet until today!  So now I can “Start over Saturday” with those perfectly coordinated charm squares!!  Maybe the placemats will be ready for next week.

Going Green is Good

I found this tutorial on making reusable snack bags last week and knew I had to try it.  Her directions were very good but I did make a few changes.  You can make these bags any size you like and I did use PUL because it’s waterproof (and we happen to have it at the shop :).  I also cut the Velcro (sew in type) 1” shorter rather then 1/2” that she recommends.  Let me show you how easy:

Begin with 1 piece of fabric and 1 piece of PUL cut the same size…for the sandwich bag I cut 8” x 17”.  Put them right sides together and stitch the two short ends.

Now turn the piece right sides out and press.  Position the Velcro on each end (on the PUL side) and stitch in place…the walking foot is really helpful here because the PUL is fussy to sew.

Next fold the bag in half with the PUL on the outside sew the two sides…trim it a little bit if you like.  Turn right side out and top stitch so no raw edges on the inside and…

you have a sandwich-chip-cookie-fruit-snack bag!!  And because I used the PUL (polyurethane laminated knit fabric) inside it’s waterproof and you can throw it in the wash if you need to!

So that’s my Finish it up Friday for this week…I’ve made 3 already…stay cool and be cool!

Finish for a cause…

Well, since I failed to finish anything last Friday I felt the need to over compensate this week.  As you may or may not know we are collecting unstuffed pillows for “Camp to Belong Massachusetts”.  This is a camp in Western Mass where kids separated from their siblings due to foster care or adoption are brought back together for one week of fun.  During the course of the week the kids choose one of the pillows and then decorate, embellish and write whatever they want on it.  They stuff them and finish the seam before presenting it to their brother/sister.  So with this in mind I decided instead of doing up just a few…I made 21!  That should make up for last week…don’t you think?!  And I’m not the only one this week to finish many pillows…last count we have 54.

These are just a few of the ones I did.

So if you’re interested in making some pillows for this wonderful cause just click here and you’ll be transported to our website where you can read all about the camp and get the directions for the pillows.

Now I’m off to my sewing room to try out something new (for me) and if all goes well I’ll share next week…going green!

Drum roll please...

I had this quilt in mind earlier this week.  It's been done and in the shop and then back home, oh about 4 years ago...without borders.  I have a thing about adding borders...least favorite step in the whole process.  Perhaps I should just do "Quilts Without Borders" or start a group "Quilters Without Borders".  So without further ado, I give you "Cosmic Stars" from Cozy Quilt Designs.

I think this was the first time I used Bali Pops....that long ago!

How about the churn dash challenge you ask?  Well I'm not too far behind.  I should have 11 done for today and I have 10...not bad, but I'll let you know how that goes next week!!

How appropriate…

This is going to be a “quick” post as I’m off for a “quick trip” to visit my mother.  Today’s finish up Friday just happens to be Quilt in a Day’s Quick Trip!!  This sweet baby quilt has been done for years without a binding.  Recently a customer was in (Hi Shannon) and we were discussing baby quilts and fusions (by Kaufman) and all of a sudden this quilt came back to me…hmmm what had I done with it!  So I dug it out, made the binding, slapped it on and finished it up!

My brother Bob and s-i-l Cathy are going to be grandparents for the first time in September.  The baby will need something soft when he/she visits so this will go live at their house…now that it’s done!!

So what did you finish this week??

It’s Friday so soon!

With Finish up Friday…the weeks are going by way too fast!  But I’m getting things done and of course starting new projects just as fast it seems.  So the vote on last weeks quilt is no border…hooray!  Now on to this weeks finish.  You might recall the Long Lines quilt I finished a few weeks ago.  It was the one I had color issues with…well, I used the same pattern and much more vivid colors to make the placemat option

which I just love (perfect size).  Today I finished the last of the bindings…there are four placemats, but two are already at the shop.  These two are ready for dinner tonight.  The print, which you really can’t see in this picture, is peppers…orange/red, green and yellow peppers.  I can see me making many more of these.  So, want did you sew this week?

It’s no wonder…

…that my quilts have a touch of “cat” in them.  There I was, working feverishly on my “finish up Friday” project, when I turn to press and what do I spy

one of my friends in a basket which is on top of another basket (apparently I thought height might discourage this) both filled with scrappy strips.  Perhaps she thought she was helping “press” those strips for me…oh well.

On to Friday.  Earlier this week I was trying to decide on today’s project…I have MANY to choose from don’t ya know…and this one was nagging at me.  I started it back in March for Aprils Saturday Scrap Club.  I couldn’t be at Aprils meeting so this was a teaser of what was to come in May.

So in May I brought this in

and there it sat.  I worked on all sorts of other things…you’ve seen some, but I just couldn’t finish those last three blocks (I was going to do six more but let’s just call it done).  Mind you I had all the pieces and parts ready to go.  So finally today I finished the top!!  Just in time for Saturday Scrap Club tomorrow…yeh I’m milking this one as long as I can!

This is Bouillabaisse!  I don’t think I want a border on this one…unless…………

So, do you like it?  What did you move along this week??

Instant Gratification

This week for my Finish it up Friday project I went for easy, fun, sweet and “too stinking cute”.  We got some really adorable fabric from Henry Glass Fabrics called Baby and Me in recently.  Included was a panel with 15 different animal “moms” and babies…what to do??  Well one of our all time favorite books at the shop came to mind.

This book is terrific for making fast quilts with a few simple cuts…love, love, love this book!  I had so many choices…which one to do?  I finally decided on Double Attic Windows and with half square triangles in the corners this went together in no time.

There’s a new baby coming in our family this fall maybe he/she might get lucky…if I can part with it!  I still have six blocks that I could make into a wall hanging…hmmm.

 

Well my friends I hope this finds you and your family safe after our crazy weather here on Wednesday.

Until next time…be well.

What did you finish this week?

Well my “Finish it up Friday” project almost didn’t make it to this post because I didn’t like the end result.  But then I thought hey, it’s a lesson in color choice…maybe…yah, that’s it!  So here is my “finish” for this week.

 

I’m sure you can tell right away what I mean by color choice.  I should have used a fabric with more contrast where you see the lavender…oh well, we all goof from time to time.  However, I loved this pattern called Long Lines from Maple Island Quilts.  It was very simple to put together so I think today I’ll pick out some more fabric and try…try…again.

Finish it up Friday....continues

So far so good...this makes three weeks that I've actually finished something (sort of)...what a great feeling!  This week my project changed...many, many times.
First I started with this one, nice and small.

But then I thought about this one, scrappy and larger.

Then on Thursday I decided to "really" finish this one since I needed to brighten up the day week from all this rain.

So onto grace it went and before long it was done!!












So now the binding is on and only needs to be hand sewn...which I'll get done this weekend...hopefully!
Pattern is "No Trick Card Trick" by Jean Boyd.

So what did you finish up this week??