2014 Planning

As the year is coming to a close, I've been thinking about the projects I'd like to work on next year. I'm starting graduate school and I know that my sewing time will be whittled down quite a bit as a result. I still have a few WIPs that I'd like to finish off, but I've decided that (at this moment in time) there are two projects that I'm really excited to work on. And they're new...which means I should probably stitch up some of those projects for which I've already cut the fabric. Hmmm.

Ever since finishing my nephew's Chicopee Scrappy Trip quilt, I've wanted one for myself. And I decided a couple months ago that I wanted to make it out of Nordika by Jeni Baker. She even put together an amazing color-matching guide that I used to order some coordinating oval elements and pure elements fabrics since the scrappy trip pattern takes a ton of yardage.

Photo courtesy Westwood Acres Fabric

Photo courtesy Jeni Baker via incolororder.com

Photo courtesy Jeni Baker via incolororder.com

A photo by Pitter Putter Stitch

The other project that I'm really excited about is a half-square triangle quilt using Anna Maria Horner's new True Colors line. I haven't been a die-hard AMH fan in the past (I know, blasphemous - there are lots of prints from her that I've loved though), but the colors in this True Colors line are so saturated and absolutely glorious!

Photo courtesy Westwood Acres Fabric 

My quilt won't look like this one from Anna's booth at Fall Quilt Market, but I definitely will be using HSTs in my value study layout. I. Seriously. Cannot. Wait!

Photo courtesy Lee Heinrich via freshlypieced.com

There is one more project swirling in my head today that I think I want to tackle next year as well. I just don't have the fabrics figured out yet. I really love Angela's Arkansas Crossroads quilt that she posted on IG today (and has shown snippets of in the past). I absolutely LOVE it!

Photo courtesy Fussycut via Instagram

So there you have it. A few projects I'm excited to work on in 2014. I've got one more quilt to finish up for Christmas and I'll be back to share my other finishes for the end of the year. Merry Christmas next week to those of you celebrating!

A couple things

I hope you don't mind that I have a smattering of things I want to share tonight.

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Friday was my sister's birthday, and I was so worried about making sure we had plans to celebrate it, I completely spaced buying her a gift! After talking it over with another sister the day before, we decided to get her gift cards to Michael's and Joann's since she's a crafty type too. But, of course, I didn't want to just give her the gift card in its little paper envelope, so I whipped up a little pouch in two of her favorite colors, black and red.

I did have the foresight to get her some washi tape, which happened to match the pouch perfectly! So now she can stick it to her heart's content.

And speaking of washi tape, Pick Your Plum (a website that hosts a daily deal of the crafty DIY variety) had a deal last week for a two-pack for $2.99. They're local too, so I don't have to pay for shipping.

While I was at it, I made a pouch for storing my English Paper Piecing (EPP) supplies - I've been totally obsessed with it, by the way. You can see a few shots of my current project on Instagram (I'm pitterputterstitch if you want to follow me).

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I've also been buying quite a bit of fabric lately; I can't help myself when I see people posting cute projects on Instagram. I find myself going in spurts of buying fabric and then not buying fabric. So in an effort to sort of quell my erratic purchasing behavior, I signed up for Pink Castle Fabrics' Stash Stack Club. If you're interested in building your stash one color at a time, you should head on over and check it out.

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How are you all coming with your EZ Dresden Challenge entries?! Have you forgotten about it? There's only a little over a month left before you can link up your quilt on the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild's blog (September 1-6) for a chance to win an entire boatload of prizes. Refresh your memory by checking out the details here. For my color cog mini quilt tutorial, featuring the EZ Dresden ruler, click here.

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My last little tidbit for tonight is to give you a heads up for a giveaway and book review coming on Friday, so head on back then to see how you can participate.

WIP Wednesday: Granny, Melons, and Fabric

I've been slowly chipping away at my to-do list this week. Let's get on with it, shall we?

Accomplished this Week

I managed to make another Granny Squares block - a Halloween version.

I also put together this bee block for Andrea. The directions she gave us calls this a melon block. I'm not sure if that's the correct name or not, but I sure do like it. I want to make a pillow out of this block for my living room, but with each quadrant rotated so the finished block looks like a giant cathedral window instead.

I also finished my Sew Beautiful Bee 2011 quilt top, which I'm calling Circle of Circle of Circle of Flying Geese. Read about it here.

I also made some x&+ blocks, but haven't taken any photos yet. Stay tuned.

No Progress Made

I haven't worked on any of my other WIPs. I realized too that I need to start yet another quilt for my BFF who's getting married in June. She and her new hubs needs a quilt, methinks.

My in progress items include:

• 1001 Peeps Supernova Quilt
• Single Girl/Retro Flowers Quilt
• Twin Quilts
• Mom's Quilt
• Lorax Quilt
• Daughter's Quilt
• Gradated Mod Mosaic Quilt

But, I did manage to take some photos of new fabric that's arrived at my house lately. I get so happy just looking at all of it!

Flea Market Fancy

Chevrons

Alphabet Soup and Pezzy Prints

So that's what's been going on around here. What about you? What have you been working on this week?

Carpenter's Star for Sukie

For Sukie's month in our local guild bee, she requested Cherie's Carpenter's Star blocks. She had such fun color combos within each package, but I chose this green and gray one. The green doesn't quite look as yellow as it does in this picture.



I'm part way through cutting my Figgy Pudding stash to make a Christmas quilt using this pattern. I can't stress enough how much I LOVE this block!

I also received my last fabric.com order last week. I purchased an assortment of Lizzy House's Outfoxed prints as well as some Michael Miller grays. Aside from Flea Market Fancy, this is my last fabric purchase for a while...at least it should be. ;)



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This week's wrap-up

Hopefully, you aren't getting sick of seeing these iPad cases. I made another one for my sister this week. It only took about an hour to put together. I love Faith's (Fresh Lemons Quilts) tutorial. I'm thinking of making a few more smaller versions for a Nook and Kindle for another sister and niece.







I then pieced together the first block of my mom's quilt. She picked this Lost and Found fabric by Jen Allyson for Riley Blake. She wanted gray sashing, so I paired it with Kona medium gray. I forgot that these blocks can take a bit of time. They finish at around 15 inches. I'm planning on making 36 total blocks for a 6x6 layout. One down, 35 to go.



I also purchased some fabric this week for a steal. Here are my first two orders (half yard cuts of each). Another order came yesterday, but I need to take pictures of it first (so excited for the quilts that'll come out of that package), and my final order should arrive on Tuesday.



Fabrics from top to bottom:

• Marvel Superhero Retro Comics for Camelot Cottons
  
• Sea Kelp in Gray from Going Coastal by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller
  
• Sea Star in Red from Going Coastal by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller
  
• Crab Walk in Gray from Going Coastal by Emily Herrick for Michael Miller
  
• Daisy's Dates in Red from Reunion by Sweetwater for Moda
  
• Wall Flower in Cherry from Lotus by Amy Butler
  
• Circles in Carrot from Metro Living for Robert Kaufman
  
• Premier Prints Zig Zag Twill in Chartreuse
  
• Premier Prints Twill Gotcha Girly Blue
  
• Premier Prints Zig Zag Twill Girly Blue

I have plans for some of these, but the rest are just to add to the stash. I plan to make a drawstring bag or two for storing some of my son's toys with the superhero fabric. With the twill Premier Prints, I think I'll make some zippered pouches, like this one, and maybe a bag.

I've really been enjoying my renewed sewing time these last few weeks. Life can be so stressful that it's nice to have something that I feel I have control over and that stays finished. I'm sure my mother thought I'd never say this, but thank goodness for sewing!

Vote for Lee!

Lee at Freshly Pieced has designed a really cute, modern, funky pattern for the Connecting Threads fabric design contest. I love all of Lee's stuff and wanted to send a shout out and ask you to vote for her design. The winner gets to design other pieces to go with the submitted design, and I for one would love to see her win. Voting ends August 31.

Click here to vote.

Make Mine Modern Swap Received

I'm working on putting the binding on my Far Far Away II Kitchen Windows bed quilt this week, so I will hopefully have photos to show you soon. I'm trying to see what I can get done this week as it's my last week at home before returning to work in the office on Monday. Wish me luck!

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I received my package from Heather in the Make Mine Modern Swap a couple weeks ago. And can I just say that Heather way outdid herself! Here's a rundown of what she sent me.

Four bright and fun fabric baskets:



A little sign with one of my new favorite sayings:



Some Central Park fat quarters that I am SO excited to use with the two charm packs I already have:



An adorable Ruby Star Rising clock (you can find the tutorial on her blog to make your own):



A pack of sewing machine thank you cards (LOVE these!):



A cute little pincushion:



And here's everything all together.



Thank you so much, Heather! I love the package you put together for me.

Fabric

So I mentioned yesterday that I picked up some new fabric at my LQS. I specifically went in looking for one of the purple prints from the Central Park line, but they didn't have any (sigh). But, I came away with some other great fabrics.



Next month is my month in the Sew Beautiful Bee, so I pulled some grays and yellows. I'm asking the girls in the group to make circle of geese blocks. I love this stack of fabric, but I think I need to add some blues and greens. Knowing me, I'll just get bored with a yellow and gray quilt and I don't want it to feel blah to me.



I'm also finishing up my projects for the last swap that I'm in. Note to self: Don't sign up for three swaps (that are running concurrently) when you've just found out you're pregnant. You won't be as motivated or excited about them as you should be. Swaps are supposed to be fun!

My parter in one of the groups was fairly specific in her fabric request, so in an attempt to not be totally obvious, I showed her this photo, with her choices tucked in here and there. We'll see if it fools her.

Finally some quilty sewing!

After Christmas, I was so excited to get started on some new projects. You might say I was a little impatient. I felt a little scatterbrained at first trying to decide what new project to start, so I ended up starting three.

One of my quilt plans for 2011 is to make a new quilt for my bed. The mister and I decided to go with the All Star 2 line. My plan is to make square-in-square blocks. Here are the first two.





I'm not sure what the final size blocks will be. These are about 12 inches, but I'm just kind of winging this one. The finished quilt needs to fit our queen-sized bed so I might finish the blocks at around 16 inches. We'll see how they turn out.

I got a baby shower invite in the mail yesterday, so after working on the two blocks last night, I started a quilt top for the baby-to-be. I tried out Oh Fransson's Mixtape pattern, but made a few modifications to speed up the process. I'll talk about this more later as I work on the quilt (it's due by next Friday), but I left out the sashing and I think it came together nicely.



Finally, I decided to start on a Kitchen Windows quilt from Elizabeth Hartman's book, The Practical Guide to Patchwork, using two of the colorways from Far Far Away 2. I wasn't quite sure what fabric to use as the "windows." I initially went with Kona Green Grass to create a lot of contrast between the windows and the background. But, the more I looked at the fabric, I didn't like how the color changed depending on the light. In natural light, the fabric matched the colors in FFA2 nicely, but in florescent light, it totally clashed.



The problem with going with a neutral, though, is that I'm worried the quilt will just get muddled.



Then I had the thought that if I go with the green window sashing, the green might overpower the FFA2 fabrics and stand out more than anything else. I kind of want the FFA2 fabric to be the star of the quilt, so I'm torn.

Any suggestions?

My Christmas Wish List

Coming up with a Christmas wish list to give my family has always been difficult in the past. It was much easier when I was little and living at home. But as an adult, I think it's hard because if I want/need something, I just buy it. I usually don't wait until Christmas or my birthday and ask for whatever it is. This year, however, has been different.

I decided to ask for fabric that I really want, but maybe am not willing to buy myself for whatever reason. Here's what made my list this year.

A fat quarter bundle of All Star 2 in green from Hawthorne Threads.


Some linen in The Morning Dew from Fabrics-store.com.


A fat quarter bundle of Innocent Crush in Potpourri from Hawthorne Threads. I want to make the Colorbrick quilt from Stitched In Color with this Innocent Crush fabric (hers looks amazing!), but I want to use the gray linen as the sashing instead of a tan neutral.


A fat quarter bundle of Far Far Away II in Meadow from Hawthorne Threads. I really want the aqua colorway too, but all the FQ bundles were out of stock when I made my list.


And lastly, some paper hexagon pieces. I love looking through the Bee Hexed In Flickr group and seeing all the variations people have made of the pillow from Fat Quarterly. Kati brought hers to our Modern Quilt Guild meeting a few months ago and I loved it. Now that I'm getting braver in trying new techniques, I'm finally ready to try hexagons.


So, there you have it. What are you hoping to get for Christmas this year?