April Quilting Bee ...

Here is April's block for the 12 Month Quilting Bee.  This has been on my to-make list and now I can check it off ... or maybe put it back on for a quilt for ME! ;-)  We followed the tutorial from Oh Fransson!  This block was made using light blue, light green, gray, and brown.  In addition to the fabrics that were sent I added 2 from my own stash - scraps from the tan Cobblestone Central Park fabric and some blue paisley fabric.  

~Laura

FNSI results

Here are my results of the FNSI .... I wanted to finish this baby quilt that I have been working on.  I can't wait to see this SunKissed Patchwork Quilt all put together!  I had already pieced the top - so I thought I could finish it tonight for sure!  This is what I was able to do:
- added borders
- sew together several scrap pieces of batting to create a piece big enough for this quilt
- cut the back fabric
- embroider the baby's name onto the quilt ("Kylee" - what a beautiful name!).
- baste the quilt w/the intention of quilting it tonight

I was on a roll!  ... until ... I saw the results of my first row of quilting ... I realized that the beautifully soft {but slippery} fabric just won't work w/my pin basting.  I need to make a might tighter sandwich.

I think I am going to try spray basting w/this quilt.  But that requires a trip to the sewing store .... So since it's 11:00PM I will have to put a hold on finishing this quilt tonight.  

Here's my progress in pictures:

My first attempt @ manual machine embroidery

my attempt @ basting this bad boy

the beautiful, soft, but slippery backing fabric

Hope you enjoyed!  Now it's off to clean up ... goodnight!

FNSI

FNSI ... "What is that?" you are probably wondering .. it stands for "Friday Night Sew In".  It's a way to make some "me" time ... you sign up here, you sew on Friday, and you post pictures on Saturday.  What a great way to knock out some of those WIP {works in progress}.  So that is what I'll be doing tonight!

Check back tomorrow for pictures!!

the plaid scottie: Blogiversary Giveaway #2

the plaid scottie: Blogiversary Giveaway #2: go check it out for your chance to win!

My First Month of Quilting Bees - DONE! =)

Have I mentioned that I joined some online quilting bees?? Hm, I can't remember.

Well - in case I haven't, here's the low down - - I joined 2 quilting bees - each 12 months long.  They are both "virtual bees" meaning that we all sew on our own (in our own parts of the country) on a montly joint project.  Each month someone is the "Queen Bee".  The Queen Bee is in charge of picking the pattern and fabric for the month.  She will send out fabric and directions to each of the bee members at the beginning of the month.  Once the bee members have finished making their quilt block(s) they will mail them back.  Then the queen bee has 12ish beautiful blocks made by her fellow bee members to sew together to make a quilt!  There are 12 members and 12 months - so everyone gets 1 month to be in charge.  I joined 2 of these - "Sew 2 Speak" and "12 Month Quilting Bee".  I found both of these on Flickr.

Soo - anyway - now that I caught you up to speed - here are the blocks I made ..... 

The gray and green one above is a wonky log cabin block (tutorial by Quilt Dad) made for the 12 Month Quilting Bee.  Without a real pattern, this quilt lends itself to lots of room for creativity and freedom.  not to mention the fabric is so fun!  This was made w/Ty Pennington's Impressions line - one of my many coveted fabrics.  so of course I was v. excited to get to make something w/it.

These pink and yellow quilt blocks were made for Sew 2 Speak.  These will be added w/other blocks to make a "pink lemonade" quilt.  There are all different yellow and pink combinations.  I think this quilt will be so fun when it is done.  I would never have thought to put yellow and pink together - but I think it really works!  I can't wait to see this finished quilt! 

All-in-all this was a lot of fun!  I am eagerly waiting for April's quilt packets to come out!!  But alas, there are still 15 days left ... I'll just have to be patient.

Stay tuned for updates on my most recent completed project - the Central Park Quilt!

Pot-O-Gold Giveaway

Vickie @ Spun Sugar Quilts is giving away some "gold" in honor of St. Patrick's Day (and her 1000th post) sponsored by the FatQuarterShop.com   Head on over to enter your chance to win.

Giveaway Time!

Head on over to The Plaid Scottie's blog -
she is hosting a great fat quarter
give-a-way (READ: FREE FABRIC!). 

I love weekends!!

What a productive sewing weekend!

1 quilt top sooo close to done .... "i-spy" blocks made (see previous post) ... and a baby quilt cut and organized!

Isn't it gorgeous! Fabric is "Sunkissed" by sweetwater.

Now off to clean up all the sewing bits n' pieces so I can head off to bed. Goodnight!

Happy Dance

Let me start this post with a little celebration!!

Why am I doing a happy dance, you ask??

Because .... I won a fabric from a giveaway!!! That's right -- I actually won! This is the same giveaway that I posted about on my blog the other day. Happiest When Crafting is sending me 2 fat quarters from Jeanean Morrison. I'll def post pictures when they come in!

What else is new?

I've been working on my central park quilt ... I'm getting somewhere - all the piecing for the top is done. Now I'm just working on the borders. Then I can start the backing. I'm going to leave you in suspense, though ... I'm not ready to post pictures just yet. Not until it's done ... I promise pictures will come when it's done.

And finally something I do have pictures of...

These are some "I-spy" blocks made as a baby gift. They are made with various reminent fabrics from Joann's - all different textures and colors. The mama-to-be is decorating her nursery w/an elephant theme - so imagine my excitement when I came across this fabric!! I teamed up w/a friend to make 12 of these blocks. I can't wait to share these w/the mommy in a few weeks @ her baby shower. **If you want to make these too, check out Obsessively Stitching for a great tutorial.

Here's to hoping I get more sewing time in tomorrow!!