pinwheels

I actually finished a quilt!  Wow!  Summer was rough this year for sewing.  It seems like we were just busy doing other things.  But I did get this pinwheel baby quilt finished up recently.  I have several friends having babies right now,  so I have to keep my baby quilts pretty simple.  I kind of like them that way anyway.  

I used the new Children at Play line from Sarah Jane (I've been a fan of hers for a very long time!  I think she was one of the first etsy shops I [hearted] when I first discovered etsy.), it is a great line.  I wish I could justify buying every single piece of fabric...

Inspired by this pillow, (I like it better, the smaller pinwheels are cuter.)

The Jack Quilt

Well, I certainly didn't intend to take the whole summer off from sewing and this blog,  I can hardly believe August is nearly over.  I have lots of good excuses, but the main reason is I am pregnant (again).  This will be #4, and we are really excited.  We find out next week what we are having, I can't wait.  My oldest started school last week, and we finally have some routine in our lives, and I might possibly have some time and energy to quilt.

Several months ago Sarah contacted me about testing her Union Jack Quilt Pattern for her.  I happily obliged and think it turned out really great.  There is no paper piecing, and fairly simple to put together.  I originally thought this would make it's way into a complete quilt, but lately I am thinking it would look really cool as a pillow.  hmmm...

you can find the pattern in Sarah's etsy shop, The Aftercraft

winner

The winner of Block Pary--The Modern Quilting Bee is,

Tracy who said:   It looks wonderful. I would love to win this. 

I've sent you an email Tracy, and look forward to hearing from you soon.


don't forget to stop by the other stops on the tour for another chance to win:
6/23/2011 Tallgrass Prairie Studio
6/24/2011 Oh, Fransson!
6/25/2011 All Buttoned Up
6/26/2011 West Coast Crafty
6/27/2011 Connecting Threads
6/28/2011 Crafty Girls Workshop
6/29/2011 Whip Up
6/30/2011 Pink Chalk Studio
7/1/2011 True Up
7/5/2011 Block Party Bee Blog
7/6/2011 Anna Maria Horner
7/7/2011 Craftzine.com

block party blog tour

I'm really excited to be the next stop on the Block Party blog tour for a couple reasons.  First, because I think the book is a good one, and second, because I was lucky enough to be involved with each quilt in the book--and I think they are all great.

Block Party--The Modern Quilting Bee was written by Alissa Haight Carlton and Kristen Lejnieks, but the quilts were a collaboration of 12 quilters--the book followed our virtual quilting bee.   I love actually seeing bee quilts finished...don't you?

Here are a few of my favorite quilts:

 and here's my quilt:

my kids even made it into the book, and now they think they are famous. :)

My favorite thing about this book is there isn't really a pattern for each quilt, there are guidelines and suggestions, which leaves lots of room for your own creativity!

****giveaway closed*****

The folks at Stash Books are offering a copy of the book to one of my readers.  To enter, leave a comment, one per person (make sure I can reach you via email).  I will choose a winner on Thursday (june 23) morning.  Good luck.

You can also follow the tour as it makes it's way around blogland:

6/22/2011 I Heart Linen
6/23/2011 Tallgrass Prairie Studio
6/24/2011 Oh, Fransson!
6/25/2011 All Buttoned Up
6/26/2011 West Coast Crafty
6/27/2011 Connecting Threads
6/28/2011 Crafty Girls Workshop
6/29/2011 Whip Up
6/30/2011 Pink Chalk Studio
7/1/2011 True Up
7/5/2011 Block Party Bee Blog
7/6/2011 Anna Maria Horner
7/7/2011 Craftzine.com

courthouse steps quilt

 

I finished up this quilt a couple weeks ago, and passed it on it to it's new owner.  I think it turned out great.  This is the type of quilt that takes some pre-planning.  You can't just start and hope it all comes together, because it probably won't.  But the planning is worth it.

I used mostly prints from Denyse Schmidt's new-ish line for Joann's

and quilted it in a large spiral.  I've done this before, but never on a quilt this big.  It was hard.  Especially in the middle, mostly because I had so much quilt I was juggling.  I need to remember this next time I want to try it on a larger quilt.  I struggled, and it's a bit sloppy.   I suppose I could have tried to do free motion in the middle and wouldn't have had to move around so much, but my free motion skills aren't that great when it comes to circles.

This red binding print is one of my favorites, I cut it on the bias and made rounded corners--again.  I still love them.

I used a great grey floral print I have had FOREVER on the back along with a blue tile print from the front.  Nothing like using up a yard of fabric you've had forever, right?  I think grey works really great with this line.  (actually grey works great with everything it seems).

winner

the winner of the Pooches and Pickups fq bundle is:  

Melissa @ Love affair with my brother, 

who said...

Love the fabric! Perfect for a little boy :) Your quilt is gorgeous too!

I've sent you an email, I look forward to hearing from you soon.

pooches and pickups--giveaway-----closed------

giveaway closed!

Have you seen Laurie Wisbrun's new line of fabric for Robert Kaufman?  It's so cute, and soooo boy.  She sent me some fabric to play with and I came up with this fun quilt. 

Here's something I don't believe I have ever mentioned on my blog, I grew up on a farm--a real life working dairy farm.  I loved my childhood, and find myself wishing my kids could experience the country way of life.  It was the best.  I associate pickups with farm life... I grew up riding in their beds, driving them before I was 16 and feeling like that was totally normal...and there was usually my dog, Scratches, riding in the pickup...but she was pretty lucky and often got to ride in the front seat.

I made 4 random blocks, and then sashed them with this great tweed fabric from Robert Kaufman.  It gives the quilt so much texture, but is actually really soft.  I imagine my own little boy driving his trucks and cars around the quilt, using the sashing as a road.

Isn't this truck the spitting image of the one on Laurie's fabric?

I backed the quilt in this green dot.  I think it works perfectly.

here's the fun part, Laurie has sent along some extra fq bundles (6 total) for one of you!  Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing.  One entry per person.  Please be sure I have an email address to contact you!  Good luck!

I'll choose a winner on Sunday, June 5th.