christmas hidden stars

I finally finished up a holiday quilt, and I am so happy with it!  It turned out better than I had hoped.  I first saw this pattern in this book and loved it--but I wanted mine scrappy.

I tried to use up my christmas-y fabrics, and added in some greens, reds, and blues.  I think the mix works really well.

Here's a confession, I usually don't like my quilt backs.  I hate to buy a lot of fabric for backing, and I'm too lazy to make cool quilt backs like so many of you bloggers out there make.  So I usually piece what I have together (really sloppily), and then don't really like it.  For this quilt, I really wanted to use up those holiday prints, so I am glad I did it this way.  But it's definitely not my favorite part.

This candy-cane stripe called out to me as the binding.  It just had to be, and it's my favorite part.  I love a striped binding anyway, but red and white will always be my favorite!

We have a chance of snow in our forecast for this weekend, and even though I am thrilled that I actually finished this up before Christmas, I don't think I'm ready for winter.  I'd like to see fall stick around for a while.  Plus, I'm not ready to give up my garden tomatoes!

stacked!

I cut strips for this quilt back when I was cutting squares for my market square quilt.  I have been stuck on this quilt for a while... I had the blocks finished, but debated making it bigger.  I ended up NOT making it bigger.  I am totally okay with smaller lap size quilts.  Plus I have plenty of large lap size quilts and smaller ones are easier for the kids to fold.

I have always loved this design of quilt, but I really fell in love with this quilt, and then had to make one. I love that it looks like books stacked on top of each other

It's a pretty easy design to make, but I don't use a pattern.  I'll try to explain (without pictures), I cut strips of white and strips of color.  I then trim my colored pieces to a good size to make the "books".  I try to vary the sizes, but I don't plan this part out.  I then add white to either side and trim it to the right size.  Once I have a bunch of these strips, I sew them all together.

I used this great polka dot from JoAnn's (by Denyse Schmidt) for the back and bound it in green.  I actually debated selling this quilt, we just have so many...but there are a few things about it that make it less than perfect, so I think we'll keep it.  I like it a lot anyway, so I don't mind.

far far away

I'm on a roll finishing up quilts that have been so close to being done for a very long time, and it feels so good. 

I started this quilt a long time ago and really didn't like it much...I guess I kinda wished I'd used the fabric in a different way.  That's the main reason it took me so long to finish.

Plus, the quilt is pretty big, and main fabrics are linen/cotton blend and it's heavy.  I was really dreading the quilting process.  

But it all turned out in the end.  I really like it now, and quilting it wasn't too bad.  

I used this fun zigzag print on the back and decided to use those zigzags as my quilting guide.  

 I didn't do a great job, I'm going to call it organic as opposed to sloppy--if it weren't for that dark purple print you wouldn't even be able to tell.

I'm mildly opposed to white binding, but it just worked so well for this quilt.  I had to use it.  I think it really frames it well.

cottage quilt

It was probably over 2 years ago now that I was involved in the Cottage Quilting Bee, and I have finally put my quilt together and I think it turned out so great.  

I received soooo many blocks, and it was so fun to figure out where to put them all.  I ended up framing them on the front in white. 

I pieced my back with orange fabrics that I had along with my remaining blocks. 

I quilted it in large loops.  It's not perfect, but I do like the effect.

and an orange stripe binding to finish it off.  I am loving this color of orange.   A big thanks to all those friends who contributed to this quilt.  I love it.

flower garden

I feel so happy to be quilting again, I actually forgot how much I enjoy it.  My husband gives me a hard time because I usually plug in my headphones and ignore the kids so I can quilt...it's pretty therapeutic I guess.  

Another really simple baby quilt, but I am really diggin' the colors--a little out of my normal range.  But really pretty. 

A close up, I love this little "dutch girl" print.  It's so sweet for a baby.

I am determined (again) to make a dent in my stash, so I used this yellow 30's print that I've had forever.   I think if I used what I have more for quilt backs, my stash really would start to shrink.  That is my goal for the remaining quilts on my to-do list.

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