Quilt Festival...Dahlia

I'm sharing my quilt for the Blogger's Quilt Festival...

This was made from the Quiltsmart Dahlia pattern.  The pattern had a bunch of foundation fabric, premarked with fold and sew lines.  I bought it at the quilt show in Las Vegas one year and then took a class on how to use the pattern at Fabric Boutique in Vegas.  Though I like how it turned out, it was a TON of finger pressing.  The pattern fabric had some fusible aspect to it and so it couldn't be ironed.  Anyhow, I used 1930's fabric and it was quilted by Kalynda Klemmer.

I'd recommend this pattern if you aren't into curved piecing...and you have a lot of time!  I've also seen it done in batiks and it is absolutely stunning.  ;-D  I hope you enjoyed my quilt show...

Baby Shower...

Like I posted earlier, a colleague at work is having a baby girl.  I made a Bliss rag quilt, a diaper changing thing (with a hand towel and some Bliss) and a hooded towel (made with a towel and washcloth).  A teacher at a previous school gave me a couple of hooded towels for my son when he was born.   I thought it was sort of silly, but I used them for years...until they fell apart!  Here are my gifts....

What else have I been doing?  Well, I pulled some fabric for my Valentine quilt.  I might start on that this weekend.  I think the Christmas quilt along is coming up...I should look at all of that as well.  Anyhow, I did get something done this week!!  The purple/aqua quilt was mailed to the quilter, so that is off my plate.  Wow, I can't wait to see what I do this weekend!!  It is a 3 day weekend in Nevada (Nevada Day is celebrated Friday) and then the kids get Monday and Tuesday off as well for Staff Development Day at our public schools.  Unfortunately, Ryan has a doctor appt. on Monday so I will have to miss one day of Staff Development (awww...shucks...;-D) and I'll just stay home and quilt until the appt.  So I'm getting a 4 day weekend...Ryan gets 5 days off in a row!  You should see the happy dance around here....

Finished the TOP!

Oh my...I finally finished the purple/aqua top.  It it for a twin bed so it measures 72" x 96".  8" finished blocks set 9 x 12.  The backing will be put together today and I'll pack it up for the quilter.  ;-D  Yeah, one more project done!!

I'm going to send it to Merri Berrie Quilting in Colorado.  Just a nice overall....maybe some flowers, butterflies, swirls....whatever she thinks looks nice!  Next, work on the Christmas quilt for the Quilt Along...

Tea n Bickies (what is a bickie?)

So this morning was going really badly.  Not that anyone cares, but my ex and I (whom I've posted about previously--the lost quilt saga) reached an impasse regarding sharing the children we had together 10 years ago.  The end result is that I won't be seeing my daughter Allison for the next six years...until she is old enough to get a driver's license and drive herself to my house.  That is totally depressing...and our house is very, very sad for this loss.  Maybe Allison reads my blog at home--if you do, Alli, you can leave an anonymous comment!!!  Then I can get back to you somehow.....Anyhow, let me get past my personal drama...

I was on Flickr--my drug of choice when I want to have some coffee and zone out.  I just watch the pictures of the quilts pass by and I find it relaxing.  This morning, while I was drinking and stewing, I happened to watch a bunch of pictures of an anime quilt roll by on the slideshow.  Personally, I'm not into anime (the Japanese cartoon characters with wild hair, etc.) but my 8th grade students are VERY into anime.  I couldn't help but think how fanastic a quilt for my classroom would be if it were anime themed like the one in Flickr.

So I discovered the lady who made the quilt and her blog....teanbickies. Click HERE to link to the quilt I'm referencing.  Can you believe it?  Look at all the fussy cutting, and the differnt blocks that make that quilt so dynamic--and original--and just plain cool???  I've e-mailed the woman and I hope to get the name of a source for anime fabric.  Should I just check e-quilter?  I've never seen anime fabric in the stores, though honestly, I might have and would have passed it by.  But now I am INSPIRED!!!  Thank you, Clair, for making my day better with your totally amazing quilt.

This brings me to my point.  All you bloggers who think that maybe you are writing for nobody, and that maybe you are wasting your time....YOU AREN'T!!   Lots of people enjoy reading the blogs, and looking at the pictures, and maybe they don't comment (so you think you are alone)--but your are not!  It can be months down the line, after your initial post, before someone goes back and reads through all your posts and finds something, a little piece of info or a beautiful picture, that inspires them to do something awesome.  Keep writing, bloggers!!  You are better than a magazine, better than a book....and FREE.  I love it!!  Thanks.

Bliss Baby Quilt....

So a colleague at work is having a baby girl.  The shower is in two weeks so I didn't have much time to make a regular quilt (and get it quilted) so....a rag quilt!!  I used the Bliss fabric (yes, this did necessitate a trip to the fabric shop for a bit of Bliss--but I swear, I only bought what I needed!!!).  She couldn't decide her colors for the baby's room so I just figured that I'd make what I would want if i were having a baby girl!  LOL....

It still needs to have the ragged edge parts cut and a good washing/drying.  But itsn't it cute??  I'll post a final pic when it is done...along with a couple other things I'm adding for the shower.

Rebecca isn't enjoying piecing the Syracuse quilt.  She has only done the "X" part and the trimming at the end.  Turns out the whole sewing of the body of the quilt isn't that hot.  Apparantly, if your seams aren't all equal then you quilt will be difficult to piece together (rows to rows).  LOL...who knew???  ;-D

Well, it is finally raining here in Las Vegas.  I have to find something, like a coat, to wear and get Ryan in some pants, I think.  Only bad Moms let their kids go to school in the cold rain, right?



Purple and Aqua wonky quad quilt...

OK, they aren't actually wonky squares so I'm calling them wonky quadrilaterals (random four sided figures).  I've been secretly forcing myself to sew each night and guess what?  I'm almost done.  Check it out....

It is on the floor, awaiting the massive pinning this will happen tonight.  ;-D  My goal is to have the top completed this weekend (or week), then piece the backing, and send it off to the quilter!!  Yeah!  It might be done by Christmas...or maybe Valentine's Day???  LOL....

Fall Quilter's Blog Giveaway Winner....

I did the random number generator thing, and counted through all the posts....the winner is....

Linda at Living4Quilting!!  Thank you to all who posted on my blog...I wish I had enough Bliss to give everyone a roll (LOL....like I'm the fabric fairy??!).  I hope you all enjoyed checking out all the blogs involved in this giveaway, I know I did.  It was nice to see some fresh blogs and "meet" some new online people.

I'm sad to see the Bliss go out the door.  Quiltique, my LQS, has every bolt from the line.  It is all wonderful, let me tell you.  Camille Roskelley, one of the designers, is a resident of Las Vegas and she came to the store for a book signing a few weeks ago.  Sadly, I had to hold myself back.... ;-D  But it so beautiful, I'm sure it will be around in a few months when I give up on the moratorium....

Congrats, Linda!!!  I'll ship the roll this weekend....

Syracuse Rag Quilt...Rebecca's Project!

As I posted yesterday, Rebecca is cutting out 6" squares for her Syracuse rag quilt.  This is big for her because I've always cut the squares and she has sewn.  Now, she is going to do the whole thing!!!
Here is her design....She learned how to use EQ!

Here are her little sandwiches all stacked up and ready to sew....

We are off to buy some thread and get her going on this project!  The good news is that it doesn't have to go to a longarmer (we are getting a ltitle too close to Christmas to be playing that game!).

Sunday night she sewed them all together and tonight they are laying on the floor, ready for pinning....

Buddy jumped in to the shot...what a cutie pie!  Well, we have to go pin now, and watch an episode of House on the DVR.  It is looking great, though....:-D

Madison's Rag Quilt...

This is my niece, Madison, getting ready to sew a rag quilt.  She picked out the fabrics and her and her Mom, and Grandma, all worked to put it together....

Here is the "before washing" photo...

 And here is the "after washing" picture....Very cute, huh?  Polka dots was theme...leaning towards browns and light blues.  Madison picked out the fabrics at a few of the local quilt shops...The Quilter's Studio and Chocolate and Cotton, I believe.  My sister, Gwen, tells me that she didn't really enjoy the cutting process (who does???) and so she will lean towards the pre-cuts next time around!  ;-)

There seems to be a theme here...I'm trying to force my family into quilting and I'm starting them out on rag quilts.  Hmmmm....Oh well, the more the merrier!  Gwen sent me some other pics of quilts that now reside at her house--you will seem them in later posts!  Thanks, Gwen...
Good night....

Valentine....

So this is my Sunday morning...coffee and my EQ software.  I'm planning on making a Valentine wall quilt for my classroom....48" x 48".  Notice my Valentine coffee mug? 

Several years ago I decided to redo my kitchen in Valentine. Yes, Valentine dishes, Valentine placemats, red kitchen accessories, etc.  I even rescued this Valentine wallhanging from a LQS..it was for sale and nobody seemed to want it.  It is some sort of raw-edged applique/stack-n-slash quilt.  The borders are wonky, and the quilting, if you could see it, is a little marginal.  But it looks nice in a Valentine themed kitchen....

Anyhow, this is my EQ design for a Valentine quilt for the classroom.  I have a large stash of Valentine's fabrics....

I'm thinking of a 2" block in the center, then 1" finished strips going around--it would be an 8" block (8'5" unfinished).  That might make a decent dent in the massive amount of Valentine fabric I'm hoarding.  I've made several queen and king-sized pink/red quilts and still haven"t used it up.  This will give me something to work on in my **free** time... ROTFLOL

Tonight I plan on working on my aqua and purple quilt for my niece--watch for a post tomorrow or Tuesday regarding my progress.  I did the Chrismas Quilt Along yesterday and made some progress on that quilt...One of these days I need to quilt the tree skirt...or I could take it to a quilter???  OMG, why am I being such a wimp about this?  Lots of people quilt on their own machine at home.  Suck it up, Vic, and get it done.  I mean, it is under the presents, under the tree and pretty much out of sight.  What better quilt to practice on than that one?  Oh, let me tell you why.  I'm so lazy that I'll probably never want to make another tree skirt in my life and I'll have to look at it forever.  That is why.  But my vision isn't what it used to be...so maybe I should quilt it!  In 15 years I won't even be able to see the details in the quilting so what will it matter?  LOL....

Anyhow, Happy Quilting!

Christmas Quilt Along...

Final Update for Christmas Quilt Along:  I got the blocks all sew and pressed.  I still need to square them up, but that is it for now...here is the proof!  You'll see me working on the border next Saturday.... ;-D

Update #1:  Well, I did a little Christmas Pin Along and got this far...

Then I started sewing...I'm still sewing...More later.  I hope to press and square the stars today...

Rebecca is sort of quilting along.  She bought some orange and blue fabrics to make an orange and blue Syracuse U. rag quilt for her brother.  She is going to cut out the squares tonight...or so she thinks!  She has yet to cut fabric (she is a scrapbooker)....We'll see how this goes!

I did work a little on my Christmas quilt last Saturday...you see, every Saturday is my own Christmas Quilt Along!  I pieced the star tips together and the squares are attached to each end.  This is what I have to work with today...

The center block ends up larger than it needs to be...so more trimming after the tips are attached.  But when the star is finished, and the borders are attached, each block should look like this...

Although I love the look of the vintage shirts, they can be a little tricky to work with.  The pieces tend to stretch, and grow a little wonky.  If I were a fan of spray starch, I think I would use it now ;-D  But I'm not, so I don't.  I need twenty of these block to make a 60" by 75" quilt top.  I guess they must be 15" blocks...

But before I can get to this project, I have to take Ryan to the video store for a new game, the Halloween store for a costume, and a try to find him some long pants for the winter.  Since we are in Las Vegas, winter is only about 4 months....so pants are troublesome.  Why do kids grow non-proportionally?  Too tight in the tummy, too short, way too long, pant legs to big that he could hid a machete in one leg and a shotgun in the other?  I despise shopping for pants.  Anyhow, after all that trauma, and a shot of orange flavored Patron, I'll be ready to sew.  I hope everyone else is getting some Christmas stuff done today....Happy Quilting!

Lakehouse Fun Flowers..

OK, so I know I'm on a fabric buying moratorium.  But I have gone and bought a few shirts from the Goodwill (less than 10, though, in two months).  And they were really great shirts, I might add.  Anyhow, I saw this new line of fabric advertised on Fat Quarter Shop....Lakehouse's Fun Flowers.  They totally said "Buy me now, Vic"....so I headed down to Fabric Boutique and snagged two yards of the flower print and a few fat quarters.  Total spent:  $42.

Can't you just picture the flowers fussy cut and then something amazing going on with the colored fat quarters around the flower?  What is the amazing thing that will happen?  Well, we all must wait and see because that is a bit unclear.  I thought about a log cabin sort of thing....or maybe making them the centers of some stars....or.....????  Anyhow, I just had to have them for a wall quilt for my classroom.  But first I must make a little Valentine one for after the holidays.  I wanted to make a holiday quilt/winter quilt but I don't want to offend any of the inmates who don't celebrate anything.   But a pink and red Valentine will be perfect for Jan/Feb....

So that is my confession.  But they had the ENTIRE LINE OF BLISS and I didn't buy a thing.  I'm not going to touch/fondle the jelly roll of Bliss for my giveaway.  I've secured it out of sight for safe keeping...Not to worry, folks...all is well here!  But I must say, I feel like I pimped myself out for some new followers with the giveaway.  I now have 39 followers...wow, the pressure!  I guess I need to get on my quilting J-O-B and get some stuff done, huh?  Thanks for reading (or at least looking at the pictures--and yes, I should have at least ironed the crease out of the flower print....LOL)! 

Also, I posted an actual pic of myself on my profile.  I wanted to drop 30 pounds first but then I figured you'd NEVER see the real me...So that is it...I'm not a skinny little cartoon avatar with perfect hair!  ;-D 

Saturday stuff...

Well, I have some news.  Denise washed the Seuss quilt and the reds didn't run!  Yeah...here are some pics...

Aren't the graphics just perfect?  I mean, they are exactly as they are in the book....just adorable.  She is going to gift it with a few Seuss books as well.  What a lucky baby!!!  And best of all, she enjoyed making the quilt and is planning on doing a couple more for some other pregnant friends.  Yeah, a new quilter!!!  Way to go, Denise!  Some day my sister will send pics of the rag quilt her and her daughter made....Gwen, where are the pics??  ;-D  I need more stuff to blog about, sheesh.....

I worked on my Christmas quilt along quilt.  I drug out the Featherweight and went "old school".  Doesn't the set up look so quaint....The real deal is like this:  I'm sewing late at night because I'm trying to force myself to do an hour of quilting each night.  So I look like crap, feel exhausted, the dog is giving me dirty looks from the couch because I'm not petting him, Criminal Minds is playing on the TV and Rebecca is trying to deal with all the drama in Sped. dept at her work....Ack!!  Not the peaceful piecing you might expect!  But I'm making progress on my Christmas quilt....

Alli, my daughter, is working on her Halloween quilt from last October.  No, I didn't have to chain her to the sewing maching this time *LOL*.  She actually asked to work on it and her seams are just perfect this time around.  We had a little drama last year when she was finishing a Christmas quilt for her other Mom and she got a little sloppy with the seams because she was watching TV and not taking it seriously.  So we put away the sewing for a while and now that she has come back to it she is more enthusiastic than ever.  Here she is (by the way, she is only 9 years old and has been sewing for a couple of years now)....

Did you see her technique...guiding the fabric through the machine carefully, lining it up against the seam guide thingy to get an accurate seam, not letting the pins scratch the bed of the featherweight.  OMG, I'm in heaven!!  Grandma Lois, my Mom, says that with her appreciation of all the fabrics Alli is sure to be a lifetime quilter.  I can only hope, right?  Who else am I going to leave all my stash to when I'm too old to see anymore???  Hahaha....I love you Alli!!!