Lately... Sweet Home Alabama quilt...

I've had this pattern in my sketchbook for a while now...the block is based on an old Alabama block that I saw on Pinterest.  My quilt is slightly different in that the final group of pieces that go around the outside of the block become the sashings...

For the first test run at the pattern, I used red, pink, aqua with white cornerstones.  But the problem was that the white didn't stand out enough to make the diagonal lines clear.  Darn it!  It is quilted with a panto called Rhododendron....

You can see in the next picture how it all just muddies together....but I'm trying it with a new color combo--maybe I'll find a winner!

It's still a cute quilt and will be for sale in my Etsy shop soon, but crap...bad cornerstone color choice!  Anyhow, that is what is going on at my place this Winter Break.  Four more days until I'm back at school....Happy Quilting!

Twinkle2 Finish....

Yep, I've been busy with school (and some chalk painting) and just got around to quilting my sample quilt for the Twinkle2 quilt-along last summer.  I actually dug into my sacred Denyse Schmidt fabrics for this one....

The panto is called Party Streamers and I really like the texture it added to the quilt--without being gender specific....

I'm doing a quilt gig/thing at Quiltique in January so I'll show this one as an example and then it will go up for sale in my Etsy shop...

Happy Quilting!

Chalk Paint Renovation--Ryan's Room

Since we were on a roll with chalk painting, we decided to repaint Ryan's furniture and give his room an update.  He is 15 years old now and really into music, band, theatre, etc...His old room was decorated in a cabin theme, complete with a resin moose head!  New room theme is modern teenager, I guess...check it out...

The old quilt on the bed was made from upcycled shirts, the new "quilt" is from Kohls...OMG!

The paint is Annie Sloan Graphite with dark wax over it....same furniture, all new look!

He has been away at DisneyWorld in Orlando all week on a band trip and the "big reveal" on the room will be tonight when he gets home, dead tired, at 10 pm....I hope he likes it!!

Chalk Paint Kitchen FINISHED!

We've been slowly repainting our old oak kitchen cabinets in Annie Sloan Old Ochre.  We did a bit of distressing and applied two coats of clear wax.  Here is a before shot, and some after pics...

We are also repainting the cabinets in the adjacent laundry room.  We figure the total cost of this project, close to 50 drawers and cabinet doors, including paint and new hardware, was around $500.  A win for our family!!  This has been keeping me from sewing the last two months...

Happy Holidays!

Fall tablerunners...

I sold one of my fall tablerunners on Etsy last week and decided I should quilt up the others that were waiting for finishing.  I did them all on the same loaded backing...

I did a leaf in the center of each log cabin block with wavy lines leading away and into the next block.  I could do two blocks without stopping...

Anyhow, I'm going to get them bound this week and up in my Etsy shop ASAP.  I also have some Christmas ones that need quilting...don't you think I should get on those as well??  LOL...

Happy Quilting!

AS Chalk Paint Kitchen Renovation...

I haven't been sewing the last two months because we've been repainting out kitchen cabinets.  They are the old, 1980's orange oak and they really clashed with the granite countertops the prior owners installed.  We're using Annie Sloan Old Ochre, with some distressing, and clear wax.

We are working the kitchen in stages and are almost done.  Next, the adjacent laundry room and eventually the downstairs guest bath...some before and after shots.

The pantry and some uppers...

The island, and fuller kitchen shot...

We are just finishing the bottom cabinets and I'll have a complete kitchen pic by the end of the weekend, hopefully...It has been a damn disaster in our kitchen since early September.  We plan on doing the floor a dark wood-like planking (maybe porcelain tile) to contrast with the cabinets.  The granite looks much better now.  There was no way we could afford to replace that much granite--it continues into the living room around the fireplace, and little bench window, the guest bathroom countertop, etc...

We are happy, but tired of painting!  Our estimate for the whole project, including paint and new hardware (hinges and knobs/handles) is about $500.  And this will include the laundry room as well...well worth it!  Annie Sloan paint rocks!

I'm a Procrastinator....

Yep, I waited until the last minute to finish piecing this Band auction quilt...I finished piecing on Friday night and got it loaded and quilted it this morning.  I have to turn it in to the head of the auction on Monday...

The saddest part of this story is that I knew I had to do it for a year and I had all summer to get it done.  There is another part (the kitchen painting project) that I'll save for another post--maybe that will be a good excuse for why this is so late.

An up-close shot--quilted with the froggy hand looking panto knows as Classic Stipple...LOL....made entirely from recycled shirts.  I like to call them "vintage plaids" so as not to offend the sensitive people who don't want to wrap up in someone else's old clothing...hahahaha....

I'm off to bind this masterpiece...or delegate the binding to Rebecca ;-)  Yep, that's the plan...and re-watch Whiplash (a great band movie with Schillinger from OZ back to his old tricks)....

Happy Quilting!

Green Valley HS Quilt...

I have plans to quilt my Twinkle2 QAL quilt this weekend, but I MUST get this charity quilt done for Ryan's Pasta Dinner and Silent Auction fundraiser.  The dinner is the first week of October and I made a quilt and gift basket last year that made a few hundred dollars, so I'm doing the same this year....

I pulled my coveted shirts out of the closet and started cutting squares.  I'm going with a simple layout since it needs to be boy/girl friendly.  Let me show you the school logo with our emerald green/blue color scheme...

There will be 1" strips between the squares so it will look like a GVHS checkerboard!!  LOL...it is our 25th anniversary at GVHS as well, so a green/blue color scheme might appeal to a former Gator student...who knows??  I'll show you more as I progress...

We start school on Monday the 24th, so I'll try to post when I can, but the year is busy again!!

Happy Quilting!

Cracklin' Rosie...a new pattern!

I love this pattern!  I know I say that about all of them, but this one is particularly adorable.  

This pattern is based on the basic Friendship Block.  With the right color placement, and some creative piecing in the sashings, a wonderful quilt design will emerge!!

The blocks are easy to assemble and turn out slightly oversized--you will cut them down to 12.5" x 12.5" squares in the final step.  Though accurate piecing is recommended, the pattern construction is very forgiving--even for beginner quilters.

Several different sizes are given in the quilt pattern:  baby, small lap, large lap, and queen size.

Also included in the quilt pattern is a coloring diagram for adventurous quilters who may want to make one completely scrappy!!

Cracklin' Rosie is available for PDF download on Etsy and Craftsy.  Enjoy!

Unblocked....go rainbow....

When in doubt, go rainbow!!  I pulled some fabric, then some more, then I went full Skittles rainbow!!  And all from my stash...including some gray background fabric....

And some ironing and cutting....and Under the Dome and Suits....

So I'm working on a new pattern...but maybe it will be a quilt along.  Not that I have a big following or anything, but why not??  Right??  ;-)

Anyhow, I'm sewing a bit, working on the house, cooking, cleaning and being a stay-at-home Mom to a teenager who'd rather I went somewhere else...LOL.  Summer!!

Happy Quilting to you...

Quilter's Block....

So I'm usually rolling along, a million quilty ideas in my head, and not enough time to get it all done...but not lately.  I've had a bad case of "quilter's block"...the inability to find the right fabrics or get the motivation to get anything done.  But it is the "right fabrics" part that I find so disturbing...

In the last few years I've taken to writing quilt patterns.  It is fascinating to see what you can make from a jelly roll, or fat quarter, etc.  I love scrappy quilts and precuts help achieve a scrappy look without spending a ton of money and grossly enlarging my fabric stash.

With that in mind, I have a binder full of quilt ideas, sketches, quilty math, etc.  I first make a small baby quilt to make sure that everything works out OK.  I don't fret over the colors because it is just a trial run.  But then I need to make another version, possibly a pattern cover quilt, and that is where I've fallen down lately...do I make what I want, or what will sell the pattern, or something gender neutral, or something flowery (my preference)....what about solids??  OMG...never ending decisions.

Lately I've become nervous over making an ugly quilt--this happened on the last one.  Here is a preview of the next quilt pattern...super cute, done in Pam Kitty fabric I had stashed a few years ago....

But then I tried to make it in a cute, beachy fabric and I ended up with muddied blocks... total crap.  No the fabric's fault, just not the right fabric for the block... darn it!

Anyhow, I'm finishing up this pattern and working on another--if I can only settle on my fabric choices.  Maybe I have a combo, or a hot mess, who knows??

Happy Quilting!

Shoop Shoop--aqua, orange and yellow!

Whenever I write a pattern, I always test it out in several different colorways.  I did Shoop Shoop in these Riley Blake fabrics during the spring and just got around to quilting it this week.  I'm a little behind in my longarming....

And an up-close shot....

I really liked how quick and easy this pattern was to make....I think I used 20 charm squares and 20 jelly roll strips for this quilt, instead of the 10 fat quarters.  I like the variety I can get with the pre-cuts...scrappy and easy!!  If I could get to binding it, well, that would be nice, too!!

I'm working on my next pattern...it is already written and one quilt was made, but I'm on the second one--the cover one!!  Yeah....I think you'll like it!!

Happy Quilting!

Missing Quilt--Dahlia by Quiltsmart

I made this Dahlia quilt from repro 1930's prints in 2010.  I had it custom quilted, and it hung briefly in my prior house.  Since we moved to the new house in 2011, we haven't been able to find it.

I move my own stuff (no moving company) and a friend rented the house for 3 years after I left it and I'm sure she would have returned the quilt had she found it.  We've searched top to bottom at the new house and can't find it.  I posted a listing on lostquilts.com today....maybe someone has seen it?

I don't recall entering it in a quilt show, or loaning it out to a shop...I've no idea what happened to it.  But if you have ever made one of these things, you know that I did hours of finger pressing to get this whole thing together.  I'll never make another one, so I'd really like to find it.

Help!!

Here are a few pics...

Anyhow, if anyone knows what I did with this beauty, I'd appreciate a hint...LOL.

Happy Quilting!

Shoop Shoop...A New Quilt Pattern!

If you follow my blog, you likely know that I'm addicted to scrappy quilts.  And the easiest way to get a scrappy quilt is from precuts!!  Bearing that in mind, I typically design my patterns to be precut friendly...and Shoop Shoop is no exception.

The pattern uses charm squares and jelly roll strips, or charm squares and layer cake squares.  The sashings are actually done when making each block...so when you're done with the blocks, you're ready to assemble the quilt top!!  I've done this quilt in several different colorways and I love them all.

The cover quilt measures 57" x 69-3/4", but alternate quilt sizes are available in the quilt pattern.  The pattern up for sale (digital download) on Etsy and Craftsy today.  Happy Quilting!!

Binding Shoop Shoop...

I've had several patterns in the queue to write and finish up.  This one is called Shoop Shoop (It's In His Kiss).  I've done it in several colorways but I really like the patriotic one.  I sewed on the binding last week....

Here is Rebecca working on a charity quilt....

And my  agapanthus (Lily of the Nile) are blooming in my backyard.  I'll need to photograph my cover quilt so I'd better mow the grass today!!

I've written another pattern, tentatively called Layla, that should be out this month as well.  Teaching really interferes with pattern writing and construction!!  I can't wait to retire...

Happy Quilting to you all....

Black/Red/Gray Runaround Sue

During the winter, when Rebecca was bored, she pieced together this little Runaround Sue quilt top for my classroom.  It had been loaded on the longarm for months, but it is done now!!

It only has 16 blocks and measure about 4 ft x 4 ft....

My Runaround Sue pattern is available on Etsy or Craftsy....I have two new patterns in the queue so I'm busy, busy, busy....Happy Quilting!

The Apple and the Tree....

I haven't quilted anything in quite a while, but today I vow to get back on that horse and ride it!!  Dammit, I must have six quilt tops of my own waiting for longarm service.  Ryan is doing an online World History Honors course this summer to free up an elective space next year so while he is working online, I'll be quilting!!

I walked by the loft, right outside the longarm room, and thought "Jeez, Ryan is a slob"....

All the papers littering the floor, stuff randomly tossed about on the desk, etc....Wow, how did this happen??  Why can't he be more organized??   Lol....

Then I went into my longarm room....

A quilt I loaded a month ago, another one hanging on the side (a new pattern), cleaning rags on the floor....

A bunch of pantos that came in the mail six months ago that I need to add to my list, other quilts on the floor to be quilted, random pieces of batting that the hoarder in me can't part with...and what is up with the roll of toilet paper next to the tissues??  Candycanes in the candy jar?

Apparently, Ryan got his sloppiness from me!!  Ack....this is about the apple and the tree...he is a mini-me!!  But this afternoon we will both get busy quilting and cleaning and online summer schooling...yeah!!

Happy Quilting!

Long time....new project!

Thank God the school year is almost over...I can't wait!  Only 8 more school days left and them I'm free for the summer.  I thought I'd show you the quilt I'm making for my bedroom--it is sort of "medium volume"....but low for me.  ;-)  It is grays, beiges and tans, and the new seafoam/aqua color that I used to accent my bathroom.

I'm doing the granny square block because it's easy and a no-brainer....perfect for summer!

I've cut most all of the 2.5" square for the blocks and am awaiting the arrival of the background fabric...Kona Shadow--one of the new Kona colors.  We auditioned several other background colors but ultimately decided on Shadow--I hope I like it!!  We need to make 121 of these blocks, plus sash them...if we each do two per day we could have the blocks done by the end of June!!

Our other project has been the backyard.  I'll show you a before pic (we bought a repo'd house) and the after one....we put in all of the landscaping after ripping out all of the prior stuff.  Most recently we put in the flower garden.  That was last month's project....

 Before....

  

After....we are still finishing up with something around the garden...remember, this is Las Vegas and we have to be very careful about what we plant or it will roast during the summer....

The rest of the yard has gotten grass, plants, photinia, lantana and TLC over the last few years...



We've also been working on the front, but I'll save that for another post...

Anyhow, now that summer is coming, I'll get back to blogging--it anyone is still out there!!

Happy quilting!