Spring Break 2015

My Spring Break 2015 officially began on Friday afternoon, the same day that Lorna over at Sew Fresh Quilts posted her tutorial for her Zany ZebraZ Quilt Block Tutorial http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2015/03/zany-zebraz-quilt-block-tutorial.html I have been really wanting to make one since I had such a great time making her Elephant Parade. 

This is the first zebra I made and is going to be my label. I contemplated using a light grey background as Lorna did, but I found this turquoise at a discount fabric store and thought it would really make the white with black fabrics really pop. The same store has a big zebra print fabric that I am going to buy tomorrow for the backing and binding. I am going to embroider the eyes and nostrils on the zebras with perle cotton and French knots.

 Doesn't Lorna's look adorable! Mine does not have the little birdie, but I still love it! I am thinking of quilting mine with wavy zebra like stripes horizontally, but just may have to play around and see if I can discover any interesting stitches on my Pfaff.

 Here is my March BOM from Buttermilk Basin http://www.buttermilkbasin.com. I still need to add the bee and the flower along with some more detailed embroidery and I plan on working on it this evening for Slow Sunday Stitching. Be inspired by other handwork here http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

One of my school's secretaries and friend was just diagnosed with a recurring brain tumor--she had the same thing 10 years ago. She will be off work for the rest of the school year and a bunch of the summer for treatment and recovery. Meals are being organized, but I am a quilter which means I would like to make her a quilt. I considered just quilting up one of my Medallion Logic Cabin tops, but I decided I want to make her something a little more special---Lori Holt's Tulip Patch Quilt. If this isn't cheerful, I don't know what is!

After my Zany ZebraZ Baby Quilt was sewn together this morning, I started digging in my stash for cheery fabrics for the patches and tulips. I pretty much had everything I need on hand including a backing. I did run down to Joann's looking for a Kona green for the leaves and stems, but they did not have anything--I bought a new cutting board though. Of course since it Sunday, nothing else is open. However, I ran over to my Mom's house and found a perfect green in her stash. Thanks Mom! Since I was in town anyway, I stopped by the grocery store and grabbed steaks, corn, and a Caesar salad bag which means hubby can grill dinner while I sew! Many people left town for our Spring Break, but the weather here is gorgeous--sunny, in the high 70's, so I think a Stay-cation with a funny book and sewing projects is the perfect way for me to relax! Hopefully, I will get some projects done quickly.

March FNSI

 I confess--I did not do much sewing for Friday Night Sew In! I managed to trace and cut out the wool for the March Buttermilk Basin Mystery BOM more info can be found here http://www.buttermilkbasin.com

I did make some delicious blondies to nibble on last night, but then I spent an hour reading my book in a luxurious bubble bath. 

Check out what others actually accomplished here

http://sugarlanequilts.blogspot.com/2015/03/friday-night-sew-in-sign-ups.html

I will stitch up this block tomorrow for Slow Sunday Stitching

http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

 This is the January block I made this week

 and the February block too. Now, I am all caught up and enjoying these small wool blocks.

 Today despite it being gorgeous outside I did spend a little time in my sewing room. I made the last two blocks for the Charm Square Sampler Quilt Along.

 Here is the info about that http://moderntraditionquilts.blogspot.com I think we have two blocks left and mine will a tablecloth for my kitchen table.

My winning streak continued this week as I won Connie's giveaway. I join her linking party every Tuesday http://www.conniekresin.com This happy charm pack arrived in today's mail! Thank you Connie!!!

Elephant Parade Finish & H2H

 My Elephant Parade is finished! The white backgrounds don't seem to match exactly--somehow another plain white got mixed in with the Kona white I was using, but you can really only tell in the bright sunlight.

 I made my elephants scrappy using all my small stash of gray fabrics. I quilted it horizontally about every 1.25 inches using my wavy stitch on my Pfaff. It has been washed, so it got very crinkly because of the cotton batting and its finished size is 43.5 x 50 inches.

 Here is the froggy and

 one of the birds. I just used a close zigzag stitch for the eyes.

 My turtle has the perfect shell--a green with squares on it. I thought I used the last of it, but I found an eighth more in my green tub and then used it as the leaves on the flowers. Lorna's Elephant Parade Quilt was made with all solids, but I mixed in some prints for mine.

 The tulip in turquoise with a sweet baby elephant next to it--precious!

 Here is one of the proud mama elephants.

I have so enjoyed participating in the Elephant Parade Quilt Along! I was so excited when the flower blocks posted on Sunday. I whipped up my flower blocks immediately, pieced the whole quilt, pin basted it, and quilted it. I chose to use a wavy quilt stitch with my walking foot on my Pfaff just like the sample quilt. I also attached the binding and then spent a few evenings this week hand sewing the binding and hanger down. My hubby thinks I should embroider tails on the elephants with it look like they are being held in the trunks...What do you think?

The backing was purchased at my LQS from the sale bin and was $4.50 a yard. 

I just pieced the back with the same fabric instead of using an accent stripe because I had plenty of it. I did add a simple label prior to quilting.

I work at three elementary schools and there are usually a few babies born each school year, so I just make baby quilts whenever I see a design I like knowing it will be gifted eventually. Here is the link for info on the Elephant Parade and this free pattern 

http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/p/elephant-parade.html 

Lorna is also working on a ZebraZ Quilt pattern and I am already collecting black and white prints for it. I have no idea who will be the recipient of this adorable quilt, but I will add it into my completed baby quilts and wait until it is the right match.

I am a WINNER, WINNER chicken dinner!!!

This week I received this Color Theory charm pack and mini jelly roll I won from Kansas Troubles Quilters' blog! 

http://kansastroublesquilters-lynne.blogspot.com/2015/03/collections-for-cause-quilt.html

I am looking forward to working with these cheery spring fabrics soon.

Late to the "Mystery" BOM Party! I usually do not participate in Mystery quilts--the one I made probably 15 years ago was a disappointment. Quilts are expensive and time consuming, so it is kind of risky to make something you are not sure how it is going to turn out. But, I bit the bullet and joined the "Mystery" BOM Quilt from Buttermilk Basin Design Studio. There are several reasons I decided to join:

1. it is free--this is huge!

2. it is made with wool felt and I am missing working with wool felt

3. I can make it from fabrics and wools I have on hand--anytime I can make something from my stash count me in.

There will be 11 designs posted on the 15th of each month. The pineapple block was from January and the flower pot was from February. The blocks are made on 6 x 10 inch pieces so far, so I don't think it is going to be a very big quilt. They are showing darker browns for the backgrounds, but I don't really have that many pieces in my stash--I have decided to use light browns/tans for my backgrounds as I have plenty on them. You can find more information about these designs here http://www.buttermilkbasin.com

I will be working on these blocks and the new one that will post today and of course my Journey of a Quilter for Slow Sunday Stitching http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

Today is the first day of sign-ups for the Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2015. Here is the link http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2015/03/hands2help-time-to-signup-and-giveaway.html

I already have this quilt made for Happy Chemo and will be finishing one of the Rainbow Medallion tops as well.

The new Snapshots block with the tea kettle is posted and I need to catch up on my Charm Square Sampler blocks--I have plenty to work on. What about you?

March FNwF

 I spent Friday Night with Friends (FNwF) sewing my Rainbow Medallion #2 together. This version has some more emerald green in it and no dark blues. See what everyone else worked on here http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com/2015/03/fnwf.html

 Here is Rainbow Medallion #1. I love them both and plan on piecing their backs and quilting them soon. I am going to donate at least one of them to Happy Chemo.

Friday night also included my daughter getting ready for and attending the ROTC Ball. Here she is before she met her date. This is her in our front yard in the Barbie pink gown she borrowed. I can't believe how old and gorgeous she is! Can I just say it is much easier to take pictures of quilts than people. :0)

Sunday- I have been working like a crazy woman and finished my Elephant Parade top this morning and even quilted it. So, now I am going to bind it for Slow Sunday Stitching. See what everyone was up to here http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com

Rainbow Medallion Top #1

I have been making these Medallion Log Cabin blocks as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2015, (here is info about that) http://superscrappy.blogspot.com/p/rsc12.html but of course I got impatient and could not just make blue (January), pink (February), and yellow (March) blocks. I decided to truly make the rainbow. I put the first of probably three lap quilts together on Sunday, but it took me until today to get outside in my mud boots for a picture. I kind of wish I had put an emerald green block in, but it is not worth taking it apart to get one in! These blocks are 12 inches and I have a tutorial for them here http://tanyaquiltsinco.blogspot.com/2015/01/scrappy-2015.html

Right now, this quilt measures 60 inches square, but once it is quilted and washed it will shrink a bit. I think it is the perfect size to use during chemo treatments. I am donating this to Happy Chemo as part of the Hands 2 Help 2015 Charity Challenge, here is a link for information http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/p/hands2help_11.html

I think I am going to quilt it organically with a wavy stitch about every half inch. I need to piece a backing, but this is a priority as I have enough blocks to make two more lap quilts.

I got my birds made for the Elephant Parade Quilt Along. I am totally caught up with that and awaiting the instructions for the flower blocks on Sunday. I am going to piece all the rows I can and hopefully have this top finished on Sunday.

Mine has more scrappy elephants, but I am going to set it and quilt it exactly the same way! 

I am taking tomorrow off from work. I have a few errands to run and get to help my teenager get ready for a formal dance--maybe she will let me post a picture of her in her Barbie pink gown. (Fingers crossed!) I plan on spending a big part of my day and evening in my sewing room. I am participating in FNwF too http://stitchingcubbyhole.blogspot.com I will post my accomplishments this weekend. Have a great day!

Scrap & Stash Busting

When I first started making these Medallion Log Cabin blocks, I was thinking of using them as a quilt for my own bed...But, then I realized that there would be fairly large sections of white. White would not be good for how often I flop on my bed and the quilt gets dirty! I confess--I love laying on my bed reading, watching TV, or surfing the web on my laptop. However, I already had quite a few blue and pink blocks already made. Instead, I have decided to make some lap quilts with the blocks. I think I will have enough blocks to make three lap quilts and maybe even four. I guess I went a little over board! I can make a couple for the Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2015 and my charity of choice--Happy Chemo.

This week, I made four black blocks.

My stash is very low on oranges and yellows! Time to venture to the fabric store a couple of towns north and dig through their flat folds--their flat folds are $5 a yard. I usually buy 1/2 yards and cut them into fat quarters which makes them fat quarters for $1.25. I will be on the lookout some backings for these quilts too! I decided to go up there Friday after work before our new snowstorm arrived. I have my priorities straight- fabric is more essential than food! I did grocery shop on Saturday morning, so we are ready if we get as much snow as last weekend.

 Here are the yellows I found--yellow is the color for the RSC15 March--

 and a few oranges.

 Here are the orange blocks I made.

 I have six made.

 Then, I moved on to yellow.

 I made six of those.

 There are such a range of yellows!

 Next up, were some greens.

 One,

 two, three,

 four, five,

six, and seven!

I scored with this black with blue dots for a backing. I got 4.5 yards at $4 a yard.

I should be able to start assembling the Rainbow Medallion Log Cabin Quilts similar to this. I want to use these quilts as an opportunity to experiment with my quilting skills. Modern quilts means modern quilting in my book!

As you can tell, I have really been slaving away at my sewing machine and cutting table, but I do need to buckle down and keep stitching on my Journey of a Quilter border. Maybe I will watch a movie and work on it for Slow Sunday Stitching. Get inspired by other handwork here http://kathysquilts.blogspot.com