Easy bricks quilt hometown edition

Summer is flying by isn't it? I have been busy working on a quilt for my son. Mind you, he picked out the pattern a year ago and I purchased the fabric about the same time. Sigh. Anyway, this is a super easy layer cake quilt from the website Moda Bake Shop. I increased the size a bit to fit this queen. 7 rows with 20 bricks each. If I had a box spring under the mattress, I would have increased it another 4 bricks at least. I used 2 layer cakes of Hometown by Sweetwater. I still need to press it. Off it goes to the long arm quilter....stay tuned! I will try to get a nice outdoor shot when I get it back.

What a sweet quilt

I am finally getting around to showing off the beautifully hand appliquéd and hand quilted my dear friend Judy made me for a present. Don't you love it? I originally sped this pattern at a quilt show and loved it. I love that she made it out of Amy Butler. It also looks great in my sewing room.

Testing, testing...does this thing still work?

Not to worry, I am still here.  School has started, I am back to work, soccer is in midseason...life is crazy.  I had to give myself a major kick this weekend.  You see...we have a family wedding on Oct 15th to attend and I was intending on making a quilt out of my Fandango jelly roll.  Only the thing is, I hadn't even started it before yesterday.  I had nothing cut.  Nothing sewn.  There was a month left.  Ahh, the pressure.
So luckily, yesterday afternoon I got some sewing time in.  Shew! I picked out my pattern:  It's a Bling Thing by Anka's Treasures.  Perfect name for a wedding quilt, right?  I got to cutting and sewing.  I love this pattern so far.  I have all of my blocks together (yesterday) and all of my rows together (this afternoon).  My borders are cut as well. 

Unfortunately I need to go to the grocery store.  So this may be the point I stop.

What are you sewing???

Works in Progress

 So, I have been doing a bit of sewing.  Yessiree...finished a bunch of blocks yesterday and have more cut for today.  I am using my Verna fabric.  It is a gorgeous line.  I hate to cut it, frankly.  Beautiful. 

I am using this pattern, Elsie and Paige Sisters Forever.  I was inspired to buy it by these quilts here.  (I particularly love that Strawberry Fields version in photo #2.)  You can grab yourself a copy here.  I think it is a nice pattern because the directions are concise.  There are nice diagrams.  It seems to go pretty fast.  And, there are multiple ways of doing quilts in here.  I love choices, don't you?

 Here is my favorite work in progress right here.  Isn't he a handsome guy?  I think that tooth that is missing just completes things, don't you?  He was a junior host at the wedding.  He passed out the programs.  Did a great job too.  As soon as the service started, I was told he looked at his grammie and said, "Grammie, get this flower off me now."  LOL.  You know, flowers are for girls. 

Make Life

So, I finally put my Make Life blocks together.   For the pattern info here is my original post.   I love how it turned out.  It was a zip to put together...what took me so long, right?

I especially like the border fabric.

Sorry for the night time photos.  Yuck.

Say hello to my fabulous new sewing chair.  Bright pink.  What more could a girl ask for?  This chair is surprisingly comfortable and hits my back just right.  Thanks, Ikea.  Make life fun...think pink.

Sunday Sewing- Pinwheel Quilt Along

I was 4 blocks behind.  I made 2 of these first, and then I decided I really liked this block and I made 2 more. (I see there is a flick or red scrap on that green pinwheel...not a stain I promise.) I think making 4 of these helped even out the effect of the border throughout the quilt.  It brought a little unity.  I like how these all look together.  Hopefully I will get them sashed soon.  But, it may have to wait until summer vacation as we are keeping pretty busy these days.  What'd you work on over the weekend?

Photo Finish

Oh, I just managed to finish both of these April finishes.  First up is my MIL's tulip quilt top.  It is large.  I apologize, I had a hard time getting the entire quilt in the shot.  I hope to get this quilted in May.

Next up, I finished both of these aprons, which came from a pattern by The Pattern Basket.

Tomorrow is my birthday!  I am going to a soccer game, out to eat, and then to a quilt shop and maybe a very small quilt show. 

Cowboy Up

Sorry for the yucky night time photos, but I was eager to post this quilt top.  I started it tonight when I got home from work and finished the top.  Yeah!  It is for a friend's baby.  I had some wonky spots, but the baby won't notice!  I love the size it turned out, just right. 

A lost treasure

Saturday sewing is in progress here at DQ.  What are you up to?  The month of March is almost over.  I can hardly believe it.  So I have to get crackin on these tulip blocks or I'm not going to meet my deadline. 

So I asked myself..."Self, why are you procrastinating on these blocks?"

• Could it be that there are 39 of them?
• Or that there are like 195 hsts?  Seriously, I am not a fan of hsts. 

Last week, I started thinking about all of the hsts.  Drawing lines.  Pinning.  Yuck.  Then it was like lightning struck!  About 5 years ago, I bought this tool called The Angler 2.  I was a very inexperienced sewer.  I had never sewed a hst.  This quilt shop I was visiting was selling them.  So I bought one, and I went back for the demo.  It wasn't a demo...she didn't even take it out of the package.  I remember going home and trying it.  I remember not being able to understand the directions.  Then the quilt shop closed.  And I had this tool that I didn't know how to use. 

So, I got to thinking that maybe I would understand it now after all of this experience.  I actually found the thing.  LOL.  I looked online and found all of these lovely tutorials.  No drawing lines.  No pinning.  Life is good.  195 hsts done.  Now onto finishing the blocks. 

Here is a shot of my Angler 2.  You align it on your machine, tape it down, and then you keep your corners of your square that you're sewing on the center line that I am pointing to (normally where you would draw your line).  It also work if you are trying to get 2 hsts out of one block.  You just line it up on the other lines.  There are instructional videos for every way possible.  They last about 2 minutes each:  How to install it, Triangle Square video, Two triangle square videos, flying geese, and many more.  The videos are very easy to follow.

I have already mentioned some of the pluses.  It is great because you don't have to pin or draw lines.  I also like it for chain sewing like I was doing.  On the down side, you have to realign it every time you change your bobbin.  It doesn't take long, but it is just one more thing you have to do. 

Happy sewing!!

Keyholes Quilt

Remember this quilt? Well, it has been sitting on my ironing board now for a few months. The other day, I took the "keyholes" and was amazed how quickly they became these 9 blocks. Today I ironed them. Do you like my new use for leftover garage sale stickers? After I took the picture, I decided to make them all facing the top correctly.

Do you ever get a 'mental sewing block'....you know, where you convince yourself that something is going to be much harder and frustrating than it actually is? I can think of a few times I did this. . .like this, or like this, this, and for some reason I had convinced myself that these blocks wouldn't come together well because you had to partially sew down one seam, then put on another rectangle and so on until you came back to the first and finished sewing it. Now, I ask you....why did I stew about this forever? IT WAS A PIECE OF CAKE! These blocks came together better than another I can think of. So, now you all know that when I set a project aside, it is because I have a mental block.

Onto other family news, we had our last soccer game of the season. Here buddy is stretching. I think there is nothing cuter than 4 year olds stretching.


Can you feel the burn? LOL
This shot is right before buddy scored. He had 5 goals on Saturday, which I thought was pretty sweet. Do you see the yellow practice pinnies? Well, Saturday's game didn't go so well because it was a constant. . .'I don't want to be yellow, I want to be white.' My poor husband had to try to please everyone (most of which needed a nap) while keeping the game going.


I am not sure what he is doing here. . .LOL.

Afterwards, they had pizza, balloons, and trophies. Buddy was thrilled to get his 'first' trophy.

Ready for binding

I love this quilt. I can't wait to show you the finished piece, someday when I have my energy back to finish it. I particularly like the back. I will show you, I promise. Just let me get the binding on it. I have been meaning to show you this for a bit now, I tried to stipple this one not meander and loop. I miss the loops. I guess I know now.

We had soccer today. It was a beautiful day. Not too hot. Not raining. I am whipped tired, although I slept all afternoon. I cannot believe how much pneumonia can take out of you, even after resting so much. I am tired. I worked yesterday after resting Wednesday and Thursday. That is probably another reason I am tired.

A start

This is going to be short. Here's what I am working on. . .




If you haven't already, head on over to Mid-Ohio Knitter's giveaway. Vickie is just so sweet and fun. If you haven't already, check out her tutorial on Moda Bakeshop Blog. . .congrats to Vickie for being a designer on the blog! That is so "sweet".

I love how this turned out

This pattern is called 5 & Dime. If ever you are in the need of making a fun, easy quilt, in a short amount of time . . . you ought to try this one. It comes in a lap and a twin size. This is the lap and I thought it a generous size. I think Vickie E. may have used this pattern before. My friend Judy (No Blog) made this in an Amy Butler color way and I just loved it. I think this is a good pattern to use a collection of fabric with. I needed 1 7/8 y of the larger print and 6 fats. This is Lakehouse fabric and I love the girlyness of it. Seriously, it took me less than 10 minutes to cut fabrics because you stack the fats and give them a whack. I love that. Does anyone else know any other patterns that call for that kind of cutting? I'd love to hear about them.

Sorry that this is such a gloomy picture. It has been raining here for 2 days straight and has melted the 12 inches of snow we had. We have a moat surrounding our house. It has been a gloomy week here as I had a collegue and friend pass away on Christmas day. She was one of those wonderful, loyal, committed people who the whole world seems to notice. I wonder how it will survive without her? I feel badly for her family and her closest friends. There seems to be such saddness this holiday season.

Our House Is Now a Finished House

My "Our House" quilt top is finally finished! Yes, I thought of my own name for this quilt from that song that rings through my head while stitching these cottages together. This pattern is from Fig Tree Quilts' Houses Book. I love the cottages. I loved them in the book. However, they were quite frustrating and over my ability level. I had trouble with them, specifically the row with all the windows was always about a 1/2 inch too short. In the end though, I do like the quilt top....just don't zoom in, PLEASE! I am feeling quite accomplished this holiday break! Pincushion, bag, this quilt top, and another one almost done. Look out, I seem to be on a roll!

A big thanks to Dawn, for this nice package I received with this beautiful ornament!

A charming quilt

I guess September was the unofficial Charm Pack month here at DQ. Sound the trumpets! I am so happy you joined me for the journey. To wrap up September, I am going to leave you with one last charm project, a quilt. This quilt is perfect for anyone, but I particulary liked it because it was a FAST project for me. We have recently had a big schedule change in my husband's work schedule. It has impacted us in many ways, and I just have little time to sew or I am too tired to care to sew. I bought this little laminated pattern and then realized I already had the 2 charm packs it called for and 1.5 yards of fabric. I was so excited that I actually started it relatively quickly. I started this project this week and away I went.

This quilt started with sewing charms together to make a 9 patch block in the center and surrounding it with a border. And then I surrounded it with a charms pieced border, followed with more border, and repeated. I am explaining this to you for the simple fact that because I used the brown colored charms, I think it really detracted from the pattern itself. Next time (and believe me, there will be a next time as I loved this pattern! It makes for a really quick gift.), I will be careful not to use the charms that are too similar in color to the border color.

I probably sewed for about a half hour for two nights, then I spent a couple of hours on it yesterday and the top was FINISHED. I felt so accomplished, that I think I am ready to start my next project, which is for the Polka Dots and Ric Rac Swap. I am very excited about my project that I picked. Here's just a hint, I am using some Michael Miller fabric.

If you are keeping track, I am nearing my 100th post and that will mean a giveaway not to be missed. Thanks for hanging in there with me while I am not getting as much blogging or sewing done as I did this summer.

A Day of Quilting

Every year I join some wonderful quilters at a church for a day of sewing. My mom and friend join me. We leave my house at 7 am, drive an hour and sew until almost 11 pm. We all take a potluck dish to pass. This year I took my favorite tortellini salad. Here is the recipe:

Tortellini Salad

1 bag of dried cheese tortellini cooked

2 cups of mini penne cooked

1 bottle Italian dressing

2 TBSP McCormick's salad seasoning

1 tsp basil

1 green pepper, chopped

1 large cucumber, chopped

1 large tomato, chopped

1 chopped carrot

Mix and refrigerate

This is the product of my day's work, a cowboy quilt for little buddy's twin bed. I just love the fabrics. I am going to send it to the quilter. The brown woven fabric I used for the sashing and inner border shredded just horribly, I was getting a bit frustrated. In the end, I was happy with the quilt.


I wish I had a shot of Mom's quilt and Judy's quilt...both were quite cute. Mom used 3 Sister's Peace on Earth to make a beautiful double irish chain. Judy made a cool quilt from a pattern called Five and Dime using Amy Butler fabrics. It was very neat.

I am back to work tomorrow. So, I hope you all will bear with me if my comments become a bit shorter or I take a bit longer between blogs. Happy sewing!

Our House is Very, Very Fine House

Editor's note: Head on over to Mid-Ohio Knitter for a 200 blog giveaway!
Don't these house blocks look like fun?





They whip together quite quickly actually. I have 12 of the 16 done already and hope to have the rest finished today or tomorrow. All the material is Fig Tree Quilts by Moda. I just combined a few of her different lines. I love FIG TREE QUILTS, and it is so hard not to buy all of Joanna's material, I find it that lovely!


We went on a fun over night stay to Great Wolf Lodge. We took our nephew along to keep buddy company. The boys had a lot of fun. The wolf den in our hotel room was a hit. It kept everyone happy. I could still stay up late to watch Michael Phelps swim.


We are just having a lazy morning here at DQ. Enjoying those few lazy moments of summer before our schedule and routine just pick up.


Editor's note: Hop on over to Conceived Without Regard of Reason or Reality for a chance to win fat quarters and a log cabin book celebrating the 200 post!

What would summer be without pinwheels?

Ta da! I finished the pinwheels. I used 2 charm packs (Moda's Decadent Victorian), but would have used 4 and then I could have used less borders to make it a comfy lap throw. I made this quilt for a family friend who lost her mother recently to cancer. Her mother was a crafter and appreciated things homemade, so I knew that it would be fitting to make a quilt in her honor. I'm trying to decide how I want to finish it. Am I brave enough to attempt free motion quilting? Do I want to stitch in the ditch? I just do not know. Hmm.
Isn't it darling? I think she did a great job. You have probably seen the pattern in your local stores. I calls for charm packs. We used 3 inch squares. It made a finished bag that was about 11 X 12. Mom wanted a purse not a bag. I really am thinking of making one for myself now. We will see.

What projects have you been thinking of completing?

More to come later...I have several aprons I need to whip up plus, a purse to make for a friends birthday which is quickly approaching!

Finish Ye Quilt or Walk the Plank, Matte

So, everything is back up and running...My pink eye is okey dokey! My machine is not acting nasty anymore. Also, I finished the quilt top...three cheers! A special thanks for all of the empathy and well wishes. They did cheer me along to recovery.




Someone asked who the lucky receiver of the quilt was going to be. It is a graduation gift (oh, don't throw anything at me, Mary Anne) for a very nice young lady graduating NEXT year. I just thought that I would get it done now and then at my convenience send it to the quilter whenever I had a bit of extra cash.




It is a good thing, too, because this nasty pirate was going to make me walk to the plank otherwise! Ahoy matte!