Sunday, January 9, 2011

Laughing with Friends

So last night I tried to get in a last bit of sewing done before I go without a machine for 5 days.  I was sewing some of those HST that are made out of 2 layer cake pieces and each time I got to the corner I just started laughing.  Why you ask??  Because this is what I was thinking in my head "PIVOT, PIVOT, PIVOT".  Oh man, I was laughing so hard I was crying.  (and it was late).  Good Times.  Oh, and if  you don't know why this made me laugh check this out, and if you do know why this made me laugh check this out also, It is a blooper take of the scene and it is hilarious!!!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C1rfr495sY


So this is it for the next few days as I will be computer-less as well.  But check back on Friday.  I have some super exciting things to announce :)  
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Friday, January 7, 2011

Brown Bag Needs a Name

Well I won the battle and finished the quilt.  I think the problem was being caused by a poorly wound bobbin.  As soon as I changed it out things started going much smoother.  So now I am finished with my Brown Bag Quilt, which subsequently needs a name . . . Any ideas, I am drawing a blank.

Just as a review, the Brown Bag Quilt challenge was created at Stash Manicure.  Each participant was paired up with a partner and sent them 2 yards of fabric that they no longer felt they would use.  I received 4 1/2 yard cuts (the green print on the back, the medallion print, the burgundy corner print, and the white with polka-dot print.)  The challenge was then to design a quilt using at least 90% of the material received and adding to it material that you already had in your stash.  You were not allowed to buy anything for this project.  It was a super fun challenge, especially designing with such specific requirements.

So here is my result for the Brown Bag Quilt Challenge.


I tried some new quilting.  On the sashing and first block border I did swirls.   I saw this swirl pattern over at Natalia's blog on her I'm Blushing quilt and have loved it ever since.  I kept wanting to try it but it takes a little getting used to and I was worried about having to sew over a line already sewn.  In the end, I figured this was a Brown Bag Contest aka Ugly Quilt Contest so if I messed it up it would be alright :)  And I have to say, by the end of the quilt, I had it pretty much down. (Which I hope I can say after at least 200 of them :)


I also did a little curly vine-ish motif in the center block and in the second border.  I thought it went well with the swirls but added some variety.  It was super fun, I think I will be doing it again soon :)  Don't you just love that medallion fabric!!


And here is another shot of the back in all of its super snuggly "I have just been washed and dried" glory.  I am so happy with how this turned out.  I can't wait for another challenge like this to come up again :)



I am linking up to


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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Brown Bag Back

Okay, So I was hoping to show the finish product this morning but I am having some tension issues.  Ah, curses to you tension issues!! So anyhow, I am taking a break from my free motion quilting so I can calm down enough to fix the problem :)  In the meantime, I figured I could show you the back of the good old Brown Bag Quilt.  I have to say, I am loving how this make off the fly piecing turned out.  In fact, I love it so much I wouldn't be surprised if a variation of it turned up again in the future :)



Alright, I feel better.  I am off to show my machine who is boss!

Oh, and on a complete side note - We reached 300 followers which means giveaway time, but I am going to ask you to hold tight for a bit, I am hoping to get something special on our trip for the giveaway :)
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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

My First Bee Block

I am so excited to be participating in a Bee this year.  It is something I have wanted to do for some time now.  The block this month was based loosely on Elizabeth Hartman's Kitchen Window design from her new book.


I decided to add something to look at in the windows so I fussy cut the centers and then framed the window in another window.  I had so much fun designing this block and can't wait for next months :)


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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Ah, Routine :)

School started  yesterday.  Can I just say how much I love Routine!!  Yesterday I woke up an hour earlier than I have in 2 weeks.  I got the kids off to school and then went straight to making beds, vacuuming, laundry, etc.  I was on such a roll I figured I might as well put the Christmas stuff down (Ya, I have been procrastinating that major :)  Now my house has been cleaned top to bottom (which has been lacking over the holidays) and put back to it's pre-Christmas order.  Yippee Skippee!!!

And what did all of this mean for today . . . That when I woke up this morning I got the kids off to school and then looked around and realized, I am pretty much done  :)  And then meant I could head to my sewing room, guilt free :)  I went straight to work on my brown bag top and Wha La!!  Here it is.  I am off to design the back during nap time :)



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