Weekend Quilting Ups and Downs (and now Up again ;)

So Friday afternoon I finished  all of the background quilting for my Christmas Trees quilt and I was so excited to move onto the trees.  I decided on some Rancher Red and some Lawn Green Magnifico by Superior Threads.  Magnifico has a sheen to it that I just love because it adds a perfect pop!!  And of course, you wan't your Christmas Trees to be "Merry and Bright" :)

Sadly, 5 stitches in, my needle broke  (I still don't know why) and after an hour and a half of fiddling with it, I still couldn't fix it. I tried again on Saturday and just came away frustrated.   The timing is off, so the needle goes down and hits the bobbin casing.  Grrr.   Barbara and I are going to try and fix it again today (any of your longarmers out there have any suggestions??)   but I have a feeling we will be calling the handi dandy Maintenance Man.

EDIT - She Fixed It!!!!  Have I ever told you how absolutely AMAzing my Mother in Law is!!!!  Time to get back to some quilting :)

But, at least I have something else to work on while the long arm is down.   Thanks for all of your help in picking a set of fabrics for my Metro Rings quilt.  I went with Option 1 :)  I already have the strips and setting triangles cut out.  Time to start strip piecing ;)

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!!

Fabric Pull

So as I mentioned yesterday, I am so super excited to take the Quick Curve Ruler class at the Small Town Quilt Show in a Big Town Way next week!!!   I can't wait!!  I have wanted to make a curve quilt like this for so, so long.  It has been on the list for a while.  But now with all of the pressure building of my first real curve quilt, I can't choose what fabrics to do it in.  A little help please . . .

Option 1 - I have been saving this stunning Aviary bundle for something super sophisticated and chic.  I think this pattern could look so very classy.  The black grunge would be the setting triangles and the white grunge would be the background.  (Again, I love grunge!!)

Option 2 - This beautiful new Anna Griffin bundle I picked up at market.  It is called Pippa by Ana Davis and I so love the colors!!  Wouldn't this just be so soft and sweet.   The background would be the perfect Bonnie and Camille Dots and the setting triangles would be the Architectures print by Carolyn Friedlander.

And Option 3 - Just to shake it up, would be the fantastic low volume prints from Road 15 by Sweetwater and then using a grey solid background with red setting triangles.  I think this could really pop and be oh so much fun with the great low volume mix-up.

So what do you think, do I go for chic, sweet, or fun???

Have a Happy Quilting Weekend

The Bouncing Ball

So the last few days, I feel like I have been bouncing from one project to another.  I am loving how many fabrics I get to play with in a day, but it is starting to make my head spin just a bit. So I am thinking if I write it all down, maybe I can keep track of it ;)  Here is what I have been bouncing back and forth to.

First off, I got the Christmas Tree Quilt on the long arm frame and managed one row of quilting  (I know, a whole row :)  Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions on quilting.  There were lots of snowflakes and swirls so I tried to combine the two to make it look like swirling snow.   It isn't perfect, but not bad for a new design try ;)

 
I am using So Fine by Superior Threads in my new favorite color.  402 Pearl!!!   Kind of funny story here.   I had never thought to use this color on a white background because when I look at the spool it looks tan to me.   But the other day when I loaded the Starburst quilt, it was already on the machine so I decided to baste the top with it thinking I would change the tread after I had it all basted and good to go.   However, I quickly came to find that I loved it and there was for sure going to be no switching!!!!  It blends perfect, I can actually see what I am quilting, and it shows just enough on the white to make the quilting really feature the background.  Yippee!!  I think it will be my go to color for white backgrounds for some time ;)

I decided to change it up a bit in quilting when I got to between the trees.  I opted for pebbling to look like snow resting on the trees ;)  At least, that is what I am hoping it will give the effect of ;)  I know pebbling takes a while, but I got to tell you, it is so very relaxing for me.  I don't have to think at all, just pebble away :)

And after I got this first row done, it was time for a little cutting.  I am teaching my Wonky Irish Chain pattern next year and so I wanted to make another sample quilt of it but in the queen size.  I am using Persimmon by BasicGrey and I am so loving it!!  I got all of the prints cut out and now it is time to move to the background which will be grunge ;)  I so love grunge!!!

And, lest you think I have forgotten, I have been squeezing in a bit of work here and there on my Micheal Miller Modern Quilt Guild Challenge quilt.   I pressed these guys last night.   Some cute little pixelated daisies.  I have a plan, and hopefully the quilt will come out like I see it in my head ;)

And last, but not least, I added a new project to the pile yesterday.  Next week is the Small Town Quilt Show in a Big Town Way and I was fortunate enough to have a break in my teaching time to squeeze in a class as well.  I am taking the Quick Curve Ruler class by Jenny and Helen and I can no wait!!!  I have wanted to make one of these for so long!!  I am going to go with Metro Hoops and now I just need to decide on some fabric.  The only problem is, I just can't decide on an option ;)  Maybe I will snap some pictures today of some fabric pulls and see if you can help me out with deciding tomorrow ;)

And that's the ball coming to a rest ;)  So, I best be off, lots of quilting, cutting, and piecing ahead of me today :) So how about you, are you bouncing around projects this summer??

Have a Happy Quilting Day!!

Working It :)

I always get emails that no one ever gets to see me on the blog.  So today, I am putting myself out there.   (insert nervous giggling here).  And I am so working it in my new Fat Quarter Shop t-shirt!!    The lovely ladies at Fat Quarter Shop sent me this as a thank you for doing a sample for them.  Wasn't that so sweet!!  And I have to say, I am loving the pink!!!!

And speaking of my friends at the Fat Quarter Shop, they are celebrating the 11 Year Anniversary!!!  Isn't that just incredible!!!  Congratulations, that is awesome!!!  Check out their awesome Shipping Sale to celebrate :)

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, that sample I made uses 25th and Pine. (I would hate to have a post without fabric in it ;)   I Love this line by BasicGrey and even more, I  love getting to sew with Christmas Fabric!!!  Yippee, only half a year away ;)   

And now I am off to load my Christmas Tree quilt I posted about yesterday (wonto the long arm ;)  Yippee, Christmas all around ;)  

Forgotten Trees

So do you remember these Improv Paper Pieced Tree Blocks??  I asked the wonderful ladies of Bees Knees to make me these blocks for my month clear back in September.  Ya, as in like almost a year ago.    They all made it back home and then somehow got set on the bottom of the pile.   Le sigh.   But, my goal  this summer to catch up on some old WIP's that have been neglected.  I am finding that it is the perfect fit for summer as  I don't have near the "start from scratch" sew time that I have when some of the kids are in school :)

So, with that in mind, out came the blocks and before long . . . they were a quilt top!!!  Yippee!!!   Aren't they just so fun ;)   I so love how this turned out!!  I can never get enough Christmas quilts, I just love them!!!    Now it is time to start thinking how I want to quilt it.  And at the moment, I am drawing a total blank.   But I am sure it will come to me, maybe in time to finish it this week.  Suggestions on quilting are totally welcome :)  

Have a Happy and Merry Quilting Day!!!

Linking this Merry Quilt Top up to Quilt Story :)