Quilt Finish!

Just pulled my American Jane scrappy trips out of the dryer and am enjoying all its crinkly goodness.  That's the moment that makes it all worthwhile, isn't it?  This one was done in record time - 11 months (less than a year is a record for me - not counting baby quilts).  There are (36) 12" blocks, set 6 x 6, for a finished size of 72" square.  (For free instructions, go here.)  I quilted it with free-motion wavy lines; my newest favorite method. Can't wait to snuggle under it while watching my favorite Christmas movies.  

note: photo added 12/5

Next up - quilting my 12 Days of Christmas quilt, which is all pin-basted and ready to go.  I'm going to quilt it with wavy lines going from top to bottom.  Be back soon with pictures.    

Linking to: Quilt Story Fabric Tuesday
                 Freemotion By The River Linky Tuesday   
                 Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day
                 Pretty Bobbins I Quilt Linky Party #10
                 Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson Share Your Cup Thursday #84 
                 My Quilt Infatuation Needle and Thread Thursday 
                 Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday 
                 Quokka Quilts TGIFF December 
                 Amy's Creative Side - Blogger's Quilt Festival 

Quilt Retreat & A Binding Question

Me and my project for the weekend

Last weekend I attended our local quilt guild's annual retreat with my quilt-y girlfriends.  I had a blast!  It's something that I look forward to all year long.  We talk, share, learn, eat, make new friends, and sew until we're exhausted. 

Christa working on her famous chevron blocks

Linda working on her oh-so-pretty 25-patch blocks

We had lots of room this year for all who wanted to attend - I think the number was around 130.  We were set up in a HUGE event tent outside of the hotel where we stayed.  Everything for the event was in there - sewing, eating, shopping and classes.   The lighting was not great, but we were allowed to bring our own lighting, so problem solved.  It was also cooler than usual that weekend, 70's instead of 90's, so it got a bit chilly in the evenings.  I doubt that will happen again, though, we live in the desert.

Christa giving a free-motion quilting demo during her Charming Chevrons class

We each had our own table, which was really nice for free-motion quilting, and that is what I did most of the weekend.  I quilted wavy diagonal lines on my scrappy-trip-around-the-world, and got it almost finished at the retreat.  (I finished quilting it a few days later at home and am now getting ready to bind it.)

  

My retreat neighbor Linda, worked on her pinwheel quilt, from the book Scrap Basket Beauties by Kim Brackett.  Coincidentally, I've been wanting to make the same quilt from that book, using my leftover American Jane fabrics (seen above) with a dark blue background.  She said it went together really nicely.  Can't wait to start that one. 

 

All the meal tables were nicely decorated with quilted table toppers and fun handmade dolls, and were given away after lunch on the final day.  Christa was thrilled to win this pinwheel topper made by a longtime guild member. 

Can't wait 'til next year! 

Now for the question -- have you ever used 2" strips for your binding? I have a dark blue stripe that is perfect for the binding on the scrappy trips quilt, but only have enough for 2" strips. (I usually use 2 1/4" strips.)  I'd love to hear what you use.  

Linking to:  Anything Goes Mondays

                  Fabric Tuesday

                  WIP Wednesday

                  From The Farm Blog 

                  Really Random Thursdays 

                  I Quilt 

Scrappy Trip Along Top Finish!

Here's my contribution to the hundreds (if not thousands!) of Scrappy Trip Alongs out there.  It has 36 blocks, is 72" square and was a fun one to make.  (72" square seems to be the perfect size for us.)  I plan on quilting it with diagonal straight stitching (think X's), because I think that will help the pattern stand out more.  When you're right next to it, it's kind of hard to make it out.  Anyway, I'm really pleased with it; it's made up of several American Jane collections - Wee Play, Snippets, Happy Campers, Punctuation, School Days and ABC 123.  Just love her (Sandy Klop) retro-y, vintage-y style.   

Next week I'll be at Quilt Market in Portland, can't wait!  I'll take lots of pictures, so you can see what the latest and greatest is in the quilting world.  

Before I go, I had to share a note that my 13-year-old son left me when he and my husband left town for a couple of days last week.

I did.  : ) 

Linking to:  Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday

Local Quilt Show

Two weekends ago was the Desert Quilters of Nevada annual quilt show.  There was lots of talent and variety, and I tried to capture a bit of it:

"X" Marks the Spot by Michael Coughran

Strawberry Fields Picnic by Bonnie Kulwin

Lotus Blossom by Cory Allender.  This quilt has phenomenal quilting and it partially hand-painted; the photo doesn't do it justice.

Round and Round by Elwyn McGaugh

These two were entered by my friend Christa:

Hugs 'n' Kisses by Christa Watson.  Daughter Jenna (on the left) has claimed this one for her own.  Good choice Jenna!

Charming Chevrons by Christ Watson

 I also have to show this couple and their booth:

They make and sell all kinds of handmade wood quilt accessories.  I picked up a replacement part {free} for my seam-ripper that I bought from them a few years ago.  You can see similar ones on the table at the right.  Love mine!  Their company is Westenshow & Sons and they vend at quilt shows around the Western US. 

I'll be back soon with a photo of my Scrappy Trip Along top - yay!!!  Better get that quilt back pieced.  

What I've Been Working On

March was a busy month, but I managed to get a few pillowcases done. They'll be donated to a local guild (corrected 4/17) who gives them to local hospitals.

It's a nice way to use up scraps - only 9-10" is needed for the cuff.  There's a great video on how to make one here.  I also made some simple one-piece pillowcases for me, which I'm going to do a tutorial for soon.

I've been getting more Scrappy Trip Along blocks done lately - only a few more to go!

More Scrappy Trip Along Blocks

Just popping in to share a quick pic of some finished blocks. I'm going to make the top 6 x 6, and have about half of them done so far. I'm hoping to get the top put together by the end of next month, so I can bring it to the April meeting of the Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild. My friend Christa attended the last one and loved it, and invited me to come along next time.  

picture taken on my son' ipad..... i need one of these things

 Linking to:  Quilt Story

A couple more done...

I finished three more of the scrappy trip along blocks (I know, I'm slow). We had a big birthday weekend for my now 13-year-old son, but things are back to normal so I hope to get a few more done tonight.  I commandeered his new iPad Mini for this photo and post.  hehe.

I'm so excited, a friend and I are going to Road to California this weekend! I'll give a full report next week.

My 1st Scrappy Trip Along Block

Sooo, have you joined the scrappy trip along yet?  I signed up with the Flickr group and there are now over 700 members!  Fun to see all the variations.  I finally got my first block done (and finished a second late last night).  I've been wanting to make this quilt forever, and was thrilled when I saw the group get started.  I plan on making mine from several lines of American Jane fabrics; they all work together so nicely.

I took some of the scraps and cut 30 degree wedges for a tiny Dresden plate.  Each unfinished wedge measures 2 1/2" long.  This is for an upcoming blog hop so stay tuned.  : ) 

Still working on the binding on this quilt.  Will do a show'n'tell when it's finished.  

Linking to:  Sunny Simple Sundays