Testing, testing...

I had another chance to play with my Crumbler ruler from

Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. that I won from Carol at 

Carol's Crafty Creations!

I started off with alternating white background with a print fabric.

But somehow it wasn't working for me.

I decided to continue to play... it's kind of addicting.

But I lack a little bit in the "modern/artsy" style.

Last week I had a scrambled mess... 

 but I think they found order now!

While I was cleaning out my messy stash closet I found the black and white 

polka dot fabrics and threw them into the mix... 

do think I graduated to "modern". 

In Remembrance

Patriotic Swoon

I had to whip up an extra Swoon block...

I thought it would be nice to have 

one block in patriotic colors and just put a border around

it for a table topper or wall hanging.

The new Fig Tree fabrics were perfect...

complete with cherries on the background fabric!

I got a nice little package in the mail the

day before yesterday.

It was this cute little pincushion that I ordered from

Meadow Mist Designs on Etsy.

I have been shopping with Cheryl recently for a few 

 little gift items

but she also designs quilt patterns! 

Cheryl does a fabulous job sewing these 

little pincushions and thread catchers.

As you can see... I already put the thread catcher to work!

(it was a sweet little gift to me).

Although I enjoy my quilting work... I am not very good at

hand crafted items. 

Really, it frustrates me. 

I am positive that I could not have done

such a good job making these.

I really love the thread catcher, it's a perfect

 size to keep next to my machine.

Thank you Cheryl!

BQF: 2nd Entry: Drop!

If you are visiting from Amy's Quilt Festival...

thank you for stopping by!

I have one more entry for the Bloggers Quilt Festival

that is hosted by Amy's Creative Side.

I am entering my Drop quilt in the 

 Doll and Mini Quilts category. 

The quilt measures 20" x 20". 

Made from leftovers from my stash. 

(the tiny little pieces that I couldn't bare to throw away)!

It's machine pieced.

The pattern is from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. 

I think it's the smallest quilt I have made to date!

Here is a photo of it on my office wall.

And here are a couple more organic pictures taken outside!

One day it will graduate to being an actual "doll quilt"...

and be in a cradle that I have... but for now I like it on my wall.

If you haven't entered into the festival, it's not too late! 

Voting starts on Saturday, so please go visit the rest of the categories and entries

and be a part of the voting!

BQF: Baby Quilt Entry, Sunflower Baby

When I was just new to blogging I remember entering

the Blog Quilt Festival... 

I can't believe that it's been five years now!

Amy at Amy's Creative Side

does an amazing job putting this event on!

I wanted to enter a baby quilt that I made for my first grand child.

The pattern is called Sunflower Baby by Ashton Publications

 and the size of the quilt is 42 x 46.

I used Pam Kitty Morning fabrics along with some background fabrics

from Carrie Nelson aka Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. 

The pattern said (read) to round off the Dresden blades on the

corners of the quilt... but I just couldn't do it!

I experimented and found a way to save them. 

I hand blanket stitched around the face of the sunflowers, leaves

 and the corner Dresden blades.

Two of the sunflower faces have freckles and two do not...

representing mom and dad and the possibility of 

Evie taking after one or the other parent.

Side note:

The binding was started and stopped at each edge and the

Dresden fans were faced with another set of fans.

Then the backing was turned under and stitched.

The blanket has been washed no less than 50 times and is

holding up perfectly well.

Take a look at the other quilts in the festival here.

and don't forget to be there on voting day!

Under Construction

The quilt fairy didn't show up! 

I went ahead and started the re-organization by myself.

It is not unlike a demolition.

This is the start of day 1. Closet 1.

I'm going to go by my LQS and get some more empty

bolts for the larger cuts of fabrics in my stash.

My hallway is
still passable... but I have a feeling that it won't be
as this progresses.
I had to keep it out of my sewing room for fear I would have
a complete breakdown.
(and knowing that it wasn't going to stay contained in there anyway)
I am trying to group things into
flannel/wool
backgrounds
Fall/Primitive
Spring/light
Contemporary
Batik...
and maybe narrow it down from there.
hmmm, messiness.

The railing is stacked with mostly quilt tops.
Some are from long, long ago.
Most are more recent projects and shop samples.

If you see the grass that needs mowing outside... just ignore it...
I did! How does it grow that fast anyway? I just cut it last week.
However, I did manage to wash my car!

 

 I also played with my Crumbler quilt some more.
I had it very "organized"... alternating print fabric, white background...
but for some reason... I changed it to this.
Do you think it was a reflection of my sewing room?
hmmm, modernness?

Oh, there was one more thing I played with this weekend...

We had some "Evie time"!

Can you believe that she is nearly 14 months old?

Sweetness.

I'm Swooning Too

Now that I finished a zillion and two other projects...

I pulled my Swoon quilt out from beneath the rubble of unfinished projects.
I had 5 blocks done and 4 to go....

I got them done... and it feels so good!
I saw a few other Swoons out there in blogland today too!

I saved the half square triangles from the flying geese units.
I was toying with adding them, making an outer border on it...
but then again, they could just be used for something else.

Have a great weekend!

Jeez' Louise-Chinoise!

For Mother's day I got a new camera... however, I haven't read the book

or charged the battery... so I have been out of luck for photos this week.

But then I was looking at FQS and saw the kit 

of the quilt I made for them as a sample.

And what is extra fun for me... the quilt went to Spring Market in Portland.

I had intended to go... but a few things came up and a choice had to be made.

So I am here, waiting for the first photos from Market to start popping up.

I was born in Lake Oswego, just outside of Portland, so any chance to get up there...

makes this girl happy. 

In the meantime, this kit came in the mail.

A friend of mine happens to work for Anchor Engineering, 

and wanted this to be made for their office. 

In return for my services, a second kit was ordered... for me!

It was a win, win, win. 

A few newer quilt magazines have popped up and this is 

the new issue out now... I am on the hunt for it.

It is really a fun, modern, fresh and very "flip" worthy magazine.

In other words, I do a lot of flipping through it...

lots of great projects in each issue...

like the one here...

Behind the scenes...

Fun illustrations too!

                    Just thought I would share that, while we wait for Spring Market to start!

Katrina's Stash

Another thing I was able to adopt last was some fabric

that was kind of at a quilter's estate sale. Her parents 

had everything categorized and nicely priced. I picked up a

few things... some 30's, batiks, baby flannel, and some shabby chic.

I also was able to purchase a wedding ring quilt top... for $20. 

There was an overwhelming amount of fabric 

on the porch there was no less than 50 bins of yarn.

I couldn't help but think, 

and want to run home and clean out my sewing room!

Post Show and the Adoption

Where did the week go?

It seems I have been rushing along all week...

trying to get myself back on track.

Let me catch up here a little...

warning... lots of pictures ahead...

  Here is the display of my quilts at the quilt show.

Well, most of the ones that were in the show anyway.

Then when the show was over and all the quilts got put away...

I ventured into my sewing room to see where I had left off on 

the "other" sewing projects...

I pulled out Swoon! 

I already had 5 blocks made and as of this morning, the 6th...

and one more ready to go!

Now, as for that adoption I had mentioned...

Do you remember a story from a long time ago...

that had a very sad ending...

I was attempting to change the battery in the smoke detector when at the last second I saw the cord of my sewing machine wrapped around the leg of the chair I was pulling across the floor so that 

I could stand on it. I didn't even have time to blink let alone leap to catch the machine that flew off the table and exploded into pieces. p.i.e.c.e.s.

I was beyond mad (at myself)... I just turned off the light and went to bed...

at like 7 o'clock. 

Mostly out of guilt, I have been limping along with it ever since...

however, I do rely on my Featherweights.

When I need a special stitch I call on my DDIL or

my friend Rhonda who so kindly  allow me to borrow their Pfaffs

for the special work. We all have the same machine... 

(mine a year older, and super glued together) so I know it well...

unfortunately, inside and out.

At the quilt show there was an area where the guild members sell

items... and for only $375. the Pfaff on the right called my name.

I bought myself a new to me sewing machine!

Now I can let my machine R.I.P.

(rest in pieces)

Quilt Show Highlights

I have a few photos to share from our 

local quilt show this weekend!

It was SO much fun!

Here are a few birds-eye photos from when the show 

opened.

I don't think I ever stopped talking!

The quilt above is now on my "list".

I always love seeing the bright fabrics and

the batiks. 

There were several different events in our

area over the weekend, including a 

shop hop... so the show was very busy.

 I especially love the quilting on this one...

I met people from all over the state...

and a few sweet people who read Pink Pincushion!

How nice is that!?!

 My camera (not me) didn't do a good job on this photo...

but it was stunning!

 There were 80 quilts in the show...

this One Block Wonder was so bold and striking! 

And the two below were made by a friend of mine, 

Dianne. 

 Do you recognize this quilt from any other blogs?

How about this one?

My old friend Eventide! 

Dianne's turned out so pretty!

Nice Dresden.

I think these two were paper pieced...

they were really pretty.

I am still tired from the weekend...but

the raffle baskets were big hits! 

There were 17  in all...

with the ones I made up and the ones the

groups from the guild made up.

Now, to catch up with my house, yard...

and the sewing room, which is a major disaster!

I'm thinking it's a perfect time for re-organization in there! 

I will be back with more photos and to show you the

new friend I adopted yesterday too.