layout

Happy Labor Day to those reading in the US and Canada...I think??  Correct me if I am wrong Robin!

So, Ive been working on the 'quilt as you go' blocks for my 2nd quilt...and wondering if anyone had some feedback for me on different layouts.  Remember this is what version ONE looks like:

and here are the two options I have at present for version TWO:

(IMAGINE THE PIC ON THE LEFT ROTATED 90 DEGREES...MAKING THE STRIPES HORIZONTAL.!!)

OK, I know which one i prefer...just curious to hear what you think...and I am not ruling out using the same layout as version ONE.  so let me hear you!  Whichever I choose, I need 4 more blocks to complete the quilt.  The one on the left needs another row of light outer ring blocks and the one on right needs another row of dark outer ring blocks to complete the box.

Also, wanted to let you all know I opened an Etsy shop.  Thought it might be fun to sell some crafty items and some of the thrifty finds Ive made over the years...obviously my addiction to buying fabric is not dwindling so I am running out of space and my tastes are constatntly changing!  So, it seemed like a good fit for me.  I hope to add more crafted, patchwork, and other handmade things as time goes by.

thimble

Good thing this is a blog about crafty things...because what I know about taking pictures can fit into a thimble!

The sun was shining down HOT today, but i took my Quilt As You Go quilt #1 outside for some pictures..

I found this quilt along on flickr and was loving the progress I saw Penny making, so I thought it would be a good idea for my nephew's birthday quilts.

It is a fun process of quilting the fabric directly on to the batting, like so:

In the first quilt (Eli's quilt)...I tried to keep each block a certain color...but as I'm working on the second quilt (Gabe's quilt), I'm just trying to use up the scraps.  So these quilts will look similar, but not the same...they are to be in the same bedroom, so I thought that would be nice.  Here are a few blocks that I have ready for Gabe's quilt...

and being modeled for you by my daughter:

These will all be squared up at the same time and sewn together...at that point, I will tackle the backing...my plan is to stitch in the ditch and then hand sew around the inner square to lessen the work on the machine...and I have some perle cotton leftover from a past project I can use up...

absence makes the heart grow fonder

Hello all...remember me?

I just had a revelation in the shower...if I am ever going to be good at blogging...I am going to have to actually do some posts!  and if i am every actually going to have a 100 post giveaway, I am going to have to actually do some posts!! 

I have lots to blog about but I will start slow and easy and try not to reveal everything all at once!

I have had a hard time NOT shopping for fabric this summer...does it seem to anyone else that there have been some really fabulous fabric sales??  Here is one of my favorite parcels I received this summer...and best of all...it was part of a gift certificate I had to the shop, so it basically cost me nada!

Now that is one lovely pile of fabric, right?  You can have this same package by stopping by Alewives Fabrics.  Rhea and her mom run the shop and carry only the best of the best!

ok, slow and easy...remember...Ill leave today with a shot of the Quilt As You Go quilt I am working on for my nephew's 7th birthday in November.

Whereas it looks like a finished product all folded up like this...it still needs backing fabric...I used a method of sewing directly onto the batting...but more on that later.  

and hopefully sooner rather than later!

QUESTION

Here is a question...

I am nearly ready to put the backing on a quilt I've made for my nephew's birthday(picture soon!)...I am currently trying to USE the fabric I have instead of BUYing more...even when places like evil fabric.com has a completely unbelievable sale on fabrics I quite like....

SO, do I use a fabric in my stash...say....this fabric

my daughter thinks this is great (me, not so much)...and I have 4+ yards of it (garage sale purchase ... came with a lot of fabrics...I can never pass these lots up...never know what might be in them!)

or do I piece fabrics together for a backing on a quilt I have spent a lot of time making?

Quilt Show

This weekend I went to the Shipshewana Quilt show with two friends.  It was a really good time.  Amazing how time truly flies when you are having fun!  I thought I would show a few of the quilts.  I love the colors used in the above quilt.

This quilt I found really interesting because whereas I loved the quilt from far away, when I got closer to the quilt, I really disliked the fabrics used, and my thoughts on the quilt totally changed.  So my friends and I thought we should perhaps swap 'ugly' fabrics and see what we can do with them!  I think my addiction to fabric may be a little over the top since fabric choices often determine my 'love' for a quilt.  Am I alone in this?

I love all the half square triangles in this quilt.  And I really appreciate all the work that went into the border.

This quilt came away as my inspiration quilt.  I decided then and there this is the kind of pattern I want to do with some vintage fabrics I bought last year that were already cut into squares.  Below is a sampling of the squares I have in a shoe box I would like to use in a similar quilt.

Anyone have any vintage fabrics they care to contribute/swap for the cause?

And lastly, I joined another PIF.  Not that I am done with the last PIF I am doing, but I just couldn't resist when Kelly offered a PIF on her blog.  Do I have any takers?  Three takers? Anyone?  Anyone?  I'll let you know up front, my PIF will be of the button cover hair ties/magnets variety!!

Quilter's Dozen block

Marie is making a disappearing 9 patch for her grandmother and asked us to all contribute a block using reproduction prints...Im debating whether the black, although a 30's repro, sticks out a little too much...

the block finished at 12 inches...although the directions called for it to finish at 12.5...Marie gave us all a shout out to let us know the directions are in error and they should finish at 12...whew...i got her note about 10 minutes after finishing my block...luckily i was too busy taking a picture to think of measuring the block and then freaking out about the wrong size!

Trimmed With Love

Here are my two submissions for Melissa's contest Trimmed With Love at Lilac Lane.

I'm making some fabric covered button hair ties for an upcoming craft show and am entirely addicted to making these!  I look at fabrics differently right now, analysing whether I think it would make a good button or not!

And for my mothers birthday...a ric rac embellished hand towel for her vintage camping trailer.  I'm not sure how vintage this towel looks, well, I know it is not at all...but she loves ric rac...and it is trimmed with love, after all!

 So don't waste any time, hop on over to Melissa's fun blog and add your items that have been trimmed with love to be eligible for some really great prizes!