Swap Progress - AMH Swap

I joined a couple of swaps a few months ago...before realizing that I am terrible at swaps.  The timelines are a mind game.  I always underestimate the time needed to actually follow through.  So, I'm finishing up these last 2 and taking a break from signing up for a while!

The one I have progress pics for is the Anna Maria Horner swap.  OF COURSE, I had to sign up for that one!!

Swap rules are that at least 3 progress pics are posted so that the swap mamas know you're working on it and aren't flaking out.  I pulled a random selection from my AMH cabinet (yes, I said cabinet, don't judge ;) and some Kona Glacier.  It's a lovely dark teal that does not photograph well at all.  This is pretty true to color, but the other pics I got make it look dark blue and it is not anywhere close to that.

Here is my mini in progress.  I need to do the quilting and of course the binding.  And I am terrible at making labels, so that always gets put off until the last minute.  But mailing date isn't for another month!  This whole mini measures about 21 inches which made me think of what it would look like as a whole quilt.

I used the app PicFrame to see what the block would look like as an entire quilt.  I am toying around with this idea!!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.  Happy WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday

I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging again.  Most days it's all I can do to just get out of bed and do the things I have to do.  I am still battling with depression and the way life changes.  But I am still embracing the positive, letting go of the way life "should" be.  Hoping for newness and change.  The purpose of this post is Works in Progress.  I feel like I'm starting over again, I'm my own work in progress right now.  I'm not sure if I will ever feel "finished" again, but I sure hope I can at least rejoice in each step or progress.

This week I am trying my best to finish my Glam Clam quilt for my bed.  I want more handmade bed quilts in my home.  This will be my 3rd finished one for my bed.  I've made tons for my kids, but their beds never stay made the way I would like them!

Here is the quilt top....I just finished quilting it last night!  This one has taken a while longer than normal because every time I went ot work on it, my new kitty Granger decided it was time for a nap...on my quilt!  She is so sweet I didn't have the heart to move her.  

She's just too presh to move!!  I finally had to move her and get 'er done.  Planning to trim and put the binding on tonight.

Needless to say, I am not one to just let ideas rumble in my head to long.  I have an idea for an all Anna Maria Horner quilt (I actually already have several, but I can't resist).  Anna Maria Horner is my favorite designer.  She is so family-centered, humble, gracious.  I haven't met her, but I read her blog often and it just inspires me to be a better person.  Her fabrics speak to my heart in so many ways.  It's more than just fabric to her.  Anyway, this one will be a log cabin of sorts.  In my head it is going to be awesome.  I hope it turns out that way over the next weeks.  

 That's all for now!  I am linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Glam Clam WIP

This quilt...swoon!!  I love it!  The way it comes together is quick and painless.  The cutting is the most pain-staking process.

Here is the quilt top...my girlies had to stand on our tall dining room chairs so I could get a full picture. Emma is my photo bomber!  I love the colors, the pattern, just everything about it.  I finally got it basted and am working on the quilting.  That will take a while.....

Hello 2015!

I cannot believe it's 2015...honestly, wasn't 1990 like 10 years ago??  2014 was a year of change for me and my family and it's time for a new start here as well!

Christmas was great!  We had a nice vacation.  The girls and I spent a whole week together, full of activity and shopping.  I got not one thing done that I had planned, but that's okay!  They went ice skating for the first time.  Made think of the hundreds of times I've been ice skating as a kid...my mom would drop us off at the rink inside one of the malls in California and shop for a couple hours, while my sister and I would skate our hearts out.  So many great memories!  I self-taught myself how to skate backwards, spin, all like a total amateur but it was so much fun.  I skated all the time, on the ice or on the pavement.  Didn't matter to me!  My girls don't quite appreciate skinned knees either, their world comes to an end when they fall.  That was part of childhood for me.  Just rub off the blood and dirt and keep going!

Emma and her bff

Dayna...I love how she's standing

 This pic sums up our Christmas break!

We also added a kitty to our family...her name is Granger (after Hermoine Granger from Harry Potter).  She is precious and sooo sweet.  She has one hazel and one blue eye.  I just love her!

Anyway, on to 2015!  I have a few goals for this year.  I plan to get back to blogging!  It won't be as often as I did before, but I like having a record for myself of our moments.  I am truly excited to see what 2015 holds.  2014 was just hard.  My husband and I separated, the girls and I moved twice, and life just kinda grinded to a halt.  My mom came to visit for almost 2 weeks this summer which was absolutely awesome.  I have missed her so much.

But 2015 is a new start...a new year with new possibilities, new opportunities, new challenges.  I am excited!

So now, to quilting!  I have been working on a few things here and there.  Nothing major, but I felt the need for a new bed quilt or 2! The one below is the popular Glam Clam quilt pattern (free on Craftsy) created by Latifah Saafir.  I'm using the 8" clams.  It requires hand cutting over 300 pieces for the queen size.  I had to split that up over a few sessions to not end up with a claw for a hand.  I love the colors and love this pattern.  It is going to be my first finish of 2015.

Yes I still have my tree up, don't judge!!

WIP Wednesday

I really need to get back to blogging again!  Seems like WIP Wednesday is a great place to start back since I have so many unfinished projects right now.

This one is my favorite WIP, my modern maples quilt.  I just love this quilt!!  I have seen so many beautiful modern maples on Instagram and I have seen so many different variations of this pattern.  So, here's my version.  I used a LOT of low volume fabric for the background, love me some low volume fabric, and used some of my favorite prints for the maples.  I can't decide what to put on the back.  I had bought some huge cuts of fabrics a while ago at between $4-5/yard so I could have backings available....and now I can't decide!  These 3 are currently in the running.  Thoughts??

This green rosette maple leaf is my favorite block, or one of them anyway.  I think it's all the Paris-themed fabric I've been drawn to lately.

This needs to get finished soon, hopefully before Thanksgiving! Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

WIP Wednesday - Pixel Quilt Vanellope Von Schweetz

Fall is here!!  By far, hands down, fall is my favorite time of the year, like ever.  I love everything about it!  My daughter Dayna turned 8 yesterday, can't believe my baby is 8, geez!!  She is such a funny girl...for her b-day dinner she requested Chick-fil-a while riding through the car wash.  I have no idea where she got that from!  She also requested a surprise party, so I had to rearrange her party from this past weekend for 2 weeks from now to try to throw her off the scent.  I hope she loves it!  She has requested a Wreck It Ralph party, focusing on Vanellope and Sugar Rush.  Such an exciting idea!!  My girls always pick party themes that are not things you can easily find at Party City, fun but also challenging and a lot of work.

Another request Dayna had was for a new quilt, of course!  I found a needlepoint pattern on etsy that I just changed into a quilt pattern.  It took a LOT of figuring, but I was able to get the top done is less than a week.  One time saver was to use blocks instead of all squares.  It was MUCH easier that way and I don't think it loses anything as a pixel quilt.  You still have the pixel detail, just without the headache of all those tiny squares. it will look more pixelated once quilted.

Now the backing is ready for basting and I need to get this baby quilted!  It measures 60" x 80" and is the perfect size for her bed, can't wait to get it done :o)

I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday

So, I am actually alive, and haven't fallen off the face of the earth!  I have not been able to get myself back into my schedule of pre-vacation and have been trying all summer long.  Plus with Instagram, it's easier to just post pics with short descriptions.  Anyway, I'm back :o)

I have several projects in the works and have finished several things since the last WIP Wednesday.  I finished up my daughter's Nancy Drew quilt, finished a baby quilt for a dear friend's new baby girl (will post pic later :o), and got my chicopee quilt actually quilted.

I didn't want to take away from the fabric, so I just quilted in the ditch on this one.  Didn't want Nancy's head quilted all over, lol! 

Binding is attached, just need to stitch it down on the back.

My newest project has been this spiderweb quilt.  I have always wanted to make one, just never got around to making the template, etc.  I found the foundation pieces and the template for the kite shape on Missouri Star Quilt Co. and had to get going!  It goes together very quick, but this is small so far.  If I stop here, it will only be about 36 inches square.  Nice baby quilt, but I kinda think it needs to be bigger!

I have made a little progress on my EPP project.  I was trying to get one row done each week, just picking it up when I was in the car, waiting on my girls, or travelling. This is the progress so far!  I am loving it, even though it's very busy!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced!

WIP Wedesnday

Another week flying by again!  I was able to get a lot done this week, despite the busyness of this month.  I had a couple of finishes...which I am very excited about!  They are both of my heart quilts...the first one is the signature quilt from a friend's wedding.  Lovin that gray!!

terrible cell phone pic, but it's all I could get of this one!

Also finished this heart quilt for my SIL for Mother's Day.  This one was easy to put together, despite its appearance!  I love it and need to make another one for my hallway :o)  I quilted it the same as the one above, swirls and pebbles, which seems to be a new go-to for me.

In other news, my daughter Emma turned 10 last week and the original plan was to have a Nancy Drew party....but at the last minute she changed her mind and wanted to go roller skating instead.  But not before she asked for a quilt for her b-day.  The Saturday before her b-day I found this Nancy Drew charm pack at the quilt shop and whipped together this lap quilt for her!  It's not quite finished, but it is basted and ready for quilting.  I just need to find the time to quilt it!

Finishes: 2
In Progress: too many!

Supernova Finish

More pictures of this quilt...sorry for the overload this week!  I just love this one so much!  I still need to run it through the wash but here she is, all quilted up :o)

I had a great time quilting this baby.  I tried to branch out a little bit and try some more creative things.  I have found so much inspiration on Pinterest, of course!

No progress has been made on any other project this week, but hoping that changes this week!

I'm linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts!!

WIP Wednesday

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since I last blogged!!  I am alive and well, just overwhelmed with busyness.  It's the last month and a half of school and there seems to be a mad rush to pack in field trips, sports, activities before time runs out.  Emma is playing volleyball and is happy as a clam.  She and Dayna are both doing so great with their gymnastics, too!

Onto the WIP list!  I have been making some progress, although small in the last few weeks.  Last I blogged about the mountain of quilt tops that need finishing.

1.  Good Folks Supernova - basted.  Since my last post, I have finished quilting a customer quilt and had all kinds of issues with basting so un-pinned it all and re-basted with spray.  I cannot believe how everything just stayed put so much better!  So I spray-basted my Good Folks Supernova quilt and I am hoping it will work just as well.

Here is the backing of my Supernova quilt....LOVE this fabric from IKEA!

This next quilt top is something I should have done a LONG time ago...sad to say.  It's a project that I had totally forgotten about until recently and I can't believe I am so long in getting this done, or that I forgot about it, omw!!  It's a signature quilt from a friend's wedding.   Guests signed their names on squares of white cotton and I was going to whip it together into a quilt.  Here we are almost 4 years later and it's finally a quilt top.  This one is super-high priority to get finished asap.  I thought I would go with the heart theme I have fallen in love with in the last couple of months.  Her wedding colors were 2 shades of pink, which ALWAYS makes me think of Steel Magnolias "blush and bashful"...if you don't know what I'm talking about we can't be friends anymore :o)  So I pulled a bunch of pink from my stash and went to town making this in less than 4 hours.

No progress has been made on the other 6 quilts on my last WIP list.  *sigh*

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced...so many great projects!!

 

WIP Wednesday

I cannot believe I have so many projects that are just hanging around unfinished!!  Apparently I am way more inclined to be making tops than finishing any of them.  So, I currently have 7 tops that need to be quilted, oy.  I think it has more to do with the fact that I hate to baste, as does almost everyone else!

Speaking of....how do y'all baste your quilts??  I have tried spraying, but pinning is always what I go back to.  But lately, I've had issues with my pinned quilts shifting layers while quilting and I have no idea why....I tape the backing taut, use lots of pins, no puckers while pinning, etc.  Very frustrating!  Suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Here are my current WIPs:  

1.  Chicopee spiderweb quilt ~ this one is basted, hoping it doesn't have issues with quilting!!

 2.  Brrr! quilt ~ top done, needs to be basted, quilted, etc.

.

3.  Branson's Chargers quilt ~ needs to be basted, quilted, etc.  Need a MUCH bigger floor for this one, cuz this one is huge.

4.  Scrappy trip along ~ needs to be ironed, basted, quilted

5.  Single Girl quilt ~ needs to be basted, quilted, etc

6.  Love quilt ~ needs to be basted, quilted

 7.  My newest WIP, Good Folks Supernova ~ needs to be basted, quilted

This last one is my favorite ♥
I hope everyone is having a great week so far!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced