Chevron style

I tried a new pattern -- one which I saw posted on YOUTUBE -- and it uses a very handy pre-cut called a layer cake.  A layer cake is 10" squares precut from one line of design, so you get a sample of every fabric design in one line -- for example Moda design "Bear Country" hilighting Bearenstein Bears.  For my design, I used a charm pack which is 5" squares precut so my quilt turned out much smaller.  I made it a bit bigger so it would be a lap size or crib size quilt.  I hand quilted it and I think it turned out pretty good.

New Projects

I have two projects that I was working on and just finished.  The checkerboard scrap quilt is done!!! YAYYYY -- I love the colors and the fact that I could use up some scraps in my stash.  It was fun to do but a bit challenging to quilt.  I used a tighter-woven fabric for the backing which gave me fits and took me a lot longer to hand quilt.  See what you think.

The second project is a quilt that used two charm packs from the Berenstein Bears "Bear Country" collection by Moda.  I used a half-square triangle style for the pattern and filled in with a solid off white color for contrast.  The quilt was really fun to do -- like putting a puzzle together -- and it is also hand quilted.  The borders are from the same line of fabric and I used the "bears" to bind it as well.  The green color continues on the back.  I just love the bright colors.

Christmas projects

Here are a couple of Christmas projects I have been working on.  I wanted to make these ornaments for a while now, but got motivated when I saw some posted on another blog that I follow.  There are YouTube videos describing the process -- very informative and way easy to follow and do.  Mine are strictly Christmas colors but they are very cute with any old scraps of fabric you might have. I also saw a picture of this wreath and asked the lady who made it how she did it.  I had these scraps of fabric and just went to town.  Had a lot of fun doing it, but now I don't know whether to keep it or list it on Etsy for sale.  Any comments or opinions are greatly appreciated.  Take a look!!!

ANOTHER SCRAP QUILT

I have LOADS of scrap material and keep accumulating more.  I love love  love to re-use, re-purpose, whatever you want to call it -- in other words, I can't stand to throw out stuff -- especially my lovely fabrics.  Soooo, this is one result.  I love geometrical patterns and stuck with a kind of checkerboard style.  It turned out pretty good, even though it's still a work in progress.  I need to add a couple of borders, quilt it, bind it, and then voila!!!  Tis done and maybe post on ETSY for sale.  We'll see.  Sometimes I fall in love with my creations and can't let them go.

NEW SCRAP QUILTS IN THE WORKS!!!

I had a "free" Saturday where I didn't have to work and wasn't planning on seeing the grandkids.  It was a glorious Fall day -- crisp air in the morning, sunny in the afternoon -- and after my walk, laundry, grocery store, etc., I sat down to my sewing machine.  I had just finished a quilt for my granddaughter and I was inspired to go through my scraps and start a new quilt.  As I started sewing with no specific design in mind, I came up with a checkerboard theme.  Unfortunately, I now have two quilts started as I have both pastels and harvest-type fabrics in the works.  It will be two quilts because those two color schemes just do not work together.  I also made a few cloth napkins for my daughter for her birthday -- don't tell!!  A truly productive day of sewing for this lady.

Quilt for sister in law

I was vacationing in Newport Beach this summer with my sisters, nephews, brothers in law, etc.  I brought along an apron that I made for my younger sister who was hosting all of us.  I made aprons for my two sisters at Christmas but not for my sister-in-law who doesnt cook.  At the beachhouse, she told me she would LOVE to have one of my aprons so I promised to send her one.  Well, I decided to finish a quilt I was working on and sent her that instead -- SURPRISE!~!!!   She loved it.

New Grandson

My new grandson will be born in August this year so I just had to make him a quilt.  I used two charm packs -- great invention, the charm pack.  It is pre-cut squares that are 5" and I love love working with this product.  One of the most tedious steps to quilting is the cutting out of the pattern.  The sewing goes pretty quickly, the quilting takes a bit longer because I do it by hand.  I haven't learned machine quilting yet which seems to be the trend these days.  I don't want to lose the "art" of quilting like it was done so long ago so I stick to my hand quilting.  Granted my designs are pretty simple but the results are always pretty good.  At least that's the response I get. I am just looking forward to holding a new baby in my arms, wrapped in his new "blankie".