Wednesday WiP - Children at Play

I've been slowly but surely working on my bottled rainbows quilt top.  Last night I spent some time going through my scraps looking for fabric to match my berry and violet colors.  I love sorting through my scraps and petting all my fabric. It takes me way longer than necessary because I have to oooh and aaah over all the lovely fabric I forgot I have. ha!

I am finishing up a baby girl quilt using the gorgeous Children at Play fabric by Sarah Jane studios.  Oh how I love each and every fabric in that line, so girly girl and precious.  My original idea was to take the "parade" fabric and build a quilt on top of it.  I finished up the top section of the quilt last night and when I started looking at how it would turn out when I added the parade on the bottom I just didn't like it.  Here's the top section...

and here's the top section with the parade scene laid under it, obviously it's not ironed or attached yet.  I don't think I am going to add the parade, it just looks out of place there and the top is 40" x 40" so it's already a generous baby quilt size.

Now I'm back to the drawing board to whip up a new design that lets the parade scene be the star of the show.  Wish me luck!

Linking up to WiP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced...

Wip Wednesday - #18

Good Morning.  I haven't updated my WiPs in a couple of weeks so it feels good to sort through and figure out what I have completed and what needs to be worked on.

Finished:

I finished both of my donation quilts for 100 Quilts for Kids.  I loved participating in such a special event.

 The boy quilt - blogged here.

The baby girl quilt - blogged here.

In Progress:

Kitchen Windows - I have all the center pieces of the blocks together but I still have to attach the sashing and complete the top.  

Dead Simple Quilt - All 320 squares are cut and I have assembled 4 rows but I still have 12 more rows to go.  They sew up pretty quickly though.

I made myself two charts to refer to while I am assembling this quilt, one in color and one with the color name written in the block.  There are so many shades of purple and green in this quilt that I kept getting them confused so it was necessary to print the color names and put a label on the stack of squares so I could be confident I was choosing the right color to attach to it's neighboring square.

Bottled Rainbows - no progress made on this one lately.  I have all 16 color frames made but I need to sew them onto the batting and let the fun of attaching the ticker tape scraps begin.

Begging for Binding:
My Loulouthi Quilt is waiting so patiently for a binding.  I will do it before Monday so I can take it to show & tell at my quilt guild meeting.
Hooty Hoot - STILL sitting in a pile waiting for binding.

Begging for Backing:
Single Girl - I wish I hadn't lost interest in this quilt.  It will be such a cute little quilt.

New Projects:
I'm happy to report that I haven't started any new projects this week.

On the Bubble:
Even though I haven't started any new projects my mind is swirling around with some ideas for making some little handmade gifts for Christmas.  I would like to make a couple of small bags, pot holders, mug rugs, and dish soap aprons.  There are a lot of ideas floating around in the quilting blogosphere to provide lots of great inspiration.

At the long arm quilter:
Summer Sampler

Linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced.  I know there's a lot of great inspiration from some very talented quilters on her linkup page.  Hope you have some time to check it out!

WiP Wednesday - #17

Hello Wednesday!  I'm happy to see you.  As usual, I'm linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced.  Linking up to WiP Wednesday is about the only way I can keep all my quilting ducks in a row.  It may not be a straight row, but it's a row at least.

Finished:
I don't have any completely finished projects this week.

In Progress:
I started working on my Kitchen Windows quilt using Heirloom in the sapphire colorway.  I have it cut out and on the design wall.

Bottled Rainbows - no new progress except that I collected some blue scraps at my quilt guild meeting.  That was a lot of fun.

New Projects:
-I haven't admitted it to myself but I think I'm secretly participating in Lily's QAL for the Dead Simple Quilt.  I have the palette chosen, the layout all finished and the fabrics all purchased.  Time to get out of denial, huh?

-My second new project is going to take me a while to finish.  Here's a peek at what it will be.  I'll tell you more about it later.

Waiting for Binding:
The Grandmomma was good to me this week.  She finished the long arm quilting on 3 of my quilts and now they are ready for binding.  That will be my weekend project! yeah!

Hope you all have a great day!

WiP Wednesday - #15

Hello Wednesday, weren't you just here yesterday?  

Finished:
- I am proud to say I have delivered my Compassion Quilt.  My friend was so surprised and LOVED the quilt and the Bible verses quilted into it.  I pray she finds it comforting.

In Progress:
- I am sewing my sashing and cornerstones onto my Summer Sampler quilt.  I was so happy this weekend when my youngest daughter asked me if that quilt could be for her.  Of course it can be for you precious!  She wants me to put her name on the back of it.  I know how her brain works.  She wants to make sure no one else can ever lay claim to that quilt.  Smart little cookie.  I think this would make a great birthday present for her and that's coming up in October.  I just have to make a backing for it and then I'll send it off to be quilted.

- Bottled Rainbows - I didn't get any other blocks made for this one yet.  Very anxious to get back to it though.  Now I see why so many people joined up on that quilt along.  It's very addictive.

New Projects:
- Neptune - I won a charm pack of Neptune from Kate  (thanks, Kate!) so I'm going to use it to make a boy quilt for the 100 Quilts for Kids.  She posted a really simple and cute charm pack quilt that lends itself perfectly to that fabric.
- I need to make a sample block of this gorgeous paper pieced pattern called Circle of Geese by Beth Maddocks.  The Sometimes Crafter used her block and made a tutorial for the block.  She made this one.

image from http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/2009/08/tutorial-paper-piecing-block.html

Gorgeous, right?  There was a time that I would have avoided that block like the plague simply because of the paper piecing.  But thanks to the Summer Sampler quilt and all the paper pieced blocks in it I have broadened my horizons and don't have to be scared of paper piecing anymore.  Now I can do it!

At the quilter:
- Loulouthi - yeah!  I made the backing over the weekend and am very happy with it.
- I started and finished a quilt top for 100 Quilts for Kids over the weekend.  It is a sweet little baby girl quilt but I want to wait and show it when it is completely finished.

On the Bubble:
- Heirloom Quilt - I am shocked I haven't started this one yet!  At least I decided on a pattern though.
- Rubik's Crush

Begging for Backing &/or Binding:
- Hooty Hoot - Would somebody have a boy already to give me a reason to put the binding on this quilt?  I want it to go to someone I know.
- Single Girl - I need to get a backing made for this and sent it off to be quilted.

I'm off to see what my other quilting buddies are up to today over at Freshly Pieced.

WiP Wednesday - #14

Wednesday has rolled around again and so it's time to lay my projects out and see what I have accomplished in the past week.

Finished:
The purple quilt for The Grandmomma is done! See full post here.

In Progress:
- Make sashing and cornerstones for Summer Sampler quilt.
- Bottled Rainbows blocks.  I can't wait to make more of these.

- Start 100 Quilts for Kids quilt.  Fun!
- Start Heirloom quilt.

Make backing for:
- Loulouthi quilt.
- Single Girl

Make and attach binding for:
- Compassion Quilt - is in the air on the way back to me from The Grandmomma in VA who quilted it.
- Baby Hooty Quilt - get it done already, please.

Happy Wednesday.  Be sure to check out all the inspiration going around today on Lee's site. Also, take a minute and go vote for Lee in the Quilting Fabric Design Contest.  Her design is so cute and I've got my fingers crossed hoping that she wins!  Her design is called "Flourish" and is in fourth row on the far right.

This would make such a great focus fabric.  I love all the different colors in it. Good job Lee!

WiP Wednesday #13

It's Wednesday so you know what that means...

Finished:

-Block #12 for the Summer Sampler Quilt.  I'm so in love with this quilt.  I can't wait to make some cornerstones and sashing and get the top all finished up.  Those solids were wonderful to work with and I can definitely see more of them in my future.

I kind of goofed up on this block but I'm satisfied with it anyway.  I meant to make the center circle all pink and the outer circle all aqua but as you can see, NONE of the inner circle is pink and the outer circle is alternating pink and aqua.  How I did that I will never know.  I thought I had it all planned out but even the best laid plans go awry.

-Compassion Quilt is complete and will be sent off to The Grandmomma for quilting soon.

In Progress:

-Purple Quilt for The Grandmomma is now in full swing and almost up on the design wall.

I have 35 of these blocks to sew together and then the top will be complete.  I love a quick and easy pattern every now and then so this was especially nice to work on after finishing some of the more complicated blocks in the Summer Sampler series. Yes, I'm talking about you blocks #7, 10 & 12. ha!

- Bottled Rainbows Ticker Tape Quilt Along - I've spent the last few nights sorting through all my fabric totes looking for scraps to use for this ticker tape quilt.  Boy that can eat up some time but it is oh so fun!  As you can see, I have a lot more sorting to go through before I get enough scraps to fill up the blocks.  It wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit if I had to go shopping and get more fabric!  It's for a good cause.

cute little toes are courtesy of Mr. LLQ

New Projects:
Heirloom - This fabric makes me want to shove all my other fabric and projects into the corner and spread this out all over the table and roll around in it.  Gorgeous fabric! Sorry other projects that were going to be next, this fabric is calling out to me!

On the Bubble:

Rubik's Crush - 

100 Quilts for Kids - coming up soon! yeah!

Thanks Lee for making me accountable to myself and keeping organized!  I'm off to see what the other quilters are up to this week.  Happy Wednesday!

WiP Wednesday #12

Happy Wednesday and welcome to...

Finished:

-Blocks #9, #10 & #11 for the Summer Sampler Quilt.  I'm almost finished with my Summer Sampler quilt top.  I made three blocks this week and I only have 1 more left before finishing all 12 of them.  

This one was the funnest to make.  It may not be perfect but it's mine and I love it.

Last month my quilt guild had a Christmas in July theme and members brought in patterns or ideas for quick little handmade gifts to make for Christmas presents.  Pam brought this idea for towel hair wraps made from hand towels.  My girls are always trying to wrap our big towels around their wet hair like I do but the towel is too heavy and won't stay on.  These work great and were a breeze to make!

New Projects:

- ConKerr Cancer pillowcases - my quilt guild has already made 80 of these cases and we're hoping to make over 100 for the children who are battling cancer across North America.

- Bottled Rainbows Ticker Tape Quilt Along - I'm going to lead this quilt along for my quilt guild.  Rachel was kind enough to give us permission to use her quilt along in our guild. yeah!  I'm excited to have a fabric swap within the guild for each of the colors we need. 

- My 5 year old wants a case for her KinderMat at school.  I'm kind of hoping she will just cover up with her quilt and forget about wanting the case.  Who am I fooling?  That child doesn't forget about anything.  It will just be like making an extra long pillowcase and I think I can handle that.

In Progress:

-Cool Compassion - Top priority - must finish this over the weekend.
-Purple Quilt for The Grandmomma - sorry Grandmomma.

Begging for a Backing:

-Single Girl - tired of seeing this one listed on here.

-Loulouthi - maybe next week.

Begging for a Binding:

Baby Hooty - hasn't gone anywhere.

On the Bubble:

Rubik's Crush - 

Fifi & Fido - 100 Quilts for Kids - getting close to starting this one

On the lookout - I've got my eye out for the perfect fabric to make:

Swoon - auditioning fabric on a daily basis - still looking.

Chopsticks - looks like this would be fun to make.

And last, but not least, Project Back To School is complete.  The girls went back to school on Monday and so far everything is going well.  Now every afternoon I have to figure out a way to find out about their day without acting like a detective or asking questions that only get answered with a "yes" or "no".  Bedtime seems to be the best time to get info out of them since the girls are all snuggled under their quilts and ready to chat a little before lights out.  I just wish I could be a fly on the wall and see what they get to do all day.  God bless them and their teachers!

Thanks to Lee for hosting the Wip Wednesday.  I love looking at what everyone else has been working on.  There's a lot of amazingly talented and creative people out there in blogland.

WiP Wednesday #11

It's Wednesday so you know what that means...

I am loving working on the Summer Sampler quilt.  I don't like the feeling of being behind though.  I want to get caught up on these this week.  I've made 5 blocks so far and the 8th pattern is coming out today so I'm really not that far behind.  I just have the feeling that I'm getting too stretched out.  I'm not going to start anything else until I finish the sampler and my other 2 WiPs. Melinda and I were talking this week and I was telling her that I don't really think I'm the kind of person that can have 5 projects going on at one time.  I really feel like I accomplish more when I start and finish one quilt before I move on to another.

Finished:

-Blocks #3 & #4 for the Summer Sampler Quilt.  These blocks are so fun to make!

and the 4 together...

-Red/White Wonky Star - I've entered this one in the Gen X Summer Fair.  So thrilled this is completed!

-Batman/Superman - yeah!  I love a finished quilt.

In Progress:

-Compassion Quilt for my friend - I didn't work on this one this week.  I'm still mad at myself for not switching some of the fabrics around so I guess I'm pouting. ha!  I've decided to leave it the way it is so I need to just sew it together and move on.
-Purple Quilt for The Grandmomma - poor little quilt is still sitting there.

Begging for a Backing:

-Single Girl - tired of seeing this one listed on here.

-Loulouthi - maybe this week?

Begging for a Binding:

Baby Hooty - still waiting, I think I need a reason to finish it. 

On the Bubble:

Rubik's Crush - I look at this fabric every day and hope to start it soon.

Fifi & Fido - 100 Quilts for Kids - still thinking...

On the lookout - I've got my eye out for the perfect fabric to make:

Swoon - auditioning fabric on a daily basis - still looking.

Chopsticks

See you next week!

WiP Wednesday

Hello Wednesday!  I sewed a lot this week but I don't feel like I have very much to show for it.

Finished:
Block #2, the Greek Cross,  for the Summer Sampler Quilt.  I'm enjoying working with these solids for the Summer Sampler Series.  I'm going to catch up on my other blocks this week.

In Progress:

Compassion Quilt for my friend - I'm using the Potpourri Palette from Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush fabric line and the Urban Cabin pattern by Atkinson Designs for this quilt.  I actually goofed up on the pattern and I'm pretty bummed about it.  The pattern says to use two different fabrics in each of the blocks but I was not paying attention and sewed all mine up with the same fabric in each block.  My husband thinks I should take them all apart and redo it but I just can't imagine doing that.  I have a love/hate relationship with my seam ripper and the thought of ripping out all those seams makes me crazy.  What a waste of time.  Do you think it looks ok?  It would look so much better if the fabrics were more mixed up like the pattern calls for.  You know, I may have just talked myself into taking them apart and rearranging them.  I'm never going to be happy with this quilt if I don't and I won't feel 100% happy when I give it to my friend if I know I goofed up on it.

Purple for The Grandmomma - haven't made any further progress on this one.

New Project:

Optical Illusion block - I just have to try this.  Inspiredbyfelix made a gorgeous block out of red and white and I'm so intrigued by it.  She was kind enough to send me her instructions and now I'm dying to try it out.  I hope mine turns out as beautiful as hers is. 

Begging for a Backing:

Single Girl

Loulouthi - I decided what I'm going to do on the back of this.

Begging for a Binding:

Red/White Wonky Star - I have the quilt squared up and the binding made, now I just have to attach it.  I can't WAIT to have this one finished and on my bed. It's 103" x 103" - yikes!  Wonder how long it will take to get the binding on that one.  

Superman/Batman - binding is made but that's it.

Baby Hooty - still waiting.

On the Bubble:

Rubik's Crush - getting closer to starting this one! yeah!

Fifi & Fido - 100 Quilts for Kids - thinking...

On the lookout - I've got my eye out for the perfect fabric to make:

Swoon - auditioning fabric on a daily basis - still looking.

Chopsticks

As always, linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced.  Isn't she just the best hostess?

WiP Wednesday

It's Wednesday!  This is the long and the short of it for today.

Finished:
Loulouthi top
Ironing Board Cover - so happy to have this complete.  What a difference it makes in my dining sewing room.

In Progress:

Purple for The Grandmomma - started cutting this one out and have sewn a little bit but I got distracted by a compassion quilt that I want to make for a friend of mine.  I think this one is going to go together fairly quickly.

why can't I get this picture to rotate and stay rotated?

Summer Sampler Series - I'm going to LOVE making this quilt.  I made the first block on Monday and there are more to come this week. This one is called the Star of Virginia.

Begging for a Backing:

Single Girl

Loulouthi - still deciding what to put on the back of this one.

Begging for a Binding:

Red/White Wonky Star - got this one back from the quilter!  Perfect!  I couldn't be happier with this one.
Superman/Batman - got this one back from the quilter, too!  I know one little boy that is going to be so happy with this quilt on his bed.
Baby Hooty

New Projects:

Compassion Quilt for a friend of mine with pancreatic cancer.  Please say a prayer that she will feel loved and comforted at this time in her life.  God bless her and her family.

Try not to get a crick in your neck from all my sideways pictures - sorry.

On the Bubble:

Rubik's Crush - getting closer to starting this one! yeah!

Fifi & Fido - 100 Quilts for Kids - getting closer to making a decision on this one!

Bottled Rainbows - collecting scraps for this. 

On the lookout - I've got my eye out for the perfect fabric to make:

Swoon - auditioning fabric on a daily basis.

Chopsticks

Linking up to Lee, of course!  Lots of great creations going on over there today.

WiP Wednesday - Loulouthi edition

I'm so happy to have some WiPs to report this week.  All is right with the world when I have a quilt (or 4) in progress.

Finished:
The paisley Color Splash quilt.  This one is going to a recent high school graduate.  I hope she loves it! (fingers crossed)

In Progress:
Loulouthi Garden quilt.  I spent all day Monday (which just so happened to be my birthday) cutting this one out.  I love to cut quilt patterns but I don't think I've ever spent as much time cutting a top as I did this one.  Whew!  I fussy cut a lot of the squares and then the sizes were odd so I would have to stack rulers together to get the size I needed...and well, that ate up a lot of time. It's going to be so worth it.  I'm so glad I have the design walls.  I don't know what I ever did without them.  Well, I do know - I made a million trips from my sewing machine in the dining room to my bedroom where I used my bed as the design wall.

Begging for a Backing:
Single Girl

Begging for a Binding:
Baby Hooty

At the Quilter:
Red/white Wonky star - can't wait to see this one all quilted up!
Superman/Batman

New Projects:
Summer Sampler Series - couldn't resist this one.
Bottled Rainbows - hoping to introduce this ticker tape style to my quilt guild and hope they like it as much as I do.  Should be fun!

On the Bubble:
Rubik's Crush

Purple for The Grandmomma

Fifi & Fido - 100 Quilts for Kids
Ironing board cover - I need a new one!  I want to make it myself out of fabric I love.  Why am I so scared to tackle this?  I just need to do it and quit stalling.

On the lookout - I've got my eye out for the perfect fabric to make:
Swoon
Chopsticks

And most importantly, Happy Birthday to my precious little 8 year old girl!  I love you Josie!  I thank God for you every day.  I would live every day of your life all over again.  You are awesome!  I can't wait to see what 8 has in store for us.

And of course, linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced. If you have time please go check out all the fabulous links over there.