I'm such a copy cat!

You may have already realized this.  I really can't take credit for a lot of my better projects because I find inspiration on my endless hours of web surfing and copy great stuff.  I usually modify things a bit to be more suitable for my sewing skill level slash laziness :D 


I came across this great mug rug at Froth and Bubble the other day when signing up for a billion Sew Mama Sew giveaways and immediately thought of my BFF from OD school.  She's from South Dakota, and apparently they don't have cardinals (yes, the birds).  She would get so excited anytime she saw one in Chicago or when she came to visit my house in central Illinois.  So I changed the titmice to cardinals and I can't wait to send her this mug rug!  Best part?  I only used scraps!  I'm planning on making one for myself too.  Oh and my grandma - she loves cardinals as well.  Does this look slightly Christmas-y to anyone else?  Oh well - Christmas in July is coming up!

Auntie Grace's Mod Sampler Quilt

Let me introduce you to my favorite completed quilt to date.  Meet Auntie Grace's Mod Sampler quilt.  This is actually the first quilt I've made all by myself!  I'm so proud of it :D

Carlton looks kind of creepy, no?

Last summer, my grandma and I went to the local quilt store together and browsed around.  It was getting close to my birthday and she asked what I wanted while I was there.  Now honestly, she comes up with some kooky gifts for me, so I just pointed to a fat quarter bundle and said, "I'd like something like that."  She said great and bought it!  So that's how I ended up with some of the fabric for the top.  They are all reproduction 1930's fabrics (Aunt Grace, etc).  That was about the time I started perusing quilting blogs and came across Oh!Fransson's site.  She had just started the Mod Sampler quilt along so I jumped in and finished up the blocks in no time.  

The furball loves him some fabric and aluminum foil

When I finally had all the right sashing, binding, and backing fabrics, I put it all together and daringly stippled it myself.  Practice?  Who needs practice?  I'll practice on the real deal :)  It turned out really great even if I did have to rip out the stitches in one place where I didn't pin baste enough.  Another lesson learned, right?

When I went to visit my grandma at Easter, I brought the quilt with me.  Of course she loves it!  She even told me I could leave it with her when I went home if I wanted.  We took it and showed it to all her friends too.  It's a great memory I'll share with my grandma from now on!

An Experiment with Fabric

I had a Moda Botany charm pack that's been sitting in my drawer since December when I bought it at Burgundy Buttons on super sale.  After much debate, I decided to use it in a stacked coin-type quilt and chose the Moda Bake Shop version.  


Problem - it needed 2 charm packs and I only had 1.  What's a girl to do?  I'd been hearing a lot about Connecting Threads from the ladies in my quilt group and decided to give them a try.  I bought some basic white Essential Thread (boring I know) and a couple of their solids charm packs to mix in with the Botany.  The colors are very nice and I was happy to find enough matching to make it work.  The fabric itself is a little more stiff and less soft than Moda (but honestly what isn't?).  Everything sewed up very well and I'm pleased with how it's turning out.  The thread works really well in my machine too.  

I'm piecing the backing with some of the Connecting Threads yardage too, so we'll see how it all comes together and is quilted, washed, and crinkly!  

Finally, an April quilt is finished!

I feel like a slacker this month since the only quilted project I finished was a table runner :(  Oh well, my Michael Miller Antiquity slash Send in the Crowns blue glittery table runner is finished in all it's fabulousness!  I stitched in the ditch using the Bernina #10 foot, which I was told over & over was amazing.  Eh, whatever.  It's done!  I may go back in the future and do some free motion to make areas really pop.  I think this is going on the wall somewhere so I can admire it :D

See the tiny crowns?  Oops, they're upside down...

Central Park Stars are coming along

Last night I finished the bulk of my Central Park quilt #2, modifying the Moda Bake Shop Charming Stars pattern.  I used half of my layer cake for this project because a) I'm cheap and b) you can't just have 1 Central Park quilt!  I'm planning to add more borders to make this quilt a little larger.  Happy quilting!

I'm such a follower...

I decided to jump on the bandwagon and purchase some of Denyse Schmidt's new fabric line at JoAnn Fabrics.  It's super helpful for my budget that they are right across the street from work (sarcasm!!).  My store has all 21 prints but honestly I'm not crazy about all of them.  I bought 4 yesterday with coupons and will probably go back today to buy a few more.  I'd like to make either Oh Fransson's! New Wave Quilt or a Zig Zag Quilt.  I think the smaller prints in this line will work well with either.  Let me know which one you like better!

My stash so far!

I'm back!

Last week was a busy one without much internet connectivity, but I'm back in action now!  


Here's a pic of my latest Moda Central Park project.  I'm super excited about this quilt!  I'm using the Charming Stars pattern at Moda Bake Shop.  It's so quick and easy, plus it's a great way to show off larger prints.  Instead of using the traditional white or ivory for the background fabric, I decided to use a sunny yellow color to make the stars pop.  What do you think?

Later this week I'll tell you all about my trip to Ikea :D