MQG Riley Blake Challenge Finish!

As a member of the Austin MQG, I am now a proud member of the Modern Quilt Guild too.  They have fun things for members like Sew Downs and fabric challenges.  The most recent fabric challenge is wrapping up and winners will be announced soon! 

Members were given a fat eighth bundle of Riley Blake fabrics - a few prints and solids too.  We could make anything we wanted as long as it was quilted (and modern - however you want to interpret that).   We could add any Riley Blake prints and any brand of solids to make the project our own.  So little guidance!  I just stared at my bundle for quite some time before inspiration hit.

 Here's my entry, inspired by my boyfriend.  We go to the movie theater for classic movies on Wednesday nights.  My eyes have been opened to various beloved movies that I'd missed out on as a kid for some reason - Big, Fast Times at Ridgemont High (I couldn't believe that was Sean Penn!!), Groundhogs Day...  You know before the movie starts, there's usually a silence your cell phone ad?  This was when we were first introduced to the Geico camel commercial.  The first time we saw it, we both laughed our heads off and played it for all of our co-workers.  The second, third, fourth time we saw it, we were still laughing our heads off.  

One night after the movie, I determined to sit down and work on the Riley Blake challenge.  My mind wandered to the camel, and then just for fun I sketched out a camel applique quilt, adding the fun saying at the bottom.  I showed the sketch to my boyfriend, who almost fell out of his chair with hysterical laughter.  The crazy piecing caused me some fits at times, but I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  I quilted using a scalloped loop to enhance the hump theme :) Once I get a hanging sleeve on this puppy, it's headed to the wall at my boyfriend's office.

Did you participate in the Riley Blake challenge?  We had so many good ones at our Austin MQG meeting last week.  Check out our link up for that here!

Emily and the Technicolor Cats

Back in December, Elizabeth at Oh, Fransson! started the Catvent Quiltalong.  She designed 25 different cat blocks for each day before Christmas and has the tutorials posted on her blog.  I couldn't help but start a few and thought this would be a great way to use up some of my overflowing scrap bucket.  Well, they're small so they don't take up as many scraps as I was hoping, but I'll have another project on my list for those soon I'm sure! 

I thought these would be adorable for a quilt that I give to my dad, who's a veterinarian.  Won't they look cute hanging at his clinic?

Sweet Valentine's Day Free Quilt Pattern

My friend Corinne has an excellent tutorial on her blog, Must Love Quilts, that's perfect for Valentine's Day.  Isn't it sweet?  I can't wait to make one - triangles have been on my list for awhile now!

Heart Quilt and Tutorial from Must Love Quilts

Heart Quilt by Must Love Quilts

A February Finish!

Remember back when I started working on my custom sewing table?  I was inspired by From Marta with Love.  Aren't their tables fab?  My bf helped me do the power tool stuff back in November and I finally finished adding the decorative touches - aqua paint of course!  I used Sherwin Williams SuperPaint in Tidewater 6477 and gave it a couple of coats of poly.  It's so smooth now and the fabrics just glide right over when I'm sewing.  I can't wait to start my next quilt!

That pillow under the table?  Yeah that's a cat bed.  Carlton and Zoey like to visit me in the sewing room and love sitting on the cat bed under the sewing table.  It's made from a fish shower curtain that I found at the thrift store!

Winter Blocks for Winter Weather

Hey there!

Have you been having fun with the weather?  It's been crazy here in Texas!  Yesterday was about 30 degrees and today it's 65, and tomorrow...well back on the roller coaster again.  

I've been stitching up a few charity blocks for the Austin MQG.  Jessica chose a block by Pat Fryer called Good Neighbors for this month's block.  She picked contrasting blues and aquas for this lovely pattern, along with a silver or white background.  I used some of the leftover fabric from my Riley Blake Challenge to piece these.  Won't they all look so crisp and clean like fresh fallen snow when all put together?  

Did you know I'm a chef?

A Moda Bake Shop Chef to be exact!  Go check out my tutorial for quick Honeycomb Wine Coasters at the MBS today.  I'm always so tempted with those cute Honeycombs and was stumped with what to make with them.  So I made something up myself and I do say, they turned out nicely.  Have a look!