Blogger's Quilt Festival ~ Fall 2012

I am so excited to participate in my second Blogger's Quilt Festival. Thank you, Amy,  for organizing this great event and thanks to all of the sponsors!

This year, I chose to enter a mini/wall quilt that I gifted to my sister, Rene',  for her birthday.

I enjoy making quilty gifts, but I find it stressful to make quilts for Rene'. She is, after all, the one who introduced me to quilting. I still ask her lots of questions while making quilts, so it's difficult not to rely on her input and advice while making gifts for her.

The pattern, Fiesta Wall Quilt, is from the book Quilting Modern, by Jaquie Gering and Katie Pedersen. Fortunately for me, they were very detailed with the instructions. And trust me, I went step by step with this one, not wanting to make a mess of it. The fabrics selected were:

Center block: Couture French Dress by Laura Berringer for Marcus Brothers Fabrics

Inner Border: Kona Teal Blue

Center Border: Kona Azure

Outer Border: Kona Aqua

This was the first time I used my design wall for something other than just a place to hang my blocks ;-)

As I am directionally challenged, I numbered each strip with painters tape so I wouldn't get turned around.

And of course, I kept the book opened on my table for quick (and frequent) checks to make sure I hadn't missed a step.

My Frustration and I were quite exhausted, but pleased, once completed.

This mini quilt spent time in Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Washington, Mississippi, and then back to Florida where it now hangs in my sister's house. Here are a few shots that were taken during its travels...

Blogger's Quilt Festival Stats:

Finished Quilt Measures 24 x 24

Quilted with organic lines by me using my home machine

Best Category: Favorite Mini Quilt, Favorite Wall Hanging

Edited to add: Festival Number:358

Thanks, as always, for visiting my blog!

~ Michelle ~

Pay Back

Any believers in karma out there? Or maybe just payback? Well, I got a little taste of both recently. As many of you know, I have a really awesome big sister. So awesome, in fact, that she loves me even after the angst of our childhood years. By angst, I mean that I was an absolute booger to her. I was the tortuous younger sister who would start fights, then sit back and watch smugly as she got blamed by our parents. Sweet, right?

I'm the smarty pants on the left pointing to the chalkboard.

 

 My mother used to say that I was spoiled, but not spoiled rotten.



Spoiled? Yes
Rotten? You betcha'



  What does this have to do with quilting? Well, I think Rene' got a wee bit of quilty revenge.

I've been a little bummed lately because I don't have time to work on any major project. Rene' has always encouraged me to try smaller projects like mini quilts or random blocks. One block suggested was the Great Granny Square. Isn't she sweet? Anyone who knows me (and my sister knows me WELL), knows the following:

1. I don't like working with small pieces (by small I mean less than 5 inches...haha).

2. I stress over my accuracy in piecing and matching seams.

3. I am directionally challenged.

Anyone familiar with the Great Granny Square must already see where I am going with this!!

I began my block by laying out my printed squares in seven rows as suggested in this tutorial. So far, so good. Then I added my 12 white background squares on the ends of each row. Huh? Something wasn't right. I was short two white squares. I counted the 12 squares, recounted them, counted the number of row ends, recounted them. UGH! Then I called Rene' ;-)

Our conversation went something like this:

Me: "My squares aren't adding up (Insert a panicked voice) !!! What am I doing WRONG (Insert slightly whiny voice)??"

Rene': "Did you read all the directions before you started?" (insert laughter)

Me: "Uh, why would I do that?"

Rene': "Well, it would probably help with this block."

I turn the page...



Notice the words "excluding" (in CAPS!!!!!) the middle row.



So, after reading ALL of the directions, my layout was much better.





I pieced the blocks in each row and carefully carried them to my kitchen, uh, ironing station.



My two must have tools...coffee and Best Press



Well, the directions read to "press your rows with the seam allowance going opposite directions (oh, crap...I have to remember the direction when pressing the rows?????). I'm sweating at this point and wishing my beverage of choice was not coffee!!! Meanwhile, I'm imagining my sister laughing hysterically!!! I press my first row to the right. No problem, that's how I usually press. Therefore, the next row needed to be pressed to the left. Hmmm...not used to that direction (kind of like writing with my left hand), but others do it, I guess I can. I start cussing and wondering why this was so dang hard!! I swear it took me forever to realize I could just turn  the row around and press it to the right. DUH!!! Now, I'm sure, Rene' is on the floor laughing her butt off, picturing my stupidity. She's probably crying at this point from the laughter!!

Sewing the rows together was relatively pain free, and my resulting block didn't turn out too badly!



My first block set "on point."



I think the next time Rene' suggests a smallish project I should question her motives. SERIOUSLY!!

 I mean really...

41 little bitty pieces (okay, not that small) and 24 connecting seams to match...for ONE block???
Two and a half hours later???

And making another Great Granny Square block? Well, let me just say that it would take some SERIOUS arm twisting!!!!!

Thanks, as always, for visiting my blog!!

~ Michelle ~

Chasing Butterflies For A Friend

I spent a beautiful afternoon chasing a butterfly, trying to get that perfect shot of this mini I made for a friend. The sun did not want to cooperate, and the shadows wanted to play with us, but boy did I have fun!

 This mini was made for a swap with my Gruber's retreat friends. I drew Terri's name, and it didn't take long for me to decide the fabric I wanted to use.

Terri is a huge fan of Anna Maria Horner, and I knew she was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new line, Field Study. So while I began waiting for the arrival as well, I started brainstorming on what to make.

Once I received my Field Study order, I realized that the ideas I had come up with just would not work. So, back to the designing board.

Field Study has beautiful, large prints, and initially I did not want to cut it! Seriously... I really did not want to cut it...it almost pained me to cut it!! I think I even heard a little groaning from the cutting mat.

But I know a quilt cannot be made without a little cutting. So cutting I did...alot...too much. It took me awhile to finally decide on what I wanted to make, but hopefully Terri will be able to use the scraps (big and small) that I included with her mini quilt. 

I wanted it to showcase the beauty of the prints. I fussy cut a butterfly (Terri loves butterflies!!) and surrounded it with some wonky log cabin strips. The quilt top, backing and binding is all from the Field Study collection with a little Kona White added to help bring out the beautiful colors.

I quilted this mini using organic lines (my favorite) using a pale pink thread.

I hope I did Field Study justice, and that Terri loves the mini as much as I came to love it!!

Thanks, as always, for visiting my blog!!

~ Michelle ~

Between Friends

A couple of years ago, my sister had this hair brain idea invited me join her and a wonderful group of ladies  at a quilt retreat at Gruber's. Never mind that I had only been quilting for less than a year, and in no way could match the talent and creativity of this group. She must have caught me at a weak moment, as I said, "Sure, why not? Why wouldn't I fly from Georgia to Minnesota to quilt? Duh!!" Of course, my non quilty friends thought I had lost my mind.  Well, I've had the immense pleasure of quilting with this group for two summers. Last July, we decided to do a swap of "Happies." (hopefully, we have started a tradition to be continued next July). We drew names, returned home, and got busy creating!

I was totally overwhelmed when I received my swap from Cindy, of Live a Colorful Life. She is, after all, the Queen of All Things Selvage ;-)

I had a sneak peek of my "Happy" on Cindy's post Craft Book Month: Sunday Morning Quilts, although I had no idea I would be the recipient of this beautiful basket. Dare I mention that Amanda Jean, co-author of Sunday Morning Quilts, is one of the awesome ladies I have the pleasure of retreating with? I love how Cindy made Amanda Jean's quilted storage box with selvages!!

Included in the Happy was lots of goodies...magnets, tape, pumpkin gumdrops (a first for me), a fat quarter of the prettiest fabric, and ...

my own personalized pin cushion!!!

How.stinking.cute.is.that!!!!!!

Michelle, Michelle, Michelle

SWEET!!!

I absolutely love everything Cindy sent me :) And I absolutely love the friends I have made through this quilting journey!!!

I hope you come back tomorrow to check out the Happy I made for my swap partner!!

~ Michelle ~

~ Monday, Monday ~

Any fans of The Mamas and The Papas out there? I love most music from the 60s and 70s. Their song, Monday, Monday is one of my favorites. No surprise that I was singing it to myself Sunday night as I was thinking about the last few Mondays and the Mondays coming up. It's been a rough beginning to my school year and the stress hasn't let up yet.

*Sigh*

Okay...enough of the pity party ;-) Other than work, work, work, not much has been going on around here. I finally finished a little "Happy" to be mailed today to an awesome quilty friend of mine (never mind that I'm about a week, or two, late in mailing it). That's about all the quilting I've done over the last couple of months, but at least I had a little time in my happy place, which has kept me sane. More about this later...

But with no major projects being worked on right now, I thought I would share some pictures of  quilts I made for my dad and step mom. I'm still trying to play catch up with my journaling of this quilting process ;-)

This quilt was made with the very first line of fabric I fell in love with...Pure, by Sweetwater for Moda (I'm amazed that I can remember the name). The pattern is called Diamonds at Large, from the book Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts by Pam & Nicky Lintott.

I loved the browns, tans, and blues together. I love the name of the line...Pure...ah!! And the print..."pure love, pure happiness, pure laughter, pure & simple"...

I wasn't sure if it would work with this pattern, but in the end, my dad liked it, so I guess it worked out just fine.

This next quilt was made with the first Bali pop I every fell in love with...can't remember the name...haha!! But, I did really, really love it. I remember driving home from the LQS after purchasing the backing fabric saying over and over and over "I.Love.Batiks!!" I actually called my sister to share this fact with her. I believe she thought I had lost my mind!! It was the first quilt that I ever made that I almost didn't gift. I loved everything about it!! Those of you who know me, know that I very rarely will use the word "love" with anything I that I have made...but I'm getting better at it ;-)

This was my first, of two, 1600 jelly roll quilts. I'm still amazed that such a simple pattern (and I use that word lightly) can result in such a beautiful quilt. I think I fell in love with the simple lines...or maybe the colors...not real sure. But this quilt was really special to me for whatever reason, and it was oh, so hard to let it go.  

                                         

Well, I'm off now, to start my Monday, Monday...wish me luck!!

~ Michelle ~

Really Random Thursday - Episode 164: The Betrayal

Any Seinfeld fans out there? Besides Stephanie ;-) If so, you may appreciate my little variation of one of my favorite episodes.

TODAY...

ONE WEEK AGO...

I had the pleasure of visiting the doctor. As my husband would say, "Not too goooood!!" I'm now in the market for a particular dietary supplement. Lovely...now I'll be burping up fish every day.  Not real happy about it.

I'm even unhappier about having to lose 20 pounds!

I just don't understand...what am I doing wrong????

FIVE DAYS EARLIER...

 Whew!! The first day of school is finally over. All the kiddos safely on their way home.
WHAT.A.DAY!!
 But no kids "bus left!" Nope, not on my watch. After a stressful first day of school, there is nothing better than partaking in my favorite beverage...a glass of wine cleverly disguised as a cup of coffee.



Oh, how I LOVE my half and half



EIGHT HOURS EARLIER...

It's going to be a LONG day. Regardless of the rain and construction, I REALLY need my large MickeyD's sweet tea to get me through the day.

FOUR DAYS EARLIER...

My sister, Rene', was kind enough to share her recipe for black beans. I've been wanting to make some for quite awhile. Of course, here in south Georgia, we serve up a little bit of beans with ALOT of rice. Too bad I don't have any cornbread to sop up the pot liquor!!

TWO DAYS EARLIER...

My husband and I had to take a quick trip to the emergency room to check on his sister. Thankfully, she was doing well except for a case of dehydration. While there, I had another conversation with my dear MIL regarding a particular family sewing machine. Oh boy was my blood boiling, blood pressure through the roof, steam coming out of my ears was I a little perturbed. Long story...one I love to tell, but trust me, you don't want to hear. Fortunately, I had this gem I picked up at Publix waiting for me at home.

 TWO HOURS EARLIER...

It's not often I dig into my groceries while still in the parking lot. But SIX hours to get my laptop/docking station hooked up...REALLY???

SIX HOURS EARLIER...

How clever am I to take a picture of all these wires before summer break. Hooking up my computer should be a breeze!



What a hot mess!!!

ONE DAY EARLIER...

I am so excited about this upcoming school year!!! I'll be in a new room, which I love!! I love the beginning of a new school year. So many possibilities, plans, goals. This is going to be a great year. I'm even going to decorate my room (haven't done that for years)! We are going on a Speech Safari! Fortunately, I have my granddaughter helping me during pre-planning.

And my goal for the year.....STRESS FREE!! Don't laugh...it can happen ;-)

I'm linking up with Cindy's Really Random Thursday.

:-) Michelle

~ What's Up Wednesday ~

My sister occasionally has a What's Up Wednesday on her blog. I thought it appropriate to title this post the same. Not because I have had anything quilty happening lately, but she has been busy as my personal photographer while visiting the family in Mississippi ;-)

Rene' harasses me endlessly gently reprimands me for not blogging about all of my quilts. Sometimes I forget just how many quilts I have made.  Some quilts were made before I started blogging, and I have been thinking about posting about some of my earlier (like, 2 years ago...haha) quilts.

This quilt was made for my mother, Christmas 2010. The pattern is called Strip Search, which just cracks me up!! 

 The quilt was made during my initial quilting frenzy when I made my first, hmmm, FOUR quilts during a span of about four months. Talk about stressing out and getting very little sleep.

This was also when I realized two things...

I LOVE batiks!!

My machine HATES them...well, hates to FMQ on batiks.

I finally gave up (temporarily) on FMQing and stuck with my organic lines. I was able to finish it Christmas Eve with just a few tears of frustration and aggravation ;-)

I have to admit, I love looking at pictures of quilts taken by Rene'.  She really knows how to showcase them. Or, like I often tell her, "You make my quilts look good!"

Thanks, as always, for visiting my blog! And thanks, Rene', for some awesome pictures...you are the BEST!!

~ Michelle ~