Candy Cane: A Finished Quilt

As a result of a Blogger's Bundle of the Month Club that I was in, hosted through Fat Quarter Shop, I sometimes received bundles of fabric that were not at all to my liking or taste. One such bundle came full of different reds and with what I would consider "old fashioned" fabrics like those from the French General line (which is wildly popular in some circles).

I was inspired by a pin on Pinterest to make a red and white quilt and, because the fabric is a little "old lady" for my taste, to gift the quilt to an old lady: my husband's stepmother's mother, Nana. She is the kindest woman you'll ever meet and even if this was the ugliest quilt ever made I assure you she would adore it because it was handmade for her. Her health has been a bit challenging this year and her husband, Papa, has also been quite ill which has been stressful for her. I think a beautiful red and white quilt as a Christmas present will help cheer her up!

So here is Candy Cane, being held up by quilty friend CW who was  not impressed that at our retreat I wanted her to hold it up for me in the rain. Apparently complaining about quilt photo shoots isn't restricted only to my husband. :) She was a trooper.

It is also important to note that CW is not nearly as tall as my 6'1" husband.  The binding is leftover white-on-white fabric and I think it frames the quilt nicely without being overly bold. I have never bound a quilt with white before but I think it works!

Here I think all the reds play nicely together. The whites are all white-on-whites because I thought a crisp Kona White would be too stark against the more traditional fabric.

The back is all one fabric. I got this one on clearance from Sew Sisters quite a long time ago because I knew I wanted something red but not too RED, you know? I love it.

I echo quilted all the seams with a variegated red and white cotton thread using my walking foot. 

This is a generous lap-sized quilt, especially considering Nana is a pretty tiny lady. I hope she loves it and gets lots of cuddling under it!


Lynn

This Friday I'm going to try to remember to link up to Finish It Up Fridays with Crazy Mom Quilts. Here's hoping my brain doesn't let me down!

Tackling Those WIPs!

Despite being back to work after my maternity leave, I have been tackling WIPs at a fast rate. I credit my husband being home all the time now (he is taking four months of paternity leave) to being as productive as I have been. I wish he could be home all the time!

Some binding finished on Monkey Business. Love this print but I don't remember what it is called.

I got the binding on Monkey Business and I felt fantastic about it because I used up some binding from another quilt and had the perfect amount. Total win not having to make binding and shopping in my "scraps."

I finally got the layout finalized on my red and white quilt. This has been a WIP for a very long time but I was unsure about the mix of reds, and I had a crisis of whites and off-whites not looking right. Some TLC and replacing all the whites with more true whites and I'm loving the result!

For the red and white quilt I decided to go outside of my norm. When I first started quilting I used white-on-white in quilts because I was shopping at more traditional stores and only knew traditional quilters. Some time on the internet and becoming addicted to blogs and I learned the way of the modern quilter. I now use a boat load of Kona White (I buy it by the bolt, people). 

This quilt, however, is out of my comfort zone already because it has all these reds that I got in a Blogger Bundle from Fat Quarter Shop with my monthly Blogger Bundle subscription. I decided I would use the reds together to make a quilt for my husband's stepmother's mother (Nana). Using a crisp, modern, plain white with the reds didn't look right. So I fished out any white-on-whites I had in my stash and bought some more to have enough true whites to get the look I wanted. And I love it! Here are some close ups to see the white-on-white prints that I chose:

Flowers. Poppies maybe? I love this look, actually.

I think this is meant to be tree bark? Wood grain?

I found this white-on-white at Greenwood Quiltery. It was the last of the true whites that I needed to finish the quilt.

There is a lot of movement in this white-on-white. I think it is quite pretty!

I did all the pressing of the rows with the white to one side onto the red (obviously the red can't be pressed to the white or it will show through). I then pressed open the seams between the rows to maintain a crisp white front on those blocks and to reduce the bulk of the seams.

The pressed seams look pretty from the back, don't you think?

And one very productive Sunday afternoon later, I got a quilt top done! Next to tackle the backing!

The reds all play together nicely now!

I also got on making lots and lots of crayon roll ups. Well, marker roll ups because they are going to be party favours (in lieu of goody bags) for my daughter's sixth birthday party. Each kid will get a marker roll up and a Playmobil figure. Way better than random dollar store junk, right? I'm hoping they think so!

This was a stack waiting to be turned right-side-out. I got ten finished and have five to go!

So my WIPs are coming along and I feel great! I have a long list of projects to get done soon, however, so I better not slow down!

Lynn

Linking up with Freshly Pieced's WIP Wednesday!

May Kona Solids

My Sew Sisters Kona Fat Quarter club arrived! 

Inspiration photo

From left to right: Peach, Punch, Kale, Willow

I love the greens...very emerald in flavour. The deeper Willow is pretty delicious. The Punch looks great with the greens, I have to admit. 

To be clear, I really don't like peach. In this case, however, I really actually needed peach for a quilt I'm starting soon, so I was thrilled this was included. Now I need just one fat quarter of Kona Mango and I'll be set. That darn Mango is totally elusive. The only place I've been able to find it is Fat Quarter Shop and their shipping costs are crazy expensive. My go-to Sew Sisters doesn't have it. Neither does Fabric Spot which has zillions of solids. Grrrrrrr. I must find some! Thoughts?

Lynn

Good Intentions, Zero Progress

After my machine ground to a halt the other day, I have been trying to get back into a sewing groove. I tried cleaning out the machine, oiling it, changing the needle, etc. Nothing has worked. My machine is, hopefully, visiting a doctor this week. 

In the meantime I pressed and cut the material for the binding for the twins' quilts:

These are the left over crossword prints from both quilts, reversed for the binding on each twin's quilt.

And I pulled out the stack of fabric that was supposed to be turned into a quilt for my husband's stepmother's mother (we call her Nana) with the plans to make her a quilt for Christmas. I have since come to the realization that there is NO WAY I am finishing any quilts before Christmas with the exception, I hope, of one for my own baby. So I think she will get this next Christmas.

Most of these fabrics were pulled from Fat Quarter Shop Blogger Bundles. Red isn't my favourite, but I think Nana will love a red and white quilt.

And I cut the fabric (the pattern half at least) for a quilt for my own baby from Indian Summer. I need to cut the Kona White next.

How adorable are these fabrics?

I consulted my sewing friends C and A about where to take my machine for servicing, and in the meantime wonderful, generous C has offered to lend me her old, starter machine so I can still be sewing while I wait for mine to be fixed. How awesome is she???

And we have a shop hop (my last for a while, I'm guessing) planned for next Saturday. I can't wait!

Wish my sewing machine a speedy recovery!

Lynn

Fast Failure

I was supposed to be on a fabric fast until school started on September 3rd. But I am part of the Sew Sisters Kona Solids club, so there are four fat quarters there. And I am part of the Fat Quarter Shop Blogger Bundle of the Month club, which sent me this for August:

I will not be using this as a complete bundle but, rather, splitting up the contents and pairing what I like with other fabrics from my stash.

And I had to use my golden ticket from Pink Castle Fabrics. I mean, it expired August 31st. So I had no choice, right?

Here are the goodies I ordered:

I fell hard for Glow with the Flow, a blogger bundle by Terri of Sew Fantastic. I absolutely adore the bright colours and modern vibe. I think I need to make something for myself with this one!

Flannelette! I have plans for these beauties...

Painters Pallet in Sky and Chevron Remix in Garden

Some Indian Summer (this print is Wilderness in Rock) for the backing of my Indian Summer baby quilt.

 You can see why I needed to so horribly break my fast, right? And I think I may have to buy a bunch more Kona White before back to school as well since I am running really low again.

Oh, and I had a wonderful experience (again) with Pink Castle. I was able to enter my golden ticket for a discount (it was worth $25 dollars! Score!) but then I couldn't enter the bundle discount. I emailed them and they quickly refunded the difference, even changing the input of the codes to save me the maximum amount. I LOVE shopping with them!

Other than buying I started playing with some of the fabric I cut for a little boy born early August. Here are some sneak shots:

Trimming HSTs. Had just the right ruler.

Very little waste, considering the number of HSTs.

Playing with the layout.

And now, back to work (sewing work, that is!)

Lynn

Step One: Admitting You Have a Problem

I have a problem. I am addicted to fabric. And I can't. Stop. Buying. It. 

Earlier in the year I went on a fast...no fabric buying for a month. I have decided that I MUST go on another fast. I am going to say for the rest of the summer (first day back to school being the first day of fall in my mind). 

Here is a delicious package that arrived from Hawthorne Threads:

Hungry, Hungry Caterpillar, various colours of Squared Elements, Sweet Holiday Tweets and some Backyard Baby

I snapped up the Backyard Baby when I saw they had some because I LOVED it when it was out but didn't buy any and then regretted it. I also love the Squared Elements (Art Gallery) as a modern stash builder (so many uses! I'm thinking binding first!). The other two were just because I wanted them.

Thing is I have a package also pending from Pink Castle Fabrics, Fabricworm and Fat Quarter Shop. And I just went on a shop hop and bought 10 more fat quarters just because. I NEED TO STOP.

So. Today is the first day of my fast. I hope I make it. Wish me luck!

Lynn

Dragging Myself to the Finish Line

My grandmother's birthday is June 5, and I knew I wanted to make her a quilt because she was very jealous of the one I made for my mom for Christmas. I chose a fat quarter bundle I received as part of my Fat Quarter Blogger's Bundle of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop because the fabrics were much more traditional than my usual taste and I thought they might suit my grandmother.

This quilt has been nothing but a headache. I think working with fabrics I don't really like means I enjoy the process less. I have been forcing myself through the completion of the quilt and now I'm finally at binding stage. I put the binding on by machine, went to start hand binding the back and *snap* a broken thread. I tried again. *snap*

This quilt is a nightmare!

I've decided to machine-stitch the stupid binding on just to get the darn thing done before I toss it out the window!

I sure hope my Grandma appreciates her quilt because this is by far my least favourite one to make to date!

Lynn

Oh Good. I Needed More Fabric.

There is no doubt that I love fabric. And I love buying fabric. And I buy too much fabric.

This week three bundles arrived. One was my Kona Solids of the Month Club from Sew Sisters. Here is the inspiration photo:

And here are the fat quarters:

Left to right: Kona Melon, Salmon, School Bus and Coral

I don't mind the School Bus (though not with those pinks) but I am not particularly enamoured with the pinks. They are very peachy and I hate peach. When you add them to a project and don't group them all together it is much nicer on the eyes, though, so I'm still happy with the bundle. And the Melon I think is the best of this bunch.

Also, Sew Sisters recently got in some Laurie Wisbrun Brrr fabric, a line that is now "out of season" so it was an awesome price. I bought a yard of everything.

Look at those polar bears!

My plan is a Christmas quilt for my own house. I'm not committing to which Christmas, mind you. Or maybe a tree skirt? Or stockings? Love, love, love Laurie Wisbrun.

Also, because it was inexpensive and adorable, I ordered some yardage of this adorable print, destined to be a backing:

Monkey Bizness- Park and Ride Tea

I also got my Fat Quarter Shop Blogger Bundle this week. It is a Vanessa Coppola bundle. I'm stealing the picture from the website:

I really like some of the yellows, which I find terribly difficult to get right, and the greys are lovely. But, alas, more pink. I guess more friends need to have baby girls, or I need to think of some of the wonderful women in my life who would enjoy a pink quilt.

Here's to a potential weekend of sewing!

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Work in Progress...Friday?

I know, I know, it is supposed to be Work in Progress Wednesdays over at Freshly Pieced and then Finish It Up Fridays with Crazy Mom Quilts. I'm making up my own Work in Progress Friday today because that is the kind of week it has been!

I chose this delightful aqua and red Michael Miller Dot Duo for the binding for Tumbling Jungle.

I love the way a roll of binding looks when you are done. It feels like an accomplishment.

I cut up a big stack of rectangles for my grandmother's birthday quilt.

I tried this layout first- and hated it. Too busy! I went with simple stacked rectangles instead. Apparently I didn't take a picture.

 If you have read my blog before you may know that close friends of ours are expecting triplets this fall. They won't know the sexes of the babies for awhile (if ever, depending on their position) but after working with Tim and Beck's Bungle Jungle for Tumbling Jungle I knew two big fat quarter bundles would work perfectly. Fat Quarter Shop seemed to be the only place that had it (from my usual haunts) and so I ordered the stacks (and some other goodies). Each baby will get a different colour combo from this line- I'm thinking grey & red, blue & green, yellow & turquoise. We'll have to see.

Here is the big stack:

A pair of charm packs of Happy-Go-Lucky by Bonnie and Camille for a future planned quilt for my bedroom and a pair of charm packs of Apple Jack by Tim and Beck. That has a plan but shhhhh, it is a secret.

I auditioned fabric for the backing for Comma Sutra (all greys).

These are the three I went with. The backing is made and the quilt is basted. Now on to quilting.

 I hope I get a bit of time to sew this weekend...maybe even finish Tumbling Jungle and the quilting on Comma Sutra?

Fingers crossed!

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Traditional but Pretty?

I have not had any time to sew lately due to a busy work schedule and a hectic Easter. No, I did not get much more of a chance to sew over the long weekend thanks to three Easter dinners/events.

I wanted to show you the bundle of fat quarters I am going to use to make my grandmother a quilt for her 89th birthday this June. It is certainly not a group of fabrics I would ever choose for myself, but this bundle came as part of my Fat Quarter Shop Blogger Bundle of the Month Club and I thought my grandmother would like the soft colours and traditional fabrics.

I also have been working on my Tumbler quilt for our neighbour's soon-to-arrive fourth son. Here is a little peek at the backing fabrics:

It is hard to see but the white fabric is actually white-on-white with letters all over it.

Now I just need to make it through the rest of this busy week- and fight off getting sick which I feel creeping up on me a bit- and then I can do some actual sewing this weekend!

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Fat Quarters Bonanza

I am part of the Sew Sisters Kona Solids of the Month Club and my March delivery just came last week. Below is the inspiration image and the solids:

From left to right: Lilac, Lemon, Sprout, Tulip

I am pretty happy with Tulip (my favourite of this bunch), and I don't hate Lemon but this colour combination is NOT my thing. Way too typical Easter for me. Once I add them in colour order to my Kona solids stash, however, they all will be loved. I love this club!

On another note, I'm done all the blocks for Comma Sutra! Below is an example of one of my favourite blocks. I am very nervous about how they're going to come together because of the extensive trimming. Fingers crossed!

Also, I am a member of the Fat Quarter Shop Blogger's Choice Bundle of the Month Club (thanks to my awesome husband who pays for it every month, gifted to me at Christmas). This month's bundle is AWESOME. It was by Kelli and Andie. It is by far my favourite since I started receiving them. They are all stash builders, really, and I don't think there is one I don't like in the whole batch. I think I am going to take it out of the packaging (and let me tell you, Fat Quarter Shop packaging is the best of any store out there that I've experienced so far) so I can start using some of these in my stash immediately. Love!!!

Lynn (aka Buttons)