Sunday, September 25, 2011

Monday, September 19, 2011

Meet Shelly

As named by our DD. Here's Shelly. She's an Ecuadorian Hermit Crab.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Cheerful Garden, a Lap Quilt

It's still un-named, and unbound - but it'll be getting bound in a dark pink. If anyone has some name suggestions I'm open for a name. I'm leaning towards Cheerful Garden for the name, but I'm not sure.

My mom went to AC Moore for something for Christmas and called me and said, "They have fabric, I picked you up something round." I had no idea, but it was a Fabric Expressions jelly roll. Since Mom doesn't quilt or like working with fabric this was so impressive. (and the Jelly Roll was the 'round' thing)

I decided to whip up a lap quilt with it. I'm so happy with how it came out! My DD picked out the backing fabric - it's actually leftover seersucker from when I made her a dress. The quilt is 40"x40" and I didn't have a pattern, I just made it up as I went along.

I had a few issues with the FMQ - the thread kept breaking, but it might have just been the June Taylor basting spray. I think where the thread broke it was on too thick. I did spray it thick in a couple spots.

It was FMQ'd on my Singer Confidence. I'm not the biggest fan of the machine, but I'm starting to like it more, especially for FMQ. Please ignore some of my boo-boos, I'm not the worlds greatest at FMQ.

Best view of the quilt: It's 40x40


FMQ Close Up #1


FMQ Close Up #2


FMQ Close Up #3


Best shot I got of the backing:

Week 38: 18-24 September

Ok. I'll admit it. I'm a total and complete sap. I just sat and watched Titanic for probably the millionth time and I'm still in tears. I really would have loved to go on a long boat trip, I think it'd be perfect and an incredible getaway.

This weeks theme is VOYAGE. Could be a personal voyage, an internal struggle, or a real one.

Friday, September 16, 2011

And it begins again.. Boomerang 6

I'm INSANE. Yep. I've joined Boomerang Six! I joined 2 groups again, and said that I'd be a standby if a small group needed someone else to "play."

I swear, sometimes I really think that if I didn't do these Boom swaps I'd never get any large quilts made.

Wanna sneak peek of what I'm sending for one group? Curious as to what 35 envelopes stuffed with a Fat Eighth looks like?? Sure, I know you are! And of course I live to share!

This particular fabric I've been holding onto for 6 years or so (I think.) It's a Robert Kaufmann print and I just love it to pieces. I finally made the first cuts into it. Let me tell you - cutting it hurt, but at the end of this Boom, I'll finally have a quilt for MYSELF!!!



I only had enough of the coffee print fabric for 16 envelopes (I've designated myself to making 4 blocks with this print...) So.. this is what 16 envelopes looks like stuffed with the F8th, a letter - the original is handwritten but I photocopied it - and no addresses on the envelopes or stamps just yet.


And this fabric is going to be for DD. She picked it, she wants bright happy colors. Since there are 35 people I send to, and I'd already had 16 people, there are 19 Fat Eighths here, and I'll be making some blocks with the leftover fabric I have. I'm sending out 10 yellow Elmo F8ths, and 9 Pink. DD told me that I have to make her at least one pink block - so there's the 20th block.




And here is a photo of what 35 envelopes looks like! Each has a letter inside it, and the F8th in a baggie.



Now, all I have to do is decide on what I'm sending out to the second group. I do have an idea, but I think it'll be a surprise - and I'll post all the blocks as I receive them and maybe someone can guess. :)

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Boomerang Addicted

Yep, I'm so addicted to these Boomerang Swaps. I've just joined up for Boomerang 6!! I have so much fabric that I'll never get made into quilts if I don't swap.

I think sometimes I'm paralyzed by fear of cutting and making a mistake. There's so much gorgeous fabric out there, and I get upset sometimes if I just don't buy it. But then it sits, and I never make anything. It gets aggravating.

These Boomerang swaps let me make at least 35 blocks for other people (maybe with the same paralyzing fear I have) and then they can make a block for me. :) Best of both worlds.

This Boomerang, I'm again in 2 groups - so that's a total of 70 blocks to make. I've decided on sending out 15 fat eighths of Elmo fabric with pink and yellow background, and I'll make 1 block. That'll go into a quilt for my DD. Then I have this *amazing* coffee cup fabric - and since I don't have a quilt for myself in over 12 years of quilting.. just maybe I'll send out some fat eighths for a coffee quilt for me.

The rest, I have NO idea. I still don't have a Christmas quilt, and I have a lot of Fall and Halloween Fabric, and I have a *TON* of Hawaiian print fabric.. just maybe some of those. What do y'all think that I should send out?

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Booming Along

Here are the rest of my blocks! All in all, I only forgot to take pictures of 4. Not bad out of 70 blocks!! :) And all done in less than 4 months. :)

For Poker Diva


For Pattis47


Both are for OK Darla. She only wanted Black added.



Both are for Navarre2011



For MaterialGrl


For Laura Ellen


For KSea (a private swap)


For Katy. She only wanted white on white added


For Karen. I added the purple.


For Janecat



For HeyJami


For Carsey






Week 37: 11-17 September

Today is the 10th anniversary of September 11th. This post is going to be very short and sweet.

This weeks theme: REMEMBRANCE

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Boom Boom Boom Blocks

My mailman is going to think I've gone totally insane. Well, I probably did, but that's ok. :) Here are the boom blocks that I've just transferred to the computer. I still have about 20 to upload. :) But... drumroll please.. ALL BOOMERANG 5 blocks are DONE. :) *happy Dance*

For Troy26 - all the way in Australia


For Sustraley


For SherryKae


For QuiltedHorse


For NanaKathy


For MsGrace


For Moonrise


For Moonrise


For MontanaBlu


For MissGiggleWings


For MFQS


For LMattick


For Keesha_Ont


For Karenpatrick


For Bolin0909


For JudyVA


For JLin


For Janetlmt


For Goldendog55


For Donnad


For Craft Phanatic


For Craft Phanatic


For Brenda21


For Brenda 5


For Bolin0909