Musical Pinwheels top is finished!

Haven't gotten much sewing done lately. Have got to have a lot of family time though which is nice. Lots more is scheduled in the next week so I probably still won't get much sewing done. I have managed to purchase quite a bit of new fabric in the last week though. You've seen some, but there is lots more headed my way :-) Gotta love sales, clearance, discount codes, and ebay!

One thing I did get done was the top for my Musical Pinwheels quilt. The border fabric got washed, cut, and attached. I still need to find a new backing so this one will get set aside for a little while now. There is plenty more to work on with all my new spoils so it shouldn't be a problem :-)

Big Sale, Big Finds

As scheduled, I made my way to my LQS yesterday for their 'date matching' sale. Not only was all regularly priced merchandise 25% off since it was the 25th, but they also had clearance merchandise up to 75% off.

So what did I find?

Backing fabric for 'Musical Pinwheels'...Backing fabric for my log cabin bed quilt...Fabric for a colorwheel quilt to be made in the future and a spool of thread for piecing...
The prices and service were great, they even offered me a free half yard on both backings since they were the end of each bolt, but they didn't have many modern or novelty fabrics so we decided to hit another LQS a few cities over. They offered a much larger selection, but also had higher prices, no sale, and not so great service. I found a few batiks on their sale shelf that I really liked though so it wasn't a worthless visit.
I was quite pleased with my findings and brought everything home to admire. I pulled out the tops that correspond to the backings I had purchased only to discover that the Musical Pinwheels top doesn't match the back. Mind you, I took a swatch of the pink to the store and in the lighting there it matched, but in the lighting here at home and with the whole front, the pinks are different. So into the stash that fabric goes. I'll have to try again for the backing.

Log Cabin Re-visited

Earlier this week I was inspired to pull this back out...I laid it out and decided I needed to add one more row to get it to the dimensions I needed so I made these...
Tonight, I suddenly felt a need to look again. After doing a couple calculations on the size of the quilt top and the size of the bed the quilt is intended for, I realized I need to add one column, not one row.

Now, I'm bothered because the design is going to be off-centered if I add a column and I'm unsure what to do. I'm not sure I have enough strips left over to make another eight blocks (a second column plus the one block I need to finish the first column) to re-center the design. I know I don't want to rip it all apart and create another design. So before I attach any more blocks I need to think this through. It definitely needs to be wider to fit the original bed it was intended for. Any thoughts, ideas, or advice would be appreciated.

Musical Pinwheels Progress

Musical Pinwheels is beginning to come together :-) I found another music themed white fabric while at Joann's shopping for Colt's quilt so I was able to put together the four additional white pinwheels I needed earlier this week. After experimenting with a couple arrangements, I decided this one showcased each of the four prints well and didn't lose the pinwheel look of each block (which happened when I put too many of the same color pinwheels together). What I've put together thus far is a bit smaller than I had hoped, but I'm thinking I'll just put an extra border on to make it large enough for a lap quilt. I cut the binding I will need out of the remaining pink fabric. Now if I could just find the black I bought for a border I could make some more progress with this...

Disappearing Nine Patch Complete!

The pink and purple disappearing nine patch is all done! I had plenty of sitting time this weekend while I worked a garage sale and visited with family so I decided it was a good time to handstitch the binding. Slow and steady gets the job done. It took me three days of stitching on and off for short amounts of time, but its so beautiful how could I complain? Also, two finishes so close together feel so rewarding! Gets me motivated to have some more real soon.

The quilt measures 34"x41 1/2" before washing (there is a backup on laundry here preventing quilts from entering the washing machine). For now it will remain in my stash of finished projects until a new little person comes along needing a quilt. Since I'm usually not quick at getting quilts done, I'd like to have a couple on hand for friends and family having babies. No more episodes like last week :-)

Back to binding...Friday after I machine bound Colt's quilt, I decided I really liked the feel of machine binding better than hand stitched. I almost decided to do the disappearing nine patch one by machine too, but thought since I had the time I would go ahead and do it by hand. I'm really glad I did. After finishing this one I realized how wrong I was about the machine binding being better. The way this looks and feels is much nicer. I think there is a time and place for machine binding, but I'll probably stick to hand stitching most of my bindings down.

One Night Wonder

About two weeks ago I offered to my mom and sister that I would make a quilt for their friend's new little one. At the time they didn't think much of the idea. They just sort of ignored it and said they'd go get a gift later. Fastforward to Thursday night when they still didn't have a baby gift that they needed for Friday. All of the sudden they liked the quilt suggestion. My sister and I ran out to Joann Fabrics and spent what felt like forever looking for fabrics. We finally found some sports fabrics after about five runs through the store.

Front

We got back from the store around dinner time and before I went to sleep that night, I had everything pieced, basted, quilted, and the binding was attached. It was nearly two in the morning (I'd had some other non-quilting things I had to accomplish that night also) and I had to be up at seven so I decided to machine stitch the binding down. I'd never tried it before, but I know my handstitching can be a little slow and didn't know how much time I would have the next day to finish it. I attached the first side and then let myself get some sleep, feeling that my work would be a bit cleaner after I rested.

Back

The quilt is pretty simple, but I put the baby's name in the center for an added touch. I liked the idea initially, but only decided it was possible once I heard the baby's name: Colt. Since it was only four letters long and I could spell it out with all straight lines, the idea got to come to fruition. It measures 41" by 43" before washing. Fabrics are sports and school colors - a perfect combo for the new little family.

Close-up

I was busy most of the day Friday, but finished the binding up before my twenty-four hours were up. I got the quilt packaged and ready to go, only to find out the baby and parents were out of town and wouldn't be back until today. I wasn't happy that I had rushed, since there are a couple little things that could have been slightly cleaner if I wasn't rushing, but oh well, no regrets, and I am happy its done.

Packaged and ready to go! And in a matching tiger striped bag :-)

My family thinks the quilt is wonderful and I hope the recipients like it as well. My mom was amazed I could make a quilt so quickly since all of the others I've made have taken some time to finish. The difference is that I just do a little bit every day most of the time, between everything else in life I need to do. For this quilt, I put everything else aside and powered through. Plus this design was quite easy. Hopefully she doesn't take advantage of the possibility again in the future. I prefer taking a little more than a night to make a quilt.

Musical Pinwheels

My most recent project is a pinwheel quilt for a family friend. She is a pianist and has generously assisted my sisters and I over the years with vocal auditions without ever accepting anything in return. I was inspired to make a quilt for her when I saw the black musical note fabric a few months back during a sale I happened upon. The pink fabric I had purchased for another project which has since changed directions. I really liked the look of the black dot swirls with the musical note fabric so I began cutting and sewing. The white fabric, which I pulled from my stash, isn't exactly music themed, but I think the swirls on it look like bass clefts so I decided to include it. I also have some piano key fabric which isn't pictured.

I am happy to say that my piecing is improving. The points on most of these blocks line up. I've only had to tear apart one block (the first one) to make everything line up and lay flat. I really love the look of pinwheels and am happy that I chose pinwheels for this quilt.

I currently have 20 blocks made - 9 white pinwheels and 11 black. I have two more black to put together. I'm trying to experiment with layout and borders to see if I need to make more blocks. I'm also trying to think of how I'll quilt this. Suggestions are welcome :-)

Success!

1)Make and attach binding to disappearing nine patch. - done
2)Iron and cut Camelot fabric. - done

3)Piece Camelot top and back. - done front

back
Close-up of back

4)Make Camelot binding. - done bindings for Camelot and Princess quilt

5)Iron and cut Princess fabric. - done

6)Piece Princess front and back. - done front
back
7)Make Princess binding. - done

Just a little bit of work most every day and I've managed to complete my goal list pretty quickly. My prize is to go fabric shopping. I got an e-mail from my LQS a few days ago about a sale they are having this month called a date matching sale. On certain days in June you get a percentage off all regularly priced merchandise equal to the date. I have plans to go on the 25 so I'll get 25% off my bill. Can't wait to see what I'll find!

Another Skirt

Despite my lack of blogging lately, I have actually been doing quite a bit of quilting. However, I've been doing little picture taking. One project I did manage to get a picture of was another little reversible skirt.On the left is the first skirt I made and on the right side is the second. The two sides don't match as well on the second skirt, but I loved the zebra and purple lace together so I didn't look for something that matched the red side any better.

I'll post more updates as soon as I get pictures...hopefully tomorrow.

Much Progress

I have had a very productive couple of days. In addition to cleaning, studying, cooking, babysitting, and other such activities, I managed to get two items from my goal list checked off. First, I attached the binding on the disappearing nine patch. I am now setting this aside for when I need a car project or will otherwise be sitting for awhile without anything to do.

I finished the ironing and cutting for my Camelot Squared quilt. The ironing took forever and what felt like a gallon of water. There were so many wrinkles! I did some chain piecing and the top has come together quite quickly. I just need to sew the rows together and the top will be done.
After getting all that done, I still wasn't tired last night. I decided to put together a few more string blocks to add to the stack. I still need so many more though. I had no idea what a daunting task I had taken on when I began.
And finally, I whipped up this adorable little skirt from this tutorial this morning. I don't even know how I happened upon it, but I am so happy I did. All the materials came from my stash. It was exciting to realize I could actually make something entirely from what I already have on hand. When I figured out the cost, the whole thing ended up only costing about a dollar. And look...its reversible! I made it for a little girl that I babysit. I've spent hours and hours with her the last week and a half, but now that I have this I don't think I'll be seeing her for a couple weeks. Oh well, I'll get it to her eventually.Just looking at this makes me smile. I think I might have to make up a couple more.

Camelot Squares

Got some ironing and cutting done today. Part of me wishes I hadn't cut the squares so small so I could preserve more of the overall design. There are still cute parts on most all the squares though, and, luckily, I have two more FQs of the castle background fabric to use on something else.

AccuQuilt GO!

Barb from Bejeweled Quilts by Barb has the honor of hosting a giveaway for an AccuQuilt GO! Before heading to Barb's, make a stop at the AccuQuilt website and choose your three favorite diecuts so you'll be prepared for Barb's giveaway instructions. If you head over from here, be sure to tell her AlwaysaPieceofMe sent you. Thanks and Good Luck!

Let's Make a Deal

I want more fabric. I love all the beautiful designs, colors, and textures I find when fabric shopping. I happen to know myself though and know that I tend to buy and hoard things and never end up using them. So I negotiated a deal with myself. I would set a goal and when I reached it I could buy more fabric. Then came the difficult part of setting a reasonable goal. Something not too hard to reach, but also not too easy just because I wanted to go shopping. I've thought about it for a couple of days and here is what I have come up with:
1)Make and attach binding to disappearing nine patch.
2)Iron and cut Camelot fabric.
3)Piece Camelot top and back.
4)Make Camelot binding.
5)Iron and cut Princess fabric.
6)Piece Princess front and back.
7)Make Princess binding.

Its sort of a lot to do, but I don't think it is unreasonable. I'm hoping to work on ironing and cutting this week which should be a good start.