Whoot Whoot!

I've got to get on a regular posting schedule.  Geez!  But blogging takes planning and, I think, pictures, to show what you are working on.  I mean, I'll eventually get to the point that I may wax poetic on items, but right now, it's all I can do to carve out sewing time!  Which is why I'm excited to share some of the things I've been working on.

So, my friend, Kim, is having her first baby!  I was so excited to receive an invitation to her shower.  She and her husband have been trying to conceive for a long time, so this will indeed be a celebration!  I decided to make the new baby (it's a boy) a summertime "quilt", since he'll be a late spring baby.  It's not technically a quilt, because it doesn't have batting.  I used a cheater print of Safari Soiree by Birch Fabrics and backed it with snuggly flannel.  I quilted along each side of the "blocks" and bound it with a satin blanket binding.  Man, that satin binding is a b-yach!  Slippery, slippery, slippery.  But I wanted the textural difference between the cotton, flannel and the satin.  I think touch is such an important sense for babies/toddlers.

Quilting

Sewing on satin binding

Top of quilt

Front & Back

Dang, that's a cute quilt!

Whole thing

Peek-a-boo!

The Fabric Fairy came to visit me:

I saw Ms Melody Miller speak to the Triad Modern Quilt Guild (it was so awesome!):

I've completed some bee blocks too:

Block for Kim in the Simply Solids Bee

Lucky Stars BOM- Practice Block

Believe Circle of do.good.stitches
February block

Believe Circle of do.good.stitches
February block

Believe Circle of do.good.stitches
February block

Sugar Block Club BOM- January Block

I still have loads of stuff to work on, like my Sew South Swap items, gifties for my Secret Sew South sister, and my nephew's quilt!  I also have to decide what I'm going to do with the Madrona Road fabric from the Modern Quilt Guild challenge.  And get caught up on the blocks for the various BOMs I'm participating in!  Haven't even started the blocks for one . . .

Linking up with the Let's Get Acquainted Linky.

See ya soon!
Nicole

Let's Get Acquainted Monday Link up

I got a little sewing done over the weekend.  Not as much as I wanted to, but something done.  I finished January's block for the Sugar Block Club with Stichery Dickory Dock.  I'm very pleased with how this turned out.  I'm finally cutting into my FQ bundle of  Mama Said Sew!  I can't wait to see how all of these blocks turn out.

January Block for Sugar Block Club

Good news for me!  I found me a Bernina 1090 machine on Ebay and I picked it up Tuesday.  There was some shipping damage, and the case was badly damaged.  The retractable power chord had gotten wedged in it's little cubby and I couldn't get it out.  Luckily, hubby was able to coax it out, so Saturday, I cut the machine on and, yeah, it works!  Now I've got to learn what it can do.  Will start on that tonight.

I had a goal setting party for myself yesterday afternoon.  I have some things that HAVE to get done this month:

1.  House block for Sew South.
2.  Solids block for Simply Solids Bee.
3.  Cutting and sewing my nephews quilt top!
4.  Blocks for Believe Circle for do.good.stitches.

I also have lots of other things to catch up on:

1.  Blocks for Pile O' Fabric's Skill Builder BOM and FMQ these!  Eek!
2.  Blocks for Sea of Stars BOM-- I need to do 3!
3.  February block for Sugar Block Club.
4.  Swap items and Secret Sister items for Sew South.

Whew, I better get busy!  I'm going to link up with Beth at Plum & June's Let's Get Acquainted Linky!  Y'all do to!

A Lovely Year of Finishes-January

I finished my January goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes with Melissa and Shanna. Tanner's Oz quilt is done! I gave it to her as a late 13th birthday present. She was very stoked! The fabric is Beth Bruske for David Textiles for the wonky log cabin blocks, Kona snow for the field and Simply Color Leafy Stripe in Eggplant for the binding. Here it is!
I'm linking up to Melissa's blog; hope I win some prizes!!:)

Waaaay to long and W.I.P.

Well, it's been a long time, blogg-o-sphere! It's a new year and I am pumped to get some things finished up! I've joined Shanna at Fiber of All Sorts and Melissa at Sew BitterSweet Designs for their A Lovely Year of Finishes linky! It's awesome! Check then out and join in the fun.
My first finish will be my niece's Oz quilt. I am almost finished with the quilting! It will be bound by next Wednesday!

I received a EPP kit featuring Tula Pink's Nightshade. I've been basting some hexies, y'all! Not sure what I'm gonna do with them, but I'll figure it out!
I'm also linking up with Lee over at Freshly Pieced!
What are you working on?

Giveaways!

Give away!
Head over to 1 Choice 4 Quilting for an awesome giveaway.  Hurry, it ends today!

Been awhile and WIP

It's been a few weeks since my last post.  Seems like this time of year, things really start happening.  You know, things you scheduled on your calendar, at a time when December was COMPLETELY wide open and now, hardly a minute to breathe!

I've been sewing, just not as much as I want to!  So, I thought I'd share what's up and W.I.P.

1.  Quilt School 1
As you'll recall, I'm taking quilt school 1 at my local sewing shop, Thimble Pleasures, in Chapel Hill, NC.  I've quilted the top and now have binding on, well at least partially on.  But this class will now let me complete my niece, Tanner's quilt.

Quilt School 1 top w/ borders

2.  Oz Quilt (for Tanner)
Now that I know how to properly put together a quilt sandwich, I need to re-baste this sucker, quilt and bind.  All this before 12/30, as this is her 13th birthday present!

3.  Sawyer's Quilt
I've cut everything, and am piecing.  Going to the Triangle Modern Quilt Guild's sew-in at Spoonflower on Sunday, so I hope to make some progress on this quilt.  This is due 1/5/13; another birthday present!

4.  Tea Towel Calendars
So, I bought a BUNCH of these from Spoonflower to give as gifts . . .I've got to bind them/finish up the edges.  Completed 1!  About 9 more to go . . .

5.  Janele's VW van pillow
Saw this pattern from Tula Pink and knew I HAD to make this for my friend, Janele, for Christmas.  She loves the VW van and IS going to have one someday.  Now she can have a pillow until . . .

Not started, but I've picked fabric!

6.  3x6 Sampler Mini Quilt Bee
I've made 4 of the 6 blocks for this bee.  Pictures to come.  Due 1/15/13, I think!

So, what are you working on?

W.I.P. Wednesday (or Friday)

I've been busy this week.  I'm taking a beginning quilting class at Thimble Pleasures, in Chapel Hill.  I figured I needed to learn some correct techniques for cutting and piecing, and I was right!  I have been cutting all wrong!  What I mean is that I've not been making the most of my fabric, not practicing good safety habits, and the like.  Now I know better.  Here's what I'm working on:

Beginning Quilting Class progress

I've also been working on my test block for the 3x6 Bee I signed up for over on Flickr.

3x6 Bee test block for me

It is the Ribbon Star and the tutorial can be found over at Freshly Pieced.  Lee does a great job of explaining how to do this block.  There is a lot of steps but I went really slow to make sure I got everything lined up and such.  I really want to do a good job for my beemates and this is good practice.

I'm also working on a quilt for my niece.  The top is assembled, sandwiched and basted, but I'm waiting to learn some quilting in my class before I attempt it on this project.

Oz quilt top

Oz quilt block

So to recap:

Beginning quilting class:  still working on

3x6 Bee:  1 block done, 6 more to go

Oz quilt for Tanner:  need to quilt

Sawyer's quilt:  cutting

Seth's quilt:  not started

Weekender bag:  waiting on pattern

Messenger bag:  not started

I'm linking up to Lee at Freshly Pieced, you do to!  What are you working on?