A House does not make a Home...

so they say.  While I completely agree with this old adage, I have to say that when you leave a house that has been your HOME for while, it doesn't make it any easier.  I typically don't post about the real "life" stuff - not that it doesn't matter, but really who wants to read about all that mundane crap.  Well, I sort of feel like I have been a little MIA recently, with no fun sewing or baking stuff, and this is why.  

So, the gist of what has been going on is that my husband got laid off.  It happens, right.  In fact, his entire job site was closed, so I know for a fact there are over 100 families in our general location that are going through a similar hardship.  We were left with some "grown-up" decisions that had to be made very quickly, and that is what we have done.  What that means to us is that we put our house up for sale.  Yes, it is just a house, and things could be worse, but it is my dream house.  I know, whhaaaa... cry me a river, right?  It is sad, but we are all good, and we are all together, and we are putting ourselves in a situation for us to fight another day.  I am planning a quilt as a memory for my dream home, and you never know - who says I can't have another dream?

Our open house is today, so I am getting ready to leave so that the potential buyers can have at it... letting the fun begin!  

Here are a couple of shots of the house from the realtor:

Wrap around porch... I have got to find a new place to photography my quilts. 

part of my dream kitchen, where the cookie magic happens!  

My kitchen island, where more cookie magic (decorating) takes place!

Normal sewing and cookie pictures will commence shortly - looking forward to that! :)

Thanks for letting me vent a little.  

Welcome Home From My Scrappy Trip

I'm back... from where?  Well, nowhere really.  But I did take a little Scrappy Trip Around the World.  It all started back at the beginning of the year with some folks talking about this fun way to use up your scraps - and then it sort of took over the quilting world.  The tutorial that I used was from Bonnie - and it is just fabulous!  Anyway, I started back in January, and had every intention of finishing before I did anything else, but you know how that goes... but I did finish it today!  I can't begin to describe how much I LOVE this quilt.

At first I was a little nervous, but I just went for it - and the result is stunning!  I randomly pulled fabrics from my stash and went to town.  The placement at the end wasn't too difficult, and just decided to embrace the randomness!

I used the Mod Century Constellation fabric for my backing, something that wasn't too busy since the front was... well you know, BUSY!  The binding is a black and white is the Black Pinking Shears from the Mama Said Sew line.  I was thinking about a solid, but I didn't want to unintentionally pull colors out.  I think it is the perfect compliment. 

The last piece that I struggled with was how to quilt it.  Actually, this is the same trouble I have with every quilt.  I think I might spend more time thinking about how to quilt a quilt than any other part of the process - but in this case, I was super excited with the result.  I wanted to do something in every square - but not too much to take away from the effect of the quilt.  I decided to go with an orange peel design.  It is not perfect, far from it - but I love the overall look so much!!

... and I couldn't take pictures of my quilts without my rocking chair, right?

You totally need to do this quilt, it is so fun!  And, take a look at the Flickr group - all of the quilts are beautiful!!!  

TFL!!!

WIP Wednesday- Lot's going on!

I have been very busy this month in the sewing area, which I am very happy to report.  I am hoping to get one more quilt finished by the end of the month.  We shall see... crossing my fingers. 

First off, since the arrival of my long-arm, the formal dining room has become my "Sewing Room".  The great thing is that my hubby is in full support of this change.  He likes that the room is actually being used!  So we got rid of the dining set that we have had longer than we've been married... which was sort of bitter sweet - but in the end, I am very happy about that decision.  It will leave space for the good stuff, when I can afford it.  In the meantime - in order to keep from taking over the kitchen too - I did get this really cool cutting table:

both ends fold down, which is perfect for when I need to move it out of the way, but it will hold two large cutting mats when they are up!  So, I can cut on one side and iron on the other!  I am loving it!  

Another addition to the room is the second part of my "portable" design wall!  Yes, my hubby and I made one last year, which was great when I wasn't sure which room I was going to be sewing in, but now that I am trying to limit my mess to one area, I thought it would be nice to have it a little bigger.  So, using the tutorial over at Oh Fransson! - we made the second board, and now, I can actually layout my entire design:

Which brings me to my WIPs! Yes, it holds more than one at a time!!! EEEK - so beyond excited!  The first one is my Kaleidoscope quilt using Don't Call Me Betsy's quilt-along tutorial!  I have been wanting to play along for so long.  I got a FQ bundle of Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill (which is absolutely gorgeous) and I wanted a pattern that highlighted the beautiful prints - and this was just the ticket!  So I got busy cutting and piecing:

I am excited for this one - more than half way pieced, and I just ordered the backing.  Hopefully will finish soon!  I am linking up with Freshly Pieced - go check out some of the cool projects that are in progress!  

I have also been working on my 4x5 bee blocks:

the Diamond Ripple from the Modern Blocks Book.  I have one more completed, but haven't taken a picture of it yet.  Only 2 more to go!  I will share more next time!

Not that I am keeping too close of track, but here are my WIPs:

-#scrappytripalong - 10 blocks are completed, and remaining 20 have been cut and ripped, just waiting to be sewn together.  

-Lucy's Crab Shack - still haven't worked anymore on this - so still a ton to do.

-Prince Charming hex-a-go-go - slowly but surely.  I think this one will take quite a long time!

There are way too many projects planned, and inevitably something pops up that must get done first - so, I will just keep plugging along.  Can't wait to see what everyone else is working on.

One down...

Here we are, only a couple of weeks into the new year, and I am happy to report that I have finished my first quilt of the new year!  

We were given a challenge from the Modern Quilt Guild for Violet Craft's Madrona Road.  I absolutely love this entire line, both colorways.  My local guild was given some fabric to play with, and I was one of the lucky ones that got to play with some.  Our challenge was to use it in a pattern, block, or technique that was new to us.  Since I have only been quilting for a little over a year, this was an easy challenge.  I have been hoarding the Chopsticks pattern by Julie Herman at Jaybird Quilts, waiting for just the right fabric, and I knew this was going to be it!  

I love this quilt so much - it was faster to put together than I thought.  The pattern was really well written, which was no surprise - I even purchased a couple more patterns from her today at our Guild meeting.  

Here are a couple more pics -

The obligatory rocking chair picture... I really need to find a new place to take my quilt pictures!

One of the great things about this pattern is that there is a ton of opportunity to quilt in the negative spaces.  I have only really done that on one other quilt, and I really love it!  I asked my son for his opinion on what I should quilt, and he was very specific on his choices - pebbles in the gray outer triangles, flowers in the middle, and meandering on the prints.  Well, who could argue with that?  So, that is exactly what I did.  I LOVE IT!  Here is a close up!

I think this is a great way to start off the year - now on to the next project.  hmmm... maybe I will finish my #scrappytripalong?  Talk to you soon!

TFL!

All the cool kids are doing it...

Just a few days ago, I was checking-in stalking Twitter and Instagram, and stumbled upon this impromptu quilt-along.  The #scrappytripalong, based off of the tutorial by Quiltville, was popping up all over the place - like literally over night it seemed that everyone was doing one.  Amazing how that can happen... and like the good little quilter that I am, I decided, what the heck, and jumped on that band wagon.  

First Block...

I have only done 4 blocks, but they are super fast and takes almost no thinking... which for me, is a great way to start the year off!  I typically have a harder time with "scrappy" because I tend to like to plan, but this is a great way to throw caution to the wind and just go for it with my scraps.  The funny thing is, the day before this quilting phenomenon occurred, I had cleaned up my "scraps" and gave my mother a ton of fabric.  I was worried that I wouldn't have "enough" to do a scrappy quilt.... Bwhahaha... who am I kidding?!?  Of course I had enough... probably for several.  

Anyway, totally fun, and you know you want to do it!  Because, you know... all the cool kids are!  Can't wait to see all of yours!

TFL!

And the Winner is...

Thank you all for entering my little drawing! I wish that I could send everyone a bundle - but, I can't this time.  Maybe I will do another little giveaway soon!

I hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!  Here's to a great 2013!!!

... and the Type bundle goes to:

Congrats to:
Mermaid Sews

I will send you an email to get your info.  I can't wait to to see what you make with it!

I better started working on my project list - check back with you all soon!

All the best,

Quilty Year in Review

Well, here we are - the end of the year.  I am always a little sad this time of year.  The hustle and bustle of Christmas is over, and now as I "de-deck" my halls, it is always a little bittersweet.  Did I accomplish the goals I had set out for this past year?  Not sure - but that is ok because for 2013, I want to keep track.  I thought I would look back at my quilty finishes for the year:

1. Peek at the back, 2. Christmas Quilt for Mom claimed by the dog, 3. Bow Tie with Daisy Quilting, 4. Nillasblanket, 5. Spinning Stars QAL, 6. Christmas Quilt, 7. PlusQuilt2, 8. RedAppleFizz

I didn't really have any quilting goals for 2012- I have really only been quilting since August of 2011, so really just over a year now, and for several months during that time, I was working... so I didn't spend a lot of time sewing during that time.  I am very happy with my progress - and I love every quilt better than the last, so all in all I think it is good!  What does that mean for 2013?  My goal is to complete 12 quilts (an average of 1 a month).  I already have some presents planned, where the others will go, I have no idea... but I am sure I will think of something!

Anyway, wish me luck - and I can't wait to see what projects come for us all in the new year.

Oh and before I forget - there are a couple of days left for the giveaway here... be sure and leave a comment there to enter my drawing!

Cheers to all!