Friday Finish: Baby Quilt

Yay, my Michael Miller fabric challenge quilt is done!

just a little more hand stitching to do

 I started working on this quilt in June at Jacquie Gering's log cabin class.  I needed a project for that workshop and an idea for my MM challenge and a baby quilt for our guild charity drive, so there you go!  Three for one!

with Jacquie and Debbe

I neglected to post about the workshop held at a LQS over the summer.  I didn't even have to travel to Austin (or Chicago or Kansas City) to see Jacquie!  It was wonderful seeing her again and spending some quality time together after class.

auditioning background fabric

The above six blocks were pieced in class and Jacquie and LQS owner Mel helped me choose this lovely shot cotton.  I would not have thought to go with this color and love the way it looks with the MM prints and other shot cottons from my stash!

"In My Room" backing fabric

The remaining blocks were pieced and the quilt top assembled at my Gruber's retreat.  My DIL inadvertently chose the backing fabric while in Montana when she noticed this Jenean Morrison print.  I originally bought the fabric intending to make something for Kasi until I noticed it would be perfect for this baby quilt.

spiral quilting with my walking foot

With my walking foot, I quilted organic spirals starting in the center and working my out.  I say organic because of the laid-back-not-really-marking-or-measuring method I tend to quilt...it's very forgiving ;-))  I used the center of the flower petal to start the first circle and then used the edge of the walking foot as my guide from there. 

my favorite thread is Aurifil!

Aurifil #2315 in 50wt is the thread I used which to me is a perfect color for this baby quilt.  I love the way it blends into the background of the yellow shot cotton and then shows up nicely against the bluish gray and salmon colored shot cottons.

ignore the Clover clips on the binding

Of course we finally got much needed rain at the time I chose to do a photo shoot.  I settled for using my great-great grandmother's baby rocking chair near a window for photographing purposes.

binding with shot cottons

I chose that same bluish gray (need to find out the official name of this shot cotton) for the binding.

42" square

There's still some hand stitching that needs to be done to finish up the binding and then it's off to be washed and delivered to our guild's charity coordinator.

Quilt stats:  MM baby quilt, 42" square to be donated to Beta Center, pieced and quilted by me, blocks and layout based on Jacquie Gering log cabin workshop, fabric donated to MQG by Michael Miller plus Kaffe Fassett shot cottons for the top, In Your Room by Jenean Morrison for backing, Aurifil #2315 50/wt thread, spiral quilting done with a walking foot.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.  

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the long weekend!

Really Random Thursday: In Seattle

When I was in Washington last week visiting my grandson, we stayed in Seattle and pretended to be tourists, which technically I am.

view from the ferry

First I had to arrange the Leo swap from his other grandmother.  Then....

text between grandmothers!

from Bainbridge Island

We rode the ferry....

only in Seattle!

 stayed at a hotel.....

it's the little things ;-)

where we pushed some buttons....

since we didn't bring our own pet they gave us a fish...temporarily

and took care of our own fish....

had to buy a cheap-o stroller because parents forgot to pack one

We went to the zoo....

pink flamingos

where we spent most of the time with flamingos...

it was rather hot this day

and brought one home with us....

the pretend one 

We took the Monorail to the Children's Museum...

Flamingo came with us

where Leo was super excited to play with other kids...

I'll take it

and I got a discounted ticket....

Yum

We ate sugared almonds....

hmmm....maybe too much sugar in those almonds

before heading back to the hotel to Leo's favorite activity....

Leo kept pointing to my phone requesting "Ally"  "Eric"

and FaceTiming with Ally (and Eric and the parents)....

Undercover Quilts

We even randomly found a quilt shop....

cute shop...not great cell phone pictures

really...it was random and not planned...

Leo and I met the owner Linda and made a couple of purchases

and visited the downtown library (no pictures of that field trip).

I got my exercise

After saying goodbye to Leo, I consoled myself with a trip to the Chihuly Exhibit.

No words!!!!

Those pictures deserve a post all in itself.....
Linking up with Live a Colorful Life.
Thanks for stopping by,

WiP Wednesday 8/27/14

Progress is being made on my spider web blocks.  I was out of town all last week, but did manage to squeeze in some sewing time before I left.

filler blocks

 These are what I call the filler blocks that will alternate between the bee blocks.

leftover trianges

 I love the triangles that are created when trimming the blocks.

quilt basted

My Michael Miller quilt top is basted.

"In My Room" backing fabric from Jeneane Morrison

I also pieced the back as I didn't purchase as much of the backing fabric as I thought, adding the same shot cotton background fabric to the Jeneane Morrison fabric.

OrlandoMQG Sew Day is Saturday so more spider web blocks should be finished by next week's check in.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced.  Thanks for stopping by,

Friday Finish: Geeky iPad cover

In a few weeks I am participating in my first Maker Faire.  My friend Kathryn asked me to join her and two others to form Geeky Chic which will have a booth at the Maker Faire Orlando.

geeky fabric for sure

After a recent Geeky Chic meeting, I was inspired to purchase this geeky themed fabric at my LQS to make an iPad cover.  I followed Amber's tutorial which I have used before.

iPad with keyboard cover

The case is quilted and also lined with a sandwich of batting which makes it really soft and padded.  I like that the size allows for the iPad with keyboard cover.  Velcro secures the flap when not in use.

velcro closure

I believe the outside fabric is a Riley Blake and the flap is Zen Chic.  I am posting this while out of town and don't have my selvages handy for reference so not absolutely positive.

We will not be selling any items at the Maker Faire, but rather demonstrating various techniques.  If you are local, I urge you to check us out at the Orlando Science Center on Saturday and Sunday, September 13 and 14; if you're not, check to see what Maker Faires are in your area.

Linking up with other Friday finishers at Crazy Mom Quilts.
Thanks for stopping by,

Really Random Thursday: Speed

I really just want to post two pictures and say it is much easier to photograph a racing car than a running toddler!

photographing at Sebring

Of course on the race track, you know where the cars are going.  

Oops...

That is not necessarily the case (if ever) with a toddler!

gone in a flash

Since there should be more than two pictures in a RRT post, here are a few more.

Seattle Children's Museum

I spent a few days with my grandson playing tourist in Seattle.  I haven't uploaded all of the photographs so I'm sure Leo will reappear in next week's Really Random Thursday.

fun with TP

Apparently, Leo would rather play with the toilet paper than visit the Chihuly exhibit.  That's probably a better idea anyway.

what were they thinking?

Back to the race cars....who would take a perfectly good Ferrari and give it a University of Miami paint job?!!!  Now if it was a Florida State University makeover that's a different story.

Who let the Ford on the race track?!

 During the "everyone can go on the track" lap, my husband's uncle took his Explorer for a spin.  He was as excited as a little kid.  Cracked me up seeing his Ford doing laps with Ferraris and Lamborghinis.  You should see the selfies he took while driving.

Thanks for stopping by,

More Happies

When I was in Montana last month I met my IG friend Keri aka The Quilted Valkyrie.  We had tried to meet on several occasions over the last year or so, and it was nice to finally make it happen.

inside shot

can you tell the picture was taken while on retreat?!

I brought along a Liberty of London journal cover and came home with a beautiful padded camera strap.  I think I got the better end of the swap.  After breakfast, we discussed fabric while shopping at Keri's LQS.

Keri and I at Main Street Quilting

I met another IG friend after she listed her white Singer Featherweight for sale.  I was so excited to get a white machine to match my mom's that I forgot to get a picture of Leona and I together.

my new baby needs a name

Leona recently moved back to Florida, so I am hoping we will have more opportunities to sew together (and get photos).

love from Florida

 I have a bag of these Bad Ass Quilters pins and love to put them on a handmade pin cushion as a gift along with fabric and a coffee mug.

fabric love

This Don't Postpone Joy pin was found at a local gift shop and is headed to another quilty friend and lover of fabric.

It's a good feeling to send and receive happiness, don't you think?!

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy stitching,