Big News!

Cue the Beatles' song "With a little help from my friends"!  With much support, encouragement and help from my friends, I am excited to say that I have published my Peace Pattern! Squeee!

My First Pattern

Even though I have made four peace quilts (I should be an expert, right?!), I enlisted some friends to test the pattern. Over the next two weeks, they will blog about their quilt top and give a pattern away to one of their readers.  I can't wait for you to see the variety!  Some have kept their quilt tops a secret, others have shown glimpses, while others have sent pictures of the finished tops.  What I have seen has blown me away!

Here is the schedule:

Monday, January 21 -  Katie at KT Quilts 

Tuesday, January 22 - Michele at  Nostalgic Cafe 

Wednesday, January 23 - Cindy at  Live a Colorful Life 

Thursday, January 24 - Michelle at  Frustrated Quilter 

Friday, January 25 - Stephanie at Peas in a Pod 

Monday, January 28 - Terri at Terri's Notebook 

Tuesday, January 29 - Doris at Made by a Brunnette 

Wednesday, January 30 - Mary at Mary on Lake Pulaski 

Thursday, January 31 - Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts 

Friday, February 1 - back here for a give away 

Feeling Groovy

How appropriate that the schedule starts with KT Quilts who first suggested I make this pattern and has cheered me along ever since Feeling Groovy, the original peace quilt.  I think it was the purple background that made her a believer ;-)  I haven't seen her finished quilt top, but I know she made the throw size and used a rainbow of gorgeous batiks.  Please visit her blog, admire her beautiful stitching and leave a comment for a chance to win the pattern.

The Walking Quilted

I don't know that I ever showed pictures of my Peace on Earth completely quilted and finished.  I finished hand stitching the binding while in Montana for Christmas break.  My husband helped me get some fun photos.  I especially like the one taken for Happy Zombie's The Walking Quilted.

Back of Peace on Earth

Once home I realized that I didn't get any photos of the quilt back so we did a Florida photo shoot ;-)  I love the large section of Cherry Christmas.  I didn't have enough for the entire back so I pieced the top strip with leftover Cherry Christmas fat quarters and (I think) a Kate Spain Flurry.

The top in Florida

Quilt Stats:  Finished size 68"x68"; Pattern used Peace Quilt Pattern by me; Cherry Christmas and Moda Bella Solids Scarlet for quilt top; Cherry Christmas for the back; Scrappy binding; free motion back and forth quilting by me using Gutermann Color 405 thread


If you are interested in making your own peace quilt, be sure to visit all the blogs listed above for a chance to win.  You can also click here to purchase the pattern.

Thanks for stopping by,

Friday Finish: The First

Several Friday's ago my sister and I coordinated our blog posts to show the quilt we jointly made for our mom's special birthday.  Since Christmas Michelle and I have been trying to coordinate posting about the quilts FROM our mom, but between illness and bad weather it just hasn't worked out.

"The First"

I took advantage of the relatively sunny and wind-free day and finally took some decent pictures of the quilt my mom made me - the very first quilt my mom has ever made!!!!

Christmas gift

I have mentioned before (and even shown a picture or two) that our mom recently took her first quilting class.  It's been fun to listen to her talk about her classes, hear the excitement in her voice, see the progression of her blocks, and just talk quilting with her.  She is definitely hooked.

The Walking Quilted

I couldn't understand why after the first couple of weeks though she was hesitant to show me pictures of her blocks.   It never occurred to me that she would give away her first quilt!  I was stunned when I opened the package she sent and saw the quilt inside.  I may or may not have shed a tear or two.

Sampler Quilt

It was hard to believe this beautiful quilt was now mine.  It was even harder to keep quiet until my sister received HER quilt gift.  I can't wait (and apparently I didn't wait...ha) until you see the pictures of the quilt Michelle gets to snuggle under!

Glimpse of the back 

I am not sure what fabric my mom used for the backing, but it is perfect.  It is super soft and the print reminds me of the sheets on my grandmother's bed growing up.  I love it!

Stay tuned for a post of my mom's THIRD quilt made....

Thanks for stopping by,

What's Up Wednesday: Peeks and WIPs

At the moment I am working on three different quilt projects.  One is brand new, one is a gift, and the other is a WIP that I just can't seem to finish.

Shades of Green

Pantone's 2013 Color of the Year is Emerald.  Green isn't a particularly favorite color of mine, but neither was orange at the beginning of 2012, and I grew to love Tangerine Tango.  Maybe the same will be true with Emerald.  

More Shades of Green

In an effort to keep an open mind, I ordered many several shades of green KONA solids and went to work making half square triangles for a new quilt.  244 HSTs to be exact.

On the design wall

Here are some of the HSTs on the design wall.  Once all the dog ears are trimmed on the others,  I will arrange them in a design that looks cool in my mind.  Wonder if the reality will be as cool ;-) 

Gift sneak peek

Here's a sneak peek at the quilt gift I am working on.  The top is finished, but the recipient reads my blog so only a peek can be shown for now.

Cowboy/Cowgirl block

The cowboy/cowgirl blocks are constantly being pushed aside for other projects.  I organized the block pieces though and managed to piece a few more.

That's what's going on here.  What's up with you this Wednesday?  Thanks for stopping by,

Mini Monday: BOM and a lanyard

I am slowly but surely getting back into a routine now that the kids are back in school.  Even did a little bit of sewing this weekend.

February Block of the Month

Made a sample Block of the Month for our guild's February BOM.  With a nod to Pantone's selection of Emerald as 2013's Color of the Year, our blocks are to be made primarily in greens with a neutral background.  Any design goes for the 12.5" block.  I followed Jolene's block directions for her Tree Quilt found in Modern Quilts from the Blogging Universe.

Hope Valley lanyard

Played around with Hope Valley scraps and made a lanyard.  I have so much Hope Valley in my stash and have been afraid to cut into it.  This little project was a good start.  I might use this lanyard for my ski lift ticket or maybe my parent name badge.  

Siggy block in Flea Market Fancy

I also made a siggy block to send along with my MCM Bee block to Carla.  I am getting better about cutting into my "precious" fabric.  I am not making any promises, but I'd like to think this will be a trend for 2013 ;-)

Happy Monday and happy stitching!  Thanks for stopping by,

What's Up Wednesday: Hello 2013!

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope you enjoyed the holidays with friends and family.  Our family spent the holiday together, and we enjoyed two healthy days with one another before the flu made an unwelcome visit.  Let me tell you, the flu doesn't know when it's worn out its welcome.  After twelve days it finally got the message though, and we are all on the road to recovery.

MCM Bee block for January

While sick I sewed lived vicariously through Instagram and fell in love with all the #scrappytripalong blocks that popped up everywhere.  Now that I am feeling better I can't believe I have had the willpower to resist pulling out my scraps to join along.  However, I will definitely be making a quilt using these blocks once I have caught up with other WIPs.

 

One bit of news here is I joined my first ever bee, and so far I am caught up ;-)!!!  I am a proud member of the brand new Mid-Century Modern Bee.  Carla has the first month and requested churn dash blocks in modern reds, pinks and oranges with a little white thrown in.  She has the easiest tutorial I have seen for churn dash blocks, and I had a blast working with bright fabrics from my stash.  I didn't hold back and cut into some of my favorites from Carolyn, Amy, Kaffe, Tina and even Denyse.  

2012 Mosaic

I also compiled a mosaic of most of 2012's finishes.  I did notice one duplication and several mini quilt omissions.  The number of quilt finishes is rather disappointing, but I did manage to expand my sewing skills some with zippers and what I call 3-D projects.  I haven't been feeling up to making any goals for 2013 yet other than resolving to "make more stuff".   

What's up with you this second Wednesday of 2013?  Any 2013 quilty goals you'd like to share?
Happy stitching and thanks for stopping by,

Friday Finish: Chevron Baby quilted

As my husband drove to the airport yesterday, I finished hand stitching the binding on Leo's baby chevron quilt.  Yes, I do tend to wait until the very last moment!  The quilt top was finished quite some time ago, and I finished the quilting last week or so.

scrappy binding

 Last night we opened presents with Leo and his parents, but I didn't get any quilt pictures until this morning.  With all the sewing I have been doing, Leo is the only one who received a quilt from me this Christmas.  I hope to do better next year...yeah I know I have said that before.

Play time

Here's Leo's quilt on top of my husband's quilt.  Leo and I had fun playing for a little bit before nap time (his not mine), and I snapped a few photos for this blog post.

Hasn't he grown?!

You can rest assured I will be snapping quite a few more photos of this little guy while I have the chance!  

I think he likes it!

Quilt stats:  Finished size 36"x48"; Pattern used Mod Chevron Baby Quilt by Rashida Coleman-Hale; Savannah Bop and various solid fabrics used for the quilt top; Pezzy Print by American Jane in green for the quilt back; straight line quilted by me using a walking foot and white thread

Linking up with Amanda's finish it Friday.  Thanks for stopping by,

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all of you a wonderful day spent with family and friends!

Much love and peace,