Quilt Square Block Swap

Do not ask me why, just accept that I get more accomplished the busier I am.  No, I do not really have time to be in a quilt block swap...but I ran across blog at http://www.quiltblockswap.blogspot.com/ and I thought it looked like fun...so, I signed up.

That was sometime in late June, and then in early July, I was assigned my first swap partner, Cindy.  She sent m.e an email and told me her quilt square preference was any pattern in batik fabric.  Cool.

So I searched my fabric stash and found a few batiks.  I still was not sure what pattern to make, but since I am a certified Square in a Square Teacher, I was not worried.  :)

I picked an Ohio Star pattern to make and since my life is so short on time, I took my rotary cutter, cutting mat, ruler and fabric to work with me.  On my lunch break, I was able to quickly cut the squares and strips I needed to make my block to send to Cindy.  While I was cutting, I even decided that I would cut enough to make two identical blocks.  One for her, and one for me.  The idea being that when I get a sufficient number of blocks from my swap partners, I can make two quilts.

Using the Square in a Square system was so easy.  With my pre-cut squares and strips I was easily able to sew my batik block together.  It took less than 30 minutes to sew, trim and press the block.  The next day I sent it to my July partner.  Here it is:

And then...Look what the mailman brought me:

I requested any pattern in blues and browns.  This pattern is coincidentally very similar to the block I sent to Cindy.  It has a 4-patch in the center.  I love it!

So, if you want to join in...be sure to go to http://www.quiltblockswap.blogspot.com/ and follow the instructions to join in the fun.

Happy Quilting,
Annette

Online "Quilt Along"

So as a NEW blogger, I find my inspiration in a lot of different blogs I read.  I have not figured out yet how to share with you on my blog page which blogs I’m following other than to just tell you here.  J

Recently, I found "P.S. I Quilt"  This is a blog run by Rachel Griffith.  She has some neat tutorials and ideas and currently, she has started an online quilt-along.  I thought it sounded like fun, and it looks like a quick and super easy project.  Check it out and join us. 

Here’s my fabric selection: 

It’s called “Ready, Set, Snow” by Moda.  This project uses a couple of fabric layer cakes, which makes it easy to handle the fabric since it's already cut down to 10" easily manageable squares.

It’s not too late to join in.  Check out Rachel’s blog http://www.psiquilt.com/ and look for the “Synchronized Squares Quilt Along”.  There's even a coupon code to use if you order your fabric layer cakes from the Fat Quarter Store by the end of June 2011.  I’m planning to use my finished quilt for a Christmas gift this year. 

Enjoy the day and do something that makes YOU happy,

Annette <3

Machine Quilting the "Exploding Star"

I am a "quilt piecer" who desparately wants to be a true "quilter".  I have many quilt tops I have patiently cut and pieced together, but I believe that in order to be able to truly call myself a "quilter", I must also quilt and bind my tops.

This is not a new goal.  I've always wanted to be a quilter, as a matter of fact I took a machine quilting class from Carole Frye back in August of 2003.  How do I remember the teacher's name and date of the class?  It's a habit I formed long ago to write the date and teacher's name in the top left corner of any class handouts I receive and I saw this information as I opened my required class book, "Machine Quilting Made Easy" by Maurine Noble.

I reviewed the notes I had made from class, threaded my machine with monofiliment thread in the top and regular thread in the bobbin.  I installed the walking foot on my machine and away I went...soon, my 32"x32" Exploding Star quilt was actually quilted.

That was easy.  Why did I wait so long to finish it?  Who knows, all that matters is now it is quilted and ready to bind.  :)

Since the Exploding Star pattern was made with the Square in a Square method (developed by Jodi Barrows), I had a few leftover strips of red fabric I had used in the piecing of my quilt.  I sewed a variety of the red strips together and thought this was what I wanted to use for the binding. 

I auditioned it on one side of my quilt...what do you think?

I decided it was too distracting.  Off to plan "B"...I selected two red tone-on-tone fabric strips and pieced those into binding.

I'm pleased with the results, and thanks to advance planning (machine stitching the binding on and pinning the binding to the back), I was able to finish hand-sewing the binding in between plays at my son's football passing league games yesterday.

The Exploding Star pattern can be found in "Advancing On II" by Jodi Barrows.  It looks way more complicated than it really is.  With the Square in a Square system you don't cut or sew triangles, just fabric strips and squares into units.  The magic is in the trimming of the sewn units.

This small quilt, wall-hanging or table topper would make a great gift in any color combination.  It was easy-peasy to quilt in a straight line pattern, too.

Do what you like, and like what you do.

Until next time,

<3 Annette

"If you always do what you always did, you'll always get what you always got."

About a week ago, I posted this as my Facebook status and declared it was time to shake things up a bit.  I challenged myself to make some changes.  This blog is one of those changes.

Do not be afraid of change  Change can be good if we embrace it.  Come along for the ride and see where we go together.

Another challenge I've undertaken is to complete at least one Electric Quilt lesson per week.  I'll complete more if time allows, but I figure that is a good goal to start with.

Still another, is to work on a bit of sewing or embroidery or crafting of some kind each and every day.  You see, I find this is what I love.  This is what I have passion for.  This is what helps me unwind and feel productive all at the same time. 

The Life is Good company has a slogan I love, "Do what you like, Like what you do."

Life is most definitely good,

Annette