Vice Versa BOM Update

This time I finished block #4 days before the end of the month!  I'm getting better. And I'm getting excited watching the stack grow!

The are block #4.  Star in a star.  I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that these are 9 1/2" blocks. We had a choice of two sizes and I went with the smaller one.  I wasn't sure If I would have enough of the hand dyed fabric to complete all 18 blocks in the end.  I'm still not sure...we shall see!

Together they sparkle like a star in the sky!  Well, not really.  I had a moment of poetry in me!

I pulled out all the blocks after I finished the one above.  I needed a visual on my progress.  I liked what I saw.  

I love the outcome and so happy I decided this was the year to participate in my first BOM!  Thank you AnneMarie for putting together a great block of the month!  (Vice Versa BOM ~ with Gen X Quilters)

Its the weekend...enjoy yourself!

Happy Hedgehog

Its fun to learn new things.  Hit some goals.  Try something that you have been eyeing and admiring forever!  Since my latest kick is paper piecing.  The diamonds were a breeze! Easy and a great pattern to get your 'feet wet' in the paper piecing world.

This past Saturday was a class on paper piecing at our Guild.  Music City Modern Quilt Guild.  Perfect timing for me!  If you are in the Nashville area...come to a meeting!  We would love to have you!  It was a fun class and I did learn a thing or two!

I first saw this little Hedgehog on Flickr.  Cute as can be.  I didn't actually think I could ever make something like that...but I can!  And I did!  

He's a small little guy!  He tested my skills and patience!  I look at him and smile.  He still needs to see, so an eye will be coming soon.  Isn't he a cutie?!

Talk about lots of pieces...and tiny too!  I will admit, I winged it on piecing the sections together. I only had to redo one section.  I should have searched for instructions and not just a pattern!  Next time!  I'm happy how he turned out!

Isn't it nice to cross something off your 'wanna try one day when I have nothing else to do' list?!

Now...what to do with it!

Linking to:

ANYTHING GOES Mondays
LETS BE SOCIAL
WIP WEDNESDAY
FABRIC FRENZY Friday
CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

A Diamond In The Rough!

Paper piecing is so much fun!  It's so much fun to do a project (every once in a while) where its precise and requires patience!  This diamond pattern is a simple design, yes. It's building my confidence to try something a little more involved next time.

It saved me time to do a batch at a pop.  I would sew one corner on a dozen rectangles, iron, trim and repeat.  Doing it that way saved me hundreds of trips to the ironing board! 

With the last corner sewn I get to the other fun part!  Trimming the entire block!

I love pulling the paper off too!  Zip!  Off it comes!  

Not bad!  I added a small border of white and finished it off with a lovely coordinating green.  I plan on adding a white binding in the end.  Pinned and ready for the agonizing quilting...only because it takes me a while to know what I want to do!  I can't wait!!

Each block ended up being 5" x 10" (finished).  I ended up making 54 diamond blocks for this quilt.

It would be wrong of me not to show some of the cuteness of the Briar Rose fabric!   

Go ahead!  You can do it!  Swim!

Gather it up!  

Nothing better than a good 'read' after a picnic at the pond!

I am so happy with this quilt!  I adore Briar Rose and love the quality of the fabric!  I did a blog post here:  HITTING A GOAL,  where you can find a pattern for the diamonds.  You will also see that I enlarged it for these blocks.

There are a few things that I have learned making these blocks.  First of all, it hurts like heck when you get poked by a pin!  Over and over!  Second, small stitches will make your paper piecing life so much easier.  Third, print your pattern on the cheapest paper you can! The thinner the paper, the easier it is to pin.

There you have it.  This quilt is officially still 'A Diamond In The Rough'!  But not for long!

LINKING:

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

Best Daughter Ever!

I would imagine anyone who has a daughter says the same thing!  But I really mean it!  I mean...look at this Feast of Fasset Fabric!

Yummy enough to eat!

Last week, Britt took a short trip to Chattanooga.  Her friend (and ex-boss) Janet came to town, and whisked her away for a few days.  I knew they were going to spend some time at a fabric store.  Britt kept asking 'what fabric do you want' or 'what do you need'.  My response was a resounding 'nothing', 'I don't need anymore fabric right now' and 'I am trying to work through some of the crap I have' (I did say that)! 

Knowing what a Woven Stripes/Shot Cotton fiend I am and confronted with a huge selection of these, she couldn't say no!  She promptly called her family cohorts and they gave me an early Mother's Day present!  Sweetness...family and fabric!

I'm excited about taking a trip to Chattanooga to visit this fabric shop!  Its called 'SPOOL'. Also on Facebook~here, and the home of 'BadAss Quilters Society'.  It is a highly recommended destination, so says Britt!  (and I trust her 100%)

This could be fun...

After seeing all these beautiful colors...oh la la...the stripes, my mind has been on overload!  What should I make?  What should I make?!  'Relax' I say!  'You'll know what to do when the time is right'.  True.  I will.  

New colors, new toys, new inspiration!  I can always count on my daughter.  She knows my quilting taste so well.  Its been way too long since she and I made a quilt together, maybe I can entice her to collaborate together using these?!  

We shall see.  She is a busy lady with her soap business,  Hello Soap...plug!   Biased, yes.  But her soap is fabulous! 

Linking:

SEW FRESH QUILTS

WIP WEDNESDAY

Not To Be Redundant

I sometimes feel like I keep doing and showing the same thing.  Over and over again! While they may be the same design~using hand dyed fabrics with all the wonderful textures and variations, creates a different feel to each finished quilt.  In my opinion.  At least that is what I keep telling myself.  

Since my last two half square triangle quilts sold (huge thrill and shock to me), it made me determined to do it again!  

Without further ado~I bring you take #2!

HST Lap Quilt.  This one is 45"x61".  I did use smaller HST and added a border.  The same, yet different!

I do love the border an the bright green backing.  Machine quilted with straight lines.

Sweet baby!  Perhaps one of my favorite design of late!  This one measures 32"x43". Perfect size for a sweet baby or to hang on your wall!

And there it is.  Take #2.  I have a feeling I will be revisiting this design again.  And again!

Do you have a 'go to' design that you use on a regular basis?  I would love to hear what it is!

Linking to:

SEW SOLID SUNDAY ~ Esch House Quilts

ANYTHING GOES Monday

Hitting A Goal

It happens to be a nice feeling when I actually follow through with a goal!  Foundation Paper Piecing. I've done a little here and there.  The precision of the points makes me all smiley and happy!

I was looking through Hawthorne Threads Blog the other day when I saw this post.  I saw the Totem Quilt and was intrigued.  Diamonds.  Paper Piecing.  Must try!  The pattern is available through Cloud 9 Fabrics.  

I pulled out my scraps, printed the patten and went to work!  and...I liked it!

So, it inspired me.  I decided to enlarge it.  Testing.  Testing. Testing.

And it worked!  I cannot lie.  I like the black and white!  Perhaps that will be another project for another day!

I have been 'sitting' on a stash of Briar Rose for months and months.  Always eyeing it, touching it and then putting it back on the shelf.  Well...heck with that!  I bit the bullet and decided Briar Rose and paper piecing diamonds!  Honestly, its only fabric!  

I have made six so far.  (in the bigger diamond)  My plans are still sketchy.  But I do know it will all come together in the end!  I'm just happy I have finally given in and decided this was the Briar Rose project I have been waiting my whole life for!  (dramatic)

I adore this print!  So adorable it makes me giggle!  I have many more diamonds to make.  It could take a while.  But I have time!  I'll share my progress!  

ANYTHING GOES Monday

LET'S BEE SOCIAL

WIP WEDNESDAY

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

FABRIC FRENZY

A Little Bright Spot!

Only in Tennessee can it go from the 30's to the 80's in a days!  With the beautiful warmer weather, we get to bask in the daffodils!  

It was such a lovely day yesterday.  My daughter, Britt and I were able to take some pictures for our Etsy shops.  We had to use the sunny yellow flowers that have magically appeared the past few days!

Regardless of what your weather is doing today...I hope these bring you a little ray of sunshine and happiness!