Finish: The Skinny 4-patch

Alrighty, folks...I have finally finished the second scrap quilt I actually like.  Well, sorta finished.  If a section of that binding looks a little fat it's because it's not hand sewn to the back yet.  SHHH...don't tell.

I really like this design for scraps.  It would work perfectly with a jelly roll for the 4 patches and a solid honey bun for the sashing. 

I decided to try a very bubbly  quilting that is sort of like the pumpkin patch quilting I tried from Leah Day's Freemotion Quilting Project.    I wasn't as happy with this on the backside:

but ya know, it did give a really neat texture and I get very bored with just stippling.  I want to be good at quilting, not just piecing.  To do that, I have to practice.  I am giving this to a very sweet person who won't judge my imperfect quilting.  If you are giving quilts to people who will judge you, you are giving quilts to the wrong people!

I really like the fact that this is kind of I-Spyish since this will be going to a baby in a house full of children.  I think it will be fun for them.  I can picture mom nursing the baby under the quilt while she asks the big brother and sister to find pictures on the quilt. 

Finish: Happy Campers Jewel Box Quilt

First things first, if you're here for Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day or if you haven't entered my Christmas giveaway, check it out!

This is my take on a traditional Jewel Box Quilt.  It's a twin size quilt I made for my oldest twin to be a companion to this quilt.  I love American Jane, diagonal movement, and half square triangles.  This quilt has it all, but I kind of think it's too much.  I hate to sound like a whiner or a downer.  I still think it's a good quilt, but just not what I was expecting.  Sometimes when you find a pattern you really love you have to be patient to find the right fabrics to go wtih it (and vice versa).  That's one of my biggest flaws as a quilter...falling in love with a fabric and a pattern at the same time that really don't go together.  I am too impatient to wait for that perfect combo.

 The recipient is a big fan of his Daddy, and he told me this picture is his daddy.  He loves that.  Just between us, his daddy is WAY cuter :)

 One thing I really love about this quilt is the backing.  I did this on my last Happy Campers quilt and I love what a neat look it has when it is turned down on a bed.  It's Camp Basics Stripe, an American Jane fabric that was made to be a companion to Happy Campers.  Sandy Klop does this for many of her lines, I think.  I found the backing fabric for 3.99/yard online and I bought yards and yards (and I actually bought the very last yard they had!).

 The difference between this and the traditional Jewel box is that this quilt has little picture squares instead of 4 pieced squares in that spot.  I wanted a way to display the scenic prints.  I also fussy cut some scenic prints out of the Happy Campers Panel that I found on clearance for $2 each.  My best friend got me started with 2 charm packs and scraps from HER Happy Campers quilt.

 Here is my scooby lovin' kid showing me where his daddy is.

And here is looking for his brothers...

Myy best friend talked to me about this quilt and made me realize that even though it kind of makes my eyeballs hurt that isn't the important thing.  My son loves this quilt and it is HIS...not mine.  I'm glad I just sucked it up and finished it because she's right- It's not all about me and what I like.  You should make quilts YOU like, but if something goes wrong and you don't like it, find a gracious recipient out there who will.

Note: I have added comment verification after getting my first spam comment.  I know it is annoying, so I apologize.   I just don't think a viagra ad belongs on here...

A Debate and Finish: Happy Campers Scrap Baby Quilt

Yesterday I finished attaching the binding to the twin size Happy Campers Jewel Box quilt that I'm working on.  Instead of hand stitching the binding to the other side, I decided to go ahead and get rid of all of the rest of my Happy Campers scraps via a baby quilt.  I still love the fabric, but after making 2 huge quilts with this line I really am done...don't wanna see it staring back at me from my fabric cupboard.  My American Jane scrap stash is getting a little obscene anyway.

I sewed 3 inch strips together and then divided the sections with a fussy cut little strip from the Camp Basics coordinates.

And I pieced all the scraps into the backing...I really hate piecing a backing together but this was about using fabric up.

 THE DEBATE: This is the first (and likely last) quilt I have tried to sell.  I don't want to make quilts for sale, but I don't have an immediate need for a baby quilt and I think 2 Happy Camper quilts is enough for any one family.  This was kind of an experiment for me and it confirmed all the reasons I don't want to quilt for money.

Materials Cost- $30
Time- 6 hours (that pieced backing killed me time wise and I hand bound it as always)
Unforeseen expenses: 4 ibuprofen- 50 cents
Etsy fees if it sells: ??

Cost: (and I personally think almost any handmade quilt is worth more, but I tried to price this based on other quilts on etsy to be competitive) $79.  And it may not even sell at that price...

That averages out to a number much too close to minimum wage.  I've got a college degree!  People don't seem to appreciate the time and money that goes into a quilt.

I found this cute little Alexander Henry print at Hobby Lobby today...8.99 but I used a 40 percent off coupon so it ended up being $5.39/yard.  I picked up a few yards for a backing for my next pattern.

And my mother-in-law saw my purse made out of Alexander Henry Sew Now Sew Wow and asked me to pick her up a bolt of it up at Hobby Lobby.  It ends up being 6.29 a yard there.  I think that's a great price for such cute, quality fabric.  I was shocked the first time I saw it there at HL.

And Christmas means potholders for teachers around here.  Most people are getting the tree potholders by Riley Blake but my oldest son's teacher gets some American Jane & some Moda Hoopla.  After I saw that she listed 2 of her fave things as Hot Pink and Tulips on her gift list (the school makes them do it) I knew I had to whip one up for her.  We tulip-lovin' gals gotta stick together.  I knew I liked her...

So back to the debate!!!  What do you think about selling a quilt...have you ever done it?  How do you decide what to charge?

Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2010- Autumn Hourglass Quilt

For my first entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival, I just had to share my favorite quilt ever. I was going to our church's monthly craft night in September and I knew I couldn't waste that opportunity to make something. Autumn is my favorite time of year and I wanted a quilt that reminded me of that time of year.

On my way out the door I grabbed my stash of Katie Jump Rope, a couple of coordinating dots, and a black and cream floral print from American Jane Peas & Carrots. The black fabric was a last minute addition, but I think it totally made the quilt.

I did a few quick google image searches for scrappy hourglass quilts and saw one where a lady had used reds for the border. I loved how it framed the quilt so I decided to use the black floral I had to be the "frame" or "insta-border" for this quilt since I don't really like doing traditional borders.

I took 9.5" squares and just sliced them diagonally twice and sewed them back together. That's it. I made there were no duplicate fabrics in each square (4 triangles per square). I also made sure I had enough black triangles for each side piece and I used 1 large black triangle for each of the corners.

Loopy Free Motion Quilting

The quilt is bound in Katie Jump Rope Orange Stripe and Katie Jump Rope Bandana dot. I love absolutely loved this quilt and I'm so glad I decided to take advantage of my time to make it.  It has been dragged to bed (by me) like a lovey, been stolen by my 6 year old (and stolen back), helped a whole preschool full of toddlers (including mine) not get scratchy booties from sittin' on hay bales at the pumpkin patch and will serve as decorations in our "It's the Great Pumpkin" Trunk or Treat Car this year..  This quilt has already carved a place in our autumn traditions...I call that a success.

To see more quilts in the festival, go to www.amyscreativeside.com !

Finish: Happy Campers Jump Rope Quilt

I finished binding up this quilt in the car on the way back from our Day Out With Thomas on Saturday.

At the Texas State Railroad, my train loving twins decided they wanted to meet the conductor. Here's how that conversation went:

Middle Son: HI! I'm H**** Brown!
Youngest Son: HI! I'm J***** Brown!
Oldest Son: Hi...I'm Embarrassed.

When did 6 year olds become pre-teens??? Everybody had a great day, though...even my oldest cut loose when he realized his school friends were nowhere in sight!

On our way back to the car, I joked to my husband that he should take pics of my then half-bound quilt on the steps of a little chapel.  Knock me over with a feather- he agreed! It's made with Happy Campers by Sandy Klop (American Jane) for Moda...with a little Katie Jump Rope by Denyse Schmidt thrown in.

This quilt is a double hourglass done using Cluck Cluck Sew's strip method.  After facing some serious wrist pain (I moved my wrist too much cutting the angles)  I decided it would have to be done checkboard style to reduce the number of pieced blocks I needed.  I actually think I like this better.  It made tons of white hexagons in the negative space!

It's a full size quilt and I tried a new-to-me batting called Mountain Mist Cream Rose that is 100 percent cotton and cheaper than Warm & Natural (what I normally use).

I ordered this Happy Campers Basic Stripe fabric for $3.98/yd from Hancock's of Paducah.  I cut off the darkest stripe (a brown pindot) to use for the binding of this quilt.  When I laid this quilt on the bed I realized the American Jane multi-stripe Fabrics (she usually does stripes like this for each line of hers) are the PERFECT backing fabric.  See...

Doesn't that make the prettiest turned down bedquilt?  I love that little detail!

I added a cracker block for a label.  I went all out on this quilt because I want each of my sons to have a bed quilt that I have put a lot of love into.  I don't always do backings this nice or a label, but they added a nice touch and I think I'll do it more in the future.

Thank you all so much for the kind words on my Moda Bakeshop project.  It was such a nice ending to such a perfect day to come home to such encouragement.  I have a couple of other projects in the works at the Bakeshop and I hope you will enjoy those, as well.  I also ordered fabric yesterday for a tutorial here: My Single Charm Pack Quilt...it's a 50x60 lap quilt.  I hope y'all like it!

I will also post a review of the new batting for those who have never tried it- it was very scary to break away from Warm and Natural!   What kinds of batting have you tried and how did you like it?

Introducing Helix: My first pattern!

Wednesday night I finally finished this quilt.  Because Erik's challenge to invent a quilt block (is that even possible?) inspired this quilt, he picked the name: Helix.  I liked Intertwined but after some googling I saw that name was almost taken (Intertwine is a pattern) and I didn't want anyone to get confused. 

This quilt is easy-peasy...no lie.  The hardest part is making a half square triangle.  I would love to see it done in 2 colorways of scraps.

If you are so inclined, you can learn more about or purchase this PDF quilt pattern in my etsy shop.

And yes...in case you are wondering I am almost finished using all that Katie Jump Rope fabric I found.  Almost.

The Archives: Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt

So my husband's grandma is one of those people who has got- it- goin'- on. She turned 80 this year but she gets around better than me and her mind is as sharp as a tack. Speaking of tacks...she just had to get a tetanus shot because she stepped on a rusty roofing tack and it went up through her gardening clog. How did she manage to do that, you ask? She was jumping off the porch to go turn off her garden hose!

One of these days I will have to take pictures of my kids in her backyard because it looks like the cover of a magazine. She decorates her garage... SERIOUSLY! She has it decorated for seasons and she has painted a cobblestone pathway on the floor. It's LOVELY. She also really does it up for Christmas. That's why I saw the Alexander Henry Angelcakes fabric and knew I had to make her a Christmas quilt. Her only son (my father in law) was born in the 50's and I thought seeing the little vintage children in the fabric might remind her of when he was a baby. She still worries and frets over him just like I do over my kids, so I tell her she gives me NO hope that I will ever be anything other than a bundle of nerves!

The Archives: A Zigzag Quilt

This is a twin size quilt for my sports lovin' nephew, Spoony D. Yes, that's an awesome nickname...he's an awesome kid. He has been an Alabama fan since before Alabama started winning all the time Nick Saban came. Spoony is a true blue fan..loyal to the bone...

I finished making this quilt when football season started and I think I finished around the time of the National Championship. I may or may not have been responsible for their success. The world may never know.

In case you can't see, I used a houndstooth print, a football print, an Alabama licensed print, and a print from Hobby Lobby called Crackle that looks like Elephant Skin.

Roooooollllll TIDE, ROLL!

The Monet Quilt

I am thinking this is like a Monet painting. I don't think it's a masterpiece, but it is best viewed at a distance... and I feel like I have been working on it since the early 1900's! I started this quilt in April. It has the distinction of being:

1)My first Applique quilt...and it shows
2)My first attempt at loopy quilting...and it shows
3)My first attempt at pebble quilting (see the flower centers)...and it shows
4)My first full size quilt (which turned out ok)
5)The quilt I have spent the most time on (which doesn't show)



Pebble quilting on the flower centers was harder than I thought it would be. I never got a good rhythm but I did eventually figure out how to (very slowly) quilt something that DID resemble pebbling and not just a random mess of stitches.



I love love love the loopy quilting. I think this is going to replace stippling as my go-to free motion stitch. I got a boo-boo spot in the quilting but I think with the washing you can't really tell. I love how washing a quilt can literally wash away a mistake.

This quilt will go in my 6 year old's bedroom at his request...under the duvet cover if I have my say. I am grateful for the lessons learned, but this is not a favorite of mine.



YOU:create

I spy...

I spy, with my little eye...



4 cute chocolate-chippy hands...
2 I-spy doll quilts...
1 super cute backing fabric (You&Me, Alexander Henry).

These were made to bribe my friend Holly into auditioning her identical twin daughters for a t.v. role in their area. They did not get the part, but they will get the promised quilts. They ARE, however, going to be starring in the movie Conviction as Hillary Swank's daughters. It is based on the Betty Anne Waters story...a fascinating real life story. I hope the girls enjoy them!

Look & Learn Love

Recently I snagged some Look and Learn fabric on Etsy. It's a Sandy Klop line that is a couple of years old and now discontinued. The original plan was to make a twin size quilt for the twins bedroom. That just wasn't working out. It started gnawing at me because I did not want to change the quilt design. It is a mail order pattern from the 20's-40's that I found in the archives on this blog.

Lying in bed one night, I realized this should be a baby quilt for our friends who are starting their adoption journey. I felt so much better after that!


I am in love with this quilt! My husband said it is a gorgeous quilt and it was the best I had done. I am so glad I am challenging myself to more time consuming quilts. They are worth the effort.



This quilt was very simple to piece...just squares, rectangles, and half square triangles. The only tricky part was the cutting since I had limited quantities of each fabric. It is also one of those quilts that relies on fabric placement to create an optical illusion, so getting the pieces in the right spot was important. It's supposed to look like a box you can see through. You could do other placements for a more modern look, but I liked this placement for these fabrics. It created a cute secondary pattern, I think.


I did a new-to-me quilting method of swirling loops. I love this method but it took 10 bobbins of thread on a baby quilt! It also took a long time. It adds a little more of a vintage feel than stippling with all the crinkling I love. I added a few surprise words: faith, hope, & love. I thought this might be a fun find for mom and dad. I doubt I will be writing faith with a sewing machine...dotting your I's and crossing your T's on a sewing machine is kind of a pain!


For the back and binding , I used some of the Wee Play scraps and some Peas&Carrots scraps also by Sandy Klop. Amie gave me these to make more blocks for a twin size, but hopefully she will approve. Now that I think about it, this quilt matches the colors in our friend's home. It was just meant to be.

Finished quilt is about 48"x 48". I modified the original blocks by turning the flying geese on the corners into HSTs and adjusting my measurements from 6"blocks to 12" blocks.