Double Irish Chain Quilt -- Field of Dreams -- Complete!

Whohoo!  The Double Irish Chain quilt that I started a few weeks ago is now complete.  Just in time... my niece's baby is due any day now.  I wish I could be there when she opens the package.  I am very very pleased with it considering it is my first time doing any machine quilting on a quilt.  I love the way it feels so soft.  I doubled the batting.  I was a chicken and didn't do any fancy free-motion quilting.  I just echo stitched the blocks.  This is also my first time with machine applique.  The little flowers are so cute!  If I were to name the quilt I could call it "Field of Dreams" (I'm sure somebody already did a quilt like that.)  The quilt is so much better in person, but here it is:

The little white take to the right at the end of the name is my signature block.  It says "Double Irish Chain -- From Great Aunt Kathy -- 2011"

For a great scrap giveaway with the cutest scraps ever, go to:

http://fairyfacedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/my-big-scrappy-giveaway.html

 

Supernova Quilt Top Complete!

Whohoo!  Even though it was a rough week and I was missing my old Viking sewing machine (which is now retired), I managed to finish the Supernova quilt along quilt.  I did change the design a little and finished the blocks with star points instead of the straight line coming from the center of each block.  I just had to "make it my own" like they do on Idol and couldn't leave a star unfinished.  I like it; it is bright!  Luckily the sun came out long enough this morning so that I could snap a quick photo.  It started raining as I was trying to take a photo.  The clotheseline almost wasn't high enough for this one.

Just remember, when there's rain there's still room for fun.  Yesterday my son and I put on our Crocs and went outside and jumped in every puddle on our property.  What fun!

...and remember to take some time to smell the flowers along the way...

Have a great day!

Block Swap Adventure

Natalie in Austrailia received this block from me in the Block Swap Adventure.  It is the first block I ever made for the swap.  I got the block pattern from Quilt Dad's blog at:
http://www.quiltdad.com/p/bloggers-block-palooza-quilt-along.html
His step by step instructions are great.  He has a lot of stuff that is right up my alley on his blog.  Check it out if you get the chance.

My First Mystery Quilt

I love love love Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts.  Unforunately she is not doing right now.  I know I could go back and do one of them, but my problem is that I can't wait to solve the mystery.  Now that all the directions and clues are posted I just can't stop clicking through them and getting to the end.  I will definitely be on board the next time she does one!  But for now I was told about a mystery quilt at
http://erikhomemade.typepad.com/erik_homemade/2011/04/our-susannah-quilt-page-1.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ErikHomemadeCoffee-breakWeblog+%28Erik+HOMEMADE+Coffee-Break+eZine%29
It's called Our Susannah at Erik Homemade Coffee Break. 

Funny I had an "inspriation" for the colors for this quilt.  First of all I was looking to use up scraps, scraps, remnants, and more remnants.  I have had boxes labeled "quilt jeans" for over ten years.  Well, today's the day.  My inspriation colors for this quilt is "My Husband's Laundry". 

Can you see the colors of my husband's work clothes in these fabrics?  There are five different denims.  Some of them have a little character with some concrete or white paint stains.  I also had some Keepsake Calico print that looked like the hankerchiefs (bandana type) that he uses.  The camel color looks just like his Carharts.  The navy reminds me of his sweatshirts and underwear.  Even though he doesn't wear floral prints, I put the beige and off white prints in to remind me of his new and older socks.  There is a white cloudy type swirl that was one of my grandma's fabrics.  I have been waiting to use some of her stash!  I LOVE these colors!!!  Since the first instruction that we got on Monday, 4/18, was to cut fabrics in 2" strips I thought this would be the perfect project for these fabrics.  I am supposed to have only ten strips of five fabrics.  But since my jeans didn't measure the full 44" like the other fabrics, I had to make due and just make more strips.  This should give me some additional color combo options.  I can't wait to see how this  mystery ends!  Stay tuned!  Since the first instruction was so easy, there's plenty of time for you to join me. 

Free Motion Quilting -- 1st Day

Well, it was time to retire my faithful Viking that was over 30 years old.  I got a new machine.  I knew there would be a learning curve.  But here's a few samples of my first day of free motion quilting.

Leah Day's site is a 365 Day experiment to come up with a new design each day.  Her tutorials make everthing look so easy.  I just need some practice, practice, and some more practice. 

For a great giveaway go to    http://straystitches1.blogspot.com/2011/04/help-me-celebrate-with-giveaway.html

Linda is always so sweet to leave a comment here and there on my blog.  Her quilting is so pretty too.  She is giving away some very springy quarters.  Cute cute cute!

Double Irish Chain Baby Quilt Progress

Thanks to the back-up sewing machine that my sister-in-laws gave me over a month ago I was able to make some progress on the Double Irish Chain baby quilt that I am making for my niece and her soon to be daughter, "Breanne".  I figured out the tension issue on the machine.  I am fairly happy with the back of the quilt.  It is my first time using Bonnie Hunter's book "Word Play Quilts". 

To the right of the name "Breanne" I added a signature block.  I'm not sure if that's the place I should have put it, but there it is.  Now that I look at the picture I should have probably put it below the name and running parrellel with it.  (I am going to have to change that today.

Kudo's to the back-up Kenmore Ultra Stitch 8 -- Which by my guess is from the 70's.  I don't think I will do my first machine quilting project with it.  I will wait until the Viking returns.

... Thanks, Johnna's mom!

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Jonquils & Ladybugs has a great giveaway going right now... she's offering up a completed quilt made from the fabulous Castle Peeps line!

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There is also a great giveaway with FIVE pattern prizes!!!  Check it out at
http://theconfusedquilter.blogspot.com/2011/04/blogaversary-giveaway.html?showComment=1303201775153#c6454930544932337623

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Out of commission

My beloved Viking from the 70's is out of time again due to a thread getting caught in the bobbin case.

My husband told me to just go buy a new one.  He has no idea which one I have been eyeing at the store...

you know, the one that does embroidery too?  I told him I would rather pay the $40 to get it repaired.

I will drop it off on Monday and hopefully get it back mid next week.  :(

I guess I should get cutting on the rest of some of the other things I have started.  Looks like my neice's baby

quilt will not be ready anytime soon.  I was hoping to attempt machine quilting on Monday.