repeat

Because I finally got the binding on and it is finally hung on the wall. And oh, I love it so.

re-do

I've spend the past few days going back and forth on what to do with my pinwheel sampler. I was going to go with my first instinct and and call it done but I was worried I wouldn't like that either. And with this backing already taken apart once, it wasn't going to hold up to a bunch more quilting and ripping.

Than I had an idea. And today I went for it. And I love it.



I kept the piano key border and quilted Folk Heart in the center of the quilt. This is the first time I've done this pattern and L-O-V-E it. I love how it created texture to the quilt.



I am disappointed I didn't 100% custom the quilt but I love this quilt so much, I was worried that my custom would suck lol.

I think it's beautiful; I just might have to sleep with it tonight.



Did I mention I love how this turned out?

decisions decisions

When I finished Rachel's Pinwheel Sampler I had an idea in my head on how I wanted to quilt it. I didn't want to slap a pattern on it; I wanted something more original.

Than I spotted one that had been cross-hatch quilted and I fell in love. That was what I wanted. It was perfect!

And today was the day to learn.

I loaded the quilt and away I went. And quickly learned that the cross-hatch rulers I had purchased were not designed to do an entire quilt but only small sections. So out came the seam ripper.

I briefly debated turning the quilt top so I could cross-hatch it that way but I had another idea.

I would cross-hatch each block and play in the borders and sashings.



I cross-hatched one way and was working my way back across the quilt, when it hit me. I didn't like it.



No really, I don't like it. My original idea was to continuous curve quilt in all the print of the quilt, none of the background. I have since pulled the quilt of the machine and brought it home all ready to rip out what I've quilted. But Jim loves the cross-hatch as does Mom.

Mom came up with the idea of cross-hatching one block and continuous curving the other but now I just don't know.

So I quilted something totally different instead.



Stay tuned for details on this one. And strangely enough, this is the third quiltie I've made this summer using Portobello Market. And I just may have a fourth in the works too ;)

home alone

This weekend was nothing like originally planned. I was supposed to be taking a custom quilting class this weekend. But sadly, my teachers sister is horribly sick and not expected to live and the class was cancelled. Jim had planned on taking off with the boys to go wilderness camping since I was going to be busy all weekend. Instead, I encouraged them to still go(a weekend home alone? yes please!) Oh wait, as #3 keeps reminding me, I'm not actually home alone. #3 likes camping like me, with showers, flush toilets and beds. So he stayed home with me too.

He and I went out to dinner on Friday(subway as he requested lol) Than I got pretty little flowers painted on my freshly manicured toes(I highly recommend not enlarging the picture. feet are simply not attractive!)


Saturday, a quick trip to the local garden store.



Than Bag Ladies descended for a sewing day.

Cindy and Jill arrived first.


Jill was working on a coin quilt and Cindy was starting a pretty quilt for her kitchen table.

Than Sarah.


I had told everyone I didn't want posed pictures and Sarah did this lol. She was working on a very cool raw-edge bag. I totally forgot to take a picture of the finished product so check her blog for it.



Sarah also brought us these neat thread boxes. Perfect timing since my other one was overflowing!



Than Andrea and Kim arrived.

Andrea was working on some applique


And Kim on some seasonal stitcheries.


I got an amazing amount of sewing done.
The binding on this.



I finished my pinwheels sampler.


I absolutely LOVE this quilt. Fingers crossed I can quilt it this week.

And finally did the custom quilt I was hired to make; it's being picked up on Wednesday lol.


She wanted a picture of Edward in the center of the quilt so this t-shirt gave it's life up for the quilt.

I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out due to a very limited budget my customer gave me but I think she'll like it. I'm quilting it up on Tuesday and will show you what I ended up doing than.

Today was spent working on some applique,



While lounging by the pool.



Tonight some moving watching. I never know who might show up ;)


But first, I'm hosting my Splurge group tonight and tomorrow off on a big city adventure with #3. And tomorrow come dinner, we'll all be home again.

I love summer.

a confession

I thought long and hard over the weekend of continuing with my blog. To be honest, I've felt pressure to blog; I love posting things almost every day and lately that has just seemed like too much to get accomplished. I've felt guilty for not having new things to show you and I wondered, should I continue with this?

The answer is yes, for the main reason that I do love doing it; when I don't feel guilty lol. Why did I feel guilty? I hadn't touched my sewing machine in 5 weeks. Yes, FIVE weeks. Yikes. Course I was away, I was sick when I got back, my machine was in being serviced(I did bring a spare one home from work but never unpacked it).

I was hoping on the weekend, since the kids had no school on Friday and with Monday being the holiday, I would have 4 days of sewing bliss. That was not meant to be and you know what? It's all okay. We had a great weekend; some surprises that weren't that pleasant(it's all good, no worries). I got our dining room and hallway repainted; so glad that is finished and I do love how it turned out. Even though I'm still not 100% sold on the dining room paint color.

We went on some family adventures.

Come back later today to see a picture of the goat that tried to eat me.

I also played in my garden.






I got 15 of these beauties for $20-what a bargain! Dahlias are one of my absolute favorite flowers.

Yesterday I took off of work as well. And I finally fired up my sewing machine and got working on my last two(well four) blocks for my Pinwheel Sampler.

Block 7


And Block 8. I went with the Mosaic Block.


Than it was on to the mini pinwheels. Rachel didn't put them in with the sampler but once I saw them in her original quilt, I knew I had to have them.

I had started some a few months ago, teeny tiny pinwheels.

Too small for my sashing. But oh so cute

These were too big.


Still too big.


Just right!!!

pinwheel sampler

Blocks #5





And blocks #6.



I had originally planned the fabrics in the separate blocks; one block being red and green and the other being the multi-colored and brown. But when I ironed the blocks, I liked the way they looked and this is the way they ended up.



I'm absolutely loving this quilt!

And thank you sooooo much for all your compliments on the quilt yesterday. I'm not a big pink fan but this quilt grabs me. It's going to be hard to give it away tomorrow but I know she is going to love it :)

pinwheel sampler

Finally had a chance to get started on my Pinwheel Sampler Quilt. I'm using Moda's Portobello Market for mine.

Here's my first 4 blocks. I have 5 done but realized I made a mistake in block 5 so I'll correct that than show it.

Block 1




Block 2





Block 3





Block 4





Each block is done in 2 color schemes. Week 6 starts tomorrow. Click on the button in my sidebar and join in the fun!

I'll be back later today with Card Friday. And in case some of you were wondering, Jim DID get my New Moon dvd working last night-YAY!