Hello My Name is...

Kristy and I have a problem, I'm addicted to cute little Pouches.  I blame the STLMQG (St. Louis Modern Quilt Guild) for my addiction.  You see, the Members Swap Committee started a Pouch Swap.  We swapped names secretly at February's meeting and are to make a pouch for our Partner and bring it to next month's meeting. 

I found some cute fabric, cut some shapes and created this one.  I didn't use a pattern, just my knowledge of construction and working with zippers.  I added some extra topstitching and a few little X-Stitches. 

Then I made this one, trying out a box tutorial found here.  Although the size is small, and I'd add some pulls to the end if I make it again...overall it's super cute and I tried a new to me tutorial.

Then this happened...

...yep, that would be eight little coinpurses that I made using this tutorial. Now before you think that I've come down with some sort of strange sickness, you must know that my work is having a little employee-only craft fair/rummage sale this Friday. These little coinpurses are super-easy to put together and I thought it would be fun to add them to the other things I'm bringing.

As for the STLMQG Pouch Swap, I'm still unsure exactly what I'm going to make; but at least I've got some practice under my belt.  Now, if I can only find somewhere to buy zippers because I only have a couple more in my stash and forking over nearly $2 a piece isn't economical.

Quilt Done...Registration Complete

If you are a Quilter, you have undoubtedly heard of the International Quilt Market and Festival.  Well, during each of these enormous events, there is always an accompanying Quilt Show.  This year, Quilts Inc, collaborated with The Modern Quilt Guild to create a special showcase exhibit just for modern quilts.  The Call for Entries opened in January and closes this Friday, March 2nd. 

As soon as I heard about this event, I knew that I wanted to try my hand at a professional exhibit; but wondered if I had the ability and lets be honest, time to get something made.  Well, I am proud to say that I finished just in time to take some photos and officially submit my entry and registration.

With my Dad's help, he rigged up a makeshift rod and hooks on his garage; which proved to be an excellent backdrop.  Now, the photos that I submitted had to be cropped, a certain size, and all that jazz; but let's be honest...you don't want to see those photos.  Honestly, I'd rather show you my hands-down favorite shot of the 50 something that I took this afternoon.

This is what a quilt should be doing...if it's not keeping someone warm, it should be blowing in the wind.  Oh, and P.S....I named this quilt Chocolate Covered Strawberries.  The red hues and dark raspberry-nearly-chocolate color mixed with hints of green "leaves" reminds me of that delectable summer treat.

Catching Up

My sewing machine has really been getting a workout over the last week or so...and clearly I haven't had lots of time to blog about what's been going on...so here it goes.

The TRUST Circle of do.Good.Stitches started back up again, after a month of catch-up/holiday madness.  This month's Bee Mama asked us for Wonky Stars...the design and amount per block was up to you.

Block #1

Block #2

Next up is my progress for the For The Love of Solids Swap.  This is the progress shot that I took on Sunday morning and by Sunday evening I had a complete bag waiting for a strap.  I have the strap, just need to get the hardware.

The other quilting project that has been taking up alot of time recently is my hopeful submission for the Quilts, Inc. MQG Showcase.  The due date is March 2nd and while the quilt came together fairly quickly, the quilting has been what slowed me down.  Since this quilt was created just for the Quilt Show, it was very important to me that I did my best work and that includes the quilting...which to be honest is usually an afterthought in most of my work.  Not because I don't think it's important; but because I only know 2 types of stitches...straight-line and curvy-line.  I don't freemotion although I need to start practicing.  After asking my fellow STLMQG members what type of marking instrument they use to draw their quilting lines, I got to work and am creating "Echo-style" quilting lines around the pops of color.  The sneakpeek below doesn't do the colors or the quilting justice.

Finally, if you remember this post that I wrote some weeks ago announcing that I was in the midst of creating a handful of Quilt Patterns.  Well, I'm happy to say that last night...yep, last night...I finally finished the 1st official draft of my first pattern, titled MAZED.  I'm in the process of recruiting some Pattern Testers to work out any bugs and help with thought process; because if you know me, you know that when I write I like to ramble on sometimes.  I'm still shooting for a Spring release and hope to have some fun activities planned to celebrate the occasion.  If you'd like to get in on the fun, just let me know...hint, hint, nudge, nudge



Gifts and a little Splurging

First I have to start with something that I honestly thought I would never see again.  You see I made a "Stacked Books" block a while back and while I really liked it, I was saddened to see that it finished smaller then I needed.  I wasn't going to make more wrong ones just to go with it.  So, I tossed it on the STLMQG Freebie Table last month and Nancy happened to pick it up.

Now, how did I know that Nancy picked it up?  Well, first because she told me and second because she showed this and one similiar to it at our meeting this past Saturday.

Yep that's my block, repurposed as a lovely little zippered pouch...and guess what, this one is mine.  She surprised me and announced that it could come live with me.  Thanks Nancy!!!

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I might have lived off of Ramen Noodles for a while to sock away enough $$ to buy this; but it was sooooooooooooo worth it.  I introduce you to Pezzy Prints by American Jane.  I totally missed out on this collection during it's first printing; but recently it was re-introduced in lots of great colors and I knew right away that it would make a great addition to my scrappy fabric stash.

Don't be surprised if little bits of this show up in lots of my projects going forward...Hehehe. 



Lookie Lookie...

You can find me over at The MQG today, where my quilt Pixie Stixs is being featured as part of their composition series, another great installment to 100 Days Of Modern Quilting. 

If you don't know much about Modern Quilting, I highly recommend checking out the 100 Days of Modern Quilting series as it offers alot of insight, inspiration and information.

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If you are visiting my blog today for the first time, Welcome!!

I hope that you'll take a stroll around.

WIP Wednesday 2-8-2012

So, I'm a little late for WIP Wednesday; but I do have some fun stuff to show you anyway.

Last week, I showed you the 1st block that I had made as part of the Lou Bee.  Well, here is Block #2...all dressed up in yellows and looking mighty F-I-N-E.  I do have to admit, I like this block.  If you'd like to make one yourself, here is the tutorial.

Of course, it's not often that I have 2 of something lying around, so I took a few additional photos because I could.  These lovely blocks will be given away on Saturday.

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I also shared with you last week the progress that I had made on my Doll Quilt for the Fab Little Quilt Swap.  Well, I am thrilled to say that I am DONE...yes, folks...that is right, I am ahead of schedule.  Not that I'm ever late with my swaps; but sometimes the week it's due there is some late night sewing going on.  Not with this one, I was inspired right away and things just came together.

It's all sorts of crinkly good and while it's kinda hard to tell all of the details, in person it's super.  I hope my Partner likes it...when they get it in like a month :-)

That's it for this Wednesday.  I'll be catching up with you all again here soon.

WIP Wednesday 2-1-2012

It's February 1st...can you believe it?  I'm back with another installment of WIP Wednesday and I've linked up over on Freshly Pieced

So what am I sharing with you today.  How about some quilt blocks...

The first (Circle of Geese) is for our Lou Bee; which is a bee that was born out of the STLMQG.  It's our first block of 2012 and Cara asked that we make two Circle of Geese, tutorial can be found here if you'd like to make your own.  I've finished one as you can see below and have one more to go using yellows.

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The next block is my Center for the {Modern} Robin.  It's an old-fashioned concept where you start a block and your Partner builds a border, you build a border, so forth and so on until you have a smallish-quilt.

Laura, a fellow St. Louisian, asked if I wanted to be her Partner.  We'll spend the next few months working on each other's blocks.  Coincidentally, she said that she is working on a star for her center block too.

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I've made some progress on my Doll Quilt for the Fab Little Quilt Swap. As you can tell, I'm really liking the use of printed backgrounds.  Last week it was just a pile of scraps; but this week I've made some wedges and just need to figure out a layout.

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Finally, I want to share with you another start.  Have you heard about the MQG Showcase?  No...well, it's an exhibit hosted by Quilts, Inc and gives members of any MQG an opportunity to submit a quilt for consideration to a special Showcase premiering during International Quilt Market & Festival this fall.  It's a great opportunity and they are having an Open Call for Submissions. 

I wanted to participate; but was lacking for inspiration until I was watching TV one afternoon and saw a commercial that immediately turned on the Inspiration Lightbulb in my head.  I got something down on paper, found some fabrics in my stash and started to cut random scraps.  I'm doing a little Improv piecing and need to finish the quilt and submit it before the March 2nd deadline. 

It looks a little Christmassy from the photo above; but I've made some headway on the quilt top and let me tell you that it is anything but Christmassy.  When I look at the quilt top I actually think of "Chocolate Covered Strawberries".

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That's it for this week's WIP Wednesday, I hope to share with you some further progress next week.  Until then, did you catch my Announcement from last Thursday.  You can check it out here.