Squares & Diamonds Quilt is complete

I picked up my Squares & Diamonds quilt from the long arm quilter yesterday and I'm so thankful she was able to get it done so fast!!


Here's the pictures  ...I wish it was sunny outside!!

 

 

I made this quilt for my aunt Betsy. 


Have a great day!!

You are the best!

I hope you're up for a laugh!! 
Let me start out by saying...that not a single person ask me what I was doing..... not one person corrected me :) 
What a hoot!!! 
Funny how it happens more often than not....but not this time when I really needed it.


So, my last post....I showed you my latest Quilt....but I called it my Squares and Triangles Quilt....
Say what?
There are no Triangles on that thing :)
I'd like to say it was the pain meds talking....but you know I sometimes lose my words....especially when you're making a quilt top in 24 hours....filming the video while making it and..... while taking pain meds and muscle relaxers :)   
The Quilt is Squares & Diamonds and when I was editing the video the other night it dawned on me that I had typed the wrong thing.


Now for the question of the day....did any of you catch it?  


I'm still laughing!!!


See ya :)


p.s. the video is ready I just need to get it loaded on you tube. I was trying to get the instructions done at the same time but I'm not sure I can...we'll see if I can work miracles in the next few days.

Eighty Block Quilt .... Done!

 Last night I washed my Eighty Block Quilt (very small amount of detergent with a lot of Gain Softener) & dried it for about 10 minutes.  Then I hung it up to dry the rest of the way (I used pants hangers and hung it over my door).

This is what it looks like when it's all done.   I LOVE the raw edges.  In my beginner opinion ..... it's the perfect Quilt to start with!! 

My first quilt is officially done and I have enjoyed every minute!! (oops I mean my first two quilts are done...who would think I'd make another so fast....that's what happens when I have no electronics to keep me busy.)

Here are some Q & A's
Q.  How did I get the final quilting done?
A.  I took it to a Long Arm Quilter and she finished it for me.


Q.  What did I take to the Long Arm Quilter?
A.  My Quilt Top, Batting, Backing Fabric & Binding Fabric.

Q.  What was the first step after you made the Quilt Top?
A.  I took it to our local quilt shop and they measured it and told me how much fabric I needed for my Backing & Binding and Batting.


Q.  Did you do your own binding?
A.  No, Shirley has a machine that will do it for me.  My time is worth money & I figured I would have her do it.   If I had more time, I might give it a whirl but my business right now is more than a full time job :)


Q.  Will you have instructions available?
A.  Yes, after Convention I'll provide a video tutorial for free and the written instructions will be available for a small fee. (I am looking for someone with PhotoShop experience to help me).  
For now..... I have a video available on how to make the Flower Quilt Block.


Q. What is the finished size?
A.  The Eighty Block quilt has 80 blocks and the throw has 42 Blocks. (I'm still calling it the Eighty Block Quilt...even though it's a 42 block throw.)  I'm not sure what the finished size is...based on your seam allowance, yours may be a tad different when it's all done.  When you finish your Quilt Top the ladies at the Quilt shop will measure it and tell you how much fabric you need for the back and the binding. I took my first quilt to one store and the second one to a different store (we are lucky to have three stores in our area and one of them is less than 10 minutes from me).  If you don't have a local quilt shop,  ask around...I bet you have some local ladies that can help you right from their home. 


Some extra info:
I've always wanted to quilt but a few things held me back.   1.  I tend to jump with in with two feet .....or you could say I like to run before I walk.  I knew once I tried it ...... I would be hooked.  2.  I was afraid I might not be good enough.  You know how you start something that you've never done and everyone around you is so much better?   I was afraid to be in that beginner position again. 
I will forever be grateful that Jill not only taught me how to make the quilted flowers but she also drove me the quilt shop and helped me buy my fabric!!

Last but not least.....if you want to give Quilting a try.  Please .....just do it :)  What's holding you back?  If you have concerns I'd be happy to help you.   When I started my quilt.... I started with one block and then I made 80 of them.  Next I sewed the rows together...making sure I matched the seams (I was off in a few areas).  When it was all done I just drove to the store and they walked me through it.... I'll never forget walking into Prairie Point with my first quilt...both of the ladies were so nice and were very happy to help me with my first quilt.  Last but not least ....the final quilting.... Shirley put a rush on it because she knew it was my baby and I was having a hard time leaving it with her.  I am very blessed and I'm so thankful!!


Have a great day!!


p.s. to make a Quilt top....all you need is a sewing machine...a quilting machine is nice but if you already own a machine you'll be okay.

Eighty Block Quilt

Guess what?
I just got my quilt back from the Quilters :)
Yes, I'm grinning from ear to ear and eager to show someone!   
That is why a blog works for me..... my only family in Kansas is Dave & my children.... if I were in Tennessee I'd scream for my sisters to come see!!

You all get to be the first to see it...I hope you like it as much as I do!!

Here's another picture :)

Here's a picture of my darling label....Veronica did an awesome job  creating this for me!! 

I had a hard time deciding....two posts or one big one....I'm going with one big one :)
We went to the lakehouse over the weekend and my electronics did not work (could not get a signal to save my life)..... so I made 160 Quilt Blocks and ......I made a Eighty Block Throw (although it's not 80 blocks but that's the name).

They almost look the same....the Throw is smaller but the blocks are bigger.  These are 8 x 8 blocks and the first one has 7" blocks.  I decided I liked the 8" better.  Now I'm going to make another :)


My last picture is of Sissy.....I just had to share it!  Every time I take my quilts or purses outside to photograph them she has to be right there with me.  I'm going to start calling her my mascot.

 Have a great day!!

Flower Quilt

Doesn't it look beautiful? I'm so excited I could scream :)

All I need to do is add the batting, the backing and the binding....I'm almost done :)

Don't look too close..... I still need to trim the thread :)
Quick question.....do I wash it now or later?  I guess I better go google it.

Ladies, if you signed up the Quilt Block Swap....this is how your blocks will look when you sew them together.

See ya,

Glass Jar Pin Cushion

This is my latest project.....a Glass Jar Pin Cushion:)

 

Don't look to close...this is the first one I made and it really needs to be cleaned up but I'm super excited about it!!

I used the Glass jars I found at Ikea.  I cut my fabric using the Scallop Circles #2 Die (113469) & the Big Shot Die Cut Machine (#113439).  I attached the fabric using a Hot Glue Gun and I filled it with Poly-fil.   The final touch was adding some ric rac around the bottom to cover up my imperfections with the glue gun.

Update on  5/20/2010......The Fabric is attached to the lid and you can access the buttons in the jar :)

See ya later,

p.s. I'm going to work on the instructions & a video later this week. 

Sewing or Quilting tomorrow

Just a reminder we're working on our sewing or quilting projects tomorrow.  2pm to 5pm.  Bring a snack if you'd like but not necessary.  I've heard from Mary, Donna & Julie....that makes four of us.  Any last minute people are welcome but do me a favor and email or call me by tonight so I can map out the space. 
I did clean off my 3rd table but I could do a better job of moving some of the clutter :O

See ya,

Rag Quilt Blanket or Throw

I took a trip to the fabric store and decided to get started on my Rag Quilt Blanket ...... or is a throw? 

I searched online for all the details and there's a lot of info on this subject.  What I've decided to do is make the quilt based on a hodge podge of info and then try to incorporate Stampin' Up! in the process (on the next rag quilt).

For example, my first Rag Quilt Purse was made with just regular 5" squares and after I made it I decided to use the Scallop Square Die.  What a time saver that was!!  I cut 126 squares last night and 63 this morning. Having the Big Shot do the cutting really does save you time!

Here's a picture of my squares and I purchased this fabric at Quilters Haven in Olathe, Ks.

Here's all of them......

The next picture is how I figured it out on paper.  I decided after much research that I wanted my throw to have 7 squares across with 9 down. Each square is a 6" square.  I need 63 squares for the front and 63 for the back.   I also need 63 squares of batting and I choose 4 1/4 for the size.  

Notice how I said "I choose"? 

There's a lot of info out there and I'm just a beginner so I'm going with what the ladies tell me at the quilting store.

Here's how I figured out how many squares I needed of each pattern. 

I'm not sure when I'll get started but for now my squares are ready for whenever I have some time to sew (usually very late at night when I'm too tired for anything else).

See ya!