Long arm

Every once in a while Jo-Ann's has clearance fabric go 50% off.  I go a little nuts, because you can get some really good fabric for really cheap.  Well about three weeks before I was going to go use the long arm machine, Jo-Ann's had their clearance fabric on sale.  So I bought some fabric that I could sandwich (without having to piece) and practice using the long arm.  So this is a cheap blanket but I learned a lot :)

I also should stick to buying batting in 2 yard increments, because buying 6 yards I had a lot of left overs that couldn't be used in another quilt.

I decided I was just going to play.  I used some of the designs from my iPad and then kind of experimented.  So you can see the lines across, just like when I draw on a whiteboard I cannot make a straight line, I couldn't on the long arm, so I used some chalk and drew lightly on the quilt.

 This is where I started.  The hearts were difficult for me to do!  I will definitely need to practice on the motion of the machine.  The second row did NOT turn out how I thought it would! again I am going to have to practice on the motion of the machine.  The third row was supposed to be spirals and swirls.  Not bad for a first try ;)

Then I tested some straight lines back and forth.  Then big loops and little loops.

I added a pen to this picture to show the size of the quilting.  This was

Then I played with meandering and more swirls and loops.

Black Friday shopping

I have never been really into black Friday shopping, but my friend Christine is, and when we planned to go out this year, we planned to go black Friday shopping together.  We decided the only place we REALLY wanted to hit up was Jo-Ann's.  The flannel (among other things) was on a HUGE sale.

We were the first ones at the door on Friday morning.  And we both spent a lot of money! I bought a lot of flannel, some for quilt backs, some just cause it was cute (I don't have a quilt in mind for it yet).

Then Friday night we set up Christine's sewing room, except I never got a picture of it! I think it's really cute, and this is the best I have.

Except it doesn't show her awesome mannequin (whom we named Claire), or her large table she has her machine on.  This weekend I worked on quilt blocks and Christine finished an outfit! it's a one piece jumpsuit tube top type thing.  I don't want to post pictures of it yet, because she plans on wearing it soon, and I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!

My view today

Sewing with Christine. Two heads are better than one!!!

Two fabric quilt block 6

Well things have been speeding up! so I don't have as much time to sew as I would like.  But every once in a while I get something done ;)Well things have been slowing down, so I don't have as much time to sew as I would like. But every once in a while I get something done :)

Thanksgiving

Last year my husband and I went to DC for thanksgiving. We're visiting my friend Christine.

Her and I are going Black Friday shopping at Jo-Ann's. I don't need a lot, but the sales will be nice.

We are also going to spend some time sewing. I didn't want to try to lug my machine around or have to put it in the over head compartments. So I asked if I could borrow the featherweight from my MIL.

I didn't have a wheelie bag that would fit under the seat (and fit the featherweight) but I do have a Vera Bradley miller bag, which the machine fits into quite well.

I wrapped it in my HST quilt. The only snafu, was that TSA wanted to take it out :/ so I had to put it back. But it's good now, and I'm ready for our flight…in two hours!

Scrappy Jacobs ladder

So I have been posting about my scrappy Jacobs ladder.  I have shown you a few finished blocks, and some of them put together.  Well now it's the time to show you the FULL quilt!  I am quite excited about this, while I was making it, I was kind of eh (notice a pattern?! I don't like scrappy as much while I am working on it, but put it together! and boom! I fall in love!). This was going to be my first thing on the long arm. Well technically second. The first thing I made I haven't posted about because I haven't finished it yet! I wanted to have something to play with first, I didn't want this quilt to be my guinea pig! This quilt is my baby!

Although it doesn't belong to me anymore. I have shipped it off to my grandpa. I wish I could have given it to him in person, but living 6 hours away kind of hinders that. I have this desire to quilt for all the people I love. I made my grandma a quilt first, then my mom then my sisters, etc. I want to make everyone in my family quilts, but I am pretty sure I have said it before, but I am bound by my imagination. If I don't have an idea, the quilt won't come. I have been trying to decide what I would do for my grandpa. Making quilts for girls is easy. Making quilts for guys: SO TOUGH!!! Well I started the jacobs ladders block and decided it would be GREAT for my grandpa!

So I was able to get it whipped up in no time when I finally knew who it would be for :)

Without further ado here are pictures.

Two fabric Quilt Block 5

One lone block today.

Shoo fly.  I am not sure how this block got it's name, but I like it :)

Two fabric quilt Block 3 & 4

Eccentric star

Friendship Star

Quick post

I've meant to post this all week! But it's been a crazy week at work!

On Monday I rented the long arm machine. I was there from 10 am- 5 pm. I didn't get as much done as I would have liked (ran out of batting!

I will be writing more about the long arm later as I get those projects finished.

I just wanted to share this picture my husband took. (I brought him along so he could see a long arm)

Two fabric quilt block 1 & 2

I am going to show you some blocks I have been working on, and in a few weeks you'll see the finished quilt!

The first block is one you have actually already seen, so I will just link to it : Jacobs ladder block

Here is the second one

I found this block in one of my quilting books, it said it was called Pennsylvania.

Bloggers quilt festival

Click the image for more information about the Bloggers quilt festival, if you don't know anything about it, it's actually really cool and a way for quilters around the world to get together, when so many of us live busy lives.

 This is the quilt I made my husband. Up until this point I had only made quilts with squares. I had made some quilts with designs, but they were all squares. I knew I wanted to make the inch this design for my husband. He's volunteered at a music festival called ichthus and his faith is very important to him.

I was talking to a friend that quilted (much more than I!) and I showed her my square designs and she suggested I make half square triangles. Those were very new to me. But I learned how to make them and I think the quilt turned out quilt nice!

Our first apartment we lived in we used this as our "comforter"/bed quilt because it was large enough for both of us.

I wanted to give it to my then fiancé on our wedding day. But I forgot my foot pedal for my sewing machine and so I had no way to sew. I gave it to him about three weeks later :)

Ichthus quilt
Finished quilt measures : 82"x65"
Special techniques used : HST
Quilted by : Me
Best Category : favorite 2 color quilt, favorite bed quilt

Fun mail!

I received my block from Debra!!

I love it! Plus a small block that I'm going to add a border to so that I have another!

Isn't that kitty just adorable?!?!

Testing Quilting designs

So when I learned how to use the long arm quilting machine a few weeks ago, she suggested I use a whiteboard to practice drawing designs, because of how the marker is held.  It would be similar to quilting on the machine.

Because of being a teacher I will actually put my hand on the board to steady my hand as I write, so I wasn't sure that idea would work for me.

So I have just been pinning things on pinterest that I thought it would be fun to try on the Long arm machine next time I go.  As I was thinking about it though, I thought that I could actually use my ipad to practice drawing quilting designs!

The app I used is called Bamboo paper, Itunes link to bamboo paper.  It is free, but they also have a paid version, which I use, because you can have multiple "books" so I have a "quilting" book.

So here are some of the ones I tried out.  Some of them are a little shaky because we were in the car while I drew these.

Doing "ferns"

Writing words

This was just practicing.  The cool thing about Bamboo paper is that you can insert pictures.  so I just played around and put in a block I have made and made a quilting design in it.

And I also did it with my scrappy Jacobs ladder.  Just to see what the meander would like like on it.

Block swap across the pond!

For the month of October my partner was http://rubyru-rubyru.blogspot.com She asked for a block in Red and aquas, that was a star pattern.

This is what I was able to come up with!




















I chose to do two blocks because I wasn't sure which one I liked better.  Hopefully Helen likes them!

UFOs

So I went through all my fabrics/projects to figure out what I have that needs to be finished and to to find a way to finish it. I added the year that I started the quilt. I am hoping to get a lot of these finished soon! Probably next year after I get my Christmas presents done.

Spools - add brown to sides/top, quilt (2010)
Two panel, decide what to do (2010)
UNI quilt, finish putting blocks together, quilt (2010)
Floral blocks - decide what to do. Was going to try a quillow (2009)
One panel - table runner - not sure how to finish it. (2009)
Pinwheel quilt along - finish blocks, put it together. (2010)
Maverick stars - add row of triangles, quilt (2011)
Indiana quilt exchange - quilt (2011)
Pique nique quilt - add a back, quilt (2010)
HS tee shirt quilt interfacing. (2012)
Binding on prequilted material (2005)
X-blocks - quilt (2010)
Chinese coins (2011)
Christmas/thanksgiving runner (2009)
Sudoku quilt, no clue what to do. To quilt it possibly use a different design in each block. (2011)

May block that I sent

I sent this block to Debra to May.  I thought I had taken a picture of it, but I couldn't find it.  So I asked Debra if she could send me a picture! (may 2012 swap)

This block was paper pieced, and I must say this is one of the best paper piecings I have done!! I normally have an issue getting the points & lines to match up!

And if you are interesting in joining the group here is a banner to the blog!

Quilt Contest (again)

I was browsing quiltinggallery.com earlier and I found out there was another contest.  This weeks theme is "Dots, Checks, Stripes" so I decided I would enter and I found the PERFECT quilt!!

I have actually shared more about it here. For today I am just going to share the picture I submitted for the contest.  The contest does not open for voting until Friday.  you also do not have to register to vote.

Do you want more information? Do you want to enter your quilt?! Click the image below

More finishes!

I'm shocked! Now I probably should have been grading papers, but my sewing machine was calling my name!

I finished two more UFOs tonight (unfinished objects).

The first is my first jean/flannel rag quilt. Granted it has not been washed and "ragged" yet. I have definitely learned a lot about it. Next time the squares will be bigger and I will take a 1/2" seam allowance.

The second was a fleece "rag" quilt I bought at Jo-Ann's in 2005! I needed to get that bad boy done! And hopefully out of my house soon!

Busy bee!

I have been so busy this weekend. And I sure got a lot done!

I made 6 aprons. I made stocking ornaments. And I finished my values quilt.

Most of this stuff I'm going to try to sell at a craft show this weekend in Indy.

I'm excited. I'll be doing it with my mother in law. We did one about this time last year.

Long arm quilting

I have wanted to try a long arm quilting machine forever, I would love to own one, but they are so expensive (even buying used!) so we haven't been able to afford it, but a local quilt shop has one in the shop that people can use.  I was SO excited! I finally heard back and today I was able to take the lesson to get trained on using it.

It's not that complicated, but I sure am glad I was able to take a class, I am going back in two weeks to actually quilt a real quilt!! (now to just finish the top ;) )  I did get to bring home a souvenir.

 Here is my top

Here is the stitching from when I first started.  You can see my loops and stars

My name ;)

On the left are my teachers hearts, to the right mine. and she showed me how she would fill in at the bottom.

and on the left here are her leaves and on the right mine