Catchin' up!

It's been a few weeks since I have posted what I have been up to so I thought I would get you all caught up!

A few weeks ago, I worked on this top.

It will be a baby quilt.  I just have to trim it up and put the border on, then it will be ready for quilting.

Last week, mom and I went to our Guild meeting to register our quilts for the upcoming quilt show and of course to sign-up for volunteer work.

Mad About Patchwork was the featured quilt shop, so we did a little shopping too!

I bought these 2 patterns and the following bundle of fat quarters.

Aren't they yummy!!

Then we headed to Wal-Mart and while browsing the craft section, I found the pattern for this bag!

Isn't it cute?  I used scraps from a baby quilt I made last year.  It will be perfect for going to the library.

I have made some progress on this monster...

I just have the final border left to sew on.  I stopped because I had trouble with the pieced border.  It seemed to be making things a little wonky.  Anyhow, I think it will be okay and all will be better once it is quilted, at least I hope it will!  

This week I am concentrating on my Guild challenge.  It has to be done by next month's meeting!  I know I can get it done.  I am at a standstill right now... trying to decide where to put the pieced border.  As long as the hand work doesn't take me to long, it should be okay!

I know it's not Wednesday but I am linking up to WIP Wednesday at The Needle and Thread Network.  

A bunch of canadian bloggers, sharing their crafts.  Check it out!

Mother Daughter Baskets

A few weeks ago I won the Weekly Themed Quilt Contest over at The Quilting Gallery.

It's taken me a while but I did promise you more details about this quilt, so here they are... better late than never, right?

My mom and I worked on this project together.  It is a pattern from The Rabbit Factory (and it's on sale for half price on their website right now!)

We started in 1998!  Talk about a UFO!!

The original plan was:

Ginette - machine piece baskets and quilt top, help with hand quilting

Alice (mom) - hand applique blocks and quilt by hand

Well, when it takes you so long to finish a quilt, the original plan has time to change quite a few times!!

I did machine piece the baskets but my mom only appliqued one or two of the blocks.  I ended up appliqueing the rest!  This was my first attempt at hand applique, so it took me a long time!

Once I finished the blocks, we looked at the fabrics we had picked out for the blank blocks and borders. They didn't look right anymore.  

Also, my mom had gotten her Gammill since we had started this project.  We decided that we were no longer going to hand quilt it, she was going to tackle that part on her longarm.  We wanted the quilting to show, so the dark florals were way too busy for the blank blocks.  They also dated the quilt... we wanted it to look classic, not old!

My mom went shopping and found the perfect fabrics!!  

She pieced the top, including the sawtooth border, and then worked her magic with the quilting.  

Isn't it beautiful!  I love it!!

Mother Daughter Baskets

68"x 81"

started in 1998 - finished in 2012

Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...

We have all, yes all 4 of us, been down with the stomach flu this past week.  My 6 year old is the last to recuperate... she is finally sitting up and feeling well enough to play Super Mario Galaxy with her dad.

I feel like I have been run over by a truck but I am so glad to see the light at the end of a very long tunnel.

Needless to say that I haven't done any sewing this week but my friend Pat did finish the top of her garbage quilt and I thought I would share it with all of you.

Doesn't it look great?!  I absolutely love it!  I am so happy for her!

I am working on a couple of labels this afternoon and hopefully will get some sewing in this weekend, in between the laundry and disinfecting.

Have a good weekend everyone!

I just couldn't help myself!!!

I have been admiring all of the beautiful Granny Square blocks showing up in blogland and I just couldn't help myself!!

I had to join in the fun!  I only have the one all sewn up but there are 3 more on my design wall, just waiting...

I am using up some more scraps for these.  I had a small box filled with 2.5" squares so I dug those out.  Then I took out a bunch of 2.5"x5" strips and 5" squares that were cut out to make some quilts from the 

"Nickel Quilts" book by Pat Speth.  They were just sitting there so I thought, why not?  I have a couple of big rubbermaid bins full of scraps, I can always cut up some more when I decide to actually make my next quilt from the book, right?

Anyhow, the Granny Squares are so much fun to make!  If you were thinking about it, but weren't sure, I say, join the party!!

I used Jolene's tutorial over at Blue Elephant Stitches but also followed TraceyJay's tutorial for the setting triangles.  Love it!

I also made a birthday gift this weekend.  The little girl I work with turns 8 today so I made her a cushion.

She is partially blind so I picked out some of my brightest colored fabrics and embroidered her name on it too.  

I put blue minky on the back because blue is her favorite color.  I won't be able to give it to her as I am home today with a sick little girl but I sent the gift to school with my other daughter.  I am sure she will like it!

Have a great week everyone!  I am hoping to make more Granny Squares and work on my challenge for the Guild.

Color My World Purple

I took on my friend M-R's challenge to explore with color this year.  I have decided to make a 12 inch monochromatic star each month.

February's color was purple.

Here is my purple star!

Last month I told you that I changed the fabrics around quite a bit before getting my red star just right.  

This month I had to dig through my stash and scraps to find just the right purple fabrics and auditioned almost every single one before I got it just right!  I even had my mom come over and help me!  I had a really hard time with values but I am really happy with my end result.  I think it looks very pretty.

Next month will be a HUGE challenge because the color is black!

Please head on over to Quilt Matters and see M-R's beautiful purple tulip!