Star Light, Star Bright QAL

I have been on the fence about the Star Light, Star Bright QAL that Melissa is doing over at Happy Quilting. I have a few projects that I am working on right now and wasn't sure if I could find the time. But then I love making quilts!! Well the love of quilting won over and I decided to participate in the quilt along! If you are in need of another quilt project you should check it out. She does a great job with her quilt a longs and there are some great prizes for getting your stuff done!

I didn't want to use any of the fabrics that she suggested because none of them were really something that I loved, and I am trying to not buy fabric. So I went through my stash and found a couple of orange prints, and then I caved a bought a few more orange ones to come up with these nine:

And are then not so lovely and happy?! Here they are so that you can actually see the prints:

I am going to do a navy background fabric because I am trying to make this quilt a little more boy friendly. Yes there is flowers in there, but only that one print. There is one other, but there are more dots than flowers on it so I am not counting it! I like the contrast of the dark navy with the bright oranges.

Today I am going to try and cut all of these out! I really dislike cutting so it is hard for me to stay focused on it - I get distracted by other things that have to be done in the house!

Enjoy!

Ruffle Curtains

This cold has really been getting to me lately, and so I have spent more time sewing than on the computer, but today I have something super cute and girly to share with you! Pink ruffle curtains!!

My sweet neighbor is having a baby girl in a couple of months and is going all out on making the perfect nursery. I get to help her out. I made the curtains, some sheets, and changing table cover and a few other little things. But today I am sharing the curtains with you. Those of you on instagram have seen these already, but now I will tell you a little bit more about them!

I did a simple pocket rod top because then she could stick a curtain rod through it or use curtain clips to hang them. (and sorry for the bloated curtain look, it was so cold the day I took pictures and it seemed like my heater did not turn off!!)

For the bottom I did two larger ruffles and then one that was slightly smaller. They were super simple and easy! And then just folded over my hem and sewed them onto the curtain.

The hardest part was sewing the blackout liner into them! But I got it and they are done. But because she used regular fabric and not drapery fabric they are smaller than she wanted. So now she is trying to figure out how to have me make them bigger! We tried a ruffle on the side, but it just looks like an after thought! (which is what it was!) I am trying to convince her that a seam off to the side will not be that bad and will give the curtains the width that they need. We will see what I end up doing!

And here is the crib with the bedding that she got off Etsy, before she knew I could sew! Which is probably a good thing, because I do not like sewing bumper pads! I did them once for one of my kids and used those until my last one because I never wanted to do them again!! Ha!

I just love how girly and fun this room is! She has some turquoise accents throughout as well. As she finishes it up I will post the 'done' pictures!

On another note, I got my ombre quilt all cut out and most of it sewn together. I am starting to sew the rows together now! And I hope to start cutting for another quilt this weekend! I'll be sure to share pictures!

Enjoy and stay warm everyone!!

Aurifil Block of the Month - January

I stumbled upon the Aurifil Block of the Month this year, and I decided to participate! I went through my stash to pick out some fabrics and chose Delighted! by Riley Blake.

Here is my block all done! I loved how easy and quick it was! Made me feel like I accomplished something before 10 am! It was great! 

If you have not been over to their site and seen this you should. They have a designer of the month that they interview and they give you the block. This month they interviewed Brigitte Heitland who designed Zen Chic.

Enjoy! 

Half Square Triangle Quilt

Lately I have been on a cleaning rampage. I am not sure if it is because I live in the middle of no where and never go anywhere, or if it is because it has been so cold, or if it is because I know we will be moving in a couple of month. Regardless, my house is looking so great!! And things are organized, and I am finding all sorts of things.

These last few days I have spent in my sewing room - which also doubles as my daughters room - cleaning and organizing. while going through fabric that was stashed here and there I found this pile of half square triangles.

I got these a couple of years ago from a grab bag at my local quilt shop. From that bag I have made one baby quilt and I have one twin sized quilt top done, and there is still this much left!!

I just stuck them in my scrap bins knowing that someday I would get around to using them. Well this week turned out to be that someday. With the artic weather we have been having I have been stuck inside way too long, which translates into a lot of time wasted on Instagram and Pinterest. While I Instagram I saw a picture from Canoe Ridge Creations that just caught my eye, and I realized that I had everything I needed to make this quilt like hers.

Now I did not have a pattern or anything, I was just going by what I saw in her picture. You may have seen my progress on Instagram. But I finished it all up and I love it! I happened to have some white on white print in my stash as well, so I had to buy nothing for this quilt top!! Score!

Here are the rows all ready to sew together. I love the soft look of the pastel colors.

And here we have the finished product:

This is just a tiny bit bigger than a baby blanket, which in my mind is perfect for when you want to have a little bit of blanket on you when you are feeding the baby at night! My soon to be teenage son is helping me hold this up. I might have to re-press those side strips, they seem to want to fold in.

For now it is going into my pile of quilt tops that are so patiently waiting to be quilted. Someday I will own a long arm. I have a whole list of alterations that need to be done for my neighbor this weekend, and some baby curtains for her as well - so after those I will be one step closer to it!

We are supposed to get a little bit warmer temps this weekend - like we might actually reach freezing! We might have to go outside and play all weekend! Hope you all have a great one too!!

Enjoy!

Sugar Snow Quilt

Lately I am having a hard time trying to decide if Instagram is a good thing or a bad thing. I love it because I can share a photo of what I am doing and a quick description and it takes only a minute or two. And I can see what others are making so easily and quickly. But at the same time it makes me not want to blog because it takes so long and requires more work. But I have decided that I will persevere and keep blogging. Because really it is where I am able to share more and really get to know you.

Today I have a quilt that I am in love with!! But I have run out of background fabric. I have made all the star blocks on this quilt with fabric from my stash, and some leftover solid - now I just have to get some more solid to finish it.

This is what it is supposed to look like. It is called the Sugar Snow quilt from the Vintage Quilt Revival book. If you are on the fence about that book, you should just go ahead and get it you will not regret it. It is filled with all sorts of goodness!!

Here are my blocks so far. I obviously need more fabric to finish them.

I love the color turquoise, and I decided that I would also use the color of the year with it 'orchid'. I will be ordering some fabric next week - then it will be onto finishing this beauty up!

Enjoy!

January Goals

I am a goal setter, list maker type of person. I love the beginning of the year when we think about what we want to accomplish this year. I have some attainable goals and some pretty lofty ones this year. I decided to share them with you to help me keep accountable. But I have broken some of them up into monthly goals - cause then the time frame is so close, it makes me want to get them done!

1. I have plans to finish this quilt. The top is done, and I just bought the backing this week. So my plan is to get it all quilted up before the end of January. This one I am sure will get done because my boy keeps asking me when I am going to do it!

2. I want to get my Kaleidoscope quilt top sewn together.  I have all the blocks done and trimmed just need to sew them together. I hope to have this done by the end of January.

3. Another January goal is to finish my Sugar Snow quilt from my new Vintage Quilt Revival Book. I have most of the star blocks done, but I need to get some more backing fabric. I am doing a post about them later this week. You've probably seen photos of these on Instagram.

4. This last one is a year goal. I having been saving all the money that I get from doing alterations and other sewing for people to get a long arm quilting machine. I have quite a bit saved up, but still have a long way to go! But I want to get better at my machine quilting. I got these books for my birthday and christmas this year, I have been practicing on my home machine for now.

5. I want to make more quilt for others this year. I have plans for a wedding quilt for my sister and if I can a baby quilt for another sister.

These are my goals for January and the year as far as sewing goes. I have some other personal ones like eating better, and spending more time with my family.

What are your big plans for the month or for the year? Anything great you want to accomplish?

Enjoy!