Science Fair

I finished this quilt some time ago, but forgot to blog about it.  It's the Science Fair pattern designed by Jaybird Quilts, and I used V&Company's Simply Style for Moda.  The background is an ombre from the first V&Company collection, Simply Color.

I love how this quilt turned out.  I can't take credit for the ombre idea.  I blatantly lifted it after seeing several versions using the ombre background on Quilting is My Bliss.

This quilt was fun and very easy to make, really - it only looks complicated!  I added an extra background piece to the top and bottom of each vertical row, then trimmed them off square, but the pattern as designed follows the shape of the hexagons for a fun ziggy zaggy edge.

This doesn't match anything in my house, but will get a Minky backing and it will make a fun rec room cuddle-up-on-the-couch quilt.

Mixed Bag

I volunteered to make this sample for the shop because I wanted to work with the fun Mixed Bag fabrics.  Such happy, bright colors!

Made with just one charm pack of Mixed Bag by Studio M for Moda and a little yardage, this quilt is called Which Way and measures 42 x 54.  It's available on Moda's website, one of their free pattern downloads.

Embargo, one month down!

How did I do?  I made it 31 days!  I bought some fabric for the baby quilt, which was my one exception to the no buying pledge.  Oh, how sorely I was tempted while shopping for navy blue and green.  I could just get a fat quarter of this.  Nope, not for the baby quilt!  No can do!

I succeeded!  No fabric except the purchases I allowed myself for the baby quilt.  And some of the fabric I did buy, I bought with a gift certificate at one shop and a store credit at another.

I can't say it was easy.  I work at a quilt store, for Heaven's sake, and every time I go to work, there are more beauties to tempt me (Flower Sugar!  Text fabrics!)  But so far, so good!

Check back soon to see my progress on the baby quilt.

Double Hubble, Fini!

I don't think I've ever finished TWO good-sized quilts in less than a month before, but this month I have!  Two Hubble quilts, both ready for the quilter!  (Just showing one because it was quite the feat getting it on the design wall with my injured arm.)

Maybe it's because I made both quilts at once that it didn't seem like all that much extra work.  Hmm, I'll have to keep that in mind for the future, although I seldom make the same pattern twice.  I think this Miss Rosie's pattern using Little Black Dress was totally worth making twice.

Now on to the baby quilt!  I have so many ideas swimming around in my head!

Double Hubble!

I was lucky enough to have a 3-day weekend, and I also had Sunday off from the quilt shop.  I spent most of the day Saturday organizing my sewing room.  It was a disaster, but now is very tidy and inviting.  I love it so much when it's like this, why do I ever let it get to disaster stage in the first place?

After organizing, I was able to finish my second Hubble quilt.  This one the more simplified version using squares instead of half square triangles.  I think they both look amazing!  One will be a gift and one for me (the HST version).  They are both at the "run for the border" stage, so that's my next task.  After I finish that, I have a BABY BOY quilt to make for my niece.

Hubble is a great pattern from Carrie Nelson at Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.  It's one of her Schnibbles and can be made with charm squares!  You need 102 charm squares and yardage for the background.  I made mine with a layer cake of Little Black Dress and a fat-eighth bundle of Little Black Dress 2 - both by Basic Grey for Moda fabrics and great neutrals for a striking quilt.  I used the LBD light grunge for my backgrounds.

I am absolutely LOVING using my older sewing machine again.  Perfect seam allowances.  Both my centers measure exactly 56-3/4" square.  OK, enough blabbing, I'm back to work on my borders.

Hubble progress

I've finished the center portion of the first Hubble quilt!  This photo looks a little odd towards the bottom, but that's because I'm already using my design wall to lay out this Hubble's Double, made with plain squares instead of half square triangles.  I'll get them both to this stage, then add borders to both at the same time.  Progress!

Planning ahead

I'm planning a Fabric Embargo for 2014.  I have an enormous stash and with every new fabric purchase, something that I have wanted to make for months or years slips further down the list.  My plan is to use my stash for at least the first six months of 2014, possibly the entire year.  Heaven knows, I could go many YEARS without buying anything new!

I have 3 UFOs that I want to finish:

• Lily Pad/Atkinson Designs quilt - needs 2 borders
• 2010 Designer Mystery BOM - needs final border
• Second Story/Miss Rosie Quilt Company - blocks finished, needs assembly/pieced sashing

Since I don't do well with detailed planning of future projects, I'm just going to go where my whim takes me when I am ready to start the next project.  Some things I know I will be making in 2014:

• Baby quilt for my niece, who is expecting in June - planning will commence once baby's gender is revealed.  This will be my one exception to the "Nothing New" rule as the expectant Mommy wants input into the design and I may not be able to make it from my stash.
• Hubble/Miss Rosie's Quilt Company - using Basic Grey's Little Black Dress & LBD2
• This Square Root of Nine/A Quilter's Dream quilt for my mom
• Get started on graduation quilts for my twin boys (though I'm still in denial that they are going to graduate in 2015!!)