New Swag and Goals

I got these fabrics from the quilt store; the red is Hoffman Winter Magic and the snowflake is Hoffman Wrap It Up (this is the only time I ever look at or care about what the fabric is or where it came from.)

Today at Joann, we found some fun remnants:

The middle fabric is the same fabric that I used for the back of my Stairsteps to Paradise quilt, that I am going to try to use to back the placemats.

I also found these brights on clearance:

...as well as these pretty silver blues:

I also got my fabric wrapped canvas up on the wall.

What are your goals for the week?? Did you get anything exciting done this weekend???

Playing catch-up

I've been working on making some placemats from the scraps left over from my Stairsteps to Paradise jelly roll quilt. I'm planning on putting together a tutorial once they are finished, so that's exciting! Check things out so far:

The sashings for the snowflakes are pinned for the first side. They need to be sewn and pressed and then the second side added. And then I have to figure out how to lay them all out so that similar colors aren't too close to one another. But these have been pinned for almost a week and I haven't touched them.

We also managed to get a few jelly rolls and other fabrics on sale.

Over the summer, I had bought a yard of fabric and a canvas to staple it to for art for my living room. I just got staples for my borrowed staple gun. My dad helped me to staple the fabric and ribbon to the canvas and here is the finished project!

Now I just need to attach some hardware so I can hang it on the wall! Such a good feeling of accomplishment...and such an easy thing to put together! (Also, the ribbon is woven, which is also pretty easy.)

So, have a wonderful rest of your Halloween weekend! Happy stitching!

Teacup Quilt

I figured I would take the chance and show off my second quilt (the first one that was ever finished!), my teacup quilt (pattern from either Say It With Quilts or Quilts! Quilts! Quilts!, can't remember which)

{Update: for some reason, the picture of this quilt has disappeared. :( I will try to snap a new photo.)

The fabric for all of the teacups and saucers (well, 95% of them) came out of my mom's scrap bin. A number of them are fussy-cut to show off the fabric (like the cream and brown duck cup in the second to bottom row). There is one of Easter egg fabric, ones with snowmen, 1930s style florals, batiks, plaids, polka dots, and each one is of a different fabric.

This was my first foray into applique -- the handles are all hand appliqued on. The border fabric was also fussy cut to show off the full pattern on all of the sides.
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My new love: Magnolia

I spent the afternoon yesterday warming up by setting up my NEW sewing machine. This thing is nifty beyond belief. I'm going to have to undertake projects to use all of its features.

I actually took a whole bunch of pictures of close up of the machine and my quarter inch foot (with fabric guide--what what!) but then I realized how dorky that was. I will save them on my computer, but I will spare you the time of looking at them.

So I am now working on finishing the top of my snowflake quilt. Next up: sashing the blocks together. Here are all my blocks laid out:

Here are the sashing pieces that were the first thing I sewed on my new machine!

So have a happy Sunday. Rest, recharge, and of course, refill your bobbins.

A Surprise

Something exciting...

MY NEW SEWING MACHINE!

My mom surprised me with it when she came this weekend and I am going to work on setting it up tonight/tomorrow. The box is lighter than my old machine with its case attached so its a good sign.

But that's all new on the sewing front. Once the new machine gets set up I will get to setting and sashing the snowflake blocks. Then I'll have to see how big it is and all that to see what kind of borders will be happening with this thing. Although, I'm very tempted to find a little bit more dark blue fabric and make some more blocks. I'll just have to lay it all out on the floor and stare at it for a while. Maybe a quilt with snowflakes is better as a wall hanging or throw just because its so seasonal. Or I could do some fancy schmancy borders on it. How exciting would that be? Yeah. Let's go with that as "the plan" for the next 6 hours.

Also. I have decided that the next quilt project will be the Quiltmaker Mystery Quilt from this past summer/fall. So what if it's not a mystery to me... And as a reminder these are the fabrics I am planning to use:

Super pumped. What are your new sewing/decorating/life projects you are undertaking??

PS. The baby quilt still is on my kitchen table. It will be sent tomorrow, I promise.

Weekend (thus far) update!

My mom and I have been very productive. I have made decisions on all of my projects I talked about on Friday. 

The Stairstep Quilt has a backing:

I also got a backing for and cut the batting for the Cheery quilt. I decided to keep the roses border because the other fabric just wasn't bright enough. Here is the backing for this one:

But most importantly, I completely finished the baby quilt.

The backing is red super-soft flannel and the binding is the yellow stripe that is the same as the binding and backing of this one. I stitched my initials and the year on the back in the corner. So very, very soon this will be sent off to and be enjoyed by a new little one. I am very happy with the way that this one turned out.

Mom has been cutting like a madwoman to prepare for her upcoming quilt retreat. She is working on this black and red one from Quiltmaker. Here are some of her cut stacks and fabrics:

I can't wait to see how it ends up.

So for the rest of the day, I am going to work on my snowflakes and perhaps start cutting on a new project. Perhaps. But which? We'll see how the day goes.

But what a feeling of accomplishment to have the baby quilt completely ready to go to its new home, and two others ready to be sent to the machine quilter! Yay! I also learned how to use the walking foot!

Four Snowflakes

Yesterday I was able to put together four more Snowflake blocks while watching the new Prohibition documentary on PBS and the new season of House.  Here they are:

I think that the one in the upper left corner with the stripes is my favorite.

I am also (surprisingly) whittling down some of those blue scraps! I'm not sure how many more snowflakes will be made at this point because I've used up almost all of the dark blue fabric from the original stash. Decisions, decisions.