Chicken...

I'm too chicken to straight line quilt....!!  This quilt is to be gifted on Sunday and I'm going out of town for a few days...  I didn't have time for ripping out stitches.  I also realized tomorrow is the deadline for Sew Inspired's Free Motion Link Up, so I thought I'd post now.





I quilted it last night.  Although I've done stippling many times, now.  I've never tried anything else. These swirls were just as easy, although I'm not sure I like them as much.  I like the organic feel/look of stippling.  I had "my groove on" a few times, but lost it while negotiating some breaking thread....  Seems like my Horizon might not like my mason jar trick after all.  I'm thinking of ordering the spool stand for the back.













Lastly, after reading an interesting post by Leah Day, where she talks about the need to be able to Free Motion Quilt in a straight line, I wondered if I might ever be good enough to do straight line quilting in free motion style, without the walking foot!

Binding to come - Kona Charcoal.

Crosses

Despite a Saturday without much motivation, I finally cleaned up our "playroom" - where all the kids toys and my sewing reside.  Phil had refinished an old table from the chemistry lab at VT for me to use for my sewing table.  Before cleaning there were two large tables and a coffee table all in the same room.  Not to mention, scraps of fabric, an ironing board, etc.  It's taken me a while to realize that a mess does NOT help my creative process.  It drains it of all momentum...  I always noticed this was true for my kids.  When the playroom or bedroom is a mess, they can be found elsewhere... clean up and they are there, creating and making in the new space.

I was ready to work hard today at organizing my new sewing/quilting area, which I moved into our guest bedroom/study/computer area.  However in church today I realized a baby shower I thought was at the end of February was really next weekend....

So, I came home and got right to work.  I had already done a lot of mental work with this one.  This couple is a little hippy and this is their first baby, so I pulled out some awesome batiks from my sister, who I think got them from PEI last summer.  I had an idea based on a combination of one from Lizzy House and one from InColorOrder.

The top is finished and after these photos I finished the back.  I'll have to get some batting tomorrow and quilt away.  I'm thinking straight lines ... if I baste well and can take it slow!

(I have spent the better part of the evening trying to figure out how to rotate my photos the way I'd like them to appear.... Can someone help me here?? I read about the "fixes".  Let me just say rotating each one in picnik doesn't seem like an efficient fix.)

The First Two Quilts of the Year!

Despite the fact that I'm no great photographer (although I am in my head...) and that we just got a new camera, these photos are from the old camera.  That's all I'll say.  On to the quilting.

My husband works with someone who is pregnant with twins.  I have a soft spot for these ladies, I tell you.  So, I searched through my stash, wanting to stick with blues and greys as they are both boys.  I wanted them to be similar but not the same.

One is free motion quilted with a cheater binding (thank you Rae) and the other is done with straight line quilting - which I always expect to be easier than it is...  I think I have some things to learn here - either about speed (I really like going fast) or about basting (a pucker or two...).

There is nothing like taking a quilt out of the dryer and gazing at all it's crinkly glory.  I LOVE that!  I'm pretty pleased with how they came out.  My first quilt finish of the year x2!!

Linking up:

And now another.

I keep wondering exactly what the purpose of this blog is.  Most of the blogs I read are quilty blogs, because I can't seem to get enough of color and design - or fabric.  I'm constantly interested in and surprised by what makes my heart start racing!  So, will this just be a quilting blog?  My other interests and passions include knitting, nature, hiking, simplicity, parenting, faith, and photography.  I also teach reading part-time and find passion in literacy.

Anywho, because most of my flickr pictures document things I've sewn, I thought I'd add a mosaic of quilts made this past year - in 2011.  There are seven.  Here's hoping for at least that many this year!

1. luke's quilt, 2. Kona Kaufman Challenge, 3. Margaret's Hope Chest Quilt, 4. Amelia's Quilt, 5. Amelia's Quilt, 6. Margaret's Hope Chest Quilt #2 Wrapped In Hope, 7. Maria's Birthday Quilt, 8. Maria's Birthday Quilt, 9. Baby Fotinos

Mosaic made with BigHugeLabs Mosaic Maker.

Day 1

I have been obsessively reading blogs for YEARS, people, and decided it was time to start my own.  To motivate me, to record these fleeting days, to share thoughts and ideas.

I chose a word for the year:  AWAKE.  Awake to possibilites, mindful of what's around me and AWAKE literally in the morning for exercise and quiet time. That's my focus for January.  So far I'm 4 for 5!

I'm working on taking a photo a day for January.  So far, that has been really good and motivating as far as taking pictures goes:  my flickr set