An almost finish

So I suppose it was a little ambitious to think this would be finished by today... but i finished the blocks at least!

I spent the evening the other day cutting... I always forget how long this takes.

But i suppose it WILL take a long time when I end up cutting twice as much background fabric than I needed (#talesofineptitude!). But I suppose it's just like getting a head start on another project, right? ;-)

I got all the blocks organized and plated-up...

and finished all of them in about two days. I'm still working on the layout, so this isn't final, but hopefully I'll start putting the rows together this weekend!

Spending time with an old friend

The other day I was getting all set up to quilt, and my dear lovely wonderful Bridget started acting up a little. She is due for a tune up (I can't believe I've had her for almost a year already!!) so I went ahead and took her in. The peeps at the Bernina shop here said it would be about 2 weeks.

Sadface.

So I pulled out my old girl out of retirement. 

Marsha Sue and I have been hanging out the last few days, and I can't say it enough how much I love this old girl.

At first I was like "how did I ever sew on this!" after being ridiculously spoiled by Bridget. (And I do have to say, there are some bells and whistles I've decided I can't live without - hello knee lift! and thread cutter!)

BUT. Marsha Sue makes some awfully pretty stitches. And she is a beast. Seriously - cast iron.

I also got taken back to that place where I first learned to sew, and I remember sitting in my apartment in California on the phone with my mom in Virginia piecing my first quilt on this machine - a queen sized block of the month kit I got from Joann's. I hated some of the fabrics, so I ended up replacing some of them, and trying to figure out how to use a rotary cutter, and how to get that 1/4 inch seam, and laying the blocks out on the floor, because I didn't know there were such things as design walls.

I'm rambling now.

Anyway, I pulled some pretties and chopped them up, and I *might* even have a finish for Friday, if I'm ambitious. And ignore schoolwork... I'll let you know how that goes. ;-)

Quilt Show loot!

I mentioned last week that I went to the Fredericksburg Quilting and Sewing Expo the week before, and showed you some of the awesome pieces that were on display.

I also mentioned that I would show you the loot I picked up while I was there.

Then I forgot.

So this is me not forgetting anymore. ;-)

I picked up some fun Christmas fabrics, for a project yet to be determined. I also got some (more) Acacia and Briar Rose, and a half yard of some fun citrus print - I used something similar in Sunshine Daydream that I loooved and don't know what it was.

I also picked up the Quick Curve Ruler and a pattern to go with it. I've only ever done curves with my DWR Sampler from last year, and I'd like to see if this makes it easier.

I loved the selection of stuff at this show! There was much more "modern" fabrics and patterns than I've seen before. I think I'll go again next year ;-)

Good Morning Starshine

The Acacia quilt top is finished! This top took me longer than I expected, but it's done!

I'm calling this one Good Morning Starshine, which is a song from one of my fave movies ever, Hair. No, not Hairspray. Hair - with Treat Williams and all the hippies and whatnot. It's awesome. I actually wrote a thesis about it the last time I was in grad school...

(please ignore all the tiny bugs that jump on my quilts the second they hit the ground!)

I originally did the star part and one full echo, but then I decided it was too small, so I added on the "shadow" echoes to make it a little bigger, and then extended parts of the second echo to make it look like it was coming out of the quilt.

This picture I took while I was basting it shows the contrast of the grays a little better than the outside pictures:

So this is all basted and ready to go, but Bridget is actually not feeling well, so I'm going to have to take her to the doctor this afternoon. Over a weekend, of course :-/

Stats:

Good Morning Starshine

60x68

Acacia by Tula Pink

Light gray: Kona Silver

Darker gray: Moda Zen Gray


UPDATE: This one is quilted and bound! Check it out here!

A field trip!

Last weekend I went to the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Fredericksburg! It was my first time at that particular one, and to be honest, the only one I've been to besides the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show in Hampton. The Fredericksburg show is MUCH smaller than the Hampton one, but it also had a more modern lean, so that was a lot of fun.

Here is some of the amazing pieces they were showing - there were pieces by Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Ebony Love, Elizabeth Dackson, Mary Fons, and Heather Jones, among others. There were also quite a few pieces that were quilted by Angela Walters and Lisa Sipes, and I *might* have had a few fangirl moments. ;-)

I hope you enjoyed the little field trip! I'll share my swag this weekend ;-)

WIP Wednesday, and a little finish

Hi guys! I've been trying to get in a little sewing here and there in between work and school (and a field trip!), and I've actually got a finished top to show you on Friday!

BUT, today is not that day, so you'll have to be appeased with a little peek of what I've been working on lately. I finished the Acacia top the other day, and I took a little time tuesday night to whip up the back and baste it. No telling when it's actually going to get finished though!

(you might have seen these already if you follow me on Instagram)

A quilter's crime scene:

The victim:

I needed a quick finish while I was working on this top, so the other night I tossed together this little zippy pouch. I got the pattern for this at my LQS, and it was soooo simple. It's quilt as you go, so you don't even have to do a separate lining. Easy = awesome.

I even did the zipper with the ends finished for the first time ever. Easier than I thought! I'm going to do pouches like this again, but the next one might be a little bigger, so it will be a little more versatile.

What have y'all been up to this week?

WIP Wednesday

I'm making some progress on my Acacia quilt! I've decided to piece it in quadrants, to make it a little easier, and I'm about halfway done.

I'm using my little row markers to keep everything straight.

I've also expanded my 9 patch piecing method - it's working out great!

I'll let you guys know when this top is done, I'm stoked about this being my "fall" couch quilt!