Last of the Solstice Stars

I finished this last star up early last week but have been extremely busy lately and haven't made it on here to post. 

After laying all of my stars out I decided to make another of the first star in more coordinating colors.  I finally have a vision for finishing the quilt and this will fit into the final layout better than the one I had originally made.

However since finishing up the blocks I haven't found a great deal of time for quilting.  I have had scouting events for two of my children and a 3rd little one who has had a nasty cold...in addition to a bathroom remodel due to necessary repairs.

I did manage to do a few things:

A small doll blanket per my youngest daughters request from scrap fabrics (I am still working on using scraps!) I didn't measure or cut anything rigidly - I just pieced and went with the flow.  I also wasn't too careful about going around the edged since I had a 2 year old on my lap helping finish up her blanket.  But she adores it and that is all that matters.

I also finished cutting my initial squares for a interlocked friendship star quilt:

I need to order another set of fabric for it to be large enough for a twin and I need to decide on the background color.  I am considering a kona bone color or something tan...I want the stars to really sing and many of the fabrics contain white backgrounds.  I am open to other suggestions.

Last but not least I tried applique.  I have only even done raw edge so I decided to give the classic 1/8 inch hidden stitch method a go.  I don't have any pictures but I know that even though I was able to do it (and a heart shape at that) I will need a little more practice to perfect it so all the stitches are perfectly hidden. Maybe I will give this pillow a try for lots of practice:

I own one of her patterns to make a nice size wall hanging of a tree with birds and multicolored leaves...but haven't been able to bring myself to do it since all I know how to do is raw edge applique.  Here is the link if you are curious:

http://dontlooknow.bigcartel.com/product/lilly-pilly

The idea is to make enough birds in the tree for each member of our family and hang it in the hallway.

This weeks goals:

Finish up the Dresden plate quilt top
Make my oldest daughters star pillow top - she already has colors picked out for it
Work on finishing up the hand-stitching on the large lattice lap quilt

We are getting closer to having a new little one in the house so we shall see just how much I can do before the arrival.

I Love to Read!

I have a book mark with a ninja on it that says "I have ninja like reading skills".  I think that just about sums up how my husband feels.  I read fast and it drives him crazy that I can go through books faster than he can.  We sometimes read the same sci fi or fantasy series and he asks to read them first because I am so fast.  I just kinda get lost in them and they play out like a movie in my head.  The other day I heard about a fiction series about quilters and thought it might be fun to give it a try.  I don't usually read books like these but hey, they might be fun. I called up my husband and asked if he wouldn't please mind dropping by and picking up a copy or two at the local library on his way home from work.  He agreed, but he had a little surprise for me. He had got me two of the books in the series:

and then he pulled out one more book.

He found it in the quilting section for me (this took effort since the fiction section and quilting section are not even on the same level of our library).  He said that he thought I just might want the book that has quilts/patterns inspired by the series.  I had no idea this even existed!   It was so sweet of him and unexpected!  I have to tell you too, I am adding this book to my wishlist!  I have already found several blocks and patterns I am dying to make and try!  Such inspiration.  I think my husband is a keeper - you can keep the "Hey Girl" poster boy.

More blocks

The Solstice Star Series over at http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/ is finishing up tomorrow and I am sad!  I really wish their were more stars. These have challenged me and at the same time provided me with a lot of fun!  If you know of any more fun stars like these please pass them along.

I finished my 3rd Solstice Star last week and  today I finally completed my 4th star!

The 4th star was a little challenging but is my favorite thus far!  I really think I might have to make a whole quilt of these in the future.  Lastly I tried another paper piecing pattern of a sailboat from Block Central and am in love!  I adore this little boats and am thinking of making my little guy (who is coming soon) a quilt of these. 

I have also been making more progress on hand-stitching the large quilt but over heated while stitching again.  It really sneaks up on me.  Glad my husband caught it!   Hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day!  

Kicking it Old School

I found some cute Pac Man and Space Invaders fabrics awhile back and thought at first about using it in a larger quilt.  However, I decided a black and white theme might not be too uplifting for the intended recipient.  My intended recipient has to spend a whole lot of time in dialysis.  :(  So I decided to make him a kindle cover for his kindle.  I really hope he likes it and that it fits his Kindle.  I used the tutorial from here: http://frizzylizzie.blogspot.com/2011/02/patchwork-kindle-cover-tutorial.html 
I added a flap and Velcro instead of the button closure.  I was a little scared about going off pattern to add my flap and Velcro but it all worked out.  Whew!

I didn't see the stray little string until I took the photo.  The string isn't even attached, just a stray.

I have also finished the second Half-Square Triangle block.  My husband says he is not so sure about how it is going to come together (and to be honest I am not sure either).

Other than that I am doing a load of hand quilting of a large lap quilt.  I am not going to post photos until it is finished but it is a beauty!  Lastly, I am working hard on selecting the right fabrics for the 2 new solstice stars I have to catch up on.  I should have them done *knock on wood* by the end of this weekend.  We shall see.   How are your projects going?

Some Finishes

I realized that I forgot to share that I finished the twister quilt binding.  In fact that little blanket is now being used by dolls and bears:

Yesterday I powered out and finished the "I-Spy" quilt I had been working on.  It helps that I am under the weather with a cold and didn't want to be running around the house much...so out came the hand stitching.

I used delicate colors that you can really see up close but they do not photograph so well from far away. Now I just need to throw it in the wash for the nice crinkly quilt look.  I am hoping to have some more finishes this week...but that depends on if I feel like sitting at my machine whilst sneezing and coughing.  :)

Solstice Star Blocks and WIP Art Quilt

I wasn't sure if I was going to try to do the Solstice Star Series posted over at Fresh Lemons.  She just started it this month and it isn't too many stars.  I kept peeking at the instructions and finally when she introduced the "Whirling Star" which is paper pieced I just knew I had to give it a try.  I really want to get good at paper piecing and Faith over at Fresh Lemons posts really good tutorials.  The first star The Ribbon Star has 4 different colors for each of the points...but I decided to go with just two.  Here is my Ribbon Star:

The second star - The Whirling Star I did in a pink colorway:

I guess I am thinking Valentines Day or Strawberry Shortcake. I also made more progress on my girl art quilt.  I made it from a kit I purchased from my friend Carrie over at Believe Magic.  She makes amazing art girl quilts and sells kits in her etsy shop so you can make your own.  I have most of it stitched in place but am trying to figure out if I like the rays of the sun, butterflies, and flowers, or want to do something different.  So she will probably sit a few days until I get things just right.

To be honest, I was being completely lazy...I didn't want to re-thread with black so I outlined in white. I think she also might need a little white collar for her dress.

What do you think?  Does anyone have a suggestion on how to finish this off?  Lastly, I got a nice early anniversary present from my husband!  He bought me this beautiful collection called "Annie's Farm Stand".  I don't have anything in mind for it yet, but I am so excited!  Isn't it just gorgeous (the image is from Sew Deerly Loved who sells this particular bundle)?

This week it is my goal to: stay up with the Solstice Stars Series, the Half Square Triangle Quilt Along, keep plugging away at the hand-stitching to finish the pink bordered I-Spy quilt, and to finish sewing the Kindle cover for my brother.  I hope you all have a wonderful week!

A Busy Wednesday

I got my Riley Blake fabric in the mail yesterday and threw them on to wash.  Today I madly went about ironing and piecing so I could finish my first January block. You can find the tutorial for Jenny's January HST block here:  http://incolororder.blogspot.com/2012/01/hst-block-of-month-january.html   I used the 6 inch square method which worked out quite well.  Here is my block (I can't wait for summer so I can photograph outside again):

Next up I got the binding on the front of my twister mini quilt and have it pinned to the back.  It is growing on me.

And lastly I am working on this I-Spy quilt in the evenings.  While I watch Top Chef tonight I am hoping to finish getting the binding hand-stitched.  I only have a small section left.  I have stitching in white on the white half but have decided to go back with some embroidery floss and add color to the designs over there.  I know that quilting is done pre-binding but figured since it is already quilted and I will be going over the same stitching it should be fine *cross your fingers for me*