Transplant to Quilt Crazy Blog

Abi's Spiderweb

Abi's Spiderweb
Originally uploaded by ~yolanda

I am testing blogging from flicker

Pillowcases Complete!

Ta-da!  Inventory reduction = approx 2.5 yards

 

Bee Happy Spiderweb Block Complete! :-)

Weekend Sewing

This weekend I'll be testing some block exchange patterns and sewing three pillow cases ~ my stash reduction will be three yards once complete ;-)

Fabric for my grandsons pillow case:

Fabric for my two step-granddaughers

 
Will post photos of the finished product :-)
 

Virtual Block Exchange - Bee Happy Spider Web Quilt Block

This months assignment is to sew a spider web block using some of Abi's fabrics and some of our own. Look at the fabric in my packet!!!  :-)  My favorite is the squids:

Deciding what to add:

Better test with my own fabric first:

 
 

I made some mistakes on the test but I got it now :-) ... I'll get in another test block this weekend then will sew Abi's block.

If you want to see some really cute blocks from the other members check our flicker group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/beehappybee/
 
 

Siggy Block Exchanges

The 5 inch square is for an international exchange - I have to send my first one in, then I get the list of traders. This one is from a lady in the Netherlands... nice huh? The 3.5" are for a modern scrap siggy swap. I have never sewn triangles like this and was a tadd off the first time.....  but I got it!  I have to be careful drawing the line on the 2.5" square or get a sharper pencil :-) 

 

Stash Update

I figured out a way to reduce while helping others!  I am trading cotton for demin for my donation quilts.... I am trading about 10 yards of cotton for denim. I know this is not a major update but I thought it's enough progress to report and demin makes the flannel go longer and that equals more quilts for those undergoing dialyses.  I have a friend at work who has offered to help make a batch of 25 quilts to give to her mom's dialyses center in her mom's memory - cool huh? 

Bee Happy Virtual Quilting ~ My First Bee

We just got going - my month is February.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/beehappybee/

Swedish Weave Project Beginnings

Ah.. I think I found the multi color yarn... I have some organic cream color to go with it ...

I can't locate the pattern I was wanting to use for this project .. I started it on a test piece (see below) which I can follow .. it wil make a complete diamond when finished.

Kaffe Spring Log Cabin ~ Top Is Complete!

Well it's finished .. I zigged where I should have zagged on four of the blocks and didn't realize it until I had three rows sewn together. Had to get the seam ripper out to start over and thus the delay. 

What do you think of the fabric below for the backing?

 

Quilting Activity Today

I am ready to finish the Kaffe Spring Log Cabin quilt today however I am not sure I'll be able to escape into sewing today.  I also found an awesome quilting board and am doing some fabric trading. I have to get some inventory ready to ship to traders so perhaps that would be a good activity.  Of course I have lots of flannel and denim to cut so maybe I'll go start that.   We had to put Hairy, our family dog, down last night and I am sure you can imagine how sad that was ...  you can read more in the Hairy category if you like. 

Swedish Weave

The photos below are from my first and only completed swedish weave project.  My neighbor taught me how to weave before I learned to quilt.  Once I finished this piece I had to sew the seams and that is when I ordered my first sewing machine.  It was in October '08.  I now have a large piece of turquoise monks cloth to start a new project on. I have the pattern I want to use but no yarn that looks stunning with the color yet.  Still searching.

Not Enough Time With Hairy

I honestly thought we'd have more time to take her on a few camping trips but we did not.  First the arthritis in her hips started hindering her. For a couple weeks she did great on her wagon rides but then a neurological issue in her hind legs prevented her from walking more then a few feet.  It appears the cancer was effecting her spinal cord nerves. She had been declining in mobility all week. Until Thursday she was still wagging her tail and our usual Happy Hairy. Thursday night she took a turn for the worse. She whimpered for a few hours and yesterday another trip to the vet.  He switched out her anti-inflammatory for some predisnone and explained it was the last medical effort they could try.  Friday afternoon and evening she rested good with the help of her pain medication.  Saturday late afternoon the medication wore off she let us know it was time to go. We stayed with her last night while the vet put her down.   She loved and was loved. 

Stash Inventory Report

Taking inventory of all my fabric will take hours if  not days!  I started with a drawer of fat quarters. 154 fat quarters! 38 1/2 yards of fabric.. yikes!!  There are about 13 Kaffe, 12 African, 12 Califon, a few Amy Butler, 20 Fairy Frost (? where did I even get these) and a mix of others.  I will cut some for the Siggy quilt and keep the Kaffe for a scrap Kaffe quilt idea I have and the rest will work to use up and/or trade.  

Siggy Scrap Block Exchange ~ How Fun!

I just joined this: http://www.psiquilt.com/2010/01/siggy-block-tutorial.html swap .. a modern signature (siggy) swap...  I have until May 16th to make as many signature blocks as I want back.  I see 68 members already signed up but I am sure by May there wil be a lot more. I want to collect lots and lots of siggys... what a fun quilt!  The finished block size is 3.5"'.   Great way to use up scraps. I'll post photos once I get going ... basically you need a 3.5" white square and two 2.5" print squares sew and autograph, collect and send them in then anxiously wait for the returns :-)  ...... more to come...

some progress on quilts - no photos yet

 
I finished the Spring Log Cabin block and started the rows and realized some of the chevron stripes were facing the wrong way :-( so I had to get out the seam ripper and take them apart ... there are three incorrect blocks. I didn't feel like fixing them this weekend so instead I made a pair of pajamas and a purse/bag from scrap demin and the left over pajama fabric ... photos to come later ....  I cut some more demin and flannel tumblers and made one tumbler row...  I was looking forward to finishing the log cabin .... next weekend!  The flower you see in front of this quilt came from a bulb and I am not sure what it is.  I dumpped a bunch of potting soil from smaller planters into a whiskey barrel and this came out ... I seem to recall it's an african bulb of some sort. Any ideas?

Brief Status Update On Hairy

I've not posted much about her lately ~ as far as the cancer goes she still shows no signs which is awesome! She's happy and sweet as ever.  She is as active as she can be and is ready to go (in spirit).....  she seems to have a sprained ankle or some type of injury that is not getting better.  She started with a slight limp and it's gone downhill from there. We are actually carrying her out to use the rest room. She will walk/limp and does not complain but it must be hurting her. She is such a trooper.  We are going back to the vet tomorrow.  I think I will buy a wagon to get her around until she heals or is able to walk on her own without pain.  What a bummer :-(

Fabric Stash

 I am reorganizing the blog and needed a new category dedicated to STASH!  I will soon take inventory of the actual yardage I have.   Then I can set some stash reducing goals!  Below are two areas in my sewing room where fabric is stored. I also have yards of flannel and backings in a closet in my room, a wicker trunk with mostly flannel and a couple of drawers at work full of scraps and a few "UFO's" (Hmm... yet another new category) and fabric in my car.

In these deep drawers I store fabric, pre-cut, completed blocks, strips (lots and lots), fat quarters, scraps and supplies.

I had this shelf built to fit the cubby in the room ~ it contains mostly quilts in queue, some 10 inch squares and favorite fabrics awaiting a plan.

 
 
More to come during inventory!

Summer Quilt ~ Valori Wells pattern & fabric

Scrap Flannel Tumbler Quilt

I had more left over flannel scraps then I thought!  1764 blocks to make a quilt 42x42 blocks or 2016 for a 42x48 which would be ideal....we shall see ... still not so sure I am liking the rainbow look....

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The scrap flannel tumbler is beginning to take on a rainbow effect. I am not sure if I like it yet but I will keep sewing rows of 42 until I have enough and see what happens.   Making this quilt is motivating me to make more dontation rag quilts so I can get more scraps :-) ....... 

Scrap Circle Demin Quilt - Use Up Old Jeans

Below is a photo of the demin quilt with red/white squares instead of the batiks - looks much better.  Soon I will add to it and zig zag the flaps down.   I still have left over little pieces of demin - if I can't make these circles, I am making 2.5" squares. I am making the scrap tumbler flannel quilt and also cutting the leftovers into 2.5" squares.  I am thinking of a scrap flannel/denim Irish Chain  ..... at least until I think of something else to do with them.