Beach Ball......

When I saw Missouri Star Quilt Co tutorial of the Beach Ball.....I couldn't resist!  Besides I need a couple class samples so it makes sense to throw this project in to the mix of all the other stuff I'm doing!!




Melody and I sewed last Friday night and after I finished my mini periwinkle quilt top, I decided to start this one.  I decided to use a fat eight bundle I got.  It's Wren's and Friends by Gina Martin for Moda.


My Aunt Martha made a different quilt with this fabric and I fell in love with it.  I found the fabric, which has been out for awhile, at the Fat Quarter Shop!



After watching the YouTube tutorial...I was hooked!  All I got done Friday night was 1 block and I was anxious to get more done.

Well that wasn't going to be .....I got sidelined with vertigo!  My sinus's have been so plugged this year.  Don't know what's in the air this summer, but I've taken more psuedophed that I have in several years.

I lost the battle....sinus's swelled and put pressure on my inner ear and that caused the vertigo.  Ugh....was the word I used.  I went walking down the hallway like I had one too many to drinks and I felt like I had the hangover to match... 


However, quick trip to the doctor...a couple prescriptions later and poof....new person...well at least a functioning person!

Finally on Saturday, I felt like sewing.  Melody and I got together for a short sew day. 


Here's my first block from a week or so ago:

Notice the corner's....you "double snowball" them. 




The first corner is a 2 12" square that's sewn on the diagonal.  I don't like drawing all those lines....so

I just folded it in half and sew just right of the line.

Waste not, want not....



After I get done sewing the first seam and before I trim my corners.....I sew a second seam about 1/2" from the first....

I trim between them and iron them open.

Not sure what I'm going to do with those triangles, but I liked Melody's suggestion and I may try to incorporate them into a border.

Here's my progress from Saturday.

Happy Sewing!!


Jill

Row by Row

Check this out:


1250 stores!


No passports! No fees!
How about this… a shop hop type event with no fees, no passports and all summer to play? Simply visit any of the participating shops and receive a free pattern for a row in a quilt. Combine your rows in any way to create a unique quilt that represents the fun you had traveling throughout the summer. Travel with friends, discover new quilt shops and have fun collecting rows!

Prizes, collectibles and more fun!

Create a quilt using at least 8 different rows and be the first to bring it into a participating shop to win a stack of 25 fat quarters (6-1/4 yards of fabric!). Use that shop’s row in your quilt and win a bonus prize!

Exclusive Fabric Plates by Zebra Patterns will be available in shops around the country. Each one is unique! Collect a bunch to create fun projects, sewing studio wall art or even a fun backing for your quilt.

Each area has their own Facebook page. Like the page from the areas you visit to see pics of the rows, shop displays, winning quilts and fabric plate projects.


www.rowbyrowexperience.com


************************************************************************


Doesn't this sound like fun??





Gee with the motorcycle..... We are always looking for destinations...... Hhhhmmmm  Here's the question.... How long will it take for my husband to put two and two together to figure the destinations have a quilting theme??





Fox's in Meadville is on the list !!





So is Millcreek Fabrics!!




I haven't been to this store yet, but I met the ladies from :


Zanadu Fabric-Yarn-Crafts
105 N Fraley Street
Kane, PA  16735
www.shopzanadu.com


at quilt market in May.  I plan on visiting Zanadu's this summer!
These ladies were really nice and their shop sounded wonderful!!


Who's in???  It starts July 1st.....


Happy Sewing


Jill

Trying to make progress!!

Ok......just to let everyone know....I didn't fall off the face of the earth.  I was close and feel like I've been paddling up stream....but still on this beautiful earth!!!




First my day job takes up a lot of my time....but I can't blame it all on that...especially those who follow me on facebook....dang have to stop posting pictures of me on the motorcycle....dead give away.....

We have had such few nice days....it's been hard to be that responsible person and stick to work at hand.  I'm responsible, I don't call off work to go to the beach.....but every so often a girl has to do what a biker girl has to do.....and that is ride!!  So I've put a few hundred miles on my bike this weekend!!  That almost makes me as happy as quilting...almost....




Ok....focus Jill....continuing with Kathy's quilt....oh wait....it's been a long week...it's Friday....I'm getting out of work early....that adds up to sewing (worked on a class sample) with my bestie!!!! 

Ok...riding over, class project done....So then I think....I'll be making more progress on Kathy's quilt....nope....thunderstorms. 

ugh....unplug my machine.....not taking any chances!!  But I did make progress in between the storms and I'm bound and determined that this quilt will get done this week!! 

Here's part of her quilt:

Back of quilt

Hope you like it and repeat after me:  Rain, Rain, go away, Jill wants to longarm  and Kathy wants her quilt some day!!! 




So once the storms started up again...thought...I'll catch up on my blogging.....well let me tell you...not sure what the deal is...but I don't seem to be in charge of my time....




My husband and son-in-laws are tearing out the ceiling on our first floor....so we have exposed insulation strips between the beams. 

Tonight.......In the family room.... one of the strips decides to rip a bit and a little bit of insulation falls on the floor...no biggie...hubby gets the duct tape....pushes it up...tapes it...staples it...good to go.  I get the shop vac....start cleaning up the little bit of insulation...again..no biggie! 




My husband has a funny look on his face....I of course ask "what's up"  He replies:  turn around and look up".....   Here's what I saw:

Let me tell you.....this morning that table still had my featherweight and my new project on it. 


Something told me as I started walking out the door for work this morning.....you should move your sewing stuff.....well this chick is soooooo glad she listen to her gut!!!!




Didn't take to long to clean up....quick shower to get the insulation off me...hands still itching...ugh  but all is good and I am going to bed before another one decides to fall.....it shouldn't....but then again...it shouldn't of earlier.....lol




Happy Sewing!!




Jill

Another project added to the list!!

Last night was our guild meeting and we had a speaker.  Sue Cook, Larkspur Lane Designs, gave a wonderful trunk show of her paper pieced designs!




But before I get into all that.....I was able to personally present Kris with her prize from my give-a-way!! 

I can't wait to see what Kris does with it.  I know her....it won't get put away for another day!  She does get a lot of projects done!!  

Kris is also our program coordinator at the guild....she has done a wonderful job of getting us to try different things and offering a various wonderful speakers. 


  

Ok....back to Sue.  Sue is from the Pittsburgh, PA area and has been quilting since 2000.  She told us how she fell in love with paper piecing...so much so...she started designing her own patterns!!




Each quilt she brought out was so creative and beautiful.  Sue uses embellishments and/or 3D effects with most of her designs.  What's really awesome about her patterns.....she provides the embellishments with the pattern!!  No searching for just the right items!! 

Sue told a touching story of a little girl who was killed in an accident.  Sue designed the angle pattern  and teamed up with a quilt shop who made kits up with her pattern and sold them.  

All the proceeds went to the mom, who was also in the accident and had not only the loss of her child to deal with, but physical re-cooping of her own to contend with.  What an generous gesture!  

One of the things I love about quilters....we're always willing to use our craft to help others out!!




I really enjoyed the show!!  Here's some of the pictures I took:

This one is called Bubble Bath...I think this would make a great baby shower gift!

I loved this little piggy!!  Kris was showing us how the barn door opened ....there was a little chicken button in it.  How cute is that!!

I believe this quilt was in Quilt Maker magazine.  Sue has had several of her designs accepted and featured in various magazines! 






I have to say....this was my favorite.....

Ready for the name: 


Dear Santa, I've Been Nautical.  The flags spell Merry Christmas. 






Very creative ad clever!  I'm glad she had some patterns with her!

I love the bag of goodies that comes with it!! 

Which brings me to the title of this blog post....Another project added to the list...hehe  I hope it doesn't get added to all the other projects I want to do and can't seem to find the time to do them.  I have one quilt started right now and I won't let myself start another quilt until that one (the top) is finished.




However.......Just like my hubby....I've been known not to listen to me.....one good distraction and I could be well on my way to getting this one done!


Speaking of distractions....I just got up to get a pop and ice cream popped into my head and I was off to get a bowl...and here I sit....bowl of ice cream....and no pop...dang...I'll have to get back up.... ok focus Jill focus....




Sue will be teaching classes at the Original Sewing Expo in Pittsburgh, PA this August!  If you plan on attending, make sure you either stop by her booth or take one of her classes!!  You can see more of Sue's designs at www.larspurlanedesigns.blogspot.com.




I will be at the Innova Booth at the sewing expo....I hope I get to see check out see Sue and check out her designs...I have a feeling I'll be needing a new project for my list by August!!




Happy Sewing!!


Jill 

Project completed!!

Since getting back from Pittsburgh, I've been busy catching up......but I took a little time out between quilts to finish one of my own.


I have an Accuquilt Go, that I absolutely love!!  The precision cuts makes the sewing so enjoyable!!!  I love the little tumbler! 


Sooo....with that said....I used one of my daily deals from the past....so far into the past, I don't remember the name of the fabric line....so I did what I do best.....Google it.....










Here's what it looked like....Moda Advent Calendar... it was 13 4 1/2" strips.  So I cut them using my little tumbler with the Go!












I sewed them together 13 across 12 rows.  Found a solid green for the borders and poof....top done.

Of course I immediately moved on to the next project....what was it you might be asking....I've got no clue....it's been a while since I made it.  It might even had been before I got my long arm.


So this weekend, I was feeling the need to do a little free motion quilting and trying a new pattern.  I met Sue Patten when I was in Paducah and tried to get her book, but it was sold out.  So when I got home, I put hubby on it and he was able to get me a copy!! 

That was back in April.....I was over due!!  Besides that....At Birds of a Feather in February....I bought metallic thread.....I hadn't tried that yet!

I like this design....so I studied it a little and dove in.  Took me a little more brain work to get it down to do upside down....but in no time....I was off and running!! 

One done .....





I did the right side up ones for a few rows,

Then added the upside down ones.






For the border.....I decided to do a jagged fern...I guess thats what I'll call it.

I had so much fun, just gliding that machine around!!! 






I was so excited I found some fabric for the binding and put the binding on.  Between last night and an hour after dinner tonight........

I was completely done!!  TA DA!!!!!!






Side note.....make the dang binding when you finish the top....don't wait til ya get around to quilting it and then go looking for the green border fabric.....by the way....I couldn't find any...surely I didn't use it all...but I found something else that I liked so I was good to go.  Anyone want to take a bet the next time I go to look for green fabric....I find the binding fabric? 


Here's a few pictures of the finished project:

The back really looks great!! 

I love when you get a "surprise" design that you weren't expecting!!

Check out how the design looks.....


here's right side up....






here's a sideways  view.....I love it!! 










 My next quilt with be my "message quilt".  I lost all my pictures when my phone got wet...so I wasn't going to post anymore about it because I lost the construction pictures...but....my wonderful hubby just came downstairs tonight and said he thinks he's getting my pictures off my old phone.....everyone cross your fingers!!!  If he gets them....I'll do a complete post about that quilt...and quilt it!!






Ok....back to customer quilts...got my fix and am good for a little bit.


 I actually love doing customer quilts...Each one is different and beautiful....they're like the grand kids....you get to play with the for a little bit...then send them home!




This is Vicki's quilt...

I love the paper dolls pantograph!

Here's a couple more hexies.....

Happy Sewing!!






Jill