-habitat challenge quilt complete!-

I finally finished my Habitat Challenge quilt a couple of weeks ago!  My little assistant tried to raise her arms high enough...

but alas, she was a wee bit too small.

So we hung it up on the fence.  If you haven't heard about the challenge, the modern quilt guilds were offered the challenge of taking a bundle of Habitat by Jay McCarroll and making something with them.  Our guild decided on small quilts.

I knew I wanted to cut it into small pieces. It is such busy fabric, and I also wanted something simple and modern.  I found Kate Conklin's pattern called Scattered Showers and knew it was perfect for what I wanted to do.  It was an easy little quilt and came together very quickly.  I could also see fussy cutting some of my Heather Ross little scraps and using them in this pattern. 

I kept the quilting simple and modern as well with some random straight line quilting in a slightly darker grey thread.

I used Kona ash for the background and then used Kona charcoal for both the back and the binding.

One quilt top turned quilt!  Five more quilt tops and/or completed blocks to turn into quilts!  Why do I always get burnt out after I finish the tops?

I Wish...

I finished my nephew's quilt a couple of days ago...finally!  I started it right after he was born.  I used the Kitchen Windows block in Elizabeth Hartman's Practical Guide to Patchwork.  I was really excited to cut into these Castle Peep fabrics, and I was really loving it all.  However, once I put three of these blocks together all I could see was "GREEN!".  It bugged me, and I didn't know what to do about it.  So I just didn't touch it.  

However, my brother's family is visiting right now, and I really wanted to finish it up to give it to them in person.  So I decided just to make four blocks and add some white sashing.  I was left with a square, and I was going to add more white sashing but decided just to add some strips to the top and bottom. I really like the look, although I am thinking that maybe I should have added some more white to the sides because it still looks slightly unbalanced to me.  However, I am pleased with how it turned out for the most part.

I didn't add any batting this quilt.  All I did was use minky for the back.  I love how soft and flowy it makes this quilt.  It doesn't feel stiff at all, and I think it is just perfect for a baby.  It did make free motion quilting a little tricky.  The minky seemed to stick, and I really had to pull at it more to make it work.

I added the binding on by machine because we just did a little class on binding at our modern quilt guild meeting and felt a little more confident after learning a few tips.  Love how fast and quick it made finishing the quilt up!  

I finished this quilt Tuesday morning and was having such a great productive day (I wish today was going well!), when I decided I needed to clean out my fridge a bit.  I had a run in with a jelly jar, and I ended up slicing my wrist.  A little jaunt to the urgent care, and I got all stitched up.  It wasn't really bothering me yesterday, but today all I can think about is how sore and itchy it is.  Such is life!





I decided to join in on Don't Call Me Betsy's Kaleidoscope quilt-a-long for my next quilt!  I have always wanted to make one of these, and I have the perfect set of fat quarters!

Meg's Super Simple Summer Mug Rug

The Bakersfield Modern Quilt Guild had its first swap!  We decided to swap mug rugs with the theme of "Summer".  I had all sort of plans to make something ah-mazing.  I just didn't know what, and for some reason inspiration just never struck.  So finally I just picked up some of my leftover Dream On scraps and sat down at the sewing machine.

I was inspired by Jeni's Scrappy Stack Mug Rug, which she has a tutorial for here.  Although, I used fewer strips and made them a little bigger.

I used this fun green floral print for the back. I love how the quilting turned out on this one!  Quilting is so much fun on little things like this.  As simple as it was, I do love how it turned out!  

The mug rug I received was made by Nancy.  Anyone who reads my blog is aware of my daughters' obsessions with rainbows, and kites have been on Juliana's mind as well of late.  So it was just perfect for them!

Here is the group with all their newly swapped mug rugs!

The weekend is here!  I love short four day weeks!  My weekend is going to be full of BBQs, dance rehearsals, sewing, and family!  Hope you have a good weekend planned as well!

Linking up to Amy's Sew and Tell!

Exhausted

This was one of those weeks that I came to the end of and all I could feel was pure exhaustion. It was truly a busy, full week.  So today...I have done as little as possible!  So nice!  I sat outside in the sun soaking up the beautiful sunshine weather, while the girls dug for worms and captured ladybugs.  I have done no cleaning except for some dishes.  We had donuts for breakfast and yogurt for lunch, and I am planning the extravagant meal of Costco pizza for dinner.   

Photo credit: Terri Harlan

Yesterday we had our third sew in for the Bakersfield Modern Quilt Guild.  I was there for almost four hours, which you might think would be a lot of time to get some good work in.  It didn't happen that way.  I did finish one of the girl's Easter dresses, but still have a ways to go on the other one.  (Yes, I worked on a non-quilting project. ;0p)  There was, however, lots of chatting, praying over sewing machines (I am looking at you, Nicci!), laughter over funny photos, and eating of yummy treats.   

Also, isn't this little guy so cute?  I can't believe he is almost a year.  It really has gone by so, so fast.  I remember how much I wanted my oldest to grow up and all I want this little guy to do is stay little forever.

Also, the winner of the Heather Ross squares is #2, Mary on Lake Pulaski!  Mary, I sent you an email!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Swaps Received!

The past couple of swaps I have been in I have received some really wonderful items!  For the Spicing Up The Kitchen swap I received this awesome Kitchaid mixer cover from Kati of From The Blue Chair.  It goes so beautifully in my kitchen! You must check out her blog as she makes the most fabulous quilts!  

I also received this wonderful table topper for my coffee table from Jenny of mommymae for the Urban Home Goods Swap.  I said I wanted something for spring/summer, and I think this fits the bill perfectly!  I love the two half dresdens!

Yesterday I got my Castle Peeps quilt all cut out at our Bakersfield Modern Quilt Guild sew in.  I have also made some clothes for the girls.  I don't know how people get their kids to do all these fun poses in their new cute clothes.  Someone always seems to spill some juice all over their cute outfit or *ahem* cry every time I attempt at picture taking.  I'll try again later this week. ;0)

This Week

This past week...*whew*.  Let's just say I am glad it is the start of a new one!  I finished up my swap package for my swap partner in the Urban Home Goods swap.  I had this pinwheel block made up that I didn't know what to do with, but I was inspired by Jeni's patchwork zip pouch and decided to make a large zip pouch to go with the tote.  It is pretty large, but it would be perfect for embroidery hoops or other small projects.

Here is a look at the whole package!  Now this is when I declare that I am taking a swap break.  Haha!  I am going to try to not do any more swaps until May to give myself some time to work on my UFOs and work on some spring clothes for the girlies.  I figure if I say something on my blog it will help me stick to this resolution rather than giving way as soon as I see another fun swap starting! ;0)  

Angela's fabric diet challenge ended this week, and I am proud to say that I have gone eight whole weeks without purchasing a single piece of fabric.  I wish I had been as focused on all my unfinished projects, but I am seeing progress being made there as well.  

For example, I got the quilting done on my Authentic quilt and am getting ready to bind!  I think I bought the fabric for this quilt last February!   We had our first Bakersfield Modern Quilt Guild sew in yesterday! It was lots of fun yesterday at the sew in.  Terri has been sew fantastic (hardy-har!) getting this off the ground, and I know this is going to be a great group.  

  

Juliana requested a new skirt and picked out this fun pink fabric.  So, I am off to finish it up for her, while she enjoys strawberry pancakes at her Grams house.

Modified Mod Bento Quilt

Back during the summer and again in the fall I joined in on Jessica's Mod Bento Block Swap that I talked about before here.  Over Christmas I finally got all the blocks together and completed it!  I thought at first that I wanted to add sashing, but then I saw this arrangement of the blocks and this completed quilt and decided against sashing.  So I tried to the best of my ability to make sure that outer blocks were the same color or if I couldn't do that had a similar "feel".  I also tried to alternate the lighter and darker blocks.

My daughter, Juliana, loves rainbows, and she gushed over the blocks in the middle of the quilt.  This quilt is so scrappy that I thought it was a good way of complimenting the variety of colors represented.  I basted a little too hastily though and got a couple of wrinkles.  Darn!  However, my stippling is getting slowly better, and I think I am starting to get my own technique.  I quilted it in a variegated yellow thread.  I am a sucker for variegated thread.  It just looks so pretty on the spool.

I have a feeling 2011 is going to be the year of quilts for me, and I am super excited about it.  

Also, if you live in or around the Bakersfield, CA area, we are having our first Modern Quilt Guild meeting at Strawberry Patches on January 22nd between 2-4 PM.  Please stop by if you are able!  Terri from Sew Fantastic has done a great job of getting this off the ground!