Pop Rock Stars

 I had a few minutes this morning while the Hubs and Monster were out and about.  I finished up the last of my binding on this quilt and got her all washed up.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out.  Sometimes my plans just change a few times during the quilt making process.  This was meant to be a 25 star quilt, but instead I made 20 stars and used the extra fabric to make the piano key border.  Then I spent two days picking out a meandering free motion quilting, so I could straight stitch in the ditch instead.

 I like the simple quilting.  It helps the stars be the stars of the quilt... bahahaha  get it?!  I crack myself up.  

I love the star in the bottom right corner, made up of each of the fabrics.  I wanted to do that to help remind me of the quilt along this quilt was part of, and the many women all over the map quilting along with me :)  

I went to a fabric store nearby today, maybe Ill try to post pictures of the score so you can see.  Or maybe I'll just make them into quilts and say,   'I bought the fabric in Michigan last summer, remember when I mentioned it?'  I'll be referring to today :)  I'm sure you wont forget right?!  

Man I love finished quilts.  Especially pretty ones. 

Stars

I have mentioned that I am hosting a quilt along on FB with some of my quilt friends.  Recently they have  been putting lots of stars out.  Here is some of the progress...

My star top.  I have it quilted now, and I just need to close the binding.

my local SD friend Kristen's star top... She is working on closing the binding now

This is Jamie's stars, she was my neighbor in New Mexico, she left before I did and now she lives in Mississippi.  Last word on her progress is she was staying up last night and had 3/4 of the top assembled :)  She don't need no sleep.(I said that like the aunt on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, when she finds out Ian is a vegetarian..."what you mean he dont eat no meat?!"  Ahhh cracks me up)

This is blurry but you can obviously make out its awesomeness.... My cousin Erin's basting her top. She lives in Georgia.

This is the layout my friend Julie in Denver decided on.  Its a gift for her new niece who is literally expected any day now!

My sister in law's stars. She is also in Denver. She is making 64 total with the fabrics she got here...  The seventh photo down is where she went fat quarter nuts and bought one of everything in the store... just kidding.

It has been getting very exciting on our quilt along page as the stars are really coming along... I have to go pack now!  We are leaving the day after tomorrow and I need to pack for two dogs, a bird, a husband, a monster, and myself....plus bridal shower stuff and bridesmaid stuff and Hawaii stuff...

A Top And Tops

 Last night I started setting these wonky nine patch blocks.  I had to cut the green, then sew.  I ended up getting the rows all sewn and several sewn together.  This morning I finished up the sewing.

 I am really glad I decided to put them on point like this.  For awhile there I almost hated them.    

 Now I have four tops made. Waiting.  I have three of the backings,  I think I will wait a little while to baste them though.

My stack of fabrics meant for quilts, is dwindling!  I've been really good lately about focusing on these projects and not buying new stuff on an impulse.  In these boxes I have strips that need to be sewn for a hexagon quilt, strips that need to be sewn for a postage stamp quilt, food prints for a canning jar quilt, a variety of tradition green, red and tan fat quarters for a Christmas quilt, my buttercup dresden project, then there are a few collections of fabrics with no pattern in mind.  Although that box of blues has me thinking an Irish Chain pattern....  

We are heading to the mitten for a week or so, my sister is getting married.  After the wedding the monster is staying with his grandma and grandpa while the Hubs and I travel to Hawaii for a week for our belated ten anniversary trip.  I'll be back mid September if I dont stop in before.  Maybe I'll attach the bindings on the two I have quilted and work on them in the car.   

When I get back I will quilt some of these... then maybe it will get cool and I'll be in the mood to make that Christmas quilt! Actually, I think I have some gobble gobble left over from this quilt... I do need a fall quilt......

This is me on a roll

 I pulled out a box the other night.  Thought, I should work on these tumblers a little.  I did, a little.  Then the next day I was mixing pumpkin and rice for the puppy's upset tummy, and the pumpkin smelled like fall and I decided I wanted to keep working on these tumblers.  Last night I finished the top to this Halloween throw.  I cut the blocks almost a year ago.  I had two rows sewn as of the other day.  This is progress. 

 I have had these fabrics since 2008!  I bought them while I was living in Japan.  I made a wall hanging. Still had a lot of fabric left, so I made these tumblers.  I still have 1/4-1/2 yard left of each.  Its okay though because this fabric is DANG cute.  Look at that cute little mummy and have you ever seen a cuter vampire?  Nope.  Its the cutest ever!

Bahhhh adorable right?  

 I will have to piece the backing a little and then I will still have enough to make some pillow covers.  I'm pretty excited about this.  I'd go so far as to say I am giddy.

 Now I have two quilted quilts needing their binding, and two finished tops needing to be basted.  I like it.

Tonight I am going to work on these blocks.  I am hoping to made a good push towards making a top.  I  think its a good possibility. 

Sewing area

 Since we moved I have been working quite often in my new sewing area, although it isnt totally settled in yet.  We still need to paint.  Then maybe once things go up on the walls it will feel a little more moved in. I've been sewing though.  Alot actually.

The jolly juki is set up with my sewing table open.  It is nice to have plenty of room.  

 Its a little cluttered still at my cutting table.  There is a lot laid out right now. Also please ignore the carpet cleaner.  The Hubs said I can get a real cutting table.  Im pretty excited about it.  

 I love having space to lay things on the floor while I sew them!  And a little tv so I dont have to miss Days anymore to sew!

 And I have a window looking out to the backyard.  Today its cool in Rapid City, and my windows are open.  I hear the monster and the neighbor boys hooting and hollering.

I finished the top of the Big and Bright quilt, which I think is its official name... I just dropped the fun and 'ol.  It is really an awesome project and I have enjoyed it.  

Along with getting the Giant Star and the Pop Rocks Stars quilts quilted this has been a very productive couple of weeks.  

Sewing updates soon

 I've been doing stuff at my machine... I just haven't taken photos.  So let me tell you about how happy I am with the new place of honor my monthly wall hanging quilts will be in this new house.  I really think it makes the quilt look bigger to have their own wall.  Even if its a partial wall.  

 Doesn't this 'lemons and limes' quilt look happy there?  Gee I love this quilt.  And it makes me happy. It looks happy and looking at it makes me happy. Happy. Happy painted walls, happy things are hung up finally, happy. hmmmm I hope the hubs takes care of those pesky cords soon behind the ladder shelf..... they make me less happy.

I'm also joyful that my giant star quilt has been quilted.  I think I'll take proper photos tomorrow and share soon :)  

Mishaps and Moving Forward

The past week has been full of setbacks and frustration(and I had a cold).  But I got through.

I said bad words

 This is by far my biggest free motion frustration.  I do this on almost every quilt I free motion quilt.  It is ugly.  This happened last week on my Pop Rock Stars quilt.  I finally freed my quilt and quilted on. 

 Only to get two bobbins in and decide I hated it.  It wasn't horrible, I just decided it wasn't what I wanted for the star quilt.  So I picked out 6 stars of quilting.  It took me two days, thank goodness the Olympics are on and I had something to watch while I mindlessly picked out all of those stitches.  I managed to get it re-quilted though, and I am completely happy with it now.

 I hosted sewing night last night.  Kristen came over and was ready to try dropping her feed dogs.  She did really well with her stitches and tension.  I think she was a little frustrated that her curves weren't as smooth as she is used to seeing in my quilting, so I pulled out the still unfinished quilt I used to practice my meandering. I think she was reassured that it really is just practice that gets those smooth movements.   She and my hubs were laughing and pointing at all of my horrible areas.  It was really kind of them (that was sarcasm.)  But I'm willing to humble myself to encourage my quilt friend.  However I shall never share Annie's Snicker-doodle bunnies ever again!  Next sewing night I host it will be boring fruit and water.

I worked on my fun bright big 'ol quilt last night, which needs a name since I cant keep calling it that.  I have my final quadrant set out and I have started sewing it.  I love this quilt.  I want to lay it under the tree in the backyard and read a Kristen Hannah book all afternoon.  

sewing night

 My local sewing group has changed recently.  Sometimes I cannot believe my life, like when I have to explain that my son was born in Japan, or list off the 4 bases we have lived in the past 10 years.  And  when I say things like, "My good friend just moved to Italy" I whimper.  Sometimes its really tough to live this way.  Usually I make friends that are a little easier to say goodbye to because I keep myself very guarded( I hate change), but my hubs was gone for six months as was her husband.  We got through it together, with our little boys. So this departure was a lot harder on me.

So my weekly sewing group has changed(I hate change) But Kristen keeps supplying root beer floats, which helps alot.  We miss Bri, and we keep in contact daily with her while she has been house hunting for a romantically Italian home, and get used to the new stuff in her foreign land.  And here on the prairie we push on with our star quilts.  It helps to stay busy.  And these quilts are dang exciting.

Kristen demonstrating how to smooth the quilt sandwich 

We are working a little ahead of the quilt along so I can get tutorials put together for the group.  Last night we sandwiched our quilts.  Kristen demonstrated while I snapped pics, it worked out.  And she looks really tan in the photos....

My top basted,  this one is a beaut

Kristen's stars... Love how organized her top was laid out.  That's why we are friends

Newish to the group Danielle has been making progress on her project!

action shots of quilting.

I'm dealing with the change.(with the aid of floats)