Next Up

I mentioned after I finished the dresden baby quilt that I had met my first quarter goals.

(With a month to spare!)

Finishing two baby quilts, my snapshot, the kiss kiss, farmgirl sampler, and horizons. 

I did swap my vintage picnic project for my simple abundance, which I knew I should finish instead.

I also managed to finish that map panel.

For the next quarter my goals list is shorter.

1. & 2. Two twin quilts I want to make for birthday gifts.

3. That vintage picnic project I bumped.

I think these three are doable especially when I have a month left from the first quarter.....

But, the twin quilts have a deadline in mid May when I am going to be leaving to spend a few weeks back east with family.

Also, we have spring break soon, that's a week lost.

We have another week of travel plans that are pending, we will see what happens there.

So I only have three quilts to finish by June.

I've jumped right into the twin quilts.

I ordered the fabric recently, and it arrived on Friday.

Twenty-eight yards of Aria prints and some Kona solids.

These are so pretty.

I love that my Kona card helped me pick the perfect shades I wanted for these two quilts.

These pinks and greens are just what I was hoping for.

I ironed and cut the prints on Saturday.

On Sunday I ironed and cut the solids.

The Downton Abbey marathon on Sunday was very helpful.

That was 15 yards of fabric I ironed and cut this weekend!

Although the two quilts will be similar, both have different color combos. 

I can't decide which one I like more.

 I got started with the first sets of strip sewing this afternoon. 

After dinner I pressed the strips and cut them up.  

I am hoping to do another set tomorrow.

I'm not overwhelmed yet so I'll just keep sewing!

My secret hope is to have both quilt tops done before we leave for spring break.

We will see!

For a New Baby Girl

My friend Miranda recently had a little baby girl.

Since she decided not to find out the gender I decided to wait until the baby arrived to make a quilt.

I'm glad I did!

With two big brothers this baby girl should get a girly quilt!

I used my Aria charm packs.

I ordered backing, binding, and a border from the Aria line as well.

This fabric really is so pretty!

I saw this pattern recently on Riley Blake's IG feed.

I think they have a free pattern for it and everything, but I just winged it.

While I was assembling the top, I knew the dead space was going to be a challenge for me to leave.

I didn't want it to look.... unfinished.... 

Like something should be there.

I knew the quilting could change it around and make it a feature of the quilt if I wanted it to be.

I thought about loops, but I wasn't sure.

I kept thinking about a free motion pin I recently saw on Pinterest.

I started thinking I should just go for it!

I felt somewhat confident after the squares I quilted on the Kiss Kiss in a similar way.

SO

I DID IT!

I tried something NEW!

I enjoy a less dense quilting style in general.

Often I quilt darn right sparsely so the quilt is softer.

But this is what I wanted for this quilt.

I wanted the white space to have it's own texture and stand on it's own instead of getting lost.

I like how the looser quilting on the dresdens make them almost look pillowy.

I am also glad that I took the time to do neat appliqued centers for the dresdens.

I don't mind raw edges getting frayed.

 But with the amount of washing a baby quilt can need I wanted the circles to stay neat.

This meant trying something else for the first time!

I tried just pressing the edges under but I was burning myself and they were very pointy!

So I googled it and sure enough there are super easy smart tricks.

It took a good evening to press them all and sew them on but I think they were worth the extra time.

I can't wait to deliver this quilt and meet this sweet baby girl!

On a side note, this quilt makes my first quarter goal completed!
I will blog about that soon, and about my next quarter goals!

While I Wait

I've been sewing!

I'm waiting for a fabric order to arrive.... tracking says tomorrow!

While I waited I thought about starting my Vintage Picnic quilt..... 

But I don't want two big messes going on at the same time.

So I pulled out this panel I have been meaning to put together.

It was quick.

Now the monster has a map of the universe, a world map, and a map of America.

Everything is covered.

Star Cakes

Another FINISH!

After stalling, I finally went out to find a binding fabric so I could finish this quilt!

I feel so happy that yardage popped up on the IG destash for this quilt!  

I am one quilt away from having a complete Bonnie and Camille quilt collection.

Of course they just keep making fabric!

So I really have three- one old line and two new!

It is another windy day in South Dakota so I guess I will continue indoor photo shoots.....

I think I am improving actually. 

Simple Abundance Star Cakes

PROGRESS

I have been working away over here!

I got the blocks assembled last weekend.

I sewed the top together here and there during the week.

I basted yesterday.

Now it is getting quilted!

I need to find an audio-book.

Right now I can't sit still or concentrate.

I hate that feeling.

For Baby Boy B

This is my little sister.

This is an old picture, but it's the first picture that made me think, "We look like sisters."

Anyhow.

My sister is expecting a little boy this spring.

You may remember a few years ago when I made her sweet little girl a quilt.

I was so excited when they found out that they were having a boy!

I decided to make him a sweet scrappy quilt.

I love how it turned out.

I don't do random and scrappy well, but it was a good practice.

I can't wait to meet my new nephew.

I can't help but imagine the life of an expected baby while I make them a quilt.

I hope he drags this quilt around on many adventures and thinks of it as love from his auntie.

Snapshot Quilt Finished

Of course I finished my quilt during a three day wind forecast.  

Today we have 46 mph winds and so it is indoor photos for this quilt!

There were dogs walking back and forth messing photos up.....

Which made the hubs completely mad.

His arms were tired.

But it's done, and beautiful.

Well, I still have to sew on button eyes, but I'm not sure I want to yet.

My fifth finish of the year!

Finished Kiss Kiss

Last night I put the final stitches in the binding of this pretty quilt!

I am so happy with this quilt.  

Last Christmas my friend Miranda gave me these two Kiss Kiss charm packs.

I remember I had just seen  a photo of this pattern on Instagram and put on my to do list.

I ordered the solids I needed and the binding at the beginning of last year, but didn't find time to start.

Sometime in the year I found the backing on sale, so I ordered it.

It isn't often that a quilt plan keeps for this long, but I knew what I wanted! 

Once I actually found a good time this quilt only took a few weeks to make.

I am also pleased that I met my goal of finishing it before Valentine's Day!

I am very glad that I tried new free motion quilting on this one.

I am happy with the blocks....

And I like the back and forth I did in the in between spots.

I also did a free motion heart thing in the border.  

It didn't turn out terrible, but I am not going to highlight it.

I'm sure if you look closely you can spot some of it.

Let's not discuss it though okay.

I am VERY pleased that I am doing so well on my first quarter goals.

I will probably start my Snapshot binding tonight.

I did responsibly move my secret '15 wip up to where it should be.... next.

Yesterday I got all of the HSTs pressed and most of them trimmed.

Several of the blocks are started as well. 

It was helpful to lay out the block to see how much I like it!

Happy Sewing!

-T