Finished Aria Butterfly Quilts

It took a whole week to get weather nice enough to take pictures of these two quilts!

We have two nieces, one on my side and one on the hubs' side of the family, turning three very soon.  As I was talking to my sister about how transitioning into a twin bed was going I was thinking that a twin quilt might be a good birthday gift.  Then my sister asked if I could make one, and I was so happy to get input!  She wanted something simple like the one I made the monster last year.  

I was like ABSOLUTELY!  

I talked it over with the hubs and he asked if I could make his niece one also.

ABSOLUTELY!

So I went with a simple double four patch.  I used solids on the small four patches. 

Remember this pile of fabric? 

  They both turned out so different!

This butterfly print was my favorite!  It's the backing of this quilt and I love it so much!

The butterfly print was highlighted on the front of the second quilt.  I love how using the white in the small four patch really changes the look!

I picked a toned down simple backing on this one.

 AND THE QUILTING!

I am so happy that I had them both quilted.  Besides saving so much time it turned out so beautiful!

Now they are rolled up and ready to gift.

I hope these girls love these quilts.

Mini Making

I have been on a mini quilt kick!

This mini pow wow is my latest finish and has been gifted.

I love making these small quilts for my friends.
 I have many many more plans bumping around in my quilt brain. 

Sewing and Shopping

We just returned home after an eight day stay in Colorado Springs.  We went so Hubs could get Lasik.  The Air Force will do it for free for active duty, we just had to pay for gas money, hotel, and food.  It was a pretty great bargain.

I got to spend an evening with my good friend Kristen.  We went to a couple shops, caught up on everything, had dinner, and sewed until late.  

Then I was stuck babysitting the hubs so I sewed while he was recovering.

(recovery was pretty easy even though he ended up with PRK instead of Lasik.)

I took Summerville with me.  

Between sewing with Kristen and the hotel sewing I got my nine patches done.

Then a couple days after the eye surgery, when it was okay to leave the patient, Kris and I went up to Denver to sew with Becky (my sister in law), and Julie (a hometown friend).

Becky hosted at her place, which was great.  We had two tables for machines and a table for cutting in her dining room and it made it super great for sewing and gabbing.

My brother in law peeked his head in and commented on our sweat shop.

But it was a fun day and completely ideal.

We did run out to visit a great quilt shop, where I spent way too much money.

After we had lunch we stopped at a craft supply resale shop.  Pretty incredible idea.

While I was in Colorado I did shopping like I hadn't in a LONG LONG time!

I collected low volumes for a swap our group it doing soon.

I bought some new I-Spy fabrics, mostly boy prints, since I have a boy I-spy on my long list.

On accident I started gathering reproductions.

I think I would like to do a reproduction I-spy.

But the shock was this.

Fat quarters for the Fancy Forest pattern I've had forever but was too intimidated to pick out fabrics for.  This solves that problem eh?

It was a great trip.  Nice memories made with family, and friends.

And now the Hub's doesn't wear glasses!

Mini Quilts

When you haven't seen your quilty friends for awhile, you come bearing gifts right?  

In preparation for the Sewing Symposium II I sewed up little mini quilts.

Using Fresh Air these quilts finish at 17 inches square.

This little disappearing nine-patch is for Rebecca.

I made this Farmgirl mini for Julie.

And this nine-patch/snowball variation is for Kristen.

I hope these ladies think back to our fun sewing day when they see these mini quilts. 

Alive and Packing

Not long after I last checked in I went down with the flu.  The ACTUAL flu.... like influenza.  I haven't had it in forever and it took me out for four days!  I just laid in bed! 

But now I am alive again, and there is lots of excitement in my quilting life.

I picked up my first butterfly twin from Rebecca, my long arm quilter.  

When I picked this one up, I dropped off the second quilt!

So to the big excitement!

 We are leaving for a trip to Colorado this weekend!

The hubs is going to have Lasik, and we have to spend a week there for pre-op and post-op appointments.   So my Colorado friends and I are going to have a Sewing Symposium II.  

You may remember Julie, Becky and I went on the fabric crawl of 2011....

Well, this time we are going to sew!  And since my local quilting friend Kris isn't local anymore, but a Colorado girl, she will join us!  I haven't seen Kristen since early last summer.  I was hoping Amber would be able to join us but she is expecting, and taking it easy, so she won't be able to come.  

Still, four girls spending a day sewing is VERY EXCITING!

So I FINALLY bought Juki a case.

And for the sake of packing and having a productive day, I got all of the cutting done for my Summerville quilt!  I even labeled everything so I won't be confused and missing things.

 I am busy getting my stuff together!

Then I should probably take a crack at packing clothing and stuff too.

Back from a Break

 When we last spoke I had half of this top sewn together.  

I was driving myself crazy with pressure to finish the top before we left for spring break.... 

Not long after I blogged I realized I had to drop that goal so I wouldn't be a wreck.  

No one is harder on me then ME.  

I had to let it go.

I just left it.

We had a great trip.

I never once thought about the looming project at home.

We came home.  I did laundry then thought I should probably pick that quilt back up....

But you know I have a really tough time getting started again after being gone.  I've blogged about it lots of times.  It's so frustrating!  This afternoon I FORCED myself to get started.  While my lunch was in the microwave I went and sewed one seam.  It didn't hurt. 

After lunch I sewed the other five seams.  

Once the top was done I took a nap.

Then I pieced the backing.

Now it is ready to go to Rebecca.

I am so relieved.

Now I can start something new!

BTW

My Vintage Picnic plans changed drastically.

I'm pretty excited about it!

Twin Tops

In just over a week I have made big progress!

The first top is competed.  

I pieced the backing and got the batting ready.

I am dropping it off at my long arm quilter this afternoon.

The second top is in the works!

I have half of the top completed. 

We leave on Saturday for spring break, and I hope to have it assembled by then.

When we get back I can quilt it right quick.

Hopefully the first quilt will be done and I can get them both finished up!

In light of this success I have started doing the math on my Vintage Picnic!