Hexagons!

For some time, I have been wanting to make a hexagon quilt for myself.  I haven’t made anything for myself except a king size quilt, which is yet to be basted, quilted and binded (or is it bound?).  Anyway, I decided that since I love hexagon quilts, that would be one I’d make for me.  I have the hexagon template, but just needed the right fabric.  I finally found it…and of course it’s a charm pack.  Here is the collection:

It is Curiosities by Benartex.

For the quilt, I need 180 hexies.  Wow!

So…since Gladys is still in the shop, I am going to start cutting my hexagons.  It’s a good way to pass the time.  Also, I signed up to take this online class through work that is 7 weeks long, so…I will be distracted with that.  I guess it’s a good thing Gladys is at the shop for 3-4 weeks.

As always,

Keep Simply Delighting!

What I could be working on…

So since I can’t sew or quilt, I decided to look through my project box at all the things I could be working on.  Some would say why torture yourself, but for me, I love making lists, and somehow making lists makes me feel productive, so…well, you get the point.  Here are some of the projects on the list for the Fall. 

This is the pattern for Baby J’s quilt.  It’s from McCall’s Quick Quilts Oct/Nov 2012 edition. 

I love it!

This is my Mom’s Yuletide by Benartex throw.  I have it almost finished, just need

to sew the front side of the binding.  I love how it turned out.

The back fabric.  It is so elegant and perfect.  I hope she loves it.

The front.  Almost done.

Here are some aqua and red fat quarters I want use to make a throw quilt.

The fat quarters for the Americana quilt I have been procrastinating on

My Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille for Moda charm pack. 

I am making my sister-in-law, Anissa, a throw with this collection.

Wiscasset by Moda honey bun…I have this awesome pattern for a throw quilt for this.

Simple Abundance by Moda honey bun…yet another throw in progress

The border fabric and back fabric for my Americana throw.

My Winterscapes by Benartex throw that I am making, exactly like my Mom’s Yuletide throw.

Some fabric for a special project for Baby J

 

 

A throw for a friend I am working on

So, as you can see, I have a lot of projects started, not to mention the ones on the WIP list for August to finish.  I can’t wait to bring Gladys home and get busy!

Have a super week and…

Keep Simply Delighting!

Baby J’s Quilt

I love how God works.  I was sitting her feeling sad because I can’t quilt or sew, and so I decided to research and look for some fabric for my beloved Baby J’s quilt.  I found the pattern of the quilt I want to make for her in one of the recent quilting magazines I subscribe to, but hadn’t found the right fabrics.  It has been an ongoing quest for me.  I just wanted to find the perfect fabric.  Well, I found it…and it’s not even out yet.  It will be out in October.  But…here is a sneak peak. 

The collection is call the Zig Zag Zoo by Laura Berringer for Marcus Brothers Fabrics.  It’s flannel too, which will be perfect because Baby J is due in January!  I need to find 2 more flannel fabrics to complete the list of fabrics, but I am so happy to say this is the fabric.  I love it.

Thank you Lord, you always are on time!

 

 

At a loss…

Well, I dropped off Gladys today at the sewing machine repair shop.  They said it will probably be 3-4 weeks before I have her back.  WHAT AM I GOING TO DO FOR 3-4 WEEKS?!?!?!  So, I thought, okay…I’ll pull out my old sewing machine and use that.  Wow.  That machine is like a relic compared to Gladys.  Well, the tension is all messed up with that machine (I remember why I wanted a new one) and so I just put it back in the closet and decided I would figure out what projects I have in the waiting that I can get cut and ready to sew when Gladys comes home. 

So…I am going to work on that this weekend.  In the meantime, I feel like I have lost all direction in life.  Weird how quilting has helped me become so much more disciplined in all other areas!  I think it’s because I use quilting as a reward when I have been productive around my house or with other things…and I try to hurry up and get all kinds of other things done so I can spend as much time quilting as I can.  Any one else relate to that?

Hopefully I’ll be posting some pics of cutting projects and what I have in the works. 

Until then…

Keep Simply Delighting!

WIP Wednesday

Hey ya’ll.  It’s been sorta a slow week for me since Gladys, my sewing machine is still not working.  The good news is that whatever is wrong with it is probably covered under warranty.  Let me rephrase that…it BETTER be covered under warranty.  She’s going to the shop on Saturday and who knows how long she’ll be there, the lady on the phone at the shop said they are swamped.  So, in the mean time, I will be using my old (2005) basic Singer model my sister bought for me for Christmas.  It gets the job done, but it’s not as nice as Gladys. 

So, here’s a little project I have been working on:

These are samples from Benartex’s Crazy Daisy charm pack.  I love them!

So…it’s Wednesday again, and here is the updated WIP list for August!  The latest update is in red.  Previous updates are in blue.

1. Brianna’s quilt.  I am going to finish it this month. I have ripped the outer border off, and have sewn the new border on.  The backing is ready.  I just need to baste, quilt and bind.  This weekend this will be finished!  This quilt is finished!  I loved the way it turned out!

2. Shortcake quilt.  I think I am going to make a back piece with several strips scraps of fabric I have in my stash (to eliminate some scraps)  Quilt is finished!  Yay!

3. My Americana charm pack quilt (at least the top) Top is finished!  Yay! I have the border and back piece…just need to sew it on, baste, quilt and bind.

4. Sweet Shoppe and Calico Candies charm pack quilt (at least the top) Top is finished as of tonight. Hopefully going to baste, quilt and bind this weekend.  This quilt is finished.  Yay!

5. My Mom’s quilt.  Baste, quilt and bind. No progress yet 

6. Gabby’s quilt.  Baste, quilt and bind. No progress yet

 7. My Mom’s Christmas charm pack quilt top No progress yet. Quilt top is done, hopefully going to baste, quilt and bind this weekend. This quilt is quilted and half binded.  That’s when Gladys broke.

8. My Christmas charm pack quilt top. No progress yet

9. Start cutting some hexagons for my hexagon quilt. I have the hexagon template, I just have to pick out the fabric! Moving to Sept WIP list.

10. Work on my difficult Americana quilt that I keep putting off because I am such a whimp and it’s too hard and I am scared to take it. No progress yet Moving to Sept WIP list.

11. Practice free motion quilting with some easy peasy projects like pot holders etc. This weekend! Yes, hopefully this week!!  Moving to Sept WIP list!

So I feel pretty great about this list.  I have finished almost 4 quilts this month.  That’s awesome.  I almost had 3 done this weekend.  Wait, scratch that, I finished 5 quilts this month.  WOWOWOWOOWOW!!!!!

Keep Simply Delighting!!!

Sundays, Sewing Machines, and Spaghetti

Happy Sunday!  I was having a very productive weekend until today…when my sewing machine, named Gladys, decided to have a temper tantrum and stopped working.  I am hoping to contact the manufacturer tomorrow to get it resolved.  I did get almost 3 quilts finished!  Today I was sewing the binding on the right side of my Mom’s Yuletide Christmas throw and that’s when my machine decided to stop.  But…I made some amazing spaghetti and meatballs for dinner which helped subdue my frustration (comfort food always does!).  I also made yellow cupcakes with chocolate butter frosting.  YUM!

Here are the weekend’s accomplishments:

I finally finished my niece Brianna’s quilt.  I had to baste, quilt and bind it.  I love the way it turned out.

It is on my August WIP list.

This is my Sweet Shoppe and Calico Candie throw.  I LOVE THIS QUILT! 

I had to baste, quilt and bind this quilt as well.  My goal was just to get the quilt top done, but now the whole

quilt is done!  It will be a gift for a dear friend of mine.

I know it’s hard to see (I forgot camera batteries so I have been using my phone’s camera), but the

back is a light green viney/floral print.  Perfect and delicate just like the quilt blocks.

Here’s Gladys.  I hope she gets better soon. 

Friday night, I did work on a new project for another friend.  I can’t talk about it much because I think she reads my blog, but she is an old friend of mine from my college days, and I am super excited to finish up the project and then send it to her.  Once I do, I will definitely post pics and an update.

Have a super great Sunday and make this week amazing. 

Keep Simply Delighting!

WIP Wednesday!!

That’s right!  It WIP Wednesday!!!  And what a productive end of the week and weekend I had!  Before I update my WIP list, I wanted to share a few photos!

 

This is the stack of stash fabric I have to choose from to make items for Baby J.

A bib for Baby J

So on Sunday, I spent the day making items for Baby J, my soon coming great-niece.  Honestly, it is more joy to tease her Mama about what I am doing.  My Mom and I have been talking about all the different things we can make for Baby J, and we came up with a very cool secret project that I know Emily, Baby J’s Mama is going to love!  I can’t wait to get working on it.  Meanwhile, above is a bib I made this weekend. 

Okay, on to the WIP list update for August.  Last week was in blue, this week is pink:

1. Brianna’s quilt.  I am going to finish it this month. I have ripped the outer border off, and have sewn the new border on.  The backing is ready.  I just need to baste, quilt and bind.  This weekend this will be finished!

2. Shortcake quilt.  I think I am going to make a back piece with several strips scraps of fabric I have in my stash (to eliminate some scraps)  Quilt is finished!  Yay!

3. My Americana charm pack quilt (at least the top) Top is finished!  Yay!

4. Sweet Shoppe and Calico Candies charm pack quilt (at least the top) Top is finished as of tonight. Hopefully going to baste, quilt and bind this weekend.

5. My Mom’s quilt.  Baste, quilt and bind. No progress yet

6. Gabby’s quilt.  Baste, quilt and bind. No progress yet

7. My Mom’s Christmas charm pack quilt top No progress yet. Quilt top is done, hopefully going to baste, quilt and bind this weekend.

8. My Christmas charm pack quilt top. No progress yet

9. Start cutting some hexagons for my hexagon quilt. I have the hexagon template, I just have to pick out the fabric!

10. Work on my difficult Americana quilt that I keep putting off because I am such a whimp and it’s too hard and I am scared to take it. No progress yet

11. Practice free motion quilting with some easy peasy projects like pot holders etc. This weekend! Yes, hopefully this week!! 

So…we’re making progress.  It was a pretty lofty list for August.  I have 5 of the goals done so far, and if I get those 2 quilts completely done this weekend I will have gone above my goal for those, so I am feeling pretty good! 

What are you working on?

Keep Simply Delighting!

Leah’s Quilt

I just wanted to post some quick pictures of my very first quilt I ever made. It was for my niece Leah, for her 2nd birthday! It was a very difficult quilt, and I have learned so much since then.  Even still, I really love how it turned out. Here it is:

Keep Simply Delighting!

Saturday Sampler

Today was really a spectacular day!  Here in Ohio, we are experiencing unseasonable coolness…it was about 65 degrees, cloudy, and rained off and on.  For me, this is my favorite type of weather.  I am praying for an early fall.  This weather is also perfect for quilting!  I work up early and cleaned my house, and then made a trip to the grocery (I never go on Saturday, but needed to desperately today) and came home to sew.  It was glorious to feel productive with my home duties and also with my quilting!  I decided to share some pictures of quilts or quilt tops I have completed previously.  So…here are a few:

This is my king size pink quilt, that is yet to be quilted.  I love it!

This is a queen size quilt top for my Mom.  I have to quilt it yet too. 

This quilt I made for my friend Melissa.  She loves the color orange and the word Believe  is her motto.  This was the first quilt I ever quilted, and also the first time I ever appliqued something.  It didn’t turn out perfect but she loves it.

 

This is my niece Gabby’s quilt top.  This is probably my favorite quilt I have ever made.  It was so fun to make and I love the colors.

This week I have been working on some baby items, which I can’t share because my niece Emily reads my blog, and they are for her baby on the way, Baby J.  However I have been working from this pile of pink scraps:

And, this is the layout I was working on for whatever it was that I was making:

Today, started and almost finished my Mom’s Yuletide by Benartex throw quilt.  It is a 9 patch block that measures 13 1/2 inches square.  I am going to add a border to make it a little bigger but I love the way it looks.  Check it out:

So…I keep on working on the WIP list.  Last night I gathered up all my quilt patterns and organized them in a binder, and started to catch up reading some of my quilting magazines I recently got in the mail.  Today I got out some charm packs to prep for quilt I am making for another friend from college.  I also pulled out the rest of my pink scraps and fabrics to evaluate how much I have left to see what I have left for Baby J.  As usual, I have plenty to keep myself busy!!!

Happy Saturday!

Keep Simply Delighting!!

 

I am in love….

with this quilt top!  I finished my Sweet Shoppe and Calico Candies charm pack by Benertex quilt top.  I made a 4 patch square and then added a 1 inch border to make the blocks 11 inches square.  I love it.  It is light and fresh, and very feminine.  I am giving it to a dear friend of mine.  What fun is it to quilt and keep them all for yourself.  She has actually been following the progress and really likes the fabrics and the blocks.  It really did turn out great.  I am not sure how I am going to quilt it—I will have to think about it.  Here is how it turned out:

I love it. 

Keep Simply Delighting!! 

Be Blessed tonight!