100 and 1/1/10

This is my 100th post! Should probably celebrate somehow; but since I'm such a sporadic blogger, I think I'll just make a resolution to do better in the future. It is a new year and a new decade after all...

Anyway, I was thinking about the quilts I'd like to make this year and thought maybe it would be a good idea to make a list. Maybe if I write it down, somewhere it won't be easily lost, maybe I'll actually make the quilts. I have already purchased the fabric for several and even done some preliminary designing in EQ5. My fabric stash has grown beyond the bounds of what I can manage. So rather than having a stash busting sale, which I could still do, I'd like to see if I can use some of the fabrics as I originally intended.

So here is the list of quilts I've been thinking about today:

Laney's Quilt - Pinks, reds, oranges; made with pre-cut Fassett squares, pattern not determined

DQS8 - I plan to participate in this swap; just love the fun process, due in March

Family Room Throw - Taupes, coral, blue, green, some fabrics in stash, others needed; modern square pattern

T-shirt quilts - Two for my own kids and I have several potential commissions

Amy Butler Quilt - fabrics in stash, pattern not determined

Kaffe Fassett Quilt - fabrics in stash, pattern not determined

Well, that's good for a start. Hopefully committing my ideas to a published list will help me to follow through and get them done. Time just seems to go faster and faster; and my list of things I want to get done just keeps growing.

Happy New Year!

DQS7 - Quilt Mailed!

At last! My little quilt for DQS7 is finished! I mailed it on Wednesday, bound for its destination which will remain a mystery for now. After all the dithering I did when trying to decide what to make, I am very pleased with the result. I hope my partner is also pleased.



The pattern comes from Barbara Barber's book, "Foolproof Curves: Quilts with Bias Strips and Continuous Paper Piecing." It is a very good book. I originally bought the book after seeing her on TV with Alex Anderson. She was demonstrating her technique for piecing curves, which fascinated me. This design was included in the book and I always thought it would make a nice little quilt someday. It was actually quite easy to foundation piece the blocks; the border took more time!



I was able to fussy cut a few of the pieces to add some interest. I just love these little girls!

I made a second quilt, a zigzag quilt with half square triangles from the same group of fabrics. I'll keep that one for now. It just needs to be quilted and bound and then I'll either hang it in my sewing room or give it as a gift. I love the colors; a good thing since I bought so many fabrics for this quilt. I'll be able to work with this palette for awhile.

Now I can just sit back and watch for my mailman to come everyday. I can't wait to see what quilt was made for me. There are so many wonderful quilts showing up everyday in the Doll Quilt Swap pool on Flickr. I haven't been able to keep up with them.

A giveaway!

Not mine, I don't have anything terrific to give away. But Heidi is giving away a fabulous quilt! Here's the link.

Pop on by and sign up for a chance to win. I've entered and I've got my fingers crossed!!

Fabric Shopping Trip!

Well, I went shopping today. I was really trying to make this little quilt from my stash as much as possible. But my stash and my partner's preferences are not meshing very well. So today, when both of my kiddos were at other activities, I hit the road to Waynesville. There is a very nice fabric shop there with lots of friendly people. The shop is packed with bolts and bolts of lovely fabrics and I loaded up. A bit more than I intended, but you can always use it up in something! If you live in Southwestern Ohio and haven't been there already, you should go. And if you don't live here - they have a website, too!

Tonight I plan to decide how to use all my lovely new fabrics and tomorrow get started on the cutting. I should have taken a photo when I brought them home; but I've already popped them in the wash. I still have plenty of time to get this quilt done and in the mail before the deadline, but I really want to have it well underway. These last few days of summer will fly quickly by as I get the kids ready to go back to school.

Happy Quilting!!

Decisions...decisions

I really need to make up my mind which quilt to make. I've always wanted to make one of these. I made this layout awhile ago; when I made the pink and black Petite Bento Box quilt. But I could easily change the colors around for my current quilt.

So many quilts...so little time...

I like this one!

I think this one has definite possibilities. I've always wanted to try curved piecing; I'll just have to try it out to see if I can do this. I like the Orange Peel pattern; very simple but visually pleasing. I'll have to see how difficult it is to piece with tiny pieces. That is one drawback of making doll quilts: sometimes the pieces get too tiny to work with and the seam allowances become a nightmare. I'll make some templates and see if this is do-able. The other one I've always wanted to try is a New York Beauty style...maybe I'll try that out, too.


Happy Quilting!!

Aha!

Had a bit of an epiphany while driving today. Yes...I know, I probably shouldn't daydream about quilts while driving on the highway. But you just have to make use of the time you have, if you know what I mean. Now I think I know what I will make for DQS7...just have to decide on the fabrics. I'll play around with EQ later this evening and see if I can draft something do-able. I think it will be fun!!