In with the New

I recently got interested in checking out the online quilting community that exists on Flickr.  I got accepted to a bee that asked us to do blocks that included some kind of hexagon.  Having done Amy Gibson's Block of the Month on Craftsy and with my local quilt guild, I had already experimented a little with English paper piecing and hand-sewing hexagons.  I looked for a way I could do this in an improv fashion and still get some hand-sewing in---great for doing while catching up on episodes of Mad Men...

Here is what I came up with:

We were given each person's color choices and then asked to make the same block in each palette.

This was my first block and I was a little bothered that the hexagons came out a little wonky, but then I decided to embrace the imperfections and run with it.  In the end, I am pretty happy with how they turned out.

What do you think?

Here is another little hexagon project that will become a baby quilt.

I look forward to sharing all the blocks I receive when I get them. Getting mail is such a rare treat these days!!

Out with the Old

I made a commitment at the end of 2012 to get some of my UFO's off my table---not all, mind you, but at least a couple!  How about you? Did you make any similar year-end resolutions?  I managed to get two quilts done and delivered!  

One, handed off to my sister as a house-warming gift for her new home as she hosted her first Thanksgiving (this is an un-bound pic!)

This quilt came out of a really awesome improv workshop I did with Denyse Schmidt in early 2012.  You can find a link to Denyse's workshops here.

The back:

And the second, a long time coming, a queen sized quilt I had finished ages ago and never could bring myself to quilt.  This one was for my mother and I was terribly intimidated by quilting something this big by myself, so I finally resigned myself to the fact that it was better to send it out!  And, I am so glad I did!  It came out gorgeous, and in time for the holidays!

Tell me about your completions!

Star Quilt with Spiderweb Blocks

Hi Sewing Enthusiasts!! 

I am finally ready to show off some progress, not completion mind you, but in my world, enough done to share!!  Remember back here when I posted about "a few of my favorite things"? Well, one of them was Craftsy, and the enormously fun Block of the Month (FREE, people, FREE) class taught my Amy Gibson of Stitchery Dickory Dock.   

One of my favorite blocks I made so far was the "Spiderweb" block, but I didn't entirely get the "spiderweb" part until... 

It always helps to have more hands...and pins

I showed the four blocks I had made with my Denyse Schmidt charm squares at my quilt guild meeting and my friend, Leslie (check her out here) said, "Put them all together, next to each other..." and what do you know?  A SPIDERWEB!    

Ok, so with this choice of fabrics, it is the "stars" that pop and not the "spiderweb," but you get the idea. I think I will make more of the red and white ones to see what happens when those go together.  

Front---almost done quilting and then to bind!

Back (pre-quilting)

My basting helpers

I decided to quilt-in-the-ditch in the center panels and then free-motion around the outside.

The stars really show up on the blue flannel back, which will be soft for the intended baby recipient.

And, last but not least, this is what happens to my back when I squat down during photo session...*sigh*  :)

Do you have quilting assistants?

xoxo
Nell

Fourth on Farragut

Thank you so much to everyone who responded to my request for followers last week!  I hope you won't be disappointed!  This is a post for all my new Kate-sent followers!  

I try to hit a museum every time I travel.  It used to be art museums, but these days I am discovering the wide world of wonderful museums designed with kids in mind.  On our recent trip to Washington D.C. to see my sister's new house, Kate had the brilliant idea of visiting the National Building Museum because of the LEGO Architecture exhibit that was up.  On a day when the temperature gauge in my car  was reading 108, the Great Hall of the museum was a godsend!  Cool, wide-open carpeted area to run around and Henry and I had a nice discussion of Greek architecture wherein he identified for me the examples of Doric, Ionian and Corinthian columns in the hall (he is deep into learning about the Ancient Greeks right now :)! There is a great picture of it here.

In one part of the Hall was a set of numbered blocks that you could put together to make a Roman arch.  No finished pictures because it took all adult hands on deck to hold it up! But process photos...

Next, LEGOS!! The professional LEGO constructions were of the tallest buildings in the world, which I could not get on this particular lens of my camera, but I did get one of my favorite structures in the USA:

Lego Fallingwater

And then ours:

Left for posterity in the museum:

Aunt Kate through the metro tunnel:

Now, finally, lest you think this post has nothing whatsoever to do with sewing: Mira was gifted a beautiful new dress that has got me thinking. 

Thinking about that box of seersuckers that I never did anything with last summer...ooh, what will I make with these!  Stay tuned!

So Skirty Giveaway

Summer Flouncy Skirt Giveaway!!!

I am looking for some *new* followers, so please follow my blog and leave a comment.  On Friday, July 6th, I will pick a winner of a flouncy skirt.  Thanks!!

This giveaway is closed.  The winner is #12, FLS!  Congrats, Farley! And many thanks to all the new followers! 

And some boys who really enjoyed Beacon Riverfest!!

Baby Girl Dresses

This is the beginning of what (I have a sneaking suspicion) will be many, MANY posts about baby girl dresses I have made.  Caveat: I had three boys first, so I am teensy weensy bit excited about sewing girl clothes!  All the boys ever wanted was Batman pants...not as motivating (for me), happiness for them.

The dress pattern I just made is the "Pretty as a Picture" dress from Anna Maria Horner's book "Handmade Beginnings".

One of my all-time favorite sewing books, the patterns in Anna Maria's book are not only easy to make and well-written, but her fabric is to-die-for!  When I saw the yellow version  of this cotton voile for sale online I was ready---and got enough for a skirt for me too!! (More on that soon) Note: Don't worry about the slight difference in the yellows because the flower centerpiece gets trimmed down.

Cotton voile is a softer and finer cotton than regular quilting cotton.  It is great for apparel and linings---it feels just yummy.  Voile is also slightly sheer, so you will want to line it.  

The pattern was a dream to make, 9 simple pieces---so cutting was a cinch.  And, get this---the inside is as beautiful as the outside.  Made with French seams (ooh la la) inside, all the raw edges are hidden (Yay! says me, the sewer without a serger). One night.  I am not kidding.  It's THAT easy! I might make 10.  Love you, Anna Maria!!

The perfect thing to wear to her cousin's First Communion party!

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

And enough for a pocket square for the dapper Uncle Kris.

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly

Love this girl.  Love this dress. LOVE my sister's pictures!

Photo by Mary Ogorzaly