60's Love...

I love all things retro- and VW's just rock!  I know someone who recently told me that they had a blue bug when they were a teenager and wished they still had it :)  So I knew the minute I heard it what I just had to do ;)!!!  A mug rug it is!  It measures 12" by 7".  I think it's just too cute!  And I sure do hope she likes it too!  It'll be headed to her in the morning :)  Such a fun surprise!

 I love the colors- it made me smile the whole time!!  And I found a good clip art image that I used as a guide for the appliqué.

 The quilting around the bug was my favorite part- flowers in the "sky", headlight in front, speed lines in back, and a wavy road.  So perfect!

 I quilted tiny loops everywhere else and just had fun with it :)  I think this is one of my favorite projects for sure!  I think I'm not the only one with 60's Love ;)

The mini that didn't get sent...

The Doll Quilt Swap was a wonderful experience- I must show you the amazing mini I got from my dear swap Mama!  It was such a great surprise and totally me!! That's for the next post... But the mini that my partner was not too hot about (Try #1) is something that I LOVE and IS totally me!  So I had to finish it :).  It measures 20 1/2" across and is circular!  I was brave and went for it- and am very pleased with how it turned out!  I was so stressed about the binding coming out wacky, but it is absolutely perfect- hip hip hooray!

 The design came completely from my brain and I didn't have any idea how I would make it come to life, but I did, and surprised myself. :)  It makes me happy on days like that. So here it is all done and ready to hang.  I call it Crazy Love!  It was my crazy idea and I love that I got it to happen!  And what's not to love about a spiraling rainbow??!!  

 I hand embroidered the rainbow spiral in the center hexie, and then quilted a billion pebbles all over it! It took for-ev-eh, but I love the look and texture of it and how it just blends into the quilt.  Just to give an idea of size, the small squares are 3/4". It was so fun to piece and get all the text going the right way in each section.  I'd love to make tons of these in all sorts of colors and designs- that is now on the never ending list of projects :)  For right now, I just look at this one and smile!

DQS13 Complete and sent...

It's ready and off in the mail.  My secret partner should receive it today- oh, how I hope she like it!!  After trying two other things, this one stuck and I so hope that it's her style!!  She has some grandkiddos that I thought would love this too.  It's called the Balloon Tree.  The balloons were for sale until the peddler realized there was a tree with balloons growing on them.  Then he made them all free to share the love and joy!  What an awesome guy!  How I wish we could all be so kind and generous :)  The 1" flower, standing proud and strong next to his balloon tree, is one of my favorite parts.

 The balloon cart and escaping balloon- it's yellow to represent the sun that's shining in the sky. Who knows what adventure it will be going on :)

 The awesome tree- complete with squirrel and acorns even!

 The entire mini quilt- measuring 17x20".

 Some fun views...

 The quilting- 12 hours worth... enough said.  I really stretched myself and tried new things.  I love how it turned out!

So I'm crossing my fingers that it is well loved.  It was made with a lot of love and hard work!  And now, whenever I see a tree or a balloon, I will think of the whimsical Balloon Tree and smile :)

DQS13 Coming Along

Since my last post, my design has had to totally shift.  After watching things my secret partner liked and commented on, I realized that my modern spirals (that I loved) was not quite her thing.  So sad, but very glad I realized it.  She seemed to be more into "sweet and cute" ideas so I had to come up with something new. I thought and thought and stressed and stressed!  I finally came up with a carousel.  

 As much as I loved it, it just wasn't hitting me :)  But a little part, in the corner of the drawing, was!  The balloon cart- I loved it and so that became the center point of the new quilt!  It took lots of appliqué and piecing hours to get it to this point.  Here it is at the almost quilting stage.

The mini measures 17x20 inches.  There is a run away balloon in the top corner, and a tiny flower by the "special" tree.  The cart is still my favorite part.  Got the back made and then on to quilting...

 I spent almost a full 12 hours on quilting alone.  I so hope the recipient loves it!  Here is the breeze that's carrying off the balloon and one of the clouds quilted.

 And the grass and tree in progress of quilting!

And then the back (with label) once the quilting was done in the wee hours last night. It's the most intricate quilting I've ever done.  It was full of new tries and techniques, and I am very happy with how it turned out.  Now to get a binding on, and off to it's new home!  Now I am so stressed waiting to see if my secret partner likes it :)  Crossing fingers...

Quarter inch by quarter inch...

Bit by bit and little by little, the crazy design in my head is coming to life.  I thought I had drawn it to "scale" and was hoping so hard it would all fit together once I had each section pieced.  Ahhh, that would have been WAY too easy :).  Here are some during piecing progress photos...

Three squares, then four squares done... those little squares are 3/4 inch each.  The whole mini will measure about 18" square once it's done.

Then the "main" square pieced, now to lay it out...

 Got the layout, now to piece the main squares to the color next to it...

 Then I got it all situated and go figure, I was a hair off on each section for them to fit perfectly :).  But, thank goodness text fabric is forgiving, so I was able to tweak and add, and it flows together pretty seamlessly ;).  Although there is a seam...

 Now I just have to figure out how to get these sewn together at exactly the right spots!  My brain has another crazy idea, and I may just go with it - shooting from the hip seems to be holding up ok ;).  I really love how it is turning out and will have a hard time saying goodbye to this one.  It's been a really neat process to participate in (DQS13, that is).  So, on to my crazy idea- cross you fingers it works!!

DQS13 Progress...

After weeks of craziness, my original idea has been tediously drawn to scale.  I have been pretty nervous about seeing if I could get this to truly work "on paper", and I think I can!!  I think I can, I think I can... :)  Here it is all drawn out- it'll be 18" square once done.  It is so cool to come up with an idea in your brain, and follow it through- It'll be great to see it done!

 Then I started pulling colors, based on my partners likes, which were easy, considering they are the same as mine ;).  I decided to go with solids- all solids, because I like the look it gives.  I will gradient the colors from the center out, starting with a rich jewel tone in the center and end at the edges with a very pale pastel of each tone.  I am excited!  Here's what I have...

This week, I get to figure out how to piece it ;) hehe!!  So looking forward to seeing it come together more :)!!  Wish me luck-

Summin' up a year of projects...

It didn't feel like I got much done this past year, but here is the sewing version of my year's worth...

Not to bad :)  I'm happy with it!

And the big project of the year, that was mostly non-sewing related (however, quite a bit involved sewing now that I think about it)...

...it's definitely the most fun too!  Thinking of doing it again, to an Airstream this time!  That'll keep me busy for a few months ;).  On to 2013 and lots more fun!!!

DOLL QUILT SWAP 13~~~

I. Can. Hardly. Breathe!!!!  I'm in!!!

In what???  The swap of all swaps- the Doll Quilt Swap!  I could hardly believe it when I made the cut :)  WOW!!  I still feel like I'm walking around in a dream!  Ever since I saw Angela's "Where Bluebird's Fly" mini quilt years ago (second row, second from left), I knew I had found my niche!  I adore quilts that tell a story!  Did that special quilt ever tell a story!  She moved me and my inspiration soared!!  I have wanted to be in the swap for so long, and finally have my chance!!  Here is the mosaic I made to let my secret partner know what I love!  We find out our partners next week!!  I am counting down the days!!  

1. Flowering Snowball, 2. sarah jane embroidery (2), 3. Mariner's compass Pillow, 4. Ski Chalet for Krista, 5. vintage sheeting, 6. A Light in the Dark - mini, 7. Where Bluebirds Fly 2, 8. Amitie BOM The Circle Game, 9. Come On Get Happy, 10. the youtube quilt, 11. P1210514, 12. Progress 10/25/12, 13. Rainbow Derecho Quilt in Progress, 14. Scraparadise, 15. a patchwork mothers dream, 16. Rainbow Feathered Star, 17. Quilts on a line for Corey, 18. I Spy Planet Hexy Quilt Completed, 19. Happy Camper, 20. P7160073, 21. Blue Wave Quilt Front, 22. Rainbow Compass Mini Quilt: Front, 23. Mouthy Stitches Practice Pouch, 24. Hanging Quilt for Corey25. Southern Living Magazine "Embrace the Blues"

Quilting for a Cause :)

As many of you know, Dyselxia lives at our house :) We are very involved with an amazing tutor and her center.  They are having a silent auction next week, in conjunction with a large conference, so I just had to do something :).  I told her I'd volunteer two items.  One will be a rosette necklace and the other I knew I would quilt.  I chose to make a wintery mini/wall hanging.  

It thought and thought about something that would last more months than just the holidays, and I adore snowmen, so JACKPOT!  I came up with the design out of my head and ran with it.  It's 14 inches square so it was perfect to try a few new quilting techniques:  pebbles (on the snow on the ground)

, zig zag and zig zag with swirls (on the hat), 

wavy lines (in the sky), spirals (in the eyes and button mouth),

large meandering (on the snowman body and stick arms).  

And I just couldn't resist some wooden heart shaped buttons for his belly :)  EEPPPPP!!

I also incorporated my love of embroidery with the Let it SNOW statement.  

I hope it helps the cause and brings in a good donation!  

 Only problem is, I wanna KEEP it :)!!!!

Journey of The BLUE ZOO

When we got our vintage motorhome and had it painted aqua, I knew that this mini HAD to be made! We are camping people, but I am particularly the kind that must have a potty and shower. :) We are so excited about our journeyings for this coming season!

So the quilt- it measures 12"x24". The designs are what we do from sun up to sun down on any given camping day! From biking, to fishing, to board games we fill up our days. Then there is the road, which has dotted white lines, of course, so people can pass us because we are just enjoying the ride most days! Then in the evenings, we have a campfire and roast marshmallows for s'mores, under the light of a gazillion stars! What could be better?! To us, nothing!

I quilted the bottom to be the suns rays and the top to ooze the setting sun. The scenes are pieced, paper pieced, appliquéd and embroidered. The binding is a vintage sheet. I love how the vintage-ness of the motorhome is brought home with the vintage sheet. I could not have found a more suitable fabric no matter how long I searched!

This project was so interesting to me because I started with one idea and went through about 20 revisions, seriously, before it evolved to this. I am very happy with the "Journey of The Blue Zoo" and with the real life journeys it will decorate!

I'm entering the Modern Mini Challenge with this mini :)

Winter Woolies :) eppppp!

I have been itching to buy the Winter Woolies pattern from Miss Kerry over at http://www.verykerryberry.blogspot.com! She is a paper piecing hero to me! I really want to focus and learn paper piecing more this coming year, and I love following her and seeing the amazing things she come up with :). Her skier is one of my favorite pieces ever!! I saw this pattern and knew I was destined to try it! I had to make a gift, well, didn't "have" to, wanted to make a gift for an incredible teacher we know and thought this would be perfect.

I increased the pattern by 200%. The pieces were still small- I can only imagine how tiny they would be in the normal size ratio :). But I loved it- so well written and explained. I have never used freezer paper- tried foundation piecing once and did not like it much. I looked at all of Kerry's tutorials on freezer paper piecing and went for it! I must say, I loved it! So much better and easier than foundation. I'm hooked!! :) Yipee!

The finished product is 12x24 inches and could be a wall hanging or a table topper. I don't have Christmas fabric, but wanted it more for general winter use anyway, so I loved the color combo I used :). I hope this teacher smiles when she gets it :). I think she will. Here it is:

The hat section - so fun and love the added button she suggests :)

The scarf section- I love all the stitching that brings the personality into the piece :)

The mitten section- such cuteness!

I backed it with a favorite vintage sheet- just the right amount of vintage yumminess added in :)