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-

My Teensiest Quilt Yet!

It started with this...

And a day later turned into this...

Yes, it is an actual quilt- binding and all. I measures 3.75"x4.5". I came out a touch bigger than I wanted, but close enough :) Not only is it the teensiest quilt I ever made, it is also my handmade name badge for The Sewing Summit!!

There is only a week and a half left, people! I am so excited, I hardly know what to do! I keep pinching myself- ouch- but it's real! I get to go! One of those surreal things in life. I feel like the little kid on a big block, but people don't get nicer than quilters, so I am sure I will have TONS of new friends by the time it is over :).

I wanted lots of different mediums and techniques on my badge, so I went for everything I knew how (and a few new things too) to do! I started with the arc. I have NEVER paper pieced in my life, much less drawn a design to piece. But using Miss Kaelin's incredible instructions (over at www.theplaidscottie.com), I drew and paper pieced my own arc! Step 1- check! From there I added the white pieces and then the fun began. I sandwiched and quilted as I went. This is a fabulous method, especially for something this tiny. I added the yellow and orange yellow felt sun. Then the bunting and hand embroidering the bunting rope and name. Then the binding. Picking out the fabric for that was quite an accomplishment, in and of itself. I wanted something bold (and not being too bold for 3.75"x4.5" is pretty tricky), not too busy, and with all "my" colors. Finally found the perfect print! Then came not liking the way handstitching looked for my blog name, so I fiddled some more and came up with some pinked yellow fabric, with machine drawn title. LOVE! Appliqued that on, and VOILA!! I LOVE it- very "ME", very cute, and I have my handmade something to take to The Sewing Summit :).

Now just to decide if I want to attach it with a pin or with the cutest tiny silver ball chain and wear it like a necklace- I'm thinking the chain! Here's for teensy quilts!

I couldn't resist...

Seriously, I am up to my ears in quilting projects at the moment with some bags and purses I would like to try my hand at also, but when I see something that's this cute, I can't resist :). That's what happened when I saw the Billboard quilt along over at http://ohfransson.blogspot.com/. Yup, sign me up, I'm in! HA!! The hard part was figuring out what to say...

I am a stresser and worrier by nature- it is part of me, but I have made huge strides in the past couple of years to sit back and enjoy life more. One of the things I started saying years ago was, "It's ALL good!" It stuck and the entire family seems to say it now. It reminds me that life is good- even when I'm stressed, that there is a blessing in everything that happens, and that there is One who is holding me up at all times. That I am forever grateful for! So that had to be the saying I used.

I wound up using different letter widths on each line to get the proportions the way they were in my head. I also wound up using a different "font" for each line too. It has to look the way we say it :), right?! hehe! And the color system will be a little unique too- just like us!

The quilt will be approx. 80"x70"- just perfect for cuddling :) By the way, that was the other saying I contemplated too- "Quilts are for Cuddling"- so true, but the other one quickly won! I'll be using a soft Kona yellow for the background.

I am more than excited to cut and piece this fun quilt- so add this one to the list too! There ya go- 9 in process :) Woohoo!