Some Fish to Fry - Up a Lazy River Part III

It's been several months since I posted an update to my Up a Lazy River Quilt top.  When last you heard about it, I had cut all the fabric and was beginning to sew the blocks together.  Then I became a senior resident, I bought a bunch of more fabric and patterns, and my subscriptions to McCall's Quilting and BHG Patchwork Quilting magazines started.  So I have not been faithful to this UFO.

Today, though, I took some time to try to get at least a few more blocks done.  There are fifty of these fishes total that I have to make.  I've got a bit more to go now, haven't I? My chalk fabric marker is helping me keep track on my work table... hmmm... I must get disciplined like Nicole at Sister's Choice Quilts and try to sew an hour a day.  Who said sleep was all that important anyway?

Up a Lazy River Project by Carolyn Griffin

using Neptune by Tula Pink for Moda
& Bruce Evans/Ghost Artists for Quilting Treasures fabrics

Shake Your BOM BOM's

One of the reasons I got into sewing and quilt making was my trip to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania and seeing all the beautiful Amish quilts.

I was excited to see this BOM and couldn't wait for my first block pattern to arrive.  It came today!  This is the backing set.  The pattern is called Wiscasset by Minick & Simpson for Moda.

I can't wait to get started on the first block (I love stars and this star pattern)... 

Of course, I will be posting my progress here.

Yeah!

Jelly Roll Excitement

I've had it pre-ordered pretty much since I found out about it, and yesterday it arrived!  I was so excited flipping from page to page.  I can't wait to actually take some time to sit and start thinking about some new projects to add to the ever-growing list.... Boy, my quilt book library is steadily growing!

Here's the link to the blogsite:  The Quilt Room

Snow is in the Air

I love fall.  I love how crisp and cool the air is.  I love the changing of the leaves.  And, I love that it means Christmas is just around the corner.  I told my mom about the Friendship Bag Swap, and she asked if I would make her some gift bags for the aides in the Lab where she gets her blood drawn every three weeks.  So, I found this fun fabric and went at it.  The green background one is called "Angel Cakes" and the white background one is called "Chocolate Christmas Treats."

I used the Moda Bake shop pattern for the Charmed Gift Bag and came up with these three fun bags... I'm sure my mom's Lab techs will enjoy them about as much as she will filling them!

A Touch of Summertime...

Yeah!  I got my Summer Mini Quilt from the swap in the mail today!  Actually, I think it came some time last week, but I was on vacation and just picked up my held mail.  Thank you to TC at fishinmyhair.blogspot.com and thimblechick.blogspot.com for my nice mini quilt and Christmas ornament!

Here are my goodies:

 

Now that is going to get me thinking of getting my Christmas sewing done early! 

Happy Happenstance

While on the interview trail in the Pacific Northwest, my husband and I were traveling through a small town in California called Weaverville.  Imagine my surprise when we turned the corner and saw this...

and this...

and this...

We stopped in front of this...

and I fell in love with this...

 

I would have driven off with it, but lots of other people were stopping to look, too.

It's the "Autumn in the Alps", I later learned.

Sure hope I get a job out here so I can come back next year for a closer look....

Bags O'Licious

These two little bags of fun are on their way to Texas!

I hope she likes them...

Inside... a few treats to keep on creating yummy goodness

"Buffalo Style!"

Enjoy, Jessica!

  

Dank U Zo Zeer

I had the crummiest day.  I was angry with everyone and everything.   Then this little bundle of happiness arrived.  And, in my favorite color... blue!!

This was the sweetest little surprise.

And, made the day suddenly not so sucky.

 Dank U Zo Zeer, Gingini!!

It's On Its Way!!

 

My little quilt is crossing the Atlantic to the Netherlands... I hope she likes it!

Francoise 

Friendship Bag Swap

I was excited to do this swap as I love, love, llllloooooovvveeee, tote bags. I have a whole collection of them in various colors and styles: from my, I-can't-afford-it-but-Mom-can-buy-it-for-me Patchwork Coach tote, to my Estee Lauder Jungle Print and straw woven tote, to my mini black velvet party tote, to my L.L. Bean over-sized canoe tote, I love them all.

Here's my Friendship Bag that I will be sending to Texas filled with a few local goodies:

Finished! Coco Pink Twin Stars

My Goddaughter Raelin's Birthday is this weekend, and I finished her quilt! I'm actually very proud of this quilt despite the fact that I haven't mastered matching my points yet. I guess that will come with time and experience.

These are bright and fancy colors that I would not usually use, but her favorite color is sea foam green (actually I think it's Tiffany Blue, I started her off early by imprinting her with the color at her Christening.)

But I actually like my quilting and am especially happy with the way the binding turned out. This quilt is now boxed and labeled and will be making its way to Oklahoma.

"For Raelin
May all your dreams come true...
You "Beary" Godmother"


Prior posts about this quilt...

Finished! Summertime Mini Quilt for the Swap

I finally finished it! And well before the September deadline.
This happy bright quilt will be making its way across the Atlantic, flying Northeast to its new home.
I thought it needed a little extra something special, so I made some pillows.

I hope my partner likes it and forgives me for being a beginner... I'll get those corners and seams perfect one day....

Prior entries about this quilt

I Think I Have a Problem

I promised myself several months ago that I would buy no new fabric. Then I ordered something I had seen on another blogger's site from Fat Quarter Shop. The Shop gave me a coupon towards my next purchase. Tempting, so tempting. I held fast, but then they came out with a BOM I just had to have. Which gave me an excuse to use my coupon. Because, of course, you have to make sure you don't run out of fabric when you're making a project.

A week or so later I stopped at one of my local quilt shops "just to look," and, of course, they had a Moda Jelly Roll and some matching fabric in their "scrap bin" that got me thinking of a new project from one of the magazines I had just received in the mail.

I have too many "new projects" to work on and enough fabric to keep me cutting and sewing through this fall and winter. Maybe even until next spring. It's quite the pile. The one shelf on my bookcase that I had dedicated to fabric has now overflowed to another two shelves. So, I've decided I need help.

I think we need an Obsessive Fabric Buyers Anonymous Support Group. I need someone I can turn to who can point out to me that I have too much fabric in my collection, and I need to finish the projects I have started. Someone who says, "Woman, step away from the computer and stop looking at that fabric website." Focus and refocus.

Please, for the sake of my shelf space and my wallet, join me in this cause. I know there have to be others out there like me... new sewers, or maybe some veterans, who can't drive anywhere within a 5 mile radius of their local quilt shop or JoAnn's without thinking, "Well, I do need something extra for the border, binding, backing, etc..." or maybe you are thinking of "just stopping in" to pick up the latest quilting magazine and 2 hours later come home with some fat quarters, a jelly roll, maybe a kit. Come on, I know you're out there.

Won't you join me in this cause? Feel free to snag the badge I made. I would just appreciate a shout out or link on your website in return.

It's not just me.... or is it?

In the Good Ol' Summertime Mini Quilt Swap, Part V

So, I have been working on my mini quilt for the Quilting Gallery swap. And I thought I would share a few more pics before the big unveil....





The centers look kinda like this....









And the quilted parts look something like this. First time trying the free motion feature... hope my recipient doesn't laugh at me too hard...




Now, I just need to finish the binding... how hard could that be on a 16 x 16 piece?

Famous last words right?

Coco Pink Twin Stars Part II

I finally finished the top on my Twin Stars quilt. It's going to be a gift for my goddaughter's birthday later this month.

I bought the backing fabric, a very cool dark brown batik with glowy multi-colored sprays kinda like the border. Now I just need to sandwich and quilt.

But first I've got to vacuum... well, pick up and then vacuum...

Here's the link to the original post.

Dee Bear

I tried a different bear pattern and some of the embossed fabric that is popular right now and came up with this bear... She's pink, she's soft, she's cuddly. I added the cream colored middle to her belly. But I thought she was kinda naked, so... I dressed her up a bit. I had found these cool flowers that were easy to apply. Having no dress patterns, I came up with a simple strapless that had a bow in back and came to a train. The fun thing about this bear, as she strikes a pose, is that I experimented with putting in a safety joint so she can turn her head. Is this her better side? Hmmm....

In the Good Ol' Summertime Mini Quilt Swap, Part IV

I have been steadily working on my mini quilt for the Quilting Gallery's Summertime Mini Quilt Swap.

Here's a little sneak peek...

Just enough to whet your whistle.

I have pieced the smaller elements and am starting to sew rows.

Getting excited as it is steadily starting to come together. Then I'll just have to learn how to quilt and bind it. All within the next month and a half! Eeek!

I am posting photos on the Flickr site. You can see my pics and those of others in the swap. There are a LOT of fun quilts in the works. Wonder which one's mine...?

Links to past postings:
Part I
Part II
Part III

Welcome to My New Site!!

I am a brand new quilter. I just started learning to sew, and this is my blog. I decided to create a new site just for quilting since summer is almost at an end, and soon the community photo challenges will be starting up again.

It will be a bit confusing for a time, but hopefully everyone will make the move without losing too many people. For the two of you (Nicole and Allyson) that actually have links to my old blog from your websites, first, thanks! And, second, sorry you have to update your links. :)

This will be just like my old blog page, except dedicated to sewing and quilting as I explore this fascinating new hobby. It started off with a trip to the Amish Country in Lancaster, PA, where I thought "How hard could that be?" to actually learning to match seams and finding out how important that seam ripper is in achieving perfection. I have been inspired by the list of ladies to the right whose sewing helps me to set goals as to the type of quilts I would like to be putting out one day.

So, sit for a spell and enjoy the journey along with me!