Second top finish of 2013!

I finished this quilt top today!  My second for 2013, this is a really fun quilt and pretty large for just using one charm pack.  A while back I won a charm pack of Joy from Kate Spain and I must say, it's a gorgeous line! I found some Flurry FQs at a LQS on sale that I was planning on using for the borders but instead decided to use my binding fabric for the borders.  It turned out to be the perfect choice!  Those zig zags really make the quilt complete.  

One thing I'm not pleased about is the inconsistency in the color of the Moda Bella white.  It's not one consistent shade of white.  But hopefully using a white batting will help even things out.  It's actually not as bad as the picture portrays, that's more of a shadow from my boyfriend who is holding it.  He's 5'7" so it's a good sized quilt, perfect for curling up with it and a good book on the couch.  

2012 Designer Mystery BOM month 2

FQS Designer Mystery BOM month 2.  Love that Vintage Modern!

Block One done!

I finished the first block in the FQS mystery designer BOM.  Let me just say I love that there was enough fabric for two blocks because I actually made this one twice and my first was over an INCH too small!  My seam allowance was a perfect scant 1/4" my cuts were flawless so when I made the second I adjusted my seam allowance to it was two thread widths scant instead of one and that seemed to do the trick.  I also pressed uber carefully too.  The second was a perfect 12.5" on the nose!  No trimming required.

Excuse the crappy cell pic...I still have yet to find my camera charger!

Yay! It's here!

Made some excellent progress on my month 2 Dear Jane blocks and I have to get a photo of them yet.  Only have one more to finish up but I'm still kinda trying to figure it out.  Have to go to the blog for some more instructions.

But in other news, the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Designer BOM has landed!  It came with a mini charm pack that's going straight for my hexi pile.  I'm gonna go get whip up the first block now!

New Pattern!

I've had this quilt done for a while now, I just had to deal with the winter blahs weather wise to get some decent photos.  This one is called Around the Block and uses a charm pack and a jelly roll.  I used Central Park by Kate Spain.  That girl has not designed a line I didn't like!  I've been a stalker since Verna.

SO, here is my new quilt pattern!

Sorry for the last 2 crappy pics, they were taken on my wall and I didn't really have much space to work in a photo.  The trees really are straight, they just look wonky.  

I have this in my etsy shop if you're interested.  You can use the coupon code newpattern for a 10% discount, valid through next Saturday!  I have both PDF and hard copies available!

origins finish

So I finally got another quilt finished!  This is A Ritzy Cracker Quilt from the moda bake shop.  I used Origins from Basic Grey, this pattern calls for 2 charm packs.  I'm so addicted to that company's stuff it's not even funny.  I absolutely LOVE it, both fabric and paper.  I've made quilts using Figgy Pudding and Blush already.  I have ONE tiny charm pack of Fruitcake I'm saving for something.  But on to pics!

This is the front, I quilted it in a dark brown and left the white parts untouched except for the triangles around the edges, I quilted those just for stability while binding. 

Here you can see the back and binding better.  I was able to find just enough yardage for the back at Burgundy Buttons.  The binding I bought at a LQS and managed to freak out the staff there when I went in to buy it, story is after the last picture :p

And who doesn't love a rolled up quilt??  My daughter LOVED this quilt and was so happy to work on it with me yesterday, she stayed awake until it came out of the dryer so she could sleep with it.  None of my quilts get used until their washed :)

So about the LQS, I was working one day and got a call to a nursing home that ended up being canceled as we were arriving so when we got told to go post at a different hospital I decided to hit up this shop on the way there to see what they had left of Origins since they had a bunch of yardage a few months back.  You would NEVER know this quilt shop exists unless you pay close attention, it's a non-descript house with a small sign that says Quilters Heaven.  My partner and I pull up, in the ambulance of course, walk inside and all the ladies inside started asking if everything was ok!  It sure was, just doing some shopping on shift :)  It was on the way to where we were going to we just popped in.  They quickly recovered from their scare.  **disclaimer: we're allowed to shop on shift, as long as we answer our calls and do what we gotta do they're ok with it.  all they ask is we conduct ourselves in a way that shows the company in a positive way, which we do**


I also entered this quilt in the MBS contest of the month.  Got in in just the nick of time, finished it yesterday, photographed it this morning, uploaded the pics in between calls today and got it posted to flickr.  Talk about waiting til the last minute!

*star sampler* block 9

Block 9 is here! 

Here is what you will need:

From your SOLID (mine is brown):

• 8 - 2 1/2" squares
• 8 - 2 7/8" squares
• 2 - 3 1/4" squares

From PRINT 1 (mine is lime green fleur de lis):

• 4 - 2 7/8" squares cut diagonally to make 8 triangles
• 4 - 2 7/8" squares NOT cut diagonally

From PRINT 2 (mine is a combo of 3 prints, hot pink, pink feathers and lime green floral print)

• 4 - 2 7/8" squares (mine are the hot pink)
• 2 - 3 1/4" squares (mine are the pink feathers)
• 4 - 2 1/2" squares (mine are the lime green floral print) 

 
Now, start by marking a diagonal line on the back of all 8 of your solid 2 7/8" squares.  I don't have a photo of this since my line wasn't very noticeable on the back of my brown. 

Pair one solid 2 7/8" square with the 2 7/8" squares from Print 1 and Print 2.  Stitch a SCANT 1/4" seam on each side of the diagonal line. 

It's very important that this is a SCANT seam!!!  Each square in this block should measure 2 1/2", you can always trim them down if they're slightly too big, better too big than too small!

Now trim each of those blocks on the drawn line and press your HSTs open.

Now, repeat the above 2 steps with your 3 1/4" squares.

Next take the blocks you made with your 3 1/4" squares and cut them in half diagonally like this, do this to all the triangles so it will yield 8 total solid/print triangles:

Take your 8 triangles of Print 1 and pair it with the above pieces.

These blocks should resemble something like this:

Now lay out your entire block so it looks like this, your center pieces are the 2 1/2 inch squares from your Print 2!:

Note: each of row has 6 - 2 1/2" squares and there are 6 rows.  You should have 36 pieces total.


(pssst....mine isn't sewn together yet!  i laid it out on my desk right where my sewing machine goes to take the pic, and whoops I was too freakin' lazy to move them all to sew them!)

*star sampler* block 7

This week's block is very easy and a little bit different than the traditional style flying geese star block.  From your SOLID (mine is brown)4 - 3 1/2 inch squares**4 - 3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch rectangles
From PRINT 1 (mine is the green)1 - 6 1/2 inch square  From PRINT 2 (mine is the hot pink)8 - 3 1/2 inch squares *this is a duplicate layer cake sq)  From PRINT 3 (mine is the white fleur de lis & yellow)4 - 3 1/2 inch squares (I did 2 of each & used scraps)  From PRINT 4 (mine is aqua fleur de lis in the photo)4 - 3 1/2 inch squares**  **- you only need ONE set of these fabrics, these are the corners, if you scroll down further you can find the different layouts, I chose to go w/ my solid over the aqua fleur de lis.

Start by drawing a diagonal line on the back of each of your PRINT 3.  

Take your PRINT 1 and start by taking one of your PRINT 3 and attach it to the corner of PRINT 1.

Sew on your drawn line, then trim 1/4" away from your sewn line.  Press your seam however you choose.

You need to repeat that for each of the 4 corners.  This is what your center piece should look like:

Now we're going to make the flying geese units.  Take your PRINT 2 and draw a diagonal line on the back of each square.  (let's pretend I have a photo :p)
Take a square of PRINT 2 and place it on top of your SOLID rectangle so the drawn line goes from top center to bottom corner.  Stitch on your sewn line, do this 4 times.

Now whack off the excess by cutting 1/4" away from your seam.  Do this to all four pieces then press.

Now lather, rinse, repeat to the other side. Here comes the color options for the corners.  I chose the solid in my final block but here were the options.

I didn't care for the print.  If you want to save a layer cake square use your solid.  There is enough detail in the center block that you don't need the print in the corners.  
This is my final block!

*star sampler* block 5

Here it is! Better late than never :p This one is super simple and cute to boot! For this block you will need:From your solid:

• 1 - 4 7/8" x 9 3/4" rectangle
• 5 - 4 1/2" squares

From Print 1 (mine is pink):

• 1 - 4 7/8" x 9 3/4" rectangle

From Print 2 (mine is green):

• 8 - 2 1/2" squares 

Start by taking your solid rectangle and draw a vertical line at 4 7/8" that divides the rectangle into 2 squares. 

 Next, draw lines from the lower corner to the vertical line, this will make 4 triangles.  I know you're thinking WTH is this all about!?  Well, just trust me, you won't find this anymore difficult.

 Pair this piece up with your print 1 rectangle, right sides together.  DO NOT SEW on the vertical line.  Just sew 1/4" on either side of the diagonal lines, when you're done press it and set aside.

Now, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner on each square of print #2.  

Take 1 solid square and one print #2 square.  Place it on the fabric so the ends of the line goes from center to center on the solid.  Sew on this line.

Then, measure 1/4" from your sewn line and trim.  Press to the dark side.  

Repeat the previous 2 steps on the other side.  Make 3 more of these for a total of 4.

Now we'll cut apart the rectangle.  Start by cutting ON the vertical line.

Then the on the diagonal lines.

Press your seams to the dark side.  
Arrange in the following manner:

Your final block should look like this!

*star sampler* block 4

Here's block 4, a classic Ohio star with a modern twist!

You will need:
From your solid:

• 4 - 4 1/2 inch squares
• 2 - 5 1/4 inch squares each cut twice diagonally to get 8 triangles

From your print 1 (mine is yellow):

• 1 - 4 1/2 inch square  

From your print 2 (mine is pink):

• 1 - 5 1/4 inch square cut twice diagonally to get 4 triangles   

From your print 3 (mine is green):

• 1 - 5 1/4 inch square cut twice diagonally to get 4 triangles  

 Start by sewing each print triangle to a piece of your solid.

Once you have completed those press all seams to the darker side.  Next you are going to join 2 of those larger triangles from the above step.

They should look like hour glasses when they're done, the above obviously aren't sewn but that's the look you're going for.

Do this for all your larger triangles, you should have 4 hourglass blocks total.

Now, layout your block like so:

It really helps if you press your seams to the non-pieced squares, your seams won't be as bulky and they'll nest nicely when you're done.

This is what your finished block should resemble:

There is your finished super easy peasy lemon squeezy Ohio star block!

If you're looking for other blocks you can find them at the links below:
*star sampler* block 1
*star sampler* block 2
*star sampler* block 3

*star sampler* block 1

It's here! The first block and it's super easy! I'm gonna give you a little hint with these, STARCH!!! You will have a bunch of bias edges in this block and it will make your life just a smidge easier and your triangles a little less distorted. All seams are 1/4" and your block should measure 12 1/2" square.



What you will need:
Solid:

4 - 4 1/2 inch squares

1 - 5 1/4 inch square cut twice diagonally

Print 1 (mine is fleur de lis):

2 - 4 7/8 inch squares cut ONCE diagonally

Print 2 (mine is the dark color):

1 - 4 1/2 inch square

1 - 5 1/4 inch square cut TWICE diagonally

You're going to start by sewing your triangles from the 2nd print to your solid triangles. Make 4 of these. Press your seams toward the darker side or open if you prefer.


Next, you're going to add the pieces from the above step to the triangles from your first print. Make 4 of these. Press seam toward the print you just added or open.


Now arrange your block like so:


Stitch your rows up and press your seams toward the solid square on each row, this will make them nest nicely when you sew them. You can also press them open if you prefer. Your finished block will look like this:


Since all 16 blocks are going to be different you only need to make one! Block 2 will need a duplicate print, just so you're aware. I would save your favorite prints for block #3, it's pure awesome and would look awesome with all prints, you will need 2 duplicate squares for this block if you choose to do all prints, if not, just one duplicate will be needed!