Blogger's Quilt Festival Spring 2012

I just love this festival!

Amy, from Amy's Creative Side hosts this bi-annual event.

How fun

To visit all the lovely quilts, see some new friends,

visit some old friends . . . yummy!

Today I thought I would show you my courthouse steps quilt.

I started this quilt last August while I was in the middle of 

downsizing and moving.

I loved the planning that had to go into this one,

like a puzzle. 

I had to be able to lay it out to build each block on the last blocks.

You also needed to see color placement as you progressed,

there would be no flipping blocks around to get balance,

you had to find the balance as you sewed.

Kind of like life right?

I used Nice Jane for the backing

and a cute black and white leafy print for the binding.

I called this quilt Moving Day, because I made it through my big transition.

Then I decided that I wanted to donate it to Victoria's

Basic Quilts Charity.

I wanted someone else to find comfort in their transition.

I was so incredibly lucky to help Victoria hand out quilts

last December, so that made my donation even more special.

If you have a quilt that you can part with,

it is an amazing charity to support.

The details are here.

Thank you so much to Amy for hosting this quilt festival!

I so look forward to it each time it rolls around.

Sunday Finish

Yes it's done!

I finished my courthouse steps quilt last night.

I am donating this quilt to Victoria's Basics Quilt Drive.

 I just love this quilt!

The colors are so me, and I really loved the picking and choosing

of fabrics for each block.

 I did a very "organic" straight lines quilting following loosely

the seams of the logs.  

After I washed it, it just feels so cozy, I can't stand it!

LOVE IT.

 It measures 62" x 82"

And I pieced that back with Nicey Jane and pale yellow Kona.

 For the binding I did a black and white print

that looks like vines. 

I really like the way this quilt came out and I am so glad

that it will be going to live with a family

that can really use it.

Victoria is trying to reach 400 quilts this time around,

Do you have a quilt you could contribute?

She is having a distribution day December 1st,

but you may keep donating, this is an ongoing drive.

Mine is going in the mail tomorrow.

How about you?

Catching up

A snow storm makes for lots of sewing time!

I haven't really had a day of sewing in months, 

and yesterday was the day.

I was able to finally do the bee block for Mary.

She sent us all these great solids and told us to have fun,

make a monkey wrench block,

and there were really no parameters.

How fun is that!

I also finished the courthouse steps top 

and pieced that back with some lovely Nicey Jane

fabric I got on sale!

I promptly realized that my new space doesn't have a good place to baste my quilts.

Well, maybe a smaller quilt, but not this one!

So it will be back to basting my quilts at the office

on my lunch hour, using the conference room.

i don't mind that so much really,

Everyone stops in to see what the heck I am doing,

and, well, quilters do love a reason to show off their latest creation!

This is the one that is going to Victoria's Basic Drive.

Do you have a quilt you could send?

I'll have more to show you in a couple of days . . . 

I think I might have gotten my mojo back!

I'm back! And a cute little find . . .

It's good to be back to a routine of sorts.

I am completely unpacked in my new space,

and it feels so good to just sit and sew when I want to!

I have been working on my courthouse steps quilt.

It has been slow and steady, but now I am making good progress. 

I have decided that this quilt is going to Victoria's Basics Quilt Drive.

I am calling it "Moving Day."  I started this quilt when I decided to move and now am finishing

when I'm done with the move.

Moving can be unsettling when it's your decision;

I can't imagine how moving would be when you aren't in control of it.

Victoria's quilt drive is about donating quilts to families that are

going into transitional housing until their permanent housing is ready.

I tremendous cause egged on by a tremendous woman!

 Here is a little close up.

I need to find some outdoor space for pictures.

Now that I don't have a backyard . . .

I need to get comfortable photographing things in public spaces.

Could be fun.  Will probably meet some new friends!

Here is my new cozy sewing space in the corner of my living room.

It works just fine.  Everything can be hidden away for those wild

parties I plan to have.  Hahaha.  

* * * * * * *

And here is the cute little find!

Three or four weeks ago I was cruising my favorite blogs,

when I came upon Cristin's very cute little layard.

I thought this would be perfect for my moving adventure.  

My new place has very tight security, and you have to swipe "the fob" through most doors

to get where you are going.  It worked beautifully for moving and carrying things in.

I still use it because I can find it in my Mary Poppins purse with great ease.

Cristin's blog, Sew This Is My Life is very fun!

Check it out.

So what are you doing on this beautiful Sunday?

Have you found anything fun that makes your life easier??

Sunday Grooving

So things have been slow in the sweat shop these days,

I have been focusing on packing and moving and packing and moving.

I did get some time to work on my cathedral steps top

 and it's coming along nicely

I also finished my fabric crochet basket and now it holds all my yarn,

Seriously great color here.

 I had to shut down production and pack up my sewing room.

Now I know it looks like alot to some, but really,

I think this is pretty good.  And it's all going in my two big bookcases, so . . .

well . . . . it will be fine. 

And I don't have anyone telling me I have too much fabric!

Bonus!

 Here is my empty sewing room.  Just need to move those two tables . . .

It was a great room and has served me well,

I wonder what it will be next? 

A playroom?  An office?  Someone's hideaway?

 I hope they enjoy it as much as I have.

Time to get to that next adventure!

I am eager to get settled in the new place.

All in good time.

on another note  . . . . 

These sand bags where put out for hurricane Irene by a neighbor

who has trouble with water flooding her driveway.

They have now been moved to the side.

Barbarita commented, 

"Look this is the kind of Belgium Block we get in our neighborhood!"

She cracks me up!  

Hope you are having a great Sunday and are doing something fun!