Gypsy Quilt Done!

I have jumped ahead in my quest for every other project

being a finish of an old top.

While my scrappy trip around the world is languishing on my cutting board,

I finished my gypsy quilt which is going to a silent auction fundraiser.

I do love this quilt.

I will probably bid on it myself!

Haha.  I know, I could make another, 

but the second time around isn't as fun as the first right?!

I also made a bee block today for Kim in our Metro Mod Bee.

This one challenged my feeble brain, but I made it through!

on another note . . . 

I have passed the scrappy trip addiction to the kid.

She is making a quilt for a very good friend of hers.

And as tomorrow is a holiday for some . . .

The sweat shop will be open for business.

Hopefully I will have some silliness to report!

Quick and Modern!

McCall's Quilting & McCall's Quick Quilts

have a great ebook out on Modern Quilt Patterns.

There are three cute projects in the ebook geared for beginners.

This one is a block inside a block pattern 

and would be great to showcase some of your favorite fabrics.

Wouldn't this look wonderful in a little girls room?

This second quilt, is a quilt as you go, easy strip quilt.

You know I love these colors right!?!!

I have never made a quilt as you go this large, it measures 45"x 60"

It's an interesting idea.  

When I use the quilt as you go method, I usually quilt the separate blocks and then put

them together with sashing on both the front and back.

I might have to try this technique!

Click here for this free ebook and try something new today!

Sewing Sunday

It's been a great weekend for sewing here in the Northeast . . .

They closed down the roads in Connecticut,

so I was practically ordered to stay home and sew!  Hehe

I made good progress on my scrappy trip around the world.

I thought I was done with 48 blocks . . . 

But I think I want this one to fit my bed,

So bigger it will get!

I have 49 blocks now . . . I think I'll go to 64.

I also dragged out an previously pieced top, (PPT)

(nicer sounding than UFO I think)

to finish off for a charity silent auction.

This is my gypsy top that I pieced about two years ago.

A disappearing nine patch.

Straight line quilting about every two inches in both directions.

I will be so happy to find this quilt a home and raise some moola for a good cause.

And I will also be so happy to go back to work tomorrow and shed the cabin fever!

Did you doing anything fun this weekend?

Snow Storm Nemo . . .

Not as bad as we thought it would be . . . 

Roads are closed to driving, but I took a little walk . . . 

They say about 18" and no power outages here . . . 

The roads are mostly clear  . . . 

I believe it is a sewing day!

I'll show you tomorrow what I got accomplished.

Stay warm and safe! 

A Quilty Weekend . . . .

Even though the temperatures here have been mighty chilly,

I ventured into the city both Saturday and Sunday this past weekend.

First up, Our Metro Mod Guild Meeting.

Always tons of fun to see all my quilting buddies!

Three of our group quilts were on display.

So great to see them up close again.

This quilt was based on Stripes.

This quilt is our Cheddar quilt.

(Sorry the colors are so wacky in my photos)

This was our first group quilt,

Everyone brought a strip and we pieced them together.

Looks like the Princess and the Pea bed!

We also had our Kandinsky challenge up,

Just a couple more blocks to add.

For this challenge, Michelle cut up a color copy of the painting,

and each participant took a part and interpreted it in their own style.

It really looks remarkable in person.

Can't wait to see it all finished.

This is one of my faves from the show and tell.

Really cool.

You will be able to see all the show and tell 

on the Mod Blog in a few days.

As I was walking back to the train Saturday,

I saw this bar decorated for Mardi Gras.

Is it that time of year already??

Then onto Sunday's adventures.

David, Earamichia and I met to discuss ideas for

a challenge quilt we are collarborating on.

Many ideas flying and giggles thrown around 

and I think we have a great idea.  No pictures of any of that until June!

But . . . as we were lying around the floor contemplating, 

Earamicha jumped up and said,

"Okay we are going to make quick improve blocks showing who we are.

We will just cut and glue and see where this goes."

In about two minutes she set up a table and chairs,

whipped out a box a great fabric and three pairs of scissors.

It was tremendous fun!

Everyone got pretty quiet really fast.

Below is David's.

This one is Earamichia's.

And of course, you would know this is mine! 

Hehe.

So not a lot of "sewing" going on this weekend.

I did work on my hexies a bit.  

I really need to finish this one, it's getting too big to call

"my take with me" project.

As I walked back to the train on 125th street,

I spied this fabulous mosaic.

You know I can't pass up drinking in all that color!

Did you do something fun this weekend?

I hope so!

OMG! Look what I got in the mail today!

I won the giveaway on Kim's blog!

She was giving away Victoria's book in honor of her (Kim's) birthday.

I never win anything!  Haha.

But boy did I hit the jackpot today.

Along with Victoria's book came 100 quarter yard pieces of fabric!

Thank you so much Kim!!  I see a few beauties in there already.

I can't wait to go fondle them now.

Victoria . . . will you sign my book tomorrow when I see you??

Hehehehe!

A Dresden Plate for Brian

I finished my January Modern Bee Block for Brian just under the wire!

Brian sent us wonderful fabrics and a ruler for a Dresden plate block.

He gave us tremendous latitude in our creations.

You can see some of them at our guild blog.

I decided to go traditional this time.

Last year Nicole asked for a Dresden plate and I totally panicked.

I hadn't done one before, so I took the coward's way out

and made it without points.

This year, it's time to be brave and jump in with both feet!

Brian gave us a couple of good links to check out,

and that gave me some confidence.

It wasn't nearly as difficult as I imagined.

 Isn't this picture funny with my little blue & white plate underneath my acrylic sewing table?

Here I have sewn the plate onto the background.

I did a simple straight top stitch,

I thought a zig-zag might be too heavy for my smaller plate.

I did hand applique the center piece,

I think it was easier than trying to topstitch.

So what have I learned?

Don't be a coward.

Jump in with both feet.

Try something new.

It's hardly ever going to be as difficult as you think!