Tag Archive | Bucket List

Walk on down High Street in these shoes!

Sep12

I am working, working, working on completing THREE quilts this week.  I have about 18 inches of binding left to sew down on the Swoon quilt (and attach a label), my BOHO AYOS quilt to bind and give as a baby gift this Saturday and the Rally quilt to bind and give by Monday at the latest.  Not much else to show, so no repeat pictures of those quilts yet.

There is a NEW collection that I can’t stop thinking and planning about though.  I’m surprising myself lately with my taste in the bright colors like in the BOHO collection.  Now, I’m infatuated with HIGH STREET by Lily Ashbury Designs.  Anyone else??

I am just flustering myself on which pattern to use with it because I love all the colors and the designs of the fabric.  What to do, what to do??  I’ll have to browse some of my latest books by my favorite bloggers to get some good ideas I guess.  Something that showcases large pieces of the fabric would be best for me.

I did think of something this morning however … I have been wanting to make a paper-pieced high heeled shoe block quilt for a co-worker who LOVES high heeled shoes.  I’m thinking that the HIGH STREET collection might be awfully cute as the shoe fabric in those blocks.  She loves colorful shoes also.

I bought this pattern a while back, with this notion in mind.  I did an internet search for High Heel shoe quilt patterns and it came up with a Craftsy site link.  The pattern is only $2.50 and was designed by a lady in Italy and is called:

“Sexy high heel” paper pieced pattern

I’ve seen other applique patterns and I may decide to mix and match different ones to come up with a sampler – like my friends’ shoe closet.

So – that’s what is on my mind today – how about you?

Jennifer

Just add it to my tab…

Aug20

Now THAT would be dangerous … to be able to run a tab at your favorite online or LQS stores.  I would have to go to work for them to get it paid off, and then live in a perpetual cycle.  Maybe not so bad, but likely would no longer have time to actually quilt anything.

I just can’t force myself to pass up certain patterns and this one has gotten my attention.  I already purchased it from FQS, and I have started collecting different cuts of green fabric for the stems and red/pink fabrics for the berries.  (photos taken from the Fat Quater Shop website)

Do you own this pattern yet?  I see several of them being mentioned in blogs.  I think when I make it, I will throw in one cherry block from the Cherry Pie quilt pattern by Fig Tree Quilts:

I had already started a collection of different reds, just in case I wanted to make a red & white quilt.  But THEN, I found the PERFECT background fabric last night while browsing FQS.  It is a new collection that just got uploaded to their site.  Already have my order in for 4 yards:

Berry Background

This is from the collection “Nice People Nice Things” by Helen Stubbings for Red Rooster Fabrics.  I’m not familiar with her, but I couldn’t pass up this print.

Now, I’m not just buying and hoarding – I do have a close finish.  I just have to attach 5 rows together and I’ll share my next finish (pending the quilting) with you in a day or two.

Cuteness alert!

Sparkle and Rosy

Sparkle and Rosy

Sparkle looks HUGE cuddled next to Rosy.  We are working on a *ahem* skin condition for Rosy that is very treatable.  That’s why she has some hairless spots on her right now.

Thanks for stopping by as always!

Jennifer

Must exert self control!!

Jul3

Ok … I went to my local quilt shop this week to take advantage of their last sale day of 25 – 50% off Moda precuts and yardage.  Got Vintage Modern at 50% off, and some selections of Chateau Rogue, Mama Said Sew and a variety of mini charms to satisfy my cravings.  Then, since I was childless this day and in no rush to leave (like usual) … I took a first step towards a cliff…

For the first time, I asked to demo a new sewing machine.  My LQS, It’s A Stitch, is a dealer of Bernina machines.  I have been sewing on a basic Singer model for about 20 years.  I have only had it serviced once for cleaning, and that was about 3 years ago.  No problems.  And nothing fancy.

Oh… no ….  I need this new machine and I must find a way to afford it.  The Bernina 750 QE with optional Embroidery Module.

(FROM THE BERNINA WEBSITE… CLICK HERE)

Even more comfortable quilting

  • Extra-Long Freearm
  • BERNINA Stich Regulator (BSR)
  • Color touch screen
  • BERNINA Dual Feed
  • BERNINA 9 Hook

 

I don’t even have to buy the embroidery module to start with, but I can add it on at any time later.  That is the long extension piece to the left side.  It’s almost an 11″ throat too!

I’ve been searching the internet for reviews on this machine and they all seem positive.  Now, it’s time to start my savings account 🙂  The shop has a special that you can trade in a non-Bernina machine and get 10% off … but I think I am too sentimentally attached to my Singer to do that.

I would be greatly interested if anyone who reads my blog has experience with this series of machines.

For those of you in the USA, or just a fan of ours, have a great 4th of July holiday tomorrow!

Jennifer

 

Adding a personal touch

May26

Still piecing away, almost down to the last block.  Here are blocks 7 & 8, on the design wall in pieces, waiting to get assembled.  Again, where you see a solid color, it is really just a print of very small dots.

image

I should have the blocks done by tomorrow, then there’s the sashing (easy) and decision on the borders.  I would like to make it fit for a king size, something like 100×100.  I’ll need to add about a 10-12 inch border around the quilt for that.  Still thinking about utilizing the remaining fat quarters from my bundle of Happy Go Lucky that I didn’t use in the blocks to add in some flying geese units in the opposing corners.  Add a little more interest and personal touch.

Another personal touch I want to add is some embroidery in the center square of the center block.  Since I’m giving this as a wedding present, I thought putting their names and wedding date would be nice.  I was inspired from this post by Pretty by hand blogger, Kristyne Czepuryk, to download a font I like and use that as my template.  Take a peak at her post here, where she offers an Embroidered Signature Block tutorial.

My personal handwriting is, and has always been, terrible.  My hand actually starts to cramp now if I write more than a few paragraphs in long hand.  That’s how little I write anymore.  I learned how to type in high school, even won a couple of awards at UIL for speed – so there was never any struggle to transition to a computer world for me.  Every person in high school should learn how to type properly.  Invaluable.

I digress.  I am shamelessly stealing the same font idea from Kristyne and using Stalemate for the wedding block.  I’m not crazy about the “B” letter – I might play with it a bit before I commit to the ink.  The fonts are available as free downloads through this website – 1001 Fonts.  I had also downloaded Tangerine, Sacramento and Adine.  But Kristyne had the right selection already – Stalemate.

image

I went through my limited stash of embroidery thread.  Most of which I picked up in a clearance opportunity at my local quilt shop, but I also had ordered a range of colors by COSMOS floss.  None of which matched my fabric.  None of it.

Guess that means I have to go shopping.  I have to go.   I am forced to go shopping. Plus – I have a coupon for Joann Fabrics!  Love that!

Selected a variety of colors, in case I wanted to embellish a little in the block.  I’m likely to use the darkest navy color for the lettering.

image

While at Joann’s, I also found this book that I couldn’t pass up.

image

Not only did I have a coupon for 10% off everything … the quilt books were 40% off also!  I love looking at English Paper Piecing (EPP) projects and there was this one in the book that caught my eye in particular.  I still have near the top of my list to make a little tablecloth for my daughters kid-size table.  Something she could use for her tea parties.  I already have the perfect fabric, and I have some patterns that I have considered – but I might have to add in some EPP to make it even more special.   Those are little hexagon diamonds in between the butterflies.

image

So – that leaves me with one complete block to go, with embroidery.  Sashing, borders and piecing a quilt back.  I have asked Linh of Elvy Crafts blog and LiMa Sews to do my longarm quilting.  I have her on reserve for next week!  I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!  No more updates on this quilt until the BIG REVEAL!

Thanks for stopping by this weekend – I hope you are enjoying it wherever you are!

Jennifer

I can’t resist Collections!

May16

From an early age, I have always been attracted to collecting things.  Groups of things.  Books in a series (hard cover Stephen King books), figurines from a particular maker (Crinkle Claus figurines), movies/sequels on DVD, etc… 

Now, with my obsession with fabric these past few years, I have a huge opportunity to exploit and run with my little ‘personality quirk’!

I have my favorite designers whom I know I will buy yardage and bundles of fabric with each release.  Those include Fig Tree, Bonnie & Camille, and (most of the time) French General and 3 Sisters.  I’m pretty mainstream I guess.  Although I have now accumulated quite a bit of vintage Lori Holt fabric as well, and plan to add to it with Bake Sale that was just released.

Even within each fabric group, there are certain collections which I find it hard to pass up buying (and hoarding) deals on fabric cuts.  Some of these collections include Peace on Earth by 3 Sisters, Allspice Tapestry and Patisserie by Fig Tree Quilts, Rounneries ( & Deux) by French General, and I could go on and on and on.

Is this just me?

My latest fascination is Collection for a Cause that is put out by Howard Marcus Dunn for Moda fabrics.  COLLECTION is even in the title of each release!  How perfect is that! 

This endeavor started several years ago, so in my effort to try and figure out what I was missing – I found that it was hard to locate somewhere that told me exactly all the collections, in addition to pictures.  I finally found the spot on the United Notions website (in my own opinion, not very easy to navigate around).  In case anyone else had this same question or curious about all the colletions in one place … here you go!

Here is the website link if you want to browse the materials for yourself:  http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/fabric-collections.  Then type “Collection” in the search menu.

I am NOT an expert blogger or webmaster.  I made this in Excel, then copied it into Microsoft Paint so I could save it as a jpg image and load it here.

Col for Cause

Every one of these came out with a pattern/kit of some sort.  I have all but 3 of the oldest, and I will probably wait a bit to buy the most recent release (Mill Book Series).  Have I made any of the quilts yet?  Nope.  Do I care?  Nope.  I have ‘collected’ them.  My favorite so far though is the “Hope” kit.  Beautiful!  That will probably be the first one I do.  I have never done a Lemoyne star quilt, so this would be a great example.

If anyone out there has the kit for Charity, Alliance or Legacy – would love to discuss that with you!

All the best and thanks for stopping by today.

Jennifer

It’s called “Schnibbling”

Apr13

I’m so excited to work on my first AYOS Schnibble project.  I received my layer cake of Lario (a new 3 Sisters collection by Moda) on Thursday.  Green Fairy has great online deals quite often (and if you come across them – they also do bids on eBay which can land you even better opportunities), and no shipping charge anymore (eBay purchases do have shipping)!  You should see my collection of green pens (you get one free in your order).  Can you say ‘office supply store’?

Here’s my progress on the first Schnibble of 2013 … Hat Trick by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company.  For more information on joining AYOS (Another Year of Schnibbles) – just click on the blog button in the right side bar, and it will take you to one of the hostesses of the progam – Ms. Sinta of Pink Pincushion.

I’m having fun pairing up the color options and even doing a little ‘controlled scrappy’ approach to the 9 patch units.  The instructions even suggest to go with the individual 2 inch square construction instead of strip piecing these blocks.  I’m getting great practice at both perfecting my 1/4″ seam allowance and using my seam ripper.  Then I discovered that ‘someone’ had slightly moved my needle position knob on the sewing machine.  That could make a difference – right?

image

A little closeup:

image

And a few complete 9 patches on the design wall, along with my 8 Blogger Girls BOM blocks:

image

Today, the family is getting ready to go out to the Houston Pet Expo this morning and peruse the exhibits and animals up for adoption.  Never been before.  I have my eye on two kittens that will be available for adoption soon, and they will be at the Expo today with their sweet rescue group, … Dori’s Darlings.  It’s been over four years since my last furbaby passed away and I have missed the company of a quiet, cuddle partner.  Let me emphasize quiet.

But – what’s this?  Another project waiting it’s turn?  … more to come…

image

Have a beautiful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!

Jennifer

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Feb14

Nothing new to report on my own progress since the last post.  But, wanted to wish anyone following my blog a Happy Valentine’s Day!  I’m about to take myself out to lunch – perhaps some Shrimp Alfredo!  Yummm!!

For a beautiful inspiration though, please visit these blogs to see a spectacular quilt that will get you in the RED mood, if you aren’t already…

Cupcakes ‘n Daisies

Sister’s Choice Quilts

The Quilted Pineapple

I’m officially adding a Basket Block quilt to my bucket list!

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Jennifer

Some weeks are better than others

Feb7

Well, !@#$@!.  I really, really wanted to get my blocks together for the quilt top on the Avalon jelly roll project.  But, as it happens, I haven’t had a chance this week to sew for more than 15 minutes at a time.  Some days, the most progress I could muster is pressing newly attached strips on perhaps 10 blocks.  That’s it.  Like 5 minutes or less.

I’m soooo close too!  I just have to attach the last strip to my 36 blocks and then cut the setting triangles and I can start my assembly. 

As soon as I have that done, I have my eye to jump in on the STARBURST sew along hosted by Happy Quilting.  I ordered a fat 8th of Posy fabric by Aneela Hooey for Moda fabrics (along with four Bella solids that FQS pairs up with collection), and I think it will be adorable!!  The bottom fabric swatch is what I will use for the background.  CUTE! 

 

 

I also want to ‘whip up’ a little item from Sinta Borland’s (of Pink Pincushion) fabric grouping that Fat Quarter Shop is featuring this month as a Blogger’s Choice.  Aren’t these fabrics together great?  More on that later though when I actually get started on it…

Hope you are able to squeeze more time into sewing this week than I am!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jennifer

Snails pace…

Jan24

It has occurred to me that anyone who takes valuable time out of their day to read my blog may feel as though they are watching paint dry.  Compared to my favorite bloggers, who seem to be able to whip out quilts every week if they wanted, my pace is much more …. um…. excruciating.  For me as well.  I long for the days where I can work more than 15 minutes without interruption, or heaven forbid!, an entire weekend just dedicated to my little hobby.  But then, I would miss out on the growth of my children, and I would surely regret that later.

So … in my effort to spice this up a bit … here is my latest installment of the first Tree block.  Yes – there will be another!

Here’s the tree right now, with leaves temporarily glued in place:

Tree status 01-24-2013

And here are the remaining leaves for this tree getting trimmed down and preparing for the starch applique method:

Leaves Prepped 1

These were already trimmed up, just waiting for the starch and iron:

Leaves Prepped 2

 

And a final, wide shot of my ironing board with all my leaves, and supplies staged for the picture.

Applique Layout

 

Funny story about my ironing board cover… I found a tutorial through one of my favorite blogs, Sister’s Choice Quilts, and thought I would make my own fitted cover.  I got as far as deciding on my fabric and laying it out on the board to make sure it was large enough and decided… eh, this is good enough!  Fabric choice is a print from Hometown (or was it Reunion?) by Sweetwater. 

But after using the board a LOT for this applique project, I decided to wash the fabric with the intention on actually finishing the cover.  Well, in those spots I had done a lot of ironing and starching, the fabric just disintegrated!  So I refolded it so that those areas were underneath the visible side.  Therefore, I have decided to wait until I want to buy two yards of a canvas weight fabric and start it over again.  Guess it wasn’t that funny.  Oh well!

Have a great Thursday!

Jennifer

Not Satisfied

Nov9

Well, poo.  I just am NOT happy with how my end borders are on that Forget Me Not quilt.  It needs something.  I worked too long on it not to be happy.  But – I think I have a solution!  In my mind’s eye, I have some applique flowers and leaves/stems that I think will really make it much better.  In fact, I searched online for pictures of a Forget Me Not flower, and the shape is such a good one for an easy applique, that it really seems like a no brainer.

I have precious little left of the backing fabric that will be perfect for the flowers and I can easily accent with a variety of the pinks and greens to make it all come together.  I hope it turns out as well as it looks in my head.

My other surprise find this week was through the blog ‘Pretty by Hand’.  It’s a great blog and I love Kristyne’s writing style.  Anyway, she attended the International Quilt Market festival in Houston a couple of weeks ago and shared her pictures of the different booths on her blog.  Lots of eye candy to see – check it out!  One of the pictures was from a shop in Australia.  They had a quilt called “Robin’s Nest”, designed by Karen Styles.  Shop name is Somerset Patchwork and Quilting.  Lovely, lovely quilts.  Lots of hard work going into those treasures!  Here’s the quilt that I have added to my Bucket List.  The patterns (which come with acrylic templates) and a fabric BOM is available through Homestead Hearth.  Somerset Patchwork also has the patterns and templates, but their fabric BOM is full now.  And they are in Australia.

Isn’t this georgeous?  It is currently my desktop background on my work computer.  It is making it hard to concentrate on work though.

I hope everyone finds time to quilt this weekend!  Have fun! 

Thanks for stopping by,

Jennifer