Oh Baby.

Many moons ago I bought 3 fat quarters from the  October Afternoon's Seaside line -- I did not have a plan and just bought a few.  Wish I would have bought more.  I love the beach print.  The beach print is SO cute.  Anyway, lately we have been watching Blue Bloods reruns and I noticed this mug the Commissioner drinks out of. I figured if he likes it, it must be cool.  ;)

So I made baby quilt using those colors.  And then I loved it so much I had to make a second quilt with the same fabric.  :)

I have a friend who is expecting her 10th child (Yes, that's right...her tenth child.  She is amazing.)  I decided this little boy deserved a new quilt. (Really, I probably should have made the Mom and Dad a quilt!  :)  If I didn't have to mail the quilt, I just may have done it.)

The pattern on the left is one in Amy Smart's book, Fabulously Fast Quilts -- it is much smaller than her original.  The pattern on the right is from Growing Up Modern by Allison Harris.

The first quilt I made is the one with the sashing (above.)  The sashing is actually made from corduroy.  I backed it in flannel.  My original plan was to give this to my friend.  But then I made the second one and backed it in a shot cotton.  It is much lighter and so now I'm wondering if I should send this one to them.  After all, today in their neck of the desert it is 100 degrees (and that is NOT the hottest it will get this summer.)  

I wish I could say these are on my finish-along list, but they aren't!  I did get some good machine quilting practice in, though.  It is getting better.

I am linking up to Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday.

Spools - Q2 Finish

I am feeling like this may be my only finish this quarter!  Last day of school is next week, and that means less time to sew.  But anyway...here is my finished quilt wall-hanging.  It is small, but cute.  It is paper pieced from some free patterns by Fresh Lemon Quilts.   I will hang it in my sewing room sometime.  I keep thinking I'll rearrange and make it super cute.  I better not wait for that day, though....it may never happen.  :)

I am linking up to Finish-A-Long 2016 at A Quilter's Table.

Quilting for others

There is a little boy in our neighborhood who was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer -- he was not even 1-year-old yet.  He has been going through Chemo treatments for a few months, and still has several to go.   His tumor has shrunk but is still attached to organs and so can't be removed yet.  His family has been an example of faith and strength during this time.  It's also been touching to hear my own kids pray for him.

When I first met the mom she mentioned that she and her husband really like quilts.  So even though I don't know them really well, I thought I'd better make him a quilt.  It is a simple one, but I hope they like it.  It was good for me to make because it kept this family in my thoughts and prayers.

The pattern is similar to PowWow by Cluck Cluck Sew.  I especially like this pattern for boys.  I used fabrics in my stash.  Yay!

In October I joined an online charity bee.  Each month I am given instructions to make 1 or 2 blocks.  I then mail those blocks off to a quilter, who puts all the blocks together, quilts it, and gives it to someone in need.  So far it has been fun -- some blocks have been quick and simple.  Others have been a little more challenging where I used a new technique.  I look forward to seeing the finished quilts on Flickr someday.  Here are the blocks I've made so far.

April - Spring Break in San Diego

We had a fun Spring Break down in San Diego.  We drove down on Saturday -- one long day, but the kids did great.  Aside from Andrew throwing up in the car, a break by the side of the rode with Andrew laying down in the dirt, and having a policeman stop to make sure we were okay....it went smoothly.  :)

The resort we stayed at was very nice and spacious.  The kids get excited just for the fact that their bedroom has a TV with cable!  (We a simple antenna here at home.)  So while they watch Cartoon Network, Brian and I watch HGTV or the Food Channel (until Brian gets bored and falls asleep.)  We also did some old-fashioned "gaming" -- Chess, Pool, Air Hockey, and card games.

The resort had several swimming pools.  One had a slide that was perfect for the boys.  Tanner especially loved it.

The beach!  It was much colder at the beach than where we staying.  It's amazing what a change a 30 minute drive can make.  But the boys braved it and had a great time.  Tanner was a little nervous at first, but quickly got used to jumping the waves.  (Last time we were at a beach, he was 1 year old and was scared of the noisy waves.  He and I stayed a good distance from the water so he wouldn't cry.)

We had a great time at Legoland.  This was our second visit -- the first being 4 years ago.  Look how much they've grown!  Tanner was in a stroller last time we went.  Now he is the same age as Eric was the first time we went.

We enjoyed seeing the creations throughout the park.

And the boys enjoyed the rides.  Tanner was willing to ride them all!  Below is a picture of them riding the biggest ride at the park.  I was worried about this one, but he said he liked it.  We laugh at this picture -- with Dad in the back having a great time while the kids are terrified in the front.   They all came out with a smile, though, so I guess it was fun. 

We also went to SeaWorld -- the kids and I had never been.  It was raining most of the day which was a cold and wet.  The bonus was that it was not very crowded.   I think I prefer the rain over the crowds, actually.  The first animals we saw when we walked in were the Pink Flamingos.  Then we went to the arctic animals -- including polar bears and walrus (Andrew's favorite animal.)  After a few hours, Eric was ready to go (evidenced in the picture below where he is trying his hardest not to look happy.)  So he and I went out to the car for about an hour and warmed up.  Then we came back to join the family for the Sea Lion comedy show.  The break and the show cheered Eric right up.  

January-March Update

We had some great snow storms this year.  The boys had a great time playing "King of the Hill" and playing in the snow.

This is the one picture I have from New Years Eve.  Don't we look like we're having such a great time?  ha ha.  We went to Idaho and stayed at my parents.  New Years Eve was spent at my sister's house playing games and eating.  

For President's Day we went to the LDS Church History Museum.  The boys complained all the way there about having to do something "educational" on their day off of school.  But once there, they enjoyed at least some of it. :)  Her Tanner is blowing his imaginary horn in from on the Angel Moroni statue.

Andrew and several members of his troop received Arrow of Light awards for Cub Scouts.  He also did the Science Fair for the first time.  He and his friend did a great job!

Eric loves basketball.  He had his first season of "super league" and their team did great -- winning 2nd place in the tournament.  He loves playing, reading about, and quizzing Dad on basketball facts.  

Andrew turned 11 in February.  He chose to go to "Pizza Pie Cafe" with a couple of friends.  They had a good time eating, talking, and eating some more.

Mint Brownies for dessert! 

It is getting harder to find presents for Andrew.  I am glad he likes clothes -- particularly brand name sports clothes.  :)  (He is more of a Nike fan, so I was glad he still liked this Adidas shirt!)

His friend got him these fun blow-up bubble things to play in.  They had a good time.

Tanner has been making some fun hats/masks at Preschool.  It's fun to pick him up and see all these kids with their hats.  The Leprechaun was fun because he pretended to be a leprechaun by hiding in the bushes and waiting quietly for the boys to get home from school.  Then he jumped out to scare them.  It was pretty cute.

We were home for Easter this year.  I spent very little time shopping and preparing for the holiday and was worried the kids would be disappointed in their sparse baskets.  But they were grateful and happy.  Phew.  My boys don't care about clothes, so rather than new Sunday outfits, I get them a book each year.  

Sunday morning before church we dyed eggs and had a quick Easter Egg hunt in the backyard.  That evening we went to dinner at my sister's house.

Wonky and Improv Quilts

For Spring Break this year we went to San Diego.  I took a couple of quilts to bind and decided I'd take the pictures there.  Palm trees are not something we see around here, so it's an easy reminder of where I was when I finished these quilts.  

This first one is a wall hanging -- wonky quarter log cabins in red, white, and blue.  I wanted something to hang for the summer season.  I used the "Half Way Home" pattern -- free on the Robert Kauffman site.  I really love the original made of chambrays and denims.

I quickly quilted it before we left for San Diego.  I kind of wished I had done it a little more densely.  Someone commented once you can add quilting after binding....I may have to try it.  I chose "waves" for the quilting -- reminiscent of a waving flag.

Next is a quilt that I made for my niece.  She lives across the country, and I would like to give it in person.  So it may be a while.  I hope she isn't reading this....I don't think she is.  :)  Anyway, it is a pattern from the book Improvising Tradition.  I really like this book because it is full of modern quilts using improvisation -- but they are structured enough that I can imagine and plan for the end result.  Anyway, my niece is very stylish and young and I hope she will like it!

The back:

A close up of the quilting -- which I did myself.  Another large-ish quilt with my own FMQ.  Not perfect, but not bad.  :)

Finish Along Goals Q2

It's time to post my new goals for the quarter.  I am sure I won't be able to finish all of these, but I'm not sure which I'll do first....and the first may be all I finish!  :)

1.  Last year I did my first "mystery quilt."  This is where you are given portions of the instructions to construct the quilt without seeing the quilt first.  It was fun to try and the moderator did a great job.  It kept me on task and it was fun to see how it evolved.  But I don't love it.  I may have liked it more if the background color was darker -- maybe navy or dark gray instead of white.  Also, I think I'm a fan of smaller blocks.  I think Big Block quilts are kind of hip, but I just don't love them.  Anyway, it will be a good big quilt to practice from FMQ.

2.  This is another Quilt Along I did 2 or 3 years ago -- the Vintage Quilt Revival Block Along.  I have sewn the top together, but am questioning the layout.  I may unpick and change it up.  Or, I may just quilt it as is.

3.  Another dissatisfying flimsy -- this is one I made for my dad, and then didn't like it at all.  I have considered cutting it up and trying to do something different with it.  It will be an experiment.  :) 

4.  This was on my list of goals last year.  It's a nice top, but I've struggled to know how to quilt it.  There is a lot of negative space surrounding these blocks.  If I were a really good quilter, I could do something great with it.  As is, I might just have to do lines....boring lines.  (I like the look, but find it boring to do.)

5.  This is a cute paper pieced project by Fresh Lemon Quilts.  I have one more "spool" to do.  I will be hanging this in my sewing room.  Love it.

6.  Snowflake Quilt Along.  I seem to have a few quilt alongs here!  This is another one I started and would like to finish this year.  I know I took a picture of it on my design wall, but can't find it now.

7.  My Blue Tile quilt.  I am working on it now and really liking it.  

I am linking up to the Finish Along Linky Party.

Table Runner and More

A couple of years ago I made a pillow using reverse applique.  I used some inexpensive, not very cute fabric.  So last month when I saw all my little scraps from the Priory Square Quilt, I decided to remake the pillow -- I used the felt background shape, picked out the red fabric, and replaced it with this fabric slab that I made.  

The pillow inspired me to then make some hot pads with some other scraps.  My intention was to give these to a neighbor, but then I felt too shy, so they're still sitting in my basement.  :)

I love the color green, and recently finished a blue and green quilt top.  So with some of those scraps I made this table runner.     

I practiced (slowly) quilting some loops on this table runner.  I worked on keeping the stitches even and the curves smooth.

I backed the runner with an orange fabric -- I thought maybe if the green check seems to St. Patrick's Day-ish, I can flip it over.

Cross Quilt - Q1 Finish

We have a niece that is getting married next month.  I really like plus quilts, so I decided I'd better make this for my niece, the nurse.  :)

It actually started out as a different plus quilt -- a purchased quilt from Craftsy.  I got it for a really great deal -- I think it was called Plus Sign.  There was plenty of extra fabric so I scored on this kit! But as I started putting the blocks together, I decided I didn't like the large blocks.  So I found this pattern by April Rosenthal at the Moda Bakeshop.  I cut the large crosses up and recreated them into smaller plus signs.  It was a bit of a puzzle figuring out how to get small pluses out of large pluses, and maintaining as many seams as I could.  :)

I quilted this myself.  I wish it looked better.  Very uneven stitches and jagged wavey lines.  It's somewhat masked by the pattern on the front, but is very obvious on the portion of the backing that is solid purple.  Argh!

So, lessons learned:

1.  I won't be using solid backing until I'm a better quilter!

2.  The quilting actually went really quickly, which is one reason it doesn't look better.  I need to slow my hands down and stop rushing it.  

3.  I am so glad that when I didn't like the quilt initially, I didn't keep going with that pattern. Sometimes after putting good time into a quilt, it can be tempting to just keep going.  Glad I stopped when I did.

I am linking up to My Quilt Infatuation's Needle and Thread Thursday.

I am linking up to the 2016 Finish-A-Long Party.

You can see my list of goals for 2016 - Quarter 1 here.