Blog Face Lift

I've decided my blog really needs a face lift so to speak, a makeover if you will. Please excuse the in-progress mess!

Batting Scrap Challenge - Project 2

A few weeks ago I started a challenge project to use batting scraps as inspiration for a project or two. I thought it would be creatively inspiring to think outside of the box and turn trash into treasure. So far no one has decided to join my challenge that I am aware of. If I am wrong let me know! Leave a comment on any batting scrap challenge post and let me know what you're up to.

I mentioned in the original post that there would be perks involved for those who decide to participate. I've decided to give away at least one of my batting scrap challenge projects to a lucky winner. To win, you must join in the challenge fun! Each project you complete with batting scraps will earn you a chance at winning one of mine. Go to the Batting Scrap Challenge page and leave a comment saying you're going to join in the fun and follow the challenge instructions.

My first project was a nifty book cover perfect for mass market paperback books:

Tonight I made another book cover from scraps of fabric and batting. The fabrics on the front of the cover are leftovers from Matt's I Do quilt and the batting and solid fabric on the inside of the cover are from one of the wedding attendant quilts (ignore the lint lol):

I also made a new pin cushion from Amy Butler Love selvages leftover from my Love Pinwheels quilt:

I was trying to make something with piping like this pincushion:

By Cindy at aroundtheblockdesigns.blogspot.com

But....I had to cut the piping off....it was bad. I had a lot of fun working with selvages though! I find it fascinating that something I've always thought should be thrown away can look so cool.

The pincushion and second book cover will also be up for grabs for a lucky winner of the Batting Scrap Challenge so get started on your own projects for your chance to win. Every project you share will be a chance to win any of my projects!

Happy Quilting!

Onesies for Baby Benjamin

I have the hardest time coming up with cute ideas for boys but my sister has two little boys (Coleman and Benjamin) so I thought I would try. I haven't made much for them yet like I have for baby Gracyn. I found these onesies at Walmart for $1.50 and thought they would be the perfect canvas for some baby boy themed appliques for Benjamin who is 10 months old.

Shirt 1: Wool Lobster Applique

My sister actually requested this one. I went with a more cutesy design rather than realistic. The red is a piece of wool blend fabric and I ran a satin stitch all the way around the edges.

Shirt 2: Batting Scrap Star Applique

This one is probably my least favorite. I couldn't figure out what I wanted to put on this one. I couldn't get past the little stars on the onesie! So I just did a shooting star design but to me it looks girly. The dark blue star is actually a bit of batting/backing scrap from one of the wedding attendant quilts! I did a satin stitch around the star (intentional) and the lighter blue pieces (unintentional because I forgot to change my thread). I think the satin stitch around the lighter blue pieces looks heavy but it was late and I wasn't thinking clearly...I would take it out but I think taking it out will probably make holes in the knit fabric and will look weird.

UPDATE: I did take this applique off. It did make holes but I think there's still hope. I am re-working it so that it's not so girly and so that you can't see any holes from the outside or inside. I'll update when I'm done. 

Shirt 3: Zoo Buddies Applique

I have no idea what print this is (if you know please feel free to leave it in the comment section) but I thought the little animals were cute. I got a scrap of this in a scrap pack I ordered on Etsy awhile back. I just cut around them so some of the brown background of the fabric would outline the colorful circles and ran a blanket stitch all the way around both. The monkey is appliqued on with red and the rhino is appliqued on with green.

Shirt 4: Elephant Applique

I free handed all of these and it is most apparent with this elephant. I think it looks pretty good all in all. I ran a straight stitch in a light blue thread all of the way around. It needs a little something though so I think I am going to ask a friend if she can embroider "Ee" in the middle of the elephant.

So there you go, my first attempt at machine applique for a little boy. What is your favorite boy sewing project?

Project Modern

I just found out from Alissa at Handmade by Alissa that the Modern Quilt Guild is launching a modern quilting challenge!  Project Modern!

According to Alissa there will be some truly great judges and prizes are involved.   Even a Janome Horizon 7700!!  Check it out Project Modern on the Modern Quilt Guild website!

Happy Quilting!

I Heart Kona Solids

The other day I went to my local quilt shop and asked if they carried solids to which they responded "uh no" in a judging way that made me feel like I had just broken some quilting law or committed a major quilting faux pas. Well, as it turned out, they did have some solids in neutral tones of white, snow, cream, bone, toffee, brown, black, etc. I picked up some Kona Solid white because I was planning to use it for my Love Pinwheel quilt and didn't let them convince me I needed a tone-on tone instead. I love solids! In fact, one of the first quilts that caught my eye when I first started looking around was this quilt:

picture from dioramarama.com. more pictures on this flickr page

I love the mixture of colors and simple, yet (in my opinion) stunning design. In my opinion solids are far from boring! I am a big fan of Cherry House Quilts and just love the new book, City Quilts. I still haven't picked it up because I thought I might be getting it as a gift for my birthday but didn't so I will be picking it up soon! This one from the City Quilts book is called City lights:

on the Cherry House Quilts blog

It really reminds me of a sky scrapper! I really love this quilt called The Tempest. I remember her first post about this quilt where she described how she was trying to get a good shot of it down by the water but in the process of backing up on the dock to get the photo just right, she fell into the water! That definitely sounds like something I would do. Don't worry, she was ok and so was the quilt. Purple is probably my favorite color (it's really hard for me to pick just one color) and this quilt sings to me.

on the Cherry House Quilts blog

Even though solids are frowned upon by more traditional quilters (and apparently my local quilt shop), they are very popular among modern quilters alone or in combination with modern prints. For example:

from apartmenttherapy.com

from amyscreativeside.com

from filminthefridge.com

from handmadebyalissa.com

from ohfransson.com

I used Kona Solids for the backs and bindings for all but one of the wedding attendant quilts and I used them in the I Do quilt I am working on for Matt. I also used some solid orange (leftover from Matt's I Do quilt) for some of the blocks I made for Rainbow Around the Block. Kona Solids come in a huge variety of colors (221 colors right now!), are nice quality,  extremely versatile, and reasonably priced.  I used a birthday gift certificate from my Dad and step-mom Laurie to pick up a few of the new-ish Kona Solid fat quarter bundles from the Fat Quarter Shop (discount code from RetailMeNot.com) in pink, purple, and green:

Aren't they cute?! I am planning on using the pink in my girly guest bedroom, the purple in my more masculine guest bedroom, and the green in the master bedroom. I also picked up some Kona solid charms and a jelly roll at the Missouri Star Quilt Company when I won their YouTube.com gift certificate giveaway.

In addition to the fat quarter bundles and pre-cuts, I also recently bought a Kona color card. I had such a hard time finding one in stock somewhere but finally managed to snag the last one from Purl Soho.

This card is perfect for me because I do most of my fabric shopping online. Now I will be able to buy matching solid coordinates for my quilts without having to worry so much about the color on the screen being different in person (that happened with the I Do quilt for Matt). I literally scoured the internet trying to find this card. They are not in stock anywhere at the moment but in addition to PurlSoho.com where I bought mine,  I also saw them on Etsy.com, Hancocks-Paducah.com and PinkChalkFabrics.com. All of these places said they have the cards on order and they will be shipping soon. In my opinion this is a must have tool for anyone who wants to incorporate solids into their stash.

Check out Kona solids at your local JoAnn's or call your local quilt shop to see if they carry any. I think you'll agree after you use them that they are a really nice option to have in your stash. I will let you know how well it works to have the color card around once I've had a chance to use it more. I think it's going to be a really awesome tool!

Happy Quilting!