Parade Day!

I think when Lisa, Nicole and I came up with our idea for a Quick Curve Ruler Sew-Along, we promised a parade at the end of the summer.  I think September 1st constitutes the end of summer, so hurray, it's parade day!

First up is Dawn's Dancing Churndash pattern, which she has named Good Day Sunshine.

I think Dawn was the last one to start the sew-along but the first one to have a totally finished quilt.  Click here to read and see more.  Great Job Dawn!  I love the pattern and your choice of fabrics.  I've added this one to my To Do List.

Here's another finished top, this Metro Rings was made by Ramona.

Ramona is leaving the borders wide to try her hand at scalloped borders.  This is another beautifully pieced top made with some of my favorite colors.  Great Job Ramona!!

Here is Mickey's top, Metro Lattice

Mickey enjoyed working on Metro Lattice so much she plans to make Metro Rings next.

Here's a little sample of how Mickey plans to quilt her Metro Lattice, good luck Mickey, your quilting is fabulous and perfect for this quilt.  Great Job Mickey!!

Kristen also made a Metro Lattice.

Kristen has yet to blog about how she got along quilting this top, but be sure to check her blog, Meadowbrook, for updates, I will.  Great Job Kristen!

Vicky has all her Metro Scope blocks pieced, they just need to be connected.

Vicky, finish this up, there's a bed in LA just waiting for this quilt!  Click here to read about Vicky's experiences while piecing this top.  Great Job Vicky!

Here is Diana's Metro Rings, that she name Disappearing Rings. 

Diana is also playing around with a smaller Metro Rings block for a baby quilt that she's named Teething Rings!  HAHAHA good one.  Click here to read all about it!  Great Job Diana!

And here's one more Metro Rings quilt, queen size!

Susan made this quilt as a blessing quilt for her son and his bride to be.  Friends and family will write words of blessing for their marriage in the background fabric! Great Job Susan!  But I think this quilt will get even better!

And here's what I made for the sew along!

One Metro Scope block.

This block was easy to piece and came together perfectly.  I think this is a good first block if you're still undecided which pattern you want to try. I hope to make this block into a pillow.

And my Metro Hold the Lattice, using Persimmon by BasicGrey.

I need to get this quilt top to a quilter,  it will look great in my sunroom this fall, wait, it's September 1st, it IS fall.

And finally, remember this?  This was the project I made from Jenny's misfit blocks.  I named my project Round About.

Jenny has created a free tutorial on piecing this block on her blog here.  And she's named it Cupcake! Thanks Jenny, love the block, love the name!!

Thanks to all who took time out of their busy summer to sew along with us.  I had fun, I hope you did!  Nicole has some parade pictures too, be sure to check them out as well.

And if you would like to see even more amazing Sew Kind of Wonderful QCR quilts, check out Jenny's linky party here.







If I missed your finished project send an email and I'll add it! Thanks!

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Stalking my favorite designers at market . .

So the first thing I did when I got my market directory was to locate the booths of some of my favorite quilting folks.  After thoroughly checking out the Miss Rosie Quilt Co booth I went on the hunt for the Sew Kind of Wonderful booth.

Sew Kind of Wonderful is run by sisters Jenny Pedigo and Helen Robinson.  They developed the Quick Curve Ruler and have over 25 pattern designs that use their ruler.

I become acquainted with Jenny a few years ago when she quilted my Belle Meade top.  It's one of my favorite quilts that is out year round, either on a quilt rack, the middle of my bed, or on a red couch. 

I follow the Sew Kind of Wonderful blog and even got to block test a couple of blocks for their BOM, I was eager to see first hand the wonderful new projects that I had seen online.  I was not disappointed.

This was another booth that was filled to capacity with wonderful inspiration.  As is the case with most quilts, they looked so much better in person, which I found impressive since they look very attractive online.

This block is from the Deco Shimmer pattern, one block finishes at 22 inches.  I love the quilt but think this pillow would look great in my living room too.

Besides all the single patterns available (click here) for the ruler, Jenny and Helen also have a book out, Contemporary Curved Quilts.

Here's a picture of the Fun Poinsettia table runner that is a free tutorial here.  These blocks are 20 inches square.  As pretty as it looks on their blog it looks so much prettier in person.  Additionally, I don't have good feel for sizes when they are listed online, but a 20 inch block is a good size block, I really liked seeing all the big blocks.

Here's another big block that caught my eye.

Jenny was kind enough to give me a Quick Curve Ruler as a giveaway.

And I'm adding one of these patterns, your choice, Deco Shimmer, Metro Hoops, Metro Scope, Urban Nine Patch, or Metro Rings.

The last time I blogged about the Quick Curve Ruler I received several comments from folks afraid to  give it a try.  I'm a big fan of specialty rulers and templates, they usually make my projects go faster and always make my blocks more accurate.  That's why I use them.  The Quick Curve Ruler does make accurate blocks, but what I really like about it is its versatility, it makes all sorts of blocks, unusual blocks that you can't make with any other ruler.  You have several options when it comes to flying geese rulers, pineapple rulers, hst rulers, but this is the only ruler that I'm aware of that will give you these great curved blocks.

Additionally, the pattern directions are very clear, you will have no difficulty understanding how to use the Quick Curve Ruler.  Here's a diagram from one of their patterns that shows you exactly where and how to cut your fabric.  Believe me when I tell you that you will not struggle with this ruler!

This is another freebie on the Sew Kind of Wonderful site, its called Spring Fling, click here.  It's on my To Do list too.   Each petal block is 22 inches.

So to be eligible to win the Quick Curve Ruler donated by Jenny and one of the five patterns that I bought at market, your choice, please leave a comment telling me what your big summer plans are. Last summer I went to Paris, this summer I'm taking it easy and staying home, I'll have to live vicariously through you and your summer adventures.  You have through today, May 23rd,  to leave a comment.  If the USPS will deliver to your address you can be a winner.

There are even more market pictures and giveaways to come, please stop back by.

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Some Sew Kind of Wonderful

At the beginning of the year, when I blogged about my goals for 2014, one of the projects that I wanted to accomplish was to learn how to use the Quick Curve Ruler by Jenny Pedigo at Sew Kind of Wonderful.  I follow Jenny's blog from my Favorites List, I'm guessing many of you do too, I fall in love with every new pattern she creates.

I first met Jenny when she did some quilting for me.  Jenny did an amazing job of quilting my Belle Meade quilt.  (Lifetime Quilt Number 66)

I have this quilt out at my house a lot, it's a nice year round sort of quilt.

A few weeks ago Jenny offered some rejects up for adoption and I was the lucky winner.

Jenny made these blocks using her Quick Curve ruler out of the fabric line Treasures and Tidbits by Piece O'Cake Designs.  I have a plan for them but am waiting for some additional fabric before I can start.

And then I got the opportunity that finally made me get out my Quick Curve Ruler and make some blocks.

Jenny is designing a curve it up sampler quilt and was looking for some blocks testers, I jumped at the chance.  I wasn't sure how good of a block tester I would be, not only would I be testing the directions for the pattern, I would be using the ruler for the first time too.

This is my first attempt at a block and it turned out perfectly.  I do have some experience sewing curved pieces, about 5 years and 100 quilts ago I made a couple of Crazy Curve quilts.

One of my favorite things about this ruler is that the pieces are squared up, creating perfect blocks, even if your sewing isn't so perfect.

My second block was a little harder, but the directions were perfect and it came together just as it should.

These are my two tester blocks.  I used Kate Spain's Daydream fabric by Moda.   I plan to make all the blocks when the pattern is available, which should be around the first of May, be on the look out for it!

I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of aspects of the Quick Curve Ruler.  First off, it makes all sorts of curved designs and sizes.  For some reason I thought it just made one block, but I was wrong.  I was also pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use.  The directions I followed had wonderful directions and illustrations,   I had no trouble at all, as a matter of fact, I thought it was fun.  Finally, the blocks I made were made large and squared up, I'm not sure if all the patterns and blocks are this way, but it sure helps create a perfect block when the pieces are perfect when you start.

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