Monday, July 30, 2012

BOM Rehab . . . .

It's BOM Rehab Monday, thanks again to Sinta, the BOM hostess with the mostest.

I'm still managing to get one Northern Lights block done a week, I think this is my third straight week!


3 focus blocks done, 4 more to go!

Here's this block nesting in the middle of the setting blocks.


A couple of folks have asked me if I miss working with color, but since I'm only making one block a week, so far, the absence of color has not bothered me.  Maybe that's the secret, I can go one day without color in my sewing room.

Remember when French General by Moda was first out, and how I went on and on about the great selvages?  I've got bags full of French General selvages.  But as of late, those beautiful selvages have been annoying me.  I do this at least once on every block.


I'm using Marti Michell templates to make these blocks, hey it looked just fine on the front layer of fabric!

For more information on my Northern Lights project select Northern Lights from my Categories list on the right.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Hubba Hubba I'm Lov'n my Hubbel!

I was worried about meeting my end of month deadline for my Schnibbles project, but I got lucky!  Not only did I pick a fun pattern, I picked an easy one!

Know what you get when you make 4 of these?


This!


How are you liking these colors?  I'm using Terrain by Kate Spain for Moda.

A little different for me but fun happy colors that I'm enjoying immensely. 

I wanted to make sure that I didn't have any like fabrics touching on my star points so I laid the blocks out like this.



Then I labeled them.  See those little white triangles on those blocks, that's a number that corresponds to a number on the center that is already pieced.


I think I'm going to make the parade!

Just in case you missed an earlier post, the pattern is Hubble by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. You can buy it here.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Spool- Along Sew-Along . . .

We've got another finish!

Isn't this another lovely version of Spools!


This quilt was made by Cindy in North Carolina.  She doesn't have a blog but sent the cutest note about making this quilt and I thought I would share it with you.  Her enthusiasm is contagious, if you've not started on  your Spools I think Cindy will get your motor going!

From Cindy -


"I'm so excited to show you the picture of my completed Spools quilt.  I am an on-again-off-again quilter who mostly makes scrappy tops/quilts for charities such as Quilts of Valor and Newborns in Need.  I'm fortunate to have a job that gives me the summer off, and I decided that this summer I would make a quilt just for myself.

I didn't have a particular pattern in mind, but was intrigued when I first saw Camille's Spool design.  I thought it would look cute as a scrappy quilt, especially in 30's fabrics, but none of the fabric combinations I envisioned inspired me.  When the PDF pattern was put on sale I went ahead and ordered it -- the first time I've purchased a pattern this way (so fast and easy -- and it saves the cost of shipping) and the first Thimble Blossoms pattern I've bought.  That was on July 11.

I was doing some on-line "window shopping" when I saw the Pam Kitty Morning yellow and green 15 FQ set at Shabby Fabrics.  I loved this line when it first came out, but it wasn't until I envisioned it made into a Spools quilt that I fell head-over-heels-gotta-have-it-now in love.  I knew it would be perfect for my yellow sewing room, which I call  "The Tree Fort"  because it is in my walk-up attic and is the play space I always wanted, but never had, as a child.  Shabby Fabrics also had a Robert Kaufman fabric called Regency Square that seemed destined to be the spool tops.  I ordered the fabric even though -- brace yourself -- it wasn't on sale.  I believe this is the first time in my life I've purchased fabric that wasn't discounted in one way or another.  Since it happened to be my birthday (July 16), I completely lost control and also ordered the adorable Betsy's Closet in Stitches kit.  That would make a fun stitch/quilt along.

The fabric arrived on the 20th, and (another first) I immediately washed, dried, and cut it.  I usually pet and fondle fabric for quite a while before I cut it, but this time I dove right in.  I did cut out the Kona Snow I had on hand for the sashing first, but otherwise that pretty stack of PKM  didn't have time to get used to its new home before it was sliced and diced.  I made one complete block that night, and by July 24 the entire quilt was done.  The pattern was very well written and easy to understand.

My wonderful long arm quilter, Margaret, used to live just a few miles from me.  She has moved to the beach, but once a month she returns to town and sets up shop at the local LQS where customers can drop off or pick up quilts.  She will be here on August 1, and I have an appointment to leave the Spools quilt with her.

I don't have a bog, but I appreciate the opportunity you've provided to participate in this "Spool-Along."

Cindy, thank you for participating, I'm so happy you could join us!

Since Cindy doesn't have a blog I sure hope you'll leave some comments on this post for her, thanks so much!


All in a day's work . . . .

So I set a goal of making all the required Hubble/Hubbel half square triangles in one day.


The pattern calls for making the units big and squaring them up, my preferred method!

Here they are, all 112 of them!



I got them all done in no time flat, an easy and fun day in my sewing room.

Just in case you've forgotten, I'm making Hubble/Hubbel for my July Schnibbles Sew Along project.


This pattern uses charms squares to make this 70" x 70"star, amazing!  Don't have the pattern yet, it's available here.


Speaking of Sew Alongs, Annette at Sunshine Yellow finished her Spools flimsy in a day!  




I just love her red and yellow fabric combination.  Read all about it here.


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

It's July 25th!!

Good gravy where has July gone!

So I've decided on the fabric for my spools toppers and bottoms. I'm going pink and green!  Most folks are using grays and I've seen a couple of taupe versions.  


The spools I literally use are orange but that didn't appeal to me. I thought white toppers and bottoms would look nice against a red background, but was stumped on what fabric would then pop for the threads. I also contemplated going with red toppers and bottoms but the pink and green matches my sewing room so that's what I'm going with.  Whew, I sure made that hard!

  So I made my two inspiration blocks and called it quits, for now!

I need to get my July Schnibbles of the month done!  And this month is quilters choice, I couldn't pass up this month.

Do you remember that bundle of Kate Spain Terrain fabric that I said I was going to enjoy looking at on my sewing room shelf all summer? 

Well it's now officially off the shelf and on my sewing table.


I've decided to make Hubble, can you believe this stack of fabric is going to make that 70" x 70" inch star?  Me either!  But I'm thinking it will be fun to give it a try.  Lots and lots of half square triangles in my future, one of my favorite blocks!

BTW, Carrie named this pattern after the famed astrologer Edwin Hubble.  But I always think of Robert Redford from the movie "The Way We Were" when I hear Hubble, but he spelled his name Hubbel.  Since Robert Redford is a big star, and dreamy,  I'm naming my project Hubbel!