Toe Attack via Fig Tree Fresh Cottons

Toe Attack
Originally uploaded by Frecklemama

I am making the Cherry Delight quilt by Fig Tree Quilts using her Fresh Cottons line. I am a Fig Tree Fan to almost groupie proportions! Something about Joanna Figueroa's colors and style really connects with me.

I made a twin sized quilt using her Whimsy fabric earlier this summer as a graduation gift for our favorite babysitter. I'll share that soon. For some reasons the pictures I took aren't that great.

Anyway, while pressing the quilt top, I leave it hanging from my pressing table. When I step up to pin on the next row, my feet are often attacked by the Fresh Cottons Monster.

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Glace' Quilt Top

Glace' Quilt Top
Originally uploaded by Frecklemama

I can't remember if I've posted pictures of this quilt top yet or not. This is a simple squares pattern using Three Sisters' Glace' Fabric. This fabric is delicious! It feels so good and has been a pleasure to work with.

This quilt top is awaiting basting, quilting and binding. Story of my life, right?

Chris

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Laptop sleeve

Laptop sleeve
Originally uploaded by Frecklemama

Beware! Now that I've discovered how to blog directly from Flickr, you're in for a treat :-) No more fussy moving the photos around in Blogger.

Ok, here is a photo of a Laptop Sleeve I made this summer using OhFransson's tutorial by Elizabeth Hartman.

I used a couple of random fat quarters, velcro, fusible fleece. Easy peasy!

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Verna Quilt Basting

Verna Quilt Basting
Originally uploaded by Frecklemama

Here is an update on my beloved Verna quilt. This is a picture of the basting (which is my most dreaded step in the quilt-making process!). The quilt is quilted and I am now stitching the binding to the back. I do my binding stitching in front of the TV in the family room, so even though it's not quite finished, we're already using it as our sofa quilt LOL!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this quilt and have already received a ton of compliments on it.

Chris

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Khaki Quilt, Flag Quilt, Verna Quilt - Updates!

I have lots of quilting goodies to catch up on. I've been lazy about taking pics, and really who wants to read a blog post with no pics?

First of all, I'm almost done with the Khaki quilt (can we think of a more boring name please?). Just have to hand-sew binding to the back:


Many quilt bloggers seem to have a problem with cats on their quilts while taking pictures. I've always thought that was kind of funny. Like the cats have nothing else better to do than get in the way of a photo shoot. Well, apparently it's true:


Also, while my machine was in for service, I used a friend's machine to make a simple flag wall hanging. I haven't quilted it yet, but I'll go ahead and share a picture of it. The stars are hand appliqued using an easy technique. Put cheap muslin and your feature fabric right sides together. Sew them together in your shape (ie, complete star), cut it out leaving a small seam allowance. Cut slit into the muslin (CAREFUL not to cut your feature fabric!). Turn inside out and press. Now you can applique the shape on without fiddling with that pesky turn-under seam allowance.


Here is a close-up of one star:


Next I have been working on a Verna quilt. For those of you who haven't heard me shout it from the rooftops yet, "I LOVE KATE SPAIN'S VERNA FABRIC!!!!" So I went to her blog to tell her that. Just my luck, I encountered yet another blog giveaway that I was not going to win. I entered it anyway, because, c'mon, it's KATE SPAIN's VERNA! And... I WON! I received the Layer Cake and knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. I wanted to showcase the fabrics with a simple patch quilt design but then add a new technique to it by trying prairie points for the first time. I had been inspired by this Moda Bake Shop quilt.

So far I have sewn together the layer cake squares:


And pressed some of the points:


And as if that isn't enough, I have also cut the fabric for a quilt I'm making for our beloved babysitter. She is graduating from high school on Saturday! Obviously it won't be done in time, so thank goodness she lives across the street :-) I will post pics of that when I make more progress on it.

Whew! So, you see there? I have been quilting and fabric-loving since you heard from me last. I've just been lazy about posting it. To be honest, I enjoy reading everyone else's blogs more than updating my own!

If you're a quilter and/or fabric-lover like me, hop on over to Sew,Mama,Sew to check out their huge Giveaway Day.

Have a great week everyone!

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Trucker Quilters in Wall Street Journal

For all of you quilt lovers out there, check out this great Wall Street Journal article featuring truck drivers who quilt in their spare time. It's a great testament to the soothing, creative head-spinning nature of our hobby!

Link:
http://tinyurl.com/yd5z9be

Thanks to my dad for sending it to me this morning.

FYI, my machine is still in for service. It's actually ready but I haven't made the 30 minute trip to pick it up yet. Hopefully tomorrow.

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Sick machine.

I have a Viking Sapphire 870 sewing machine. I've had it for a year and it's time for a service. Not to mention that it's breaking needles and skipping stitches while I'm trying to free-motion quilt. Frustrating! So being without my sewing machine is a complete drag. I feel like I'm in time-out.

For those of you who also have a Sapphire machine, check out the Yahoo Group for Sapphire users. I've gotten wonderful advice and ideas from that group!

Just to keep you entertained on this fair Tuesday, here is a pic:


This is my mom with her grandkids. It was taken last summer at the beach and is one of my favorite pictures. I wanted to add it to the blog to give it a permanent home.

Also, in case you haven't heard me brag about my sister enough, her NEW BOOK The Dead-Tossed Waves hits the bookstores today!!!

Carrie's first book hit the NY Times bestseller list (March 14th edition) and we are SO PROUD of her!!!

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