Quilt Sandwich and beyond

I adore the administrative assistants in my office.  They make the office world go round.  I unfortunately had to miss their lunch as I had to glue fabric together. Great excuse I realize - sigh.

I kicked it into high gear with a deadline looming. I only a few hours with my wonderful fella last Wednesday we spray based my auction quilt together.  This is seriously so much better with two people and I have to say that I LOVE 505 spray glue.

Yet, I think I glued some nose hairs together.

 (NOTE TO SELF - get a mask for the next quilt sandwich project)

I tweeted a question to those listening at the moment about what thread people use for machine quilting.  I heard Aurifil, King Tut and some others from @caraquilts and @CraftyMamaD.

I have previously admitted to being a thread snob since switching to Aurifil for all of my piecing projects.  I mean seriously after a HUGE bobbin and cleaning out 10% of the lint accumulation I previously had - who wouldn't be a convert! Sadly I didn't have the color selection in my Aurifil collection so another thread was needed. I also have a limited selection to choose from in my local town and my LQS.

So, with my tweeps recommendations in hand I went to the LQS and walked out with a spool of Ebony King Tut and a marbled Sulky. Promptly put the King Tut in the bobbin and the Sulky on the top and viola machine quilting commenced! Seriously these are both awesome threads. 

Thanks ladies!  This community makes these projects so so much better!

Finished Baby Quilt

It's been a productive weekend. I've finished the baby quilt. It's officially for a girl. I'm not convinced it will be girl-ish enough.

While making the quilt sandwich the new cat, George O'Malley, was eager to assist. It makes it feel so much more homemade.

 Getting him away has been a challenge. .

He's settling into the house so much I can't even take a photo of the finished project.  

First Quilt - ever

This is my first quilt. I started this in July after my father passed away from lung cancer early in the month.

In attempt to keep my mind busy I'm trying to find a new hobby. Since knitting and crocheting is actually harming my arms something new is needed. My crafting mantra, fabric has became my new love.

I went into my semi-local fabric store Stash to see the lovely fabric. I knew that this was more than my grandmama's and mother's fabric store. I adore the "new" ways quilts can look because of the yummy fabrics that are coming about.

And it started with one charm pack. I promise only one. And purchased one charm pack in July. I got the pre-cut Moda Arcadia prints home and paired with with this lovely gray solid. Things were going great until I realized that one charm pack wasn't gonna be enough for a lap quilt, at least the way that I had it sewn. Le'sigh.

I went back and got a second Moda Arcadia charm pack and another charm pack for my 10-year-old step daughter. Okay, and maybe a jelly roll of the Moda Arcadia for a second quilt (la la la la - no one heard that).

Sewing the top of this quilt was super easy because I've known to sew since I was a child. Executing an entire quilt was something else. There is more to it, all of which I learned on the fly.  

I never knew about the quilt sandwich. I first pinned the entire "sandwich" and started machine quilting. I called my mother almost in tears, there were puckers in the machine quilting. This was going to be impossible. She guided me with her motherly wisdom to use spray glue. Yeah, that totally worked better!

I got all of the machine quilting done and then the next hurdle was before me ... what next? 










Blindly into binding the quilt with the assistance of Red Pepper Quilts Binding Tutorial

I've been so happy with my lap quilt. No turning back - this obsession is real. So I have other quilts started, I think there are about five in the works, but don't tell my fella that.
 
This is my entry into the Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2010 . Please go see the other lovely quilts here.

http://amyscreativeside.com/2010/10/29/bloggers-quilt-festival-fall-2010/