Penny Candy pattern

It was one of my goals, and hooray -- the pattern is ready!

It's available for instant download here...

It's a happy and fun little quilt to piece.  The pieces go together like a little puzzle, and many of the sections are easy to strip or chain piece.  I need to get some new pictures of it, but here it was before I added borders.  (I used Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille for moda fabrics, with Bella Porcelain and Scarlet).

I have a baby size almost done too using some of these fabrics: (also chose these as a nod to the inspiration)

The pattern is jelly roll or layer cake friendly, and includes full color diagrams and illustrations (some of them made by the fabulous Ali at asquaredw), with directions for the full size or baby size.  Fabric requirements are on the back cover... OK, here's a picture of the back cover.  

You can see the pattern done up in Marmalade by Bonnie & Camille as well as AppleJack by Tim & Beck (both for moda fabrics) there at the top of the back cover (that is the baby size).

If you want to try to win a copy, leave a comment about your favorite kind of candy... wait... that's a bad idea if I'm trying to not eat sugar... leave a comment about a favorite summertime bit of sentiment or nostalgia! :)

I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to brave quilting this myself, or send it somewhere... maybe you could give me advice too.  Either way -- I am excited to show you pictures of it all done!  This one will be going in to Scarlet's hope chest I'm sure. :)

well phooey...

The UPS man had this for me today...

But sadly the laundry and dishes fairy didn't visit our house this weekend, so it will have to just sit there looking pretty.

This is the fabric for my next quilt pattern.  I've had the design all worked up in my head (another one I dreamt up while nursing Scarlet in the wee hours of the morning) and on EQ for a while, and I am really excited to see it actualized in fabric.

Speaking of things looking pretty... here is Miss Scarlet in her new hat.

Perfect.

My friend Jen made it... we're doing a little trade; I'm making her daughter a quilt, and she's making my kiddos little hats.  I know how to crochet blankets (or I used to at least), but nothing fancy like this.  I REALLY want to learn to knit... anyone know a good "teach yourself to knit" resource?

♥

And thank you for all the encouragement with the coming very soon French Kisses pattern. :)  It's nearly complete!  I just have the finishing directions to add... oh, and it'd probably be good to get the quilt back from Lindsay (at Eileen Quilts) and take a pretty cover photo.  I'm trying to think of Parisian places I can take it to... I'll have to keep thinking.

Sharon from Lilabelle Lane was so sweet to ask her husband to make me a quilt along button...

It's in the sidebar, but feel free to grab one!



Fabric requirements again:

10 light fat quarters as background (+ one quarter yard for border pieces)
10 medium/dark fat quarters

-- OR --

2 5/8 background yardage (includes border pieces)
and a layer cake or 10 medium/dark fat quarters

2 1/2 yds for the outer border (if you want to miter your corners)
5/8 yd. binding (cut at 2 1/4")
5 yds backing (will be more than enough to create the extra needed to send it to a long-armer if you'd like -- I used some extra fat quarters for my backing + 3 yds I believe)

Little sunkissed diamonds for miss Libby

I would like to thank you for the motivation.  I finished my niece Libby's quilt yesterday!



Fabric: Sunkissed by Moda

Design: me -- inspired by book Jelly Roll Quilts

A few more notes -- strip pieced diamonds made from jelly roll, added mitered frames to the blocks and then sashed in Bella white.  The setting triangles were a pain challenge, but it did all come together finally.

Honestly, I am so much happier with this quilt now than I was.  It didn't feel *perfect* because of the hodge-podgy nature that the setting triangles/sashing were done... but it all worked!  I added the charm squares as a border on the sides, because the quilt was quite tall and skinny without them.

The back:

Whatever I had left from my Sunkissed stash (I used pretty much all of it for this quilt).  The label says: "We love you Libby!  Made with love by Aunt Tracey"  And I think I included a date on there.

Measures: pretty big... far bigger than a quilt for an almost four month old need be...so she'll grow in to it.

But I hope this is her reaction when she sees it. :)

Love you Libby!  Can't wait to meet you this summer!

(P.S. Steiger likes it if you don't -- and we really do need to see you soon, because all this kid tells me all day is that "no baby play with Steiger's trains"... "no baby take my milk"... "no baby take Steiger's quilt."  Could you please show him that these baby creatures aren't so bad after all?) ;)

P.P.S.  I'm working on a boy version of this block that will be in the Bake Shop one of these days!

A birdie in bliss for miss B

Finishes are to be celebrated. :)



Steiger headed up to his grandma's Friday night, and I got to sewing.  Back in October, I bought a pile of the Bliss blenders.

I cut them up, and got a little top done.  I had wanted to try diamonds... so I did.

And then it was just a top gone in to my pile of "to be quilted"

An online friend wanted a custom quilt a while back, but I was swamped (and it wasn't looking any better any time soon).  So I told her about a few tops I had finished that I could quilt up for her.

She liked the Bliss diamonds.

Her daughter's nickname is "Bird," and she asked if I could add a bird to it.

So I did.

She also wanted her nickname on the back -- so I added that too.

I have to tell you about the back -- it is flannel... and oh so so soft (and oh so pink). :)  (Moda's flannel really is amazing though). 

So happy with how it turned out, and can't wait to see pictures of the little Miss opening it for her second birthday party this weekend! :)

Full tutorial coming soon -- I've already got the pictures for it ready. ;)

Linking to "Sew Modern Monday"



and AmyLouWho's Sew and Tell!

little Libby's (almost) quilt top

Steiger let us sleep in Saturday morning (bless you child)... so instead of napping during his nap (like I've been doing lately), I decided to sew.

As you can see in the photo, the sun was setting, so it isn't the greatest lighting, and I still need to trim it up, and (possibly) add some borders, but I was so excited that it was an almost quilt top, I had to share.

I'll have a tutorial for how to make those diamonds soon, but I doubt I'll write up a full pattern for this.  There was a lot of pulling ideas out of my tushy playing it by ear that went in to this quilt.  

I'm kind of stressed about how I'm going to trim it up...

My sister-in-law posted some new pictures of Libby for me... it was just the little push of motivation I needed. :)

It is definitely reminding me of when her big sister Molly was brand new...

(To save from confusion -- that's Molly above, in 2008, and below was Molly at Christmastime... next to the tree skirt I made her mama...some of you have met Molly before, with this quilt...)

a Christmas tradition

Each year, my grandma bakes up the houses, and we decorate. 

Here's my 2010 Gingerbread house.

I was hoping for a Scandanavian/folksy feel; I think I got it. 

My favorite part was the cute little walk... until my darling husband stole some of the pieces from it.

Apparently I have to explain to both my boys that these cookie houses aren't for eating. ;)

Steiger's definitely having a hard time with the concept.

Speaking of Folksy -- looky what came from Moda today. :)

It's the new line, Hideaway, from Lauren and Jessi Jung.

I haven't heard much buzz about it, but I really ♥ it. :)  It's so cute.

___________________

(One post down -- the Go! giveaway closes tonight)

And go see what's going on at Quilt Hope In!

done in time

I put it in the mail for my sister-in-law this morning (apparently, they already have their tree). :P



The design was an amalgamation of Allison's Easy Double Hourglass (but done with jelly roll strips instead of 2 1/4" strips) and my "Fruitcake under my tree" pattern.  And then I added a mitered border (mitering corners on an octagon is not as straight forward as right angles... by the way... but it still worked).



I didn't do the math specifically; I just had to bisect the angle where the setting triangles and blocks met to make the border like this.

The fabric is from the 12 Days of Christmas line, by the lovely Kate Spain.



For the quilting -- I went to a class called "Beyond Stippling," last weekend with Debbie of One Stitch Off. :)  Debbie actually let me borrow her Juki after the class so I could finish it up!  (Thank you again Debbie!)
The quilting was done free motion in a holly leaf pattern, that I was really quite proud of actually.





I ♥ this tree skirt a lot, and didn't want to send it away.



But I did.

I hope you love it Sharon.

(It was freezing out this morning when I took these, so I didn't get the best shots/have the best light -- but it works!)

_____________________

A few closing words:

* I am still working on gathering logistics for some kind of quilt shop where the proceeds go to Haiti's orphans.  (If you'd like to donate some benevolence in the mean time, you can go see what Heather and the gang are up to with Modern Relief.)  I think we'll call it "Quilt in Hope..." Any other suggestions?  (Lee at Freshly Pieced is going to design our logo). :)  Be making/saving your quilts for donating though. :)

* My mom took me shopping on Monday.  I didn't get a Juki.  I got this.  It is probably the closest I will ever come to feeling like I felt when I went wedding dress shopping.  Pictures coming soon.

* Happy Thanksgiving friends.

*If you're in the mood for some Black Friday cyber shopping... Accuquilt is having a sale. :)

Sneak Peek-a-boo

I have a horrible time being patient, and I'm not so great at surprises...

I finished sewing the binding on my next Bake Shop project today, and pulled it out of the wash all fresh and crinkly.

And because it won't post for another couple weeks-ish, I'm giving you a little preview.

With some help from Steiger.

Oh... I'm calling it "I dance in circles."  Good name, no?

The fabric is Fandango by the lovely Kate Spain (who's already showing us her next line).

  

Drool worthy for sure.

Full tutorial coming soon.

I have a thing for baby quilts

What can I say... I'm a sucker for new babies and the quilts that go with them.

Remember this?

It's all washed and crinkly and on its way to its new home now.

Its little owner is still cooking, and Audrey's mama, if you're reading this... I need a picture of that newborn sweetness with her quilt. :)

A few process notes:

You saw me working out a design... Basically, I laid out some HSTs, and my good online friend (she's not a quilter though -- we met in a mommy forum when we were pregnant -- our babes were born a day apart, and she's got another one set to show up in a month-ish) decided she liked the diamonds better.

These were from a "Lily and Will" charm pack; I pulled the pinks, greens, and most of the browns, and added a Moda Bella Snow square.  

After the top was pieced, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something missing from the quilt.  Unfortunately, I didn't have any more charm squares, and I didn't feel right about just adding more of the solid for a border.

This is why I love having a stash.

I had added some "natural" chenille to my cart back when it was on sale a few months ago (fabric.com I believe)... and it made the perfect finish.

The back is a cream flannel from JoAnn's, with Audrey's name appliquéd on... oh, and a little flower from this die.

What I love about this quilt:

• Can you say soft?
• all the texture
• her name looks so cute
• it's so so so soft in every way... perfect for a new baby

What I don't love:

• I forgot to put on a label (oops)
• I worry again that white isn't a great idea for babes (but hey -- it's washable). :)
• That I didn't miter the borders.

This is one really different from my last one, but equally loved.

I can't wait to see little Audrey with this.