Bubble Trail: A Finished Quilt

I'm so excited to reveal my first quilt finish for the new year, "Bubble Trail!"

I don't know exactly how the concept came to me. I'm always in the more modern mindset, and this is the second time I really experimented with a lot of negative space (my first quilt doing this is here).

 
Scrappy binding and backing.

I always loved bubbles and rainbows. I guess it was just a natural connection from there for a baby quilt. I like to make up my own designs, I guess :). I realized I had quite a nice collection of great rainbow fabrics, and I used my Accuquilt Baby GO! to cut the circles - in all different sizes.

I also tried a new technique for applique: spray basting the circles on and then simply quilting over them. No pinning involved. I had already started my quilt planning when I saw this post at from the blue chair. Thank you for the inspiration, Kati!

 

Had a fun photoshoot with my sister :) We didn't expect these pictures to look so cool!

The spray basting worked great, though as I worked on it more, I realized I had to really start staying close to the edge in order to make sure the whole "bubble" wouldn't disintegrate in the wash. And it worked out well. You should try it out! Fast and easy applique - just be careful.

 I LOVE how you can see the texture from the stippling after the wash! It's difficult to see, but I stippled in the colors of the bubbles - so I used not only white thread but purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, and pink.

I also quilted some hearts into it randomly (see in the green?)

I don't want to give this one away. That's how it always is though =/ I fall more and more in love with my quilts every time. Luckily I know it's going to a beautiful little girl (my 4th niece) who will be here SO SOON and will love it! I hope! I just need to put on the label :)

As a quilt top...

 P.S. No updates on my lost Valentine mug rug =/ Maybe it has yet to show up!

Linking up: Sew Modern Monday @ Canoe Ridge Creations, Manic Monday @ SewHappyGeek, Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story, Made by Me @ JAQS Studio, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Tale of the Lost Valentine Mug Rug

I have a sad story to share today - I meant to post last night but student teaching has taken over my life, one hour of the day at a time!

Yesterday was our second meeting of the Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild, and we were swapping valentines - anything made out of fabric. I made this - I just love applique and I wanted to practice my hand quilting. I really wanted something clean, simple, modern.

I quilted using purple, light pink, and red.

I took these pictures yesterday, a few hours before the meeting. From the middle school I teach at, I drove to my college to have dinner with friends. This was the only time that I was actually outside in daylight, and I HAD to take pictures before I gave it away! Right? Right!

 I put the mug rug back in one of my (three) bags and walked up to the student center to meet my friends. Ten minutes later, I went to show a friend my creation and it wasn't there.

Have you ever lost something you made before? This was my first time. I looked EVERYWHERE! Dumped out my bags at least twice. Ran around outside looking. Checked all the floors. I was so upset, even though, according to the student center employee, it was just "fabric with a heart on it." Thank you, that's THREE hearts! And a few hours of my time! Haha. Anyway, the point is, it's still lost. And I didn't get to swap =/ Everyone made such gorgeous valentines!

Well, if I never find it, I hope someone did.... and that it brings them some happiness. Guess I have to make another one now? Or put out an ad in the paper: "Missing hand quilted mug rug, please return!"

Lesson Learned: Don't Craft When Sick

When health interferes with the way I relax, it's totally not okay! I've had a pretty bad cold for the last three days and have been absolutely miserable. Not only has this distracted me from planning for teaching (I have sooo much work to do now), but I couldn't even sew. 

I've been so busy the last two weeks! Not nearly enough going on on the sewing front, though I will consciously make an effort to do more this week, as soon as I'm completely better.

However, there has been one almost-finished baby quilt - I just need to finish the quilting and put on binding!

Sneak peek (bad lighting warning):

Yesterday I got together with my friend Kristina from the Central Jersey Modern Quilt Guild (of which I am the newly instated webmaster!). We sewed together and went out to lunch. It was fun :) I didn't get enough done (I was working on a Valentine's mug rug) and what I DID get done came out pretty crappy to my standards - I was sneezing and coughing all over the place. Lesson learned! For real!

However, I will share when it is finished.

How is everyone doing? I apologize, I haven't even been keeping up with blogland much. I need to visit my favorite blogs this week.