Valentine's Day Quilt

Amazing bundle of fat quarters!

As I look back at these photos, I tried to remember the details.  I had to check the date of this first picture.....  It was January 2, 2017.  If I remember correctly, this bundle was bought from a cute little quilt show vendor that sold prepackaged sets along with a pattern that was created specifically for the fat quarter bundle.  I started out by cutting all of the little pieces and I do remember that I felt like I may have gotten myself into something that was above my skill level.  I was never confident in triangles!  I remember sitting at the Starbucks and sorting the fabrics into different bundles to get ready to sew.....  I just don't remember why I did this at a Starbucks and not at home like normal!

Making sure the flow will be perfect.

Getting ready to sew..... with my helper!

How it was designed to be.

The pattern was designed to have all of the squares lined up like the picture above.....  Unfortunately, my brain did not like how busy this was.  I tried moving it around, rearranged, thought about sashing, and probably many other things to make it "work" for me.  I may have even sewn some of these rows together to see if I could see it in a different way.  In the end it didn't work.....  I decided to add solid gray blocks every other block.  Then the next problem was that I felt I needed a border and I could not find one anywhere!  My local quilt shops have been disappearing and no one had the fabric that I wanted or needed.  Finally....  and I don't even remember when or where, I found the border fabric and finished up this lovely quilt!  All of these "I don't remembers" are one of the reasons that I need to post as I finish these quilts and not wait 2 years.

On the long arm.

Amazing texture!

Like always I sure wish that I could take amazing pics of my quilts....  These will have to do.

Love the final outcome!

LOVE!!!

So... I tried a new fabric for the backing.......  this is from Joann Fabrics.  It is the Luxe Fleece and it was amazing.  It is affordable, warm and my long armer said it worked great!

It took me awhile to get this one how I liked it.  I completed it in April of 2018, and I still have enough squares to make another one since I substituted the solid squares in.  Maybe someday I will make its match. 



Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.    ~1 Corinthians 13:4

Christmas Quilts

Cozy…..  exactly what quilts are for!

This Christmas quilt is one of my favorites!  It was finished in 2016, just before Christmas.  My sister and I went to a quilt show in October and fell in love with the group of fabrics.  We picked out enough fat quarters to do two of these one for me and one for her.....  we cut up all the fabric and divvied it up.  I got started right away - the pattern from MSQC called 4 Patch Lattice  used a basic four patch pattern so I started by laying all of my groups of four out.  This is where things got hard for me.  I definitely have issues with making sure that the colors are perfect and that the patterns are perfect - there must be balance.

Four patches ready to sew.

Once I got all the four patches to look perfect I had to cut them all in half diagonally and then lay it out again.  This messed with the balance again and took me forever to get right.  This next picture is half of the quilt laid out on the table - I had to stand on a chair with the phone in the air as high as I could reach!  I definitely have issues!!!

Half laid out.

Triangles ready to sew!

Sashed and ready!

Somehow I managed to keep them all straight and did not mix them up too much.  I got the balance that I wanted!

On the long arm machine!!

Snowflakes on the Minky!!!  Love love love!!

I am in love with this quilt!

Bound with minky!

My precious little squishy dog!  

How things are supposed to be!  

This last picture makes me sooooo happy!!  I am under that quilt, watching TV with a squishy little lovey dog and a fluffy kitty cuddled up and happy!

In the next post I will explain how this amazing Christmas quilt ended up stressing me out and how I got myself into trouble and ended up making a second one before Christmas.


"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."  Psalm 37:4

Penguin Family

Let me start by saying that this quilt was not part of my plan for 2018!  I had seen the center panel online just by chance.  Then when I went to a sort of local quilt shop I found it in person and just had to have it!  The colors are so bright and cheerful and the little penguin family reminded me of my own.

Mama, Papa, and baby.

The quilt shop only had two prints that went with this panel, and one more that I used for the binding that belongs to a similar line by the same maker. I ordered the gray snowflakes and the animals on the sides online. Funny story....  the animals on the sides were supposed to be small. The site I ordered from had a little ruler on the print that showed them at about 4 inches or so.... when they came in the mail, they were a panel piece and they were big!  I had to come up with a new pattern for this awesome panel!  I ended up using a pattern I found through Pinterest called Chillingsworth's Bicycle Ride.  It was a free pattern that you could download which is even better!  I had to make a few adjustments since the panel was not the exact size of the one used in the pattern, which means that I got to get my graph paper out like I always love to do!  I did make a few minor errors in my calculations, if you look carefully at the finished product you can see where I "made it work!"  

What does the fox say??

Hand binding like always!  I LOVE this fabric I used.

Me sitting at my son's Judo, on the floor, hand binding.

I love the texture that minky creates.

I am in love with this quilt and am so glad that I put it together when I did.  Sometimes going through a tough time (a death in the family) is made easier with some quilting therapy.  I recommend it and encourage it! 

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."   - Romans 12:21

Star Trek and Teal Quilts Complete

Pattern and fabrics by Camelot Fabrics

I finished these quilts, had them washed, and ready for delivery just in time!  I even remembered to get a couple of pictures after I delivered them (with the help of my lovely son and beautiful niece).  I'm just not very consistent about posting my work.  As I had said in the last post, this Star Trek quilt was a project that had been in the works for quite a while.  I love how it turned out!  

When my Auntie found out that I was collecting Star Trek fabrics, she was not about to curl up with it.....  so we planned out a quilt that she would like.  She even picked out a few of the starting fabrics.  What I came up with is a little different from what my normal is, but it turned out good just the same.  Since my Auntie is always cold, hers is backed with Shannon Fabrics Extra Wide Cuddle.  It is the only way to go when you want to back with cuddle!  

Pattern by Camelot Fabrics

I am more than beyond blessed to have such amazing, supportive, and loving Uncle and Auntie.  They have encouraged and changed countless lives.  Some I'm sure they don't even know about.  Completing these quilts for them is a tiny way to give back.    

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

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This was on the wall at the San Diego airport.....  we sat in front of it while waiting to leave on our mission trip.  It reminds me of something that my Uncle and Auntie would say.....  but they would say it in a way that would make you laugh!  

I love you Uncle Bri and Auntie Mary!!!

Binding with Love ❤️

I really don’t know how I get any work done.  Here I am getting the binding ready for the Star Trek quilt and I have to battle this kitty trying to turn my arm into a pillow.   I don’t mind too much though. Just like my quilting.... my animals keep me sane. 

I am asked all the time.... “How long does it take you to do a quilt?”  And the answer is that I don’t know. Each one is different.  Some of them take so much planning that it could be years, like this Star Trek one for example.  I really wanted it to be something that was usable and not an eye sore.  (To be honest....  I think I did it).

I finished the binding last night....  it took me three evenings of hand sewing - which I call binding with love.  So now I know approximately how long it takes to finish the binding on my average size quilt....  around 64x72 or so.  

So my uncles quilt is done....  I have 8 days to hand sew the binding to my Aunties!  I’m feeling good about being able to finish!  I can’t wait to see them and give them their quilts!

I will post full pics later.....  (I wish I had a professional photographer for my quilts!!)

Happy June and happy Friday!
I am linking up with crazy mom quilts --  Thanks for stopping by!

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”   Exodus 14:14 NIV

Donate Quilts

So these quilts were made years ago to be donate quilts for QFK. I made them.... then folded them up into ziplocks along with the backing and the binding, cut and pressed just waiting to be quilted.  Problem was that I didn’t like doing the quilting myself.  So they had to wait for just the right moment. Last July, my super amazing long arm quilter asked me if I had any quilts she could test a new machine on. I was excited at the opportunity to let her finish these however she pleased.   The only problem was that I never saw them finished.  She had an urgent need to get them done and had them bound by her worker bees. They went to Project Linus and I am hoping to do a few more this year for them as well. I am a little disappointed that QFK was not more open to keeping new members. Maybe it was ment to be.   

If my memory is correct these were completed last October.  I’m not counting these as my completions even though they were officially completed in 2017.   

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.us/111/rom.12.2.niv

It's Another New Year

My favorite quote!

Amazingly, another year has gone by.  I knew that I set a lot of goals last year so I figured I better look back and see how my year went.  I knew that I didn't hit the goals that I set, but I thought that I did a bit better than I did.  As much as I love my Mary Poppins quote, I am definitely not perfect.

Number 1 and 2....  My first two goals were only half met.  I posted two of the four quilts that I made in 2016.  I really need to post the last two.  And I did not meet my goal of making more than four quilts in 2017.  I will get to that when I set my new goals for 2018.

Number 3....  As far as my clutter goal goes, it was worked on but still needs work!  This one may be a goal that will never be met as I have issues with getting rid of things.  And every time I think I have made progress my husband finds more boxes for me to unpack.  Overall I feel like I am still better than I used to be.

Number 4....  I did horrible at going to the gym.  I don't think I went at all!!!  I officially cancelled my membership in November.  The good news is that I am pretty sure my weight stayed the same - no gain is a good thing!  We have invested in a new elliptical type machine for the new year so we will see how that goes.

Number 5....  We went out and did archery a few times.  Not as often as I like but still something that I enjoy.

Number 6....  I did alright on this one.  I think...  I have been a bit better at cooking and keeping the house clean.  I just wish I was better at it.  Cooking is definitely NOT my gift.

Number 7....  Not too bad!  I had 8 posts in 2017.  Better than other years!!!  And the fact that I have plenty to post about is good!!  I just need to make the time.

Number 8....  I will never be good enough at this one!  I will have to continue working on a plan to get better at this one.

So....  goals for 2018:

Number 1....  Finish posting the quilts that are complete!  Catch up from last year and don't get behind with this years!!

Number 2....  Meet the goals of finishing quilts!!!  My mom and sister both surpassed my goal of 5 for the year.  And I know that they will again next year!  I just don't set enough time aside for myself.  I have plans for way too many!!  I have cut fabric and started several projects last year and the year before.  I need to finish some of these!!  Pics below.

Number 3....  Get to working out!!

Number 4....  Continue cooking, and start taking lunch more often instead of eating out all the time.  At least 2-3 of the days.

Number 5....  Be a better hostess.  Starting with the superbowl party.  Plan and cook without complaining!!  LOL!  I don't know if I can do this one....  but that is what goals are for!!!

Started in 2015 - Still not done!

Started in 2017 - Top is done - just needs to be finished.

Cut and ready to sew!

Half way done with cutting!  For my favorite Auntie!

Challenge quilt still not finished.

Not cut yet but getting ready for my favorite uncle!

This is fabric for one of my most ambitious quilts to be done this year.

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.  No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, god lives in us and his love is made complete in us.   -1 John 4:11-12

Fall Fancy - Finally Finished

Fall isn't over yet.....  I am counting this quilt as finished in time!  Even though Thanksgiving is next week!!!!  I put this quilt together after starting the challenge with my mom.....  For some reason, I decided that a bag full of scraps that was handed from person to person to person was more important than the challenge quilt that I started in the first place.

The funny thing was that I didn't even like the fabrics.  I put this together and got it to my longarm quilter almost immediately and she was full of complements as always and made me feel like I am an amazing quilter (hee hee hee).

I decided that I would keep this quilt that I would call Fall Fancy!  I started on the binding and got tired of having a quilt on my lap so I put it away and kind of forgot about it til it was almost too late.  I finally got around to packing up my little bag of goodies and taking it to my son's judo practice and it only took me two nights to put the last of the binding on.  I get to enjoy this Fall Fancy quilt for another week before I put is away and break out the Christmas quilt that I have yet to post about!!!

So....  I typed this all up and then totally forgot to post it!  Oops!!!  Better late than never!!