Quilting Away

Sat. I was working and needed to find some fabrics for my next class. My friend Daisy pointed these out and I feel in love with them, so I got enough for a new purse.

But I couldn't resist a summer purse sample either, so I got these fabrics too.

When I left work it was just starting to rain and then it started hailing. I headed for home, where there was no electricity! What's a girl to do?? I took a nap! When I got up we had power and I was able to put the first border on the wedding quilt.  Paul and I went to the movie Grown-Ups on Sat. night. It was so funny! I highly recommend the movie.
Sunday I spent doing some deep cleaning, but I did find time to put the final borders. I'm loving how it's turning out, though it is bigger than I planned it to be.

I'm loving the border print, which was the inspiration for the yellow and green sashing. I had enough of it for part of the back and the green will be the outer parts. I was able to piece the backing last night, so hopefully I'll get it quilted yet this week.

Yesterday our computer system at work was down, so we got to go home a couple hours early. I stopped at the quilt shop and picked up more backing fabric for the Wanna Be a Cowboy quilts. I was short for the second backing. I had put the first one on the frame Sun. night and started quilting it. When I got home I finished quilting it and put the second one on the frame. I was able to get it quilted as well, all before the time I would normally get home! I felt like I accomplished so much in a short time. The second one will go to a friend who is having a baby girl. I'm hoping to get it done so I can give it to her when the time is right.

Tonight I have the professional tote class. I'm really looking forward to it. It's such a fun bag to make and everyone feels like they've accomplished a lot when they get done.

Wedding Quilt

Last night I got busy on the wedding quilt and put the sashing strips on each block. It only took me a couple hours, but it was kind of a pain because the t-shirts don't want to feed well with the batik fabric.

Then I added the wider sashing strips through the center. I need to add the sashing around the outside of the quilt and then I'll be ready to put the final border on. I was just too tired last night to put the last of the sashing on it. I'm hoping to be able to quilt it this weekend. It's only 23 days until the wedding, so I've got to keep plucking away at it.

I cut out the new Margo purse and so far I love it. I hope to work on it this weekend. The pink is the main body/pocket and the brown stars is for behind the pockets. The horseshoes will be the handles.

Non-sewing night - Not by choice!

Last night I got busy on the wedding quilt. I got it layed out, the sashing cut, and boom the thunder and lightning of the storm came. I don't use my sewing machines when there is thunder and lightning because of the chance they could get fried by the lightning. I unplugged them and decided to make the most of my non-sewing time. I cut out a new Margo bag that I've been wanting to make for quite a while. I got all the batting and interfacing cut as well and am ready to sew it together, when we don't have a storm night. The last three nights we've had storms. The weather says tonight and tomorrow we shouldn't have storms, so maybe I'll get to sew. My energy in the evenings is returning and I'm going to make some progress! I have 4 quilt tops ready to be quilted.
My graduate class finished yesterday and I got my final grade today. I got an A in the class and a 100% on my final paper. I'm so glad to have this first class under my belt and now I can take my next class, Managing Human Resources this summer. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm going to take off Winter and possibly Fall, so I'm going to be slowly doing this graduate program, but I'll be able to do it at my own pace and not rush it.
This weekend while we were at my parents, we stopped by my cousins ranch. I love seeing the animals that are there. It's always fun seeing the new colts.  Paul and my dad shot prairie dogs and we all went fishing both Sat. and Sun. We'll head back in a few weeks again to do more fishing. Hopefully the river will be lower then so we can go catfishing. It was a fun, relaxing weekend.

The longhorns

My cousin's horse Oreo

One of the new colts and the mama

Girls Night Out

Friday night I joined a few girlfriends for a Girls Night Out at Gaila's house. We sewed, laughed, and ate! It's the first time we've been able to get together and sew in a few months, so we had lots of catching up to do. I'm in the middle of the big wedding quilt and didn't want to drag it all with me, so I pulled out a few UFO's.
I made the blocks for this sign language baby quilt back in Jan. and they've been setting ever since. I pulled them out and put them together and added the border. I have the backing, so just have to find time to quilt it now.

Then I started this quilt for the cat, Merry. She hates fleece blankets, but loves quilts, so I found this really cute cat fabric on the shop hop and decided to make her a small quilt. I was able to finish all the blocks and get the borders on. Now I have another top ready for quilting.

At the end of the evening I started working on my 2" HST's for the friendship exchange. Gaila loved the idea, so I showed her how to join in. I was able to get 8 pages done before we called it a night. I made 3 more pages last night and got them all cut up and ready to mail. I'm actually early finishing this time!

We sewed in Gaila's beautiful lime green/hot pink sewing room which is just awesome. The Black Hills are just out the window. Gaila and Jenn were sewing away on their projects.

Jenn and Shonna were both working on different projects.

Ironing was inspiring!  Thanks Gaila for an awesome night and I'm so glad we were all able to get together and sew. I got so much done! It feels incredible to have sewn so much. I think I accomplished more Friday night than I did all of May and June so far!

We headed home about 12:45am, so it was a late night, but so much fun!

I Sewed Tonight!

I actually felt like sewing tonight! I haven't been in the mood, probably because I have a big overwhelming project that needs to be done in a month and I just can't get motivated. Today was the last day of my graduate class and I finished the final paper and turned it in on Thurs., so I feel like all the stress has been released. I spent Friday night with some girlfriends sewing and I had a blast! I have tons of pictures and I finished lots of projects, but that post will have to wait until tomorrow.  Sat. I had to make a pillowcase for my nieces birthday present, so I set up the serger and it took me 20 minutes to make it. I left the quilt/pillowcase with her parents so she should get it on Friday. It's a good thing the quilt has been done for a month. I saw this really cute sewing fabric at FC tonight when I stopped and decided I just had to have it for a pillowcase. The serger was still set up, so I whipped it up tonight. I love it! I also worked on my HST's and got them all sewn before the storm started and I quit and unplugged everything. I just need to cut them all apart now. I just feel like I accomplished so much tonight! It was a great evening of sewing. Now I need to get back to the wedding quilt.

Future Jackrabbit

My friend Karen has gone to SDSU several times in the past year since her son is going to attend there this fall. Being a proud alumni of SDSU, I'm excited he's going there. Karen has always threatened she was going to bring home a shirt for me. She's been wanting to buy the pink or blue Future Jackrabbit shirts.
This past weekend they went for orientation and they picked out this cute non gender specific little bear/t-shirt package for me. I absolutely love it! They sure know the way to my heart.

Our future little Jackrabbit will look great in the t-shirt, but for now the teddy bear Paul got me on our second date will have to do. Thanks Karen and Brandon! I love the t-shirt.

BHQG Quilt Show

Yesterday after work I headed down to the Black Hills Quilt Guild's Annual Quilt Show. I had a couple hours to see the show and visit the vendors, so I wasn't too worried. I looked through the quilts and while there several that I liked, there weren't any that just said "must be made ASAP". There were two Crown Royal quilts I took pictures of for inspiration, but Paul didn't like either, so I won't be using either pattern. I don't care for them either, but it's nice to see what others have done.

I have two more of these at least to make and I'm in need of a new pattern and some inspiration to get started. So far nothing has called out to me, so we'll see what happens when I get around to them.

This one is the Crazy Eight Strip Tease pattern done in Christmas fabrics. I love this table topper and want to make another, so this just might be the inspiration. It seemed to be the hot selling pattern at one of the booths too.

This one is done in brown and teal batiks and I just loved how it looks. I have a quilt top done in this same fabric and I would love to get it out and get it finished because I love the colors. I know it needs to have borders done and I think that's what has stopped me. Maybe after the baby quilts are done I'll get it out and finish it for our bed.

I spent quite a bit of time at the vendor booths, but nothing really struck me as a "have to have"
new product. I guess working in the quilting industry for the past two years I have seen all the new things. I did buy a couple fat quarters of "Wanna Be a Cowboy" fabric that I didn't have. I'm planning to use them for a couple new purse/bags.
I did pick up this new license plate cover from Dakota Cabin Quilts. It's one of my favorite shops and they always have great stuff at the quilt show.


I had this ruler special ordered at work and it just came in. It's a 4.5" 60* ruler and I plan to use it with the hexagon quilt along I'm going to do as well as the One Block Wonder.

I also had the new Lazy Girl pattern Margo ordered and I need to get the sample done soon as it's a class I'll be teaching in August. I can't wait to get it done. I've been waiting for it to make myself a new purse. I'm so glad I had both of these items special ordered as I didn't see either at the quilt show.

Enjoy the other pictures I took at the quilt show.


BHQG Quilt Show

Jewel Box Quilt Finished

This weekend is the big Black Hills quilt guild show at the Civic Center. I worked today, but was off early so I got to enjoy the show. I saw lots of quilting friends there and enjoyed visiting with everyone. I left with lots of inspiration to quilt tonight. I made a Tastefully Simple supper of Beer bread, Creamy Wild Rice soup, and Polka Dot bars. While it was all cooking I loaded the backing of the Jewel Box quilt on the frame. I was able to get the batting and top on before supper. After supper I quilted with a stipple all over the quilt. I had one place where I hit the bump wrong, but otherwise it quilted up great. I used a dark purple King Tut and Bottomline. After I pulled it off the frame, I squared it up and put the binding on, so I just have the handwork left to do now.

The coloring is a little better in this picture, but still not the true color of purple. It's not nearly this blue of purple.

Here's a close up of the quilting. The squares are 2" finished. The blocks are 8" finished, so very tiny pieces to work with.

I have a friend who loves purple as much as I do, so I think her new little girl will love it. I hope to get the binding on this week and hopefully I can give it to her soon. I'm so excited to have one goal completed for June!

Baby quilt top in 1.5 hours!

Last night I finally got my quilting mojo back! I finished putting the borders on the t-shirts and they are all ready for sashing now. Then I cut out the 3rd Log Cabin baby quilt out of the Wanna Be a Cowboy fabric. I started sewing and got to the final two borders and couldn't resist putting them on. In total it took me 1.5 hours to cut and piece the entire 41"x59" baby quilt. I made this one because I didn't like the last one I made. The red was too dominate in it. Here's the one I made last night. I have enough backing to quilt them both at the same time, so that's what I'm going to do. I have a bamboo batting which I'm dying to try on this one. I sure hope it's as light weight after it's quilted.

This one I made back in May. I wasn't sure who it would go to, since it's so specific to the country lifestyle. I finally had inspiration last night and I know who will get this one. I just need to get it quilted.

Paul and his mom both like the 1st one better, but I still like the last one I made better. What do you think? Which one is your favorite?

Purple Jewel Box Baby Quilt Top

Friday night was Girls Night Out at TSC. Several ladies were busy working on various projects throughout the evening. I finished the final two blocks for the Jewel Box quilt and was able to get all the blocks sewn together and the border on it. I love how it turned out and am really happy I stuck with it and finished all 12 blocks. After I put the dark purple border on it, I liked it even more. All the fabric is from my stash, namely wedding fabrics. I still have a lot left, but I think I know a friend who could use some more purple variety in her project, so when I get them all pulled out, I'm going to send them to her. Even the backing is a purple I pulled from stash. I just need to get this quilted up so I can have lunch with my friend and her girls and give the new baby her quilt.

Here's a close up of the purples. The colors don't show nearly as true as they are, but this gives a better idea of how they look. The dark purple border has medium black flowers in it.

I'm getting closer to finishing one of my June goals. I won't get much done tonight as it's our 2 year anniversary and I'm looking forward to celebrating with my husband.

Salted Carmel Brownies

Salted Carmel Brownies

Several of you asked for the recipe I made last week. It's called salted carmel brownies and it comes from the Pioneer Woman Cooks website. They turned out to be more like fudge than brownies and they tasted delicious. I don't think my carmel was quite the right consistancy and I didn't like it, but my husband, his mom, and all her co-workers loved them. It's the first time in a long time I've made brownies that didn't come out of a box! The best thing about making them was using the double boiler. We got it for our wedding from my little brother and I just had never used it. I'll definately be using it for other recipes now.

Construction Baby quilts

Last night I was able to get back to my sewing room for some much needed relaxation! The handsewing of binding on the first construction baby quilt is done and the label is on it. It's been given away as well! Love how it turned out and I'm so glad I picked up the last 3 panels when they were super cheap. They make really quick and easy baby quilt gifts.

I quilted the grader tablerunner for my dad last night too. I just did a little stipple all over it. It was done in 3 passes, so it's not real wide. I used the gray for the binding which really compliments it. Now I have some handwork to do again. This one is small, so it travels nicely.

While I was at it, I squared up and trimmed the 2nd construction quilt panel. I put the blue binding on it too, so now I just need to do some handwork and it will be ready for a gift when needed.

I was planning on working on the wedding quilt last night, but I just felt a lot better getting these couple of projects off my work table and now I can move on! The wedding quilt has the first border around each block and now I have to figure out how I'm going to put the quilt together with sashing.

May Quilting Accomplishments

May was a slow month in my quilting and sewing studio. There was just too much going on for me to get much accomplished.
May goals:
2 Thangles BOM Blocks - 6 blocks done - all 12 completed!

Finish Charisma Top - Finished!

Jewel Box Quilt - 7 blocks made - 2 left - I ran out of the WOW, but I picked up some this weekend, so I should be able to get it finished now.

Lego Wedding Quilt - I cut out and interfaced all the t-shirts and have the first border on all of them. Now I need to figure out the sashing and get the top together. The wedding is July 17th, so I hope to have it finished by the end of June.


In other quilting news:
I made a 60* tablerunner for my dad. The top is done and I have it on the quilting frame to quilt.
I made a log cabin baby quilt out of the Wanna Be a Cowboy fabric.

I quilted two of the three Construction panels I have. I finished the binding on one and plan to get the binding done on the other to have ready for a gift.

I won a BLUSH jelly roll from Cyndi. I'm looking forward to doing the hexagon quilt along with it.

I also got all the pieces for the wolf wall hanging cut out! It took me a month of cutting, but they are all cut out and ready to be appliqued down. Hopefully I'll get it finished this summer sometime.

My June goals will be limited as I'm not sure how much I'll get done with finals and travelling.
Finish the Jewel Box quilt
Finish Lego wedding quilt