Finish Friday String Quilt

I am totally enamored with string quilts. They really use up scrap in a hurry.  No special cutting required necessarily- just strips- any size.  The one I did here is bright colors.  I plan to do another in Autumn colors eventually.  A bit of a different design.

This is one of the ones I planned to finish after New Years, as part of my goals for 2014.  Mission accomplished. 

If you want to do a quilt like this, you cut a square- 4 1/2 or 5 inch, measure 1 1/2 inches down from corner.

Debbie Shore Wallet/Clutch

A way fun and easy video to follow with Debbie Shore.  See You Tube video below.

Great for summer- something light to carry when you are on the move.

I love the pockets and such.

Memorial Day

source: The Graphics Fairy

Today, in the USA, we honor the people that have served defending our country. God Bless them all.  I thinking of them a lot through out the year and not just on Memorial Day or Veterans Day.  The families who have lost brothers, sons, sisters, daughters, mothers, fathers.... I wish there wasn't war.  And whether I am opposed to any given war, I still honor each and every moment they have  spent serving.  They do what they are called to do.  There is no greater honor.  You are in my heart and in my thoughts, today and always.

source: Graphics Fairy

Friday Finish Sampler

This was a wonderful finish a month or so ago. I didn't take any pictures because it was winter time.  I finally had a moment to give it the proper attention it deserves.

This quilt is a Sampler Class from Craftsy from 2012 with Amy Gibson of  Stichery Dickory Dock.

I accidentally added the wrong link to a linky over at Crazy Mom Quilts.  So this is really my entry. Go check out her beautiful quilt and all the other links to peoples quilts.

I am submitting this to SEWjo.  Go on now- go check it out.

The Other Side of The Tracks at Amy's Creative Side Quilt Festival

This quilt is called The Other Side of The Tracks. I am submitting it to Amy Creative Side for the Quilt Festival.  Go to the site and check out all the inspired and amazing quilts.

This quilt was a lot of fun to make.  I was surfing the internet and the idea came to me.  I quickly jotted down a drawing that I would use as my reference.

One of the hardest parts of piecing the huge pieces that go into this quilt is getting them measured in a concise way.  There are no rulers to measure pieces of this size.  Even the yard stick is not long enough.  I should have thought of it then but probably a plum line would have worked best.  ha!

Anyway, it all worked out.  I think because I was so inspired and hit minimal roadblocks, it was done in record time.  I was just that jazzed about seeing the end product.  In looking back, I see things that I would have done differently but that is what the quilting journey is all about, learning and creating. I am very happy with this quilt.  It's one of my favorites. 

If you like my quilt too please go and vote for it at Amy's Creative Site.  You can place votes in each category when you find your favorites.

X and Plus Block

This block was originally called Spools.  It was first designed by Nancy Cabot. In 2010 a woman named Setsuko Inagawa did it for the Tokyo Quilt Festival, something I dream of going to. A lot of people fell in love with the block and started a Flickr Group and Quilt Along (QAL). It is now more commonly referred to as 'x and plus'. A blog called Badskirt did a tutorial for a 7.5 inch block.  Click here to go to that tutorial.  You can also find the measurements for a 12 inch block here at Portland Modern Quilt Guild.  Here are some other, very cute examples at Gone Aussie Quilting.

I am kind of late to the party but I am in love with this block.  This is the first one I made (before final pressing). I think it is so cute. I will definitely be making some more of these.

I do remember seeing this quilt a few years ago.  And I think I was more focused on the macarons (ha ha) and the overall French look of the quilt than the background.  But now my attention has shifted.

So I have made about four of these and plant to keep on working on them. With my scrap quilts, I accept the fact that they are works in progress.  There are little squares that wait for scrap and then me to have a moment to put them all together.  Its like that with my 1000 pyramid quilt that took three years to put together.  No repeaters. Now, it's done (and waiting for inspiration to quilt it).

Photo by Be mused