It seems like I've mostly been posting works in progress lately than posting full tutorials or finished pieces. That's mostly because I've been in the middle of quite a few big projects (blog/craft related and otherwise), so I haven't taken the time to sit down and write things up.
But, I promise I've got a few fun things coming up in the next few weeks...some fun giveaways...a quilt-along, and more. I've just got to get through the next week and then I'll buckle down and get the blog in shape.
I've been busy scoring SATs this last week which has been taking up most of my sewing/blogging time, but as usual I can't stay away from my sewing machine entirely.
Becca and I have been planning a particularly special quilt for a friend of hers for a while. She's been after me forever to start it. I let her sort the colors and lay out the squares just so she'd feel like we'd really started.
Then I had to actually sew the squares together so I could clean up my sewing area without completely undoing her work. This is one of five blocks so far. The quilt has a theme...can you guess?
I finally did it...I tried free-motion quilting for the first time. I did it on my Dr. Seuss quilt. Now Dr. Seuss just needs a binding and it will be ready for the bike-a-thon/raffle on Saturday. The result is far from perfect...but I think it turned out passably well...and I forgot to take a picture, so maybe if you check back later today, I'll have added a picture.
My first Hexies-By-Halfies quilt got it's finishing touches of signatures last week and was given to our high school principal who is retiring after somewhere around 20 years of being principal. This is the back...and stay tuned because it's the Hexies-By-Halfsies that we'll be doing for a quilt-along. I've got another Hexies-By-Halfsies that is mostly done for the bike-a-thon this weekend.
And I just found out less than two weeks ago that Katie's 2nd grade teacher is also retiring this year as well...and I felt like she needed a special quilt of her own. (Afterall, doesn't every teacher deserve to go out with a bang? This might be a dangerous precedent to start in a small town, though...) Because of the rush to get it done and have it at the school in time to be signed by students and staff, this quilt has actually been finished, but I don't have any finished pictures of it. Never fear, though, we know her outside of school, so after things have calmed down a bit, I'll just borrow it back for a day to get it photographed. She loves to read and I included the harp, temple, and apple to symbolize the music, faith, and teaching that have also been important parts of her life.
And this isn't quilting related, but I just think it's so darn cute. Becca has always loved puzzles, and she's revealing herself to have quite a brain for numbers. Her favorite activity lately is "doing pies" and making all sorts of pie combinations with the fraction plates me made for Pi-Day this year. She can name all the fractions and knows how many it takes to make a whole and she can put the same "puzzle" together a lot of different ways. Maybe these need a post of their own too.
The star block looks awesome. And I love the colors of the book quilt that you made for Katie's teacher. I do think you are staring a theme of gifts ;). Becca is such a cutie and her puzzle pies look like so much fun and I bet my nephews would love them. Might have to whip some up for a new activity for them this summer.
I love the book quilt. I especially love the symbolism and the temple! :) Awesome job!
visiting from WIP wednesday. You have been busy!!!
I'm loving the chromatic books on the shelf!
The book quilt is so special. I love that you included those special touches. I'm sure she will treasure it for many, many years.