tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4206015103391248122024-03-14T07:35:17.849-07:00The Quilts of Mimi ParkA collection of finished quilts, quilt dreams and other crafty musings from a sewing mom.Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-79848638245590622892012-01-20T20:53:00.000-08:002012-01-20T20:53:40.398-08:00Get out the Vote!If you haven't yet, head over to <a href="http://www.15minutesplay.com/2012/01/bom-quilts-revealed.html">15 Minutes Play</a> and vote for your favorite Block of the Month quilt! (Hint: mine- also pictured below- is H.)Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-11004654764741967592012-01-17T23:10:00.000-08:002012-01-17T23:10:20.114-08:00NewI was about to say that I had a new hobby... pinning quilts on Pinterest, instead of making them.<br />
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Then it snowed a bit, and in a very Seattle-ish way, everything shut down enough for me to claim some time to sew.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg_sVGRW-2n_OOpvQ3rHNx6K7MCLyEApeFSdjc-wm39vEHI120gQXXMietbv5pZePPL9D1mvqsdllTN9PpQUGzcTRy62vgiruD0vbVxlzMtNcV5U76qvmstq5Urzsu8u4Xn7nknnvTgI/s1600/BOM+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg_sVGRW-2n_OOpvQ3rHNx6K7MCLyEApeFSdjc-wm39vEHI120gQXXMietbv5pZePPL9D1mvqsdllTN9PpQUGzcTRy62vgiruD0vbVxlzMtNcV5U76qvmstq5Urzsu8u4Xn7nknnvTgI/s320/BOM+Quilt.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
That felt good.Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-1856980016699599642011-12-22T06:45:00.000-08:002011-12-22T06:45:57.381-08:00Happy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In celebration of the return of light and the spontaneous creativity of the season... Happy holidays to all!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-39737875781516676642011-11-28T08:18:00.001-08:002011-11-28T22:31:06.523-08:00On the Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s4m6XPNMFDCvucQm2h8eiHZG4wQbWIBUX8-QfCkNoA0wFn-_FjvHHmXLnOX0m3A6eH7caHtwRXbvh24ZWGKspXp_4DbQSh0eUft5-o_Kl-FjVwVaj1oT89w0wrd7RUITgLMWtKZJb3A/s1600/DesignWall112911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s4m6XPNMFDCvucQm2h8eiHZG4wQbWIBUX8-QfCkNoA0wFn-_FjvHHmXLnOX0m3A6eH7caHtwRXbvh24ZWGKspXp_4DbQSh0eUft5-o_Kl-FjVwVaj1oT89w0wrd7RUITgLMWtKZJb3A/s400/DesignWall112911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I finally have a design wall, and I am so excited! I've been playing with my Blocks of the Month from <a href="http://www.15minutesplay.com/">15 Minutes Play</a>. You can see where all my yards of yellow strips have been going in this glimpse. I just heard that the deadline for finishing this quilt got moved back into January (yay!) I'll show you more of it then!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-30480959771552762122011-11-26T09:28:00.001-08:002011-11-26T09:35:11.974-08:00Don't Call It a Comeback...I've been sewing. But now I am posting again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XLAvHHwnv9j-Ux8ft_wrOGr5Z6109Ax-ya_sdcsbzi8N68n0IfRjepaBKhOLy0tY5fq_-ZxeykOaIljXKrgidC_HSgy2RVkuFPBEOKu5bA3LUGV8tBtJiaBWccvUYiT0BV0O_jcAF54/s1600/YellowStrips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XLAvHHwnv9j-Ux8ft_wrOGr5Z6109Ax-ya_sdcsbzi8N68n0IfRjepaBKhOLy0tY5fq_-ZxeykOaIljXKrgidC_HSgy2RVkuFPBEOKu5bA3LUGV8tBtJiaBWccvUYiT0BV0O_jcAF54/s320/YellowStrips.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Yards</i> of yellow strips!</span> </div>
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It's been a huge year of changes. And I can't wait to share more of the quilts I am working on.Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-89712641173619982352011-07-10T09:17:00.000-07:002011-07-10T09:21:15.398-07:00Taking a BreakThis last month has brought some major changes in my life, which have taking me away from both my blog and my sewing machine... I am looking forward to getting back to both when time allows, but in the meantime, I will taking a bit of a break to focus on the equivalent of unquilting my life and taking a whole new design direction. My promise to myself is that it will be beautiful and better than ever! Enjoy your summer and happy sewing!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-61795965640454531132011-06-03T21:53:00.000-07:002011-06-03T22:09:33.908-07:00It's Not What I ThoughtI have so many projects I am juggling, that I often put something away for a while, and when I come back to it, it turns into something totally different. Does this ever happen to you?<br /><br />Don't get me wrong: I love the transformative effect of time. It usually improves my plan! <span style="font-style: italic;">(Now </span><span style="font-style: italic;">there</span><span style="font-style: italic;">'s a great reason to keep that list of WIPs to juggle nice and long!)</span><br /><br />Case in point: I made this Triumph Star top back in March. It was okay but I didn't love it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKDaLf3zpQaafSr2XRqL5VH9jqQHfIXLjZk6mirsn7lipaLZS-Vt2-q0y8R2Xl0AXrswlQlsl5ItJT0Max0bzw3yly2clohT9HPmx8-b9UaYQN7QGjJolUXIy5ZJTgqEbxh9oI3mFkyQ/s1600/DSCF3931.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTKDaLf3zpQaafSr2XRqL5VH9jqQHfIXLjZk6mirsn7lipaLZS-Vt2-q0y8R2Xl0AXrswlQlsl5ItJT0Max0bzw3yly2clohT9HPmx8-b9UaYQN7QGjJolUXIy5ZJTgqEbxh9oI3mFkyQ/s400/DSCF3931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614225744112538114" border="0" /></a><br />I took it out today to start quilting it and realized: <span style="font-style: italic;">it wasn't done</span>. A few borders later and <span style="font-style: italic;">voila! </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict_ETEU5wZ0FtA-tFyyBYnKSM9PGRhXJ4IpxPhnFZNAqtR1p0NfBPC3GvNqPcStB37DZZRFe5DP0qhADQU8uT1e_7hpci5R9xLpkViDqaIMY9InArUA-56F15t9uYcpxZC8JgT7WZtgI/s1600/DSCF4385.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEict_ETEU5wZ0FtA-tFyyBYnKSM9PGRhXJ4IpxPhnFZNAqtR1p0NfBPC3GvNqPcStB37DZZRFe5DP0qhADQU8uT1e_7hpci5R9xLpkViDqaIMY9InArUA-56F15t9uYcpxZC8JgT7WZtgI/s400/DSCF4385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614225740872376946" border="0" /></a><br />It turned out to be so irresistible that my quilt photography assistants had to give it a test run. It checked out to make awesome forts, tents, curtains and capes. Excellent!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5uxDKxJ5B2iJaz2oTKYGnwlr475ZJI9fe_lYwtAlyKo9EmF7unldXddqt9bWv92Y_Glg_ZOr9YT4xnEvSHjcB9vnRknqKCMIulrj1uxfyKllN41r2HvZiffRvh6VoxwpIN62QjwD0tc/s1600/DSCF4390.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5uxDKxJ5B2iJaz2oTKYGnwlr475ZJI9fe_lYwtAlyKo9EmF7unldXddqt9bWv92Y_Glg_ZOr9YT4xnEvSHjcB9vnRknqKCMIulrj1uxfyKllN41r2HvZiffRvh6VoxwpIN62QjwD0tc/s400/DSCF4390.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614225752420213618" border="0" /></a><br />I pieced a fun back for it (it was just crying for a pieced back, don't you think?) so now it is all ready to quilt. For real.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh774UOo9m_IrhcNwj4wIDxLiZTC91bl6OeLyW1iih5a-iLfs-E0bX_lg38EpDx2k1ve8ktIbyEEQVoF_U3Rk4X19WRBEhFQSrdxHJI5N4rZ875otCeNgjREBOcbxmMtvcjC97Sj3M5Iqg/s1600/DSCF4395.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh774UOo9m_IrhcNwj4wIDxLiZTC91bl6OeLyW1iih5a-iLfs-E0bX_lg38EpDx2k1ve8ktIbyEEQVoF_U3Rk4X19WRBEhFQSrdxHJI5N4rZ875otCeNgjREBOcbxmMtvcjC97Sj3M5Iqg/s400/DSCF4395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614225762478699602" border="0" /></a>We're supposed to have the nicest weekend of the year (the forecast says 80 degrees! Hooray!) so the quilting will have to wait. It might not be this nice again until August!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-26299416132386384872011-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:002011-05-31T06:00:06.845-07:00May Progress<span> </span><span>I can't believe that the first 5 months of 2011 are already over.</span><span> I was impressed to check in on </span><a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2011/01/list-for-2011.html"><span> The List </span></a><span>and find </span><span>that I have actually completed 10 quilts this year so far! Now, a lot of them are small, and I still have a big ole stack of tops and WIPs to finish, but that is a pretty satisfying number. </span><span>Check it out! </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Finished Quilts of 2011</span><span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><ol><li><span>2 Christmas Tree Mini Quilts</span> done 1/11</li><li>Baby quilt: spring strings (<span>top done 3/10</span>), <span>basted 8/10, done 1/11</span></li><li><span>Bloom Mini Quilt done 1/11</span></li><li><span>3 Quilted Book Covers started and done 1/11</span></li><li>Girly I Spy Quilt done 2/11</li><li>Baby Blocks: Blue #1 done 3/11</li><li style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Garden Path baby quilt done 3/11</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></li><li>Grayson's baby quilt done 4/11</li><li style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">12 x 12" Mini done 4/11</span></li><li style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Memory Basket AAQI mini done 5/11</span><br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">2011 WIPs:</span><br />My list is back up to 20- uh-oh! I added and finished the AAQI piece, then started a Block of the Month project hosted on the 15 Minutes Play site. It's too fun to resist! I spent most of the month working on other projects, so I didn't get any other quilts done.<br /><ol><li>Stars & Strings <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tabletopper</span> (started 2009) <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 7/10</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">basted,hand-quilting in progress<br /></span></li><li>Houses Donation quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 8/10</span><br /></li><li>Bright Snowballs (started 2009, <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done</span>)</li><li>Applique Flowers Wall Quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 8/10</span></li><li>Indian Summer <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 12/10</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">expanded 4/11</span>*<br /></li><li>Gypsy Madness Leaders & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Enders</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 1/11</span><br /></li><li>Wedding Ring Table Runner <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done, quilted 10/10</span></li><li>Amish-ish Mini Quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done & basted 2/11<br /></span></li><li>Triumph Star <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 3/11</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Stash Busting Bee International Log Cabin</li><li>Say Cheese Self-Portrait</li><li>Seasons Mat for R's preschool<br /></li><li>Crumb Blocks-->stars</li><li>Pinwheel Quilt</li><li>Holy Night</li><li>Soup Dragon*</li><li>Yellow & Orange Log Cabins <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">blocks done 5/11</span>*</li><li>Rainbow String Quilt*</li><li>Scrappy Sixteens*</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">15 Minutes Play Blocks of the Month</span><br /></li></ol><span style="font-size:78%;">* Quilts I worked on this month</span><br /><br />On the design burner (fabric has been pulled or cut, but no sewing has been done):<br /><ol><li>Bricks & stones baby quilt </li><li>Girl blocks baby quilt<br /></li><li>2233 Pineapple</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bento</span> Boxes for S</li><li>Leopard Roses</li><li>Christmas quilts<br /></li><li>Donation quilt for A's school auction</li><li>Retro Rail Fence<br /></li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quilting</span><br />I have mostly been <span style="font-style: italic;">un</span>-quilting (ugh!) my Indian Summer quilt this month. I decided to rip out the progress I had painfully made and try again with better thread. I'm not sure what is slower- quilting with thread that just won't cooperate, or ripping out said quilting. Either way, it's a lovely quit and I am enjoying spending time under it. Even if it's picking out the quilting.<br /><br />I tried quilting with a different color bobbin thread on my Memory Basket piece for AAQI. I learned a bit about balancing the tension to make it a success, and I am really pleased with how it turned out. I love these little mini quilts!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stash</span><br />I had to get some more yellow and orange fabric this month- especially for my juicy Yellow & Orange Log Cabins! Other than that, no fabric came in (good) and I reorganized my stash storage so it's easier to use. Yay! It's exciting to be surrounded by so much gorgeous & inspiring fabric, and even more exciting to liberate it from being hoarded in piles and put it to use!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-68043084288592435162011-05-26T07:35:00.000-07:002011-05-26T07:43:09.696-07:00Building Blocks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJguy3sX53vI4IWEX3rQjc0r9xueQtnuc7U71ztifeapO5EJacEu874wtvesn8HraVT8Jljkiw6n4Z4UARe9W5WFwvXIDfAtyBD4YzQZ9qLihlOd_T6DuNoRqYklxI4mfdiRSBuPs4wI/s1600/DSCF4213.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnJguy3sX53vI4IWEX3rQjc0r9xueQtnuc7U71ztifeapO5EJacEu874wtvesn8HraVT8Jljkiw6n4Z4UARe9W5WFwvXIDfAtyBD4YzQZ9qLihlOd_T6DuNoRqYklxI4mfdiRSBuPs4wI/s400/DSCF4213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611034030088339250" border="0" /></a>I can't even remember how long I have been working on this yellow & orange log cabin quilt... a blogger search tells me it was at least 2 years back in <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2010/12/happiest-blocks-in-world.html">December</a>. Maybe 2 1/2 years? I know I have been collecting yellow & orange fabric for it for almost all of my quilting career!<br /><br />But now I have sewn all the blocks.<br /><br />64: enough for a queen size quilt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1bv9TFGiswsDfkApZpkYL0ixMtm_GTEnO_CAmKdQjnpVt3XLj54oDBPFJwcObt1RPL8D6eLnACVN34BEABwpoZGdfF5ZT8J7W4aQsyIoEEavCVLrs0v5yLcaHbOLE3ZEzP2nYTz8ziE/s1600/DSCF4217.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1bv9TFGiswsDfkApZpkYL0ixMtm_GTEnO_CAmKdQjnpVt3XLj54oDBPFJwcObt1RPL8D6eLnACVN34BEABwpoZGdfF5ZT8J7W4aQsyIoEEavCVLrs0v5yLcaHbOLE3ZEzP2nYTz8ziE/s400/DSCF4217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611034036755838386" border="0" /></a>This picture doesn't do them justice, I was just so excited last night at midnight when I finished the last block, I had to take a picture. They are are so happy! They remind me of little jewel boxes full of sunshine and joy.<br /><br />I still need to assemble the quilt top, which comes with a catch....<br /><br /> These are lazy log cabin blocks... meaning that I was too lazy to get and press each log as I sewed, I just finger-pressed and squared everything in my lap. There is a lot of variation in size, so I'm going to have to add some coping strips to square them all up.<br /><br />I'm definitely adding more yellow and orange strips but I'm tempted to throw in some of this <a href="http://www.gloriouscolor.com/store-detail.php?cat=103&ID=3">pink & red Kaffe print</a> as well. What do you think?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gloriouscolor.com/storeimages/GP77-Rose016.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 211px;" src="http://www.gloriouscolor.com/storeimages/GP77-Rose016.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">photo from <a href="http://www.gloriouscolor.com/index.php">GloriousColor.com</a></span></span><br /></div>Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-636453177172679622011-05-19T07:15:00.000-07:002011-05-19T07:44:51.686-07:00Button BlanketsI realized that I haven't posted here for 2 weeks! While my quilting time has been limited this month, I have been sewing up a storm on my daughter's 3rd grade class auction project. They are studying the Native Americans in our area, so they made these little button blankets.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAd0tUiZrZnkrNKXJKt4L9-H7OhtfXbA3Fco5x63aXXZqGRfzE23jMmaR-8kwLTof8Cvv65SKlYnWnfvM7-ZhXbndhKvrbYUEdP0Ck9LGs2d4CaUMalmRBHg3EilSorecFfWiGE7diGU/s1600/DSCF4175.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAd0tUiZrZnkrNKXJKt4L9-H7OhtfXbA3Fco5x63aXXZqGRfzE23jMmaR-8kwLTof8Cvv65SKlYnWnfvM7-ZhXbndhKvrbYUEdP0Ck9LGs2d4CaUMalmRBHg3EilSorecFfWiGE7diGU/s400/DSCF4175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608436304344642978" border="0" /></a><br />They each designed their own applique based on animals in Native American folklore. Each piece is about 12" x 18".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVI2FMcvYHlcLdWEoCVfeuHXL8vUrhBPTOiMkItevdcwQ6iODv_4sVHzIZym48IjY73_sZhioTsTLlsMB9wFoKfN_2kdPAtQEXmpSY_LmdCFfu-u4WqNiJggviFMhmVRVmuk06wofl9tw/s1600/DSCF4180.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVI2FMcvYHlcLdWEoCVfeuHXL8vUrhBPTOiMkItevdcwQ6iODv_4sVHzIZym48IjY73_sZhioTsTLlsMB9wFoKfN_2kdPAtQEXmpSY_LmdCFfu-u4WqNiJggviFMhmVRVmuk06wofl9tw/s400/DSCF4180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608437033442196866" border="0" /></a>With the help of a couple other parents, I added borders and hanging corners on the back so they can be displayed hanging on a dowel.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaNW7U6Ryc9W56CNWiXzDJ0hIVyhEbda_B7DMrOS3k9FqeRyw7Cw713L6uWn3MR2t2RaN4_Q8e7DbaJt3M1TiE3M-RhUk7E05zDqlyW1y0N0b0fes2Lpu3Az8fYXnU25jtQhb4pFohIY/s1600/DSCF4181.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaNW7U6Ryc9W56CNWiXzDJ0hIVyhEbda_B7DMrOS3k9FqeRyw7Cw713L6uWn3MR2t2RaN4_Q8e7DbaJt3M1TiE3M-RhUk7E05zDqlyW1y0N0b0fes2Lpu3Az8fYXnU25jtQhb4pFohIY/s400/DSCF4181.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608437038489807138" border="0" /></a><br />I like these 3 different takes on a whale:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxQY8SX38hwCMls9HxtRPJSs-oUu48jWQnsEje2uj63waWfxb5gCgHCS5ncNvvcnjU0r_gdNf3dIzSAbtsNxu9kT1S8QnkIcnOr7U2USuyalePbJnRPK1s0OovqnJeztbVDi9y689yTU/s1600/DSCF4176.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxQY8SX38hwCMls9HxtRPJSs-oUu48jWQnsEje2uj63waWfxb5gCgHCS5ncNvvcnjU0r_gdNf3dIzSAbtsNxu9kT1S8QnkIcnOr7U2USuyalePbJnRPK1s0OovqnJeztbVDi9y689yTU/s400/DSCF4176.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608436308783766002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-scYYrsqYC_7NemEEZeuqL4T80prDDfY9nHCVlWthWT6tGAyl-9fxCdtXmrBNnLCfPBst7rjdvn7ZJyyrPPzUBastfo_GPgnWfoqXkWey06JNiB0RDCyB5ZxfN661wr8CdhZ6Nr3UwY/s1600/DSCF4178.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-scYYrsqYC_7NemEEZeuqL4T80prDDfY9nHCVlWthWT6tGAyl-9fxCdtXmrBNnLCfPBst7rjdvn7ZJyyrPPzUBastfo_GPgnWfoqXkWey06JNiB0RDCyB5ZxfN661wr8CdhZ6Nr3UwY/s400/DSCF4178.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608437023375397330" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBcbZBPJScghVM_xf0PuPm-AjxJ2MKkk8NPtvw3n5zhq4c0Tk7RnoZmBYf0I7AJMrMis8TIlDttGB1PH40R8PcBeW65xiLA-EMSyNDE8wNH3uTSddgjDMWNck8CsNB-5G9C36aSy7Gv0/s1600/DSCF4177.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBcbZBPJScghVM_xf0PuPm-AjxJ2MKkk8NPtvw3n5zhq4c0Tk7RnoZmBYf0I7AJMrMis8TIlDttGB1PH40R8PcBeW65xiLA-EMSyNDE8wNH3uTSddgjDMWNck8CsNB-5G9C36aSy7Gv0/s400/DSCF4177.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608436311376006802" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaNW7U6Ryc9W56CNWiXzDJ0hIVyhEbda_B7DMrOS3k9FqeRyw7Cw713L6uWn3MR2t2RaN4_Q8e7DbaJt3M1TiE3M-RhUk7E05zDqlyW1y0N0b0fes2Lpu3Az8fYXnU25jtQhb4pFohIY/s1600/DSCF4181.JPG"><br /></a>Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-72257930772607109262011-05-03T07:12:00.000-07:002011-05-03T07:16:04.277-07:00Fabric DreamingMy <a href="http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/">Hancock's of Paducah</a> catalog came in the mail yesterday... this always challenges my resolves to minimize my fabric purchases! How much do I love <a href="http://www.brandonmably.com/1/Fabrics.html">Brandon Mably's fabrics</a> for the Kaffe Collective collection?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0orMlcN8m2wwi8JOzfg-Ieeqxq8BQYw0_I7Nq_kyMi0LrwM4j8Q2tUxWGUSGnIMUEYPlWqzii4KQ-pZ16gnTrnqCH_YIkSUdF8ihe8JtOTtJnLBA2L6jQjilAxjvHT4lMjNjfR69TCk/s1600/mosaica0dad0cc99e813acef5b249e5c6f38dd8c3dae27%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP0orMlcN8m2wwi8JOzfg-Ieeqxq8BQYw0_I7Nq_kyMi0LrwM4j8Q2tUxWGUSGnIMUEYPlWqzii4KQ-pZ16gnTrnqCH_YIkSUdF8ihe8JtOTtJnLBA2L6jQjilAxjvHT4lMjNjfR69TCk/s400/mosaica0dad0cc99e813acef5b249e5c6f38dd8c3dae27%25282%2529.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602493108850701074" border="0" /></a>The other colorways are delicious too.Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-1338734992415539372011-04-28T00:07:00.000-07:002011-04-30T14:29:57.046-07:00April Progress<span>I'm wrapping up April with a look at </span><a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2011/01/list-for-2011.html"><span>The List </span></a><span>. This was my big quilt-a-thon month, which kicked off which great success on Grayson's quilt. Then the throw I planned to quilt next morphed into a full size quilt and has been a pain in the neck ever since. I am taking a break from it, then I am going to rip out that quilting and try again with better thread! </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Since I only finished one quilt (and a mini!) I am going to continue the quilt-a-thon into May... and as long as it takes! <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Finished Quilts of 2011<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL9K71deQVDhzbz4_vhoo51WTzZxu6ue-8zo9mMfA1rXYPx8b_uPm5Na0evS8e5tXDQo0OOmmWASIkhPmFgfpsFiqlvXjrE1bWc510kg1h9NZR_4xC7ZUoCaSTG7OY-so2tLMU-yi5DQ/s1600/DSCF4170.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoL9K71deQVDhzbz4_vhoo51WTzZxu6ue-8zo9mMfA1rXYPx8b_uPm5Na0evS8e5tXDQo0OOmmWASIkhPmFgfpsFiqlvXjrE1bWc510kg1h9NZR_4xC7ZUoCaSTG7OY-so2tLMU-yi5DQ/s400/DSCF4170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601491826456372738" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >12 x 12" mini</span><br /></div><span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><ol><li><span>Christmas Tree Mini Quilts</span> done 1/11</li><li>Baby quilt: spring strings (<span>top done 3/10</span>), <span>basted 8/10, done 1/11</span></li><li><span>Bloom Mini Quilt done 1/11</span></li><li><span>3 Quilted Book Covers started and done 1/11</span></li><li>Girly I Spy Quilt done 2/11</li><li>Baby Blocks: Blue #1 done 3/11</li><li style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Garden Path baby quilt done 3/11</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></li><li style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Grayson's baby quilt<span style="font-weight: bold;"> done 4/11</span></li><li style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12 x 12" Mini done 4/11<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">2011 WIPs:</span><br />This list actually got smaller! I finished one quilt, and added and finished another for the 12" x 12" mini quilt swap.<br /><ol><li>Stars & Strings <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tabletopper</span> (started 2009) <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 7/10</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">basted,hand-quilting in progress *<br /></span></li><li>Houses Donation quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 8/10</span><br /></li><li>Bright Snowballs (started 2009, <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done</span>)</li><li>Applique Flowers Wall Quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 8/10</span></li><li>Indian Summer <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 12/10</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">expanded 4/11</span>*<br /></li><li>Gypsy Madness Leaders & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Enders</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 1/11</span><br /></li><li>Wedding Ring Table Runner <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done, quilted 10/10</span></li><li>Amish-ish Mini Quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done & basted 2/11<br /></span></li><li>Triumph Star top done 3/11</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Stash Busting Bee International Log Cabin</li><li>Say Cheese Self-Portrait</li><li>Seasons Mat for R's preschool *<br /></li><li>Crumb Blocks-->stars</li><li>Pinwheel Quilt</li><li>Holy Night</li><li>Soup Dragon</li><li>Yellow & Orange Log Cabins</li><li>Rainbow String Quilt*</li><li>Scrappy Sixteens*</li></ol><span style="font-size:78%;">* Quilts I worked on this month</span><br /><br />On the design burner (fabric has been pulled or cut, but no sewing has been done):<br /><ol><li>Bricks & stones baby quilt </li><li>Girl blocks baby quilt<br /></li><li>2233 Pineapple</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bento</span> Boxes for S</li><li>Leopard Roses</li><li>Christmas quilts<br /></li><li>Donation quilt for A's school auction</li><li>Retro Rail Fence<br /></li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quilting</span><br />I had a great time free-motion quilting Grayson's Quilt. Then I tried quilting with a different kind of thread for Indian Summer and it has been a real disappointment. Lesson learned! It's time to go back to the stuff that works, even if it costs a little bit more.<br /><br />I am hoping to finish at least 2 quilts this next month... with decent thread this time!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stash</span><br />My stash situation has not improved. There were a few thrift store finds that I could not pass up, then some reds that needed to be restocked, and then the cuteness of the new Denyse Schmidt collection. The good news on that front is that all this beautiful fabric makes me so happy and gets my creative juices flowing!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-10945051281499369822011-04-24T08:45:00.000-07:002011-04-24T08:54:24.329-07:00Happy Easter!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4EoQNc4xMeQnG5P5xvMaVx6pR7U77HlQ6_CXsHyxtiAqs6HnBdzyg4gTDMbGX0mHahyPyst8Ca7fUhWeNQKW7ecOX1Q1xbueSd7JfoS-_3pvZVuCvFR6E6oc4XAePvQMoQ_ruAdP1u8/s1600/DSCF4128.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4EoQNc4xMeQnG5P5xvMaVx6pR7U77HlQ6_CXsHyxtiAqs6HnBdzyg4gTDMbGX0mHahyPyst8Ca7fUhWeNQKW7ecOX1Q1xbueSd7JfoS-_3pvZVuCvFR6E6oc4XAePvQMoQ_ruAdP1u8/s400/DSCF4128.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599177231834227010" border="0" /></a>I made these adorable <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/bunny-finger-puppets/">felt bunny finger puppets</a> for my daughters' Easter baskets. How cute are these? We're hunting for eggs at our house today, having brunch at a favorite restaurant and visiting with family.<br /><br />Things I love about Easter:<br /><ol><li>Spending the holiday with family</li><li>A time of renewal</li><li>Lots of baby animals!</li><li>Pastel colors everywhere<br /></li><li>Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate<br /></li></ol>For my Easter gift to myself, I found the new Denyse Schmidt collection for JoAnn's at my closest store. So cute and spring-y! I could not resist getting a few of the prints. (I got some chocolate, too.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBepDnlAovbgYrPj5BfRP_h5heZaKrYPr9uA5PU4UzVRAgd1qGcwsC8rloAK5X9ClRkdxNlKwS8-hnQdoo6W2pRoDkswtMzUbWGcQxFGpDP9S7D7CyWZbH5B4IiWcgs9n1gJ6pIxIFHXo/s1600/DSCF4129.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBepDnlAovbgYrPj5BfRP_h5heZaKrYPr9uA5PU4UzVRAgd1qGcwsC8rloAK5X9ClRkdxNlKwS8-hnQdoo6W2pRoDkswtMzUbWGcQxFGpDP9S7D7CyWZbH5B4IiWcgs9n1gJ6pIxIFHXo/s400/DSCF4129.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599177238539381554" border="0" /></a>Wishing a very happy Easter to all!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-16476240602326878952011-04-22T09:40:00.000-07:002011-04-22T09:49:04.049-07:00Over the Rainbow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGrPhOQliqmxGvLPTpVRtZmiNVyQyXO6EXwUPOoB1AZDb8_QK-StwwhgTQhAICG6v1D6ltSTnR_0HIujGXUSGA4Fqh2YhGnb15bTUCWL6wJsjnsWsg_7sFLuG9N1ePeENw9Fq3sutgDU/s1600/DSCF4109.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGrPhOQliqmxGvLPTpVRtZmiNVyQyXO6EXwUPOoB1AZDb8_QK-StwwhgTQhAICG6v1D6ltSTnR_0HIujGXUSGA4Fqh2YhGnb15bTUCWL6wJsjnsWsg_7sFLuG9N1ePeENw9Fq3sutgDU/s400/DSCF4109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598449241969960866" border="0" /></a>I've been working on my rainbow string quilt bit by bit... I thought it would be fun to lay all the blocks out together to see how they look...<br /><br />Stunning!<br /><br />I have 32 blocks so far, so I'm less than halfway to the 80 I need for a twin size quilt. Unfortunately, some of my color-sorted bags of strings are still bursting and some are dwindling. I have a serious purple string shortage! I guess I need to do some more sewing to restock those strings!<br /><br />In other scrap sewing news, I made this mini quilt for the <a href="http://www.15minutesplay.com/2011/03/12-x-12-something-from-nothing.html">12"x 12" Something From Nothing Challenge Swap</a> over on the <a href="http://www.15minutesplay.com/">15 Minutes Play</a> site. I love all these bright bits!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qHJcTOzP_1FAp5qzcOCsi6llXfQFZRc7wEapFGj6blD_A6u_l10AsO9By5jHLCx0U218Pi4UXAJb5r00njQmaWlbSDT1hdJpy0kr4XDe6R-UWKChFeiWxKMq8AXgPQdG4Tm78jKd7Jg/s1600/DSCF4106.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qHJcTOzP_1FAp5qzcOCsi6llXfQFZRc7wEapFGj6blD_A6u_l10AsO9By5jHLCx0U218Pi4UXAJb5r00njQmaWlbSDT1hdJpy0kr4XDe6R-UWKChFeiWxKMq8AXgPQdG4Tm78jKd7Jg/s400/DSCF4106.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598449234728975794" border="0" /></a>And now- back to more quilting!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-33475777165507474502011-04-15T22:51:00.001-07:002011-04-16T09:13:48.323-07:00End of Bobbin SewingI have this intense dislike for half-wound bobbins, so whenever I need to change my thread color, I try to use up the end of the bobbin in my machine. You could also call it procrastinating on starting to quilt the dauntingly <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2011/04/tonights-night.html">largest quilt I have ever quilted</a>, but you could also call it resourceful and scrappy. Right?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfedyt7KaDA6mrN-iOt54KT1AxLOIF0ksMxeCWK7qIWVuMerAlE2PAQG25H2RsIxodjzEyqVsp8NEpVWoemLlL_a87cMxd1z2xPF3CfefNDaeBLqn36QOgxCmk0EqfAoBaiFGwUTmvNPA/s1600/DSCF4090.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfedyt7KaDA6mrN-iOt54KT1AxLOIF0ksMxeCWK7qIWVuMerAlE2PAQG25H2RsIxodjzEyqVsp8NEpVWoemLlL_a87cMxd1z2xPF3CfefNDaeBLqn36QOgxCmk0EqfAoBaiFGwUTmvNPA/s400/DSCF4090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596055721882155314" border="0" /></a>In any case, while using up the end of my bobbin this week, I made more <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2011/02/sweet-sixteens.html">Sweet Sixteen</a> blocks... bringing my count up to 42. Since these are 6 1/2" blocks, the 6 x 7 setting is pretty small, so I think I need more of these. Part of me wonders if this quilt will venture into the <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2010/11/giants.html">Land of Giants</a> too... we'll see!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D49icagDhCV1fLGd6CgAbNYecmHMt2rp0SX9A2Lny_YGjf7vva6XjGUp_f6UzQRQeJGfcNu4kJ9aOzpQJqhNoFRejNpGM_8w4LxzyDFwHSVitgfV3nPz6QO_eHNVw1z2hBjTGj5KY_c/s1600/DSCF4096.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D49icagDhCV1fLGd6CgAbNYecmHMt2rp0SX9A2Lny_YGjf7vva6XjGUp_f6UzQRQeJGfcNu4kJ9aOzpQJqhNoFRejNpGM_8w4LxzyDFwHSVitgfV3nPz6QO_eHNVw1z2hBjTGj5KY_c/s400/DSCF4096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596055728167105634" border="0" /></a>I also made this <a href="http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/2011/04/signature-block-info.html">signature block for Victoria...</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_50NxT21CZeBVzcXrQprBptg01tXsAj16JfprPJp_KdZGH7_BmGeADbEAEUbJUyL_wJqa-TtKGDMEReKKDNL91ms9APb3KPGQRcfHYK_XIbA0oRdkoKv0Byg8H6RlB-pPmf6iAbGn8jQ/s1600/DSCF4102.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_50NxT21CZeBVzcXrQprBptg01tXsAj16JfprPJp_KdZGH7_BmGeADbEAEUbJUyL_wJqa-TtKGDMEReKKDNL91ms9APb3KPGQRcfHYK_XIbA0oRdkoKv0Byg8H6RlB-pPmf6iAbGn8jQ/s400/DSCF4102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596055739421853730" border="0" /></a>And made a few more blocks for the <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2011/01/true-colors.html">Rainbow String Quilt</a>. Now the quilting thread is in the machine, and I have started quilting <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2011/04/tonights-night.html">Indian Summer</a>. Hopefully I will finish it this weekend. Happy sewing!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfedyt7KaDA6mrN-iOt54KT1AxLOIF0ksMxeCWK7qIWVuMerAlE2PAQG25H2RsIxodjzEyqVsp8NEpVWoemLlL_a87cMxd1z2xPF3CfefNDaeBLqn36QOgxCmk0EqfAoBaiFGwUTmvNPA/s1600/DSCF4090.JPG"><br /></a>Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-43572447306262052382011-04-13T06:59:00.000-07:002011-04-13T07:11:26.288-07:00Tonight's the Night<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpvcupEyfV6553git82uFcKjwznHu0OZFJitBoBkb5NoqinPJvxyXQwnMB1x-8Kg2Y1m3eWQImMYlYOLK7NSNWHME3Krc1C0fGh5oOfEt8ijJW3MoQRNqQnpT07eCUZ0NhLlgOM7QUWk/s1600/DSCF4071.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpvcupEyfV6553git82uFcKjwznHu0OZFJitBoBkb5NoqinPJvxyXQwnMB1x-8Kg2Y1m3eWQImMYlYOLK7NSNWHME3Krc1C0fGh5oOfEt8ijJW3MoQRNqQnpT07eCUZ0NhLlgOM7QUWk/s400/DSCF4071.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595069006256479026" border="0" /></a>Here's the next quilt up for quilting in the April Quilt-A-Thon, Indian Summer. I was planning on quilting it last week, but it's been through quite a journey since then.<br /><br />First, the vintage sheet I was going to use for a backing was more "used" than "vintage." I couldn't find something else I liked for a backing for it...<br /><br />Then, it was throw size and let me know that I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> didn't need another throw, I needed a full size quilt for my guest bed. It got wide red borders, using up all the solid and semi-solid red in my stash (eek!)<br /><br />Next, I did find some backing fabric for it, pieced a back, and decided I had just made the back for <span style="font-style: italic;">another</span> quilt, that I have made one block of. So I put that aside for later.<br /><br />Finally, I pieced it's own back, and basted it. It's ready to go... tonight.<br /><br />And I wonder why I have such a hard time whittling down my stack of unquilted tops?Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-79584217576807242682011-04-10T08:27:00.001-07:002011-04-10T08:46:00.087-07:00Grayson's Quilt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRBUqJJVc4-6sgs5SVK8-8pPutxZZ2hUtdTp71WTHDLtt4vuckC-UdGA_hfCsEYY-h7RmPI0fb2zfjCO_2SvmPKUgzZrzjTGfK6-VG8OxSOS0UAGe1Kl5EyTFzATfg9sme434SIkBHss/s1600/DSCF4076.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRBUqJJVc4-6sgs5SVK8-8pPutxZZ2hUtdTp71WTHDLtt4vuckC-UdGA_hfCsEYY-h7RmPI0fb2zfjCO_2SvmPKUgzZrzjTGfK6-VG8OxSOS0UAGe1Kl5EyTFzATfg9sme434SIkBHss/s400/DSCF4076.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593977896636518482" border="0" /></a><br />I finished this lovely, squishy quilt for baby Grayson last week as part of my April quilt-a-thon. I am so excited- it's the first larger quilt I've free-motion quilted and I love the way it turned out. I used a meandering line pattern, inspired by <a href="http://tlcstitches.blogspot.com/2011/04/sent-and-received-hooray.html">Trisha's DQS quilt</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoruh4d_beW7nksL-i7yQy2Wx1hcEDIlj6ksw-MAATxK4vDLKimA6uUXaWIeG5yZhHw8byprqsq6vfJurQD9pcGTNL5R-SmYNkGk4einXJ5plQeOs1ttR_gQorr6NJI4fTzLHvcSQd7MQ/s1600/DSCF4077.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoruh4d_beW7nksL-i7yQy2Wx1hcEDIlj6ksw-MAATxK4vDLKimA6uUXaWIeG5yZhHw8byprqsq6vfJurQD9pcGTNL5R-SmYNkGk4einXJ5plQeOs1ttR_gQorr6NJI4fTzLHvcSQd7MQ/s400/DSCF4077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593977902309938338" border="0" /></a><br />I used a lot of scraps and strings for the center panel and the detail of this quilt, using gray, black, orange, brown and red. I decided to break up the dark gray border with this little bit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HVDbHdbl15Ij3EFVQRzwxqzZnwL-VJaM2PID7wiVSR7O4LseD3vknEXgzqiPXZr3lHXVlkrkFbRh1_mAv8_MLeSi97sr_pAUmc-YBjsIwQBa4fJsxNKA5zIGczQjsHHXzIbt4F8MwjA/s1600/DSCF4078.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HVDbHdbl15Ij3EFVQRzwxqzZnwL-VJaM2PID7wiVSR7O4LseD3vknEXgzqiPXZr3lHXVlkrkFbRh1_mAv8_MLeSi97sr_pAUmc-YBjsIwQBa4fJsxNKA5zIGczQjsHHXzIbt4F8MwjA/s400/DSCF4078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593977916567253634" border="0" /></a><br />I went with a gray Robert Kaufmann flannel on the back. This flannel is so thick and soft! Since Grayson lives in the cold northern plains of Canada, he'll need a nice warm quilt most of the year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic7zlEki3sDxCBXXRh0kV10jdrQWqe-IHb3F8MJqNYE8ilTr5yGCSQgAQszTztgpn2X63Lk7Qx1ywFtwV_2Qap41Fgm6rBKTVUB4ezBum5_FVQdSgIA0UZILBtm9ExXnUg7gMqGzyXNk/s1600/DSCF4079.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiic7zlEki3sDxCBXXRh0kV10jdrQWqe-IHb3F8MJqNYE8ilTr5yGCSQgAQszTztgpn2X63Lk7Qx1ywFtwV_2Qap41Fgm6rBKTVUB4ezBum5_FVQdSgIA0UZILBtm9ExXnUg7gMqGzyXNk/s400/DSCF4079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593977910149979298" border="0" /></a>I added some red and brown flannel from my stash when I realized that I had bought not quite enough gray for the back. That's what happends when you design on the fly- it is harder to plan yardage for quilt backs, but you get to make fun improvisational choices that lead to a more unique and exciting quilt!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyos9vLAy8oKf5omVlRSkt5xcQaO_yrlF3b762p6OUadB0dGwixYCYi3-RASF27gepqXOAHV5oT56A_1rWv0H6koSbcXPZ2BfFOud5No8Z880rhAwBim9lVRwAa1vDpnYBBHx-n3IYFE/s1600/DSCF4080.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyos9vLAy8oKf5omVlRSkt5xcQaO_yrlF3b762p6OUadB0dGwixYCYi3-RASF27gepqXOAHV5oT56A_1rWv0H6koSbcXPZ2BfFOud5No8Z880rhAwBim9lVRwAa1vDpnYBBHx-n3IYFE/s400/DSCF4080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5593977917201620610" border="0" /></a>The binding is mostly a gray on black dot, but I had just a few inches shy of the length I needed, so in went the white and red polka dot! It ended up being the perfect place to label the quilt.<br /><br />My wishes for Grayson are stitched into this quilt- may he create a life of beauty and warmth with all the bits and experiences he encounters!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-54387217991660800482011-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:002011-04-06T07:00:01.130-07:00Flower Garden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk1clI-yijEO5on-mCfcRgwLmMMWY5UXj3bavxiuIWC_s-AZEW05zrpPtXLOPhPJAem39DBqhMNBNKNB_qfZb5xN-mpU4B7Vttn8AvwAk4i6o6EMUVjQYTD6CzcAm2IePbuPgEwnawmY/s1600/DSCF4043.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnk1clI-yijEO5on-mCfcRgwLmMMWY5UXj3bavxiuIWC_s-AZEW05zrpPtXLOPhPJAem39DBqhMNBNKNB_qfZb5xN-mpU4B7Vttn8AvwAk4i6o6EMUVjQYTD6CzcAm2IePbuPgEwnawmY/s400/DSCF4043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592128024191933218" border="0" /></a>The last quilt I finished in March was this Flower Garden, based on the Garden Path quilt from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Freddy-Gwen-Collaborate-Again-Freewheeling/dp/1600594395/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1302019480&sr=8-1">Freddy & Gwen Collaborate Again</a>. I free-motion quilted this in the ditch (a long story involving a broken walking foot) and machine bound it with solid dark gray. The quilting gives great texture and leaves the quilt nice and soft- perfect for the little baby girl it is going to.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwS3m-s01WgLFx5oayHmXWEEAgWhap_NNvJ-btx-j7EyXgAd9QWB0h9cpsuv7C0x_DeqEViOfgGqmGSWCh5okt2VbVI9lCZq21E-ilVCQ13fPouzWCA5Ml52PtkdebAfyKM4vlYLizvA/s1600/DSCF4044.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwS3m-s01WgLFx5oayHmXWEEAgWhap_NNvJ-btx-j7EyXgAd9QWB0h9cpsuv7C0x_DeqEViOfgGqmGSWCh5okt2VbVI9lCZq21E-ilVCQ13fPouzWCA5Ml52PtkdebAfyKM4vlYLizvA/s400/DSCF4044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592128033698965938" border="0" /></a>It turned out that I had the perfect backing in my stash- this vintage floral thrifted find. It was exactly the size of my finished top- no piecing required! I love that serendipity- it was obviously meant to be!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkENvCjrApal6dbDPZvLKVqoQHWCpbK-3k7DkKdvDL93oEiGK_tllMqK6CeQjbvsB_8BLSYWi0vFMPtf8Un1dCEojKeOd08DPxf591wbRatYUrHSByI0vgJ2vJC8q_BXnnfliS9tPQXc4/s1600/DSCF4045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkENvCjrApal6dbDPZvLKVqoQHWCpbK-3k7DkKdvDL93oEiGK_tllMqK6CeQjbvsB_8BLSYWi0vFMPtf8Un1dCEojKeOd08DPxf591wbRatYUrHSByI0vgJ2vJC8q_BXnnfliS9tPQXc4/s400/DSCF4045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592128043595499634" border="0" /></a>Here's a closer look at the backing- the gray and yellow background tie in perfectly with two of my cornerstone colors from the front. The blue and red flowers are so vibrant and brilliant! I handwrote the label on the leaves on the back.<br /><br />Flower Garden was truly a joy to make- the way it all came together so graciously was a pleasure. Made from scraps and stash, it's truly a testament to beauty we can find in what is around us every day. I hope it brings lots of beauty and brightness to it's recipient!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-8852887670955757892011-04-04T08:18:00.000-07:002011-04-04T08:26:34.355-07:00Weekend Sewing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMZM0BRP41m_6gjyug96Ahq_T-e48Z7_nGQZBUP3IJ9sV0Nx0fN4o6X7O0OdHBEc7KaT5lqqsc5_SwF02davvfQdSzxzIaKNij3PDyUdaMFrNQhQ4cn3uMLZieY3dz7hxHISEhqp2h3k/s1600/DSCF4041.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMZM0BRP41m_6gjyug96Ahq_T-e48Z7_nGQZBUP3IJ9sV0Nx0fN4o6X7O0OdHBEc7KaT5lqqsc5_SwF02davvfQdSzxzIaKNij3PDyUdaMFrNQhQ4cn3uMLZieY3dz7hxHISEhqp2h3k/s400/DSCF4041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591748647084879330" border="0" /></a>How cute are these? I spent a big part of my weekend hosting a stuffy sewing birthday party for my daughter and 3 of her best friends. We based the project on the cat, left, that I made with my daughter a few months ago. The girls did all the sewing and embroidery on their own.<br /><br />Maybe because I had to clear out my craft area for this activity, I was super productive this weekend- I also finished 2 quilts (that I will show you later) and made my <a href="http://www.15minutesplay.com/2011/04/scrap-bee-blocks-for-mary-frances_04.html">April bee blocks</a>. I hope I can roll all this energy into the week, but looking at my calendar, I doubt it. How was your creative weekend?Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-40007240725475983512011-04-02T10:49:00.001-07:002011-04-04T16:32:51.777-07:00April Quilt-A-Thon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6mmGDH9cuCo-f-iJ5i-mL8PpVzLYWODOcEz1uu0PbkeD47Ja5KJpemANTb6-YZGADGhWkA-MAN9zCqrJhN3uhUfv5xhFRZk1FYlOxtW4MCGEaM2FSK_BscF6GJ9qlbHFandk23295-k/s1600/mosaic2caa2b2af61fa6094eaddefabf4004e6f7886a66.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6mmGDH9cuCo-f-iJ5i-mL8PpVzLYWODOcEz1uu0PbkeD47Ja5KJpemANTb6-YZGADGhWkA-MAN9zCqrJhN3uhUfv5xhFRZk1FYlOxtW4MCGEaM2FSK_BscF6GJ9qlbHFandk23295-k/s400/mosaic2caa2b2af61fa6094eaddefabf4004e6f7886a66.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591045133906463026" border="0" /></a>Here they are: my finished tops and one quilt in the hoop... the subjects for this month's Quilt-A-Thon! There is 9th quilt, too, I just don't have a picture of it (you know your pile of tops is out of control when you don't even have pictures of all of them!)<br /><br />My goal for April is quilt as many of these as possible. If all goes well that means at least 3...<br /><br />They are:<br /><ol><li><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Grayson's Quilt done 4/11</span><br /></li><li>Triumph Star</li><li>Amish-ish Mini Quilt</li><li>Gypsy Madness</li><li>Summer Flowers</li><li>Bright Snowballs</li><li>Stars & Strings</li><li>Calico Houses</li><li>Indian Summer</li></ol>I am looking forward to showing off some finishes. If you've got tops... feel free to join me... April is the month... let's quilt it up!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-37411291503226555312011-03-31T07:22:00.000-07:002011-04-02T08:13:56.273-07:00March Progress<span> </span><span>Are we at the end of March already? It's been such a whirlwind... and it's time to check in with </span><a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2011/01/list-for-2011.html"><span>The List </span></a><span>again. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span>This month, I've been working on getting my sewing machine fixed and trying out a new-to-me machine.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>I had big plans to finish, like, 4 quilts this month, which was so unrealistic for me. Between working, and all the family birthday activity this month, </span><span>I need to realize that my sewing hours are more limited! After I finish sewing on a machine binding tonight, my total for the month will be 2 finished quilts, so that is pretty good!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Finished Quilts of 2011<br /></span><span> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><ol><li><span>Christmas Tree Mini Quilts</span> done 1/11</li><li>Baby quilt: spring strings (<span>top done 3/10</span>), <span>basted 8/10, done 1/11</span></li><li><span>Bloom Mini Quilt done 1/11</span></li><li><span>3 Quilted Book Covers started and done 1/11</span></li><li>Girly I Spy Quilt done 2/11</li><li style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Baby Blocks: Blue #1 done 3/11</span></li><li style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Garden Path baby quilt done 3/11<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">2011 WIPs:</span><br />This list is the same size as it was last month... it didn't shrink, but it didn't grow either. Nothing else is getting added until some items get taken off!<br /><ol><li>Stars & Strings <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">tabletopper</span> (started 2009) <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 7/10</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">basted,hand-quilting in progress *<br /></span></li><li>Houses Donation quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 8/10</span><br /></li><li>Bright Snowballs (started 2009, <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done</span>)</li><li>Applique Flowers Wall Quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 8/10</span></li><li>Indian Summer <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 12/10</span><br /></li><li>Gypsy Madness Leaders & <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Enders</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done 1/11</span><br /></li><li>Wedding Ring Table Runner <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done, quilted 10/10</span></li><li>Amish-ish Mini Quilt <span style="font-weight: bold;">top done & basted 2/11<br /></span></li><li>Grey baby quilt<span style="font-weight: bold;"> top done 2/11</span></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Triumph Star</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">top done 3/11</span>*</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>Stash Busting Bee International Log Cabin</li><li>Say Cheese Self-Portrait</li><li>Seasons Mat for R's preschool *<br /></li><li>Crumb Blocks-->stars</li><li>Pinwheel Quilt</li><li>Holy Night</li><li>Soup Dragon</li><li>Yellow & Orange Log Cabins*</li><li>Rainbow String Quilt*</li><li>Scrappy Sixteens*</li></ol><span style="font-size:78%;">* Quilts I worked on this month</span><br /><br />On the design burner (fabric has been pulled or cut, but no sewing has been done):<br /><ol><li>Bricks & stones baby quilt </li><li>Girl blocks baby quilt<br /></li><li>2233 Pineapple</li><li><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Bento</span> Boxes for S</li><li>Leopard Roses</li><li>Christmas quilts<br /></li><li>Donation quilt for A's school auction</li><li>Retro Rail Fence<br /></li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">Quilting</span><br />It was a struggle to get my machine to cooperate, but we finally made peace and got some quilting done this month. My walking foot seems to be kaput, so I tried FMQ in the ditch to quilt the Garden Path. I don't know where I got his idea. I thought I read it on a blog, but it turns out not too be there, so it must have been a casualty of blog reading before coffee. Very dangerous! The technique was tricky, and imperfect, but it looks great as a Monet and gave me great practice.<br /><br />Next month, I will be having a quilt-a-thon to turn my finished tops into bona fide quilts, and practicing my FMQ on my mini Triumph Star quilt.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stash</span><br />I have a sad situation with my stash: it doesn't fit on my shelves. I've been working to whittle it down, but it is not going so well. I had an inkling to go into Goodwill one day this month, and they had 30% off linens (that includes fabric!) It was too good of a deal to pass up, but it put me over the capacity edge. I'm not going to worry about this until after my quilt-a-thon, since I should be able to piece a bunch of backs and open up some shelf space.<br /><br />Here's to lots of finished quilts in April!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-59308132159646364682011-03-28T07:27:00.001-07:002011-03-28T07:54:30.885-07:00Little GiftsBoth of my daughters had birthday parties to attend this weekend (it is definitely spring- it is birthday season!) so we put together some little gifts- first a knot bag for my 9-year-old's "Cute Things" themed gift swap.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatnfNGLlR383CJ_Q4bCtB8zlDs-GMVo4mxVwmirgs_Lo2QR1ge0fpdHaPV5XNa6HmVy3bhI7qNdr34zCKT03O4EosrtgfAy3Rxwg7NgHG0NsvLs3av1pLKPBOEsEa4M_Eqt6UvAonZJQ/s1600/DSCF3971.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatnfNGLlR383CJ_Q4bCtB8zlDs-GMVo4mxVwmirgs_Lo2QR1ge0fpdHaPV5XNa6HmVy3bhI7qNdr34zCKT03O4EosrtgfAy3Rxwg7NgHG0NsvLs3av1pLKPBOEsEa4M_Eqt6UvAonZJQ/s400/DSCF3971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589138180563464722" border="0" /></a>We put a Paul Frank Lip Smackers tin inside- I heard this was super popular and one of the other girls' moms wanted to buy one from me. Remember when these were super popular a couple of years ago? I always planned on making one but didn't get around to until just now. They are very quick and easy, especially if you remember to clip the curves when you are sewing at 11 PM on Friday night after teaching all week ;-) Now my daughter wants to make them with her friends at her birthday party next weekend, too. The tute is no longer on line, but I did find the <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fshowyourworkings.files.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fknotbaginstructions2.pdf&rct=j&q=japanese%20knot%20bag%20pattern&ei=TJ2QTa22AYS4sQPnlvWeAg&usg=AFQjCNH7rcLT_OLMMr-QP8FUKrEn4AP6Lw&sig2=ucu7iMPjSGXxNcNUd_Ua5g">Japanese Knot Bag PDF</a> (thanks Google!)<br /><br />My 5-tear-old took this sweet little doll quilt to her fancy salon party. It will be the perfect size for her friend's American Girl Doll. I had made a <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2010/07/going-to-fair.html">series of doll quilts</a> last summer, so it was great to have one on hand for gifting. It was really hard for her to choose one to give away though- she wanted to keep them all!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2Ie4fJSPIfkZN9eAp5PaNZTA60OyPjbnh258SelL1JVX_cXhZ8R5cWDpMbh8PV6hChpS-zW5eaHrl2TzVlK7_ncVDC_xQ76VYn9s5IPPqPd6Wsd1ecvh1rhYSGvWbjqgrocNLG7NvTQ/s1600/DSCF3972.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2Ie4fJSPIfkZN9eAp5PaNZTA60OyPjbnh258SelL1JVX_cXhZ8R5cWDpMbh8PV6hChpS-zW5eaHrl2TzVlK7_ncVDC_xQ76VYn9s5IPPqPd6Wsd1ecvh1rhYSGvWbjqgrocNLG7NvTQ/s400/DSCF3972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589138193075709154" border="0" /></a>I did get my sewing machine back from the shop, but the jury is still out on how well it is working. I had some problems with it but think it may actually be my walking foot that is now the culprit. In any case, I got out this old sewing machine that I picked up at Goodwill for $20 a while a go and stashed in the garage. I had started reading about how to fix it up and somehow got convinced it was a <a href="http://quiltsofmimipark.blogspot.com/2010/10/meet-honoria.html">another fixer machine</a> without ever even trying it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kCW3X5gTZlmhgjafg4M0p8kDMml918IIGALMww4r7KCd19ct1lkZ0KZ03QZa013t10YLB-hh6BbgB3yNjoSzO8EubbMwzpIIVa8roDZ32Mde4Q7J3bDiKIyNhzFd4CAWSax4QCHDJRo/s1600/DSCF3973.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kCW3X5gTZlmhgjafg4M0p8kDMml918IIGALMww4r7KCd19ct1lkZ0KZ03QZa013t10YLB-hh6BbgB3yNjoSzO8EubbMwzpIIVa8roDZ32Mde4Q7J3bDiKIyNhzFd4CAWSax4QCHDJRo/s400/DSCF3973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589138200525101394" border="0" /></a>It's a Singer 201-2 and she is a beauty. She sews so smooth and quiet, and all I had to do was clean out some lint from under the throat plate. I need to look into getting some accessories for her, but she may be taking over as my main machine.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxrr1qeAOGXtXDv3CvW9SqafC69ZTdGpoc4HucNI4ch53r-EYLIhaVBCxG9ypp-GnkR5hyphenhyphenrt219-9Y4zfzbLWjJyCVvfia83UW26SqAKnvggcMl4EPnt0Q1RWu1uiRmx4S_g6u4ezRdg/s1600/DSCF3974.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfxrr1qeAOGXtXDv3CvW9SqafC69ZTdGpoc4HucNI4ch53r-EYLIhaVBCxG9ypp-GnkR5hyphenhyphenrt219-9Y4zfzbLWjJyCVvfia83UW26SqAKnvggcMl4EPnt0Q1RWu1uiRmx4S_g6u4ezRdg/s400/DSCF3974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589138204555997986" border="0" /></a>Look at the gorgeous Deco-y plate on her! I think she must be from the 1930s when this model came out. By the '50s, these plates were all vertically ridged. I'm just amazed that my 8 year old sewing machine has at least partially worn out, but this 80 year old one is going strong. I'm hoping to give both these ladies a test drive getting some quilting done this week!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-85940003962497769592011-03-24T07:00:00.000-07:002011-03-24T07:00:03.059-07:00Motherhood & CreativityI'm have a <a href="http://www.rachelleonard.com/my_right_brain/2011/03/guest-blogger-alexis-ortega-motherhood-creativity.html#comments">guest post on motherhood and creativity</a> over at my friend Rachel's blog, <a href="http://www.rachelleonard.com/my_right_brain/">My Right Brain</a>. I'm so excited for Rachel- she just became a new mom!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-11087284120675363252011-03-23T19:42:00.001-07:002011-03-23T19:52:39.375-07:00WIP World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvaeCdtgkS9683-x5IGhYX8BjdZF-XxjYADtWoVVKjwYnpj2sjuRB-ewykH90X_-lTiBHeDAgP_g7DYF7KhmiuxLm2Hqzd49qIIXvX6MKgX2N-mPr_-LRfCQ17lnH2HkBZysw8KjytS0/s1600/mosaic90d3565792057fcb0558ccad428650383e606163.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvaeCdtgkS9683-x5IGhYX8BjdZF-XxjYADtWoVVKjwYnpj2sjuRB-ewykH90X_-lTiBHeDAgP_g7DYF7KhmiuxLm2Hqzd49qIIXvX6MKgX2N-mPr_-LRfCQ17lnH2HkBZysw8KjytS0/s400/mosaic90d3565792057fcb0558ccad428650383e606163.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587471398683403442" border="0" /></a> O...M...G...! This is really what my tiny little sewing area looks like right now... It's WIP World and it is a disaster!<br /><br />Now that my big family birthday week is behind me, and my sewing machine is back from the shop, it is time to crack down on this situation. I'm all for making a big creative mess, but at a certain point I can't find anything, and have no room to work, no space for any constructive energy to flow, nada.<br /><br />My desk needs to be cleaned off, the stacks of fabric and quilt tops on my ironing board need to be dealt with, and the bags of WIPS <span style="font-style: italic;">under </span>the ironing board need be marched out and WIPped into finished tops!<br /><br />My big plan is to:<br />-quilt at least 3 quilts by the end of the month<br />-not start anything new until those babies are quilted<br />-piece my heart out on those WIPs<br /><br />Annnnndddd..... here I GO!Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-420601510339124812.post-64813826943492829092011-03-18T08:28:00.001-07:002011-03-18T08:31:41.438-07:00Taking It Slow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQf2LRQPl4TpJx_lTfdJvu4PFfAxYtvrP-fiYlAsuqDltUlEe0RjKFmyrPopD6-5UULjIZi-TzSnzNZhxrJ5lZkFPZ-l1RRqIxxoGv_F2xhw8nSU7SAbuccp34RDCzZTJNKbKGN8Pf6og/s1600/DSCF3947.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQf2LRQPl4TpJx_lTfdJvu4PFfAxYtvrP-fiYlAsuqDltUlEe0RjKFmyrPopD6-5UULjIZi-TzSnzNZhxrJ5lZkFPZ-l1RRqIxxoGv_F2xhw8nSU7SAbuccp34RDCzZTJNKbKGN8Pf6og/s400/DSCF3947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585442467264977346" border="0" /></a>I'm waiting to get my sewing machine back from the shop, doing some hand quilting, watching March Madness and getting ready for 2 birthdays in my household this weekend. (That's slow mode? Yes!) What are you looking forward to this weekend?Alexishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04925969591919338045noreply@blogger.com1