Cappuccino quilt

Another one from Joyce.  This one is called Cappuccino.  It was a pretty big quilt.  So big that I could barely get a picture of it all.  I can only capture so much while standing on a chair with my camera over my head! 

I quilted all-over free-motion hook feathers using Connecting Threads Essential Pro thread in a brown color. 

Love how the high-loft batting really makes those feathers pop!

Tea Dying

I've been working on a little sewing project lately that required some light-yellow-brownish fabric.  I don't have light-yellow-brownish fabric, but I DO have a lot of light yellow fabric.  If only it were a little bit more brown...hmmm, I could tea dye it!  I have never dyed anything with tea before, but it's pretty simple.  Just brew up some strong tea and put your fabric in it. 

I've got one of those giant tea bags in there that makes a whole pitcher of tea.  I only had the one tea bag left otherwise I would have used 2. 

I let it soak for about 6 hours or so.  I kind of forget exactly how long.  But once I decided it was done, I rinsed it out until it squeezed out clear and let it air dry.  Then I gave it a good ironing.  The fabric on the left is the before and on the right is the dyed fabric.  Capturing the color difference on camera is a bit difficult, but the color turned out pretty well I think.

The coloring is a little mottled/spotty, probably because of how it was folded and wadded up in the tea bath.  And I probably could have poured more water into it so the fabric had more room to swim, but it's cool because it is going to turn into a tree trunk so it will look very natural.  Right??  Yes. 

Have you ever tried tea dying?  How did it turn out?  Do you like tea?  Do you prefer hot or iced? Sugar?  Lemon?  Honey?  In summer I like iced tea with a lemon.  In winter hot tea with honey. 

Stars to Heaven

Oooh.  Pretty. 

This one is called Stars to Heaven made by Joyce. 

I quilted feathers in the background and meandered in the stars. 

And did some custom borders too. 

(Nevermind the camera strap!  Or the fact that I am posting this almost 3 weeks after I actually completed quilting it!  I'm such a great blogger...)

The plain back really shows off the quilting.  I'll admit I'm a little proud of myself on this one-it turned out really nice.  :)

I made something!

It's a dollie and ticker tape combo for a special little niece's first birthday. 

Dollie likes to be swaddled.

And playing in the bouncy-seat.  :)  She will be venture off via USPS to live with little Mariah next week. 

  Linking up to Megan's Sew Modern Monday. 

I've Been Tagged!

Karen of Where Is My Seamripper tagged me in her post!  Karen always has a few neat sewing projects going on- some of which I have had the privilege of quilting for her.  So as part of being tagged, I have to answer a few questions.  Here is your chance to get to know me a little bit better.  Here goes!



Where is one place in the world you haven't yet visited, but would like to?
Some tropical island south of the equator.  Someplace like Jamaica or Figi.

What's your favorite quiltmaking gadget?
I'm going to have to say my rotary cutter.  You just cant do without it!


How often do you oil your sewing machine?
I actually have never oiled my sewing machine!  I looked in the manual and there is nothing in there about oiling it or where to oil it.  I'd say it needs dusting more anyways!  I rarely do much sewing myself lately.  My longarm quilting keeps me pretty busy.  My longarm (a Nolting Fun Quilter) does get oiled regularly though.  I'd say about every 8-10 hours of use. 

What's your favorite perfume?
I'm not a big perfume wearer.  I will admit that I have been working on the same bottle of perfume and body splash for close to 10 years!  But I do like Moonlight Path from Bath and Body Works.  They probably discontinued that scent long ago-I have no idea :)


Machine-piecing/applique or hand-piecing/applique?
Machine.  Although I have been working on a English paper piecing hexagon project for a while.  I'm pretty slow when it comes to hand sewing projects. 


What's your favorite dessert?
Ice cream.  Especially kinds with gooey chocolate!


Who's your favorite author?
Honestly, I am not an avid book reader.  Although I have jumped on the Harry Potter and Twilight bandwagon.  (who hasn't)  I LIKE reading books, but I guess I have a hard time justifying sitting down and reading a good book when I should be doing other things.  Like quilting, cooking, laundry, consoling my crying baby... :)  Although I did just finish reading The Sacred Acre.  It's about the Aplington-Parkersburg high school football coach who was tragically shot and killed a few years ago after Parkersburg, Iowa was nearly wiped out by a tornado.  Perhaps you had heard about it in the news.  Anyways, it is a pretty inspiring story. 


What quilting technique would you like to learn more about?
I haven't quite figured out how to use rulers with my longarm.  One of these days...


What dish do you cook/bake that is considered your best?
Home-made pizza.  and yes, I make the crust from scratch.


Machine-sewn binding or hand-sewn binding?
hand sewn all the way!


If you took on a new hobby, what would it be?
canning.  I want to try to make homemade salsa this summer!  We are going to have a big garden this year.  We already have onions, potatoes, carrots and lettuce in the ground.  And I have several other things started and under grow lights: tomatoes, green peppers, basil, parsley, and a few flowers.  I don't think I've mentioned this before but I have a B.S. in Horticulture.  So yeah, I like plants! :)

Do you have a hard time gifting quilts?
Not really-but I normally only make them for close friends or family for major life events: weddings, birth of a child, graduations.  Some of my favorite quilts I've made/helped in making have been given to someone else.  Like this one.  Or this one.  So I be sure to take pictures of them before they are gifted!


Raw Edge or Needleturn Applique?
raw edge.

What colour continually shows up in your quilts, but you deny 'liking' it?
white

Favourite band from the '90s?  Tiffany, Janet Jackson and Paula Abdul.  And Shania Twain.

And now I get to "tag" someone else!  I am tagging Jenny from Jenny's Doodling Needle.  Her quilting is so inspiring to me.  She also has another blog: Sew Kind of Wonderful where she shares her own amazing quilting projects.  AND she created her own curved ruler!  She has made some pretty awesome blocks with it that you should check out. 


Whew--I DID it Karen! 

A couple projects from Jessica

This one is called Orion's Star- made by Jessica.  I just love those colors!

Perfect points with a bit of meandering.

Jessica also had me quilt this fabric together.  She is going to cut this up and make potholders--what a cute idea! 

Jelly Roll Quilt

Norene made this colorful quilt out of a jelly roll.  Love those vibrant colors!

I free handed some swirls with a few flowers here and there.  I love quilting swirls...

In the border I did some leaves.  Such a fun quilt.

Applique Table Runner

My Sister made this table runner.  All hand applique.  Isn't it pretty?!

I filled in the background with pebbling and then did some custom designs in the patchwork areas. 

Center square.  I believe she said that she is going to do some more hand stitching around the flowers yet.  Can't wait to see it all finished and on your dining room table! 

And here is the back. 

Conversation Piece

Norene put this little quilt together using up random blocks and bits leftover from other quilts.  It's like a little collage of all the quilts she's made in the last year--quite a conversation piece!

She let me go a little haywire quilting random things in each section.  I was having lots of fun trying out new designs and practicing different patterns. 

This double heart design was pretty fun to do.  A lot of the designs I used were from the book Quilting Inside the Lines by Pam Clarke.  I also get inspiration from Leah Day's Free Motion Quilting Blog. 

Blog Catch Up

Well, despite my lack of blog posts lately, I have been busy quilting.  I will attempt to get the blog caught up this week.  Here are a couple quilts that I've worked on recently. 

This is Gina's flannel quilt.  You might think that quilting straight lines would be super easy, but this one was a doozie for me!  Notice the pointed edges.  I had to make sure that all those points were aligned just right.  Then I rotated the quilt and put it back on to do the vertical lines. 

Good luck binding this one Gina! 

Here's another tractor/farm quilt.  This one has all the farm critters on it!  Puppies, kitties, horses, chickens, cows...

A large swirl is what I quilted it with.

Here's a shot of the center panel.  I just love it!  That big white barn reminds me of the one at my Grandparent's house. 

And in other news, I have decided not to return to my job from maternity leave, so I am now officially a full-time stay-at-home Mom and Longarm quilter!!  I think I am going to love it!  Also, today is my Birthday.  Yes, on St. Patty's Day.  I am not too excited about it.  I'm now officially in my thirties.  UGH.