One Thing: One Week Challenge 2

Amy over at Amy's Creative Side challenged us again to finish one project in one week. This time, I was not as overly ambitious as I was the last time. I am still ahead of schedule on my quilts, but I want to stay that way because I know once the crazy holiday season starts, I will probably be scrambling, trying to get a bunch of gifts made. Anyone else starting to get anxious about the holidays? Maybe its just me...

Anyways, my goal this time was to finish a quilt top for my next quilt "due". It is going to be for my step-dad whose birthday is in October. He is an elementary school music teacher, and I knew I wanted to do something "musical" for his quilt theme. I think I might name this quilt "Music Man". :)

I selected different music themed prints that I found either online or at some nearby quilt shops. I love the piano keys fabric, but when I was thinking of a design for this quilt, I didn't know how I wanted to use it. So, I ended up deciding on this simple stripe pattern, alternating the piano keys fabric with red, scattered pianos, choir kids, and kids playing instruments. My only fear is that it will be too "cutesy" for him. I guess he'll just have to deal with it. The quilt top measures 50" by 73", so it should be a good size for him.

I'm already thinking of how I'm going to quilt this, and I haven't even started on the back yet! Stay tuned for more pics.

I have also been working on cutting fabric for my next 3 quilts due by Christmas. I'm hopeful that I can finish them ahead of time and maybe have time for a couple more quilts! :) I'm totally addicted... not to mention crazy!

One Thing: One Week Challenge 2

Margaret's Hope Chest Quilt!

Yesterday, I finished my 14th quilt of the year! This is my quilt for Margaret's Hope Chest. Does it look familiar? I used this same fabric collection and almost the same design for my niece's quilt last Christmas. Since then, I have improved how I measure and cut my fabric pieces, and I've learned how to do free-motion quilting. Now I feel bad that my two nieces' quilts are not as nice looking as my newer ones are. I guess that means I'll just have to make them new ones! ;)

I didn't have my trusty quilt holder (aka, hubby) today, so I had to hang this up on the wall inside. I would have much rather taken pictures outside in the sunshine, but these pics will have to do.

So, in case you haven't heard of Margaret's Hope Chest before, here's a very short story. While they make quilts for many different people going through hard times, they also run a program called Wrapped in Hope where quilters can sign up to make a quilt for a child of a prisoner. The quilts are due by the child's birthday, as something nice to give them while their parent is away. You can read more about it at Margaret's Hope Chest or the MHC blog.

I was told that the little girl I'm making this quilt for likes horses and the color pink. So I thought this fabric collection was perfect, since it combines two of her favorite things! Plus, I had some leftover from my niece's quilt, so that was a major bonus! :) The fabric collection is called Castles and Carriages by Studio R Designs. It is very "Princessy", and while I don't really know this little girl, I kind of figure most little girls dream about being a Princess, right?

I did a basic patchwork design using the panel from the collection, and big sections of the other coordinating fabrics. I prefer the pinks and greens, so I used only those colors.

Lots of horses all around...

I used a pale pink thread for the quilting. I did my usual meandering stipple quilting method.

I left the back simple, using just the tone-on-tone pink crown fabric from the collection.

Close-up of crowns and quilting.

I used the green fairy princess fabric for the binding.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I hope it brings this little girl some smiles and warmth! :)

Margaret's Hope Chest Quilt!

Win It Wednesday!

I am having a giveaway over at Andrea Snedaker's blog! I will be giving away the winner's choice of a tie onesie or a necklace onesie! Check out Andrea's blog to enter, and stay awhile to gaze at her lovely photography! If you just can't wait to get your hands on one of my onesies, I am offering free shipping in my Etsy shop for TODAY only! Good luck!

Win It Wednesday!

Colorful Quilts!

I've been wanting to share these pictures for a while. These are some quilt pictures that my nieces drew for me for my birthday. I just LOVE them! I have them hanging up on my wall in my "sewing room" (i.e., dining room). The top picture is by my 6-year-old niece, and the bottom picture is by my 3-year-old niece.

These pictures really brighten my day! :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Colorful Quilts!

Zig Zag Roads Quilt, and Aprons...

I finally finished my nephew's quilt! This is my 13th finished quilt of the year! :) You can see more posts about this quilt here and here and here and here. It is a basic zig zag design using only rectangles with the Wheels collection of fabrics by Riley Blake.

I went back to my usual meandering stipple method of quilting all over. I used a tan thread so it blended in a little more.

I was running low on the fabric I needed for the binding, so I ended up having to order more. I used the tone-on-tone blue dot fabric from the collection. I really love the color!

Oh, and I made these super easy oilcloth aprons for my nieces last week. They both started school yesterday, and will be using these for their art class. The oilcloth will make for easy wipe-off cleaning. There are a bunch of great online tutorials for aprons, but I used this tutorial by Martha Stewart, as it seemed very easy (and it was!). I did the pockets a little bit different from the tutorial, but I think they are still a decent size. I used pink and brown "lace" oilcloth. I have some leftover oilcloth, so I'm thinking of making a couple more and putting them up for sale in my Etsy shop. :) What do you think?

Zig Zag Roads Quilt, and Aprons...

More W.I.P.'s...

I can't believe I'm only working on 2 quilts right now! I feel like I'm getting lazy. I have met my goal for the year, but I still have 5 quilts that I want to finish by the end of the year. I guess it sounds like a lot, but I'm almost finished with one of the five, and I've got a good start on another. So, really I only have about 3.5 quilts to finish. LOL! :) I finished a quilt top for my charity quilt this year. I am donating a quilt to the Wrapped in Hope program with Margaret's Hope Chest. Click on the link to learn more about this great program! I was told the little girl that I'm making this quilt for likes horses and the color pink. So, I had all this leftover fabric (Castles and Carriages by Studio R Design) from the quilt I made for my niece last year, and I thought it was perfect! It has horses, and lots of pink! :) I am waiting on some more fabric for the backing, so I will be posting on this again once it is finished. It is due by October, so I at least have a good head-start on it.

Meanwhile, I'm finishing up the binding on my nephew's quilt. I had run out of that fabric too, and just got more in the mail yesterday. I should be finishing his quilt very soon... about a month ahead of schedule, which leaves more time for making more quilts! Yay! :)

More W.I.P.'s...