Someone's Been Bitten by the Quilting Bug!

My sis came to quilting w/me last Saturday. The sisters from church get together every 3rd Saturday to quilt, sew and crochet.  We work on charity and personal projects.  She'd been before, years ago, but didn't like the experience. She's a lefty who tries to do everything w/her right hand and cutting w/the rotary cutter was very awkward for her and she just didn't want to do it again. So I brought her a charm pack to work with.

My Sis

She had a several rows finished by the afternoon but wasn't thrilled w/the idea of waiting a month to work on it again.
I assured her she could come to my house anytime to sew w/me.  Well, she came over the very next day and said she wanted to take everything home to work on by herself!! I sent her home w/a machine, the manual and most importantly, a seam ripper.

Four days later her very first quilt top was completed!!







She ran into some bobbin issues, but when I wasn't available when she called, she referred to the manual and YouTube and figured it out! I'm so proud of her! Today she offered to take apart anything I had that needed seam ripping as she's become very intimate w/the seam ripper. =)

Tonight, I brought her 10" squares (Layer Cakes) to work on,and already she's put a another small quilt top together. Yay Sis!!

Next month I'll show her how to baste a quilt and get her started on stitching in the ditch.

Me and my sis

A Thread for Life
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thes 5:16-18

Happy Quilting!

Patterns, Books and Progress, Oh My!

When I first started quilting and discovered FaveQuilts, I was so thankful for all the FREE quilt patterns. (It's where I found some of the blogs I follow too!)


 I was super excited that I would never have to pay for a pattern or book! Well that lasted for a long while, but in the past year I've purchased a few patterns and more recently, a couple of books! I pre-ordered this modern quilt as you go book a few months ago and I can't wait for it to be distributed next month. And even more recently, after falling in love w/ a beautiful kaleidoscope quilt seen on Fresh Off The Frame, I ordered Ricky Tims' book, Kool Kaleidoscope Quilts.







And speaking of books, I recently inherited a great deal of books from the AQG who closed their library earlier this year. Members were allowed to choose pretty much any books we wanted. Here are the ones I chose.

my son cut off my head

In Quilty news, I did get the college-bound quilt basted last weekend and have even started quilting it. I'm using the techniques that Ann Petersen teaches in her Craftsy class: Quilting Big Projects on a Small Machine.

Here's what I have so far on the Summer Star Mini.

Tomorrow I'm bringing my sister to quilting, the once a month get together w/the sisters from church,and I'm going to assist her in making a simple lap quilt. Maybe she'll become a quilting maniac like me. ;)

In Yoga news, 2 weeks down, 10 more to go! Keep praying for me.

A Thread for Life
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV

Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless.

Still Learning, a Quick Finish and Freebies!

There are a couple of things from this week that I'm excited about.

First, I learned how to tie a Quilters Knot! The gal who taught it to the kids at sew camp this week was surprised that I didn't already know how; and honestly, I was a little embarrassed. But there was one other mature quilter who also didn't know...so I didn't feel so bad after all. ;)  This is something I could have learned from YouTube, but I wasn't interested before that day because I'd been using a knotting technique I learned from +Quilting In The Rain's tutorial.  Before this tutorial, my knots were also "ghetto". I'm thankful to have added another technique to my quilters resume.

And the other thing I'm excited about is also something I discovered at sew camp: Chaco Liners by Clover! These chalk pens and liners work wonderfully for marking quilts w/straight or curvy lines, half square triangles and any other fabric markings. There is no mess and the chalk just washes or brushes away.  They come in several colors and are refillable! I bought yellow and white.

Sew Camp
This is the 3rd year my quilt chapter, Quilters Anonymous,  has held kids sew camp. It's a week long day camp, Mon - Fri. There are 2 sessions, 9a - noon and 1p - 3p.  Last year I volunteered for 1 afternoon. This year, I did 2 full days. Next year, I'm planning on doing the entire week. I really enjoyed it. The kids had the option of making 4 smaller projects or 1 lap quilt.  I brought my youngest son (19) to camp one day and he made a thread catcher/scrap bag and a zippered mesh bag. He was pleased w/his accomplishments and now has a greater appreciation for my craft.

The quilt I just finished was the lap quilt project we taught at camp. It went together so quickly and I whipped it out in no time. I did my first mitered corner on this quilt.

I am slowly but surely getting all the pieces cut out to make the Summer Star Mini Quilt for my sis' work office.   Next on my quilting/sewing agenda is to get the College Bound quilt quilted for my niece.  I've already got the backing pieced. My goal is to have it basted this weekend.

In other news, I bought a 3 mos, Bikram "HOT" Yoga deal on Living Social.  I started it this week. The class time that works best for me and the one I prefer is at 530a, Mon, Weds, Fri.  If you aren't familiar w/Bikram Yoga, it's a 90 min yoga class that is done in a room that is 104 degrees Fahrenheit! I can't believe I paid for such torture. One week down, 11 more to go! Pray for me!!

And for all my Nookers out there in case you don't already know, Barnes and Noble has Free Fridays  on The Nook Blog. They offer a free book, a free app AND a free video every week! A great way to grow your library w/o spending a penny!

A Thread for Life
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. -Phil 3:12-14

If Only Food Fasting Were This Easy!

I took a Fabric Fast Challenge that went from Jan 1 - Jun 30. I made it! I did not purchase a single piece of fabric for 6 mos! It wasn't terribly difficult for me because I had the Canada/NY trip to save for. AND in addition to the previous fabric donations I wrote about in May, I was given another HUGE donation!   I have a considerable stash now and I'm honestly considering going another 6 mos - 1 year w/o buying fabric!  I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I'd been wanting to make the Strip Twist Quilt for quite some time. I decided to make it for my niece who is going off to college this fall.  I LUV how it turned out! I even added a flange!  I thought I'd finished the top last weekend (66.5in x 81.5in) but then she told me that her bed is an extra long twin. Good thing I hadn't started quilting it yet. I'm adding another 5 inch border to the top and bottom (in the same pink).

 I also finished the mystery quilt top I was doing w/my chapter - Quilters Anonymous QA.

I made this cute little pin cushion/scrap bag combo a couple of weeks ago. I used this tutorial, but filled it w/crushed walnut shells.

I also made this caddy for my cutting mat (18 x 24). I actually started a tutorial for it but  didn't take all the pics I needed, so I'll have to make another one before I can post the tutorial.

Here are a couple of the smaller projects we're doing at kids sewing camp this year. A pin cushion and scrap bag. Camp is July 7-11. Last year I volunteered for 1 afternoon, this year I'm doing 2 full days! I'm so excited!

I'm now debating on whether to start a new quilt OR start quilting the 4 tops I have completed. Decisions, decisions!!

On another note, about a year & half ago, a friend brought one of her dogs to church.  A Blue Heeler aka Australian cattle dog.  I really liked the look of the dog. She told me they are very intelligent and loyal dogs. I said I might be interested it getting one in the future. Well...her dog just had 7 pups and I'm seriously considering getting one. I've even picked one out! I'm thinking of names for her and am considering giving her a name from a character in the The Outlander Series, but maybe not.

And lastly, as if I don't already have enough to do, I've added yard work to the list. I haven't really done much w/the backyard since I bought the house a couple of years ago and so I've been doing improvements little by little over the last couple of weeks. My "grass" was just weeds really.  I've been getting up early in the morning, having my quite time on the back patio and then I spend about a half hour working in the yard before work. By spring it should be really nice.

I definitely need to blog more often...so my posts aren't so darn long! On my honor, I will try...to do weekly posts at the very least.

Until next week, Happy Quilting!

A Thread for Life
But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day. 2 Tim 1:12 HCSB