Quilt As You Go Baby Blues

Close Up of Quilting

I made a baby quilt for a friend of mine who is having a boy. I just used my blues and boy themed fabric. I love making a quilt with this method. I bought three yards for the back so it was all the same and used the same for the front sashing and binding. The pillowcases are for the grandkids in North Dakota for Valentines Day. As always, click on the photos to enlarge them.

Crumb Table Runner & Words on Quilts

What's a crumb runner you ask? I made this using leftovers from the tree skirt I made last year. You had to sew strip sets and then use a template (arch) and cut around that. Lots of fabric not used. So I squared them up, added a strip here and there and made this runner. I quilted it all in leaves, something I would have not done, had I not been following SewCal free motion designs. The design this month was leaves. I am usually a "stipple" quilter. Really happy how it turned out. This not for "anyone" so I was a little more relaxed about quilting it. 

My next project is making words out of fabric. I have attached what I have so far. The saying "Today I Will Choose Joy" I got off of http://lilblueboo.com/. You should check out her site, very inspiring! I need a lot of practice - my letters are huge, about 5.5 inches.

Black and White Chevron Disaster

This started out as a 24" pillow cover. I marked the lines in the black with a light blue quilters pencil, no problems. Then for the white, I used one of those chalk-o things with yellow chalk so I could see the lines.  Well the yellow did not come out. I sprayed water and then resorted to soaking it, still didn't come out. So the quilter in me just sewed new lines with yellow thread.  Still looked bad, so I added yellow to the back and pinned it to the front. It is my disaster piece for 2012. It is going to hide under my TV in the sewing room on the new table I painted.  This is the first time I have ever had a difficult time getting out my quilting lines. I was out of the blue water erase pen, but going to get one soon - those have never failed me.

Free Motion Quilting

I took the free motion challenge sponsored by SewCal, on FaceBook. The first month is a leaf. This is my second attempt, the prior one was a disaster.  I used a variegated blue and yellow King Tut thread, starting in the middle this time and working outwards. Once I relaxed, they actually look like leaves not droopy butts or sad hearts as the first one did.

Desk Paint Job & Dresden Plate

I acquired this desk from my brother-in-law.  He had it for many years.  It used to be a roll-top desk but the wood just fell apart.  I rescued it about six to seven years ago.  It came to me in the dried up condition you see it.  I used a half quart of Kilz on it and then rolled on the orange sherbet color.  I think it still needs something.  So today at WalMart I found a Min Wax stain in a tube.  How great is that?  I added a fancy knob in the front and then added two hooks on the side to hang bags, my tape measure I can never find, and other fun stuff.  The bottom is now useful with the shelf - the basket holds my out of control selvage strips. 

My first finish for 2012, a Dresden plate table topper/mat.  It measures 18" across.  These are very easy and a little holiday scrap buster.