Blogger's Quilt Festival 2013 Throw Quilt Entry

This is my entry into the throw quilt for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.
Stop over and vote for me if you like this quilt.
It is in the throw category, or you could vote for it for Viewer's Choice.
Voting runs May 24-30th.

I have a quilt that I made for the Moda Bake Shop that was near and dear to my heart. 

 It was my first submission to the MBS and I was beyond thrilled that they accepted my quilt!
You can find the tutorial right here. 

 I was working on it like mad to finish the binding while I was away on vacation

 hoping to get the perfect cover shot. 

 I managed to find the perfect place and got a great shot with only the second photo.

I used my friend's long arm to lay in the beautiful feathers in every triangle, 

then used my Bernina to do all the straight lines on the inside and in the border.  

The circles in the inner border were done on the long arm also.

 It took me about 14 hours to do all the quilting!

This quilt is even more special to me because it is the last completed quilt I have with photos of 

my best friend, Jack.  

My Jack was in kidney failure and I he is now waiting for me on the Rainbow Bridge.

I miss  him every single day!

Jack NEVER left my side when I was home.  

He slept curled up in the crook of my neck or side every night.

He purred us both to sleep. 

This quilt will always remind me of him.

This is my favorite photo of Jack.  

I love you my Boo Boo Kitty and I miss you so much!

~XOP~

Tula Pink Fabric Swap

I forgot to mention that I have also been playing swap mama for 

7 rounds of Tula Pink fabric swapping! 

 The last round (4/5) we received 56 different fabrics!  

All the fabrics in rounds 1-5 and NO repeated fabrics!! 

 We are currently on rounds 6/7 and will receive 36 fabrics 

with none being repeated from the previous rounds.  

How fun is that?

 We are even getting some of the more HTF fabrics too.  

Some people have been asking about this pattern.  

She is a designer from Michigan.  

Here is the pattern.  

You can find it on the Pineapple Press site here, 

if you would like to join me in making some paper dolls!

It is a beautiful, sunny, warm day here today.  

I hope you are enjoying your day too!

~XOP~

Paper Dolls and Small Things

I know it has been a LONG time between posts hasn't it? 

 Someone pointed that out to me today. 

 I'm sorry but sometimes there just isn't anything good to write about. 

 I began training for a 5K with a group of ladies at my gym, 

so the amount of time I spend at the gym has increased a LOT. 

 We are doing the Couch Potato to 5K program so I have to run 3 times a week.  

That's in addition to the 3 Zumba classes and the cardiolates and body pump classes. 

 With working full time, and taking care of my dad and sisters, it doesn't leave a lot of extra time to sew. 

 I have been working on the back of the Swoon wedding quilt and

 can't share that as the bride to be reads this = ) 

 I will do a tutorial on how to do the dish towels soon, I promise!  

Have you ever had sewing you *had* to do but got TOTALLY distracted by something else?  

That's what happened to me! 

 I am always looking for a project to use for leader/enders while I sew. 

 Do you guys use leader/enders when you sew? 

 I had bought a really sweet pattern called Paper Dolls and 

thought that would work but wanted to make up one block and see how it would be to use. 

 I have been wanting to do this for soooooo long and I finally made one up.

This is unpressed but how freaking adorable is this??  

Can you totally see a whole quilt made up with these??

I think I am going to put white on either side and then maybe surround it with squares. 

 I'm not sure yet. 

 I want to alternate these with a plain block and maybe an improv cat block or 2. 

 I have NO business taking the time to make this, but it is so much FUN!!! 

 I could not resist making several!  

The largest piece is the HST part of the dress and it is 2 7/8", so VERY scrap friendly! 

 I am planning on using several "skin" tones for the girls. 

 I have several more cut out and think that it will be a good L/E project.

Fatty McFatty has been helping me a lot lately too.

She sure loves laying on anything I have been making!

One of my oldest and dearest friends celebrated her 50th birthday today! 

 I cut some lilacs for her (her favorite) and make caramel brownies also her favorite!  

One of our lab mates got her this cake and it was amazing.

So happy birthday to the one person on this earth that completely understands me, every facet of me!  

I love you man! 

 LOL

~XOP~

Happy Mother's Day

I just wanted to take a minute and wish everyone out there a happy Mother's Day! 

 I hope your families take a few minuter today to let you know how much they appreciate you 

and all you do for them! 

 I hope you do the same for all the special women in your life!

I was at a bridal shower out of town yesterday and these beauties were waiting for me when I got home.

They are from my lovely DD2. 

 Thank you so much!

(She is the one in the smaller photo)

Today my son brought me these. 

 Thanks to both of you guys!!

I am supposed to go to dinner and a movie with my DD1 today too.

All in all a great day.  I am hoping to get to my sewinroom sometime today also.

Just before the shower I was making some dish towels and a garter for the bride.  

Thought you might like to see how they turned out.

 It took me awhile to find the perfect dish towel but finally found some that would work. 

 Anyone interested in seeing how to make them?  

SUPER easy.

Isn't she beautiful?

haha my little niece thought it was a headband!!

Why does the Spartan always end up making projects with Michigan fabric??

Welcome to the family Juli!

~XOP~

Sewing Challenge Day 3,4 and 5

I think every quilter could go on and on about fabric they ask themselves,

 "What was I thinking when I bought this?" 

 I posted this photo.

LOL because I am a Spartan!! 

 It seems like I am always working with blue and gold, EW! HAHA

The Day 4 challenge was to post about favorite fabric purchased with Day 5 something you missed out on.

Mine are one and the same. 

 I missed out of Mendocino. 

 I have since bought and swapped for some. 

 I still don't have the entire collection but I am slowly working my way toward having it.

I saw this when it first came out, at a local shop.  I thought the mermaids were kind of creepy so passed them by.  Now I just KICK myself!  Then I was at a warehouse shop with my friend and her DIL was a big HR fan.  I found many sample cards with Mendo on them and handed them over to her for her DIL.  I surely wish I had kept a little for myself, but that's life and the choices we make isn't it?

If anyone has a little of the plum swimming sisters I would be happy to trade.

I have some I could spare of some of the seahorses, and the swimming sisters in white with the pink octopi.

I have lots of  Munki Munki that I could trade too.

~XOP~

Froggy Pond Gift for My BFF's Mom

I could't share this until now. 

 I have been working on a quilt for my friend's mom for some time now. 

When  I first saw the Frog pattern I knew I had to make it for my friend's mom. 

 She is an avid frog collector. 

 She is also a BIG fan of Zumba, she has been ill recently and is taking care of a spouse that is ill also,

 oh and she shares my mom's name too! 

 Interestingly enough my friend share's my sister's name.  

Coincidence? 

 I think not. 

 I'm pretty sure God brought us together. 

 She is and always has been the yin to my yang. 

OK enough sappyness.

I was talking to my quilter about the pattern and her mom is always looking for embroidery to do 

so I handed off the pattern and cut the fabric, and she did all the embroidery for me! 

 I made the blocks and assembled the quilt and my friend, Liz did the quilting! 

 I finished the binding last weekend and my friend mailed it off to her mom, who received it today.

Made a frog pond for the back too.

Here are some close ups too

Enjoy your new quilt!

I had fun making it for you.

I hope it brightened your day.

~XOP~