Ever so pretty....#Laugh Love Quilt

I spent a lot of time last week working on an idea I had for the Henry Glass Desire to Inspire Challenge this month. I get to work with the #Laugh Love Quilt fabric by Amy Hamberlin. As you can see, it's a beautiful collection with many soft, pretty floral designs. There is also a large quilting themed print, which I don't know if I can cut up.

Working on an idea usually means I start with one idea and it keeps evolving until it's something else that I like. I decided that those soft prints would look great together, all mixed up, so I cut some strips and started sewing them together. I chose a white cotton for the background fabric so that the fabrics would stand out. Since the navy really stands out, I have another plan for it!

When I make a project for the first time, I figure out what I will need to cut, cut it and hope for the best. That helps with pattern writing later. It's a double check for me too, as I'm checking my notes as I go.

Yep, soft to the touch!

Smokey and Conrad are always around to help with decision making and quality control.

Conrad was swishing that tail back and forth over the fabric. Lint rollers are my friend.

Luscious! I love the colors together and can't wait to start on the next step.

Problems....

I am having problems with my computer since Saturday, so haven't been able to blog or read them. I wanted to check in just in case anyone missed me! lol My computer was running as slow as molasses, though it is better now. I can't really do anything though. I am not sure what is wrong, but will have to get it figured out soon as I miss it!
I did a bunch of sewing and made a quilt over the long weekend,  and have it on the machine. It is partially quilted. I am working on the next Sampler quilt too...I have 2 blocks made. I had to coax the picture of the design I am working on out of the computer last night...it took awhile, but I got it to print.
I hope it isn't a virus.

T-shirt Quilt and other Quilty news...

I am still working on the T-shirt quilt and hope to get it finished next week too. I had some questions about how I've made these. There are many ways to make a quilt out of T-shirts. I like to use fusible interfacing on the backs of the T-shirt squares so there is no stretching when putting the quilt together. It also gives a crisper look to the shirts, especially if they are getting worn out, which the favorite shirts usually are. Plus it makes quilting it easier too. I don't know if I could quilt it without the interfacing, I think it would stretch out of shape on the frame.

I cut my squares 14 1/2" so that they finish at 14". Some shirts have such large patterns that you need that big a block just to get it all in. For the smaller pieces I like to piece several together into 4 patches, or whatever works with what I have. Sometimes I use a sashing as in the above picture, sometimes I border each block (see previous post). These can be made pretty much any size you want. The one I am working on now will be about 90" x 90".

I have been working on quilting a quilt for a friend the last few nights. I hadn't done any quilting since I finished the Christmas Topper, so it felt good to turn on the machine and have a go at it.

It's official.....

Here comes the weekend!
It's been a busy week...I had classes on Mon and Wed night, then Tues night I worked all night on a pattern for Saturday's class......yes, I should've had it done sooner, but I've been busy, ok? Last night we celebrated my middle daughter's birthday...my 2 daughters that live in the area came over and we relaxed in the back yard with pizza and margaritas. (Angie and Colin, we missed you!) That was nice. I have the Kaleidoscope Blitz class tomorrow, that should be fun. Then who knows? I still have that Lone Star to bind...have a great weekend!

Oh, no! not another version...

This is the same block I used in the previous quilt, but using only 2 colors. It makes a big difference! I don't think you see the individual blocks as much, but the overall design. The colors are more muted too. The setting is a little strange, but was out of a book and I made this as a store model so had to follow the pattern. It is sort of interesting too, though.

This one is on the couch so gets used a lot. It has been washed more too. Thought it would be fun to post another version.

The black/white version is my favorite.

Quilt Festival 2009, blogger-style

I made this quilt quite a few years ago, maybe 10? not sure. I loved the black border fabric, so started collecting the blacks and grays so I could make something scrappy with it as the border. I decided on the Snails Trail block as I like the way the blocks connect and I thought that it would be really pretty with the grays on one half and the blacks on the other half. I hadn't made a block like that before, so didn't really know what to do when I noticed that the triangles weren't really meeting up like I thought they should. So in the middle of making blocks, I started squaring them up as I sewed them together. Well you probably guessed it, I ended up with 3 different size blocks. They weren't all that different in size, but the biggest didn't fit the smallest. It took some tricky piecing to get them together so that the quilt looked square. I took it to a quilter to quilt ( I didn't have my machine then) and I think it turned out great. It is one of my favorite quilts!

One thing about quilting...I have learned much more when things aren't working out like I wanted, then when everything goes smoothly!

The Blogger Quilt Festival has begun! Amy at Park City Girl is hosting an online quilt festival. This is my entry. Just visit her blog and check out one of the many participants listed there. Or better yet, join in the fun!

Really nothing to post about....but aren't my kitties cute?

I have been back to work and teaching quilt class every night this week. It is a little much, but it is just how it worked out. Tonight was the first night for Beginning Quilting. I had fun meeting the ladies. They learned how to rotary cut and we picked out fabrics, so are ready to begin sewing next week.

Now I think I will follow the kitties' example and head for bed!

Mosaic in Spain & Wanda's Favorite

Wanda's (Exuberant Color) Current Favorite caused a few comments the other day as she wondered if she should change the name. Her bright quilt got me thinking about a picture my nephew posted while in Spain studying a few months ago. This is the photo...when I saw this I thought about what a pretty quilt it would make. He had it labeled La Alhambra in Granada.