WIP Wednesday: Back in the (sewing) Saddle Again

Now I know why it's been years since I've done any fashion sewing -- I'm just not shaped like the patterns anymore!

 I finished the dress I will wear to the wedding of my BFF's son:

I have more of a waist than this photo make it look. Apparently if one has "hips," one's boobs should be closer to one's waist than to one's shoulders. I had to virtually re-draft this pattern to get the darts in the right place.  It would have taken less time to just design my own pattern! It's Simplicity 6262 and the fabric is "Petal Poetry" for Exclusively Quilters. I'll get a selfie wearing it on Saturday at the wedding.

Now that "the dress" is finished, I can go back to quilting! First up is "Missouri Star," for one of the members of the 2013 Quiltmaker Magazine Scrap Squad. I think I should have reversed the dark/light pieces, but it still looks like a star, right?

Thursday at midnight is the last chance to enter my "600 Followers on Bloglovin' Giveaway." Go to last Thursday's post to enter using the Rafflecopter widget. The prize is an autographed copy of Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making. Of course, international entries are welcome!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

I forgot to share my Hats for Sailors knitting with you last week. I will tomorrow, I promise!


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The Fastest De-Stash

I've been test-sewing a bag this week, so I haven't added a thing to the stash -- gasp!

Since I have bags on my mind, I decided to offer this little bag "kit" for this week's de-stash.

This de-stash is so small, it should fit in a first-class envelop. So the postage will be only $2 US.  If you'd  like to try your hand at making a bag -- and help me de-stash at the same time -- just comment on this post with your PayPal address and zip code. I'll send you an invoice for the postage, and when I receive the payment, it will go in the mail to you!!

Have you commented on my 600 Bloglovin' Followers post yet? The prize is special, an autographed copy of Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making.

Comment here using Rafflecopter for a chance to win! It's the first time I've used Rafflecopter to host a giveaway, and it seems to be working fine. The biggest problem is no-reply commenters. If you're not sure your email links to your comments, please just add your email in the comment. Or send me an email at AuntMarti at 52Quilts dot com and I'll add you to my address list.  It will break my heart if the Rafflecopter chooses a no-reply commenter as the winner, and I can't find you!

My dress for next weekend's wedding is nearly finished -- I should be able to get back to quilting tomorrow!

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Giveaway! 600 Followers

I received an exciting email from the fine folks at Bloglovin' this morning -- 52 Quilts has reached the 600 followers milestone!

Now, I know not everyone follows 52 Quilts via Bloglovin. Friend Connect on Google+, email, Facebook, Instagram -- if I add them all up, the number is more like 1300+. However, today we are celebrating the "official" Bloglovin' number.

I've been hoarding this copy of Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making just for the next "big" giveaway on 52 Quilts.

My friend Kari V. wrote the very first chapter in the book, all about The Principles of Color. So I asked her to sign the giveaway copy:

Like it? Want it? Enter with Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway ends August 28 at midnight MDT. Thanks for following 52 Quilts!




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WIP Wednesday: Friends & Companions

Yes, I was sucked into another QAL. This one is from Marcus Brothers, celebrating their new line by Paula Barnes,"Companions."

I'm using bits and pieces from my own Civil War Repros stash.

Because I dropped everything to do a test-sew, I'm behind by one week. The instructions are excellent, though, so I should be caught up this weekend.  Here are my first two blocks:

The top block is "Union Forever," by Pam Buda of Heartspun Quilts.

On the bottom is Paula Barnes' block, from Red Crinoline Quilts, instructions here.

New blocks are added each Friday. I'm planning a Skype-along with my friend in Ohio for the next blocks. Click on the Friends & Companions banner, above, for the schedule of designs.

I'll have a Quilt Block a Day finish to show you on Friday!

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New Sunday Stash and De-Stash

The Rocky Mountain Quilt Festival was this weekend in Loveland. Friend Mary and I took a road trip up on Friday and enjoyed some serious stash enhancement!

Stash

First up, not from the Quilt Festival, but added this week: Denyse Schmidt's newest collection, Hadley. I have an enormous DS stash, but this was clearly a case of, "If I don't buy it now, it might sell out." I got mine from the etsy shop "Vintage Modern."

And since I also ordered Denyse's new pattern, "In This Corner"

I had also to order her Free Spirit Modern Solids collection (on sale at Fat Quarter Shop).

That will serve as my birthday prezzie -- two months off, so remind me!

I'm down to the very last block on my biggie-sized "Ryokan" quilt. I chose "One More Block" from Judy Hopkin's "501 Rotary Cut Quilt Blocks" book. 

Judy suggested using a different color for each quadrant of the block. Somehow I got the notion that one quadrant should be dark purple and olive green. I used Moda Marbles for all the "quilt blocks" in the quilt. Who knew Moda Marbles must be out of fashion -- I had a terrible time finding olive green! Finally scored it at Sew-Ciety in Castle Rock.

Holly's Quilt Cabin had just the right Japanese taupes for the frames, borders and bindings.

The print on the far left is my outside border. It's really more grey-green than in this photo, but I wanted to show off the lovely tone-on-tone print I found for the narrow dark border.

At the Festival, The Fig Leaf from Ft. Collins had the newest issue of Modern Quilts Illustrated. Bill Kerr talked about this issue at Quilt Colorado, so I am happy to have it in my hands at last.

I was pleased to find this Faye Burgos print for Marcus Fabrics at High Prairie Quilts.

It's just what I need for the setting triangles for my "Aunt Sukey Sampler" from Marti Michell's "Five is Fabulous."

Oh look, another candidate for the 2015 Jelly Roll parties. There is an etsy shop, Quilt Lakeside, listed on the pattern. Sadly, the shop appears to be "out of business." I bought this pattern at High Prairie Quilts, and it was the last one! Don't know if they will be able to get more.

The son of a close friend is getting married at the end of the month. Laura of Lilacs & Lace inspired me to get back into fashion sewing, so I chose this dress. The lovely floral print is "Petal Poetry" by Exclusively Quilters from Ruth's Stitchery.

 

Finally, my one big purchase at the Quilt Festival is this "Stem Punk" quilt kit from Material Girl quilts shop in Grand Island, Nebraska. Ever since my BFF moved from Ohio to Texas, I haven't been back to the shop. So I was delighted that they were one of the vendors at the Festival. This quilt is designated for a graduation gift for the very last 4-H'er I taught to knit. 

De-Stash

If you've lasted through this looooonnnnggg, photo-heavy post, you deserve some De-Stash!

How about some Joel Dewberry?

There is a bit more than one pound in this batch. Along with the "Heirloom" from Joel Dewberry, there is a bit of Deb Strain and some other prints that coordinate. The pieces are a minimum of 10" but most are larger.

If this De-Stash appeals to you, it can be yours for the cost of postage. One pound will fit easily into a flat-rate envelop for $5.75US. Of course, international offers are welcome, but the postage will be more. The first person to reply with a PayPal email address and zip code will have it!

Linking up to Sunday Stash at Molli Sparkles.

I'm test-sewing this week, so posts will be thin on the ground. I do have some knitting to share on Thursdays are for Knitting, so come back to see!

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De-Stash has been claimed, closing comments to save hurt feelings!

Finally! A Friday Finish

The last time I posted a "finish" was July 25. Must be summertime, huh?

Today I have two finishes -- both are bags.

First up, I finally made a Sew Together bag! Friend Mary taught two classes at Ruth's Stitchery for the Sew Together bag. I have to say, it's not difficult -- but it's a lot easier when someone who has made a dozen or more of the STBs is looking over your shoulder.

Here's mine:

Yes, that's Cotton + Steel 2.5" squares. No, they're not available for retail sale. A friend brought them back to me from Spring Market. The "Cotton + Steel" tape was wrapped around the fat quarter bundle I bought to make the inside:

Megan recommends inserting the zippers with one zipping the opposite direction. It helps reduce bulk.

Susie (not of Magic Binding fame) made this lovely winter STB, and let me photograph it to share with you.

Here's the interior of Susie's bag:

I can't wait to start another one!

While hiding out at Mary's cabin last weekend, I got a good start on a "Beatle Bag" from Abbey Lane Quilts.

I finished it up this morning by hand-stitching down the binding and adding some unique goodies to the interior plastic zip bags.

I love that the pincushion is attached with Velcro, so it can be taken out of the bag when needed elsewhere.

The hardest part for both Mary and for me was finding a ring large enough for the unique closure method.

The longer outside strap wraps around the bag, through the ring and fastens with Velcro on the back:

[Oh yeah, see how well my hand is healing?]

Of course, I had to include one of my new pink "PeaceLoveandHappiness" labels.

Stay tuned for another Sunday De-Stash this weekend!

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Back to the WIP Wednesday

Yes, it's been 10 days since my last post! I hate when people say "did you miss me?" (umm, no.) so I won't. I've been "camping" at friend Mary's cabin -- no internet, but gorgeous Colorado Scenery!

A lovely place for some morning stitching:

 And the huge windows face the Colorado sunset:

We spent most of our time working on Abbey Lane's "Beatle Bag." Details to follow!

Once I returned home, I went straight to work on my August UFO challenge. It's the Ryokan quilt, begun two years ago at a block party at Ruth's Stitchery. I've decided to "biggie-size" it to make it fit a full-size bed. Which means eight more blocks.

I'm using Judy Hopkin's "501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks" to choose and sew the additional 6.5" blocks.

So far I have five completed. You'd think, after 111 size 6.5" blocks for the Farmer's Wife quilt, I'd never want to make "little" blocks again. Especially when I choose "Chinook," which has 75 pieces!

I haven't sewn the "quilt blocks" to the "houses" yet, in case I decide to shift them around a bit.

The sashing is 1.5" squares set in two-patches. I'm using it as my "Leaders and Enders" project. A great way to finish a boring part of the quilt!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

I hope to have a finished "Beatle Bag" to show you on Friday. Come back and see!

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