My Favorite Schnibbles

and the first one I have ever made.  I present my version of Speck (pattern purchased here).  I picked this Schnibbles pattern because I have been wanting to try the X and O block for a while now. It's not finished finished but I am waiting for the perfect blue fabric to arrive for the binding.

This little project was a roller coaster ride of emotions. By the time I was halfway through cutting I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. The pieces are soo small compared to everything else I have worked on.  Was really wondering if I wanted to continue. But, I do my best to finish what I start so I got through step one and started piecing. OMG! Not much better. It seemed tedious and I wasn't getting very far very fast at all and the pieces didn't want to stay lined up. Ugh!!!

After I got the first block together, I got excited!! It was so cute and pretty. I must continue! The piecing is not the greatest but it did get better as I went along. Loved the second block even more.

Came back the next evening to finish and blah!!! Pieces just didn't want to go together well at all. And the layout of the remaining blocks just didn't seem right. Rearrange and rearrange and rearrange some more. Was ready to put it in a bag and call it quits.  Why oh why didn't I just sew some squares together and call it good?!? ("Because that's boring," says my dear husband who came and checked in on me.)

 I really wanted to participate in this Schnibbles parade though (and I do like to impress my husband : ) so I gritted my teeth and kept going. Got to the sashing and things improved.  I am really surprised it came out somewhat square. I thought for sure with all my barely passable piecing that it would be way off. It's wasn't (whew!)

I really like this little blue square.

I think this is my favorite block...really like those little white dots and the blue and coral and brown.

It really was lovely working with these spring colors.  I used a couple of candy bars of Buttercup fabric by Fig Tree. It feels really good to have those little bundles of prettiness made up into this table topper/wall hanging.  I am very pleased with how this little quilt top turned out. Hmmm...now I just have to decide how to quilt it.

I did make six blocks.  My master plan is to kill three birds with one stone (is that even possible?) 1) finally participate in a Schnibbles parade 2) make something springlike for our kitchen wall or dining room table and 3) make a little bit of spring to be gifted to a very kind great grandma.  These two blocks I kept separate to make into a little table runner to gift. I must say that the plan is progressing fairly nicely. 

A big thank you to Sherri and Sinta for hosting the Schnibbles Parades. I have really enjoyed them the beginning of every month over the last year or so.  I am thrilled to finally be able to participate.

Two weeks late...or 50 weeks ahead: Christmas tree skirt

My first official finish for 2013 is this Christmas tree skirt I made using less than two charm packs of Reindeer Games and a little bit of yardage for border and binding and a piece of Merry Medley for the backing.

I'm going with 50 weeks ahead of schedule with this one, folks.  I so very much wanted to have it finished for this Christmas (did have it pieced).  That didn't happen as there were other more important things to tend, but as I still felt like working with Christmas fabric, I went ahead and finished it over Christmas break.  I'm so very glad I did.  Making this little tree skirt was a lot of fun and without a doubt next Christmas season I'll be very happy to pull it out and have it ready.  (Whoohoo! I've never been ahead with any project. : )

Tree not so naked any more.

This tutorial by Jenny at Missouri Star Quilt Co. was my inspiration. Her tutorials are among the best.  Added button loop closure and some wooden buttons I had on hand. I thought all the little corners would be a challenge, but really they weren't (maybe even a little easier than a true corner, to be honest).  It wasn't until I had my binding made and was getting ready to put it on that I realized, "Oh, yes, I have a tight little circle to bind. Hmm, guess I should have made bias binding." Too late. I went ahead with my straight binding, did the circle first thing and took it slow. I think it turned out fairly well. Oldest daughter A assures that no one is going to crawling up under the tree to inspect so I needn't worry. One of my biggest cheerleaders that girl is.

With this project I tried a new way of basting my quilt layers - no tape, no spray, no boards. I had my doubts, worried I would have a lot of puckers, but not a single pucker. Can hardly believe it. It quilted up beautifully. (I love how the quilting turned out!)  I simply placed the backing fabric face down, smoothed my flannel piece over that (didn't use batting), and then smoothed my quilt top face up on the flannel. Starting in the middle I pin basted out from middle to edge smoothing with almost every pin. It was so simple, seemed almost too simple but I couldn't be happier with the results. I used this same basting technique on a lap size quilt next in line to quilted. It is quite a bit bigger so we shall see how it turns it (fingers crossed : ).

Have I said how happy I am with how the quilting turned out?  Here is a shot of a few of my favorite prints - poinsettias, holly, and the little wreaths & candy canes. Yup, I made sure when I laid it out and before I cut up the back that my favorites were in front.

PS: Must say it did take some courage to cut into this little quilt after it was quilted. It was so nice. Would have made a very nice table topper.  Daughter R didn't want me to cut it at all. In her opinion we could just set the tree on top of it and it would look perfect. Almost did this, almost...then decided, no, I can do it. Cut it and bound it late one evening and had it under the tree to surprise everyone the next morning. They all love it and are happy I made something quilted for us to keep.

Blessings, everyone.
Anna

Wintery quilt top November finish

Tada! I present my largest quilt top to date and it is for our living room. For some reason that thought makes me smile.

 

While browsing around Hingeley Road Quilt Shop (a local-to-me quilt shop) back in October, I spotted a partial jelly roll (only 31 strips) of an older Holly Taylor line - Frosted Memories, brushed - tucked away in a corner under the cutting table.  Could hardly believe my good fortune!  I soooo like this fabric line.  I carried it around for a bit before spotting some yardage that I thought would go well and that made my decision.  Home it came with me (of course, it helped that it was on clearance sale : )  

In an effort to increase my odds of getting this top finished, I kept the pattern simple and was able to completely piece it before Thanksgiving. I really like how it  turned out even though a couple strips are out of place from their originally assigned location. Now my goal is to get it quilted over this coming weekend so that we can enjoy it during this Advent/Christmas season into late winter.  I have a red flannel all ready to go as the backing.  My final dilemma decision is which batting to use - cotton for a little extra weight (is it heavy enough with the brushed top and flannel back?) or wool for fluffiness and potentially more cuddliness??? Decisions, decisions...

Thanks for stopping by.

Anna

PS:  Liking up with Megan's jelly roll party at Crooked Seams.

Honored and a little embarrassed

Oh dear! I am potentially the most unobservant person around.  Just recently I have been poking around in Blogger trying to figure out how to change some things with this ole blog. Well, among the many things I have learned I discovered that I can view any and all comments left by lovely visitors. Oh my goodness! I didn't even realize some very kind comments had been left! (think I have it set so that now I should receive notification when a comment is left - I think : }  Thank you to one and all for being kind enough to comment.

Fast forward, back in May (yes, May) the lovely Marion of My Quilt Diet nominated me for  the Liebster Award.  Thank you, Marion, thank you for the kindness and the honor. I am still a little amazed that anyone has actually come across let alone noticed my blog enough to nominate it for an award. (an award - doesn't that sound so prestigious : )

What exactly is the Liebster Award? Good questions. I wondered the same thing.

"The Liebster award (German for favorite or dearest) is to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.  Upon accepting the award the recipient must then pass it on to five more blogs of note. A way of introducing other bloggers to the blogs they enjoy." 

There you have it.  Now on with the terms and conditions : )

The acceptance conditions are :
1. Thank your award presenter on your blog and link back to him/her
2. Copy and paste the award to your blog
3. Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that you think deserve to be recognised.
4. Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
5. Have faith that your followers will spread the love too! 

Here are a few of the blogs that I enjoy and think are worth your time to check out:

1. Megan at Crooked Seams

2. Lynn at Buttons Quilts

3. Meredith at Piecing in the Nook

4. Shontelle at England Street Quilts

5. Alisa and Suzanne at Making More with Less

So go visit and say Hi!

Blogger's Quilt Festival: Fall 2012: Voting open

Wow! 600+ entries in the Bloggers Quilt Festival: Fall 2012.  So much inspiration. So many stories.

To nominate an entry, please use this form - Bloggers Quilt Festival: Fall 2012 nomination form.

For anyone who would care to take a moment to nominate my entry, I'm #616 and can be entered in the following categories: Favorite Baby Quilt, Favorite Home Machine Quilted Quilt, Favorite Quilt Photographer.  Thank you so much.

Also, if you would care to give me a favorite vote, page down to my entry here and click VOTE.

It has been exciting for me to participate for the first time in this inspiration-filled online Festival. Many thanks go out to Amy of Amy's Creative Side for hosting.