Friday Finishes

Yesterday was a day off for me and I sewed my brains out from dawn until bedtime.  I LOVE days like that!

After making the blocks for the Avalon quilt, I set them aside to make block #10 of the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Quilt and decided I might as well get blocks 1-9 sewn together.

I changed the flying geese setting by alternating the direction of the strips and adding a few different prints. This is such a cheery quilt.  I can't wait to finish it up.  Two more months.















I finished a couple of little projects that were floating around my sewing table.

One of my favorite quilt shops to visit in Michigan is Guildcrafters in Berkeley.  They have a great selection of fabrics and wool, wonderful kits, and a series of irresistible little pincushion kits.  I bought this pincushion kit some time ago and I don't know why I didn't make it sooner because it was done in a flash.

I also made this little card holder that came with the February issue of Mollie Makes.  I couldn't resist this issue with the little fox and raccoon.  

Edgar Poe looks like he was meditating.  Maybe he is thinking of more new quilt projects like I am.

Probably not.

Probably dreaming of kitty treats and yogurt.

Hope you have a great weekend.  It's supposed to be chilly and rainy here all weekend. 

March Blocks

I am keeping up with the (several) Blocks of the Month that I'm working on this year.  Here is block 3 for Barbara Brackman's Dixie Diary quilt.

The Country Threads sampler with blocks in two sizes is lots of fun.  I am making mine in colors that remind me of each month.  For March, of course, green for St. Patrick's Day with some vaguely shamrocky looking fabrics .  

March 12" block

March 6" block

March is also Women's History Month so I used Jo Morton's "lady" fabric for the second 12" block.

Block 9 for the Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery quilt.  I better get hopping on the finishing kit and get some rows sewn together.

Finally a Bit of Sewing

There seems to be a paltry lack of sewing going on at Stella Bella Quilts.  I have no idea what I have been doing but I am still behind in everything--emails, sewing, blogging, reading blogs, etc.

If you commented on my posts or emailed me and I haven't responded, I am very sorry and thank you for commenting/emailing. I read everything and sometimes forget to reply back.

September and October flew away and now it's almost Thanksgiving.  I am working more at Starbucks and getting ready for the big weekend promotion this week (buy one, share one holiday drinks 2PM -5PM Nov. 15th-18th. Take a friend and )

This is the little bit I have done:

1. Sewed three backings together for Hubble, Civil War Block of the Week  and Good Fortune.  Made one binding, and have binding fabric for the other two quilts. Now I just need to get these to the quilter (not gifts--thankfully--all for me).  A big task finished 'cause I really dislike sewing backings together.

2. Figured out most of the Xmas gifts for this year--ordered some online, making some the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving, plans for the rest, no malls/stores/madness for me.

3. Made October & November's blocks for the Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Block of the Month

October FQS BOM

November FQS BOM

4. Made a couple Votes for Women Block of the Week blocks.  I am behind in this from being so busy in October and getting hung up on hand piecing (OY!!) the sunflower block from week 4 (I am still working on that one).

Here is New Jersey (week 5)

And Aunt Eliza's Star (week 6)

Nights are getting chilly and Stella has perfected the quintessential cat-curled-up-in-quilts pose.

My thoughts are with everyone two- and four-legged affected by Hurricane Sandy.  It is going to be a long road to recovering, particularly with winter arriving.  On behalf of my warm, safe, & healthy cats, I made donations to the ASPCA, which is on the ground helping rescue & reunite pets.  I know there are a lot of causes and people out there helping & it's much needed.

At Last, Some Quilty Content

I figured out today that I am approximately 2 weeks behind on everything.  Except laundry and taking care of the cats.  Everything else...

...fuggit about it

I do have a few blocks to show.  Not much in the way of completed quilts lately.

Today, I did catch up with the Grandmother's Choice Block of the Week.

Block #2 was Amethyst.  Look fast and move on 'cause this block is all kinds of wonky.  This is my second attempt and I am unhappy with it but even more unhappy at the thought of trying again.  Like I said move along...

Today's block was Union Square:  Red for Rebellion.  I liked the thought of a splash of red (and a bit of rebellion) in my quilt so I make it in red and white small prints.

Red little prints always make me think of my friend Sarah, No Blog. (waving to you Sarah)

Yesterday's mail brought the Fat Quarter Shop Block of the Month. I always like to do these right away so I don't get behind.  Usually the day the block arrive.  This is block 4.  I can't believe it's block 4 already.  I better get a jump on that finishing kit...

 I had cut all the fabrics for this month's Schnibbles project (well really it's a Little Bites pattern), but had not started sewing.

Here is one block done.  It is so cute and tiny, you just want to kiss it. MWAH!

Here's some more hexies for the Hexy Quilt Along.  I have about half of them done.  These are fun to sew in the car on long trips and while watching TV.  I really am hooked on English paper-piecing now.

And if you made it all the way down here.  Here's some gratuitous Remy toes .

Labor Day 2012

Happy Labor Day everyone in the U.S.! Hope you are enjoying a day off.  I have part of a day off and then I am off to Starbucks this evening.

I did get a bit of sewing in this morning before doing some long-neglected housework.

Here is the first block for Barbara Brackman's new Block of the Week "Grandmother's Choice: Votes for Women."  The block is called Grandmother's Choice.  I decided to make the quilt in the colors associated with the women's suffrage movement--green, purple, and white.  Since purple and green are my two of my favorite colors, I have no shortage of fabric in my stash for this quilt.

I also made Block 3 of the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Quilt.  Love these cheery, clear, bright colors.  

I did finish my third gift quilt in time for my friend's 50th birthday.  She has worked with me at Starbucks for years and is the best pet sitter around.  Cats and dogs just adore her.  My cats love having her cat sit; I don't think they miss us very much when she does.   I had a bunch of this fabric line with cats and coffee motifs. I don't remember the name of it.  Had the top done eons ago (I think the pattern is Turning 20 Again) and then eureka!  perfect gift for my dear friend's birthday.  

I quilted it myself in a straight line design.  Quilting is not my favorite part of the process and this quilt was bigger than I like to tackle on my own.  But it is done and gifted and made with love.   Here is the back so you can see the cat & coffee theme.  

Remy has been taking up a lot of blog space as of late so it's Edgar Poe's turn now.  I caught this funny photo with my iPhone. I just love his looooooong whiskers.   

A Mixed Bag

Mr. Remy Mischief 

I just love this photo of Remy. It just makes me smile. 

Taken with the Hipstamatic app on iVan the iPhone.  

Lots of stuff went on this week.  Mostly stressful work stuff that's better left unsaid and forgotten.  Very little sewing happened.  Although I did work on hexagons.  

Here's some more fabric squares that will soon be hexagons.

Some retail therapy in the form of COLORFUL layer cakes.  I have a plan for these that is brewing.

I just adore this wintery line with polar bears and crisp, clear, icy colors.   This makes me smile too.  Don't know what I'm going to make from this but it is wonderful to look at wintery fabric with polar bears when it's been nonstop mid-90s humid hot icky summer here.

Did I show this already?  I can't remember. Block 2 for the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Quilt.  I finished it right after it arrived in the mail. Then found it in my photostream.   The photo is needs to be rotated 90 degrees.  Let's just pretend that it is OK?

Block 3 will be arriving soon.  Love this fun BOM.

 

Bits and Pieces

It's been a busy Sunday with working at Starbucks, wishing Happy Father's Day to my dad, and grocery shopping for the week.  Now I need to get a few chores done and get ready for another week.

I was so excited to get the first block and the finishing kit in the mail for the 2012 Designer Mystery Block of the Month from Fat Quarter Shop

The Moda Vintage Modern fabrics are to die for--gorgeous saturated colors. YUM!

First block is done.

Next up is my first finished block for this month's Schnibble--the brand new pattern called Leap Year.  I just love 16-patch blocks. I love them better than 9-patches; don't know why.  I am using 2 charm packs of Little Apples fabrics. Cutemous!!!!!!  Look at the little fussy-cut squirrels. Adorable. 

In another (ahem) package from Fat Quarter Shop this week came a fat quarter bundle of Lily Belle by Bari J. in the cool color way for the Hexy Quilt Along on the Fat Quarterly blog.   The manufacturer is Art Gallery Fabrics and the silky hand of the fabric is just wonderful.   Beautiful fabrics that computer screens don't do justice too. You need to see in person.  It is nearly too pretty to cut up.