Another Year of Schnibbles Year in Review

My parade for this past year is woefully sparse.  I guess fixing up and selling a house and packing and packing and more packing and moving across country and unpacking and unpacking will do that.  I've also been out-and-about exploring New Mexico every chance I've had so that has put quilting by the wayside.  Maybe a better quilting routine will come along this way with autumn arriving soon.  

So without further ado--here is my very small parade, allowing you to run right over and see more at Sherri and Sinta's blogs.   See I am saving you time by not getting my projects done.  How considerate of me ;)

Here was May's quilt called X-Rated (still needs quilting and binding).  

Next up is April's quilt which was a Thimbleblossom's mini pattern.  

I finished mine and use it as a curtain in our itty-bitty half-bathroom.  I call it our submarine bathroom--it's smaller than a small closet--seriously it's tiny.  My fancy-dancy (not) curtain hardware is binder clips and a wooden dowel because we can't put nails in the rental house.  Eh, whatevs. 

Moving on to.....

....wait that's it.  I didn't finish Jersey Girl back in January so that's it for this year.  

C'est la vie.  

I am ready to jump into another year of fun Schnibbles and other small projects. 

May Schnibble for the Parade

Just under the wire, here is my Schnibble for the May Parade.  This month's choice was a quilt called "X-rated" from the book Schnibbles Times Two.  

I used an older French General line called Petite Ecole and Moda Bella solid in Stone.  I left off the border and am going to back and bind the quilt in a deep indigo French General blue.

Can't wait to see the rest of the parade and get caught up on all the Schnibbles from this year during the summer.

The More You Know: Weather Edition

Spring in the high desert is interesting to say the least.  It may change quicker than Michigan weather.

On Tuesday (May 13th) we had snow flurries all day.  Yep. After weather in the 60s and 70s then it snowed all day.  The snow didn't stick to the ground and it really wasn't that cold, but is sure was entertaining.  The snow then changed to this weird bean-bag-fill shaped frozen precipitation.  It has done this before while I've lived here but I didn't know what it was.  Like a small hail but not icy.  After some research on the Internets, I found out it is called graupel.  From Wikipedia:  Graupel (also called soft hail) is formed in high altitude climates and forms when supercooled water droplets collect and freeze on snowflakes.   The more you know.

Graupel on my Adirondack chair

After working all morning, I watched the grauple from  my sewing room and happily sewed away.

In case you are wondering the current temperature is 68F and is headed up to the 80sF this weekend.  YAY! Crazy weather.

My sewing mojo is running at a high level this week.  I have a million projects I want to work on.   Right now.

I started out with this month's Another Year of Schnibbles project.  The quilt is from Carrie's book Schnibbles Times Two and the quilt is called X Rated.  I picked out some French General charm packs that I had and Moda Bella Solid in Stone.

(I write my own selvedges on solids so I don't forget what color I bought...)












As you can see, Stella decided to "help" with the layout of the rows.  Such a big help.  Remy ran away with a couple of the little pieces and Edgar Poe came in and rolled all over the squares getting cat hair on the light pieces.   We had BIG FUN sewing this quilt together.

 I had the day off yesterday and whipped up this oh-so-cutemous bag.  I was (unsuccessfully) looking for some  French General fabric to use as borders for the Schibbles project and found a small fat quarter pack of the Outfoxed line by Lizzie House.  I have no idea what I had planned for this fabric.  It may have been a have-to-have-because-purple-hedgehogs-y'all purchase.

I found purples for the straps and the lining in my stash.  The pattern is Winslow Market Tote by Pink Chalk Studio (I've had it printed out for ages so I don't know where I originally got it.) and was fun and easy to make. It's the perfect size for a farmer's market bag.  I will definitely make more.

Lastly--a Remy photo for all his fans.  Remy was doing some major lounging on the bed yesterday.

April's Another Year of Schnibbles

This month's quilt was a choice of one of Camille Roskelley's mini quilt patterns.  I chose the mini puddle jumping pattern.  It's a tiny quilt at 12" x 12".

I just squeaked by getting the top done as being sick for two weeks this month meant I didn't get to sew much.

For this pattern, I used scraps and bits from Denise Schmidt's Flea Market Fancy and Hope Valley lines with Moda Zen Gray as the solid.  The fabrics were leftovers from when I made my "Sunnyside" quilt.

Check out the rest of the entries on Sherri and Sinta's blogs.

Bitty Block

These little blocks are the opposite of stashbusters.

Working away on this month's Another Year of Schnibbles (guest starring Camille of Thimbleblossoms).  With teeny tiny itty bitty little pieces.

First Finish and First New Project for 2014

I finished the binding on "Minnesota Hot Dish" and it's all washing and ready for gifting.  I machine quilted it myself with some basic quilting stitches so I could get it done quickly.  I did a simple stitch-in-the-ditch grid and wavy-line horizontal quilting across the main part of the quilt and two rows of wavy-line quilting around the border.

I'm looking forward to Another Year of Schnibbles.  These are so much fun to make and it's a good way to use up some charm packs (or find excuses to pick up new ones).  I doubt I'll make the deadline for this month with moving, but I did make a start. 

This month's pattern is "Jersey Girl." I thought I'd get a late early start on the holidays and use Kate Spain's cutemous "In From the Cold" line.  I'm suing the gray-on-white star print for the background. 

 Two blocks done and I put my improvised sewing station away so the house could be shown this weekend.

Mr. SBQ sent this photo of Remy in his box.  Remy's expression made me laugh; he looks a little annoyed at something.  Maybe being interrupted from his afternoon nap? Apparently, the spoiled little guy has TWO boxes now--one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen.  

Schnibble for July's Parade

I was overjoyed that "Lincoln" was chosen as this month's project for Another Year of Schnibbles project because....

I already made mine way back in spring 2010.  I used Moda's "Verna" fabric line by Kate Spain and this started my Kate Spain I-love-all-her-fabric-and-her-cute-kitties fan-girl-ness.

Here is optimistic original post that said I would have it all quilted and bound by the weekend following April 3rd 2010....

April 3, 2010

and here it is today....

Ummmm... not quilted and bound and a rather bad photo since it is overcast & dark in my house today.

I think I remember seeing the backing fabric for this so I need to dig that out and hopefully it won't be another year (let alone three!) that this Schnibble will be done.

You can see all the great Lincoln projects on Sherri and Sinta's blogs.

I can't wait to see what the new project is for August.

June Schnibble

I am loving all the different versions of "Dulcinea" popping up for the Schnibble parade.  Be sure to visit Sherri and Sinta's blogs tomorrow for all the fun.

I am especially enamored with Thelma's clever interpretation of the pinwheels.  If you haven't seen it, jump on over to her blog.  I think she has captured the essence of summer in her little quilt.

After several attempts at different borders, none of which I liked, I decided to leave mine with a simple plain border to match the background.

I'm going to hunt around for a soft brown for a skinny binding at some point.


Can you believe it's the end of June already? I can't.  Summer is flying by.

Schnibbling

This month's Vintage Schnibble (called "Dulcinea") is coming along quickly.  The blocks go together perfectly.  I'm using an older Fig Tree line called "A Day in the Country."  I just love the soft buttery colors.

I have the center finished and just need to add the borders.  Wow I *may* actually get this month's done early!!

Of course Stella had to photobomb.  Her motto is "see a quilt, sit on it."

My Favorite Schnibble Parade Entry

It is so hard to pick a favorite Schnibble quilt.  Usually it's the one I've just finished working on.  Since I *had* to choose for this month's parade, I chose "Doc."

These photos just don't do justice to the wonderful colors of Kate Spain's "Good Fortune" fabric line.  I used Moda Bella solid in Zen Gray for the background.  My favorite neutral, hope Moda keeps this color in stock.  The colors are just perfect for my living room and I hope to get this quilt professionally quilted and  hanging on my wall sometime soon.  

Here's another view outside last May.

Can't wait to see all the other favorites on Sinta and Sherri's blogs.

2012 Year in Review: Schnibble Style

I've had fun seeing how other bloggers did a "Year in Review" of the fun year-long "Another Year of Schnibbles" quilt along, so I decided to do one too.  Good thing you can search blogs (including your own) by keyword to remember what projects go with which month (and also to figure out if you missed a project or two or three).

 Way back in January (can we even remember way back in January????) was  "Full House."  I made mine in French General fabric (it still needs to be quilted).  

February. What was February?  Looks like I didn't make February's quilt called "i.s.t.h. (insert snappy title here)."

March was "T is for Thelma" aka Bibelot.  This was a fun quilt to make and a fun quilt to lay out all the blocks and hope that the cats didn't decide to "help" rearrange them.

April's quilt was an out-of-the-box quilt for me in colors and in flying geese (not a flying geese fan). I do like this quilt though and Edgar Poe seems to like it too. 

May was "Doc" and I made this version from Moda Zen Gray solid and Kate Spain's "Good Fortune" line.  I adore this quilt and as soon as it gets quilted, I'm hanging it up in my living room.

June's pattern was "Leap Year." There is nothing better than a 16-patch block.  I just love these made from the "Little Apples" line.  I used a lot of gray fabric this year.  I'm glad it was popular for 2012 and I hope I stocked up on enough for when gray is not a popular color.   

July was a choose your own Schnibble.  I love it when it's a choose your own.  I had to check my blog and see what I did for that month.   Oh look!  I made this older Schnibble called "Four Corners" out of Kate Spain fabric. I just love Kate Spain fabric. This quilt was fun to make with the happy Central Park charm packs I've been hoarding.  (I really need to get this one quilted too).

August was "Dimestore."  I guess I didn't make this one. What was I doing?  I need to go back and check my blog and see what I was doing in August.  Probably melting from the heat and complaining about the drought. Looks like I didn't do much of anything in August so let's move onto September.

September was "Speck" and look I actually have one that is quilted. AMAZING!  Called the media. (I am so slack about getting even these little quilts quilted.  It's just not my favorite part of the process.)

October was "Hubble." Oh how I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE this quilt.  More Kate Spain wonderful lovely Serenade fabric and my favorite plumy goodness Eggplant Moda Bella solid. I can't wait to get my pennies saved up so I can get this one quilted.  Sigh. I have the backing and binding all ready. 

November's pattern was "Drop."  Didn't make this month.  October/November is always really busy for me.  

Here is December's "Morsel" pincushions. These were great fun and I think I *need* to make more of these in 2013.

Well I made 9 out of the 12 projects and enjoyed every one.  And 9 out of 9 project have gray fabric in them.  Love gray!!! And 3 out of 9 are Kate Spain fabric (did I mention I love Kate Spain fabric?) 

This was a fun year and I love seeing all the other versions out there in Blogland.  HUGE thanks to Sinta and Sheri for all their hard work and Carrie and Miss Rosie for their wonderful patterns!!!   

A Trio of Finishes

Well things are finally starting to slow down for me after the rush, rush, rush of the holidays.  Doesn't it seem like yesterday was Thanksgiving?  How does time go by so fast?

I was talking to my dear friend Karin on the phone about getting back into sewing when I realized that I have finished a few projects that I haven't blogged about.

First up, this month's Another Year of Schnibbles project.  I love making these pincushion and plan on making some of the other ones in the pattern during a less busy time.

I made these scraps of Vintage Modern and the irresistible Moda twill tape that holds bundles together. 

After making my sister-in-law a charm square scarf, I made one for myself out of a Morris Apprentice charm pack and a striped flannel on the reverse (I used a gray stripe from the Marmalade line by Bonnie & Camille).  I love William Morris fabric and I am looking forward to wearing this with the new black wool coat that S. bought for me for this winter. 

 I also quilted September's Schibbles project. This is Speck with some simple straight-line quilting and a thin dark chocolate brown polka dot binding.

I made a scrappy back from leftover pieces.

Time to get busy catching up on BOMs, BOWs and planning for next year.

A Halloween Hubble Finish

Whew!  Got this month's Another Year of Schibbles quilt in just under the wire.  Yes, it is still hot from the iron and I had to take a not-very-good photo but it's done!

I used Kate Spain's Serenade line and Moda Bella Solid in Eggplant.  I love the autumn colors and can't wait to get it quilted.  

I also need to get a better photo outside when my quilt holder is home.

And how about a Halloween Remy photo?

Here is Remy in his disguise as The Creature Under the Bathroom Rug (with special effects flash).   

The Creature Under the Bathroom Rug appears most weekday mornings when I am trying to get ready for work.  

I'll tell you a secret:  The Creature Under the Bathroom Rug is more funny than scary.

Happy Halloween!

I'm Back! It's October! It's the end of October!

Sleeping on the job.  No help blogging here.

I did not realize it had been nearly a month since I last blogged.  Sigh.  What a bad blogger I've been this year.
















I just got back yesterday from a week long trip to Michigan to visit my family,

celebrate October birthdays,



and spend oodles of time with this little cutie

Mackenzie 2 1/2 years old.

 My sister-in-law, aunt, mom, and I spent some time sewing.  I finished the center of the Schnibbles quilt for this month "Hubble".  I am using "Serenade" by Kate Spain charm packs and Moda Bella Solid in Eggplant.

Love the autumn-ness of these colors.   

Mackenzie, dad, and I picked raspberries and made a raspberry pie.  Mackenzie *may* have eaten more berries than ended up in her basket.

Now to get caught up on everything.

September's Schnibble: Speck

Stella photobombs just about every quilt photo session around here.  But that's OK 'cause she's pretty cute. 

I finished up the top for this month's Another Year of Schnibbles this afternoon.  This was a fun and immensely cutemous quilt to make.  The pattern is "Speck" from Miss Rosie's new line of "Little Bites" patterns made from 2 1/2" squares.  

I used a bundle of scraps that I won eons ago from Cloud 9 fabrics.  This is an older collection called "Forest Friends" and it's their organic cotton flannel.   I have enough left over to make a scrappy back and binding.   The sashing and borders are a regular cotton solid (Moda Bella or Kona--don't know which. I usually try to write on the edge of solids the manufacturer and color but forgot to on this piece.)  Can't wait for the parade this month. I've seen some adorable versions around the internets. Hope everyone is enjoying the last few days of September.  

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 .