X Marks the Spot {done!}

This journey with Fandango fabric all started here.

But when we last left off... I was talking about quilting.  Next up was to square off the quilt.  With my batting being about 90 x 120 inches I realized my quilt was bigger than my batting.  Quick fix really.  I cut off three inches all the way around the quilt.  Finished size is about 90 by 90 square.

I put my cutting mat on the floor and chopped the piano key border in half.  And I must admit I like it much better this way!!

Then, I made up the binding.  It's a mix of this turquoise fabric and scraps from the boarder I cut off.  LOVE!!

The fabric is called Jewels of the Sea by Lonni Rossi for Andover Fabrics.  It's a good one!!

Then, I machine stitched the binding to the front.  And finished off the back with hand sewing.  Love that we got a bit of chilly weather over the weekend that made it fantastic to cuddle under a quilt in progress!

And here she is!!  X Marks the Spot.  All finished.  Fresh from the wash... and has already made her first trek out of the house to a quilt guild meeting.  

I have adored these colors from the start... something fresh and renewing about them.  Reminds me a bit of the changing seasons and it's funny how I could say this is really so spring with the bright yellow.  Or so summer with that amazing deep turquoise... but at the same time those peaches remind me of the leaves starting to change colors.  Funny how a quilt can have so much personality.

It seemed only fitting to take pictures of this quilt in the woods as I am entering it in the Celebrate Color party over at Stitched in Color.

I did minimal quilting.  It's hard to see but I have loose wiggly lines through the centers of each row... creating another x marks spot through each block.  It's simple and doesn't take away from the pattern or fabrics.

The back is pieced from scraps left over.  A few blocks here, a few big pieces of fabric there.  And I even made another X.  Cool, right?

Here you can see some of the binding .... mmmm... scrappy binding!!

And yes, have no fear... this quilt was quality control tested by the girls before it went out.

Katie approves!

Sammy, on the left, thinks it's pretty cool too!

And there you have it!!  Finished and ready to be loved!  This quilt was made for my sewing space... and I can see many sewing sessions with this cutie on my lap.  The quilt... not the dogs.

XOXO!

I will also be linking up with Fabric Tuesday over at Quiltstory for a little show and tell!

One Thing, One Week Challenge

Amy from Amy's Creative Side hosts a great motivator every now and then to get one thing accomplished...  take one more step in a project...  finish off that one last thing that's been lingering on your creative mind.  It's not meant to pressure us, but simply provide that extra nudge to get that one thing checked off!

For last week's challenge I said I wanted to finalize the design for my X Marks the Spot quilt.  You will remember the pieces have been sitting around sometime now.

So, I started by taking the stack of squares and putting them up on the design wall to get reaquainted. 

Beautiful! 

Stunning!! 

I am still so in love with this line and the concept I started (phew!)

I opened a small sketch pad and started to doodle different ways to connect the squares.  Seeing them on the wall again, I am remembering that the patterns and colors are very strong.  I remembered that I wanted to used bigger pieces and solids to help break up the chaos a little. 

I am still playing with the concept of X's or crosses.  I started drawing them out and realized I had a lot of little holes that weren't filled... I wasn't connecting them in the right way.  hmmm...

Start over.  new graph... free hand lines...

Then it hit me. 

What if I use those tiny squares I made with all the wildness and patterns as the 'center' of the X?  And then I use a mix of solids and large pieces of fandango print to fill in the rest of the larger X?  So, it would be an X within an X. 

In my doodle, the highlighter colors are meant to be either a solid or a large piece of fandango fabric, while the pencil drawn block is meant to be the squares I made (pictured in the beginning of this post).

I started to outline the bigger X's just to get a feel for how the pattern works and I am really liking the effect. 

I also realized that I don't like how an X is cut off or incomplete here.  I am leaning toward adding a border that would allow the arm of an X to reach toward the edge of the quilt.  The border would also fill in a void if there wasn't an X filling the space.

I feel a sense of renewed direction with this quilt now.  I am ready to tackle some of the math to decide what pieces I need to cut... then I will be off to the horses to really start assembling this top. 

I hope you enjoyed a look into my design process.  It's mostly messy.  It's probably unconventional, but at the end it's very much me.  Please tell me I'm not the only one who designs in highlighter and pen (ha!) 

Also, have a look over at Amy's to see what others have completed in one week!

日本のための多くの愛
Much love for Japan

Happy Quilting Fool!

I'm a happy quilting fool over here.  There is definitely a relationship between the amount of sewing I can squeeze in and the size of the smile on my face.  And this week, it's a big smile!

--ONGOING--


Tribal - Happy Quilt-a-long
I gave a rather in depth update on Tribal yesterday and couldn't be happier with how it's looking!! 

As of last night I still had pieces of Tribal on my machine as I carefully assembled the top...and painstakingly made sure all the lines and points matched up! 

It looked something like this.

And... guess what?  Last night, I finished sewing the whole top together.  Whoohooooo~!!

So pretty!

And remember I said I had picked out the binding for Tribal already?  Well, would you like to know what it's going to be?

-drum roll-

Oh, ya.  Leopard.

It's wild, it's fitting... and I have two large rolls of pre-made leopard binding needing a purpose.  So hey, why not, right?  I don't suppose there is anyone out there that would want some pre-made leopard binding?

Onward.  I am hoping to get this quilt sandwiched and ready for quilting tonight.  And looking for a finished quilt by the weekend. 

Central Park Pin Wheels

Still my all time favorite!!  Shhhh... don't tell the other quilts.

I am still in the process of hand sewing the binding down and it looks a little something like this at the moment.  I think I have finished all of about 8 inches so far.

I could probably finish this one up and have it ready for a wash and it's grand unveiling photos by the weekend!

X Marks the Spot 

I am ready to dive right back into this one and have several ideas on how the layout will be -- I am making the design up on the fly with this one.  I have pulled the basket containing all the pieces out and I can see this hitting the design wall as early as tomorrow.

Crewel Spring Flowers

While not technically quilting, I will include it anyway.  It's slow, but relaxing.  I have no self imposed deadline and I am doing my best just to enjoy my time spent quietly coloring in this flowery piece.

I finished the second square of lavender flowers.

Here is the start on the third flower box.  I am enjoying the red and blue combo so far!  I also started working with a smaller hoop and finding it a bit easier to maneuver.

Have we talked about yarn organization?  I don't think so.  The yarn came in a bit 'ole lump.  Tangled, messy, not my style. 

I attempted to organize with this piece of reused cardboard and made a fatal flaw of wrapping the yarns around the board.  While pretty, it's not easy to take one strand off.  Beginners mistake. 

But you have to admit it is pretty to see all those rainbow colors together! 

I saw an organizer at the store and didn't spend the $2 to purchase it.  Silly, I know.  But I have a feeling I will be making one over the next few days to get this yarn in order.

--BACK BURNER-- *cricket, cricket*

You Can Sew-a-thon! - no progress

Tulip Runner - no change here in cricketsville.

This is a bonus picture. 

My version of the best use of a quilt. Ever!  Yes, those are Katie's toes sticking out from under a quilt.  The other half of her (including her head) is snuggled in my lap. 

I just love how this dog adores being snuggled and wrapped up in a quilt.  That's happiness at it's finest!

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats 

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 6 (up one from last week)
New Projects: 1

Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 6 (I am expecting two finishes next week!)

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday---

Sew, What's Going On?

--ONGOING--
Happy Quilt-a-long - Tribal
I am managing to stay caught up with the quilt-a-long I joined so far!  This past week we put together 16 patch blocks in a random fashion.  It was fun to put all the different fabrics next to each other!!

A mid point in assembling.

They are assembled, and need ironing!

And here you go!  Six 16 patch blocks all hanging out together.

For the most part I am happy with how my seams matched up.  And the randomness is fun.



I just found out that our next step is to cut these blocks down the diagonals and reassemble to make a different shape.  It's pretty innovative and I am looking forward to cutting again tonight (after I fix a few rogue seams that got away from me -- see the bottom right of this block below)

The sashing comes next -- which means I should pick it out already.  I am thinking a chocolate brown or maybe I'll pull another tribal print.  I think it will be easier to decide once I have the diagonal cuts and re-sewing done.

What do you think?

Best part... this quilt really is coming together quickly... you can use charms (pre-cut 5x5 inch squares) which saves cutting time... and the randomness.. have I mentioned how much fun it is?  I can see making this quilt pattern again!

Central Park Pin Wheels

Most of my weekend was focused here in Central Park land!  A happy, wonderful, colorful place!

I finally assembled the center and had that giddy moment about how fun it is to use such big squares to show off these prints!

Then I spent a lot of time making sure all those square and pinwheel seams matched up.  For the most part it looks pretty dang right on!  whoop whoop!

This is the backing I am looking to use.  I laid it out and the fabric isn't quite wide enough to accommodate which means I need to 'design' the back now. 

Originally I was thinking of using some of the left over pinwheels.  But looking at this pictures... wow that is a 'loud' fabric.  I might head more in the direction of a big thick brown stripe offset from the center. 

Another look at the pinwheels and backing together.  Aren't those birds cute!!

And another glory shot of the front all pieced together and ironed.  I'm really liking it!!

And yes, this quilt top is officially Katie approved!  That's the highest mark of quality I could ever hope to reach.  She lays on it every time I turn around.  So cute!

X Marks the Spot

I haven't pulled this one out this week.  Although, now that Central Park is off the design board... this is the next one to go up and get it's arrangement.


You Can Sew-a-thon!
Read the intro to our sewing adventure here.  

No progress here.  I think one project a month is going to be where I head with this.  The good news.. it's almost March -- meaning time for the next project!!


--BACK BURNER-- *cricket, cricket*

Tulip Runner - no change here, but getting closer to picking this one back up.

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 0

Finished Projects: 0
Total WiP's: 5

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday---

A Finish and Start

--NEW--

Happy Quilt-a-long Tribal

I told you about the quilt-a-long I am joining and here are the beginnings of the squares I cut last night. 

--ONGOING--

X Marks the Spot

Happy accident.  I was creating a block for Block Party at Quiltstory (wasn't that so much fun!) and I think I have come up with what will be the cornerstone block for the X.  Next step is to put it up on the design wall and then make a bunch more of the Friendship blocks!  See more here.

Central Park Pin Wheels

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I have decided on and sewn the center of this quilt and I think that is going to push me over the finish line on this one shortly.  Remember all those charm squares (5x5 inches) that I couldn't cut into... well... here are a few of them!

And then all the other pinwheels will dance around the center working from cream out to brown!

Do you get it?  The fabric is called Central Park... and there is a 'park' in the center of this quilt design complete with flowers, animals, and sidewalks.  Go ahead scroll back up and take a look.

Yup, I'm pretty smitten about the idea too!!  Actually can't contain how giddy it makes me.... or does this just prove how much of a geek I am?  Ahh... either way, I will be happy to see this top completed and I can't wait to show you what I picked out for the backing and binding!  That will be in next week's installment.

You Can Sew-a-thon!
Read the intro to our sewing adventure here.  

And, look who has made the first project: strawberry pin cushions!!

Sugar the Golden Retriever shared that her Mom has tried her hand a making them up!!  Isn't Sugar just a doll!!!

How cute is this one over at Seaweed and Raine? (picture from Seaweed and Raine)

Kasey from Fabric Thread; Paper and Pens has also been busy making Strawbeeroos!!  Also, have you seen her hexagon and hand stitching work?!!!  (picture from Kasey)

I am still finishing up the luggage tag pattern and looking forward to sharing that as our second You Can Sew-a-thon project!!

--BACK BURNER-- *cricket, cricket*

Tulip Runner - still haven't even cut a single piece of fabric for this.  I am hoping I can find it some new wind this weekend and get a good start!! 

--FINISHED--

Confetti

This Week's Work in Progress (WiP) Stats

Last WiP Wednesday Total: 5
New Projects: 1

Finished Projects: 1
Total WiP's: 5

---Linking to W.I.P. Wednesday---