Minnesota State Fair

Sometimes I need to have a deadline. . . 

and the Minnesota State Fair creative activities entry deadline was exactly what I needed to get my Retro Flowers Quilt finished!

I absolutely love it!

I used some of my favorite prints in this quilt -- lots of AMH Good Folks, with some FMF and others thrown in, too.

I quilted diagonal lines, 3 parallel lines through the centers of each block, and 1 line through the other squares.

And while it didn't ultimately win a State Fair Ribbon, it was at least "displayed!"

And much to my delight, these projects DID WIN RIBBONS!

I won 3rd place in the kids coat category for my little red riding hood cape!

And 2nd place in the crib/toddler quilt category for my Tangerine Scallops quilt!

What fun to see my projects on display,

and with winning ribbons attached!

I've been smiling ever since.

Linking up to:

WIP Wednesday, 8/29/12

Happy WIP Wednesday!

I have found that summer is not my most productive season for quilting.

Summer in Minnesota is short;

we spend every possible moment enjoying the pool,

the parks, and our backyard!

While I'll really miss the kids after they start school

(the Tuesday after Labor day),

I'm giddy thinking about a whole day to myself to sew!

Here's what I have finished recently: 

a Baby Quilt for my cousin's new baby

(9 blocks of wonky stars, using this tutorial)

My helper, Holly--

she loved helping me lay out the design!

She also requested that we make a fish

to go with the quilt,

but this didn't go so well.

I just couldn't figure out how to get the tail to look right!

Another "Read" Library Tote,

pattern available here.

I need to make a few more of these!

Each of my girls has requested one,

 along with a friend with twin girls, too.

Luckily the letters are really fun to paper piece!

I'm close to finishing up these projects:

Asterisk Quilt

(tutorial for the scrappy asterisks is here)

This was my choice for my last month as "quilter"

for the Peace Circle of do. Good Stitches.

I quilted this with FMQ loops,

but still need to sew on the binding.

I'm working on pattern testing a bag for a friend -- 

more to come on this project soon!

Just started project:

Vintage Holiday QAL with Fabric Mutt

I've finished 2 blocks so far, and they were QUICK!

The QAL is officially on blocks 7 & 8 (out of 12, yikes!),

but I don't think it will take too long to catch up.

These are such fun blocks to make!

I'm using red & green fabrics

that aren't necessarily "Christmas" fabrics,

with grey seeds from FMF

for the ornament tops and binding.

Works in Progress, 7.18.12

Happy Wednesday!

This week my girls are at an

 Irish Dance Camp every morning,

 which they LOVE,

 and it gives me a little extra time to clean the house sew!

 I'll have finished photos of this one soon!

It's a Swoon quilt made of 4 swoon blocks,

to hang on my sewing room wall.

 Bee blocks for do.Good Stitches

(tutorial is Cracker Scraps by Angela of Cut to Pieces)

Blocks for the Polaroid swap on flickr

(thanks to Debbie for organizing this fun swap!)

 The last 4 Retro Flowers blocks, ready to go.

I will finish this quilt top this week!!!!

Can't wait to get this one done!

Linking up to:

Bella Quilt

This is a long lost work in progress, now finished!

(Hopefully the first in a long list of finishes coming soon!)

A while back I tested Elizabeth's pattern for

the Bella Quilt.

It's a great pattern for using up a charm pack.

I had a Bliss charm pack sitting around for quite awhile --

the pattern walks through how to pair it with some coordinating fabrics

(solid kona snow and pink in my quilt) to create an interesting quilt.

I'd highly recommend this pattern!

Thanks for letting me test it out, Elizabeth!

"Read" Library Tote

Have you been following all of the fabulous tutorials and pattern reviews at Sew Sweetness this summer?It's been amazing!
Here is the bag that I'm entering into the contest:

 My own creation,

pattern available here.

 Fabrics: charcoal grey linen

 & Lucy's Crab Shack,

by Sweetwater for Moda

So bright & cheery for summer!

 Lined with orange dots,

and plenty of pockets for library cards & book lists!

Summer reading program, here we come!

(You can see more versions of this bag here.)

Linking up to:

Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of a copy of my new pattern!  I drew a number randomly and here is the winner:

AnneMarie said

Congrats on your first pattern!! The tote looks lovely in all your testers colorways.

Great bag!

I'll be sending you an email shortly, AnneMarie!

Happy 4th of July!

I love making these wonky stars.

I have a stack of reds, whites, and blues,

all ready to be made into a summertime quilt.

But I have finished 2 quilt tops recently,

and should really get them quilted!

The one above is a do.Good Stitches quilt,

made by the ladies of the Peace circle,

using my Scrappy Asterisk tutorial.

The one below is a (partial) Swoon,
using old Amy Butler prints & dots. 

Four blocks is the perfect size

for a wall hanging for my sewing room!

 I don't like the actual basting and quilting

as much as I like starting new projects, though,

 and so this week I had to make another
"Read" Library Tote!

Pattern available here.

Giveaway post here!

Linking up to: