Been Gone too Long

I realize this summer when the boys were all home- that having 5 kids at home all day really is not condusive to sewing or quilting or crafting or sleeping or reading or anything I would like to be doing and it especially isn't condusive to blogging.  I like blogging but I almost never have time to do it. I am a little behind

I am doing a quick post about some of my teacher gifts I made at the end of last year and as I am scrolling thru the photos I am still missing one, but I must press forward.  Here are two cute runners I made a really adorable churn dash block (and I almost kept this for myself) and a cute black, white and red quatrefoil block one. the Teachers loved them. 

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Modify Tradition Sampler Quilt

I finally have a picture of it- this is my Modify Tradition Quilt Along Quilt top.  I haven't quite decided what I am doing with the back yet plus I have too many projects right now that take precedent.  I love the way it turned out and I am so excited about the finished top.  It was so much fun to take modern blocks and make them something fun and modern.  I also used fabric only from my stash.  I dream of the day it is actually completed.  But alas, I must move on and keep dreaming.

Remember Connecticut

So it has been long enough- the month of March was fruitful but also full of trial- I don't mean big tragic and life changing trial- I mean where has the time gone- between my husband being on call- school stuff- spring flooding into my basement I am glad to see March go.  I did do some quilting though.  Lets get on with the good stuff and stop the murmuring.

A wonderful family in our church ward moved in March and I wanted to make them a quilt that they could remember Connecticut.  So I created a sampler quilt aptly named "Remember Connecticut".  I chose blocks that I thought would have some meaning.  It was fun to peruse through quilt block after quilt block pattern.  I thought I would have until June to complete this project but they bought a new house and sold theirs, it happened so quickly it became a mad dash to the finish and here is what the end results were.

Frienship Circle

Scrappy Heart (LOVE)

Log Cabin (hearth and home)

State of Connecticut Block

Yankee Charm

Spools (she was a quilting friend)

Hill and Valley

Flying Geese

This is the Back

As you can see one of the blocks I don't have a picture of it is called ocean waves.  This quilt is scrappy and it was a joy to make and my friend loved it - I hope she always remembers the love that grew in Connecticut.

Craft TuesDays

For the last few weeks my Good friend Alicia comes over and we craft together.  We both have a crafting obsession.  We try to pick projects that can be done quickly but with little ones under our feet sometimes that is impossible.  I'm going to try to post on Tuesdays my Craft Tuesday projects, they may be finished or they could be a work in progress- who knows - so hope you enjoy the latest creations from craft Tuesday.

This is my love and hearts garland that my friend and I created  for Valentine's Day we were inspired by someone else and then made our own take on it. It looked fabulous on my fireplace.

This is a way cute heart mailbox from the moda bakeshop.  So cute vintage valentine fabric from alexander henry.  It came out so cute and not too girly for my boy household.

Modify Tradition Quilt Along

Okay like usual I am always behind but I so wanted to take part in the Modify Tradition Quilt Along-  I was skeptical if I even had enough fabric to coordinate and that was modern but some of you who know me - I have piles and piles of fabric- so you scoff at me for even pondering the idea.  I digress.  So I scoured my fabric bins and put together a collection of fabrics that I have now totally fell in love with and here to present to you is a collection of my twelve block sampler.  I have actually already put the quilt top together but have yet to take a photo so I must get on it.. Still contemplating the back.  I haven't even started part two yet because I have started the pinwheel quilt along (post about that later).  I like samplers-  your always doing a new block- it helps with the tediousness of the same block over and over again.

Fresh Comfort Quilting Bee- February

These blocks are for Hilary - light, pretty and fun log cabins.

Whirligig Block Tutorial

The whirligig block is lots of fun a goes togeher rather quickly. You don't need a lot of fabric just enough to make 2 5 inch light colored block and 2 5 inch dark colored blocks. It's a fun way to use up scraps.
Step 1:

• Cut a piece of template plastic or thin cardboard into a five inch square.
• Draw a line down the middle of the template.
• mark a 1/4 of an inch on opposite sides of the the line and the template (look at the photo)
• Draw a line from the 1/4 inch mark diagonal across the square.

Step 2:

• Cut the template on the line- there now you have your template for your whirligig.
• Mark the right side so you always cut your fabric the right way!

Step 3:

• Now pick your two fabrics - a light and a dark one to make your whirligig.
• cut 2 light and 2 dark into 5 inch squares.

step 4:

• Stack fabric blocks (right side up)
• place template on block and draw diagonal line.
• Tip: always place your template the same way- to ensure your blocks spin the same direction.

Step 5:

• Cut the blocks on the line- keep them organized because now we have to put them together.

Step 6

• Line up the white with the opposite blue- see picture

Step 7:

• line up diagonal edge of fabric like in the picture and get ready to sew.

Step 8:

• Sew your blocks together with a scant 1/4 inch on the diagonal sides.

Step 9:

• Press to the dark fabric

Step 10:

• Now it's time to square up your blocks because right now they should be rectangular.
• the short end should measure 4 1/2 inches so square the block to 4 1/2 inches (refer to the photo)

• See your nice squared up squares.

Step 11:

• Now you need to place your squares out to make a whirligig- the easiest way to do this is to refer to the photo

Step 12:

• Place 2 of your blocks right sides together in row one and do the same for row two.
• sew them together with a scant 1/4 inch seam.

Step 13:

• press each row the opposite way so you can nest the seams and reduce bulk when you sew your rows to gether

• nesting the seams- refer to the photo

Step 14:

• sew your rows together with your scant 1/4 inch seam

• press your rows open.

There you go a beautiful and whimsical whirligig- now make a whole bunch and put them together to make a whirly fun quilt!