Simplicity Quilt Finish

I have got to find a better time to take my pictures.  These were taken at about 2am - so the lighting isn't great.  But I had to show another finished quilt! 

 

This quilt was the presewn fabric squares from the 3 Sisters line Simplicity.  I liked the fabric because it had some of the eyelet pieces in the squares.  I added the green pintuck fabric for a stop border and the pink polka dot for the big border.  I love that polka dot.  LOVE.

 

Once I got the quilt sewn together, I was kind of out of love with it.  The presewn fabric is hard to get looking square and then I added the pintuck which stretches.  I just felt like it was thrown together and didn't love the way it looked.....until I quilted it. 

 

I fell back in love.  Amazing what a little quilting can to to spruce up a quilt.  I used the 30's Flower quilt pattern in the middle, loops in the stop border, and a fancy feather in the big border.  I love how it turned out! 

The binding was a green and pink stripe from an older 3 Sisters line and matched perfectly.  Now I just need to have a little girl to give this quilt to!  JK - that ain't going to happen!

***Reminder -  still time to enter the giveaway here.  I'm giving away this table runner - giveaway closes Sunday night!

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts - Friday Finishes

500th Post - and a Giveaway!

Whaoo!  This is my 500th post!  I remember the day I started blogging.  I questioned my decision over and over again to jump into the blogging world.  I remember writing the post and holding onto it for a week or two before I posted it.

The fine line of wanting to capture memories and important moments with my kids - yet a little anxious about putting my kids out there on the internet for all to see.  The balancing act of hobby vs family blog.  Who knew I had so much to say and show over the last 5 years!

I appreciate so much the kind words and sweet comments I have gotten over the years.  The words of advise on hard days.  The cheering my family on during our new adventures.  The support and compliments on my little projects.  And especially the encouragement in starting my new business.  I appreciate each and every comment I receive and page view I get.  I know our time is precious and I am so grateful that people my be interested in what goes on in my little world.

To honor all that and celebrate my 500th post - I thought it would be fun to host a little giveaway.  This is my first giveaway, so I'm pretty excited!

I went back and forth on what to offer.  Fabric because I love it so much?  A pattern that is on my to do list?  A finished something?  Which is what I ended up with.  I chose a table runner.  And not just a table runner, but one of my favorites.

I made a couple of the runners when I was trying to complete a Schnibbles  project and decided I was Schnibbles impaired.  But what came out of my mistakes was a couple of my favorite runners ever!  I love these pastel colors from the Martinique line by 3 Sisters.  Especially right now - they bring a springy feel into the house which is so needed with the cold out!

I also love the backing on this runner - flip the runner for a different look.  Aqua and red is so in right now I love it!

And stars - you all should know about my love affair with stars....so this runner has it all for me!

  

 I love runners for several reasons - I can use up scraps from my quilting projects, I can get them done in an hour and feel like I've accomplished something.  I love the pop of color they add to areas in my house.  And I love that I can change them out monthly if I like.  

I use them on my dining table, entry table, coffee table, island, dresser - they can go everywhere.  I even throw them over a chair now and then to add some color into my family room.  

So...the giveaway part - EASY - leave me a comment telling me what your favorite project/hobby is.  Doesn't have to be sewing related - anything you want - I want to get to know you and what you like to do most in life!  

I'll chose a winner next Monday the 11th and announce it here.  Please make sure you aren't a no reply email so I can contact you via email if you win.  

Good luck - and thank you so much for stopping by.

Linking up to WIP Wednesdays!

Menu Mondays with a Pinterest Update

Its a miracle! I made everything - EVERYTHING on the menu list from last week.  I don't know if that has ever happened in all my menu Monday posts! 

I also wanted to report back on a few of the new pinterest recipes I tried. 

- The chicken/stuffing crockpot meal - we ate it, but I probably won't be making it again, wasn't a favorite in our household.

- The Pesto Stuffed Shells on the other hand were delicious!  These will be making an appearance in our menu plan again soon.  The pop of pesto flavor was a fun kick to the cheese filling.  Try them - you won't be sorry!

Last week we had a slower week, no soccer practice or game, kids were sick, so we didn't go out much...this week is back to the chaos - but I'm going to try and stick with it.  So here goes..another weekly menu.

Monday - Leftover meatball subs w/chips
Tuesday - Pioneer Woman Chicken Tacos
Wednesday - Coconut Shrimp w/pineapple
Thursday - Turkey meatballs w/fruit
Friday - Crockpot Chicken Salsa
Saturday - Spaghetti w/garlic bread

I also tried a few household cleaning tips I have found on pinterest.  My bathroom is pretty clean right now thanks to these few tips...

Grout cleaner - I tried this in my bathroom - and I feel like it may be my new bathroom floor cleaner.
Another Grout Cleaner - I used this in my shower - the grout in there was bad...and black.  This idea worked - I think it may work because it strips away some of the actual grout, but it works.  My shower looks better - I may have to try it again to complete the job.
Dawn soap - I threw some dawn soap and vinegar into a kitchen sponge thing and my shower glass is so clean and clear. 

Clearly I my bathroom needed some help!  But I'm happy to report that all my pinterest time isn't going to waste completely! 

Come back for my next post - It will be my 500th post and I have a fun little giveaway in store.

February Goals - Lovely Year of Finishes

I have a new found love for the 1st of each month. 

I receive my Anne Bright Club designs at 12:01am and stay up to see them.

The new block pattern for the Open Gates BOM is put up.

And I get to pick a new UFO for as part of A Lovely Year of Finishes

 

Remember my Swoon quilt?  I started it back in August - of 2011...

I have decided to make this Swoon quilt my February finish!  I have 4 blocks done - and 5 to go.  My goal is to complete the quilt - as in sewn, quilted, bound. 

I love this block, love the quilt, love the fabric - its bright and springy and I want it hanging on my quilt rack by March - game on!

I have a few more finished quilts to show you in the next week, some new quilting designs and client quilts, and my 500 blog post - I think I need to have a giveaway!  Stay tuned.

Linking up to:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Fridays
Crazy Mom Quilts - Finish up Fridays

and

Another Finish - Christmas Presence

I took this BIG quilt on the plane with me.  My bags were packed last week with 4 quilts.  Someone asked me if I was back packing through Europe.  I stuffed my suitcase and laptop bag full of quilts to keep me busy.  I finished 3 on the flight out there - and this big one on my way back.  

This quilt was made using the presewn together squares Moda came out with a few years back.  This line was call Christmas Presence by April Cornell.  I LOVE this line.  There is the most beautiful black fabric with the holly berry on it.  I still can't believe they left it out of the presewn fabric, but I still love this line.  

The line had a great mix of plaids and prints along with the perfect tone of red and green.  The perfect Christmas addition.  I have had this quilt hanging in my closet for probably 5 years now.  So I was thrilled to get it done!

I used the Holly Panto design to quilt it.  I love the big holly berry leaves.   Not sure if you can see below - but this was the 2nd quilt I did on my new machine and the 1st quilt using a real edge to edge pattern.  No idea what happened, but about 3 inches was skipped.  I was in the stage of watching the quilt machine - like you do your new born baby.  I kept thinking if I walked away a mistake would be made.  This pattern is very dense and was taking a long time - the quilt is so big towards the end I decided to start sewing and I walked away while it started on the next row.  And when I went back I gasped at the GAP in between the two rows!  The row was almost done, so I thought screwed it and will just have to deal with it.  

When I got to the bottom row the pattern was about 4 inches too short - I didn't know how to stretch a pattern back then so I freehanded it - HORRIBLE!  Looks nothing like the panto graph does.  Made me appreciate this magical quilting machine so much more!

Even with the few mistakes - I'm so happy with how it turned out.  I love these fabrics and the quilting pattern and am so glad to have another quilt marked off my to do list!

Linking up to WIP Wednesdays!

Menu Mondays

Last week I tried this recipe that I found on Pinterest and I have to say it was a great success.  The chicken was crunchy the honey mustard was perfect.  It will be one we make again.

Hopefully we can find another go to recipe this week!

Sunday - Spaghetti and Meatballs
Monday - Chicken and Stuffing Crockpot w/ grapes
Tuesday - Pesto Stuffed Shells w/ salad
Wednesday - Maple Soy Salmon w/ noodles
Thursday - Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese
Friday - Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Saturday - Meatball Hero Subs on rolls

My goal - as always is to get to all the meals, but we have a little less going on this week so it actually might happen.  Here's to hoping!

Heart Quilt

I've been out of town on business all week and my bags were packed full of quilts!

 

 

I got a few quilts done - and my first one was this heart quilt!  I wanted to make sure it got done before Valentines Day. 

 

I love the bright reds and bright white in this quilt - I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

 

I used this flannel plaid for the back - its much prettier in person and I've been saving it for a few years for the perfect quilt.  Had just enough for this wall hanging so it must be meant to be.

 

Details about the quilt

Pattern found here

Quilting by me

Fabric - Moda (not sure the name of the line)