Becky's Blabber: March 2012

Friday, March 23, 2012

Final Project Quilting: Zig Zag Non Quilt

I almost didn't do the final Project Quilting round, because today is the last day I'll have access to my sewing machine or computer until after the week-end, but here it is.

The challenge this week was "zig-zag", with an additional challenge to go beyond a basic zig zag quilt. I really had a hard time with this, mainly due to the time crunch, but also because zig zags aren't really a particularly favorite pattern of mine. It was hard for me to create something that was based on a pattern I don't really like. I had nothing, and was resigned that it was going to be nothing, when I sat down to finish all of my postcards with, yes... a zig zag stitch! I can DO that.

I just got my first ever ipod (touch) a week or 2 ago, and I've been wanting to make myself a case for it. I made one for my son a few months ago. So first I "made" some fabric with a solid black and many colors of threads and zig zag stitches.

Then I made a "quilt" with it, added Velcro, put in a fold, and now I have an ipod case! I took more pictures, and will try to put up a tutorial in the near future.

Thanks again to Kim, of Kim's Crafty Apple for hosting this fun event!!

Friday Finish: Postcards, Quilt tops and Freezer

It's Friday again, so I'm linking up with Amandajean of Crazy Mom Quilts "Finish it up Friday". Feel free to join in or see what others have finished!

This week my finishes were my "Easter egg" postcards for my March swap, my Scrap Attack Quilt top and the New Orleans French Quarter Quilt top.

I already have the French Quarter Quilt all pin-basted and ready to quilt!

I finally got out my "Organic Chemistry" quilt top to sew up next, hopefully in time for our May Quilt show.

Here's some of the postcards I've been getting in the mail from my "Where you are" swap. One is even from South Africa!! I have an Ireland quilter in my Easter Egg swap too, so I'm getting them across oceans now!

Only 2 of us signed up for the February "I'm still sleeping" swap, but my partner accidentally sent me not 1, but 2 hand-stitched postcards! WOW! I'm impressed. I whipped up a cute "extra" card of my own with the 2 kittens wide awake this time ;-).

One last thing that is almost finished is our freezer full of last summer's garden goodness. Below are the before (early October) and after (this morning) pictures. Some of the "after" jars are actually roasted pureed winter squash that we froze in December. I'm actually stunned that we went through this much (and then some, as I canned a lot too, and it's all gone). But with 2 growing boys/men, I guess I'd better get used to it!!

I've been seeing a lot of Spring pictures in blog-land lately, and hope to have some of my own to post soon too, but I thought I'd share a final picture I took yesterday morning of our local quail seeking cover from the snow! I'm sure we'll warm up soon... right?

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

WIP Wed: New Orleans Quilt

My latest "WIP" (work in progress) has been a queen sized version of my New Orleans quilt that I made for the first Project Quilting challenge. A friend saw it on-line, and sent it on to someone who really loved it enough to actually PAY me to make them one!! Whew hew!! I love sewing for people who really appreciate my work. It truly makes it a joy!

Here's the smaller version I made, and some pictures of the distinctive Creole Cottages in the French Quarter that inspired the quilt (taken by Dan Martone).

I'm hoping to get the back made and get the quilt basted today. Wish me luck!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Scrap Attack Quilt Top Finished!

I just finished up my "Scrap Attack" Quilt! I made it as part of "Stitched in Color's "Scrap Attack Quilt Along". Next week is the final week, and there will be prizes given away, so if you haven't made a scrap quilt top yet, you still have time to get in on the fun!!

I used up a lot of my batik scraps, which all live in the same box together. I cut up everything I had into 3 inch squares and just created 12 different 5 by 5 blocks. I was going to use the same white sashing and border, but ran out of fabric. I had a nice big chunk of solid black though, and after the "audition", I decided I liked the black better. Since I wanted a bed-sized quilt, I did fill it out a bit with the sashign and borders. It's 60 inches by 78 inches.

I love scrappy quilts, and the colors and fabric in this really make me happy!! One of the best thing about this quilt is that the only fabric I had to buy for this was the white.

Thanks again to Rachel, of "Stitched in Color" for hosting this. Be sure to keep an eye out for her "Festival of Scrappiness" next week!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Medical Tenchologist Quilt Revisited

Finished quilt

In the last week or two, I've had a sudden renewed interest in my Med Tech Quilt from a year ago. It seems as though a Med Tech/Clinical Laboratory Scientist educator found it on my blog and passed it along on a mass email to educators throughout the country! I'm thrilled!! As a result, I may have the opportunity to display it at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science!!! This is a BIG DEAL! I feel so honored!!

The stats: 40 x 48 inches, machine appliqued and quilted (or thread painted), quilt as you go method.

I looked back at my old posts, and decided it would be a good idea to put all of the pictures and links to the posts in one blog post. Here it is! I'll post them in the order that I made them, and blogged about them, with a link to each post below. Enjoy! Thanks to all of those who have expressed interest in this quilt. It's truly one of my favorites, and I really enjoy all of the other medical professionals and others who have shown their appreciation.