Doll Quilt Swap 9

While I was busy with house painting, canning, quilting and all sorts of stuff, I little package arrived in my mailbox all the way from Riverdale, Maryland.  It was my doll quilt (the one I was receiving) from the Doll Quilt Swap 9!

In the package was an adorable, cheerful quilt and some cool vintage fabrics.  I'm sure those will be put to good use sometime soon!  The card she included is adorable with button flowers--how creative!

My partner (not the same one I'm giving too) was KatieJeanBags (Katie).  Here's her little quiltie:

The binding is in Kona Coal with a white background and Coal for the centers.  The rest of the fabrics are from a mix of designers.  I love how she created some dimension by pairing coordinating fabrics of more solid/dark with more open/light.  I do love a good scrap quilt, always have.  It's fun to look at the fabrics and pick out favorites.  My favorite fabric in this quilt is probably the orange snail fabric, it is just so funny and cute!

On the back is a lovely orange polka dot fabric (sorry I don't know which fabric line).  You can sort of see the quilting creates a star pattern.

This quilt is such a joy to have with it's cheerful colors and patterns and it's clean white background!  Katie's life is so busy and full of other people and things that are more important, but she took the time to make this doll quilt specifically for me.  I know I'll treasure it always.

DQS9 Update

Just a few pics to quickly update you on my Doll Quilt Swap 9 quilt--and then its back to work for me!

Here it is with all the pieces fused down and ready for stitching:

Then I stiched everything down with a simple straight stitch in matching thread but it just didn't seem to really pop.  So...I  went over everthing again with black thread which gave what I was looking for.  (Kind of like when an artist adds outlining to a drawing.)  Doing this did have the unfortunate effect of causing some of my stitching to be a bit wonky, but on the whole it's good and hopefully my partner will overlook its flaws.

It's a bit wrinkled looking from all the handling as I moved the quilt around for stitching around all those little leaves.  I'm not yet very good at free-motion stitching, so I just used a regular applique foot and worked slowly. 

For the back I used Kona Coal with a wide strip of some Westminster Fibers fabric I won in a blog giveaway (more on that when I get a chance to actually catch up with blogging).  You can see the stitching from the applique as I did sandwich all the layers prior to stitching--this way the stitching acts as quilting and gives a nice little puff to the applique helping it to stand out more.

All in all, I think its turning out well.   That's all for now--more pics when the quilting and binding are done, but right now its work, work, work to get it finished and mailed with goodies by the 8th!

The Plaid Scottie is Having a Giveaway!

You know what I love about giveaways?  Okay, besides the chance to get fun free things.  It's discovering a new blog that is interesting to me.  Sometimes the only time anyone mentions their blog is to announce a giveaway and that's how I've found some really great ones.

Well here's an announcement I just saw today--but you'll need to hurry as the giveaway is only open until September 7th. 

Right now a blog called The Plaid Scottie is giving away some gorgeous Meadowsweet fabric and a cool zipper pouch (perfect for those sewing supplies you need to take with you to classes and such).  You know you want it!  So head right over there and leave a comment to enter.  And while you're there, check out her cute little helper, Sir Whiskers MacTavish, an adorable black Scottie dog.  (You know I just had to promote the giveaway on a blog of someone who has a four-legged--I mean, what would Stars say if I skipped it!)

Hoop Up! Stitch & Send Swap

Well, the waiting is over and Round 2 of the Hoop Up!  Stitch & Send Swap is starting.  Each of us choose a theme and then embroider an inspiration piece.  Then our other group members create us a piece based upon the theme.  I chose a theme of songbirds in cages.  Nothing metaphorical about the choice, just cages as opposed to birds on branches or something.  So here's a peek at my inspiration piece, its a work in progress.

I'm working with bright summery colors and have requested that all the cages be in some shade of gray.  I can't wait to see what everyone creates for me!

If you like this pattern, I got it over at Bustle and Sew--you should add this one to your collection!

Doll Quilt Swap 9

Just a quick look at the beginnings of my doll quilt swap quilt (okay, I'm a bit behind on posting, but I'll catch you up quick).  Here's the Kona Coal being cut out by hand using a rotary cutter and straight edge blade.  It took quite a long time and made my hand a bit sore, but I think the end result will be worth the trouble.

Moody Blues Log Cabin

I just realized that I hadn't posted about the first block in the new Moody Blues Bee!  We received a mix of navy blue, pistachio, turquoise and a bit of tan fabrics.  This one goes to Samilou1 (Sandie) who requested a log cabin style block where we choose various widths of fabric around a center white square (which did not have to be in the center of the block).

Here's mine:

I really thought her fabric choices worked well together and I like the mix of floral and graphic designs.  Can't wait to see what blue focused block will be next!

Right Angle Blocks

Just a quick post to show off a couple of blocks for Simone in the Sew Buzzy quilting bee.  She sent out a lovely selection of pink and yellow fabrics with the instructions to make a block with right angles.  This quilt will be for her little four-year old (who is totally adorable btw) and included some fairy princess fabric that was to be included in each block.  Normally, I just make the one block, but this time I was sleeping in the living room while my grandma stayed in my room where my fabric stash is (now that's trust!) and so I couldn't work on some of the other blocks and quilts that I normally would at night.  Luckily, Simone had included plenty of fabric so I whipped up a second block rather than channel hop.

Here's the first one:

Here's the second one:

This will be one cute "big girl" quilt!