I made an oversized (52"x52") Swoon baby quilt earlier this year for the class I taught. I finally got around to getting it quilted and it's now ready to be gifted to some sweet baby.  =) 

Have a happy day! 

I made an oversized (52"x52") Swoon baby quilt earlier this year for the class I taught. I finally got around to getting it quilted and it's now ready to be gifted to some sweet baby.  =) 

Have a happy day! 

Wednesday I did a talk/demo on how to baste a quilt and how to quilt using a walking foot. Since it was my first time to teach, I wasn't really sure what to do and how to teach it. I ended up taking a lot of quilt samples of how I have quilted quilts using my walking foot and did very little in the demo part. It was a good class, but next time I will have students bring their machines and have them practice on some small quilts, too. 

So, the Swoon quilt I talked about here that was to be my demo was brought home and I finished it up today. 

The lines are approximately 3/4" apart. All organic quilting with no marking. I just eyeball and go. 

The quilting lines in the sashing are a little closer together. I use the seams in the quilt as my guides for the first pass. I really should take pictures of my technique sometime, huh? 

The texture will be awesome after it is washed...

Next week I am teaching a class on how to add a binding all by machine. I will be using this quilt to show how I do that.  

Have a happy weekend!!

Wednesday I did a talk/demo on how to baste a quilt and how to quilt using a walking foot. Since it was my first time to teach, I wasn't really sure what to do and how to teach it. I ended up taking a lot of quilt samples of how I have quilted quilts using my walking foot and did very little in the demo part. It was a good class, but next time I will have students bring their machines and have them practice on some small quilts, too. 

So, the Swoon quilt I talked about here that was to be my demo was brought home and I finished it up today. 

The lines are approximately 3/4" apart. All organic quilting with no marking. I just eyeball and go. 

The quilting lines in the sashing are a little closer together. I use the seams in the quilt as my guides for the first pass. I really should take pictures of my technique sometime, huh? 

The texture will be awesome after it is washed...

Next week I am teaching a class on how to add a binding all by machine. I will be using this quilt to show how I do that.  

Have a happy weekend!!

2017 left with me working on the petal quilt. It's set aside for now until I decide if it is done or if I want to try to wrestle this queen size quilt under my needle again and add some more quilting. You can read more about this quilt here and here. No matter what I decide, I already love it!

My favorite Christmas present, an Apple Watch...My hubby is thinking about getting one, too, now that he sees how much I use and enjoy mine. =) 

As a side note, Camille updated her Swoon pattern since I bought mine when it was first released. It is much easier to follow and the pieces nest nicely! *big thumbs up* 2018 started out busy and fun! 

Until next time, may 2018 bring grace and peace to all of you!

2017 left with me working on the petal quilt. It's set aside for now until I decide if it is done or if I want to try to wrestle this queen size quilt under my needle again and add some more quilting. You can read more about this quilt here and here. No matter what I decide, I already love it!

My favorite Christmas present, an Apple Watch...My hubby is thinking about getting one, too, now that he sees how much I use and enjoy mine. =) 

As a side note, Camille updated her Swoon pattern since I bought mine when it was first released. It is much easier to follow and the pieces nest nicely! *big thumbs up* 2018 started out busy and fun! 

Until next time, may 2018 bring grace and peace to all of you!

The couple said their vows, so I can share the quilt I made for them. The wedding colors were plum, gray and green. =) I'll let the pictures do the talking. 

Have a happy Monday!!

The couple said their vows, so I can share the quilt I made for them. The wedding colors were plum, gray and green. =) I'll let the pictures do the talking. 

Have a happy Monday!!

The Swoon block is such a favorite of mine and this large Patchwork Swoon is darling! 

I have to say, I love the back and it shines all on its own. =)

I announced on Instagram last week that I got a new sewing machine. A Bernina 765 SE signed by Tula Pink herself. I chose to quilt the Patchwork Swoon using the walking foot and the #4 stitch, a wavy serpentine stitch. I love how it turned out! Eventually I will practice free motion quilting with the BSR (Bernina stitch regulator). I have to do some practice with it before I quilt a real quilt with it. Soon, I hope! 

Have a very happy Easter!!

The Swoon block is such a favorite of mine and this large Patchwork Swoon is darling! 

I have to say, I love the back and it shines all on its own. =)

I announced on Instagram last week that I got a new sewing machine. A Bernina 765 SE signed by Tula Pink herself. I chose to quilt the Patchwork Swoon using the walking foot and the #4 stitch, a wavy serpentine stitch. I love how it turned out! Eventually I will practice free motion quilting with the BSR (Bernina stitch regulator). I have to do some practice with it before I quilt a real quilt with it. Soon, I hope! 

Have a very happy Easter!!

The weather in Iowa has been gloomy and foggy for weeks. I can't remember the last time I saw the sun. =( I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the lack of sunshine makes it much worse. Sewing with pretty colors and keeping busy does help, but I am never quite myself again until spring comes. These last few weeks have been rough. The point of mentioning SAD? No sun also means it is super hard to take decent pictures of the projects I have finished so I can share them here, or on Instagram, for that matter! I decided to stop waiting for a better time and just go with the less than stellar photography. 

First up is Christmas Swoon! 

I made Christmas Swoon last January with the plans to have it done for this last Christmas. Best laid plans and all that... But it is done and I love it!! I did my typical wavy lines to quilt it, but this time I chose to not make the wavy lines as curvy as I usually do. The texture is amazing!

It measures 65" x 65". The back is pieced with the left over half square triangles. 

Next up is another quilt top I made last January using my Cotton & Steel stash. You can find more details in this blog post. This one finished up at 62" x 76". 

I chose to straight line quilt it using my walking foot edge about ¼" away from the seam as my guide.  Totally eye balled it. I love the star and hexagon shape that emerges at the points of the triangles. Oh, and trust me, I stratigcally took a picture where my points matched up perfectly. Not all of them look this good. Just sayin!

For the back, I chose a newspaper print by Zen Chic by Moda. 

 My next project is to get my Patchwork Swoon quilted. Oh, I also have a shop sample I am frantically trying to get done, Sweetie Pie by Lori Holt. Another gal is helping with the embroidery and the hand appliqué parts. It will be cute when it's done. =) 

Thanks for hanging out with me on this Thursday morning! Have a happy day!!

The weather in Iowa has been gloomy and foggy for weeks. I can't remember the last time I saw the sun. =( I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and the lack of sunshine makes it much worse. Sewing with pretty colors and keeping busy does help, but I am never quite myself again until spring comes. These last few weeks have been rough. The point of mentioning SAD? No sun also means it is super hard to take decent pictures of the projects I have finished so I can share them here, or on Instagram, for that matter! I decided to stop waiting for a better time and just go with the less than stellar photography. 

First up is Christmas Swoon! 

I made Christmas Swoon last January with the plans to have it done for this last Christmas. Best laid plans and all that... But it is done and I love it!! I did my typical wavy lines to quilt it, but this time I chose to not make the wavy lines as curvy as I usually do. The texture is amazing!

It measures 65" x 65". The back is pieced with the left over half square triangles. 

Next up is another quilt top I made last January using my Cotton & Steel stash. You can find more details in this blog post. This one finished up at 62" x 76". 

I chose to straight line quilt it using my walking foot edge about ¼" away from the seam as my guide.  Totally eye balled it. I love the star and hexagon shape that emerges at the points of the triangles. Oh, and trust me, I stratigcally took a picture where my points matched up perfectly. Not all of them look this good. Just sayin!

For the back, I chose a newspaper print by Zen Chic by Moda. 

 My next project is to get my Patchwork Swoon quilted. Oh, I also have a shop sample I am frantically trying to get done, Sweetie Pie by Lori Holt. Another gal is helping with the embroidery and the hand appliqué parts. It will be cute when it's done. =) 

Thanks for hanging out with me on this Thursday morning! Have a happy day!!

I grabbed up every second I could get to sit at my machine and make up these sweet spool blocks. It didn't take long before the top was all put together! No two spools are alike. I used 72 different fabrics from my expansive Bonnie and Camille stash. I added some yellow from other lines to give me more variety. The ribbon border fabrics are repeats of what are in the spool blocks. I was too lazy to look for 24 more fabrics for that part. =) 

As soon as I got that done, I grabbed up a Little Ruby jelly roll and began on the Patchwork Swoon quilt. As you can see, the blocks are pretty big, so the left over half square triangles were huge!

They were big enough to make a bonus baby quilt. =)

This quilt pattern works up really fast and I think it's a great use for a jelly roll. It would be pretty made up in many different fabric lines. 

My quilt tops are beginning to stack up. I need to get busy making some backs and get the quilting started on them. =) 

Have a happy Tuesday and fall, everyone!

I grabbed up every second I could get to sit at my machine and make up these sweet spool blocks. It didn't take long before the top was all put together! No two spools are alike. I used 72 different fabrics from my expansive Bonnie and Camille stash. I added some yellow from other lines to give me more variety. The ribbon border fabrics are repeats of what are in the spool blocks. I was too lazy to look for 24 more fabrics for that part. =) 

As soon as I got that done, I grabbed up a Little Ruby jelly roll and began on the Patchwork Swoon quilt. As you can see, the blocks are pretty big, so the left over half square triangles were huge!

They were big enough to make a bonus baby quilt. =)

This quilt pattern works up really fast and I think it's a great use for a jelly roll. It would be pretty made up in many different fabric lines. 

My quilt tops are beginning to stack up. I need to get busy making some backs and get the quilting started on them. =) 

Have a happy Tuesday and fall, everyone!

I had quite a long dry spell of not touching my machine and not feeling motivated to do anything. I would lay out fabric, pet it, search on Pinterest for hours days, look at patterns and then put the fabric all away again. This went on for weeks. Even with new pretty fabrics joining my stash, I felt paralyzed to make any decision. It's an awful feeling. 

Last summer, when Russ and I went to Missouri Star Quilt Company, Russ picked out fabric and a pattern for a quilt for himself, by himself. The plan was to work on it together this winter, but when he surprised me with a new kitchen floor, and he is refinishing a table for me. I will share more on that some other time. Last week, with his blessing, I pulled the fabric out and made the top. I won't say that I loved the process of cutting, pressing and sewing, but I think that was mostly because I don't love the fabric and the colors are so not me. The thing is, what helped me break out of the paralyzing dry spell was doing something loving for my husband, who is so very good to me. And he loves it, so that is what matters... 

Yay for me! My first quilt top of 2016!

He over bought (I taught him well. *wink*), so I had plenty to piece together a fairly interesting back for it, too. 

Since that went so well, I pulled myself together and decided to put an idea I've had in my head into action. I pulled out the red and green Bonnie and Camille fabrics in my stash, bit the bullet and created a giant Christmas Swoon. And, this math challenged quilter, did the math all by myself! As I laid it out, I realized I was missing a few blocks! 

Here she is all finished. The quilt top measures 65" x 65". I am not sure if it's done yet. I made myself open a new fat quarter bundle to pull out fabrics for this quilt to use along with the scraps. And, it felt good!! Bonus! I am ahead of the game for Christmas this year. Ha!

Now I want to cut up the Cotton and Steel stash I have to make a triangle quilt. If I am not careful, I will have a stack of UFO's, and, you know what? It will be just fine with me!!

Yay for feeling excited about creating again! 

Have a happy rest of the week! 

I had quite a long dry spell of not touching my machine and not feeling motivated to do anything. I would lay out fabric, pet it, search on Pinterest for hours days, look at patterns and then put the fabric all away again. This went on for weeks. Even with new pretty fabrics joining my stash, I felt paralyzed to make any decision. It's an awful feeling. 

Last summer, when Russ and I went to Missouri Star Quilt Company, Russ picked out fabric and a pattern for a quilt for himself, by himself. The plan was to work on it together this winter, but when he surprised me with a new kitchen floor, and he is refinishing a table for me. I will share more on that some other time. Last week, with his blessing, I pulled the fabric out and made the top. I won't say that I loved the process of cutting, pressing and sewing, but I think that was mostly because I don't love the fabric and the colors are so not me. The thing is, what helped me break out of the paralyzing dry spell was doing something loving for my husband, who is so very good to me. And he loves it, so that is what matters... 

Yay for me! My first quilt top of 2016!

He over bought (I taught him well. *wink*), so I had plenty to piece together a fairly interesting back for it, too. 

Since that went so well, I pulled myself together and decided to put an idea I've had in my head into action. I pulled out the red and green Bonnie and Camille fabrics in my stash, bit the bullet and created a giant Christmas Swoon. And, this math challenged quilter, did the math all by myself! As I laid it out, I realized I was missing a few blocks! 

Here she is all finished. The quilt top measures 65" x 65". I am not sure if it's done yet. I made myself open a new fat quarter bundle to pull out fabrics for this quilt to use along with the scraps. And, it felt good!! Bonus! I am ahead of the game for Christmas this year. Ha!

Now I want to cut up the Cotton and Steel stash I have to make a triangle quilt. If I am not careful, I will have a stack of UFO's, and, you know what? It will be just fine with me!!

Yay for feeling excited about creating again! 

Have a happy rest of the week! 

I made a few more baby quilts and I think I am done for a while. =D This baby quilt was made using the Yellow Brick Road pattern. Confession: Every time I made a Yellow Brick Road quilt, I have to study and refigure out how it all goes together. I find that pattern to be so confusing to understand! Once I get cutting and sewing, it makes more sense to me. 

For these two baby quilts I used the free pattern by Quilt Taffy called Speedy Baby 2. I did change up the pattern a bit by leaving off the last border, so they ended up being smallish quilts at 36" square. Does anyone know of any twin girls that need quilts? 

Now these fabrics are what I am excited about!! They are from V & Co's newest line called Simply Colorful II. These lovelies are going to be made into a Swoon quilt as a Christmas gift for a dear friend. I have been itching to make another Swoon and I am anxious to get started! The background fabric I chose is called Pearl, a super soft gray. I think it will be stunning when done. At least I hope so!! 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a happy weekend! 

I made a few more baby quilts and I think I am done for a while. =D This baby quilt was made using the Yellow Brick Road pattern. Confession: Every time I made a Yellow Brick Road quilt, I have to study and refigure out how it all goes together. I find that pattern to be so confusing to understand! Once I get cutting and sewing, it makes more sense to me. 

For these two baby quilts I used the free pattern by Quilt Taffy called Speedy Baby 2. I did change up the pattern a bit by leaving off the last border, so they ended up being smallish quilts at 36" square. Does anyone know of any twin girls that need quilts? 

Now these fabrics are what I am excited about!! They are from V & Co's newest line called Simply Colorful II. These lovelies are going to be made into a Swoon quilt as a Christmas gift for a dear friend. I have been itching to make another Swoon and I am anxious to get started! The background fabric I chose is called Pearl, a super soft gray. I think it will be stunning when done. At least I hope so!! 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a happy weekend! 

Last weekend, Russ and I took a road trip to deliver the Swoon 16. She loved it!! That's always a relief when you are making something for someone, isn't it? =) 

There isn't any scraps left over. It all got used up. =)

The All Iowa Shop Hop is happening now, so my work hours are a bit mixed up. No complaints there! Its fun meeting new customers who are finding our shop for the first time. 

When I haven't been at work, I have been slowly getting some deep cleaning done around the house and cleaning up some gardens that are too over grown. Not fun, but it feels good to see an area all spiffed up. 

And, of course, I am working on projects. The Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt is in process of being quilted. You can see the whole quilt top here. 

This is the most quilt intensive top I have ever done. I tend to be in a hurry to get them done and I can get lazy and talk myself out of doing a lot of quilting. I am forcing myself to take as long as it needs to take to get it done. I must say, I am enjoying the process. I need to remember that next time I am tempted to be lazy.  I really need to learn to free motion quilt. It would open up the quilting ideas a great deal. Again, my character flaw of lazy is in play here. *sigh*

Have a very happy Tuesday, friends!! 

Last weekend, Russ and I took a road trip to deliver the Swoon 16. She loved it!! That's always a relief when you are making something for someone, isn't it? =) 

There isn't any scraps left over. It all got used up. =)

The All Iowa Shop Hop is happening now, so my work hours are a bit mixed up. No complaints there! Its fun meeting new customers who are finding our shop for the first time. 

When I haven't been at work, I have been slowly getting some deep cleaning done around the house and cleaning up some gardens that are too over grown. Not fun, but it feels good to see an area all spiffed up. 

And, of course, I am working on projects. The Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt is in process of being quilted. You can see the whole quilt top here. 

This is the most quilt intensive top I have ever done. I tend to be in a hurry to get them done and I can get lazy and talk myself out of doing a lot of quilting. I am forcing myself to take as long as it needs to take to get it done. I must say, I am enjoying the process. I need to remember that next time I am tempted to be lazy.  I really need to learn to free motion quilt. It would open up the quilting ideas a great deal. Again, my character flaw of lazy is in play here. *sigh*

Have a very happy Tuesday, friends!! 

I hope you are all enjoying Spring! Its been glorious here in Iowa and we are taking full advantage of it. We have put 1000 miles on the Harley already this season with many more to come. =) 

Nice weather, bike rides and working more hours has certainly cut into my sewing time, but there really is no excuse for being so late with my April Sew Sweet Bee block for Donna. I put it off because it looked hard. I shouldn't have worried. It went together like a dream. I hope you like it, Donna!! 

I was determined to not let Erin wait until June for her Sew Sweet Bee block, so I got right to it this afternoon. Erin asked for us to make our favorite block because she wants a sampler. That was an easy decision for me. Dresden are my all time favorite to make. =) I think it's cute. =) It makes me want to make more!! 

I have also been plugging away on my friend Rhonda's Swoon Sixteen (in my case, Swoon 20). The quilting has begin, but I ran out of thread, so it will have to sit for a while until I get back to it. 

One last note, and I admit to feeling pretty prideful, but when a family chooses to use a quilt I made for them for their new baby's photo shoot, I can help but have a big ol' grin on my face. =D This seriously made my day!!

Until next time, may the God of Glory be with you....

I hope you are all enjoying Spring! Its been glorious here in Iowa and we are taking full advantage of it. We have put 1000 miles on the Harley already this season with many more to come. =) 

Nice weather, bike rides and working more hours has certainly cut into my sewing time, but there really is no excuse for being so late with my April Sew Sweet Bee block for Donna. I put it off because it looked hard. I shouldn't have worried. It went together like a dream. I hope you like it, Donna!! 

I was determined to not let Erin wait until June for her Sew Sweet Bee block, so I got right to it this afternoon. Erin asked for us to make our favorite block because she wants a sampler. That was an easy decision for me. Dresden are my all time favorite to make. =) I think it's cute. =) It makes me want to make more!! 

I have also been plugging away on my friend Rhonda's Swoon Sixteen (in my case, Swoon 20). The quilting has begin, but I ran out of thread, so it will have to sit for a while until I get back to it. 

One last note, and I admit to feeling pretty prideful, but when a family chooses to use a quilt I made for them for their new baby's photo shoot, I can help but have a big ol' grin on my face. =D This seriously made my day!!

Until next time, may the God of Glory be with you....