Fat Quarter Idol ~ Beach Blanket Bingo

Sew, Mama, Sew is having another great Fat Quarter Idol contest and I just couldn't resist joining in. 

You can read all the details here and find out how to make your own pinboard to enter!  You can see my pinboard entry here and follow the links on each pin to each fabric listing in case you want to add some to your stash :)

It was so tough to pick just 12 fabrics to make into a beach blanket!  I saw the new Hope Chest line and fell in love with the main blue floral.  Using that as the focal print I picked 11 coordinating prints to bring out all of the different colors.  It has vintage/retro vibe to me, which I love! 

All pictures are from the SewMamaSew shop HERE

Leave the link to your pinboard if you make one - I'd love to see everyone else's (and follow you on Pinterest of course)!

WIP Wednesday 3-28-2012

Wednesday again!  The next few weeks need to slow down - I have lots to get done!
Finished

• On a Whim - Finished up sewing on the binding this weekend - ready for gifting :) - Blogged

On a Whim



In Progress

• I-Spy Pinwheel - Halfway through the quilting!! This is my #1 priority this week since the birthday girl's party is on Saturday.  Here's a sneak peek-

I-Spy Pinwheel

• Hometown Charity Quilt -  Well I finally got all of the solids cut so hopefully next week I can get the blocks put together!

New

• On a Whim #2 - I loved making this so much that I have to make one for myself!! I was fabric shopping this weekend and when I saw these I knew they'd be perfect :)  I'm thinking I'll pair them with white and a dark grey or navy...  Definitely won't get started for a few weeks though

What have you been working on this week? 

Linking up over at Freshly Pieced!  Be sure to go check out everyone else's progress.

Kelsey 

Busy Weekend Sewing!

Monday again- Why do the weekends go by so fast?!  I had a busy one full of sewing though so it was very enjoyable. 

First up was completing this week's block for the Sew.Happy.Quilt. QAL.  This week was the Fireflies Block which was really fun to make and came together pretty quickly!  This is one I could definitely see being enlarged and then made into some couch pillows.


Sew.Happy.Quilt. QAL - Block #5 - Fireflies Block

Then I decided that I just didn't have enough projects going on already and decided to join the Made in Cherry QAL over at Pins and Bobbins.  I've been stashing 1930s fabrics for a while now and have been waiting for the perfect pattern.  I knew I wanted something with a star/s so this is perfect!!  I spent a chunk of time going through my fabrics and then cutting all of the squares (200!) and laying them out in our basement (the only place with enough floor space!).  Once I had them all laid out I realized how much I didn't want to stack them all up while keeping them in order and take them upstairs to sew them...so I just lugged my machine and ironing board downstairs and spent some quality time in the basement.  I got 7 of the 8 points sewn up and I'm hoping to finish the rest tonight!  I'm using Kona Khaki as the solid and am going to add some borders of that so it's a full/queen size and then it can go on the bed in our spare bedroom.  You can check out the Flickr group to see everyone else's progress!

Oh our delightful unfinished 1920s basement




On a little side tangent: Does anyone have their sewing space in an unfinished basement?  Ours is not very "nice" since our house was built in the 1920s but it is the warmest place in the winter (since the boiler is down there) and the coolest in the summer (we don't have AC) and I would have TONS more room if I moved my sewing set-up down there.  I mean TONS, right now I share a small 8x8ish room with the hub's office space and it is cramped! After working down there a bit this weekend I've been considering moving down there but it's just rather well....unfinished, so I'm hesitant. Does anyone work in their basement and have tips for making it a bit nicer and inspiring?  We have some rugs down there and there is good ceiling lighting (nothing fancy) but no natural light, cement walls and cement floors. 

Kelsey

Linking w/ Manic Monday @ Sew.Happy.Geek and Fabric Tuesday @ Quilt Story - Stop over and see what everyone else is up to!

Stockings For Kids/Finished it Friday

Finally the weekend is almost here!  We had a busy week but I have managed to finish some projects!

One of them that I finished up is my stocking to donate to the Stockings for Kids program that Lyanna at Purple Panda Quilts has set up.  I used scraps and fabrics from my stash (all were from Joann's) and used ric-rac for the hanging loop.  The back is just a solid piece of Christmas print fabric (never even thought to take a picture of the back!) 



Ohio- Please stop raining so I can take nicer pictures outside please!

I loosely followed this tutorial to make the zig zag panel for the front. but it took me several tries and cuts until I got them to be the size I envisioned.  Then I made a pattern from a stocking we had at home and added red to the top and bottom.  The front and back are quilted with batting and then I used a green for the lining.  I opted for ric-rac for the hanger for two reasons 1) it looks cute and 2) I was so into following the directions to make the lining that I completely forgot to add a loop so I decided to just stitch on the ric-rac and not take the whole thing apart.  But seriously, when I realized I left off the loop I wanted to cry!  I used this tutorial to make the lining and the cuff (which I just did in the same red) and it was very easy to follow (as long as you remember your loop!)

If you have the time please consider making a stocking to donate!  I had a great time making mine and am thrilled that it may bring some Christmas cheer to a child this holiday season.  If you need some inspiration check out the Flickr page, or the Purple Panda Quilts page for some great tutorials!

I'm linking up at Stitching by Starlight's Finished it Friday!  Be sure to stop by and check out what others have finished up this week too!

Kelsey

Up Next

I'm so ready to be done with the Stack n' Whack!  I got a bit of quilting done, but I was gone all weekend and was way too tired to focus last night.  Hopefully I can it done tonight and then work on the binding tomorrow.

Once I finish the quilting on that and all the cutting on the Jellybean I'm going to get started on a throw sized quilt from this pattern.  It's going to be my first quilt made with nice designer quilt fabrics and I'm so nervous to cut them!!  I'm using the Jenean Morrison fabrics below as well as some more from the line (Wild World). 



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All the fabrics look great put together (they had a display quilt made up of the entire line) and I'm so excited to get started!

Kelsey