Sheet to Pillows?

Once upon a time, my daddy sent me a huge piece of striped fabric in the mail. It had once been a fitted sheet that matched his sheet set, but somehow one side got hacked off. (When he ordered the sheets online, the seller had included the not-quite-sheet for funsies.) Friends, what was I supposed to do with this bad boy? I kept thinking I'd back something with it, but since I've had it, no quilts have come through my line that would fit with it. And I don't expect any others will, at least not in the immediate future.

I considered piecing it in with other fabrics, but it has a sheen and is such a high thread count that it stands out like no one's business. So that idea was out.

Oh! But inspiration struck when I was searching for a last minute birthday gift for my father. Why not use it to make him some pillows to match his sheet set? Of course, his birthday is this week, and no matter how hard I try, I'm going to be late, but homemade pillow covers will be a worthy reason, right? Right. Pair it with Kona Navy and Kona Rich Red, and we've got a winner. I figured I'll use the striped bit to back the cushions, and piece the fronts using the Kona. And then I'll just have most of the sheet leftover to find another use for.

And it will be awesome. Or not. Hopefully we'll see come Finish Friday!

SS: Another Solids Edition.

This week, it's all about the solids. My quilting sensei K was in town last weekend, and that, of course, meant a visit to the LQS.

This stack is just freakin' delicious. And this is how it went down: I told K I needed six solids for an upcoming baby quilt, but I didn't know what to pick. I sat down in one of the comfy chairs at the LQS, and K proceeded to pick bolt after bolt from the shelf until we arrived at this stack.

Easiest. Fabric shopping. Ever.

And here is the stack of four I picked up to match my Waterfront Park stack. Oh, la la. Solids, I love you.

Of course, I ignored all of the information on these solids and just purchased what looked right. There are some Bella solids in there, some Kona. Probably some other stuff. But they look pretty. That's the important thing.

And K, who is making my baby Fava a glorious quilt, bought some fabric too. I was super excited, thinking I'd get an idea of what she was making from whatever she purchased. With the last quilt, she was quite stingy with hints, and all I got to see what a blue triangle, which told me absolutely nothing.

Except: rejected. The funsies one is binding. And the navy mottled? She bought about a kajillion yards of it, so for all I know, she's making me a whole cloth quilt in navy. Which, if K makes it, will be super amazing, I know, but still. This helps me not at all.

I did pick up some prints while we were there, but that's for another post. Today, I'm linking up with the always awesome Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash. See you over there!

FF: Mama's Quilt Top.

Friends, I am so excited this one is done! My Mama's birthday is in June, and I'm hoping to have it all done for realz by then. She knows I'm making her a quilt, but I've decided to not show her any more progress photos or give her any progress reports, and then I'm just going to mail it and have it be a surprise.

Which will be awesome. I love surprise quilt bombing people.

Using blocks from Stash Bee, I got this bad boy almost pieced last week, and then I ran out of border fabrics. Seriously, I was missing like six inches. A quick trip to the LQS solved that, and BAM. Here she is! My mama's quilt top.

Now, as much as I would have liked to go crazy on this one--she is my Mama, and I want her to have my absolute best work--I also knew she wouldn't like anything crazy, so I went with a classic yum block, sashing, cornerstones, a border, and even white background fabric. A bit old school. (I tried to convince her to let me do black background fabric, but she's the Mama, and she had her way.) However, I may have gone a little crazy in my color palette, so this quilt still has my mark on it. My poor Mama. But I guess you could say it's at least partially her fault that I am the way that I am. 

I chose the Weathervane block using a great tutorial from Don't Call Me Betsy. I seriously love this block, and I recently made another version for Allison's quilt for the Fierce Quilters Bee. The top measures 54" x 68".

Yum. Now. I just have to figure out how to quilt it.

I'm linking up with TGIFF, this week, hosted by A Quilting Reader's Garden. 

WIP: Keepin' Busy.

This week has been a little of this and a little of that. I had a leftover hourglass unit from my April GW blocks, so I quickly pieced this together. Some of the GW pattern directions are all sorts of confusing, so I'm actually not sure if this is the right size. Thankfully, I'm not the only one having this dilemma. I figure I'll have to wait until I get to piecing the top, and we'll see where I'm at.

I finished up the top of my Mama's Quilt, which is pretty exciting. Full reveal Friday.

I had intended this quilt for my husband's cousin who is expecting, and I cut 5.5" squares with plans for simple patchwork, but after speaking with her, I had a better idea. I expect I'll donate this one to Project Linus when it's done.

And that's just a bit of what I've been working on this week! What have you been up to? I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

SS: Waterfront Park.

Friends, I am so ridiculously excited. Do you know what I have in my possession??? *Swoon.* I gots me some of Violet Craft's Waterfront Park.

Okay, I technically had some before. I may have picked up that bird print in both navy and black. But now I have lots more. Which is good. Because I looooooooooove this collection. Love.

I know Tula is my homegirl and all, but if Violet Craft keeps pumping out collections like this, I might have a new designer crush.

These are fat eighth cuts for my incoming Fava bean's quilt. If his kicking is any indication, he's totally loving this stack of delicious yum and is super stoked to see what I come up with.

That's right, I still don't know exactly what I'm doing. But I have some sketches. And I know I will be using this fabric and backing it in the glorious navy bridge print, though I purposefully only ordered a yard so I'd have to piece a fun back. I'm normally an easy backing kind of girl, but Violet Craft makes me do crazy things.

I'm linking up with Sunday Stash as Molli Sparkles to spread the yum. 

April GW Blocks.

There was a brief moment this month when I looked at my copy of the Gypsy Wife pattern and thought, "Meh. I totally don't want to make these blocks this month." Because it's only APRIL, and the QAL goes through DECEMBER, I figured I better suck it up and get some work done. And I really am thankful I got them done.

I love that heart block, but I think my absolute favorite is the Courthouse Step block in the lower left. I picked the center based on scraps I had and cut logs around it, and it's wild. It's full of pattern. It doesn't afford the eye a place to rest. But I wish the whole quilt was exactly like it. Though I will admit I have a soft spot for the CS block in the top middle. I had to sneak in some Tula (Topiary from Parisville) and while it's much more subtle than my fave, I love it anyway.

And these are all of my blocks so far. It's a chaotic mess, but I think (or rather, I'm hoping and praying) that it will all come together in the end. It will, right? Seeing them all together, that orange block still really bothers me. I think that bad boy is getting a new set of corners...maybe next month?

TT: Blocks 64-66.

I'm pretty sure it's a miracle, but I pieced three more Tula Pink City Sampler blocks this week. I say it's a miracle because we are entering Day 11 of Illness as my youngest has gotten a double ear infection. Which is FUN.

Block 64. Twelve pieces total. Not too bad. I used Tula's Nest, some Bonnie and Camille Happy Go Lucky, and a random green FQ that my BFF had purchased, but had been cut so poorly that we were unable to use it.

Block 65. Fourteen pieces. I used mostly Acacia, with an orange scrap leftover from BFF lined bag making.

Block 66. Eighteen pieces.  Some Parisville, Kona White, and Bella in Navy.

Blocks 64-66. Woo! It's getting warmer (and drier) outside, so I should be able to lay out my Tula blocks soon and see what they all look like together. I've made a few (20?) since I last did that, so it will be fun to see!

I'm linking up with Tula Tuesday at Diary of a Madfabriholic. See you over there!

SS: BFF Edition.

Friends, my BFF came to visit me. This is pretty freakin' exciting because I live in the middle of corn and soybean fields, so it's not exactly a destination spot unless you want to visit me. We've been best friends since freshmen year high school French, which is something like 15 years. I say "something like" because I don't feel like doing math right now. Our friendship was hardcore even when we lived on two different continents, and we haven't actually lived in the same city (or even close) for at least ten years, but it doesn't matter. She will always be my bestie.

Can you tell I can wax on about bestie love all day long? But seriously. She's super rad. And now, she shares my love of fabric. 

We made two fabric store trips while she was in town. And the second was all her idea, culminating in her purchasing almost eight yards of fabric. For a fabric newbie, that's pretty intense!  We made a bunch of lined drawstring bags while she was here, and she cut enough fabric to make four more at home.

And the icing on the cake is that she bought yardage of this print from Oh, Deer! for us to make matching skirts one day. I don't know when, since my stomach is rapidly expanding due to Fava growth, but one day.

And because she doesn't want scraps holding her down, she left everything she didn't need with me. I call that quite generous! (And also a bit crazy. Who doesn't want scraps?)

There is all sorts of random in here--some stuff I can see immediate uses for, others that I'll stash and use when needed. Because they will be needed.

I'm linking up today with Sunday Stash, hosted by the amazing Molli Sparkles. 

Q2 FAL List.

It's that time again. Like Q1, this quarter's list will be a bit smaller than some of my last year's lists, but I'm 100% okay with that. In fact, I'm kind of excited about it.

Mama's Quilt - Sashing and Cornerstones Cut, Blocks Made, Need to Piece
DONE

The super awesome ladies of Stash Bee's Hive 7 made me these gorgeous blocks,and I've got everything cut and ready to assemble it...I just can't seem to make the time/find the effort/get 'er done. But I need to. My Mama's birthday is in early June, and this is a birthday present for her. Get 'er done, Audrey.

Zoo Quilt - Fabric Cut, Pattern Selected
DONE

My husband's cousin is due two days before I am with her first bambino, a boy. So I'm making a quilt for them. However, since I am also pregnant and have my own baby boy quilt to think about, I'm going simple and making them a simple piece of patchwork. (We're talking 5" finished squares, folks.)

I changed my mind. I had intended this quilt for Mr. Audrey's cousin, but then I had another idea. I still finished this quilt though, and I donated it to Project Linus instead.

Baby Fava's Quilt - Fabric Purchased, Custom Pattern Almost Done
DONE

I've decided on Violet Craft's Waterfront Park collection. The husband is stoked about it--he adores the bridge print, and I'm definitely backing the quilt in it, regardless of how the front turns out. I've got plans for a medallion quilt featuring arrows from Sarah Elizabeth at {no} hats in the house. I haven't quite decided on the medallion, which I should probably figure out soon, but I want it to be epic. Of course, Elizabeth Hartman would release her Aviatrix Quilt Pattern, and that is wooing me in all sorts of ways. I could see it going that direction. Plus arrows. Plus additional awesome because Fava is totally worth it.

Tula Pink City Sampler - 63 of 100 Blocks Done

I would like to finish this quilt sometime this decade. I briefly considered scrapping blocks 64+, but who am I kidding? It's Tula! I can't stop NOW. I will finish all 100. As a hardcore fan, I owe Tula that much.

And that's it. Four projects right now, though I will tell you I have another baby quilt stirring in my brain for a friend who just told me she's expecting again! (Q3 list anyone?) Eep! I made her first a quilt, and of course I'll make this baby one too, but my skillz have grown a bit since that first quilt, and I have no idea where to start!

I'm linking up with the FAL 2014 Q2 linky party. Good luck to everyone!

Some Bee Blocks.

Oh, Friends. My family is on the upside of a several day love affair (hate affair?) with the flu. Sunday night, I really thought we were getting better. Then Monday morning came around and no no no no no. Yesterday, all I managed to get down was some Sprite and Gatorade, and I stayed in bed for 22 of the 24 hours. Flu, I hate you.

On the bright side, I do have some yum bee blocks to share with you. From Stash Bee, Maureen is making a delicious stained glass window quilt using a sea glass palette. (I wish I had some of the beautiful dark blue, but what I had on hand was turquoises and limes.) However, I am seriously stoked that I got to sew with some batiks. Friends, do you know how long it's been? Too long. Bless her for letting me sew up these lovelies, which took about five seconds to piece. (I exaggerate slightly.)

From the Fierce Quilters Bee, next up is a mosaic block, which involved 3.5" unfinished HSTs. I struggled to find a fifth block that I thought would work with the previous additions, but in the end, I really like this simple HST goodness. (The last time I made this block was for my 2012 HST BOM quilt, and this is a much cleaner version of that block. Yay for getting better!)

My blocks for Allison are a little eclectic all together, but I think it's going to be a super fun quilt when it's finished. I really enjoyed working on both of these sets. And now, while I have a bit of a break from bee blocks, I really should get to piecing some TP CS and GW blocks. You know, when I can stand again for more than five minutes at a time. (Stupid flu.)

How are y'all? Hopefully not suffering from the flu or this Norovirus shenanigans I'm hearing about.

SS: Random Edition.

This may be my most eclectic stack yet. Fabric.com had a sale on all of their clearance fabric, and I took advantage of that. 8.5 yards of fabric? $32. That includes shipping. Yes, please! I am sorry to all of my international friends and readers. I know fabric and shipping costs are mucho expensive for you, and it makes me sad. I wish everyone 8.5 yards for $32.

First up is the poppies from the top of the stack. I have no idea who made this or what line it's from, but I like it. I also don't see these as poppies, but the one part of the fabric I do remember is that the title had the word "poppies" in it.

I don't usually buy holiday fabric, and I'm not Jewish, but I'm already considering future holiday/birthday gifts for family and friends. (Yes, I know it's only April.) I have to start early this year, or it will never get done. And you know what? I'm already pretty sure it's not going to get done no matter how early I start. 

I'll be using this to back my mom's quilt. I had no idea what to back this quilt with, and when I saw this, it was large scale and blue and I thought it would work great. Maybe I'll bind the finished product in a red? Oh, the options....

Now for my absolute favorite of the bunch. This yummy flannel is from a line called Betty the Yeti, and my oldest kidlet and I will be making him a new car quilt for next winter, using this as backing fabric. OMG. Pretty sure this is my favorite kid fabric EVER. I have no idea who Betty the Yeti is, and there are all sorts of entries when I google Betty the Yeti, but I didn't find anything conclusive. There is apparently some slot machine game? And several books. And maybe a play? Who knew?

And finally, this red. At something like $3.25/yard, how could I pass it up? It'll back a future baby quilt.

I'm linking up with Molli Sparkles for Sunday Stash because it's funsies!