FF: Sisters' 10--Finally.

I started this quilt with the Sisters' 10 BOM at Gen X Quilters in January of last year, and it wasn't until this week that I finally managed to find time to sew on the binding!

As I was showing my husband the January quilt blocks, he commented on how much he really liked them, and it was decided then and there that this quilt would be for him. But did I run into trouble with this one. I had all of my blocks finished on time, but I hadn't ordered enough gray solid to complete the top. By the time I got around to ordering more, I couldn't remember what it was! I tried a number of different grays and a number of different fabric shops, and I couldn't find a match. And my husband is all about symmetry. Improv and whatnot makes him nervous, so I knew I couldn't throw in another gray at this point. Kona Coal was a close match, but not the right tone of gray, and finally, I took a chance and ordered a swatch of Kona Steel. Bam. Right color.

I agonized with how to quilt that center section. FMQ? Some sort of geometrical straight line goodness? I decided to make the quilt with straight lines around the center section, and lo and behold, when I started marking, I immediately thought of flying geese flying down the center of the quilt. It turned out more like chevrons, but I like it. I did straight line quilting, 3" apart on the diagonal, for the remainder of the quilt in a matching gray thread.

The back was one of the easier parts. I found that luchador fabric in the clearance section at Pink Castle, and I thought it was hilarious. One of my husband's favorite movies is Nacho Libre, and he's constantly quoting it and making jokes. (When he wrestles with our boys, he actually busts out a modified "anaconda squeeze" move.) But, I didn't want to back the entire thing in that fabric if he wouldn't like it, especially since the top is not quite so silly, so I asked my husband. Between my seeing it, and my asking him, someone bought up a ton of that print, leaving only a yard available for me. I bought it anyway because it needed to be on the back of the quilt, and I like to think that out there somewhere, someone else has a serious quilt with a crazy luchador back. To round it out, I've used some FQs and half yards from stash, some Avengers fabric, and some ninja fabric too. I told you, it's eclectic.

Thanks to several of you lovelies for chiming in on the binding. I did go lime, which seemed the overwhelmingly popular choice. But then I realized, when I bought the FQ bundle of Center City for the top, it included that lime solid without any info about it. How would I match it? Well, I took a chance and bought a solid at random, hoping it wouldn't be too noticeable. Pink Chalk has this awesome feature on their blog where they take fabric lines and pick out solids to match with it, and they recommended Free Spirit solids in Chartreuse with Center City. It matches perfectly, which is just awesome.

And that's the super long story of how this quilt came to be. I guess fourteen months in the making lends itself to a longer story. I'm linking up today with TGIFF hosted by Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts. See you over there!


Oh, and this is my third and final finish from my FAL Q1 list, woo! You can see my original list here.

WIP: Sisters' 10 Quilting Edition.

I finished my blocks in early October. I finished my quilt top in early December. I'd hoped to have the quilt finished by Christmas, but here we are, early March, and I've just finished the quilting. But no complaints! I'm just thrilled to be done jerking that thing lovingly feeding this glorious quilt through my machine.

The quilting on this 78" square quilt started off easily enough.

More quilt got shoved into the throat space.

Then more quilt.(Yes, that's a peek at the ninjas on the back. The back is...a little eclectic.)

Until done.

I used a gray Mettler thread for the quilting lines. I debated going with a lime in the negative space down the center diagonal, but a lack of the right thread color had been my excuse for not finishing this quilt for a long time, and I didn't want anything else keeping me from getting this done.

Now, to bind. Thoughts? I'm thinking about using a delicious lime solid, and I also thought about using more of the background fabric. My husband (the quilt's recipient) thinks lime or green. But what do you think?

I'm linking up today with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced featuring Stephanie from Quarter Incher!

FF: Sisters' 10 BOM Top

I really should be posting pictures of my finished Sisters' 10 quilt, but today, I've only got the top for you. I'm making this quilt for my husband for Christmas, but two tornado relief quilts have nudged their way into the queue, and my husband has graciously told me that any time the quilt is done is fine. (Which is really very sweet since he's been excited about getting his own quilt since January when I started the BOM.)

The quilt is a big one. 78" square, peeps. 78". And I am somehow going to feed this puppy through Agatha's throat space. I'll get it done, but I am fully aware that the largest quilt I've quilted to date is 60" x 80", so this one will be special.

The blocks were all very different, requiring a number of different components (HSTs, QSTs, and a few other tricks I hadn't gotten around to trying yet). The only problem I ran into is that I didn't purchase all of my gray solid when I first started piecing the top, and by the time I got to piecing the negative space, I realized that I didn't remember what kind of solid it was. I was pretty sure it was kona, so I tried kona coal. Nope. I thought it might be kona steel because I'd purchased some for a bee block, but I didn't want to order 2 yards and realize that wasn't it either. So I finally ordered a swatch of kona steel, which thankfully matched. Some people may have been okay with a close gray, but it would have given my husband heart problems. (He's an engineer.) The rest of the fabric is Center City by Jay McCarroll and a handful of unidentified solids.

I've yet to decide on how to quilt this one, especially the negative space, but I have a few ideas, and I'm excited to see this one done. (Eventually. Probably next year if I'm being entirely honest. Sorry, Husband.)

I really enjoyed participating in this BOM from Gen X Quilters, and I really appreciate AnneMarie for making it available to us. Thanks, AnneMarie! At this point, I won't be participating in a BOM for 2014 because I'll be in two, maybe three bees, and I don't want to kill myself. And that's really unfortunate because AnneMarie's Vice Versa BOM looks totally amazing, and I love the finished layout. (We'll see if I cave and do it anyway.)

Thanks for stopping by, Friends! I'm linking up with TGIFF at Quokka Quilts and Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts! (Also, can I just say, Happy 200th post to me?)

WIP: Wrap It UP.

I'm a little overwhelmed here at Casa HPQ. With the holidays far enough away that I feel like procrastinating, but close enough that I really really can't, I'm feeling pulled in different directions.

Sister's 10 blocks. I've added bits of the sashing, but I still have a long way to go. When this is done, it'll be for my patient husband who has been watching me piece these blocks since January! Poor man. He really should have his quilt soon.

Fabric baskets. Oh, the fabric baskets! (I sent a twin of this one to my partner in round 2 of the Fabric Basket Swap.) I made twice as many flying geese as I needed, so I suppose I had to have a basket too.

The boys' floor cushions are slowly coming to be. (My youngest is trying to help.) Every time I look at this, I think of the Cleveland Browns, which was unintentional, let me assure you.

And I'm slowly getting my advent calendar done! I've told myself I have to sew four pockets every day, and I have eight done. Yikes! Still a lot to do! I'm using this tutorial and template, and I'm really happy with what I have so far.

That's Casa HPQ this week. Please tell me I'm not the only one starting to freak out about Christmas! I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. And now, in my bit of down time, I'm off to look at everyone else's lovelies!

WIP: The Numbers Edition.

After looking at today's WIP list, I have a feeling I'm going to have a hefty Q4 FAL list!

54 Tula Pink City Sampler blocks.

20 Sisters' 10 BOM blocks. (Yes, I pieced October early. I'm too impatient!)

3 Baby Quilts in the works (one basted, one in the middle of quilting, one flimsy) and 1 more in the planning stages.

2 Cushion Covers patiently waiting. Just kidding. These are DONE. Thank goodness.

1 Queen-sized quilt being prepped for the long-armer.

1 Finish, which I'll be sharing more of on Friday.

And 1 Naomi Dress, which is my selfish sewing for this week!

I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. You should too!

Sisters' 10 Blocks--12 of 20 done!

I should have posted a progress photo last month when I hit the halfway point of this BOM, but alas, May was not my month. June hasn't been great, but at least I'm getting a few things done!

In all their glory, here are my 12 Sisters' 10 BOM blocks. There are 8 more to go, and then I'll be piecing together a *gasp!* twin size quilt. Yikes. That will definitely be my largest. We'll see if Agatha and I can handle it!

Anyone else doing this BOM?

A bunch of blocks.

Three Tula Pink City Samper blocks down, ninety-seven to go!

This is block 1 from Tula Pink's City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks. Yes, I will be making all 100 because I'm crazy ambitious. (Or maybe just crazy?)

Block 2.

And block 3! It's really exciting to me that one day these 6 1/2" squares will join forces to become something truly huge! My strategy--if you could call it that--is to make the Gridlock quilt pattern in the back of the book using the rainbow palette. I'm trying to stick close to the colors in each of Tula's blocks to make the layout easier at the end. This is not terribly original, but it is a lot easier, especially when dealing with such a large quantity of blocks! As for fabrics, I'm using my hoarded Tula fabrics, plus solids, and scraps of shot cottons and batiks, and any other fabrics that I love and look like they'll work, like the Oliver and Co print above in block 2.

Because I keep forgetting to post these bad boys, here are my May Sisters' 10 BOM blocks. After the tedious HST blocks of doom that were April's assignment, it was nice to do something simple like learn how to make hourglass blocks. They're not perfect, but for a first shot, I'm pretty stoked.

Question of the day: have any of you worked on a crazy huge sampler quilt? Farmer's Wife? Dear Jane? TP City Sampler????? Please tell me about your experience and if you finished the quilt, etc. as this is a total first for me! 

WIP: All the Small Things Edition.

All blocks today. I have been working on other projects, and while my Tula quilt is swoonworthy--and maybe my favorite quilt to date?!?!--there are only so many photos I can take of me attaching the binding. I hope for a finish...and soon!

Sisters' 10 BOM block number two for March. Woo! Done on time? Incredible.

Lucky Stars BOM block for March. Woo! All caught up.

x & + block for Karen for the Make It Modern Bee. 

Linking up with Freshly Pieced and Building Blocks Tuesday at Quilter in the Closet.

WIP: Getting Back in Gear Edition.

Before we get started on WIP goodness, have you entered my blogiversary giveaway for some Aurifil and some Timber & Leaf? If not, get a move on that!

I spent this last weekend in Chicago with one of my best friends (who I call Sissy because I adopted her as a third sister) and my two kids and her two kids. Let me set the stage a little bit: one hotel room, four kids under four with both babies suffering teething pains. I'm sure our neighbors LOVED us. But everyone survived, and we all had a grand time. I saw the Picasso display at the Art Institute, I bought shoes--woo!--and we even managed to fit in some fabric shopping for a quilt I've promised to make my Sissy.

Since this quilt will be using linen, quilting cottons, and flannel, I'm pre-washing everything to avoid crazy shrinkage problems. Hopefully all of the textiles will play fairly. Instead of finding a fun design, Sissy fell in love with the pieced back of a quilt from One Shabby Chick. Sissy wants something very minimalist in fabrics and design, relying heavily on texture to add additional flavor so I am making her a quilt back...for her quilt front.

Hot pink? Yes, please!

Sissy is known for her intense bargain shopping abilities, and when I'm with her, I get amazing deals too. I picked up these shoes for a song! And I shouldn't be so surprised, but we wound up purchasing all of the fabric for her quilt for $30. This will be at least a 50" x 70" quilt. $30. I'm in shock. The woman just attracts bargains. For example, she found some end of bolt Kona coal that was discounted, then an additional 50% off. Nearly a yard for under $3. (I don't know how she does it.)

I did polish off my February Lucky Stars block and pick out fabric for March's block.

I've also finished one Sisters' 10 block, and I'm working on the second. I'm really excited about both of my blocks for the Make It Modern bee, and I've got so many fun things to do this month. It's a shame it's already the fifth and I've spent the first four days of the month playing around Chicago!

What are you up to this week? I'm linking up to WIP Wednesday which is being hosted this week by Claire of Sewing Over Pins. I'll leave you with the view from my front door. Yuck.....and now, it's back to work!

BBT/WIP: February Blocks, Part 1

Block #1 is for the Make It Modern Bee. The request was for any type of 12.5" unfinished block in bright solids with white background. This color combination looks almost neon to me. (Which means that of course I love it.) I used this tutorial from Don't Call Me Betsy. The Kona solids are pomegranate, turquoise, and tangerine.

I had originally made this rainbow of geese for my bee mate, but for some reason, it wound up at 12" unfinished, and I do not have the patience to try and piece this again right now, especially since I have no idea how I made a paper-pieced block .5" shorter than intended. I used various solids...mostly Kona? I'll find something to use this lovely for, but right now, it's sitting on my wall.

Finally, I finished both of my February blocks for the Sisters' 10 BOM. Woo! I'm hoping to finish my second bee block and my February LS BOM block in the next day or so. Maybe? If I'm lucky and both boys simul-nap? Cross your fingers for me, okay?

I'm linking up to Building Blocks Tuesday at Quilter in the Closet and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. Thanks for stopping by!

stacks of yum.

Hi Friends.

I am still combating the illness that will never die. I've heard friends talk of these epic illnesses that take their family by storm and dwell in their homes for weeks, but I thought all of that was crazy talk. Until, of course, I encountered one. Today is day nine of a basic cold, and we still feel terrible.

And with no sleep and cranky children and a crippling fatigue, not to mention an amazing friend who is in town for the weekend, my sewing time has gone out the window, and with it, my plan to have two quilts ready to hand-deliver at my cousin's wedding in a week. I'll have to be happy with just one. (And that's only if I can get the binding finished!)

But I have been pulling fabric for other projects:

Make It Modern Bee Block - Bright solids on white

February Block for the Sisters' 10 BOM

Make It Modern Bee Block - Improv block a la Elizabeth Hartman

At least I'll have pretty stacks to dream of this weekend, right? And maybe, if my luck is really good, I'll get to tackle them on Monday. A girl can dream, right? Let's talk! What are you up to this weekend?

Hello, February!

Hi February! It's good to see you. Could you bring some warmer temperatures my way? Thanks a latte! Love, Audrey

I didn't get much done for January, and I had to fight the clock for every minute I got!

Blocks for the Sisters' 10 BOM

This month I gave myself a short list:

• Make It Modern Bee Blocks (2)-check
• Lucky Stars BOM Blocks (2)-I got January done. I'm calling it good.
• Sisters' 10 BOM Blocks (2)-check
• Cape for Banzo-nope
• Unpack-check

I'm not sure my poor son is ever going to get his cape. Good thing he has his trusty hooded bath towel to wear, right?

And as for February, here is my seriously ambitious plan:

• Make It Modern Bee Blocks (2)
• Lucky Stars BOM Block (1)
• Sisters' 10 BOM Blocks (2)
• Cape for Banzo
• Quilt for my sister--baste, quilt, and bind
• Quilt for my cousin--start to finish
• Le Mille Quilt--finish quilting and bind
• Organize and purge junk and clean all the things!  

Wish me luck! I'm linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts because FSD is awesomesauce!