Sister's Choice Quilts

Summer Breeze Finished

This is my finished Summer Breeze mini quilt. How cute is that ribbon border? It was an easy and fun pattern. The only thing you have to get right is a dark and a light green so you have the contrast of light and dark for the ribbon border. 

Carried Away patterns are really nicely done. I highly recommend them. I am so pleased with this one.

Thanks for yesterday's dialog about flying geese techniques. I was totally remiss for not mentioning Monique Dillard's "Fit to be Geese" rulers. They are a great price and you get multiple sizes in one ruler.  I prefer the Mini size. I actually ordered some Triangles on a Roll papers to try them out. I have been using Star Singles triangle papers that I get from Shabby Fabrics, for the times that I want to use papers. They were introduced to me when I took a class from Paula Barnes from Red Crinoline Quilts years ago.  They are just fine, but it will be interesting to see how they compare to the ones on a roll.

Eva went to class in person yesterday at her charter school. She was so excited to go and see her teacher and her five classmates in real life. It appears she will continue to go on Wednesdays until school ends for the year.

As to my COVID vaccine reaction....I had none. Nada. Not even a sore arm when I woke up Wednesday. 

The weekend is in sight!

Serendipity Flying Geese Row

What a busy day we had yesterday!  Eva had her swim class at 11 to 12 and I had my second COVID shot at 1. I felt like I was in a big rush to get places only to have to wait once I arrived. At least I got to read my book while Eva swam and while I waited my turn for my vaccine.

What was interesting is that the folks who were administering the vaccine and corralling the people were all the way from Florida! One lady told me she had been traveling for the Center for Disease Control doing COVID related jobs since August! They were all quite jolly and efficient. Shanika gave me my injection so perfectly I was barely aware of the needle. So far so good. My arm isn't even sore.

Once I got home I told Eva we were done with school for the day. Homeschoolers get minimum days too, right? I went upstairs to sew and made 40 flying geese for the second row of the Serendipity sew-along. I like to make mine larger and trim them down with the BlocLoc ruler. Perfect every time.

While I sew I like to watch Kimberly Jolly's Fatquartershop YouTube videos that are basically tutorials for making the blocks for the sew-along. She was very chatty and described various ways to make flying geese. She is trying to promote her Triangles on a Roll papers because she bought the company, but said she likes the Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day flying geese ruler very much as well. Have any of you tried it?  There is an old YouTube video from 2014 where Kimberly demonstrates it, which I watched. I am not sure I am willing to switch from my beloved BlocLoc trim rulers, but am curious if any of you have used that Quilt in a Day trim tool? How about Kimberly's Triangles on a Roll papers?

Catching Up on Sew Alongs

I had a productive weekend, spending most of it with my dad and no sewing machine. The two of us had a pleasant time together, and I stayed to make him a nice Easter breakfast. My sisters planned to see him for dinner and make it as festive as possible. He kept asking all week long who was coming and what we would have to eat.  Typically we go all out and host a big family brunch for 20 or more people, so he was definitely missing all the hoopla.

Our breakfast for two was modest compared to what he was hoping for, but I have to say I thought it was pretty good. Scrambled eggs, sausages, fresh pineapple, and little coffee cake bites. I think he enjoyed it.

This was our little centerpiece. I went outside before he got up and cut some of my mother's camellias from one of the bushes in the garden. They are so perfect, aren't they? 

I got back home in the early afternoon and worked on my Sewcialites block for last week. I took a picture of block 25 and block 24 at the top of this post.

Monday, I got my Serendipity row 1 together. I did lots more starching and am ready to go with the next rows. This is a close-up of the block for row 1. Kind of a weird block in my opinion, but the rest of them are better. I do love those fabrics.

Hope you all had a splendid Easter!  I get my second COVID injection today. Fingers crossed I am still standing tomorrow. I had no reaction to the first shot, so with luck, this one will be the same. I will be glad to have that behind me.

Summer in Kansas, a Cake Mix Quilt Pattern

Sometimes you see a quilt and you just have to make it exactly as shown. Typically I will change up a pattern or fabric to suit myself, but sometimes...I just want what the other person made.

This photo from the Moda website is Summer in Kansas, a Cake Mix quilt pattern by Carrie Nelson. She used two layer cakes, one Summer Sweet by Sherri and Chelsi, and the other was Canning Day by Corey Yoder. The pattern is free, be still my heart. Here is a link to it. You also need 2 packages of Cake Mix #11 papers, 6 yards of background, and a charm pack to match each of the layer cakes.

Last year when I wasn't buying fabric, I missed out on these two fabric collections but was able to find layer cakes from sellers online. My NO BUY 2020 was a failure since I seem to be buying all the things I missed out on last year.

I am excited to start this and make it my spring/summer project. I won't be starting it for a while yet. I am planning to finish my Moda BlockHeads 3 before moving on. 

Would you believe I have never used the Cake Mix papers? I have used the smaller version "Cupcake" papers and liked them. I have the Cake Mix book and am intrigued by the idea of using the papers. There are a heck of a lot of half-square triangles in that quilt, so maybe it will be a time saver?

Have a happy Easter everyone, if that is a holiday you celebrate. Our weather is perfect for an egg hunt or a brunch outside. I know there is a ham dinner in my future, so that is something to look forward to. Whatever your plans for the weekend, stay safe and have fun.

 

Album Block Runner

Ah, what a treat it is to be able to just stay home and sew. I am making the most of this week, that is for sure. I had purchased a honey bun of At Home by Bonnie and Camille that I wanted to make use of. I needed to find a pattern that used 1 1/2 inch strips, and this Album block from the Summer Moon quilt book by Carrie Nelson works great.

My blocks are 6 inches square, which is probably my favorite size for a quilt block. They are a bit time-consuming to make, not sure why. Maybe it's the 29 pieces in each block? My plan is to make a table runner with 10 or 12 blocks. I will get a few more made and see what it looks like for size.

The block looks trickier than it really is. You sew rectangles together to form the block, then use your square ruler to trim it down to 6 1/2 inches.

I like the clean, peaceful look of the blocks so far. I am using Kona Snow for the background. I have loved that solid for going on 20 years. It is one of the best whites ever. It has just a touch of creaminess to it, so it isn't blindingly white, yet not too yellow either. 

To entertain myself while sewing, I have been watching old Fatquartershop YouTube videos. Oh my goodness, is that dangerous. I watched all of the tutorials on how to make the Summer Moon sew along from several years ago, and now I want to make that quilt. Today I watched a video from over a year ago where Kimberly was talking about the Bloomtopia sew along using a fabric line by Sherri & Chelsi called Summer Sweet, which I am sorry to have missed out on. I swear everything I watch I want to make or buy. I had better stick to audiobooks I think!

Summer Breeze Coming Along Nicely

I am really pleased with how my little Summer Breeze mini quilt is coming along. The center is all done, and I am just waiting on some more green fabric to arrive for the ribbon border. I am going to love having this out all spring and summer. Those colors make me so happy. 

The center "flower" block is 8 1/2" unfinished. You don't see 8-inch blocks all that often, and I really like the look of it. The Moda BlockHeads 3 quilt has some 8-inch blocks in it, and I have one that I made that I am not wild about. As soon as I get more of that background fabric I need, I may just re-make the ugly block with that center block above.

It has been fun having so much free time this week. While I have worked on the project above, I've been listening to a fun book. "Good Eggs" by Rebecca Hardiman. It is about three generations of an Irish family that is going through some tough times. Grandma Mimi is getting a bit batty, daughter Aideen is getting into a slew of trouble at school, and dad Kevin is making some really poor decisions. It is pretty hilarious and has made me laugh out loud several times. The Irish accents and points of view are really well done. I am really enjoying it, and recommend it with the caveat that there is some salty language.

Goodbye March!!

Fancy Summer Breeze

Isn't this pull of fabric happy? It is a combination of Lori Holt's "Prim" and "Flea Market", Corey Yoder's "Spring Brook", and Lily Ashbury's "Fancy". I think Lily Ashbury was ahead of her time with those fun bright-hued fabrics. They are hugely popular now with designers such as Lori Holt and April Rosenthal putting out two or more collections a year.

My Lily Ashbury fabrics are several years old and were pulled out of my "Happy Fabrics" bin for a new project I have in mind. 

How cute is this pattern "Summer Breeze" by Carried Away? That border is wonderful. It is a mini quilt, only 26" square. I have enough fabric to make six of these quilts, I swear. I will just be dipping my toe into it. I sure do love shopping from home!

Here is my first little test pinwheel block. I think I love it.

What prompted this new project, when I have six UFOs in process?

Well, I was trying to get out some springy table toppers/runners to decorate for Easter, and was sorely disappointed in my lack of them. I had plenty of fall decor, but not much cheerful, light and appropriate for this time of year and going forward. These rich, color-saturated colors are perfect.

Please somebody tell me I have enough fall-colored quilts. And for heaven's sake, if I start yet another red and white quilt, somebody call the quilt police.