Sister's Choice Quilts

Too Cute Not To Share

Have you heard of Fat Quarter Shop's Sew Sampler boxes?  I have been hearing from various sources that they are a very good value and extremely fun. Supposedly the contents are at least a $65 value, and the cost for the box is $25.  I took the plunge, signed up, just received my first box and could not be more pleased.   So here is what is inside:

Nice presentation with the packaging echoing the color scheme of what is underneath.

A "Jolly Bar" of Corey Yoder's Pepper and Flax fabric.  In this particular pre-cut, which is exclusive to FQS, you get 42 5" x 10" cuts of each fabric in the collection.  This is the perfect size for most mini quilts, including Schnibbles and Little Bites.  It amounts to the same thing as half a layer cake or two charm packs.  You can do a lot with that.

Including making this small quilt from the pattern they give you.  You would need to purchase the background and border fabric obviously.  I am thinking what a cute table runner or square topper this would make.

And how about this?  A set of Alphabitties labels, a Creative Grids ruler, and two spools of Aurifil thread!

Last, but not least, a block pattern for the Barn Block Quilt Sew Along FQS is sponsoring.  There will be 12 of these block patterns.  There are a lot of pieces in this block, so I can see how the Alphabitties would be a big help in keeping them organized.

I added the prices of all these items if purchased individually, and it came to over $67 including tax.  It was lovely to receive the box, and I felt as if I were getting a present.  The contents were very thoughtfully curated, with items that went together and were very Springy in color and theme.  I am quite happy with it, and can't wait to get June's box!  If you call Fat Quarter Shop and sign up over the phone, you can probably still get your hands on this May box.  

Watching Paint Dry?

I am trying to make six to eight stars a day, but it is slow going!  The quilt top has 12 of these diamond shaped sections, so you can see I have a way to go.  "Little by little", said the Little Engine That Could.  No wait, that's not what he said.

Have you ever seen a hairier design wall?  Me either.  I know a trick that takes all those little strings off, and have successfully done it once before.  You take sheets of freezer paper and hold them up to the design wall and iron over them.  All the little threads come off the batting and stick to the freezer paper.  It really works, but like I said, I only did it once....and decided I could live with the threads.

This is the last week of school for Eva.  She will be a second grader!  How time flies.  No more Baby E.  I can't believe how big she has gotten.  This photo was taken this Memorial Day.  Check out her pink fishing pole.

Seeing Stars

Hope you all enjoyed the nice three day weekend.  I know it was a bank holiday in England, and of course for we Americans it was Memorial Day. I have always thought it odd that we say "Happy Memorial Day".  Woo hoo, big sale at Home Depot.  Fire up the barbeques.  Seriously there is nothing happy about it.  To my way of thinking, it is a somber occasion for remembering those who fell while serving our country, or at best, those who sacrificed for our country and survived the experience.  I spent the day thinking of those who I knew personally who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afganistan.  Some died, some made it back.  All made a sacrifice.  I remember and I am thoughtful.

However, not to sneer at a three day holiday weekend, I do not have a lot to show for it. I read a couple of books, prepared food for a little dinner party, did a bit of sewing, and took a nice long nap.

My Aurora stars are coming along.  I have put a new audio book on my phone and plugged in the earbuds while stitching and trimming the stars.  I am listening to a book called Ember Island by by Kimberley Freeman.  It is definitely chick lit, but the story is pretty good.  I am a couple of hours into it, and want to bean the main character over the head, she is so stupid.  The story is the tale of two women, separated by over a century, and the secrets they carry with them to Ember Island, a remote location in Australia.  The character from 1891 marries a man she barely knows, who sells off all her belongings (including some of her clothing and jewelry) to pay off his debts.  Or did he?  She spies him with another woman who is wearing her sable coat and jewelry and begins to have doubts.  Duh.  Hopefully, she will get some gumption and deal with him appropriately.  I have a feeling she is about to lose her temper with him.  I will keep you posted.

I am enjoying working with these pretty Regency Blues fabrics by Christopher Wilson-Tate, a new Moda designer.  Of course I had to add in more blues from my stash, but more is more, right?  

Aurora is Underway

I made a little test block for the Laundry Basket "Aurora" project I am embarking upon.  It is an adorable little four inch finished block.  There are 127 of them called for in the quilt top.  I will probably be working on this project for the next three years.  Those are tiny little star blocks.

I spent most of yesterday cutting, and still am not finished.  I took a break and made the test block, using my Bloc Loc trim tool.

That little trim tool is worth it's weight in gold, I tell you.  The flying geese units are coming out perfectly, which they always do when I use this ruler.  One gets such precise results with it.  The stars will go together like a dream.  All 126 more of them.

Hope your week is going well!

What's Next?

I have been prepping my next project and am getting pretty psyched up about it.  Gosh, that expression reminds me of college.  My house mates were always talking about being "psyched" about one thing or another.  That sure dates me.   Did you ever use that expression or is that way earlier than your time?  Funny how some expressions sound so dated.  "Groovy man", "Rad", "Out of sight" in the 70's,  and now "Sick", "On fleek", "Bae".  Silly.  It's always something.

Anyway, this is what I am up to next:

The project is called Aurora from Edyta Sitar's Patches of Blue book. I plan to use the new Christopher Wilson Tate collection "Regency Blues", and have been starching, drying and ironing them this week.

My husband just ordered me a whole case of Faultless Spray Starch from Walmarts, so I should be good for starch for awhile.  Although, I think I went through two and a half cans with this project! I have really gotten to love sewing with starched fabrics.  Are the rest of you on the starch band wagon yet?  I am loving it.  It's an extra step, but my gosh, the sewing is wonderful.

Hope your week got off to a good start.  Mine did with my volunteer stint in Eva's first grade class.  It has been such fun getting to know those kids this year.  Only one more week.  I'm gonna miss those kids.  Poor Benjamin was in major time out today for cutting off a hank of his classmate Haylee's hair.  Oooh.  Teacher is going to have some explaining to do to Haylee's parents....  Glad Eva doesn't sit next to him.

Liberty Road is a Finish

This pattern is an oldie but a goodie.  It is Liberty Road by Minick and Simpson.  I have wanted to make it for quite some time, and finally got around to it.  It doesn't have an outer border, although you could add one on if you wanted to.  I think the pattern is supposed to be all about the flags.  You could also make it smaller, using three or four blocks and make yourself a terrific looking table topper.  Don't you want one for Fourth of July?  I plan on draping mine over my stair rail where it will be a focal point I can enjoy it all summer long.

The quilt goes together very easily and is fun to make.  I love the addition of the machine appliqued stars, which were a cinch to do.  The pattern is on Minick and Simpson's Etsy site and is $9.00.  I actually purchased a kit of fabric from them along with the pattern.  The fabric was mostly a collection of theirs called Charlevoix, but I was able to add in some pieces from Ann's Arbor (another one of their designs) for lots of variety.

When I was a girl, I was born in Ann Arbor, MI (where Minick and Simpson are from).  I grew up in a little town nearby called Belleville, where I lived until I was 11.  Liberty Road is a main street in the Belleville/Ann Arbor area and my family used it frequently.  Minick and Simpson often name their fabric collections or patterns after Michigan sites and landmarks, and it always brings back memories for me of my childhood.

I am getting back into the swing of things after several weeks of not doing much sewing.  I have spent some time Monday afternoon starching some beautiful new fabric for my next project.  More about that tomorrow!

Squishy Packages

Oh gosh, I may not be sewing up a storm, but some serious shopping has been going on.  The gorgeous stack of blues in the photo above is from the Regency Blues by Christopher Wilson-Tate collection by Moda.  Oh my goodness, is this fabric ever lovely.  I have a plan to make a Laundry Basket design that involves a lot of blue stars...  Seriously, if you like blues, check this collection out.

Various backgrounds and backings.  A necessary expense, so be sure and check the Sale section on your favorite online fabric sites.  Bargains do occasionally come up, and you will be very happy to score something good.

Another fun opportunity to score something for a bargain price is on the Fatquatershop's daily Flash Sales.  Check it out, this "Jolly Bar" (the equivalent of two charm packs) was offered at a steal a week ago.  American Jane is one of my favorite designers (Sandy Klop), so I couldn't resist. Every day they offer something at a price slashed deal, and it might be to your taste now and then.  Just get on the FQS email list and you will get daily notices of what they are practically giving away.

Maybe next time I post I will have something to share that I have actually shown.  Or maybe not...

 

Seeing Stars

Hope you all had a fabulous Mother's Day.  Mine was lovely.  Lots of time with family, what could be better?  My daughter and her husband came over for brunch (which she mostly prepared), and we had a great visit.  Later in the day, my son in law (ex) invited us over for a barbeque, and we had another fun visit.  Since he is a winemaker, some very delicious wine may have been involved.  Our family structure may be complicated, but I have to say there is much love shared between all of us, even though the relationship dynamics may have shifted.  

I even had  a bit of time for some sewing during the afternoon, and got all the stars appliqued on my Liberty Road flag blocks.  My gosh, that Bernina 740 does a good job with the blanket stitch.  Every one was perfect and drama free.  I am loving that machine.  This little quilt is coming together very nicely and with luck, I will share the completed top with you this week.

This week is County Fair Week, which means there is no school on Thursday and Friday, so that all the kids can attend the fair.  Seriously, do you City Slickers enjoy anything similar?  My husband and I will take Eva to the fair on Thursday, and hopefully will come up with something entertaining on Friday, because this Nana does not have two consecutive fair days in her.

Wishing you all well, and hoping you are enjoying a happy spring.

 

Moving On

Thanks for all your thoughts on what to do when you aren't feeling the love for your current quilting project.  So many of you suggested putting the project away for now and picking up something new.  The project you put away isn't necessarily a dud, it just isn't what you need right now.  It can always be revisited a bit later.  And that is just what I did.

I pulled out my Minick and Simpson fabrics for the "Liberty Road" project.  I just love these cute little flag blocks. At this point, I haven't decided if I will go with my original plan of making several table runners (one for me, two to give as gifts) or continue on and make the whole quilt.  For now, I have been playing around with color combinations.  This weekend I hope to applique the stars and get the blocks assembled.  With luck, I will have something to show on Monday.

Hope you all have a super weekend.  Our weather is holding in a nice warm spring pattern, and I have been doing lots of reading on the porch.  Whatever you do, make it the best!

Sewing Blahs

I am kind of stalled out on this project, to tell you the truth.  Not long ago, I finished a Double Nine Patch quilt that called for many nine patch blocks, and it was probably not the best idea to start another project involving nine patch blocks so soon.  I have really been putting off sitting down at the sewing machine.

I have purchased the border fabrics and have about 2/3 of the blocks done, but I am feeling so blah about sewing right now.  What do you do when you are feeling like that?  Do you fold up the project for another day and move on to something else?  Or do you buckle down and get going?

Maybe I have Post Vacation Blues?  All I want to do is sit outside with a book!  The weather has been in the 80s and so lovely outside.  It is hard to stay indoors.