Dear Subscribers~

If you haven't seen a post from me in a few days - please click over and subscribe once again.  You may also need to update your sidebar, if you are using blogger, as the feeds have changed.  I posted a finished quilt on Thursday, and another great Featured Quilter on Friday.
Hope you are having a great weekend~
Amy
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De-Stashing!

I know you all have told me it's okay to have a stash....I just don't have the space to store it!  Someday when I have a studio - someday (sigh...) for now, I'm selling a bunch off.



ETA - Wow!  Everything is gone - thank you all!  My site will be down for a while today for some upgrades. I'll be back tomorrow with my new pattern and a winner or two!

Happy Quilting~
Amy

PS -- I'm so happy that so many of you are rising to the challenge!!
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One Thing, One Week Challenge :: 1

Are you ready!?  How will you challenge yourself this week?

I don't want you to be stressed out about this challenge, but I do hope to MOTIVATE you.  Finish something, start something, just don't be overwhelmed by everything - One Thing!  You decide, what's reasonable for you to get done in a weeks time, and tell me your goal in the comments.  Next Tuesday, I will have a linky and you can link to your blog/flickr post, 

and show off your met goal!

**For those of you that meet your goal, you will be entered to win:

An Origins Charm Pack, courtesy of Natalia @ Piece N Quilt - Thanks Natalia!!

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Personally, my goal for the week....Finish quilting my Dresden plates.  I have a plan, threads selected, I just need to sit down and do it!  I'm  guessing there's a few of you that can relate...:)

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Post a button and tell your friends - hopefully we can all check one thing off of our list!

Happy Creating~

Amy

PS ~ My blog is going to have some downtime on Wednesday - major upgrades!
Don't panic, I'll be back :)

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Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 5

Happy Monday!  I have the blocks for our Simple Sampler - I hope that you are having fun, and maybe learning a bit too.  I've been tempted a few times to sew up all the blocks, but I have really enjoyed doing two blocks a week with you guys, so I haven't!

If you are starting now, these will catch you up -

Simple Sampler Quilt Along Details (includes a pic of the quilt)

Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 1

Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 2

Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 3

Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 4

This week we have a 6-Grid Chain, these are great blocks to alternate in quilt tops, and a perfect addition to our sampler - 

To make the Chain block you need:

6 - 2 1/2" squares from two fabrics

From your solid:

4 - 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles

4 - 2 1/2" x 8 1/2" rectangles

Lay out your pieces in the block formation, we will work from the center out.

 Pin and sew your center 4-patch

 Match up your center seams, and complete the 4-patch.

 Pin, sew and press your seams open.

 From the sides add, the 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles.

 Pin, sew and press your seams open.

 Next, add your 2 1/2" squares to both sides of the remaining 2 1/2" x 4 1/2" rectangles.

 Pin, sew and press.  Line things up again -

 Match up your squares, pin, sew and press.

 Almost done!  Add the rectangles to the sides once again.

 And the remaining squares to the rectangles.

 Pin, sew and press.

 Add the top and bottom to your block.

 Pin, sew and press once more :)

Our second block is variation of a 4-patch, we are adding hourglass blocks to it.

Here's what you need:
2 - 6 1/2" squares in one fabric
1 - 7 1/2" squares in two different fabrics - these will be your hourglass blocks.

 Take your 7 1/2" squares back to the cutting mat, and cut on the diagonal.

 Then cut into quarter-triangles, I've found a second ruler, with the 45 degree angle to help mark the center, and keep things straight.  Just move it away once, you are all lined up, and cut.

 Repeat with your second 7 1/2" square.

 **There is another way to make an hourglass block - we will get to that method later...

 Layout your pieces, as you would like to sew it.

 Lay the quarter triangles over one another.

 Pin, and sew from the center, out.  We will be trimming the outside of the block later, so having the center match up is more important.  Press your seams open.

 Now turn the triangle units over on one another, match center seams, pin and sew.  Press open again.

We trim the hourglass blocks down to 6 1/2" to match the squares that we cut earlier.

 With your ruler lined up on the 45 line, also mark the center of the hourglass at 3 1/4".  Trim two sides, then turn your block line it up again, and trim the other two sides.

 All trimmed up and ready to finish the block!

 Join the left and the right.  Pin, sew and press.

 And join both halves together.

 Here's all my blocks!  Three more weeks of blocks, then we get to add sashing - it's coming together!

**After you make your blocks, post about them on your blog (or flickr), then post a link here:

Please post a permalink, do this by clicking on the title of your post, and copy that url, then paste it in the linky.  Thanks!

How are you doing with these?  Little more tricky, but fun - I love the variety we are getting :)  My blog will be down this week for a few hours of maintenance and so I made a pdf of the instructions, the file is pretty big, but it's all there!

Happy Quilting~

Amy

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Weekend Spotlight

This weekend the spotlight shift to --

Reannalily Designs
Jen has some great patterns, and if you have any trouble with your 1/4" seam a very handy seam guide as well!  Seamingly Accurate is a quick and easy way to improve your quilting and sewing!

Happy Quilting~
Amy
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Featuring Nicoletta -- A Blogger's Quilt Festival Quilter!

Hi Friends!  I'm feeling rather accomplished - I spent yesterday basting and quilting my quilt!  Of course, it was between errands and meals, and afternoon pool time.  The how question (How do you do it all!?) comes up now and then in the comments - I stay up late, and get up early!  I've never been one to need 8-9 hours of sleep, 6-7 is good, 5 if I'm in a pinch :)  Anyway, let me get a binding on it, wash it, and finish up the pattern and I'll show it to you next week!  Do you have a favorite size quilt to make?  I put a poll up, to gauge your quilt commitment level - let me know!
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Our featured quilter today is Nichi (Nicoletta) she's from Italy and I love her use of color.  I hope you enjoy getting to know Nichi better and seeing her quilts -

1. When did you begin quilting?

I took my first quilting class in 2003 (after some years in collecting books and magazines) and I fell in love with it immediately…I was ready to fall in love!

2. Why do you quilt?

I have always love colors above all and quilting gives me the possibility to play with better as every other kind of crafting. I like all the quilting techniques, traditional, appliqué and improvisational that I feel as the new way of expression but that, as the modern art, can't set aside from the perfect knowledge of the basic rules and the tradition.

3. What is your favorite quilting tip?

My favourite quilting tip is to use all the fabric I choose for a project to finish that project ( for the border or the binding or the backing) so as to have the least scraps possible.

4. What was your inspiration for your Quilt Festival quilt?

The inspiration for my Festival quilts came from the red fabrics in my stash …I would find a way to use them all together and the big hexagon pattern seemed perfect.

5. Do you sew other things?

I love the quilts, I have quilts on my bed and on my sofa and I like to stay under them… so I like to make quilts!


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Thank you so much for sharing your quilts with us Nichi!  I love how far reaching this quilt/blog community is :)
Have a great weekend everyone~
Amy
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Challenge Week

Hi there!  I took a day off, just didn't have anything worth saying! :)  Thanks so much for all your great ideas for naming my quilt.  I think I have an idea decided on, but want to give it a few more days to make sure there's not a genius idea still out there :)

I really enjoyed being challenged a couple weeks ago, and have decided to issue you a challenge!  Once a month, we will have a Challenge Week.  You decide on one thing, one thing, you want to challenge yourself with for the week, tell me about it in the comments, and one week later I'll have a linky so we can check out each other's projects!  I might have to work out a prize too - give you a little more incentive to get you motivated.

Next Tuesday, July 20th will be the beginning.  Then on the 27th we will share our projects!

I really want to emphasize the one thing aspect - so often I get (and I know I'm not alone) overwhelmed with how many things I need to do and don't start ANY, so this will be a jumpstart!  Cut out a quilt, piece a top, or finally finish that binding, whatever you have on your list that you just can't seem to get started, or finished as it may be!

I know that when I did a survey a while back lots of you expressed needing help getting motivated to finish things, and last week when I asked how many projects you have in the works, many of you were a bit shocked to have actually counted them.  So hopefully this is just what you need!

What do you think?  are you in?
Hope so!  I need a challenge :)
Amy
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Sewing with Linen & a New Quilt Top

Hi!  I'm excited to share a new quilt top with you.  I sewed blocks into the wee hours of the weekend, and yesterday started sewing the top up with my morning coffee.  I really wanted to see this quilt top come together!

Sewing with linen....it's kinda squirrelly and needs lots of pins.  As the weave is larger than the cottons we typically use, it has a tendency to not hold it's shape.

  I carefully pressed and blocked each piece as I added it to the block, to keep things as square as possible.  This quilt top is not perfect, cutting was a challenge as well since it was 60" wide and my longest ruler is 24".  But the fluidity that it adds, and the heft are really nice.  It is slightly heavier than my quilting cottons - but I like it a lot!

 I know that there are a few linens being marketed to quilters, but I've not had a chance to work with these yet.  I'd love to, and compare - eventually :)  I love how the colors pop in these pictures!

My quilt measures 60x72 inches and I have a pattern in the works!  I need a little help naming this quilt...how about, if I pick the name that you suggest, you win a copy of the pattern when it's ready!?


Here's my kiddos- they were enjoying an evening swim, their cool down after dinner :)  They keep me on my toes!

My crazy monsters!  Love them :)

I hope you like my quilt as much as I do!
Amy
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Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 4

Hi Friends!  I hope you had a great weekend - I was a working double duty all weekend with Joe backpacking up in the Unitah's.  We had some special fun, a little bit of drama, and I stayed up late sewing too!  I have blocks sewn up, and a few rows pinned for a top, hopefully I can show it to you tomorrow.  

For now I have this weeks Sampler Blocks!  

Just in case you are starting now, these will catch you up -

Simple Sampler Quilt Along Details (includes a pic of the quilt)

Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 1

Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 2

Simple Sampler Quilt Along -- Week 3

Originally I had planned to put all the HST blocks at the end and work up to them...but then I decided we should slowly work through them, so I have one more for you this week.  I hope you aren't cringing - they really do get easier with practice, and that's just what we are doing!  Perfection is good and all, but don't forget to enjoy the process, and learn as you go.  And remember - I have been sewing for 20+ years, I've had a bit of practice with straight seams and working with my machine daily the last (almost) 2 years, it all makes a difference.  Please don't get frustrated, or down on yourself.

Our first block this week is a traditional favorite - Log Cabin.  You can make these so many different ways, I have one side in white and the other scrappy - feel free to play with color placement!

 Here's what you need:
From your solid - cut 2 - 2" strips and cross cut into:
1 - 2 x 11"
1 - 2 x 9 1/2"
1 - 2 x 8"
1 - 2 x 6 1/2"
1 - 2 x 5"
1 - 2 x 3 1/2"
From a variety of prints -
1 - 3 1/2" square - fun opportunity to fussy cut a favorite part of your fabric
1 - 2 x 5" and 1 - 2 x 6 1/2"
1 - 2 x 8" and 1 - 2 x 9 1/2"
1 - 2 x 11" and 1 - 2 x 12 1/2"

 For this block we work from the center out, one piece at at time, lay out your pieces like I did, and prepare to sew and press, and sew and press!

Lay the 3 1/2" length of white over your center square, pin and sew.

 Press your seam open, and working counter clockwise continue around the center block, adding the 5" length next.  Pin and sew.

 How's yours looking?  Now we start adding prints, still working counter clockwise, lay the 5" print length over.  Pin and sew.  Are you thinking I'm super anal?  always pinning..?  I find that if I don't pin, the fabrics have give and will shift under the needle without my knowing.  When adding these strips, I pin to keep the seam below in place, and two ends, just so that they match up nicely.  When we get to the longer strips I add another to keep things in line.

 Continuing on, add the 6 1/2" print length.

 Back to the white strips, add the 6 1/2" length.  Pin, sew and press open.

 Still in counter clockwise fashion, add the 8" length.

 Now add the print 8" length.  Pin, sew and press open.

 Now the white, 9 1/2" length.

 The final white length is 11".  Pin, sew and press open.

 Next add the print 11" length.

Add your final print length, at 12 1/2", to finish the block!

I've told you how much I like starch, but I don't think I told you that when I've finished a block I like to set it with a little starch.  When complete, AND ONLY THEN, (you don't want to shrink things before you finish) spray a bit on your seam allowances on the back to set.  And carefully press.  The seams lay nice and flat and I don't have to worry about things getting wonky as I wait to quilt.  Not necessary - but something I find helpful :)

Our second block for this week is a mosaic block, my software named it Mosaic, No.5...so uninspired!  Let me know if you have a good name for it - I think a quilt full of these would be really fun.

 Here's what you need:
From your solid - 8 - 4" squares.
From one print - 2 - 4" squares.
From a second print - 6 - 4 " squares.
If you aren't using a solid, look to the contrast of your fabrics - the difference of light and dark in your fabrics.

 On the wrong side of your white or light, mark the diagonal.  If you are having trouble, consider also drawing 1/4" away from your center diagonal, for a sewing line.

 Pin a white square to each of your printed squares.

 I thought I would share where I start things, and how I use my hands to guide the pieces.  These things take time to find what works best for you.  Having a friend/mom over your shoulder as you learn, reminding you of where your hands are is handy, even if trying in the moment :)

I like to start with my needle down with these blocks so that I can get it as close to the needle as possible before stepping on the gas.

 I hold my thread tight, and gently hold the square firmly in the direction you want it to go.

 I keep my hand in front of the needle, guiding the square.

 And when I reach the other tip, use my finger tips to steady the square as it moves past the needle.  Usually I use my other hand on the right side as well, to keep it straight.  And I go SLOW when sewing these HST's always.

 After sewing your seams on both sides, set with the iron, and cut on the diagonal.

 Press your seams open.  And trim to 3 1/2", using the diagonal as your guide.

 Here's the little pile of scraps, after the fact -

 Now we can lay out our block and sew the rows together!  Actually there's a lot of options for sewing these together - I have a couple more in the weeks to come - it's fun to play with the triangles and see patterns form.

 Lay your blocks over, carefully match the diagonals, pin and sew.

 Press your seams open, and lay out the block again to finish sewing the rows together.

 Carefully match seams up again and pin - notice that I flipped my top two rows over so that I have a running start to the bundle of seams.  It sews easier and things line up better (in my experience).

 Sew and press seams open.  Lay things out again.

 Match seams up, starting in the center, and working out, pinning carefully, the first row to the second, and the third to the fourth.

 Sew and press seams open.  Then repeat the last step to complete the block!

 I really love the effect of this one!  What do you think?

Here's my blocks so far - half way through the blocks this week!

**After you make your blocks, post about them on your blog, then post a link here:

Let me know if you have questions and I will answer them in the comments :)

Happy Quilting~

Amy

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