SewConnected

SewConnected has been the such a great experience!  I love swapping blocks with other quilters, and pushing my creativity.  December was our final month, I'm just a month and a half late!  Thankfully Audrey is not in a hurry, and she loves the block :)

I've stepped back from swaps for now, waiting to see how life settles after writing this book.  I'm thinking I will have to find a new "normal"  after my deadline.  Speaking of which --

My work space!  The ironing board has come in handy lately, when not ironing it has become my return to spread out on!  And yes those headphones are for sound reduction - my kids distract me all the time.

Check back tomorrow for another chance to win some fabric!
Amy
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Sew & Tell

I have been doing a little catch up this week! November's bee blocks are ready to go in the mail finally. Before I forget I also want to tell you that I also have a post on Natalia's blog today! Go learn a little bit more about me there :)This block is for Amber - she sent some favorite scraps and pre-cut squares for a maverick star. It's going to be a fun quilt!

This one is for Meg - she sent us beautiful vibrant solids for a Kaffe inspire log cabin block! I can't wait to see this one come together too!



I'm linking up with Amylouwho and her Sew & Tell - I'm so glad to have something to share!!

I hope you all have a great weekend, I've got a few projects lined up to keep me inside and warm. My throat has been raw since yesterday morning, when I went outside for firewood and took a deep surprise breath at -10F :( Usually it's not this cold until January around here!
Blessings ~
Amy

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SewConnected & A Notion or Two

While not fully well, I do feel much better than I did last night when I wrote my last post. Thanks for the get well wishes! We woke to frost this morning, just as the calendar says it is fall - overnight! Time to hide the shorts from the kids, so they don't freeze and take stock of the pants and long sleeves, to plan a shopping trip. Not the worst thing in the world :)


SewConnected Block for AmandaJean
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Have you seen this quilt? Or the beginning over here? It's such a fun group project, I had a blast making this block! AmandaJean sent us the white and asked that we use scraps for the tiny house.


A Notion or Two Block for Lolly

Lolly and her mom have been working together for the bee blocks this year, and so Lolly's quilt will be her mom's really, but there's lots of Lolly in it! The center square is a spoonflower print that Lolly created, and then she asked that we applique a pear to the log cabin block as well.

I'm looking forward to seeing both of these quilts come together!

Right now I need to clean up a bit around here and hopefully I will be well enough to get some quilting done tomorrow :)

Blessings ~
Amy

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SewConnected - August & A Little More

I know - it's already September, I was slow to take the time to figure out paper piecing. I've read a few tutorials, but until I sit down to do something for the first time - it is still an unknown. In the end I had a lot of fun making these for Amy -

• Over last weekend I took the time to make tomato sauce for the winter. It was an experiment. I love to make my thick and hearty sauce, but usually use canned tomatoes from the store. So I bought up 30 fresh, locally grown tomatoes at the farmer's market - after all the simmering I was left with 2.5 quarts! I was/am a little disappointed :( It's not cost effective, I can purchase a 10# can at Costco for less than $3 - and it renders enough sauce for a months worth of dinners. The fresh tomato sauce tastes so good - but I can't tell the difference. What would you do? Anyone care for a recipe?

• My sister is on her way to visit over the long weekend :) It's been almost two years since her last visit - I'm looking forward to our weekend together!

• I've been a bit quiet here this week as we have started school, and working out new routines. Ella is in 4th grade - I cannot believe it! Time seems to keep flying by. Emmalie will start Kindergarten next week after all the assessments have been done and teachers assigned - watch for more tears then. The first day of the school year always makes me misty eyed - all the hope and promise of a new school year. Learning, growing, becoming more independent - of course this is what I want for them - I am brimming with pride.

• My DQS7 quilt is near completion - I'm hoping to share it tomorrow for Sew-N-Tell :)

Many Blessings ~
Amy

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19 : : Quilting Bees

July blocks for SewConnected and A Notion or Two! If you are interested in getting involved in a bee - there is a flickr group designated for swap blocks and an ongoing discussion for those wanting to get involved.

Yes, Henny - it's different in that it is just a block, and made from the fabric a group member provides. :)

Amy
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SewConnected - June

Sarah of house of krom, or krommama on flickr, surprised us this month by not sending fabrics! Instead she asked that we use our scraps to make a wonky log cabin house. Super fun and something new for me :)



This is my busy, wonky log cabin house! I found some old scraps I haven't seen for a while - it was a lot of fun!

Finally I have sat with my machine, after a whole week without my creative therapy - I was overdue! I have a placemat swap to get to next!

See you soon ~
Amy

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SewConnected - April

For a super rainy Saturday, with less the 100 unread emails waiting for me, I set to make my swap blocks! For April, John had sent a great assortment of favorite prints and asked that we make some variation of log cabin blocks. I set out to make a 12.5x18.5" rectangle (he was asking for specific squares and rectangles) and after double checking my math a couple times - came up with this:



I love the way this turned out, and I'm even thinking I would love my own quilt with these blocks in various sizes! With the solid white/parchment in there it makes a very striking block - at least in my opinion! :)

I made a second, less successful block too - John has agreed to add a final border to it, and make it the size that he needs as he's constructing the top.



I have a couple of people I'm still waiting to hear from on the Quilt Festival Winner's post - please go make sure it's not you. This evening I will be selecting alternate winners.

Hope you have a great Monday!!
Blessings ~
Amy

SewConnected & Project Improv

Jessica at Twin Fibers sent out vintage sheets for this months block. I hemmed and hawed trying to decide exactly how to put this block together. Especially after beautiful blocks started showing up in the group pool - everyone there has something different to add to the group! In the end I framed out the little panel Jessica sent and mitered the corners for a little special touch.
I'm wondering if a mitered corner tutorial would be helpful for anyone?

Next up - Project Improv!
I had been putting off this block a little, hoping that I could get a few fat quarters before stitching it up . . . (didn't happen) I rummaged through my scraps and found colors in the requested fields and set to work.

A few thoughts about improv:
- I like the end result, but not having a clear picture before starting is a challenge for me!
- I don't have enough of a stash for it to be really freeing. I tend to buy per project, or win bits and pieces :)
- I'm not sure I have the time for this sort of quilting, but . . .
- I think I need to make a larger piece before I make any decisions, which is part of the project, maybe I will get to a baby/toddler quilt soon.

Do you improv? the group pool has some great work in it!

***Also I met a quilter through my blog from Germany, Martina doesn't blog, but has uploaded her quilts to flickr - go check her out! Everything Martina makes is so bright and beautiful.

My boy needs me - Amy

SewConnected February

Let me start by saying how thankful I am for each of you. I've been a bit slow in responding to your comments - sorry. My secret project has been eating up my free time, and brain space :) I appreciate all your comments and kind words, and I will be getting to my reader to visit you soon - I promise!


This is my SewConnected block for Stefanie, a proud new mama to a son! You really should go congratulate her :) Stefanie sent solids to make a quilt for her boy - aren't the colors great!? Don't look too close at this block you will find lots of little things that don't make much sense! That's why I like having a plan and drafting out my blocks - less hiccups! In the end I am happy with it and hope that Stef is too.
And just in case you were wondering - here's the kitchen table while I'm busy at work! Keeping it real :) My ironing board has broken - so "yes, I iron on a towel at the table. . . "
On the right, draped over the chair is my wonky log cabin for a Notion or Two - it needs a bird. And then I will post properly :)

SewConnected - January

I have been sitting on this fabric all month - and the last week haven't gotten sew much. Last night I ignored the dinner dishes and set to work after the kids went to bed.
January is Tracy's month - she has a green living room and is making a quilt to coordinate. I love the luxurious fabrics that Tracy sent! I really wanted to highlight the silk somehow - and this is what I came up with. I hope you like it Tracy! The quilt is going to be fantastic - you can check out the other blocks over on flickr.

Now I need to get my other block done for Amy . . .

Hope you are having a great Friday!
Blessings - Amy

Sewconnected - November

November 2008 Sewconnected
Originally uploaded by parkcitygirl

Since the little ones did not sleep in at all this morning - I set to work on this block for Buffy after breakfast. The medallion print has been featured in many of the blocks and I think the finished quilt will look great!

Happy Saturday :)

SewConnected - October

Ritas block
Originally uploaded by parkcitygirl

I spent last evening completing this block for Rita of our SewConnected group :) The colors of the fabric and the change of season happening around me inspired me to make this forest block, with a little bunny foo-foo that Rita embroidered. I had a plan originally to make a simple block but as I was falling asleep last week - this popped into my head! My original wasn't exciting and so I kept putting it off for something else. This inspired and challenged me! It was lots of fun to make :)

It feels like the weekend, with Ella out of school. . . our plans to go camping have been thwarted by runny noses and coughs. Hopefully everyone will be up to a little outdoor adventure soon!

Today we went to Costco, where I was able to return my current sewing machine, no problem, (I love Costco) now the difficult machine decision is coming to a head! Thankfully I have a little Janome Jem to get me through this in between time :)

SewConnected!

I have been included in the most fabulous group of quilters! Each month we receive a packet of fabric and make one quilt block for another member of the group, and send it back. I received my packet this week and it so great! Rita is setting the bar pretty high for the rest of us :) She included a piece of embroidery for each block - I have to think up something fabulous! I have been working hard on my quilted bookmarks. Yesterday I finished appliqueing the stems to the front. I need to cut my backing and get them put together today :) It's fun!

If you click the button on my left-sidebar, it takes you to the group - and you can check out pictures.