Quiltpiecer

I started this quilt in February when I joined the Road to Spring quilt-along with Randi at i have to say .  And, I FINALLY finished it this week! I just love these fabric collections from Maywood Studio and from South Sea Imports designed by Robyn Pandolph.  The prints really do say SPRING! The quilt top was fast and easy , especially since I used my handy-dandy Shape Cut from June Tailor.  I machine quilted it with an all-over swirl design and tacked down the binding by hand. I still need to put a label on it as I forgot to put one on before I quilted it.  But I’m so glad this quilt is finished, and I am really lovin’ it! I will be linking up again to Amy's Sew and Tell Fridays.  Don’t forget to check out what everyone else has been up to!

A few weeks ago I signed up for the second round of the Potholder Swap over at Amy’s During Quiet Time . These are the potholders I made to send to my swap partner.  I made them using an instruction book I received from my swap partner Jeannie.  It is "101 Fun-to-Quilt Potholders" by Trice Boerens and has ideas for all sorts of occasions. I also included this set of 4 coasters, using the same fabric as the potholders.  I created a tutorial that shows you how to make these fun, easy coasters.  Just click here to make your own! I also used some of the leftover fabric to trim a dish towel.  So, these are being sent off today, and I hope my swap partner likes them.  If you’d like to see what everyone else is making, you can take a look here at Flickr . Happy quilting!

These fold-and-turn coasters are SO easy and fun to make!  I first saw this pattern in 2002 at a guild meeting, and the instructions were handwritten.  There were no pictures … only hand drawings.  Well, we’ve come a long way in 8 years! I made this set of 4 coasters to include with the potholders I made for Amy’s Potholder Pass #2 . These coasters were made with five 5-inch cotton squares and one 5-inch flannel square.  These can also be made in other sizes so long as the squares are equal-size.  Suggested square sizes range from 4-1/2” to 6” … your choice.  You may also use one 5-inch batting square, but I found batting was a tad too thick.  But, again, your choice. Instructions: (1) Y ou will choose three different fabrics.  Two fabrics will be used for the top of the coaster and one will be used for the bottom (backing).  I chose the light blue for the bottom: (2) Cut fabric to the desired square size.  I used 5” squares. (3) Lay flannel (or batting) s

  I love to read … and I have a ton of books and magazines!  When I’m finished reading, I usually donate them to our library’s used-book store.  Of course, whenever I make a donation, I head on over to the sbookstore and buy more books! I think I scored pretty good this past Saturday!  I found some great quilting and sewing books, like the newer “Strip Crazy” book above for $2.50 (SRP $19.00) and this 2002 Leisure Arts book for $3.00 (SRP $24.95): I also picked up this April/May 09 Quilter’s Home   magazine (below) for a quarter.  This is the first time I’ve read this magazine, and it has some great articles.  BTW, my car license plate says QLTPCR! How about some vintage crafting?  I picked up the cross-stitch pamphlet (above) from 1990 with the Ninja Turtles.  My DS#1 who is 23 used to LOVE the Turtles.  Aren’t they making a comeback? And, here is my favorite find … this 1958 booklet “ How to Make Sock Toys” , also for a quarter! I know the Sock Monke

I FINALLY finished my yellow and black Camp Sloanie quilt from February!  I machine quilted it with an all-over swirl design and tacked down the binding by hand. This yellow and black color combo is out of my comfort zone, as I’m not particularly partial to yellow.  My favorite colors are fall colors … warm browns, gold tones, reds, dark greens, etc.   Even so, I really like my yellow-black quilt! I found this really cute fabric that has a black background with yellow and white birdies, and I also found the yellow fabric with little black flowers to match: I had a few leftover blocks, and there’s no better way to use them than to include them in the backing:  A quilt is not really finished until it has its label: I am really bad about putting labels on my quilts.  My BQFFs are always getting on me for this!   So I made the label on my computer, using instructions from The Crafty Gemini: I then attached my label to the backing BEFOR

Week 3 pinwheel blocks for Rachel's quilt-along Week 2 pinwheel blocks (above) Week 1 pinwheel blocks (above).  That’s s ix done and 10 to go! Some of the fat quarters I’ll be using are from California Dreamin' by Jenean Morrison for Westminster Fibers.  I love this line, and I can’t wait to see how this pinwheel quilt turns out! Happy quilting!

This past Tuesday I visited with my friend Mary and her quilting group, The Atherton Quilters.  I had so much fun that day and everyone was so friendly that I decided to officially join the group! Here they are (above) with the Quilts of Valor they made at their January retreat. This is the QOV top Mary helped make with her group.  She’ll be taking it to the Sew Vac in Long Beach where it will be quilted by a volunteer longarm quilter and finished into a beautiful quilt for a veteran or service member.  Every Thursday afternoon, volunteers meet at the store to cut, sew and press QOVs. Volunteers receive one free admission ticket to Disneyland (!) as part of Disney’s “Give A Day, Get A Disney Day” program.  How awesome is that!  Especially since it’s over $70 for one admission ticket … how many folks can afford that in today’s economy?   So I’ll be joining Mary this week.  It should be fun!     I previously blogged about Mary and her quillow he