WIP's ( Work in progress)

 I have been having so much fun trying my hand at English paper piecing! It is so addictive. It is nice to have a portable project that I can work on anywhere. It goes with me to work for a little lunch- break therapy, then to the pick-up line at school while I wait to pick up a kiddo. Stay tuned for a post with more hexie goodness and a little information on what products I am using.

 I have also been working on American Patchwork and Quilting's Go Four It Quilt-Along. You can find more information on this in their April 2015 issue of the magazine. I'm using up my Kansas Troubles fabrics stash. I tried several block lay-outs and finally settled on this one. Hopefully I will have a chance to finish this project up this week. Overall I am very happy with it!

 

On a personal note, here is a sweet picture of my girls on Easter and a family picture as well. 

 

 

Blessings-

Susan 

Hand-dyed Fabrics

I have been thinking for awhile now about making a Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt. But... what fabrics do I use? Do I go with the same solids used in the original pattern? Nah. Do I use my Kansas Troubles stash? Maybe, but it won't be "modern". How about digging out my stash of hand-dyed fabrics? Hummmm... Maybe I am on to something. But, I still could not get motivated to get started on the project. Enter a challenge I saw on Instagram by pamkittymorning. Her challenge? to #stopdropandmakeablock. So I did, and now I have started that quilt I have been procrastinating on.

One down, 47 more to go! 

Here is a little peek at a small portion of my hand-dyed stash and my cat Casey. I will keep you updated on the progress of my quilt!

Blessings-

Susan

a block-of-the-month and some foundation piecing

Greetings... I was off work on Friday from my real job and was able to do a little sewing. Up first is my BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop. I guess they are calling it a quilt-along. They are doing this to raise funds for St. Jude's Hospital. I am completing my quilt using my collection of Fig Tree fabrics. I am excited about how it turned out and am anxious to get started on the next block which should be ready any time now.
 

Next up is a little foundation pieced zip-bag. I haven't done any foundation piecing in a long time and really enjoyed working on this. It went together easily. It was a great way to use up all of the little fabric scraps from a quilt I made earlier. The black batik is like a magnet to every piece of cat hair in the house though. My next bag will be done in different fabrics.

 

 For now we are gearing up for a little snow. We haven't had much of the white stuff this winter in northeast Kansas. 

Blessings-

Susan

Upcoming Classes

 I have two classes coming up at the Overbrook Quilt Connection

First up is the Basix Ruler Class on February 28th. Learn to use this fun ruler to make a baby-sized quilt or wall-hanging. This quilt is much simpler than it looks as the blocks are all strip pieced and then re-cut using the Basix Ruler.

Next up is Bending the Line on March 7th. Use the Squedge ruler and the Bending the Line book to make this quilt. I can see so many fun color possibilities and there are many choices for setting your blocks for different finished looks. This quilt is all pieced and goes together so easy!

This quilt reminds me of beach balls!

If you are interested in either class please call the shop (785-665-7841).

I am working on a few other projects including a foundation pieced bag, a table runner using the above pattern (picture flowers on a caramel-colored background), and some beginning quilt class curriculum with a variety of projects. Looking forward to some quiet quilting time this weekend. What are you working on?

Blessings-

Susan

Snappy Splendor Table Runner Class

I spent a fabulous day in Overbrook Saturday teaching at the Quilt Connection. We used the pattern Snappy Splendor to make reversible quilt-as-you go table runners. It is a fun technique!  Below is my sample. The front of the runner is made of one fabric, a batik stripe. The back of the runner is made of various fabrics to look like a rainbow. It reminds me of Lucky Charms cereal.

I have a few more classes in the works, one on foundation piecing and a few others using specialized rulers. Stay tuned for more information

Blessings-

Susan

Project Finish

I finally finished this quilt! It is a quilt I designed using charm squares and 2 1/2" strips. The fabrics are all from a line called Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille for Moda. The quilt has a cheerful festive look, a little something uplifting to snuggle under this dreary time of year.

My favorite part of the quilt is how wonderful it feels! I used a wool batting and a flannel backing fabric. This is the first quilt I have ever put a wool batting in and I love it! It quilted wonderfully giving the quilt top much more texture than the 80% cotton I normally use.  There will definitely be more wool batts used in my future.

 

I have many more projects underway that I will be sharing soon. Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings-

Susan 

Snow Days...

It has been full-on winter here in Kansas! We are gearing up for our second big winter storm here in the last week. With the snow (about 10 inches of it) came a couple of snow days and some time to slow down and enjoy some of the things I don't always have time to do. I did some baking, made some cinnamon rolls that we ate so fast I didn't have time to take a picture of them. I have also been doing some reading and have spent some time in my sewing room.

I have been seeing many scrappy trip-around-the-world quilts on some of the blogs that I follow. I was inspired to use some of my autumn colored scraps to make a quilt of my own. I found a great tutorial here. If we end up with another snow day tomorrow, and it looks highly possible, I should be able to finish enough blocks to make this a big quilt. After taking the picture I see one block that I don't like at all. I didn't include any light fabrics in it and I think it really sticks out and doesn't look like it belongs.  

 

Someone else in my house has been crazy busy building snow forts. She spent most of two days out doors digging tunnels and hauling snow from the neighbors yard to ours. 

 I couldn't resist this shot! This is how she spent most of her time. Head in the tunnel digging a way!