I'm getting faster.

 

Block #3 was posted this morning. Since I don't have school on Mondays it is easy to get my block done in the morning. I am getting faster too. This block was simpler than #2 so that might have helped too. I started with some little triangles and a few squares.

I love these colors. Brown and pink is my favorite color combination so that's no surprise. My seams didn't line up so great on this one. But my geese (the brown triangles) look better. I didn't cut off the tips of any of them. Hopefully one of these days I will make a block where all my issues are worked out.

Here is a sneak peak of a non quilt project I started yesterday. Connor is gone till Thursday so I have time for an extra project. I'm pretty excited about it and hope it comes out like it is in my head.

Tiny Little Squares

Lots of them. That is what I used to make Block #2 in my Quilt-Along. It took me quite awhile. Which is why I am posting today instead of last friday. To make this block it was important to be very precise so that when all squares were put together they would line up just right. I took my time to make sure that happened. My squares almost lined up perfectly and here is the completed block:



Looks good, right? I am so loving the fabric collection. I can't wait to get all the blocks done. Another set of instruction will be posted tomorrow and I might be able to get it done tomorrow. We'll see.

Till then,

Laura

Ready, Set, Go!

My very first Quilt-Along has begun.  I explained what I'll be doing in my first post so you can refresh your memory. Today the instructions for the first block were posted by Quilt Dad. All quilts are made up of blocks or squares sewn together. This quilt will be 16 blocks, each designed by a different person. If you are a fellow quilter or just curious you can go check out the instructions and see what its all about.

Here is what I started with. All my little squares cut out and ready to go. This took longer than I thought it would. Actually the whole thing took longer than I thought.  Sometimes I forget I'm a beginner. 

Halfway through....following my instructions perfectly.

Ta-da!!! Here it is. I love it!! The fabric is awesome. My seams line up so perfectly.  Yay!! They have been a problem for me but I was extra careful today.

There will be directions for a new block every Monday and Thursday. So I should be posting twice a week as soon as I get them done. I don't want to fall behind with this so I can be all done by April. I hope you have fun following along with me. I will be learning so much and want to share it. See you on Friday.

- Laura

Hi, My True Friends

By that I mean all of you who read my blog. I found out this week more people read my blog than I thought. As we talked it was decided if you read my blog you are my true friend. I couldn't agree more. Thanks for reading and caring (even if its just a little) about what I write. I'll do my best to be totally awesome.

Today I have for you my current work in progress. I am working on a tutorial from an awesome quilter named Natalie I found at Piece N Quilt. Its the Goodnight Monkey Boy Quilt. Its kind of a weird name but I have the cutest fabric I will show you in a minute. Those of you in Ruston know we had a winter snow storm come through on Sunday and Monday. I took full advantage of being trapped in the house to get started on the quilt top and got half of it done. Dana spent the night Sunday so she could stay warm and helped me figure out the layout for the blocks. It was quite a process but we finally came up with a layout that looks awesome.

    The fabric is really cute. I'll take a better picture soon so you can see it.

Now here are my blocks ready to have the border sewn on. The plan is to get that done this weekend. Wish me luck :)

Extra, Extra!!

       I found the perfect place for the new quilt. It disguises the bright blue blanket holder that clashes with the rest of the living room. I think its perfect. I do have to admit it wasn't entirely my idea. Dana helped me with this too. What would I do without her?

Laura

I did it! I did it!

 

I finished my first quilt! Its all done and ready to keep me warm. I finished it last night to comfort myself after watching the Saints fall apart. Now I feel all better! I love the way it turned out. Its not perfect and I do love things to be perfect but I know its my first time and being perfect takes practice.

 

Close up of quilting and binding. Binding is the fabric that covers up the raw edges. Mine looks good from the front but its a little off on the back. To the untrained eye it looks fine but I know what it should look like. Not a real big deal but I have to work on my binding technique for next time.

 

        I added a little detail to the back.

And here it is: all ready to keep my guests snugly and warm. Come over and enjoy it.

P. S. I changed the blog name (props to my father-in-law for the new name) and you should update your link to it. Hope you like it. Thanks Daddy Beech.

My first....

quilt that is. I can't remember exactly when it started but this past summer I began to haunt quilting blogs. The more I read the more I wanted to try and make my own quilt. From those blogs I found Moda fabrics and fell in love with pretty much all of them. I got my hands on a few layer cakes and a jelly roll and began to plan what pattern to use. Moda Bake Shop inspired me with Lap Quilt In A Jiffy. It only takes one layer cake-it doesn't get any easier than that. So I grabbed my Pure layer cake and got started. I love this fabric collection-brown and blue-my second favorite color combination.  I started the quilt top in October and right before Christmas I basted my quilt together.  I started quilting it last week after much deliberation over exactly how to do it. I went with straight line quilting and have quilted diagonal lines.

I tried to get a closeup of the quilting but its kinda hard to see.

I've got to finish quilting and then try my hand at binding. Not sure if I'm going to completely machine bind or try to hand bind half. We'll see what happens this weekend. I am so ready to finish it.


       Laura

So it begins

Here I go, joining the ranks. I've always loved making things on my own. In the past year I've taken up sewing and found that I have a knack for it and I love following a pattern and seeing things come out just like they are supposed to. My most recent craft obsession happens to be quilting and I've noticed that all the cool quilters have blogs. They have inspired me and so I thought I would join in. A couple of weeks ago one of my favorite blogs, Quilt Dad, posted about a quilt-along that follows some of my other favorite blogs. Then Christmas happened and I got some money from the fabric store and there was no stopping me. I'm on a budget so I couldn't get the fabric they are using but I found some awesomely cute fabric on sale and it came to the house today!!!

Its called Giddy by Sandy Gervais and I love it.

 See, itsn't it awesome!

Well, I can't wait for the next set of instructions. I am so ready Quilt Dad! Bring it on. Well, I have to finish my very first quilt before then, but I'll save that for tomorrow's post.

    Laura