Sew Sunshine

"Like a phoenix" 30" x 32" Accuquilt die cut triangles Diamond straight line quilting My own design Project Quilting has started again. New year, new one week challenge. The first challenge is based off the Patone color(s) of the year Illuminating (yellow) and Ultimate Gray. Those colors felt sort of opposite to me for some reason. I felt the doom of the gray and the light of the yellow and the first thing I thought of was rising from the ashes ...like a phoenix.  Got out pater and pencils and decided equilateral triangles were the answer.  With my limitations physically I decided to use the Accuquilt machine to pump out some triangles. This then determined the size the finished quilt would be also.  Almost 500 triangles later I began. This was a confusing part as the triangles had to be going one way and one way only for the design. I used an old vinyl tablecloth back to stick the rows down to take to sewing machine and it worked great. Actually hard to get some of...

I am not even sure when this little quilt was started. I know I had access to an Accuquilt machine at a local sewday. I cut out the circles and fusible circles too. I got home and started using some fancy stitches on my sewing machine to go around the edges.  I also remember taking them to a sew day at our county fair to sew on while being in the Quilts for Kids booth. The year? I am not sure.  I am pretty sure this quilt did not want to be finished. I found the blocks when looking for materials to make masks out of.  I thought, I can sew this up quickly. I did, and then I pressed it and then had to sew the whole thing again because my antique iron melted the thread in about 75% of it. Yes melted. I could see the thread go from shiny to dull and then I rubbed it. The thread actually came up from one side like tiny beads on a strand. So very odd. I have used that thread since and the same iron and nothing?? My sewing room in disaster mode!!! ha An...

#Love of Everyday things quilt project an Interactive Community Quilt project 2 quilts: 63 x 53 Blocks were made on March 17th National Quilting Day 2018 by the public visiting the  International Quilt Study Center and Museum   Lincoln Ne.  Yesterday, May 4th,  the Museum celebrated their 10th Anniversary by having a Block Party.  Thanks to some wonderful volunteer longarm quilters: Stephanie Jacobson and Patrice Steiner these quilts were done this week and ready to be on display throughout the weekend.  Soon the community quilts will find a new home with our local Child Advocacy Center Lincoln Ne. Thanks to Accuquilt!!   They loaned me an Accuquilt Go and some dies and with the help of Cindy, one of my sisters, we were able to cut tons of shapes to use for the blocks.  If you are on Instagram you can check out #loveofeverydayquiltproject and see many of the smiling faces that made the blocks.  (purple s...

and fellow lqg member  Steph .   Turning in circles approx. 38 x 48 stash fabric  walking foot and free motion Steph taught a quick HST class.  We were to let the hst's be random.  I think it fell together nicely.  I started with a FQ pack of 5 and added a few more from my stash. The Elizabeth Hartman butterfly fabric was perfect for the backing.  There were 3 offset groups of hst's that formed an hourglass square so I chose to feature those three with circle quilting. Two were done with walking foot and then I decided to try the free motion foot and just wing it. :) Large pebbles filled in the rest.  I really like how the colors worked together and a few more pieces got relegated to the smaller scrap bin.  This will go to Quilts for Kids charity.  Lastly I forgot to share my new favorite recipe. I decided to make a carrot cake for Easter. I found a recipe that is grain free, gl...

  This month on March 17th was National Quilt Day at the local  International Quilt Study Center and Museum . I was one of 5 on the planning committee for this huge one day free event. We had local vendors and hands on learning about strings, handwork and I had this booth to make a community quilt.  We had a huge blast of people come through and make blocks early on. The idea was to create an interactive community project that is open to all ages and be open to quilters and non-quilters alike.  Our theme was "Love of Everyday things". Using the shapes and colored blocks you could create and appreciate everyday things whether it be a pin cushion or just use of color and shape. We took a lot of pictures of our participants and many can be found on IG at #loveofeverydaythingsquiltproject.  The community project then is to benefit another community organization. I chose our local  Child Advocacy Center .  The blocks were so popular that I am mak...

This is the mini I whipped up for our local guilds mini swap.  We were supposed to make anything but keep it between 12"- 24".  I made "Listen" approx 16" x 16" and it is matchstick quilted.   The fabric in the center was the inspiration and it spoke to me so much as to what to add to it so thus..."listen".  Since it was a hurry to finish I added the quick corners at the top for hanging and I added the small one at the bottom for a label. Was super quick to just sew it in the binding.  The guild swap was pretty fun but stressful. We chose the mini's white elephant style so there was lots of stealing of quilts. Not my favorite thing to do as you briefly get attached to the ones you had in your hands.    "Sweetness" is the mini I won made by a new guild member. It is sweet and I am so looking forward to getting to know her in the new year.  Here is the attempt to get our OMQG guild group in a pho...

    First up on my "Purge" progress is I made up some kits (4 complete kits and one partial that I will just sew up myself) for people to make when they visit the "Quilts for Kids" booth at the county fair next week. There will be a table set up with information about this charity.  If sewers are really interested in doing some work for this charity, Quilts for Kids provides patterns and fabric (already cut) and the backing and binding to make up this quilt. They give it to you in good faith to go home and add your own batting, sew it up and return it washed and ready to go to a sick child at our local hospitals.    Recently this charity donated some of their quilts to two towns nearby that were hit by tornados this year.  Which brings me to my next "purge" item: Scrap Happy 3 which is going to my guilds quilt drive.  Omaha Modern Quilt Guild has linked up with  Quilts of Compassion and  Accuquilt to deliver quilts to need...

"Apple core quilt" 44 x 54 flannel pieced backing curvy line quilting   Recently went to visit the Accuquilt facility near by with a group of quilty friends. The lovely Tammy Miller gave a tour and currently on exhibit were a few of Eleanor Burns quilts. If you are a quilter you know Eleanor Burns and her Quilts in a Day Series. The sign outside the Accuquilt gallery says "Quilts in Half a Day" with Accuquilt of course. Cracked me up a bit. ;) Inside the studio we were allowed to play with the Studio, Go and Baby cutter. I wanted to try something I knew I didn't want to spend time cutting out. In less than thirty minutes I cut out 80 apple cores. If you have an Accuquilt cutter then you probably know how accurate they are.  Once you fan fold your fabrics (I used some fat quarters, some half yards and yardage fabrics) making sure the grain is going the right way, then you just roll it through and let me just say....it is practically miraculous.  A...