Sew Sunshine

A while ago Aurifil had a slogan contest and my title was my slogan.  If you use Aurifil thread you probably know this already. It should have won but that is just my opinion.  Anyway, I love the way Aurifil lays flat when you press the seam open and when you quilt over it.  Alas, I was putting together my first round of strips on my 30 Birdbath blocks and I ran out. Luckily I scrounged around and found a new spool. :) I am using Aurifil Mako 2 ply thread to piece.  What threads do you like to use for piecing and or quilting?? Here is the first round of strips. One more set of corners and strips go around this square and then corners again. I am not sure how I am going to put it together yet but this is a see as you go along type project.  It is coming together nicely. 

Today I decided on the fabric for my Relay for Life quilt. My niece does a silent auction each year to raise money for Cancer research.  I have been trying to donate a quilt or something each year and this year I it will be a small quilt.  I am really excited with what I have picked out.  This time I started this idea with just the fabric and then looked around for a pattern that would suit.   This fabric is called Dogwood Trail by Moda. I just loved how fresh and lovely this fabric was. I found a couple coordinates to go with it then hit the scrap box of mine for the others. In the mean time I had to find a pattern.  Luckily I was just looking through some quilt books and then ...there it was.  The practical guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman has a beautiful pattern called "Birdbath". Perfect right? Well you will have to go look in the book or wait to see how I do. I had to find quite a few pieces to go with this but I think I have what it takes. Lots of s

I am so excited.  Things seem to be moving right along.  First my fabulous design board I made for in my sewing room has been a huge success. I finally put together all those diamond blocks from the <u>Kaffe Fassett</u> kit that I purchased back in June from <u>Material girls quilt shop</u> in Grand Island, Ne.  It looks fabulous if I do say so myself. I put together 5 other prints of his for the back and I think it will be wonderful. IT is huge for a quilting project for me so that might have to wait a tiny bit. Still it is progress! Then I decided since I signed up for the Skill Builder BOM over at PileOFabrics.com that I better finish my Craftsy BOM. I had two left and they are the paper pieced blocks. I already had the copies to sew on so it was just a matter of doing them.  Now the question is how to finish the blocks. I was thinking since I am behind on my charity quilts I might just take these blocks and split them into two crib or lap size

I am really excited that I signed up yesterday for the Skill Builder BOM over at Pileofabric.com.  If you watch the video that Alyssa made she will convince you that you can do it.  I have signed up in the past for the Craftsy.com BOM with Amy Gibson from StitcheryDickoryDock.com. I have two blocks left to go on that one and then quilting it somehow someway.  Not to miss out on anything I signed up for the Craftsy.com 2013 BOM class too.  I think dreaming about this all night left me a bit dizzy this morning and with a slight hurt foot from all the sewing and running around in my dreams....or I have a sinus issue coming on. Either way sitting around will accomplish nothing so why not sign up. Go to Pileofabric.com for more details. I hope to meet some new friends and get some fabulous blocks put together.  www.pileofabric.com

Well I love fabric but I also have a love for pretty paper. I am not a huge scrapbook person though I have made a few. I just really really like pretty paper. Doing things with it...not so much!  Today I broke out of that for a minute to make this cute magnetic message board. I think it will make a cute addition to my sewing room walls which have gone bare way too long.  Here is what it looks like: This is a great recycle project too. I used and old 8 x 10 photo frame. Scuffed up the finish with sandpaper to give it a worn look. I had my trusty husband bring some old scraps of sheet metal home from work before Christmas. He cut them to fit the opening (s). I think it is so cute I might just make a couple more since I have the old frames sitting in a pile.  I made some cute little lacy doily (from stickers) type magnets and there it is. So cute!

Okay, so most of 2012 was not the best of years. I did however get a few things done with the added pressure of wanting to make my Christmas gifts this year.  I made some really cute little quilted bags that can be used for make-up or art supplies or what not.  I call them my "quilt as you go zipper bags". I tried to use many scraps of fabrics and small pieces of batting up. The trouble with that is I keep finding more. That is maybe going to spur me on to make some e-reader bags in the same way. I have some great fabrics that I have been hanging on to just for something like that. Here are a few of the bags. Now if I can figure out how to set up a tutorial on them I will.

Yesterday I figured out something.  I have been sewing for years and have actually completed some things while others tend to the UFO variety.  I found that when I just complete the simplest thing I feel empowered. When you feel empowered you feel invincible and you can do anything.  I think this is the best way to end a year and to begin a year.  So with that said I set up a design wall in my sewing room.  I have this quilt I started back in July made out of Kaffe Fassett fabric.  I think it is mostly his 2010 fabric.  The pattern is called "Bordered Diamonds" from his book "Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts".  The kit I purchased from Material Girl Fabrics in Grand Island, NE. My camera skills I hope to improve on this coming year.  I think you get the idea thought.  I just love the ease of using a design wall. Mine is made out of an old piece of insulation board my husband had in storage.  I covered it with an old piece of twill sportswear fabric I had in m