Tote Swap Reveal

A few months ago I signed up for a tote swap with my local quilt guild.  All the participants made inspiration mosaics and we were given a secret partner to make a tote for.  At this weeks meeting, we gave the totes to our partners.  Can I just say that the gals in the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild rock!?!  Each tote was a work of art and all the participants totally [get it, tote-ally? :) ] nailed their partner's style.   (Click for more pics of the totes.)

Melissa made the beautiful tote pictured above for me.  I am in LOVE.  She used a variety of American Jane fabrics - we both love American Jane! - and captured the scrappy bright look I like.  I have used it all weekend and couldn't be happier.

Only one partner was really lame and forgot to bring their partner's tote....me.  Seriously, I think I am brain dead.  So sorry Doris!  Here are pictures of your tote and I will get it to you as soon as possible!

Doris said she liked (among other things) all things British and I got the feeling from her mosaic that she liked a combo of black and bright colors.  So I decided to use a piece of black Echino fabric printed with bright London landmarks as my inspiration fabric.  I started by making a wonky log cabin quilt as you go panel for one side of the bag.  I didn't like it - seriously, I almost threw it away.  But I couldn't tell if I didn't like it because it was ugly as sin or just not my style.  I pressed on and made another panel with a simplified Union Jack.  I was sure she would like that.

I decided to make the bag reversible so that if she wasn't a fan of the first panel she could turn it inside out.  I used a larger piece of the black Echino as one panel of the interior.  I added three pockets (triple zip style), each lined with fun bright fabric.  I love those pops of color!

When it all came together I was pleased as punch.  I even like the first panel now that it is in the bag!  I hope you like it too Doris!

Healthy as a Horse

Just so I have a record of it somewhere:
Cholesterol - 159 (LDL 93, HDL 53)
Triglycerides - 55
Glucose - 79
Cortisone - 12.9
Thyroid - .291 (just below the lower "normal" cutoff  - will test again in 2 months)

Becca - 13 months
Height - 30 inches, weight - 23lbs (80th percentile)

Christmas in October

Today, I am finally over my cold!  There is nothing like being sick to make you remember how wonderful it is to be well. 

 This Christmas I am bound and determined not to have piece of fabric wrapped around my tree.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I have had this quilt in my mind for over 2 years and this year it is going to happen.  I cut out all the diamonds last month and today I laid them all out.  I Love it!

When it is all done, the points will be cut off and it will look like this pink and yellow quilt  I made for my niece.  Before binding I will cut a hole in the middle and a slit in one side so it can fit around the Christmas tree.

Would anyone be interested in making it along with me?  Let me know.  I would be more likely to get it done if others were sewing along with me!  ;)

I also have plans to make a bunch of Christmas pillows for family gifts this year.  I am really digging those gnomes.    Here's to Christmas in October!  :)

The AQS Show

On Wednesday I went to the AQS Quilt Show in Des Moines.  The highlight of the show was seeing Marlene's We Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler on display.  Not only was it on display, but it won 2nd place in the bed quilt category!!!!  It know it is all her work, but I do have to admit to a feeling of pride and a quite a bit of "Hey, look!  That quilt is from my quilt along!"  :)

Here are Marlene and I in front of the quilt.  It was great to meet her and see all of the quilt details up close.  

Pick me up mom!  She later crawled up and down the aisles.

Our time together was interrupted as my darling children spilled a bunch of pretzels on the floor.  Good times.  I didn't stay at the show for long, but I did decide one thing as I looked at all of the quilts.  I want to use more color in my background fabrics.  I was really drawn to quilts with bright backgrounds.

White is my go-to safe choice and looks fresh and clean, but what about yellow?

 Or green?

 Or Red?

More yummy yellow?

Or Orange?

I think it is time to say, "I can do it!" and mix things up with new background colors.  What is your favorite background color?  What was the most crazy background color you have ever used?  I think mine is the scrappy black backgrounds in my Star Flowers quilt.  Yeah, I'm not very daring.  ;)

Charity Quilt Link Up and Giveaway

I can't believe that it is the first of October (and that our congressmen are such ____ )!   During September I've shared different ideas about how to make Quick & Easy Charity Quilts.

two Fabric Blankets

orphan blocks & negative space

super-size it

applique 

quilt as you go

Goodness knows that there are tons of other great easy quilting ideas out there, so I also started the Quick & Easy Quilt Library.  If you find a great tutorial for a quick and easy quilt, please link it up there!  We already have quite a few.  Check it out!

A big thank you to the Fat Quarter Shop and Lisa Orgler Designs for sponsoring this charity quilt month.  If you have made a charity quilt this month, link up a picture of it here and you will be entered to win a package of super cute owl notecards and a $20 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop.  I will close the linky and pick a winner on Saturday.

Thanks for helping spread a bit of love and warmth!

Sherry, you are our winner!  I will give you an email.

Seeing Red

There has been a lot of red happening around here.  A garden full of tomatoes means more canning and drying than I care to do right now.  Yet, I still really want home canned tomatoes all winter...want to come can for me?

I started a tradition years and years ago that the kids and I would go out to dinner one night if my husband was out of town on a business trip.  Then a few years ago I told myself that I could either go out to dinner or buy the equivalent  dollar amount in fabric.  So this year as my husband drove around the mid-west looking at corn, I made dinner and treated myself to some fabric.  :)  I have had this quilt on my mind for awhile and bought some vintage inspired Christmas fabrics to make it.

 I also bought some great reds to make up into a tree skirt for Christmas.  Yes, he was out of town tons this month!  I am going to make the tree skirt using my Diamond Quilt tutorial.  I have to say it was really handy to re-read the tutorial and not have to figure out how many diamonds to cut.

I have been using the cutting scraps to make this red and white hexi slab.  I think it wants to be a pillow.  Yep, I have Christmas on the mind, but if I don't start now it will be another Christmas with a random piece of fabric wrapped around the tree.

But I haven't totally forgotten about fall.  We went and picked some apples at a friend's house yesterday.  So this weekend we will be making applesauce and apple pie.  I love this time of year!

Update and Quick & Easy Charity Quilt Library

I spent a wonderful Saturday sewing with the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild.  It is always fun to hang out with friends, but sewing with friends brings it to the next level of awesome.  I haven't taken pictures of what I worked on yet, but will share that soon.

I also ordered fabric for a Christmas quilt and tree skirt last week.  I can't wait to make them up!  I am going to use my Diamond Quilt tutorial for the tree skirt.  But the real reason I am posting...

Today I wanted to let you know that I have a page where you can link up any great Quick & Easy Quilt Tutorials you have found around the inter-web.  (I am hil-ar-i-ous.)  I have linked just a few so far.  Feel free to link as many as you would like.  It can be our own community Pintrest board.  I hope it can become a resource for people looking for easy quilts for charity or gifts.

Thanks!