Something new

So I took another class on Saturday from Bev, my favorite teacher at Flash Sew & Quilt ~ this is the quilt top we were learning how to make:

Just what I needed ~ another project.  :)  But I learned something new ~ applique!  We did a simple blanket stitch on this one.  I like the way it turned out and it's inspired me to do more.

AND we learned how to use a new tool:  Sue Pelland's Hearts and More template which made the hearts so easy!  (You can see her video here)

AND I tried a new fusible product ~ Mistyfuse ~ which is a very lightweight fusible ~ great for applique.

I decided to go with a totally different color scheme and went with an aqua and green palette and I'm lovin' it!  Fabrics are from Kate Spain's Daydreams, Lauren & Jessi Jung's Chantilly, Stonehenge and Stephanie Ryan's Modern Roses.

Ready for the next border!

Linking up with Anything Goes Mondays and WIP Wednesday.

Totally random ...

Just a quick post today with a few pics ~ 

Had to start off with these gorgeous flowers my daughter got me for Mother's Day ~ talk about brightening up my space!

My first attempt at feather blocks ~ these are my May Blocks for Newbie Quilter Hive #8 on Threadbias.  :)  

Another first attempt ~ a friend of mine showed me how to knit this ruffly scarf thingie!   :)  Fun stuff!

Linking up at Needle and Thread Thursday.  :)

Brayden's quilt ~ finished!

I actually finished Brayden's quilt today!  Yesterday I finished the quilting ~ decided to leave it simple straight line stitching with my walking foot.  I had a little bit of trouble with a few puckers, but the fabric is black and it's not too noticeable.  (Besides, he's going to be 3 so is he really gonna care?)  

 
I learned something new in finishing up this quilt ~ I tried machine binding following a tutorial I recently saw at Lily's Quilts, stitching it to the back first and top-stitching the front.  I'm happy with the way it turned out ~ besides,  I figured this would make it more durable for a 3 year-old!

I was super excited this morning to find out that Target is now carrying some fabrics by Fabric Editions ~ quilting, canvas, burlap ~ how fun!  Check out Maureen Cracknell's blog to enter her giveaway and possibly win some of your own!

Linking up with Anything Goes Mondays and TGIFF.

WIP Wednesday ~ May already?!

Has it really been 3 weeks since I posted anything?  It's not like I haven't been doing anything ...

I guess the most important thing I'm working on is a quilt for our great-grandson who's going to be 3 next month.  I had made him this pillowcase for Christmas (he LOVES the Cars movies) ~

and I decided he needed a little quilt to go with it!  So I scrounged around for some more Cars fabrics and came up with a few more in different colors.  I cut them all up in 5" squares and started adding sashing.

I was inspired by this pattern by Lindsay @ Craft Buds.  My layout ended up looking something like this:

and I wanted to put his name on it somewhere, so I added it to the back ~

I added some Franken-batting (thanks to a tutorial by Kati @ from the blue chair) ~

and now I'm in the process of quilting it.  Can't wait to see it finished!

I have to admit ~ I'm not doing so well on my 2014 2nd quarter Finish-a-long list.  :(  Although I have made a tiny bit of progress on the Good Night Irene and the Star Light Star Bright blocks.  And my Hop Skip & Jump BOM quilt is almost ready for sashing.

In spite of the lack of progress on my list, I did sign up for another class at our LQS (just what I need, right?) and picked out these fabrics to make it sort of monochromatic.

So ~ I have LOTS of WIPs ~ all I need is a kick in the hiney to actually finish some things.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.