Tuesday 27 March 2012

Baby Quilt - Progress Report #1

I bought this baby boy bundle a few weeks ago, and I started to tackle the quilt this week.  As it turns out, the bundle that I bought ended up having more fabric than I needed.  So I was super excited because the possibility of making two baby boy quilts was VERY exciting.

But... I made the fatal mistake of going to the quilt store today....

I have a confession... my name is Amy and I am a baby fabric-aholic.  I have also identified my enablers to my addiction (they say that is the first step to recovery).
1. My mother... she gets a discount at the store so I dont feel as guilty buying fabric.
2. Some of the employees at said "quilt store" attack me with perfect fabrics and force me to buy them (well not entirely... but they make it awfully hard to refuse).

So any who, instead of being happy that I have EXTRA fabric, I decided to buy more fabric to make both a boy quilt and a girl quilt.  So this is what I did:

I took the fabrics that I had already pieced, and I pulled the girly ones.

 I purchased the green fabric to the left and the pink fabric in the middle (isn't it cute), and I added the green fabric with the hints of pink (it shouldn't go in the boy quilt anyways).
 Then I put the pieces on the design board to see if my plan would work.  After all is said and done I think I need two more pink fabrics for the girl quilt so that it stands out a little more (but maybe that is my addiction talking).


What do you think??? I still haven't finished my blocks completely.  I have to cut the blocks that have the white piece in the middle in half, and add another white piece so that it makes a white X. 

Overall, I think it will be great to have a boy and a girl quilt in the same fabric line for one of my hopeful friends. 

Sunday 25 March 2012

The Classy Redneck is Completed!

I am very happy to say that I have finished the classy redneck quilt!!  It didn't take me that long... about 5 days total from start to finish, and I am very happy with the results.  I still need to wash the quilt a few more times so that the material rags up a little more.

 I couldn't take a picture of the whole quilt.. it is just too big!
 I definitely suggest buying good ragging scissors if you are going to attempt a rag quilt.  It will save you a lot of time and reduce your chances of developing carpal tunnel syndrome.  I was able to cut 1/2 inch sections on my seams in one day! I thought it was going to take me a week, in front of the tv, with no breaks. 
 My dog has officially adopted this quilt.  I think she assumed I made it for her.


So I had a little panic after I finished my rag quilt so quickly because I didn't have any other projects.  So I managed to find two new projects to keep me busy.  Below is that fabric that I am going to use to make a baby boy quilt (I also saw a ton of baby fabric that I wanted to buy and I resisted).
 I also found this fabric bundle by David Butler (I am in love with Amy Butlers work, so of course I would be drawn to her husbands work as well) and I am going to make a nice quilt for my mom.  I am not spoiling the surprise... I had her help me pick out the fabric so that she would absolutely love the quilt. 
This will hopefully keep me busy for a while.

Sunday 4 March 2012

The Start of My Classy Redneck Quilt....

 I am very excited to share my latest project with you... it is still in its early stages so I will keep you updated as I create this quilt.  I have chosen to use Ty Penningtons fabric line for this quilt because I am absolutely, 100%, in love with his design.  Have you seen his work yet?

I was searching for some fabric that would be classy/outdoorsy.... I thought that this would be impossible until I saw Ty's line.  My house is located in the mountains and the current decor is very redneck (we have old fishing rods on the wall, an elk picture, and antlers as decoration).  I am even a proud owner of a redneck wine glass (it is pretty and functional). Needless to say I am making a CLASSY redneck quilt, with emphasis on the classy.

 So Saturday and Sunday was spent cutting and planning.  These are my blocks.  I am making a simple rag quilt. I also have flannel and batting cut that is going to be placed in between my blocks... but I will go into this detail later.

 Here is my design.  I used my mom's design board in order to plan where each fabric block will be placed.  This took a little bit of thought becuase a few of my fabrics have the same design but different color. I made sure these were far enough away from each other. 
Here is a close up of part of the design.  I am excited to start sewing this quilt together... I know it will be the perfect cuddly quilt for the TV room.  I even think my "hunter/fisher" man of the house will approve. 


I have to thank my Mom for cutting my fabric for me.  Due to recent rotary cutter argument (the rotary cutter won.. 3 stitches later) I have been banned from cutting.










Friday 2 March 2012

Meet the Authors!

 Meet the Authors!

This blog is dedicated to all of our quilt and crafting adventures.

I have been sewing since I was a little girl.  I would start with simple projects such as neck warmers (for the cold winters in Canada), outfits for my dolls, as well as clothing for myself.  I always told myself that I would never turn into my mother and start quilting... well guess what... I love quilting! Which isn't a surprise because I am a lot like my mother (scary thought). 

My mom also started sewing at an early age by making barbie clothes (one of the tiniest and most difficult things to do).  She has been quilting for over 30 years now and for 6 of those years she has operated her own long arm quilting business. 

We both have different tastes when it comes to quilts... I love retro and classy country.  My quilts tend to have simpler, modern designs.  My mother on the other hand prefers to use reproduction fabrics, scrappy quilts, and reproduces antique quilts.  Needless to say I turn my nose up at some of these designs but we have a great time with our "friendly banter".

One thing we share in common is our love for baby quilts.  We have started a collection of both baby boy and baby girl quilts so we are prepared when a loved one delivers.  Sadly I get attached to a few, some, ok ok... a lot of them and end up putting them in my hope chest. 

I hope you enjoy reading about both of our adventures with our quilts on this blog.