Little Finishes

Joining in on SewJo Saturday, today.

The last couple weeks have been about little finishes.

I finished quilting a quilt for a friend (which I can't post about just yet) and I finished piecing and binding the Quilt of Valor donation quilt made by the Fredericksburg Modern Quilt Guild.  Another member will be binding it so it's off to her next week.

Our parameters were blocks that were red white and blue and 12" finished. Any style.  Look at the variations of style and yet they play so nicely together.  I can't wait to see what it looks like with the binding on it.

Also, I was asked (after volunteering my services for whatever might be needed) if I could make 5 small giveaway gifts for The Stash Bash in GA at the end of this month.  I went to this last year and had a great time sitting and sewing with old and new friends. I can't wait to see Chris Warnick (Frecklemama) again and everyone else.  Seriously. It's a weekend where food is prepped for you and a room is always open for sewing. Top it off by being on a beautiful piece of property and it's a wonderfully relaxing. I've got 4 out of 5 prizes finished, so far. I'm not sure what to make for the 5th. Maybe a cellphone wallet. I don't know... still thinking.

Prize 1 - zippered pouch

Prize 2 - 12" mini

Prize 3 - Thread catcher and tool holder

Prize 4- Thread catcher and tool holder

Last little finish, a bunch of headbands. I  keep buying headbands in hopes I can find ones that don't slip off during exercise with no success. So, I tried making one.

It worked, didn't slip once while exercising. I've made several more and will send them to my sisters and a friend to test and see if they work for them as well. Regardless of their review, they work for me and a couple of these extra ones will be in my drawer. :-)

If you want to make your own, you need 1 piece of fabric 4"x18" and 1 piece of 1"x4" elastic.
- fold in half lengthwise and sew long side together
- turn right side out and tuck the short, raw edges inside the tube about 1/4"
- press the whole thing
- position the elastic about 1/4" inside a short end and then sew the short end closed going over it about 3 times.
- repeat on the other side and it is complete

Cheers!
Beck

The "Learning to Love Batiks" Quilt

When I attended The Stash Bash in 2013, I thought about purchasing a jelly roll of batiks. I think, at the time, I was trying to challenge myself to come up with a quilt that focused on the batiks (instead of using them as blenders) even though I was less than enthusiastic about them.  Of course, when you are at a  retreat with wonderfully supportive quilters, who also happen to be wonderfully sarcastic and eager to encourage someone to be crazy, that thought developed into an actual purchase.

So, I came home and auditions fabrics to go with the bright, rainbow batiks and I auditioned patterns until I finally came up with what I thought would work. I ended up using this Bold and Beautiful print by Michele D'Amore for Benartex I had in my stash, which was perfect, and the "Sparkler" quilt pattern by Freshly Pieced. 

I really like how the top turned out.  I think the use of a print instead of a solid with the batiks makes it interesting and attractive.

 

I decided the quilting needed to mirror the fabric designs so I created meandering and twining leaves with a loose flower in certain blocks. I felt like it kept the design a little whimsical and feeling like Spring somehow.

In keeping with the "spring" feel, I used one layer of Warm and Natural 80/20 batting and a solid pink fabric as the backing of the quilt and hand sewed a multi-color dot fabric on for the binding. 

Since it measures approximately 56.5" square, it is a nice, light weight quilt that is perfect for draping over your legs when sitting on the porch on a spring or summer evening. I have already washed it (I wanted to be sure there wasn't any color bleed from the batiks) for these pictures and I'm kinda glad I did. The crinkly look suits it.

So, do I now love batiks? No. Do I hate them? No. I think they are like any other fabric. There are good and bad prints that can be used for beautiful or questionable creations. It's all a matter of personal taste.  It is unlikely I will purchase more again anytime soon, though. That's just me.

Oh, and I think I'm renaming this quilt "Spring" and I have decided to sell it. Now to figure out how to do that. :)

Cheers!

Beck

Stash Bash Fun! (Better late than never.)

It's been a little over a month since I attended the 1st annual Stash Bash (at least I hope it's the 1st annual Stash Bash).

I can't believe it's been that long. I came home intending to blog within a week. Clearly, my intentions are worthless. However, I am blogging now and most of this post will be photos for your enjoyment.

First a big thank you to the sponsors. I had a great time and it was so much fun trying new products.  A few of which have officially made it into my must have pile. Go check out the links, do a little shopping, do a little blog reading... it's def. worth your time.

• Oliso - oh, my lovely, lovely new iron to be!
• Stash Fabrics - Beth brought FQs for partipants to purchase & at her offered prices, I couldn't pass up an FQ from almost every fabric in the Notting Hill line! Beth doesn't yet know how much I fell in love with her for bringing those FQs.
• Pink Castle Chalk Fabrics
• Fat Quarter Shop
• Art Gallery Fabrics - Oh, oh, oh lovely fabric. Super soft and smooth. I'm a new fan!
• Our Epoch 
• The Craft Junky
• Jacey
• Karamat

Second, a thank you to the Calvin Center in GA. This was a beautiful retreat location & the staff was friendly and accommodating.

Great food, too, by this guy, Brian. Great personality, great smile & a great chef... a keeper for someone, that's for sure!

Last, thank you to Chris of Frecklemama who took the time to put this together.  The idea was a place where a large group could gather, wear PJs, sew, and chat.  It was a big success as far as I am concerned! I met some new people, learned a couple new sewing tricks (like how to sew HSTs in an another manner), saw some fabulous projects and was able to pick up all the Joel Dewberry Notting Hill prints my heart had been desiring.

While I'm at it, I should note that I drove from VA to GA. I swung by and picked up Amy of Amylouwhosews and we spent a total of 16 hrs in a car together. We knew enough of each other to feel we could manage the drive but by the end of, oh, the first hour in the car, it became apparent we would do better than manage. We gabbed, and gabbed, and gabbed.  She good naturedly grumbled b/c I asked her to bring veggies for lunch instead of chips (she made me egg salad, too!).  Of course, by hour 6, she and I were ready to admit defeat and stopped at the gas station to pick up our travelling junk food staples. I believe she's a peanut butter M&M person and some sort of large soda, I can't remember. I blocked all her drink habits out when I  experienced the worse guilt trip ever received b/c I threw out her Sonic cup (the styrofoam on, I might add!).    -sigh- I can't talk about it, it's still too stressful. If you want to know, please... go ask her.

Anyway... in pictures (many under the #thestashbash tag in Instagram as are many other participant photos) the trip went something like this!

 5am departure

 9pm arrival and Amy (center) wastes no time setting up her sewing station. Hi Chris (L) and Heather (R) and Jill (background).

I made a couple pillow cases for me and for Katie.  She made me an awesome fabric covered clipboard which I don't have a picture of b/c it's in use.

Below: Great projects have begun.

 Jill's large chevrons.

 Amanda's constellation quilt came along beautifully!

 Ali's big blocks. I am in love.

 My quilt which you will see soon but see me testing that Oliso? Yep, I'm a convert.

Laurel's bento box in bright colors.  Check out her blog for the version with the borders. Gorgeous!

There were mini instructional workshops, a trip to the fabric store, and a FQ swap game.

I also managed to get my exercising in while there and not eat too much junk. To help me, I packed my Shakeology and blender and brought protein bars, etc. I'm glad I did. I wanted to be good over the weekend but still allow myself to indulge. I think I succeeded.

It helped that my room mate is also a fitness buddy of mine and a Beachbody coach.  Meet Cherie:

She even did my workout with me on Sat. which was quite helpful in me being motivated to do it.

One more of my projects, which will have its own blog post of their own very soon. The heart is a 12" or 14" block which I spent a great deal of time doing the math for.  Now that it's done, I love it and will be writing a tutorial.

I'll cap off by showing you a full circle view of the room on the last day. We were all busy and happy little bees!

What a wonderful weekend.

Here's a list of blog posts, if you'd like to see/read about others' experiences. There may be others but I just haven't seen them yet.

1. kelbysews
2. a.squared.w
3. Drowning In Fabric. part 1, part 2, part 3
4. don't call me betsy
5. Katie's Korner - ps, here is a picture of the clipboard she made me. I have the lovely feather one now!
6. Sew Hungry
7. Throw a wrench in the works

Cheers!
Beck