You Can Quilt! Blog Hop

Today I'm excited to be a part of the blog hop to promote You Can Quilt! Building Skills For Beginners a book co-written by my friend Leila from Sewn by Leila.

Here's the book in all its glory! You can get your own copy here. Also available so many other places like Amazon. I was able to test three blocks for this book and you can't imagine my excitement when all three made the cover! I'll show them a bit later.

My knowledge of this book and story dates all the way back to October 2010. Leila and I went together to the AQS show in Des Moines. On the way out she mentioned how she wanted to write some patterns or maybe even a book. I was instantly excited for her and having seen her work knew she would do so well.

In 2011 she started the You Can Do It! Skill Builder Sampler Quilt-Along totally not the shortest name but applicable. ;) I was so excited to join up as I knew there were several blocks on the list that I had never attempted. You can see all my efforts here. The sampler quilt was amazingly helpful to my skills and I saw vast improvement! This idea is not just for beginners. I'm sure we can all improve in one method or another, especially with guided help!

Here's my finished quilt from the Quilt-Along. Many of these blocks made it into the book. I organized mine from easiest to hardest.

The hardest being this butterfly block. Honestly, I didn't think it was even possible! This is the final block in the You Can Quilt! book as well and it's totally possible with the skills you pick up throughout the rest of the book!

Now on to more from the book itself. I mentioned how I was able to test out three blocks earlier. You Can Quilt! is broken up into different sections with three blocks per section. The idea is start with an easier one and get harder as you go along. I was privileged to test the Flying Geese section.

Each section starts with an overview so you can see what you'll be learning about in that bit. The flying geese section is particularly awesome because it teaches three different methods commonly used to make flying geese.

These different geese methods are given clear and easy to read explanations and pictures so even a beginner can easily master these skills. I tried the magic method shown above the first time and was surprised at how easily and perfectly the blocks turned out.

Here are two of the blocks I tested for the book. I was a little nervous because historically my flying geese left something to be desired but the book made it so easy to get perfect points this time around. I'm especially proud of the "Breaking Out Block" on the right. You can find these on the cover on the bottom right and middle left!!

Here's the last block I tested for the book. This one used the magic method which is great for so many geese to create them accurately and quickly. This one is also on the bottom right of the cover.

Well, I hope that got you excited about the book! Again, you can purchase it here. However, there is a great giveaway running on Leila's blog right now for a copy of the book and a bundle of fabric. Go check it out here!

Also check out the other stops on the hop...

Nov. 16 - Lee at Freshly Pieced
Nov. 17 - AnneMarie at Gen X Quilters
Nov. 18 - Leanne at She Can Quilt
Nov. 19 - Julie at That's Sew Julie
Nov. 20 - Lyn guest-blogging at Flourishing Palms

Christmas Runner Finishes

I finished my Christmas Runners and mailed out the swap packages yesterday. These were my last swaps of 2015 and I only have one lined up for next year. It was fun to swap but I think I'm going to enjoy selfish/family sewing for a while. This marks off #14 on my Q4 FAL list. Without further ado, the runners...

It was pretty awesome that both of my swap partners had the same tastes and liked Holly's Tree Farm by Sweetwater for Moda. I'm a big fan too! I got a Honeybun and sewed it into strips.

Then I cut little trees out based on the pattern found in the kit Sweetwater put together.

I added some white background and did some pebble quilting so it looked like snowballs. I didn't quilt the trees so they'd pop more.

Here they are finished! I was a little worried about binding those points but it worked out to be quite simple. I can't wait to make the quilt for me like this! It was hard to ship these out!

That's it for the week! Thanks for stopping by! I hope to finish up the Amelia quilt to show by next Friday but I have three people with Strep in the house so far, we'll see how it goes. Until then I'm linking up with Finish It Up Friday.

ALYoF Goal post and Pigs Finish

Another thing off my Q4 FAL list with the Pigs out of the way. I am on a roll and even have something to share on Friday too! But first, my ALYoF goal for November and another little something I've been working on.

My middle daughter Amelia finished her quilt off this weekend. I'm so proud of her! She is 6.5 and while it took a little more teamwork than her older sister she did do a ton of the work by herself. To finish this off she picked the layout, pushed the pedal, and together we guided the fabric through the machine. Several times she felt confident enough to do it completely alone. I'm so happy with her progress! Since she's so young I'm going to quilt and bind this for her. This is my ALYoF goal for November. The backing and binding are in the mail and should be here by Friday. Woohoo!

I've also been doing a little cross stitching. I used to do it all the time which feels like a million years ago but was really just the 90s. Randomly I picked it up again for my Back to the Future swap and have been playing around with it ever since. It's great to do while watching tv and was especially helpful during the 5 hours of online BSA training I did this week.

The pigs are finished and aren't they adorable?! This is #20 on my Q4 FAL list and I'm so happy with this one! I found the pattern here. I picked up some pink fleece as a remnant on sale at Joann's and these pigs were born.

My Sister-in-law teaches third grade and is reading Charlotte's Web with her class this year and asked if I could create two pigs for her. I was a little worried about making them since 3D objects are not typically in my wheelhouse but I made it happen and they were much easier and faster than I expected. I made three all in one day!

This one was the prototype and extra so we are keeping for ourselves. My baby girl just loved it so much it will probably become a Christmas present.

That's me for the week so far! I've been loving this stint of getting things done! More to show on Friday! Until then I'm linking up with WiP Wednesday.

Halloween Quilt Finish

I finished my Halloween quilt Thursday morning and am so thrilled! Quilting went faster than expected and my smallest one cooperated so well for my rush job. This quilt is #1 on my Q4 FAL list and was also my ALYoF Goal for October.

Completed Halloween quilt! I love how this one turned out! I bought this fabric probably a year and a half ago and it has just been sitting in my stash waiting to become something. Hooray for sewing my stash!

I got the idea for the block layout and construction from a tutorial on the Moda Bake Shop. I've made this quilt before in April Showers fabric. It's amazing to me how different they look!

I've never made a quilt with this much black. It was a fun change and a good excuse to use up a whole bunch of black thread that I had on hand from a brand I don't love anymore. The black fabric is Sprinkles from Cotton and Steel. I think it kind of looks like stars. I kept the quilting super simple. I just outlined the blocks in glow-in-the-dark thread. I was thinking of doing more but loved the minimalist thing for this one.

The back of the quilt has a totally different feel from the front. I did this intentionally so it was really a reversible quilt. I love fun backing fabric and this Spellbound print from Cotton and Steel really grabbed me.

Here's a closeup of the back as well as the binding fabric. It's so fun to snuggle under a festive quilt for Halloween!

That's me for the week. Thanks for stopping by! I'm so glad I finished up the quilt with days to spare! I've been a crazy productive woman lately too and have several things ready to show next week as well. This blog is going to be all about finishes for a while. Until then, I'm linking up with Finish It Up Friday and TGIFF.

Halloween Pillow and Quilt Progress

I am running a bit behind and have just now finished my Halloween pillow. The quilt is ready for basting too. These are both on my Q4 FAL list and the pillow is #2. I hope to have the quilt finished and posted by Halloween.

Here's the finished pillow! Love! The block is a Mummy and is from a tutorial I wrote back in 2012. It's just been sitting an orphan block for three years. Well, no longer! I quilted it with fun glow-in-the-dark thread which, it turns out, is really cool in person but impossible to photograph.

Here it is which the other two Halloween pillows on my couch that I made last year. I love having festive pillow covers and have made some for several holidays and seasons now.

Next up, a blurry picture of my WiP this week. I wanted this done much earlier in the month but have had a fun influx of hat orders for Halloween and am just now getting to it. It has been going really fast and I even have it all put together now.

Here it is hanging out with the backing waiting to be basted. In this house the only hard floors I have are tile. I've found that the grout lines make for wrinkles and creases in the back of my quilt. Thus, I have begun to baste outside. Well, it's raining and has been for a couple of days now. I sure hope it lets up like it is supposed to so I can get this basted and quilting before Halloween! Here's hoping!

Well, that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by! I'm linking up with WiP Wednesday.

Bags and Hats

I stepped out of my comfort zone a little this week and I'm so glad I did! Stretching myself earned me some amazing finishes and a great sense of accomplishment. One of them also marked something off my Q4 FAL list but first the crown jewel of the week...

Isn't it stunning! This is the Geometric Quilted Tote by Vanessa from V. and Co. The fabric is two ombre prints, also by her, and a solid white. This bag is actually at Market right now and I feel so special that Vanessa asked me to make one for her to show. It was fun to make and I highly recommend the pattern. Isn't it classy?

The inside is also done in ombre and I added a fun pop of color with the zip. I had the hardest time picking a color because they would have all been fun. Also, the leather handles are a dream and were so nice to work with. I had never done leather before so I felt quite intimidated by the task. It turned out to be easier than expected and it really adds to the bag.

Fresh off the victory of the above bag and leather handles I decided to do a leather accent foldover clutch. This was for my Around the World Craft swap and is #5 on my Q4 FAL list. My partner loves Australia and asked for something sewn because she's new at it and can't make things herself. I had so much fun with this and again, while new to me, the leather wasn't as difficult as I assumed it would be.

This was the package I sent off to my partner. It was lighter on extras than I usually do but the two homemade projects were either expensive or time consuming so I hope she doesn't mind. Extras weren't required so it's just a fun bonus anyway.

In other news I've been getting such fun orders from my shop lately! For a while there I just made crab after crab and it was a fun change to get something else. I'm just in love with this Cabbage Patch Kid inspired hat. Isn't it adorable on?! I had one of these in a smaller size for this sweet girl and I may need to make one for her again. You can get one at my shop!

I think adult hat orders are always fun. I try to imagine the fun people who order them and where they'll wear them. The top is a sheep hat and it is so adorable from newborn all the way to adult. The gray and pink variation was a fun change from the usual white. The bottom is a Gingerbread Woman. I so love these! Especially in toddler size. Check out my shop for more pics.

Last but not least I also received an order for a newborn apple hat. This was a fun and fast finish and it is going to be so adorable on this teacher's new baby!

That's all for this week! It's been fun and productive. Definitely getting out of my comfort zone and ruts with things! Next week look for some table runners and hopefully a Halloween Quilt or Pillow. For now I'm linking up with Finish it up Friday.

Yarn and Back to the Future Finishes

I am so happy with all I have been able to accomplish this week! Most of it has involved yarn in one form or another. My two year-old has been less than cooperative of late with me sewing. She loves it when I knit or crochet next to her though. I've been keeping up well with shop sales, swaps, and even made something for myself. We'll start with the thing for me since it's also #7 on my Q4FAL list.

Another cowl for me. This #7 on my Q4 FAL list and I'm so happy with it! I have several cowls now but it gets so cold her in Iowa I'm sure I'll use them. I had this one on as I ran around town today and it was so nice!

This is better light for that yarn I used. Isn't it amazing?! It's from Knit Collage and called Pixie Dust. The pattern used US 19 needles so needless to say it went very quickly.

I've also been having fun keeping up with my Etsy Shop orders. As you can see, all crab hats! It is my most popular hat by far and there is still time to order one like it, or any other design, in time for Halloween.

My last finish for the week is my Back to the Future swap package. I had so much fun making this one and even more fun hunting out the extras. At the bottom of the picture are a tiny Hover Board and cute little earrings. I can't wait for my partner to get them!

That's me for the week! Next week I'm going to have two awesome bags to show off and maybe another hat or two. Until then I'm linking up with TGIFF and Finish it up Friday! Thanks for stopping by!