I think quilting should be considered a serious form of exercise.  Maneuvering all that fabric is quite the workout!  It's slow going, but I am making progress.  I was hoping to finish this week, but it doesn't look likely.  Next week then.

Popping in to say a quick hello.  Hello!

I made this appliqued tank for one of Jane's friends.  When I am at Target or Old Navy and plain t-shirts are on sale, I always pick up a few to have on hand for birthday presents.  It has become my quick go-to gift.  Paired with some art supplies (which I also stock up on at back to school time) or a book, it is a great gift for under $15.

When I applique, I either use a fusible web like Wonder Under or spray adhesive like 505.  I like the spray adhesive because the fabric is re-positionable and it is fast.   I'm all about fast crafting, you know.

Phew!  You guys really came to a lady's aid.  I have managed to reattach all four of the borders.  Numbers 1, 2, and 3 went on fairly easy.  The last one did not.  It took about 5 tries, but I did it.  I went with the stay-stitching suggestion.  It was great.  I think if I ever make a quilt like this again, I might even stay stitch each square before I piece them together.  It would only add a minute or so and eliminate a lot of the bias stretch.  Anyhow, the whole thing is laid out and about 85% basted - I ran out of pins.

In other quilt news, I finished my June square for the Virtual Quilting Bee this weekend.

Anina sent the floral in the middle and the pink polka dot surrounding it.  She asked for a scrappy log cabin square.  I dug through my scrap box(es) and this is what I ended up with.  I hope she likes it!

OK - I need to go pack up some embroidery or something.  We are off to our first swim team practice.  See you all later.

Yesterday, in a great fit of productivity, I started to baste my x-string quilt.  All went well until I got to the borders.  They will not lay flat.

   

Hello seam ripper.

I took the borders off while watching TV last night and when I got up this morning, I pressed everything really well.  I think the issue is that the quilt is on the bias and the strip is on the straight grain.  Something must have gotten stretched (or not) when the borders were added.  Now here's the debate:  try adding the border again or make some half x's to add to two sides.  I'm leaning towards retrying the border.  I have the backing and batting taped to my floor right in the middle of our living space.  If I make more x's, I will certainly have to pull that up.

Thoughts?  Ideas?

Today is the last day of school.  Well, really, tomorrow is the official last day, but the girls won't be there.  We will be on a plane, headed to the beach on tickets bought before we had all those snow days this past winter.  Last night, while I should have been packing, I made something to take along with us.

My parents gave me a new camera for my birthday  (thanks Mom and Dad!).  I really wanted a small point and shoot for those times when it is not practical to carry my trusty rebel.  I picked out this little Canon that easily fits in my pocket.  Of course, the camera did not come with a case and I didn't think to buy one.  So I grabbed some fabric, batting and bias tape and made one.

Well, make that two.  The flip needed one, too.

I did some free motion quilting on the pink one and used the walking foot on the yellow one.  The coordinating print at the top of each bag is the lining, which I made longer, brought over the top and sewed down to make a casing.  It was hard to maneuver such a small item on the machine, but I plowed ahead puckers and all.  If I do this again, which I doubt, I will try a different method.

So there you go.  Classic Erin procrastination.  I really should have been packing.

We'll be gone for a week - I doubt I will post while we are away, but you never know.  See you soon, friends.  Take care.

Over the three day weekend:

I read this book.

I watched this movie with Fatty, the girls and one of Jane's friends.  Scarier than I remembered.

I pieced the back for the x quilt.

I ran three miles two days in a row.  Woo hoo!

I helped the girls cut and sew nine-patch pillows.  And then ran out of stuffing.

I wanted to chuck the little machine out the window.  I hate it.

I made ribs. And corn salad.  Twice.

We went to some friends' house and let the kids stay up too late.

I made my craft for my local craft swap.  And then swapped.  Details to come.

I took lots of photos of peonies.

It was great - hope yours was too!

I just finished a piece of birthday cake for breakfast.  I think it's going to be a good day.

Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes!  I had a great day - a little sewing time, reading to the kindergarten class (they sang happy birthday to me!) and dinner and cake with the family.  The 38th year of my life is off to a great start - I ate my cake sitting at the table and not under it!

I finished binding the hourglass quilt yesterday, too.  I'm super happy with the finished quilt.

It's about 37" x 42".  I wish I had added another two rows to make it bigger - oh well.  I used a charm pack from the American Jane Wee Play line by Moda and added in some other charm squares from the Look and Learn collection.  None of the fabrics repeat - some are the same print in different colors, but no two squares are exactly the same.  I cut these squares in half on the diagonal to get my triangles.  Then I cut 5" squares from white and did the same.  I chain-pieced them - that was a huge time saver.

You can get a peek of the backing fabric here - it's the blue one with the bars.  My favorite part, though, it the quilting.  I used my walking foot and machine quilted a line 1/2" from each diagonal line on the quilt.  I love how it made little tiny pinwheels where the four fabrics meet.

That's all I've got today.  I'm looking forward to the weekend.  It's pretty much summer - only three more days of school!  Hope you enjoy yours.

Hello!  I finished piecing the hourglass quilt top this morning.  There was amoment last week when I thought that I would have to rip out a numberof squares and re-do them, but it came together surprisingly well.  Phew.  I'mhoping to get this basted and quilted this week.  Then it's back to thestring-x one.  I've been (over)thinking about what to do for the back.  I've got a quasi-plan so once I get the backing finished, I'll be ready to quilt it, too.

Also, I am looking for some vintage sheet scraps.  Nothing too big, say from 6" x 6" to 10" x 10".  If anyone has any they are willing to part with, I'd be happy to send you something little in return.  Drop me an email and I will forward on my address.  Thanks.