Finish it up Friday

My finish for the week is very special to me, it is an original design by me, and I wrote a pattern for it.

I created the design for the Eugene Modern Quilt Guild's solids challenge.

I built a tester one this spring for my niece, before breaking into the charm pack I was given.

I was waiting until I had shown it at a meeting before blogging about it, but I have determined that I'm only going to be able to attend the meetings once in a blue moon, given the work/travel schedule of Mr. Chaos and the lessons/school schedule of my children.

So, wanna see?

Following the Leader

it finishes at just under 49" square.

and I pieced the back -

up close on the quilting...

and I machine sewed the binding on.
I've been trying to figure out a way to make it look as nice as when I hand sew it, but I HATE hand sewing.

I think I like how it turned out.

The pattern can be found here.

:)

W.i.P. Wednesday

What a week!

Miss Mae had a birthday - (she's 9!) She picked out the fabric for her birthday dress - one I would have NEVER chosen. 

Now, I'm glad I bought extra, I think it would make a great focal print for a quilt.

Her favorite part is the orange flower.

Nine.

Am I really old enough to have a nine-year-old?

When did that happen?

If I stop feeding her, will she stop growing? 

I get teary just thinking about it.

Time to change the subject.

sewing.

bee blocks.

Green and purple strings for Eileen.

    

Lovin' these colors!

I have 2 sets for Jen - I'm in 2 different bees with her.

First, we have a block that completely defeated me.

I admit it.

I'm baffled.

The fabric won.

I'm waving the white flag.

She wanted blocks based on this waverunner quilt.

I'm not thrilled with how they turned out, but I hope they're acceptable.

I felt like I was forcing the fabric into a shape it didn't want to be in.

I couldn't get them to lay flat for nothing.

I followed the directions and everything. 

*sigh*

The second set for Jen was much more fun.

Wonky quarter logs using this tutorial from Quilt Dad.

    

Pretty.   Have I mentioned that purples are my favorite colors?

And, my work in progress.

My very first truly original design.

I designed it for the Solids Challenge, but wanted to test it before I started on the "real" one.

I am pleased to present

"Following the Leader"

I can't decide - does it need a border?  or will a contrasting binding be enough?

Currently it's about 50" square.... 

This one's for niece Skylar.

She's Muffin's age and in love with pink.

Her mom, however, is growing tired of all the pink.  I thought this was a nice compromise.

Pink without being overwhelmingly princess-y pink.

what do you think?

 

I did it!

Well, I did it.

The sew night was scheduled from 6-9, so at about 4 I started getting nervous.

I couldn't decided which project to take with me.

I knew I should take bee blocks to work on, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to concentrate.

 and what if they think my projects are lame?

In the end I took two different projects to work on, both were at the point of needing trimmed down and what-not.

no actual sewing.

I didn't want to take my machine in.

I decided it didn't matter what they thought, I would work on what I wanted to work on.  I wasn't going to try impress anyone, I was going to get out of the house and meet people who quilt in person.

I drove around the block at least twice before I had the courage to park.

Then I waited in the car for a bit.

Finally I gathered up my stuff and walked inside. 

When I got there there were only two quilters there.

I'm horrible with names, but I recognised one of the ladies from the quilt shop.  Jessica, the president, wasn't there yet. 

They were very nice and I sat down and took out my stuff.  I won't say I was relaxed, but I was enjoying the fact that I wasn't at home. 

Eventually 2 other ladies and Jessica showed up. 

I had fun.

I got all my boring marking and trimming done and it wasn't boring.

All of these ladies are completely different, but unlike the random quilters I run into when picking up quilting magazines or at JoAnn's, they were nice.

and welcoming.

and interested in what I was working on.

One of them, Debbie (?) was putting the binding on a beautiful circle quilt.  She insisted that the circles were easy, but I'm not sure I believe her.

I got my charm pack.

 

I think I know what I'm going to do.  I had it all planned and then I started changing my mind.

Here are the rules:

Robert Kaufman Solids Challenge guidelines:

1)A quilt top or quilt using only solid fabrics (the fabrics that you supply do not have to be Kona solids, but do need to be solids, not tone-on-tones or marbled)
2)Must use at least half of the charm pack colors (22 charms)
3)Top must be at least 36"X 36"
4)Tops/quilts ready for the July 13th meeting

 

I have two ideas I think I'd like to try, and I am working on samples of both.

When they're pieced I might ask for help deciding.

 

Would I go again?  yes. 

 

I wish I could make it to the meeting, but it's at the same time as Miss Mae's ballet class, so maybe I'll be able to make it this summer, when we're not doing ballet.

 

I took a chance and stepped outside my comfort zone.

and it was good.