Block Party (B.7)

My Goodness with all the great blocks being taught over at Sew We Quilt..I come home from work and go straight to the Cave..haha.  Poor Husband is teasing me about not spending time with him...other than the occasional what's the score of the game??  haha. He'll survive though I am sure. :)  

I have three more blocks to share and adding sashing to the others.  I found a really pretty White that I like and am adding anywhere from a 2 inch to 3.5 in sashing so I can trim these up to be I hope 14 inches before setting these.  I am still up in the air and waiting till I have all the blocks finished..which should be by this weekend. :) 

 

I really do want to give a Big THANK YOU Shout Out to all the instructors that have taught the tutorials during this November Block Party...I wish I could have done all of them.  There were a few that I was unable to incorporate, but still have the file downloaded to try and or use at a later time..  Madame Samm this was a wonderful experience for me.  I have learned quite a few new techniques!    Here are the next few blocks I have finished....I think there is only one left and then it will be setting time and quilting time... SOOO Very excited....

Block Party (B.6)

Hey all....How was your Black Friday???  Did you find any great deals?  I only went to Joann's..  haha.. My Sis in Law asked if I wanted to tag along and I said sure..so at 5:30am off we went.  I couldn't believe how Crazy some women went over that flannel. smile :~) I know it's a good deal, but some were pushing each other..it was funny & scary to watch all at the same time ;)   I didn't need any of it, but I did want to get some batting. and it was on the other side of the aisles of flannel..HAHA.  I couldn't resist getting some with it being 50% off and having a 25% off coupon.  I bought just over 7 yards the remainder of a smaller bolt...not bad for $21.50.  I wish I could have bought more. haha.  We were home by 7:30 and with Billy having to work, I had the house to myself...since it was already clean..I got to sew and work on my Indoor Sewing Cave..  :~)

More catch up on the Block Party blocks, was my priority since it's on my design wall right now.  Sew We Quilt is putting on a November Block Party, you can check out the great tutorials over there.  I got 3.5 more done today..

Block Party (B.5)

I am excited to say that between last night and this morning while the turkey was cooking... I got three more blocks done from the Sew We Quilt November Block Party.  It's a great Blog to try new techniques.  Madame Samm (The adminstrator) is having Guest Bloggers teach a different block every day...It started early November, I chose Blue as my scrap color to go thru...in hind sight, I kinda wish I had used my browns, so I could do more of the Thanksgiving themed blocks. true to the instructors plan.  I have modified a couple blocks, and some I am going to have to skip for this project, but have downloaded the tuts so that I can use them in the future. I have to say that ALL of the bloggers have been fantastic in explaining the blocks.  The instructions have been very easy to follow.  I have been having so much fun making these blocks, it's going to be a fantastic Sampler quilt when I get done.  I have been trying to catch up on previous blocks and stay on track with the new posts, since this party started :) 

Block Party (B.4)

Oh my gosh!  TWO quick and easy blocks went together tonight from the Block Party going on over at Sew We Quilt.    I loved making the Crazy quilted background block!  It was so easy and fun to make...Deonn from Quiltscapes taught an awesome tutorial.  I know I will make more of this block!  It was too darn fun!...  I decided not to do the Ornament that she had done, since this quilt is going to be blue... Figured it would look a little out of place, but I had an awesome Flower applique that I could use.  I will do a hand stitched blanket stitch to finish off the edges. 

The second tutorial for from Sharon at Vrooman's Quilts.  She taught us how to Spice up our whirlygig blocks.  I made a basic and then I stepped up another.  :) I may make a few more of these, she showed us how to make 5 different types..they all looked awesome. 

Thanks again Madame Samm for hosting such a great blog of tutorials!!

This Sampler is going to look so cool!  I am working next on a catch up block that was featuring paper piecing..  

I do just have to share.... haha...I walked out into my living room and found my puppy hiding behind my husband on the couch.. I couldn't resist this picture...she was just too darn cute :)

Till Next Time  :~)

Love Letters BOM (1)

Well Last night I had to move back in from the garage..it's just getting TOOO Cold, damp and Dark out there during the week...Not so bad for the weekends cause I'll sew during the day, but I want to work on projects after work and hated going out there.... SO I moved into the spare/computer room Not the ideal place, but I will make it work for the winter.. I'll miss the bigger table I had the machine on that supports the weight of the quilts a bit better... Hopefully we'll start working on that NEW garage and I'll make sure it's heated. :)  After rearranging everything and getting it sorta setup so that it works...((If I got rid of the computer desk, I'd be able to setup my ironing board permanenantly..HAHAHA  Don't think I'll be able to do that. :)  ))  I finally got to start sewing..hehe..



Computer takes up the bottom left corner..ya can see the chair:)



I took my wall decorations down so I could put up the design board.  I like having it available to use



SO after all the work of getting the room setup..I finished my Love Letters BOM blocks.. First set of blocks done. We make two of each per month..this should be really pretty when it's all done. :)  This BOM is over at Fabric Seeds, She may still have room if you are interested. 

Thanks for stopping by your comments are always welcome, read, and I try to respond to all of them.

Till next Time...



For the Love of..

Food is this weeks topic at A Prairie Sunrise For the Love of..... I unfortuneately am not a cook, my poor husband gets frustrated often because I don't enjoy it at all..he finds himself doing most of it.. So I don't have any personal pictures of Food, but since I finished my Southwestern Inspiration quilt.. I had to find some pictures of Southwestern Foods online.. :)   :) 

The Taquitos that I am eating right now as I type this don't look anywhere as good as these items do. ;)  hahaha.    My Southwestern quilt was a hit for the new owners, their whole family loved the quilt!  You can check it out at my link here.   Thanks to A Prairie Sunrise for keeping me motivated to share more personal stories on my blog.  Keep me going girl! 

Till Next Time :~)

Block Party (B.3)

I have skipped a bit in order, but that's due to excitement for new blocks and a couple techniques I wanted to try :)   Over at Sew We Quilt, Madame Samm is having a Month long Block Party with Guest Bloggers.  I couldn't resist...out to the Cave I went and started working through my Blue Scraps.. You can follow along with all of my blocks in previous posts this month.  I couldn't resist working on today's blocks....Two great bloggers posted.. I have saved and printed some of the other blocks during the week and will go back to them, as soon as I can.

 I wanted to try Jennifer's HST technique in her Propellar Block, It was a quick and easy way to make HSTs.... Jennifer's Blog is at That Girl..That Quilt  Thank you for sharing the technique..I'll be using it again :)   Here's how my propellar block turned out :)

The other Guest Blogger that was featured today was Jane over at Jane's Fabrics & Quilts, She gave us some great direction on how to make a Wonky Star.  I loved this technique.  I mismatched my first fabrics and ended up with my colors being right next to each other, but I like how easy it was and how fun this turned out!  I see a big quilt with this technique in my future :)   Here's my Wonky Star :)

Thanks again for great blocks and great instructions.  If you want to try your hand at these blocks or techniques...Check all the great tutorials at Sew We Quilt.  Look for the Tree in my sidebar. 

Till next Time...

NorthWest Quilt Show

Well I just got home for the Northwest Quilt Show going on at the Puyallup Fair Grounds.   LOTS of wonderful ideas and projects to see.  We stopped by one of my favorite shops.. The Quilted B.  Barb is the BEST!  I love her online shop and always look forward to going to the shows that she is at to see her booth.  She has wonderful Kits ready to go.  This time I found a couple treasures.  First I found a Wonderful new tool to help me with my half square triangles... :)  grippy on one side.  She calls it a Bias Tracing Board.   I believe it is something that she has had her husband create! What a great guy!!  I LOVE how it holds the fabric in place while I mark my center line for HST's!   I wish I had a picture to post...will work on it : ) I am looking forward to using it.  I have lots of half square triangles to work on in a couple BOM quilts that I am working on. I think this will make it easier to mark them :)  

She has the boards for sale at the show, I am not sure yet, if she has posted them on her website, but I bet if you want to get one.. you can email her via her contact page at website.   I also found a wonderful fabric to use as a border for a BOM that I am doing and an adorable "B' Lovely Heart Runner"  I can't wait to make...even though we are months from Valentines..it will be an adorable runner for our end table. :) 

Thanks Barb for having a great Booth.. The Christmas Quilt  that I bought fabrics at your booth last year is available to view at 2010 Finishes Page.  I lost a bunch of 2010 pictures due to a virus on my laptop many of my quilts are unavailable now, bu I recently took new pictures of this quilt. :)

Till Next Time...

Url Change.. UUGGH what did I do to myself.

Well I hope I didn't lose a bunch of you, I shortened my blog address so that it would also match my etsy acct. thinking it would make things a bit easier for me, but By changing it to  http://quiltmonstercloset.blogspot.com/  I lost a redirect from the old blog address... I didn't know it was going to happen  EeeK!  :(   MY old link was quiltmonsterinmycloset.blogspot.com it doesn't work anymore :(  I dropped the (inmy) in the name, and lots of problems occured..boohhoooo.

You can also reach my blog via my domain address which is http://www.quiltmonstercloset.com/

But in order to stay up to date on my posts you will need to UNFOLLOW me and then Re Join my BLOG...as your link will be re-saved within your profile .   I am sorry for the inconvenience, I am still learning about all this, and thought I was actually making it easier, not harder. hahah.

I also didn't realize I was making any of these problems until it was too late... that's what I get for thinking I knew what I was doing ..haha..

Hope to hear from you all soon and you keep following my journeys of learning all this good stuff ;)

Christine L

Southwest Inspiration Finished

This weekend was very productive.  I ran to the fabric store, had a coupon and wanted to get a new ruler and purchase the thread to quilt A Southwest Inspiration. ;)  After going to the fabric store, I headed out to the Cave...and got to quilting, before I knew it, it was dark outside.. I had finished free motion quilting the top and attatched the binding. I headed inside, and while watching the Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2, I started handstitching the back side of the binding.  I made it a little over halfway done and finished the rest Monday night while watching football with my husband.   I couldn't believe how fast Sunday afternoon went.  I am so excited that this quilt is done and ready for delivery. I was hoping to get some good pictures, but by the time I get home from work, it's dark outside..So tonight I went out to our Travel trailer and laid the quilt out on my Queen bed to see how it fit. I think it covers the top nicely, not a lot of overhang on a queen, but will fit a twin/full great. :) 





This is the very first Custom commisioned quilt I have ever made for someone.  It's a great feeling of pride to have someone ask you to make a quilt for them, and then for them to be just as excited to see the process as you are.  Rick (the soon to be owner) was excited to see pictures on the blog as I worked on the quilt.  I have to admit, it's taken me longer than I expected to make this.  I worked on those HST (Half Square Triangle) for quite awhile before actually putting this together.  Haha.  I got demotivated, and then remotivated...and now I am excited to see it finished and on it's way to it's new Home.  If you click on the southwestern label on the side bar, you can see all the posts about this quilt. 

I love the backs to show off the quilting. :)



I have to say that I am feeling more confident with my free motion quilting.  I know that you get better with practice, and I can see that.



Labeled and ready for delivery :)

 Gaining more confidence in my free motion quilting is probably one of the reasons it took me longer than I wanted to finish this quilt.  I have been hesitant, because I was nervous about the quilting part... and am so very glad that I had a couple of quilts, in between, to practice on.  I am very pleased at how this turned out and look forward to doing more Freemotion quilting.. and not so much in the ditch.  hehe. 

Here's the Finishing Label for this great quilt.  :)  Did a bit of quick embroidary to get it finished. :) 

Till Next time...

I had to add this to the Finish It Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts ... Because it got me going on this again.. You can read about that in a previous Southwestern post :)  Thanks Amanda for the inspiration to get it going!!

For the Love of Animals

Over at A Prairie Sunrise a way to share a little bit about ourselves has started. For the Love of ___   It's a great way to add some personal items about ourselves to our Blogs.  Each week a new item is featured and we are to add current photos as much as possible.  I often just blog about my quilting and forget that there is more to blog about then just quilts. :)  I look forward to the challenge of sharing more about me :)

This weeks link is all about the Animals in my life. :)  I have 3 furry family members that I couldn't imagine not having in my life.  Plus they love to help me quilt, in their own special and unique ways.. :)   

Block Party (B.2)

This is the second block I have finished from the November Block party over at Sew We Quilt  The Guest hosting this tutorial, is Alidiza from Alidiza  Her block is called the Air Castle Block.

 It was fun to put together and I loved how the Dark Blue really stands out.. This is going to be a great Sampler quilt when I am all done.  I loved how easy the half square triangles were that we made in this tutorial.   Check out the Block Party... I have two blocks done...

 I have more blocks to make a couple that you should check out at Sew We Quilt, plus all the new blocks posting in the upcoming days.. :)  I look forward to trying the paper piecing block that I saw. I haven't done that technique before at all..so it should be interesting.

Till Next Time...

DIY Raised Cutting Table

Well after my sleepless night last night due to excitement for my visitors today... I was up at 6 am...moving my furniture around in my living room to make a perfect group sewing room for the three of us :)  The girls were pleasantly surprised by the setup and excited to get started..

Raised Cutting Tables.

The gals really liked what I did for the cutting table. To make it easier on our backs, I raised the tables by using PVC or EMT pipe to add about 6 inches to the overall height.  You'll have to look at the table you are trying to raise..If it is similar the one that I have in the pictures..Then you can cut your pieces the same lengths I did.  If your bracing is in different spots, you'll have to do some measuring. (I used scrap pipe we had around the house..so one table is PVC, the other is EMT.)   If you have to buy some...I recommend the PVC it will be cheaper than the EMT.  Buy the Gray PVC not the White (White is really flimsy grade).
You can get the gray in the electrical department of you favorite home improvement store.  I also bought coaster for the PVC, so it wouldn't damage my hardwood floors.



13 inch PVC pieces (1 1/2 in diameter)





Table on left has 28 inch long pieces of EMT

 My PVC pieces are cut at 13 inches.  I measured from where the PVC would stop at the bracing, and then added 6 inches to it. (Most tables are 30 inches high, and most counters are 36 inches high, that's where I got the 6 inches, but you can adjust based on what you want to do.)   I love that my back doesn't hurt after working at the table, and it's about the same height as the kitchen counters that we are already use to cutting on, so no slouching occurs.  

Do you have a favorite DIY tip to share..Please let me know what it is. I love to make life easier in the sewing room.   Let me know if you have any questions...I hope the instructions made sense.  I am happy to answer any questions that you have.. :)   Comments are always welcome...Till Next Time...

PS...  Watch for another DIY item to reappear..I have been asked to share as a guest at Sew We Quilt watch for it in January. :)
As for the quilting I got done.. I will share that tomorrow.. I did get a Block Party Block done and started my Love Letters BOM. 

Too Excited

I am excited to have a couple sewing friends over tomorrow... Girl Time doing some fun sewing stuff!  I have table placement I think figured out.. My living room furniture is all being pushed to the walls..at 6am tomorrow morning..hahaha.. There will be a cutting table, a supersized ironing board and tables to setup our machines.   I love it when I know I am going to have a whole day to sew...and to get to sew and socialize all at the same time, is even better...a one day mini quilting retreat!  Whoo Hoo.  Our last minute decision to get together has me excited for tomorrow.  I have the Block Party block cut out and ready to work on...and much to my excitement I received the First Love Letter BOM installment in the mail today.  So that will also be on the agenda...and I think I will even get most of the Southwest Inspiration quilt quilted.. I finished basting it the other night... My puppy just loved playing with me while I was on the floor working on it. hahah... Well..Off to bed I go..so I am wide awake and ready to go in the morning.

Till Next time.....

Here are a few more Pictures for my Friend at work to see the process of his quilt. ;)



Getting the Southwest Inspiration quilt Basted!



Will quilt this with a giant Meandering Stitch. 



Block Party (B.1)

After working a 15 hour overtime shift last night, I couldn't seem to unwind today... Took a bit of a nap this morning.. but can't sleep... So I have been catching up on my blog reading  and came across a BLOCK Party!! at Sew We Quilt. They are featuring a different blogger each day, putting on a Block Party.  I think it is going to be a fun way to make a sampler quilt. We are Always looking for a way to use up scraps..  The Party starts today and I am excited to start on these blocks....Check it out when you can.  Look for the Sew We Quilt Tree.  Will you join me???  We will learn how to make some new blocks and have fun sharing our stories online with each other.  Let me know if you decide to do it.. I'd like to check in on how your doing with your blocks too.  I am going to try and turn this into a Blue sampler quilt.  Use up as many blue scraps as I can and see how it all turns out. :)  Thank you, Sew We Quilt, for putting on a block party..I look forward to the upcoming challenges and learning new techniques from fellow bloggers.

Here's some fabrics from my stash to use up..for today's Block Party block which is called Scrappy Bento Box by Katherine at Sew Me Something Good.   Off to the Sewing Cave I go. :)

Here's how the Design wall is looking... This is the Basic version of the Bento Box... I like it, but that's not the challenge... I have to make it a Scrappy Bento Box, that's the challenge right!  Get out of the comfort zone.  I usually tend to stay with a organized scrap look.  But going to step out of my box and party like I am at A Block party...hehe.



Regular Bento Box Block



Scrappy Bento Box

 Here's my finished Scrappy Bento Block.   I am going to name this quilt the Blue Block Party Quilt

Note: The original instructions that I followed had a measurement slightly off, (I have sent the adminstrator of the block the info so she can correct the typo before others have problems.) Piece E in the instructions should have been 3.5 x 6.5.. instead of 3.5 x 6... But that's okay... I just trimmed to make my pieces work, but by doing so my four patch in the center turned out just a little off... Oh well.. That's what makes it homemade.  This particular block ended up finished at 11 1/2 inches square..should have been 12 1/2, but no worries here.  Will make it work in the sampler quilt just fine :)

Excited for the next block already :~)
Till Next Time...

Southwest Inspiration Update

Southwest Inspiration

 Well today was another productive day.  Yeah.. I got the borders all added, I took the advice from those that responded and I used the gold as a framing border, then added two more borders to that.  I couldn't resist adding a bit of Blue in the corners just to make it pop.  I LOVE how it turned out!!  I also got the backing done.  I really do like piecing my backings now...I didn't have a single pieced block left for the back.. I should have made one more...now that I think about it... Oops... oh well...I still got to use the extra spacing blocks I had.   This quilt will finish up at 70 x 70.  Finish Line is oh so close.  I think I will probably be doing the giant meandering stitch that I have been practicing.  My little Kenmore and I fight an awful lot when I try to do any type of fancy stitching.  And then I start saying mean things to it and I feel bad ;)    Do any of you have an easy pattern that you would suggest for me.  Like I said I don't have a quilting machine, just my (very) short arm sewing machine.  

My goal this week will be to get the basting done before Friday.  I have a three day weekend due to the holiday and goal is to get this quilted and the binding done on Friday :) 










A couple of my girlfriends are coming over to sew and we plan to get a couple projects hopefully done and new ones started.   VERY excited about the upcoming girl time with my girlfriends!   Will be fun to share stories and see what each of us are working on.

A couple pics for my friend at work :) So he can see his quilt in process...

Quilt Top Finished 11/5/2011



Backing finished 11/5/2011



Till Next Time....

Rainy Season is here...

I think the rainy season has arrived here in the Pacific Northwest...I was hopeful yesterday when the weather was beautiful for the first day of November, thinking the rain was going to wait a bit longer, but today it was completely opposite.  Rain, wind..overcast all day :(...  Time to snuggle up with my favorite quilt and catch up reading my favorite blogs.  I have two favorite quilts that I love to snuggle.  One is my twisted rail fence quilt that I have shared in a previous post and my next favorite is a quilt I call, Southern Charm. 

It is the Underground Railroad Sampler, by Eleanor Burns & Sue Bouchard.  I was pretty much raised in the South (Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, & Virginia).  Summers were spent on occasion with Grandparents up in Michigan, but for the most part we lived down South during my growing up years.  We visited lots of historical places and loved going to the living museums.  All the employees would dress up in period costumes.  One of the things I remember learning as a kid was they used quilts to help direct people North.  Each block had a secret meaning to help people on their travels without sharing the information with those who didn't need to know.  A very simple, yet effective way to help travelers get North to safety and freedom.  I don't want to spoil the story for you as to what each block means, so I have given the name and what I liked about a few of the blocks I made below.  You'll have to make the quilt to learn about the journey. :)



The ShooFly
I like the play of light and dark within the block



 

The Bow Ties
Got to use lots of my fabrics and practice my triangles









The Wagon Wheel
I was scared to do this block at first,
but it ended up one of my favorite blocks to make



When I decided to make a sampler quilt, this pattern came to my attention.  I thought it would be a perfect way to remember the history I learned back in my childhood days.. :)   I found the border fabric first and then went off to find scraps for the quilt.  I used Warm-N-Natural for the batting and Flannel for the backing...With that combination, you get a super warm quilt. (Perfect for days like today.)   I originally was going to machine quilt and started with two rows down the sashing, but it was too much weight for my personal sewing machine. I wasn't liking how it was coming out, even with the walking foot to help...I didn't work on it for quite a bit..I was frustrated with how the machine quilting worked out and I didn't want to rip out all those stitches (I know..I was being lazy..but it was a lot of tiny stitches)  After months of pouting I figured.....this was a quilt for me.... I would be the one using it......and decided I could handle knowing about my mistake.  I decided to hand quilt the rest...I didn't do anything to fancy, I am not the best at handquilting.  I went in the ditch with my stitches.  It took me all winter to quilt it, but that's okay it kept me warm :)  I finished this one Nov of 2009.  



My Version has extra Jacob Ladder blocks...
These two blocks I don't believe were part of the actual story.



In the end, I have to say that I am pleased with how it turned out and loved the challenges of doing each individual blocks.  The quilting was a challenge, you have to be looking for the mistake in order to see it... I am sure the trained eye will find it easily, but it's my quilt and I enjoy snuggling under it just fine. :)   I learned a lesson with the batting and flannel weight for my machine..and will keep that to a minimal size quilt in the future.  If you are interested in making a sampler quilt.  I recommend this one.  It was fun to make and the directions were extremely easy to follow.  You will learn lots of techniques and have a fabulous treasure to enjoy when it is done.

Thanks for stopping by...  Do you like to do sampler quilts or do you prefer to make single pattern quilts? 

 Till Next Time...