Tie-dyed fabric

Back when I was tie-dying those onesies for baby gifts, I didn't want to waste the dye that was left, and also, I was in the midst of a serious fabric-buying moratorium, so I took about 7 yards of bleached muslin and tie-dyed it too. I have some of it on the back of two quilts -- one pinned, one almost finished being quilted. This is all that's left of it. It's perfect for me since I have all those patriotic quilts. Hopefully, I'll have one of them finished this week for you to see.

Next I want to try some of that overdying or the bleaching technique -- where you put leaves or pebbles or whatever on top of your fabric and then spray bleach water on them and let the sun bleach out the areas not covered. I'll let you know if I have any success.

Lunch plans?

Greek salad anyone? I have just been loving Greek salad lately. I swear I could eat it every day. This one has romaine lettuce, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and feta in it. You could also add artichoke hearts, cucumbers, green peppers, or red onions if you so desire. I also cooked a chicken breast and seasoned it with black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg. You could use just whatever leftover piece of grilled chicken you have -- or do without. It's delicious alone too.

The dressing is balsamic vinegar, olive oil, one small garlic clove, and a little Italian seasoning. I'm inexact, I know, but ladies, that's how I roll. I only made enough just for my one salad, so not more than a Tablespoon of each of the liquids (I'm guessing). Oh, yeah, and you can't do without the pepperoncinis on the side. Enjoy!

Raspberry Mod Quilt

My quilting group is doing the Mod Sampler Quilt, and this is my next version. I just pulled scraps from my stash. I did use some FQs, but mostly scraps.

Everyone has quite a variety of colors and fabrics, so none of them will look the same. It's going to be so fun to see how they all turn out.

I did eight sets instead of six, so this will be a slightly bigger quilt. I plan to sash it with white again. I had thought about black, but I don't know that I really love that look. I just have to stick with what I know and love. Have a great day!

Paris Flea Market

I finished this one during the blackout. It is one that I made quite a few years ago and then just sat in the queue. It's on my girls' bed. It doesn't match, but I'm still working on the one that goes on their bed (hand applique, oi!). And, yes, I did have to make the bed before I could take any photos. = ) And I carefully made sure you couldn't see the rest of the room.

This was really one of my first "quilt shop" fabric lines that I purchased, so I was loathe to cut up the fabrics into little tiny pieces. I loved the prints so much (and they are SO soft, BTW) that I just decided to do large squares.

I just did a loopy meander all over the quilt.

Soft stripe on the back.

I love this quilt because of its softness and because it represents a turning point in my quilting -- from "whatever" fabric to quilt shop fabric. I still use "lesser quality" fabrics as well, but that's because of budgetary constraints. If I could buy all my stuff at quilt shops, I probably would. Well, except for my batting, because that goes on sale at Joann's. And my muslin. Same reason.

Quilting Gallery Summertime Swap

I ended up being in two swaps at once, and I have to say that I kept getting a little muddled about who was getting which quilt. This is for the Quilting Gallery's Summertime Mini Swap. This is the quilt I got.

As you know, I love patriotic quilts, and I thought it was so sweet that my swap partner, Tena, looked at my blog and discovered that. She made it especially for me, and I love it. Thank you, Tena!

Here is the one I sent to my partner. Again, I don't know if she has gotten it yet, so I didn't take pictures of it with label on the back. I did label both of my quilts, though. This person said she did NOT like the bright, funky fabrics. So I made this quilt the opposite of the other. I'm pretty sure I sent them to the correct people, but I swear I had to double-check several times. I didn't want to send the wrong quilt to the wrong person.

This was based on a Fig Tree pattern called Petite Fleurs. I would love to make a larger quilt of this pattern, but I have so many detailed quilts already, that I can't allow myself to start it. It's still on my mind, though.

I used most of what was left of my Seaside Rose and a little bit of something else -- I can't remember what, though. Provincial Garden? Maybe Simplicity. I can't remember. I just have little pieces. Oh, I'll just go check, for goodness' sake! Okay. It's Tickled Pink by Robyn Pandolph for Moda.

Quilting detail -- crosshatch in the center with stippling around the border.

Block detail -- those are one-inch finished squares. It's a great quilt for honeybuns, although I just used my scraps. That was the very last of the blue floral from Seaside Rose. I think if I had like a Patisserie or Mill House Inn honeybun or two, it would go pretty quickly. I think I would HAVE to strip-piece it. Okay. You see how I'm dwelling on this? Didn't I just say I couldn't start it. Oh, this is not looking good on the finishing front. Every new start prevents a finish, right? Oh, but it's so fun. And I made three backs and pinned two quilts yesterday, so I'm making progress. Right? (Rationalization.)

By the way, have I mentioned how much I LOVE Fig Tree fabrics and patterns? They are just so soft and comforting. Anyway, enough rhapsodizing. Hope you have a fun day and get lots done!

DQS7

Look at this beautiful quilt that I got from DQS7! Thanks to Sara Homeyer who sent it to me. She also sent me a load of other goodies -- including the scraps. I love batiks and have been slowly collecting them.

Look at all the intricate work she did -- both front and back. I can't believe all the tiny pieces she stitched together. I just love this! Thanks, Sara!

Now, here is my finished quilt for DQS7. I can't say who it's going to, because I just mailed it yesterday (right under the buzzer -- procrastinator, me).

She said she liked bright, funky fabrics and geometric blocks. I think this qualifies. Don't you? I only quilted on the white, because I wanted the dots to pop. You can kind of see that in the picture of the back.

I used clear plastic thread to zig zag it on. First time for that. Usually I do hand-applique. I love applique quilts and am so drawn to them, but I never seem to finish, because they are so time-consuming. I have multiple applique quilts that are not yet finished because of how long it takes. Maybe I need to do more machining. Hmm . . .

Saltwater Taffy

Remember this one? Elizabeth Hartman did a quilt-along with this Mod Sampler Quilt. It's now finished! Well, her quilt-along was finished a long time ago, but MY quilt is now finished.

You can see the remains of my computer in the background. My boys have been having fun dismantling it and just having something on which to use tools that they can't break (any worse than it already is broken). We pulled the hard drive, and everything else is just fair game. = )

I made my quilt one row longer than hers just because I wanted it that way. Anyway, so I only had one block left to go on the back. I just did my own thing.

Please ignore the stains from my iron. This was taken before I washed it. I made it from mostly fat quarters but some scraps. The white is just bleached muslin -- yes, from Joann's. I stock up when it goes 50 percent off.

Gotta have my best helper in the shot!

Finished quilt is approximately 52" x 72". My quilting group is doing this quilt right now. We just started this month, so I'll have another version -- bigger and pinker -- to show you shortly.

DJ's Quilt

For my friend's son's first birthday. I didn't know her when he was born, so I couldn't give him a quilt then. I believe this one is 45 by 60 -- 15 inch blocks.

I saw a pink version of it on Amanda Jean's blog, but it comes from a pattern by Terry Atkinson called Happy Hour. It definitely took me longer than an hour to make, though, I'll tell you that.

Simple back.

Most of these prints came from Jill when she was clearing out her cupboards. Thank you, Jill! I could probably make several more of these quilts with what I still have left. I'd like to make a slightly larger version for me, since most of my quilts are girly and I have the five boys. It's gonna have to get in line, though.

As you can see from the sidebar, my list is still quite long. But now I'm at 71. = ) And I have more to show you. That's what happens when you take a break (albeit unintended) for a month.

Have a great weekend. Get lots done! I'm on a roll, ladies!

DQS7 peek

Fear not. It's farther along than this. It's actually finished and ready to ship -- well, it needs the label still. I hope my swap buddy likes it, because otherwise, I'm going to want it back. I love it so much!

Open House and Giveaways

There is an Open House going on over at Needle Little Inspiration, and she has some great giveaways going on as well. Head on over there and join the fun! Some of the giveaways end on Thursday, so hurry, hurry, hurry!

I'm ba-ack!

I don't know if any of you remember me gushing about this, but I had to go out and make one immediately. Well, I started it immediately, but it took a little time to get the top finished. And then there was the black month wherein my computer was dead and I had no internet access. Anyway, it's still at quilt-top stage, but I'm pretty sure I know what's going on the back. Just gotta get it on there. I'm still in love with it too.

And I do have some actual finishes to show you. We're just getting started here. I'm still getting used to my new computer and new internet system, so who knows how long this will take. I've decided that I like Ashley's modified bento box better than mine. She has more white and used more muted colors than mine. I didn't buy anything -- just pulled random things from my stash. I do like this one, though. It's quite a departure for me, but the more I look at it, the more I love it.

I'll put dimensions on here when I get it quilted. So now the question is -- What do I bind it with?!