Let's Get Acquainted Week 4

                                                                                      [eiko by Birch Fabrics}

*****I'm sure you all already know but today is the last day of Google Reader.  If you want to keep following my blog, use one of these links to subscribe via your favorite reader (or you can get my posts delivered straight to your inbox by using the "follow by email" box on the sidebar.)

Visit today:
Stitched in Thyme
Factotum of Arts
The Sassy Quilter
Faffling
So Sew Green
The Rainbow Revolts
Little Mushroom Cap
Kayak Quilting
Sew Sunshine






Today's advice post is by paper piecing queen Kristy from Quiet Play.  Click here to read her wonderful advice.









And the weekly link up is being hosted at Quilts in the Queue.  Click here to link up your recent post.












Fabricworm is having a great birthday sale right now - take 15% off your purchase with coupon code "5years" - the sale is good through Monday 7/1/13 at midnight PST.

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Leftover Block Pillow

When making this quilt, I planned on using one of the blocks as part of the backing but as they often do, my plans changed during the process and I had this leftover block.  So, I added some uneven borders to the block and made a pillow cover instead (and since pillows were on my "want to make" list - yay!)  I used some cushions that I bought a few weeks ago in anticipation of making some covers - they are different then the ones I usually buy and the pillow cover doesn't fit quite right but I'm thinking with use it will adjust over time, right?


Linking to Crazy Mom Quilts.

Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop Week 3

Today's stops on the New Blogger Blog Hop Schedule:
NW Patchwork
Quilt Candy
Cloud Cou Cou Crafts
Handmade Seraphym
Simple Sewendipity
Happy Fabric
beadqueene's bits and baubles
Ella's Cottage
the tilted quilt

Today's advice for new blogger's post is by Janice from Better off Thread.  Click here to see what she has to say!


 








The Let's Get Acquainted Link Up is at Heart of Charnwood this week.  Click here to see what Ange has been up to and to add your link.

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inspired by the view

While looking through the photos of this quilt, I found this image which has me wondering if the reason I've been drawn to lots of low-volume and pink fabrics lately is because those beautiful pink flowers are the main view outside my window.  This also might explain why my new favorite quilting design is flowers.

I had initially pulled these fabrics to make cushion covers but then quickly realized that this was not the right palette for the intended purpose.  However, I really liked these fabrics together so I made a quick quilt using a similar method to the one I described here except I offset the strips.  

My original quilting plan was spirals at the edges of each patchwork block.  I finished the first spiral fine but while quilting the second spiral, I somehow started making it a flower instead (possibly because of the reason I wrote above?!?!)  I actually thought it looked good while I was in the process of quilting so I finished the quilt with more flowers and some large loops and used some flea market fancy for the binding.  The next morning I took the quilt out to show my family and immediately realized that I did not like the spirals AT ALL!  My husband and daughters tried to convince me it looked "fine" but I did not even kind of agree.

So, despite this being a completely finished (but not yet washed) quilt, I unpicked the one big spiral and replaced it with a giant flower design.  I don't think I would necessarily recommend doing this but it actually worked out okay this time.  As you can see in the above photo, I did leave in the little spiral which I wish I had also unpicked but oh, well.  Fortunately, this quilt will be one that lives in my house with my daughters who are happy to overlook any and all imperfections (which, if you saw any of my quilts up close, you would know is a good thing!) 

Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop Week 2

This week (click on the links below to learn all about these new bloggers)

Jolie Maxin

Melia Mae Quilting

On the Windy Side

Molli Sparkles

little and lots

duck egg threads

My Quilt Infatuation

There's A Thread

Between Quilts

This week's advice post is from Tessa at The Sewing Chick.  Click here to read Tessa's informative advice on blog photography.

Hosted this week by Lucy at Charm about You.  Click here to see her cute pillows she just finished and to link up your latest posts.

Covered Twice Chairs

Our dining room is probably the most often used room in our house.  The dining room table is where we eat (we have a tiny kitchen) and where my daughters do their art projects, decorate cupcakes, build forts  - I am actually sitting in here right now using the table as a desk for my laptop.  Not surprisingly, the cushions on the chairs in there have been looking - well, less than beautiful! I actually haven't recovered the cushions since before I had kids - and since my oldest daughter is 10, it has been awhile.  What - were you expecting a before photo?  Oops, I forgot to take some!

I finally bought some beautiful fabric to recover the chairs (Stamped from Kokka) and with the help of my visiting mother-in-law, my husband, and my older two daughters, we got all six chairs covered.  And I LOVED them - yes LOVED them --- until it was time for us to sit down to dinner.  What was I thinking using light colors for these chairs - and linen?!?!?!  I immediately covered all the chairs with dishtowels before we ate but needed to find a more permanent solution and re-covering was not an option.

The next morning with everyone back to work and school and my littlest in for her nap, I started pulling all the dark fabrics from my stash (and scrap pile) and assembly-style, made four patchwork chair covers - that is four removable, washable covers!  I basically made four mini quilts and then hand-sewed fabric straps on the back to attach them to the chairs (and yes, I plan on making 2 more - after working on these for the week, I needed to switch projects for a while.)

So, yes, I know I am totally ridiculous but what can I say?!?!?  Oh, and I used this opportunity to practice some new FMQ techniques (well, after I did the straight line quilting on the quilt in the above photo!)  They actually didn't take too long to make since I strip pieced - I didn't take any photos of the process but I will when I make the last two cushion covers and then I'll share how I made them.

Linking to Finish It Friday and Really Random Thursday.