blogger's quilt festival

Here is my entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by amyscreativeside.com :

I have collected many blue and white fabrics and after I cut them into charm squares I used my "go to" technique that I have shown here.  I learned this technique, how to turn charm squares on point, about 9 years ago from my local quilt shop.  Whenever I want to make something quick and easy, no matter what size quilt I need, this is my favorite easy quilt method.   I try to cut some squares out of all of my fabric, because the idea of a charm quilt is to have no two squares alike.  This is a great way to use your stash!  This technique works for any size charm square, so I usually cut 4, 5 and 6 inch squares to have on hand : )

I hope you are enjoying the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

piece,

elizabeth

oklahoma dugout

Several years ago I bought a quilt kit called Oklahoma Dugout from my local quilt shop and they still sell it here.  I made it, but as usual, I didn't follow the directions exactly as they were written.  I usually like to make a quilt "my own" and so patterns are just my guide, but not necessarily what the final outcome will look like : )   I don't think I have mentioned who I often use to machine quilt my quilts when I don't do it myself.... this quilt was quilted by Debbie Croft and she always does a wonderful job with her long-arm quilting machine!

piece, 

elizabeth

picnic quilt

I don't like to make very large quilts.  A square quilt makes a great picnic quilt.  Here is one I made with squares and just added a few borders.   I really like the yellow and blue french fabric!(it isn't from France, just has a french look : )

piece,
elizabeth

finger labyrinth stitchery

I finished my little labyrinth that I will follow with my finger, so that is why I call it a finger labyrinth : )
I kept it simple and like I mentioned here, I plan to make a series of these, just for fun!
piece,
elizabeth

wee woodland charm quilt

I finished my moda wee woodland charm quilt that I started here.  I machine quilted straight lines which was something new for me.  I started out with my walking foot, but it kept skipping stitches and I got a bit frustrated, then took it off and used my regular foot and finished with better success.  It isn't perfect quilting, but it was fun to try straight line quilting instead of my usual stippling/meandering.  I put my lines in a random pattern and I have the pictures below.  I hope I can improve each time I try to use straight lines in my quilting : )
piece,
elizabeth

owl love

I picked up some cute owl fabric this week(and some ribbon too).  Today I found this darling blog, My Owl Barn, that is dedicated to owls.  What fun!

piece,
elizabeth

giveaway drawing

The winner of my Fall giveaway is Weatherbee ;)  !   I sent an e-mail for the snail mail information so I can send the books and fabric to the winner!  Thank you to all who have visited my blog, this has been fun.


 I will be drawing a winner for the Fall giveaway tomorrow at 6PM Central Standard Time.  This has been a fun blog activity and I am so glad I participated!.  I enjoyed visiting so many new blogs and I entered my name for some giveaways too!
piece,
elizabeth

holiday fabric by Aneela Hoey

Today I was pleasantly surprised by a package in the mail.  It was my holiday fabric order from Aneela Hoey of comfortstitching.  My pictures are not showing the true color of the fabric, but take my word for it...they are darling!  Now to decide how to use them in a Christmas project : )

piece,
elizabeth

vintage hexagon potholders

Occasionally, I will buy some vintage quilt blocks.  Although I enjoy making my own hexagons, it is fun to use the old blocks too.  I made these potholders years ago, and I have more old blocks, so I plan to make more potholders.  They make a nice hand quilting project.  After I sew some batting and backing fabric to the vintage blocks with the right sides together, I leave a small opening to turn the fabric through, I clip the corners, turn the fabric through, push out the corners, sew up the opening, and iron it.  Then I do my hand quilting.  Very easy!  They are about 8.5 inches around.   Do you have any suggestions for something else to make with these blocks?  I hope you enjoy looking at the old fabrics as much as I do : )  The first three pictures are the potholders and the last three pictures are the extra blocks waiting to be used!

piece,
elizabeth

wool pincushions

These pincushions are fun to make and useful too.

a little embroidery

I have lots of projects going...I think I may have a bit of quilter's attention deficit disorder...and when I don't know which project to pick up, I like to do a little embroidery.   My current embroidery project is going to be a series of labyrinths or mazes.  I like their design and I think they will keep my attention : )  I started with the classic labyrinth below.  It is designed as a finger labyrinth, that you can walk with your finger instead of walking the large labyrinths.  Labyrinths are designed for you to follow a path while you reflect and meditate.  There is a walking labyrinth at one of the hospitals in my town.  I like to walk and I usually do a lot of thinking and praying while I walk, but I haven't ever walked a labyrinth.

I am going to add some hand quilting, but I haven't decided on the color of the thread.  I used Moda Uptown fabric for the border.  Don't forget about the giveaway here.

piece, 

elizabeth

moda wee woodland charm squares

I have been playing with some Moda Wee Woodland charm squares today and I thought I would show you through pictures my process of just making it up as I go along( just winging it : )

30 five inch squares

Cut 2..5inches off one side

Sew the cut piece to the other side

Now cut again in 6 equal pieces as shown

Mix them up and sew together into 3 units as shown

I added 2.5 inch strips of Kona cotton between the units

I framed it all around with 2.5 inch strips of Kona cotton

I added a 1.5 inch border of a golden brown solid and a 5 inch border of the Kona cotton



I hope my pictures make sense to you : )  and don't forget to enter my giveaway here!

There is another giveaway at Spun Sugar Quilts!

piece,
elizabeth

giveaway time!

The winner is Weatherbee ;)  !!

Welcome to my blog!  My giveaway includes 3 books by Sandra Dallas, a little quilt made by me(would make a good mug rug), a fat quarter of Castle Peeps fabric, and a charm pack of Bella solids in fall colors by Moda.  All you need to do is leave me a comment about what your next quilt/sewing project will be and who it will be made for(maybe you are making Christmas gifts : )

Please include your email in your comment so I can contact you if you are the winner on October 15th.  I hope you are having fun visiting all the blogs that are taking part in the Fall Into Fall Giveaway.

Thank you for stopping by my blog!  I would love to have you follow me if you would like.

piece,
elizabeth