One of the March blocks

Here is what one of the blocks will look like for March. I am running late because I have a sick child who I don't want to leave the house. I will mail them out ASAP!

My Garden of Eden Quilt

I finally finished the quilt I have been busily sewing for my dear Husband.  His old quilt (the one I was replaceing) is old and tattered and ready to be thrown out.  Oh I can't wait to throw it in the garage can!!  I received this quilt from my grandmother for my birthday when I was around 16 years old.  I would keep it and try to fix it or something if she had made this for me, but it was store bought.  I have no sentimental attachment to it.  My husband might, but he doesn't need it anymore.  Since I replaced it with...
 

THIS!!  I named this quilt the "Garden of Eden" quilt.  All the colors are natural colors with vines or leaves of somesort in the fabric.  I think it turned out really nice!  My husband LOVES it!!  Which I LOVE!  I had to keep taking it away from him to finish it.  He kept wrapping himself in it.  I was worried during the sewing process (I saw all my imperfections as I made them!).  However, I just took it out of the dryer and I am pleased to say I did a good job.  It only took me, what seems like, a gazillion hours to complete!

 But it is done!  I am happy and my Husband is especially happy!!

Thank you to those who helped!

Farmer's Wife Quilt Along

While perusing new projects, I stumbled upon this group that is making Farmer's Wife sampler quilts. I've got my book on order and am going to quilt along with them. They are on week 27, but I'm going to jump in and see what I can do. There are 111 blocks to make. They work on 2 each week in whatever order they want. It's so fun to see all of the different color choices and all of the beautiful blocks. I'll share my progress here every once in a while! Group resumes in February...so I have a little time to catch up!

I finally picked colors!

I was actually having quilting nightmares about the quilt colors! My mom and I went to three fabric stores and I just could not decide! My poor Mom. But today I woke up with a goal to purchase fabrics and get started. This is going to be for my Husband as our anniversary or birthday gift. It all depends how fast I can get this done. I think I did a good job picking out fabrics and I think he will like it.

This Jelly's Gonna Roll

My next project...isn't she lovely?! I picked out the one with the smoothest top since I knew she would be photographed.

More I Spy Fun

If the one huge I Spy quilt wasn't enough, I decided to make four more for Christmas gifts - two for family members, and two for my cousin to give his friends as gifts. Here they are...

First up...a variation on the stacked coins idea. I really like this one. Clean lines and fun, fun, fun prints!

Here's the back. This was the first time I've ever pieced together a backing. I really love the way it looks.

This one is a four patch. I sewed the four patches together with one solid square per block (always in the same spot). When we were deciding how to arrange them, this cool diagonal appeared. Serendipity!

Here is the back. I love piecing the backs together so you can use the most of your scraps!!

Here is the first one for my cousin. This one is also a four patch (one solid square in the same place in each block). I arranged them a little differently and came up with this sort of checkerboard.

Here's the second one for my cousin. This one is the four patch arranged with the diagonal pattern just like the second one above.

I bought a twin sheet set on clearance and use that for the backing on these quilts. It's so fun and colorful! I just love them.

Five quilts in five months...that was a little crazy!

September Quilt COMPLETED!!

I was finally able to take some photos of my finished I Spy quilt today. Hooray! Check it out...

I think I'll have to set up a clothesline to take some better pictures...or maybe we'll have to build a barn. I always love quilt pictures in front of barns. I'm sure Jason will go for that!

I finally decided on no sashing between 9 patches. Then I put a 4 inch border on and another row of I Spy and solid blocks around the edge. Then 2 more borders. I really LOVE the way it turned out!

I have lots of favorite fabrics, but was really excited when a friend brought back the BYU fabric from Utah.

I decided to get creative on the longarm and quilt our name into the border. It's so cute even if penmanship was always my lowest grade.

And the whole reason we all put it together...so these two boys with crazy hair and pajamas could spy a world of things.

Thank you so much for helping me with the blocks! Do you spy your blocks in the picture, hehe?!

All the pieces are cut and ready to go. I will be sending 8 blocks 1 will be finished and the other 7 will be ready for you to do. I pinned each block together the way I want it assembled. Can't wait to see all the envelopes I get back in the mail. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. Mary, you need to post a picture of your completed quilt.

February Quilt "3 Sisters Etchings"

Here is the quilt that I picked for my month. I will be sending it out by January 26, 2012. I am so excited!

Look what I found?!

I was digging in my fabric stash when I found this quilt I started making around 15 years ago! I already had all my tools out so I just turned on my iron and sewing machine and got to work. I have decided 2012 is the year I'm going to finish all those unfinished projects! Yoo- hoo!

I can't wait to see what all of your quilts look like! Has anyone finished theirs yet? I don't know why I picked to make another log cabin, but oh we'll. I'm going to finish this one for my daughter Ainslee. Her birthday is in September but I do not want to procrastinate!

By the way: my sewing machine also does embroidery so if anyone wants to embroider on their quilt let me know. I'm making my husband a new quilt since his current one is rags and I'm going to embroider on that one. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

Sale at Jo-Ann Fabrics!

Hi ladies! Guess what I just got in the mail? A Jo-Ann's coupon! Keep your eyes out for it. The sale dates are for the week after Christmas. They are advertising 50% off selected quilting fabrics plus you have a coupon for an additional 10% off! With this coupon/sale, and if they have a nice selection of fabrics, I'll be able to afford to make all my desired quilts! Exciting...I know!!

Stephanie's sewing space

I thought I'd show you all where my creativity happens. This is it! I sew at this table squished between the kitchen table and garage door but I still like it! It works and that's all that matters.

Also, how are you ladies picking out just one quilt to make? I have been looking at tons of thousands of quilts and I want to make them all!! Oh my, I have started my list of ones I want to make. It was very difficult picking just one but I think I found the one I'm going to send out. The pattern is titled Paris Flea Market Star so get excited! Thanks for agreeing to March double Dutch!

Gentler Times Quilt Shop

I'm excited to check out a new quilt shop in the area... Gentler Times

 476 South Route 59, Naperville, IL.

630-305-0102

Hexagon Placemat

Here's the finished Hexagon placemat. It is just six 60 degree triangles sewn together. I love the look of it with the striped fabric though. I think it turned out pretty cute. I'm not showing a great picture of the middle because somehow...all the stripes lined up except for the very center...go figure.

I quilted it with my new walking foot along the stripes in the fabric. How have I lived this long without a walking foot? I LOVED it! You'll be seeing more little quilty projects from me since it's so easy to quilt them on my machine now!

A little closer angle...

Happy Halloween!

Mary's Sewing Space

I thought it might be fun to see everyone's sewing space. You know...see where the magic happens!?! I sew at my dining room table with my assortment of sewing boxes, containers, bags, piles, etc. right beside me. We are planning on setting up a little sewing space in the basement, but for now...this is it. My "stash" is upstairs in our extra bedroom. One day I'd like to arrange it all in lovely little bundles and sort it by colors...doesn't that sound wonderful?

And look what I made here.... Kelly, I'm so excited to see how all of these beautiful fabrics play together in your finished quilt!

If you don't want to post to the blog, you can always email me a picture of your sewing space and I'll post it for you.

The Haunted Hop

Last week I went on a local quilt shop "Haunted Hop." Did you hear about this? I'm on the Pieceful Hearts newsletter and heard about it there. Anyway...it was a ton of FUN to see the quilt shops in the area. 

Here are the spoils of my quilt tour:

I started at Roberts Sewing Center/A Quilter's Paradise in Crest Hill. The shop is HUGE and full of fabric and sample quilts. I really think it might be the biggest quilt shop in the area. I had the boys with me, so I didn't go upstairs, but there are two levels of excitement I tell you - TWO! I picked up a funny little video game fabric here.

Then we headed out to Lockport to visit Thimbles. This shop is adorable! And the staff is so stinkin' friendly. They even offered to hold Kent for me while I shopped. Another plus...they had a superhero fabric. So I picked up a yard of Batman symbols and a fabric bundle of ruby slippers.

We then traveled up to Willowbrook to visit quiltfabric.com. This shop is a mess and not very stroller friendly, but it has a lot of fabric. My favorite part was the boxes of fabric strips. Each strip is only $0.50. I see a scrappy, strippy quilt in my future. They had a few other bargains which was nice too. I picked up the orange floral and the orange/yellow print here.

After a quick stop at The Patio for lunch, the boys and I drove out to The Quilt Basket in Downers Grove. This is another SUPER cute shop with a very friendly staff. I picked up the two Halloween fabrics as part of a kit...I'll show you what I made with them a little later...after I give it to Kelli for her birthday!! The sample quilts they had hanging around the shop were simply AMAZING. Honestly...check out the animal quilts behind the register. If you have $300.00 or so just laying around...pick me up the elephant. It's beyond words.

I had to take the boys home after that stop. They were not happy to be out shopping for fabric any longer. So when Jason got home, I hopped on over to Lisle to visit my last stop, Pieceful Heart. This is the shop that I usually go to since it is closest to my house. It's a nice little place with helpful people. And they almost always come through with some superheroes. I picked up the awesome Marvel fabric and the crazy Batman one.

There were two other stops on the tour, but time wouldn't allow. The other stops were Prairie Shop Quilts in Batavia and Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe in Oswego. Have you been to one of these shops?

Thank you from Mary!

A huge thank you to all of you who have helped me on my quilt! I'll be posting pictures after Christmas. It's going to look AWESOME though! I hope you enjoyed working on it as much as I enjoyed receiving your blocks!

October's Quilt

October's quilt will have you thinking SPRING!! Kelli has just mailed out the fabric and you should be receiving it in your mailboxes very soon. Here's a little sneak peek at some of the beautiful fabrics...

I know I'm excited! I don't get to work with pinks too often! :)

The Quilt is in the Mail...

Here's a little sneak peek of what you'll be getting in the mail soon!

JoAnn Quilt Your Colors Contest

I got all excited about seeing the Joann Fabrics Quilt Your Colors contest until I saw last year's winners! I'm out of my league, but maybe you could do it! Check out the details here.