Monday, January 28, 2013

Inspiration followed through



My hubby and I were watching TV the other night when I saw something so beautiful. He was fast forwarding through the commercials (remember when we couldn't do that) when I said "Wait go back!!! In the blur I saw a quilt." He went back and paused it so I could take some pictures. I don't even remember what the commercial was for, but I instantly fell in love with it :) 


I have never been that great at math and I thought I would never be able to make my own patterns. Since I have started quilting I am getting better at math and I can be pretty determined. So I got out the ol' graph paper and colored pencils and started sketching. I thought this would be a great one to cut my teeth on since it's just squares and rectangles. 



I took a piece of tracing paper and traced the outlines and figured out the size of each piece. 


Once I figured out how much fabric I would need I started searching online for some Kona Solids. I really loved this bundle of fabric but it didn't last long at all!



I started cutting my pieces and throwing them up on the design wall, which by the way is to small. I had to improvise a little and also use the floor :)





Once I sewed the pieces into panels I did some rearranging with the help of my honey.



I love the way it turned out and can't wait to get the back done so I can quilt this monster. I'm still not sure how I'm going to quilt it, any suggestions? 



I hope your having a great start to your week!! 
~January~

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Tokyo Subway Quilt

Is there a project you absolutely love, but have been working on it for so long that you begin to dread even the thought of it? This is the love/hate relationship that I have right now with my Tokyo Subway Quilt. Lately I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all my WIPS. This year (which is a running theme with a lot of bloggers) I plan on finishing them before I jump into anything else. This is torture because I have so many projects I want to start and there are so many awesome QAL right now. Getting back to the point - see I'm still avoiding it :) I think this is why it has taken me so long to get where I am with this quilt. I fell in love with Elizabeth Hartman's Tokyo Subway Quilt instantly. It's beautiful and so unique and once you get into a groove you can knock them out. I finally got all the blocks done and just started piecing the blocks together today. I have jump started my heart for this quilt again and now I'm ready to getter done :) So here's to all of you who are on the same journey to finish it in 2013!


Hope your having a wonderful day!!
~January~

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

January's BOM

At our Modern Quilt Guild we are doing a BOM. I have done a lot of scrappy/multiple color quilts so I decided on doing a pink and gray quilt. Our blocks for this month are the Eight-Pointed Star and the Economy Patch. The Economy Patch or Square in a Square was a very easy block to start with. 

The star took a little more time because of all the points you have to match up.  It's so pretty and I will be making more for sure.


I can't wait to see what next month's blocks are going to be.
Have a great day!!
~January~


Friday, January 18, 2013

Mo-Stash Bee




This will be a little Sewing Summit/Mo-Stash Bee Post.
There were so many people at Sewing Summit it was hard to meet everyone. I'm glad I got to meet Whitney From The Peacocktree and Deb from Trio Stitch Studio. I was sad we met so late on the last night. I have to say, that night was one of the highlights for sure. We had such a fun time!! I also think we were all deliriously exhausted which meant everything was extra funny.  

Deb, Julie, Kait, January, Diane, Caitlin, Tiffany and Whitney
 As you can see from the next group of photos we were not all there :)





This brings me to Mo-Stash. Whitney and Deb started this bee and I am so glad I got in. It's a six month bee and I am up first. I don't know why they gave January to me! I decided to go with the Supernova block from Lee at Freshly Pieced. Love her blog!!! I have been wanting to make this block forever and will be making more for sure. It is a giant 18" monster so really you don't need a ton to make a quilt top. They go together so easily. The ladies in my hive have been awesome, they got right down to business. I chose yellow and gray as my color-way and I'm thrilled with the blocks the girls made.  Here is my block that I sewed together late one night. 
One of these things is not like the other!!

I got the whole thing sewed up and then just sat there thinking something was off.  Finally it hit me and I decided to go to bed and tackle it in the morning. 



Fixed and ready to go - I love this block!!! It is so cheerful to me :)
I also got some wonderful mail today all the way from Australia. I am really shocked at how quickly her blocks came. Happy Go Lizzie did an amazing job!!! 




Have a fantastic weekend!!!
~January~