a CHARMING quilt for a PRINCE

so...I was so excited yesterday to get started on my nephew's quilt...and a bit nervous too...this stack of fabric just CALLS to me...

I really didn't want to cut into it!  (btw...figured out the woodgrain print is from Aviary 2!  just look at the selvage doofus!  (that's what I said to me when I realized it!))  anywho...

as my nephew is the oldest of 3...and the older brother of 2 sisters...I wanted to make him something "different" from the quilts I'm working on for his sisters...but I didn't want to be "girly", and I wanted something to go with stuff he already has...my sis told me his bedding is blue...hence the use of different blues...actually I don't think I would have cared what color it was once I picked up these fabrics!  anyways...need to get back on track here...so I started (after staring at the fabric for a few mins) cutting five inch squares:

and eventually ended up with the proper number (this one is 100% a repeat of this quilt...just different fabrics) and included some fussy cutting of the frog...I mean Prince Charming...which I've never really done...and very proud to say came out just perfect!  I got to laying it all out (sorry no pics of this part)...and then just started piecing:

I'm in LOVE with this quilt...and ONLY because it is going to one of my FAVORITE people...will I part with it!  Back to piecing...I'm officially T-8 days to get this one and my nieces quilts finished so I can get them on their way to their new home! ACCKKKKK!  (I love a deadline...heehee!)

First finish of 2012!!!

Woohooo!  Finally (and I mean FINALLY) finished a quilt in 2012!  I got about 90% done with the quilting yesterday; finished it up today:

and got the binding all ready to go:

and finally...Here it is, City Lights for my Sis:

and the back:

and the details:

Fabric: Curious Nature by Parson Gray; Quilter's cotton and the batik backing from Hancock Fabrics
Pattern: City Lights by Cherri House
Thread: Gutterman
Pieced and quilted by me, March 3 - 18, 2012

it's been washed...and is ready to make it's way to it's new home!

FNSI...the results!

Happy National Quilting Day!  Popping in to share with you what I did for:



Well I started out earlier in the afternoon by hitting up the local store and picking up these delightful treats:

(CAN'T WAIT to cut into those!)  But before I can play with that lovely bunch of Prince Charming (by Tula Pink) plus that one section of wood grain on green that I can't remember who it's from, I need to get City for my Sis finished up!  Watched quite a bit of basketball last night while sewing...it was enjoyable...even though my bracket is shot to poo!  Back to the sewing...So I got the back pieced together:

and then got to work on basting the quilt (I used some spray basting):

I normally open up all the windows and get the fan going on high speed when I use spray as it is particularly smelly...but with the pollen in full force...no opening of the windows...so I took several breaks and let the quilt sit for a bit before trimming it up:

I tend to leave a little more than necessary when I trim...it's my "just in case it stretches or shifts dramatically" paranoia...anyways...I decided to quilt this particular one very simply...random spacing (the width of one of my sewing feet) from main seams...trying to follow the overall simple layout of the quilt:

and around 10 p.m. I was about 50% of the way through with quilting...and my arms were tired...so I called it a night!

I definitely got some progress made, which I'm thrilled about...and since today is National Quilting Day...I plan on getting some more done...in celebration of course!  I'll be back later this weekend to share those results!

City top done!

Woohoo!  Here is my completed quilt top:

It's a little skewed in a few spots, but I'm plenty ok with that!  Next step...prep the back...and I went out on a bit of limb (for me) and chose this fabric for the backing:

Batik!  I was struggling to find just the right fabric for the back, and finally spotted this and decided that it was the one!  I have not used a batik in anything so far...and I'm looking forward to seeing how it all works out!  So...that's what I plan on working on for the Friday Night Sew In tomorrow!  Later!

Saturday sewing...

So here is what I worked on yesterday...

started putting the sashing strips on City Lights for Sis:

only got 4 done before I had to call break...to me this is the most boring part of putting a quilt top together...

so to liven things up...did another of these quilts:

still took me a couple of hours...used Cape Ann by Oliver + S fabric...it's intended for my youngest niece...and now it can join the collection of quilt tops awaiting backs and quilting...(the ever growing collection...i really should do something about that)

off to sew more sashing strips!  If I make good progress early today...I may have to go to the fabric store and figure out the backing for this particular quilt...so fingers crossed that I make some progress as I definitely need an excuse to hit the store!

City in progress...

So the quilt for my Sis is going along very well...so well in fact that all of these pictures are from this past weekend!

Got all the pieces cut out:

and another pic just because I love how fabric looks all stacked up and ready to go:

laid everything out to in an attempt to get a good "balance" of all the different fabrics:

got to piecing:

and all of a sudden...i had all the rows completed:

now I just have to add sashing strips and the quilt top will be complete (and hopefully well in advance of when I'm supposed to deliver it)!  and maybe...just maybe...before too long...i'll FINALLY have a finished quilt in 2012!

2012 Goals update...and some new WIPs

ok...so here we go...my monthly review of my goals for 2012 (last updated here):

1.  Finish T's Quilt (hasn't been touched since December 10th 2011) lots of progress made...should be finishing up soon!

2.  Finish OUR Quilt (not touched since August 2011) untouched still

3.  Complete at least 2 FWQAL blocks a month (this was becoming an overwhelming project last year, so I'm hoping to keep it honest and accept that it won't be 2 blocks a week!) got 2 more done for February!

4.  Blog at least once a week missed last week, but I was recovering from the nasty cold and catching up at work...so I'm giving myself a pass on this one for right now

5.  Complete Pinocchio Cross Stitch did a little bit of stitching early in February...found an error...and haven't touched it since...this may be a road trip project...when and if we go on a road trip

6.  Relocate sewing space to craft room (currently sew in the living room, and rarely use my office/craft room...I want that changed!  will also require a LOT of reorganizing and cleaning and getting rid of stuff!) did some clearing out, got rid of some stuff...still lots more to do!

7.  Make a Christmas Quilt in time for it to be used at Christmas!  (so wanted to do this last year...didn't get around to it!) nothing so far

8.  Make at least one quilt just for me! not yet!

9.  Attempt applique on at least one quilt (mini-quilt would work here!) same as above

10.  Make Swoon Terrain Quilt in progress as part of the Swoon-along, 6 of 9 completed, #7 in progress!

11.  Attempt FMQ!  DONE!  

12.  Quilt and bind Girls SQ (before Halloween!) nothing so far

13.  Finish White Rabbit Surprise/Strawberry Swoon (at least do something with the blocks that have been made!) nada

So not a ton of progress made on the goals...BUT...maybe if I didn't keep starting new projects in the middle of trying to complete some other projects!  This week I've worked on this:

Paris Race (using this video) for Girl...

I saw the video...and desperately wanted to try making one...so I let Girl pick a jelly roll (Pom Pom de Paris) and away I went while watching the Daytona 500 this past Monday...and I  took way more than an hour...but before the race ended...I had a completed quilt top!  I will definitely try this again!

and I just started this for my Sis who has moved into a new house and has new furniture...and now needs a new quilt to go with it all!  

I have a hard deadline for the above quilt, as in a few weeks I'll actually get to see my Sis...so other goals may get pushed to the side (again!).  Fabric is Curious Nature by Parson Gray (love love love this fabric!) and the quilt pattern is City Lights from the book City Quilts by Cherri House.

That's it for now!  Hope you have a great rest of your weekend!