The Land of Misfit Fabrics

I always hunt the clearance section of Joann's.  For whatever reason, as the price of a fabric goes down the prettier the fabric can become.  A price goggles phenomenon, I guess.  During one of their last sales, I bought this for about $2 and got a total of 2 1/4 yards:

It isn't the prettiest of fabrics, in my opinion, but it had potential.  I could think of people in my life that would like it.  And I like having random busy fabrics to back quilts. 

I have been wanting to work on a few different projects but this week has just been crazy.  I never made it out to get various fabrics I need to start these projects.  I have a small collection of quilt books and magazines that my MIL gave to me many years ago.  Occasionally, I try to go through them and get new ideas and inspiration.  Today, the Magic Stack N Whack Quilts book caught my attention.  After refreshing my memory on what fabrics work best for this technique, I looked through my stash and saw this fabric.  While the pattern repeat is on the small side, it was sufficient enough and cheap enough for me to take the plunge.

The process is fairly simple.  While I wouldn't attempt this as my first quilt, most quilters with a few quilts under their belt can handle this.  You cut the length of the vertical repeat and continue to match the vertical repeat for the number of repeats needed for your pattern.  Then you take the repeats, stack them on top of each other making sure the patterns line up and then cut as needed for your pattern.

I needed 2 1/2 inch strips.

I then cut those strips into diamonds, using a template in the book for a size guide.

And then you make some beautiful kaleidoscope stars.

These two are my favorite so far:

When I started out to make these, I didn't have enough material for the pattern.  So, I was just going to make 8 stars.  Well, I didn't follow directions.  I just looked at some pictures and then I just ran with it.  I ended up making 20 stars. 

I have no clue what I will do with 20 stars.  I'm going to work on the table runner the first 8 were planned for.  Then I might do some pillows. 

I have to say, this is a pretty addictive method.  And far more forgiving and way easier, than I originally gave it credit for.  There is another quilt in the book I want to try, that follows this method but ends up with a "diamond ring" look.

Definitely give it a try.  And use the less expensive fabric.  It is far less painful, when you make a mistake!

One last thing, I have to say a big THANK YOU to my friend Tara.  She gave me a few hints on taking better indoor pictures.  I am really happy with how much pictures came out tonight under the worst of lighting conditions.  Without her, this post wouldn't have happened!

~SLBY

Perseverance

Perseverance is defined by Merriam-Webster as:

"continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition : the action or condition or an instance of persevering".

Tonight, as a quilter, I define it as:

"Not giving up after 2 broken needles, 4 bum bobbins that resulted in the loss of a 1/4 of a spool of machine quilting thread, at least 5 thread breaks, and a fabric gathering in the back that was so bad it required stitches to be ripped and re-sewn."

Merriam-Webster goes on to give examples of perseverance:

"Perseverance is required to perfect just about any skill."

I'm well on my way to perfection.  Well, you know what I mean.  LOL!

Before quilting:

I am about 1/3 through machine quilting.  I would have finished it tonight but I've run out of needles.  Off to Joann's first thing in the morning. 

Just keep swimming...

Namaste
~SLBY

Bunnies and Trees

Good evening!

I wanted to stop by and leave a few pictures. In addition to quilting and baking, I have a sick husband. A sick husband that has to go back to work tomorrow night. I'm bummed, he's bummed and the children were full of tantrums tonight.

Since this is a quilting blog, I will start with a Giving Tree teaser...

I did this odd lighting and angle because I wanted the gold flecks in the material to shine. And I'm not too good at photography. I love working on this quilt. It is very similar to the quilt I made, while pregnant with my son, for my son. It stirs all sorts of happy pregnancy emotions up for me. Plus, I eat chocolate for two while working on it.

The quilt is based on a Super 9 block with appliqued trees and birds. I SITD and FMQ for this particular quilt. I have already gotten my SITDing done and hope to get the free motion done tomorrow. I haven't picked out a binding yet. I love making binding. It is so freeing to break loose from premade binding. If I have a chance, I will take you all through making your own continuous bias binding and how to finish it off, perfectly.

This quilt is backed in one of my favorite fabrics of all time. Oddly enough, I got it at Ikea. You will have to wait for those pictures, when the quilt is finished.

Besides caring for the sick and quilting, I did a little baking....

At the request of Emma, I made 18 bunny cupcakes for her school birthday celebration. Her birthday is over the summer but the school encourages celebrating summer birthdays at some other time, during the school year. I love seeing what I can create with a little cake and frosting, so there is no request I haven't tackled. For her 4th birthday, I did a 3 tier, 3-D Lightening McQueen. I have no clue how I am going to top that this year. YIKES! I have to admit, it is so much fun. I get to pretend for a moment that I am Cake Boss.

Here is my first attempt to get a picture of her with her cupcakes:

Here is my 10th attempt:

And I must say, the two less than pretty cupcakes tasted great!


Two last things, Joann shoppers and iPhone users there is now a Joann's app!! I had noticed that I didn't receive any in store coupons via email in a month. Last week, I received an email that there was an app and the app has COUPONS!! I tested it out earlier this week and my purchase went smoothly. I used a circular coupon and phone coupon with no problem.

Right now, Joann's is having their winter sale. I made out like a bandit earlier this week and plan on going again this weekend.

Get to shopping!!

Namaste
~SLBY