Little Quilt Sew Vote Swap

Wow.  I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted anything here.  I've been working and working on projects for the Fall show season.  I only had a couple shows but I was making away.  Now I have to stock the etsy shop with the surplus. 

This is my only quilt finish in the last little while. It is my entry in the Flickr group Little Quilt Sew Vote Swap.  I have so much fun making quilts for that.  But then you have to keep it entirely a secret until voting is finished.  Not even a wee sneak peek.  So I've been waiting to get this one posted.

It is a stand alone Dresden plate.  The backing in felt.  It is machine pieced and then hand stitched on to the backing.  It looked so much like a Fall wreath, I just had to add the bow!  It is just shy of 14 inches across. 

This was addicting to make.  I'm guessing there will be more in the future!

Hoppy Easter!

This is the wee quilt I made for the Little Quilt Sew Vote Swap.  I used my new Micron markers and Derwent Inktense pencils on the drawing.  I had a lot of fun 'painting' it.  The quilting is simple leaves and flowers.  (My machine was acting up so it was a bit more challenging than it should have been.)  And it has a simple black and white striped binding.  I wanted to do a black and white check, but I wasn't sure I could get it square enough. 

I will be sad to be sending this off to it's new owner (that part is still a secret) but I am looking forward to doing more drawing-based projects. 

Busy Bees

April is always busy around here.  We had our annual stream clean up.  Almost 900 volunteers cleaned up 38 sites plus 6 river miles with the help our our friends in the municipalities, the US FWS and Missouri River Relief.  An awesome crew.  We did Earth Day events and worked with some where in the neighborhood of 1000 kids, teaching them to sunpaint and upcycle.  It is also the time when we make great inroads on the necessary paperwork and planning for the Race for the Rivers. 

To keep it interesting we had two different robotics competitions in April, a regional and the championships.  I love watching the competition, but my job was to support the team, primarily by keeping them supplied with food and drink.  The team rented an RV and tailgated for the 3 days of the championships.  That was an interesting experience.  It was a great crew of parents and mentors who all worked together to keep everyone fed. 

Most of my sewing time was spent on design work and sewing out badges.  That is a good thing.  But it left me short on time for quilting.  I did get a few finishes.  My lotus mug rug went out early. 

I was also able to put together this lap robe for a raffle at the annual Spring Tea at our church.  I put together a few gift baskets and had a blast making the buntings to go in them. 

And then the wee quilt at the top.  It was my offering for the Little Quilt Sew Vote Swap.  It will be on its way tomorrow as soon as the post office opens.  I added some of the extras including an embroidered center to my Sew Mama Sew Give away package.  That is open to anyone so feel free to leave a comment on that post.  That is all you have to do to get entered. 

Little Quilt Sew Vote Swap!

 Just look at what came in the mail today!  The most beautiful little quilt you can imagine.  It is called "Flirting in Church".  It was made by SewGentle.  It is truly a work of art.  When I first saw it in the Little Quilt Sew Vote Swap flickr page I studied it and studied it.  I thought I had a clue about how a cathedral window quilt would go together.  But this one is different.  Seeing it up close and personal, I am still not sure how it works.  In her note, Karen says she 'bucked' her teacher and added fabric so the petals wouldn't be gray.  Nothing like a quilt rebel to come up with an entirely new look! 

You can see a little better how it looks.  It is just beautiful.  My very first choice.  I was so happy to see it land in my mailbox today. 

And she added some lovely extras.  A notepad that will quickly become well used and an adorable tissue holder.  THANK YOU.  Sew Gentle.  This is a treat that will be treasured!