Electronica's Quilt Top

She's a bit vibrant; a bit in-your-face with its color and randomness.  She might not be to everyone's taste.  Still, I really dig her.  Let me show you Electronica's finished quilt top!  

This quilt top has been slow coming together, starting with fabric being shipped off to my Sew Bee Blissful ladies and a few test blocks in Feb 2012.  Unfortunately, the blocks were coming back to me just as I was trying to get the shop organized for opening.  I just could not pay attention to them and get them into a top.

But finally here they are, thanks to the Finish Along.  Each block is 14x14 inches square, making this a relatively large top.  It's going to be a great couch quilt.  

I have a bunch of siggy blocks and a few other full sized 14x14 inch blocks to go onto the back.  I just have to get that pieced and start quilting!  

Falling In Love Again

...with Electronica. Thank goodness for our Finish Along as that was the only reason I pulled these blocks out, pressed them and squared them so they are all ready to be sewn into a top.  I have a totally renewed interest in this quilt and can not wait to see it finished!

I had a little helper while I was trying to get organized.  I placed each block out on the floor of my sewing room arranged just how I wanted them.  Little Clarkson felt the need to either test them out by sitting on them or re-arranging them as he wanted.  I got one row pieced before he joined me.  The place is a mess, so I'll start again tomorrow.  

You'll also see a little bag there in Sweetest Thing fabric.  I'll tell you all about that later :)

Finish Along: Third Quarter Update

It's official.  I was delusional.  What was I thinking when I wrote my last FAL to-do list?  Here we are at the end of the quarter.  It's time to review the little check list and see  how I did.  It's a bit shameful if I'm honest.

I had hoped to finish:

1. Electronica - made from my Sew Bee Blissful blocks that were collected last spring.  I love this quilt.  I do not know why I can not just sit down and stitch the top together.  I am at a loss there.

2. Granny Mania - Done!  She's done and I'm thrilled with the finished product.

3. Community Quilt - nearly there now.  This will be the first finish in the 4th quarter FAL I am absolutely sure.  

I have so many new projects on the go that I want to finish next quarter so I am sure the next linky party will be a smashing success.  I'm off to link up my one finish with Rhonda...and start up a new FAL list for next quarter.

Drinking the Finish Along Kool-Aid

All of the cool kids are doing it.  


I wanted to join in on Rhonda's Finish Along (FAL) last quarter, but there was just too much running through my head/sewing room at the time to add another "to-do" on the ever growing list.  Now, this quarter is a different story!  I am super excited to join in.


What will I finish this quarter?  Well, Rhonda is telling me that to "finish" a quilt it has to be quilted and bound before the quarter is out.  I can do that. 


1. Stargazing.  Stargazing is currently being quilted by the lovely Trudi, but I will have it back in early June.  I can happily have it bound and finished before the end of the month, therefore within the quarter.  I'd kick myself if I didn't.

2. Cúchulainn.  Cúchulainn has been on my to-do list for quite some time.  I want to say since September, but that scares me a bit.  The appliqué is now finished and the quilting well underway, so this isn't a huge stretch.  Anyway, it MUST be finished off in time for the quilt festival.  So, I will quilt and bind it this quarter.

3. Beginner's Patchwork Sampler Quilt.  This is just a pile of blocks sitting in my sewing room.  So, I will have to add the sashing, layer, quilt and bind it.  Still, it's a very manageable size so I should be able to finish it off in the next month or so.  I am really enjoying this little patch of craziness, so it will be fun to spend more time with it.  

4. Electronica.  Here is my stretch finish.  Electronica.  This quilt is being pieced by Sew Bee Blissful as our March block, so the blocks are now arriving at the house.  It is going to be a whopper!  So, I will have to collect the blocks, finish them off as needed, finish off 2 of the 5 blocks I have to contribute, add sashing, layer, quilt and bind.  It might be a big ask, but at least I have all of the materials I need and a quilting plan in mind.  We'll see how it goes!

Beginner's Patchwork Sampler Quilt

As you know, I'm teaching a beginner's patchwork class at Pippablue on Wednesday nights.  Like any normal teacher, I'm barely just ahead of the class making my blocks barely in time to use them in the class as examples.  Well, I have finally finished all 9 of my sampler blocks.  Want to see what they look like on the design board?

We tried to do 3 for each lesson.  Three squares (square in a square, disappearing nine patch and a pogo stick block) to get the main concept of cutting, piecing, squaring.  Then there were three triangle blocks (pinwheels, sawtooth star, starflower) followed by three wonky or improv blocks (LOVE block, wonky star and wonky log cabin).   The point was to give the students the basic skills they need and introduce them to both traditional and modern piecing.  So far so good! 

Next we'll tackle the sashing, layering and backing.  I'm totally excited!  I have to test out a few different sashing color options before Wednesday :)      

What's next to this on the design board, you ask?  Well, blocks have started arriving from Sew Bee Blissful for my Electronica quilt.  They're looking great!  

Tonight I need to add a bit of dark brown and green to the one block on the bottom left, and a bit of pink to another Sew Bee Blissful block.  It's taking shape now, which is very exciting!  I love the individual personality in each block, but the unified colors seem to pull them all together.  Here's hoping at least!