Quilt-along block #6 - postponed

Hey, everyone! 

I am so sorry to spring this on everyone, but the Quilt-Along block #6 will have to be postponed until Friday, due to some unexpected complications that don't allow me to be near my machine.

I am so sorry! Better planning on my part and assembling the block and taking pictures sooner could have prevented this mess, but it just didn't work out that way. 

In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding any of the blocks we've done so far, just email me at skippitydodahquilts@yahoo.com

I try to respond to all emails within 24 hours or less. 

I hope everyone understands that sometimes we just don't plan for the unexpected.

Much love!

Ohio One Stop Shop Hop

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend the Ohio One Stop Shop Hop in the Dayton, Ohio area as a guest with the owner of our LQS! 

I went with one of the owners of our LQS, and we had so much fun! 

There were 27 shops total, but pictures weren't allowed at many of the booths, so I only took pictures of ours.

This one stop shop hop was the first our LQS had ever participated in, and I think it was an amazing learning experience for everyone. As a quilter, I learned so many new tricks for quilting. As a vender, the shop owner learned some valuable tools for the next shop hop!

It was probably the longest two days of the year, so far, but it was the most fun I've had this year too!

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to stay tuned for the quilt-along block tomorrow!

Green Fairy Quilts

When I first started blogging, the second blog I followed was Judi 'The Green Fairy'

If you aren't familiar with her story, she is an amazing quilter and pattern designer. Her designs are so original and fresh and fun, and her quilting is absolutely insanely good! 

She and her husband own their own (and very successful, I might add!) online fabric shop. They specialize in pre-cut fabric (my favorite kind of fabric!) and they have a great selection. You can even pre-order all the new stuff, so you know that you're getting it before it sells out everywhere else!

Along with her professional longarming and online store, Judi and her husband Clint have a non-profit organization

Basically, Clint lived in Romania for 2 years for a mission and was so moved that he started the organization. This will be their 4th year going to Romania to give quilts to children at a local orphanage. Along with quilts, the couple gives school supplies and food to the orphanage, which doubles as a soup kitchen for the homeless children in the neighborhood. 

I was really moved when I saw the videos of their past trips. They're gearing up for their September 2011 trip, and are always taking donations (monetary and quilts).

When I watched the videos, I knew there was something I had to do. So, this is my donation to Judi and Clint. Although small, I feel that if this quilt can keep a child warm, I've done my job.

Specs:

Pattern - Snowball and 9-patch from 5-10-15+ Fat Quarters

Fabric - Punctuation by Sandy Klop of American Jane for Moda

Bleached muslin, 200 thread ct. 

Quilting - I did an all-over medium-size stipple on a Gammill Vision that I rent by the hour. It took me about 45 minutes to quilt. 

Batting - Warm and Natural 100% cotton. 

Thread - Piecing and quilting thread are both from Connecting Threads.

To read more about Judi, her quilting, her shop, and her organization, click here.

Quilt-Along Block #5

Whew! It's been a looonng time since I posted! Here in the states, it was Independence Day on the 4th, so we had celebrations all weekend. It was fun, but I'm glad to get back into a normal routine!

An update on the house-hunting - 

We looked at a house last week, we really liked it. A part of me was (and still is) a little bitter about the other house, and I wasn't ready for another experience like that one! It turns out that the house is in short sale at a much lower price than the value and at what the other homes in the area are worth. We made an offer, and are now at the mercy of the bank, who can either accept, counter, or reject our offer. Hopefully it swings in our favor!

Okay, so we're into week 5 of the quilt-along! If you feel like you've been challenged the past few weeks, then I've done my job! These blocks are supposed to challenge new quilters to try new techniques and I want everyone to push themselves. 

So, for this block you will need the following - 

1 blue print square, 4 1/2"

4 pink print squares, 3 7/8"

4 tan/yellow squares, 4 7/8"

4 blue/blue print rectangles, 2 1/2"x7 1/4"

2 1/2" borders. 2 strips WOF (width of fabric) should suffice

1 ruler, at least 8" square, with a 45 degree angle mark

With your ruler, line up the 45 degree marks with the edge of your rectangle. Cut along the edge. You should now have a parallelogram that looks like this -

Repeat for the rest of the rectangles. 

Now, cut your tan/yellow squares and your pink squares in half, diagonally. You should have 8 triangles of each print. 

Now, take 2 pink squares and sew them to a rectangle like this, starting with the right triangle, and then sew the top triangle - 

note - you will have to trim corners as needed

Take two tan/yellow squares and sew together like this - 

Repeat until you have four total.

Assemble your block, using the partial seam method. If you've never done a partial seam, refer to this website. It gives very clear instructions using precise diagrams. 

Once you've assembled the pieces, you will need to trim any excess on the sides to square up the block.

Add your 2 1/2" borders

And you're finished! 

I really like this one. It gave me an opportunity to use some fun techniques that aren't normally used in traditional beginner piecing.

My local LQS has given me an awesome opportunity to attend the One Stop Shop Hop and help with the booth this weekend! It's Friday 9 AM-5 PM and Saturday 8 AM-3 PM at the Hope Hotel and Conference Center in Dayton, Ohio. I hope to see everyone there! We will be at the Heavenly Stitches booth, so make sure to come visit!

Color Wheel - Slacking!

Okay, so some of your remember when I started on this color wheel.

The quilting is almost done. I have to pick out a little bit at the top. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it, so I experimented a little bit, and I'm learning the hard way that this particular thread is a little diva and doesn't like coming out of a quilt!

I decided on swirls in the middle of the bow-ties and a flower motif around the bow-ties. 

I used a metallic thread by Wonderfil.

It comes in tubes of four different colors, and Wonderfil has different color-ways to choose from.

I'm not sure if it's polyester, rayon, or a blend, but it was wayyy fussy on the machine. I suppose that's because it's wrapped with the metallic stuff that makes it shiny. Oh well. It still turned out really nice :)

At this point, I'm not rushing myself into finishing it. We won't be moving for several weeks, but I do need to get it done for my new (and hopefully improved!) sewing room =D. 

Speaking of moving. The house we looked at that we really liked is a no-go. The seller decided to take it off the market, and wasn't very gracious or nice about the whole situation, especially when she was told she had a prospective buyer.

Oh well. There is another house we are looking at tomorrow morning, so the search continues!

Anyway, that's the progress I've had on that project.

Quilt-along Block #4

Okay, so over the weekend, we got a buyer for our home! We went back and forth a couple times, but we settled on a number that everyone was happy with! Now I'm homeless! :)

I'm sure we'll find something shortly. We've looked at several places, and I really liked the last one we looked at, but we're having problems with the seller. So, now it's just a waiting game to see what the seller wants to do.

Okay, so let's get down to business! We're going into week four of the quilt-along! I hope everyone is coming along nicely. Don't forget that if you get stuck, have any questions, etc. just shoot me an email. I always respond within 24 hours, and most days it's much less than that.

So, for this tutorial you will need the following -

In a background print -
2 squares, 2 7/8" each

12 squares, 2 1/2" each

8 rectangles, 2 1/2"x4 1/2" each

In a plaid print -
2 squares, 2 7/8" each

4 rectangles, 2 1/2"x4 1/2" each

For the main two colors,  from each - 
4 squares, 2 1/2" each

2 squares, 2 7/8" each











Using your 2 7/8" background squares and your pink plaid 2 7/8" squares, make four half-square-triangles.

With your two main color (mine being the pink dot and the blue dot) 2 7/8" squares, make four more half-square-triangles.

Now, take your plaid rectangles and your 2 1/2" background squares and make four flying geese units.

To make these units, I sew each square on separately. Meaning, I sew on one square, trim and flip it, then repeat for the other side.

With your background rectangles and your main color 2 1/2" squares, make four more flying geese units, using the same method.

For assembly of the block, you will take your main-color HST's (half-square-triangles) and make a pinwheel. This will be the center of your block.

Arrange the units of your block like this -

Sew together.

Add your 2 1/2" border.

And you're done! I really like this one :). Probably one of my favorites, so far!

Hopefully, we will have some good news in the house-hunting department, later this week!

The Lazy Angle Ruler - A review

Okay, so one of the things I got for my birthday was the Lazy Angle Ruler, with the gift certificate hubby got me.

I had been scoping out this ruler for a few weeks. I wasn't sure how to use it, or weather it was too advanced for me. Well, upon further inspection I decided to get the ruler. 

I also borrowed this book from one of the shop owners.

Lazy and Lovin' It

If you plan on getting the ruler, the book is a must-have. It shows you how to use it, different blocks and how to assemble them, and it's just a great addition to your library!

So, the ruler is relatively easy to use. I say that only because I had the book to constantly refer back to!

I'm a newbie. I've been quilting for 6 months, and once I read the directions on cutting and assembly, the block went together like a summer breeze :).

All that being said, I love the ruler, I love the book, and I'm purchasing my own copy of Lazy and Lovin' it :). I hope you found this review helpful. Don't forget, if you have any questions regarding any of my reviews, tutorials, or if you're a newbie like me and need some tips and tricks I've learned along the way, just shoot me an email ;).