Thimble Blossoms Mini Quilt Swap

Wow, its been a few weeks! Had my first test (aced it!) and the hubby and I have started playing tennis a couple of nights a week. When it isn’t raining. Between that stuff and normal every day life, sewing is a bit more scarce around here. I try to use my weekends as my major source of sewing time. Oh, and I bought a whiteboard for my sewing room so I am hoping that helps me with all the little things that I keep setting aside.

This weekend was spent working on my Thimble Blossoms Mini Quilt. I believe that I mentioned here that I was doing an IG Swap where not only was I a participant, but also a swap mama. Well, a few days after that one transpired, another one came along. Using a Thimble Blossom pattern and any fabric, make a mini for a swap. Well, I liked this one a lot because you have a defined set of patterns to choose from. And, to narrow it down even further, you would get to see what ones your partner loves/hates. So, I joined in. I don’t know who my partner is but it has been fun stalking the #thimbleblossomsminiquiltswap hashtag on Instagram trying to guess.

A couple of weeks ago, I showed you this bundle:

Well, using this pattern:

Photo from Thimble Blossoms

I was able to make 9 of these:

 

And than turn those into a sashed Mini-Quilt:

I can’t tell you why I love it or why I think my partner will. I don’t want to give the surprise away!! I don’t think they read my blog but you never know. I will tell you that there are 29 pieces in each one of those 6.5″ blocks. That’s 261 pieces just for the 9 blocks!!! The whole thing is around 24″ square.

I started quilting it last night. I am extremely spoiled by having Julie do all my quilting and now it isn’t something that I think about. So for this one, I figured, keep it simple. I have a bad habit of jumping into something complicated and not finishing it or rushing if I have too. So, I did outlining on each side of the sashing with matching thread and now I am working on outlining the interiors of the stars with matching thread.

I thought about outlining the 8 spokes of each block but that would take so much time that I just don’t have right now. I still have to get binding on it which takes precedence.

I am also trying to get hanging sleeves on my 3 quilt show quilts. I have 2 hanging sleeves, 1 binding, and 3 labels left. The countdown has begun. T minus 28 days. Whoa, Seeing that in writing is a bit scary. Guess I know what my evenings will hold for the next 3 to 4 weeks!

🙂

Jess

 

 

 

 

 

Photo from Thimble Blossoms

Finishing Quilts and Glamping!

School has started friends. Even though it’s only 1 class, its a lot of time spent not in my sewing room. I finally turned on my sewing machine last weekend (and not since!) but it was only to work on trying to get some unfinished quilts off of my sewing room floor. 5 of them to be exact. All waiting on binding.

So, I made binding. Lots and Lots of Binding. Probably close to 2000″ of binding. Whew.

Than I had a sewing marathon. I got 3 of the bindings sewn on in an afternoon/evening. Not too bad! The one below is the PB&J quilt. Julie did an AMAZING job quilting this one. We went with a more dense design and did a coordinating one in the border. It looks fantastic. And, it is heavy. I will show it off more once I get the binding completely finished.

This is the Waterfront Park Churn Dash. Julie did a really simple swirl all over this one. It did a great job of softening the quilt design up a bit. It isn’t too dense so this will make a great snuggling quilt. Not for me though, Maybe for you?

Oh, and I got my fabrics in for my Thimble Blossom Mini Quilt Swap. Once you join one, its hard to not join any others! I have the pattern picked out for this one and as soon as my first test is over on Tuesday, this is what I will be working on. I hope she loves it! Picking out the fabrics is the hardest part of a swap. You just don’t know if the they will like it or not. Here’s hoping! 🙂

Autumn Woods Fabric Bundle

Ok, I know everyone is wondering about Glamping. What is it and why is it in the title of my blogpost? Glamping is, by definition, “Glamorous Camping.” And I am going to partake. In a sewing way. Confused yet? hehe..stay with me.

Pink Castle Fabrics is an online fabric store that hosts retreats every year for a small amount of participants. This year, they decided to do something new and bigger and opened up a 2015 retreat called “Glamp Stitchalot” (get it, instead of Camp…) for 200 people with some AMAZING teachers. Guess, who just happens to be one of them?? Come on, surely you know this answer? Did you just say Tula Pink? Correct!

Needless to say, when I saw spots were opened, I texted Julie as fast as I could and whipped out the credit card. I was not missing out on this one and I was making sure that she was going with me. Its being held in Ann Arbor, MI next November at a super nice looking hotel for 3 days. I know, its a long time away. Commiserate with me.

In the meantime, while Glamp Stitchalot is in the back of my mind, I will be studying and trying to fit in small things when and where I can. I did buy a whiteboard for my sewing room so maybe seeing everything actually written out will help me to stay on track when I have the time.

🙂

Jess