An old favorite...

On the heels of finishing my other EPP project (photos later), I pulled out my Kaffe EPP quilt the other day.  I still need to add in the last four rows of stars...but here it is on the floor last night.

Buddy had to get in on the photo shoot as well....He is so pathetic!!  But we love him <3

It seems like the last time this quilt top came out of the WIP box was January 2015--eeks, almost 2 years ago!!  I took this pic in the backyard waaay back then...

If only I could teach Buddy how to EPP ;-)  This thing would be finished in no time!!  You know, when I started this quilt I thought it would be a "once in a lifetime" quilt... I mean, who would hand sew a quilt together??  But it turns out that EPP is my favorite form of sewing now.  I still use the machine, but I much prefer the slow process of English Paper Piecing any day.  It's funny how things change, right?

 Happy Quilting!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are enjoying the week off here at my house...the school district gave all of us (teachers and students) the whole week off this year!  This is the first time for this in the 40+ years I've worked/gone to school in Las Vegas.  I got a chance to take some pics of my red and khaki Gypsy quilt on the porch today...

I really like how this little quilt turned out.  It only measures 36" x 48" and I plan on listing it in my Etsy shop this weekend.  As I turned around to take another pic, Buddy joined in on the fun...

He is a cocky little chihuahua who doesn't know any boundaries where quilts are concerned.  We found him wandering on a major street here in LV about 7+ years ago.  Buddy is super spoiled and the best thing to happen to our family.  And the best part about him is that he never was a chewer...he never damaged anything in the house, or made messes or ruined anything.  He loves to snuggle under quilts and has several of his own.

On another note, I began yet another quilt project/pattern.  Here is the fabric pull for the first attempt...It is a layer cake pattern so I cut layer cake squares (one for each block) and picked the yellow accent color from my stash.  The purple solid might be for the setting triangles around the edges of the quilt.

I also added a bright aqua accent color at the last minute.  This is just a small test run of the pattern...13 blocks and the finished quilt should measure 42" x 42".

Anyhow, I need to go prep some food for Thanksgiving dinner.  Enjoy your holiday!!

Gypsy Quilt Pattern is DONE!

I don't know why it took me so long to finish writing this quilt pattern.  I made the first prototype back in February of 2016, another in June and the final one in September.  Work got in the way and I dropped the ball at getting it finished...but here it is!!  Gypsy is available in my Etsy shop...

It can be made using layer cake squares or charm squares (or scraps!) and multiple sizes are available in the quilt pattern.  The blocks come together quite easily--nothing too difficult.  The cover quilt was made using some of my coveted Soul Blossom fabric...below is an up-close shot of the quilting.  The panto is called Jessie's Swirls and I love the texture it gave the quilt.

I also made it in pastels from Riley Blake's Bloom and Bliss line of fabric....the panto is called Pirouette.

And I made a smaller version last February in reds and khaki...the panto is called Espalier.

I'll get a finished shot with the binding later this week....

Anyhow, I hope you love this pattern as much as I do!  Happy Quilting!

Binary Code quilt progress...

I started this quilt in August (see this post for details) and I've been working on it (slowly) ever since...making little 3.5" zeros and ones.  Today, after pressing some blocks I made yesterday, I realized I had more than enough to make the quilt!! Yeah...  Here it is on the floor...

It will only measure 24" x 30" when it is complete.  The squares finish at 3" each and are made entirely from my thrifted plaid shirt collection!!  This is quite the "upcycled" project. ;-)

What does it say??  Well, it's a popular phrase used to describe the point when you just have to give up caring so much about what everyone else thinks and just do what works for you...  Caution:  There is a bad word involved--so if you are sensitive to cursing, don't look to closely or zoom in on the pic below.  I'm only showing the pic so you can see how I planned out the layout of the mini-quilt.

I'm going to get the rows pinned and start assembling this little gem of a quilt!!  Happy Quilting!

EPP Progress... I love it!

I'm still doing some EPP in the evenings.  My jewel flower project is coming along.... I arranged all the pieces on the floor on October 1st and took a pic so that I would know how I wanted all the hexagon blocked placed.

Almost half of the hexagons are pieced together...the project is moving along quickly now so I have to plan on how to deal with the borders.  My plan is to EPP in some half 4" diamonds on the top and bottom in colors similar to the blocks on the borders.  I also intend to make some "half hexagons" to fit in on the sides.  

I really do love the process of EPP.  Everyone who EPPs knows what I'm talking about...and if you haven't given it a try, watch a few videos and get a few tips from the experts--you won't regret it!

Happy Quilting!

Gypsy love...and Soul Blossoms!!

When Amy Butler's Soul Blossoms fabric line originally came out, I didn't realize how awesome it was.  Several years later I saw a few quilts online made from Soul Blossoms fabric and managed to find a yard of each of the prints in the collection.  I've been hoarding them for years, only making an occasional quilt or bag from them.  I knew that my new Gypsy pattern would be perfect for this beautiful fabric....

Here is an up-close, sexy shot of the quilting...The panto is called Jessie's Swirls and I love the texture it gave this quilt.  The background fabric is Kona Stone, if I recall....

Rebecca will be binding it this week and (hopefully) some cover pictures can be taken at my Mom's house.  She has a gate on the front of the house that might just look fantastic with this quilt hanging on it...If not, she has a park right up from her house--maybe there is a nice spot there to take a pic.

Anyhow, that about sums up what I did this week.  I really would have had this quilted during August, but I didn't like the background fabric and had to re-order some new fabric (and unload the quilt from the longarm frame, etc) because I was just going to "go with it" even though the first fabric wasn't right.  I'm very glad that I waited because this turned out so much better with the new backing.

Did I ever show a pic of the bag I made with some of my coveted Soul Blossoms? It is called the Tessa Bag and I love it...wait, I haven't ever used it because I love it so much, but someday I will!!

I'm down to about 8 more months before retirement...I can't wait!  Happy Quilting!

EPP update...

One thing I have been continuously working on is my EPP project.  I'm short about 6 more hexagon blocks and the 8 half blocks for the sides, but I'm getting there... Most of the fabric was from the Summerfest line of fabric (with a few of my own added in for variety).  I still love precuts!!

And an up-close, sexy shot.  These are 2" diamonds, 2" jewels, and 1" hexagons.  I really love this EPP and could happily do it for life!

I need to quilt a top for a pattern I wrote up this summer...maybe that is my weekend job??  I'll take a pic as I'm moving through it...School is off to a start and I only have about 270 days until retirement.  I'm just getting through each day and waiting for my new life to begin!!  ;-)

Happy quilting!