A.M. sewing

(I'm still here!) This morning I got up when my husband's alarm went off at 4:00am and couldn't go back to sleep. Our house is pretty empty, but I've been itching to sew, so I set up a little area in our den and got to work...

I've been totally infatuated with string quilts for a little while now, and about  month ago bought some freezer paper and tried to cut some 10" squares. I immediately realized I hate freezer paper and figured string quilts were not for me. After collecting some more pretty fabrics I decided to try again-but with muslin backing. I much prefer piecing with muslin! Only about 20 or so more blocks to go (unless I decide it's going to have a border). Also, I cleaned out my sewing machine pretty well, and it seems to have helped the tension, but I haven't thrown a quilt under it just yet. I'm still a little nervous. 

I think string quilts are my current favorite. I'd really like to keep this one for myself, but I am already thinking of other color combinations. I'd love to do a really colorful one like this one! 

Rachel over at P.S. I Quilt is giving away a $50 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop! Which reminds me, I need to make a public apoplogy to Donna who is so patiently awaiting the prize she won on my blog-I still haven't made it to the post office! So sorry, Donna :( 

Anyways, hop on over to Rachel's blog and enter already. She's had over 1000 people enter so far! Wow people love some fabric! 

Breaking the rules...in so many ways

I'm sorry this week has been so boring. I'm falling behind in everything. We are moving out of our house (and eventually the country) so we're having a HUGE yard sale this Saturday and selling most of our belongings. It has been overwhelming to say the least. 

The good news is, hubs let me gave me a birthday present in advance (almost a month!)...which explains why I'm posting these lovely fabrics. I'm building up my stash and I'm 100% sure we won't be able to get these where we're moving. So, to keep my blog interesting (since i haven't been sewing this week) here is my Sunday stash in advance :) 

I also want to give a shout-out to Fabricpalooza and MaterialGirlShoppe on Etsy. 

That's where I bought all this awesome fabric! 

The Anna Maria Horner stack (the brown, ice, and rose petals were all $4-4.5/yard!)

Quilting Q's 

This post was inspired by my friend Julia in Chicagoland and her friend Jen! I will be sharing more links later to favorite quilting tutorials and resources, but let's just touch on the basics today. 

I haven't been quilting or sewing long. In fact, Julia gave me my first sewing lesson a couple of years ago! She also introduced me to designer fabric, specifically Amy Butler. I am forever indebted to her. My new dream (anyone know how to help me realize it) is to become a fabric designer. Sewing is fun, but I enjoy it so much more with beautiful fabrics. You have no idea I am seriously considering design school one day...

Anyways, here are the things you'll need if you are starting out: 

large spools of thread for quilting. You use a TON.

this is a peek at my sewing accessories

(you'll need extra needles as well)

a rotary mat, rotary cutter (I love the 60mm one, but 45mm does the job!)

scissors, and RULERS! You need a couple of good sizes, 6 x 18 is a must! 

quilting feet-a walking foot, 1/4 foot, and darning/monograming foot

binding clips

curved safety pins

These things are essential for quilting. I would use a Joann's coupon or a Michael's 40% coupon each week until I collected all of it! It can add up fast. 

So those are the things you need to get started and beautiful fabric of course! 

NOW, because I think it would be redundant (and I wouldn't do a very good job) I wanted to let you know you should check out this quilt along for a step-by-step guide to making your first quilt! Elizabeth does an AMAZING job detailing the process. The only things I do differently are: I do not iron seams open, and I used Crazy Mom Quilts's binding tutorial for making and attaching my binding. 

Let me know if you have any questions! I'm going to work on getting a list of my favorite tutorials and where I buy my fabric :) 

Recent additions to my fabric stash! 

So I haven't purchased any fabric in some time, but I sold something for the move and my husband (who is the biggest supporter of my sewing hobby) suggested I use the money to purchase some fabric since I've been sewing up a storm to prepare for Christmas. Isn't he a darling?! Well, I couldn't resist and had been wanting to check out a quilt store about 45 minutes from my house and I was so incredibly excited when I happened upon some awesome deals! I found some 1974 by Urban Chiks and Sandi Henderson prints (Ginger blossoms yay!). Now I am trying to decide if I should purchase a charm pack of 1974...I really want some more. I would make a quilt out of it to keep. 

Now, I am not usually a Debbie Downer, but...

Let me tell you why I hate my sewing machine right now.

Is it normal (I haven't been sewing very long) for a sewing machine to lose tension constantly?!!?!?!? What I mean is, the tension will be perfect, I am not speeding up my sewing at all and then all of the sudden it is off! I adjust it of course and two seconds later it happens again! This is about to drive me BONKERS. I have been quilting and this has happened so much I've taken my quilt off the machine and been working on smaller projects for now. I am CONSTANTLY messing with the tension on my machine. Does that mean it needs an adjustment? I have a pretty cheap machine. If I were to save up for a super nice machine (has to be able to have an electrical range of 110-220v) can anyone recommend one?! 

In other news, have I shared this quilt with you before? 

So this is a quilt I made for my son-

and no, I still haven't sewn the binding to the back. 

I am such a procrastinator. I'm saving it for a long car trip.(note: blind hem stitch. Don't think I'll be attempting that machine stich again)  

I am pretty overwhelmed right now. I'm trying to finish quilts for sisters and moms, 

work on a few family projects (okay, really none of them are started) to keep, and and and sewing projects for friends who are having babies (showers!). 

This is a pillowcase I made this morning... to match my son's quilt. I was awake at 4:30am and could not sleep. Why not sew?!

it was dark this morning when I was up working

sorry I didn't adjust the pictures above.

Also, I just want to thank all of you who read my blog and also those of you who even take the time to comment and encourage me.I cannot tell you how much that blesses my day! I have been trying to check out all of your blogs and so many of you are such awesome quilters. I am truly in awe of your creations! Thanks for taking the time to give me tips, trips, and invite me into your world. I know I need to update my craft links list on the left side. 

If you'd like me to add your crafty blog, please let me know! 

It was brought to my attention that the measurements are tough to find on the website I referenced. 

Click here to get the measurements of Film in the Fridge's Daisy Chain quilt.

Anyone out there new to quilting? I know my friend, Julia had a couple of questions and I'd love to share what little I know in an upcoming post. Let me know if you have any questions for me and I'll try and address it if I have an answer :) 

Alright, so this is a quilt top I made for someone very very special to me and I can't wait to give it to her at Christmas! She even sent me the beautiful fabrics I used to make the quilt as a surprise one day (fr no particular reason they showed up on my doorstep!) My only problem is, I've never quilted anything this big! I am sooo nervous and debating on whether I should pay someone to do it for me....

Any tips? I have a basic brother pc-210...It can't handle stippling (or at least I can't-the tension is all messed up when I try) so any other tips would be great. Has anyone tried Crazy Mom Quilt's quilting method with painter's tape? I am most interested in this right now but don't have that much confidence in myself and don't want to mess it up! 

I got the pattern from film in the fridge.

It only took me a day to cut, peice, and sew the top! It was super easy and would make a great beginner quilt for anyone looking to give quilting a try-the only thing is, it's massive compared to the other quilts I've made! I think it may be a good twin size :) My husband is 6'2 and he's holding it above his head in this picture. I stole FIF's idea and always have him hold my quilts outside for good pics. He's such a good sport.