Friday, February 24, 2012

It's Friday...everybody say whoop whoop!

It is Friday - yay! I'm having a really full day today: early a.m. teleconferences, art docent volunteer at Wild Things classroom, more work work, catch up my blogs a little, 3 errands to run, lunch with a dear friend I haven't seen in ages, a mammogram (note to self: remember the advil!), Little league baseball practice, Boy Scout Pinewood Derby. I expect to be exhausted and ready for sleep after all this, but I like these kind of days where I am forced to juggle a bit to get everything accomplished.  Often I don't get it all done, but that's usually okay too.

Okay, my Friday Whoop Whoop linky project is this quilt for a brand new baby girl who I haven't gotten to meet yet!  I showed a little preview of this when I was still piecing it together - now it's quilted and bound, washed for the crinkles, and ready to go (though I may redo the label as you will see...)


The prints are from the Sherbet Pips line - most "modern" quilters will recognize this popular print - I've had these charm packs in my stash for a long time just waiting for the right project.  A couple of close shots:



I really love these little prints!  I used Kona Snow for the sashings, Kona Med. Gray for the binding, and a blue polka dot flannel backing. The quilting is simple diagonal lines shadowing the inside and outside of the patches.  I haven't done much straight line quilting (or any quilting as I'm still new to that part), but if you don't examine it too closely I think it looks pretty cool with the lines as opposed to an all over stipple.

My one disappointment is that the label bled a little in the wash.  I may decide to redo it - I used a black sharpie, but forgot to heat set it (I assume that will work, but if anyone knows it won't please let me know!). I may run down to Beverly's and look for a pen made specifically for fabric though.  This is my first actual label. I have (sometimes) stitched my initials and the year onto quilts, but I usually forget to do that even!


Nice to have a finish this week!

The other thing I did in the past couple of weeks was join the Craftsy BOM class (it's Free!) - each month there are two blocks to practice a new piecing method.

January was "slash" blocks: 
block #1
block #2
February was HSTs made two ways and then putting them together for different looks.  Piecing the small HSTs (3 inch finished) was more challenging than I expected, especially for the 2nd block which I think I will do over to get it right - the seams are not all lined up and I used scrap HSTs to replace the ones I botched first try - so the red HSTs are not with Kona Snow, but a cream color.  The first block came out a bit smaller than it was supposed to because my 1/4 in seams weren't "scant" enough, but I think it may still work.  If not I will have to do that one over. 
block #1
block #2
I am not using a FQ bundle of coordinated prints - I have to work on using up some more stash fabrics, and I think it doesn't matter so much for the more scrappy look of a sampler. I pulled a rainbow of fabrics and scraps to use. We'll see! I've never made a sampler quilt or BOM quilt, so I'm curious to see how I like it in the end.

I hope you all have a great weekend!
For more craft goodness, check out Sara's Whoop Whoop Linky party! (bonus this week - there's a giveaway too!)

And I found some other fun linkies, like TGEFF party at Quilter in the Gap !





And Sew and Tell Friday at Amylouwho:

10 comments:

  1. Beautiful quilt, Janet! I like how you put the squares on point -- very fun! Great blocks too! Thanks for linking up to TGIFF!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your Sherbet Pips quilt - so cute! You're right, it is great fabric!! And your scrappy blocks are looking good, too! Whoop whoop!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The baby quilt is SO precious! I know it will be well-loved! I haven't actually used Sharpies for labels, but I have heard they're not a good choice, mostly because of fading. From what I've heard the pigma pens are the best, but they also have to be heat-set to not fade. I've been really happy with mine. :o)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a happy quilt! Your quilting looks great. :-)

    Great looking blocks too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gorgeous baby quilt!

    I had a few issues with the Craftsy BoM Chevron block too - but mine was more to do with forgetting a crucial step (squaring up the HSTs - how do you forget that?!) but I've kept the block as is so it can remind me in future to read the instructions a bit more closely!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your quilt is adorable! Instead of a Sharpie, try a Pigma Micron pen. I find them all over, JoAnn, Walmart... http://www.sakuraofamerica.com/Pen-Archival

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cute quilt! Love the label! Lots of really great blocks too! I pick out a large pile of fabrics and then try to pick from them when going scrappy. Then I know it will work!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just want to share that I have awarded you the Liebster Award!
    http://sewitupbaby.blogspot.com/2012/03/oh-so-very-cool-award.html

    ReplyDelete