Star Finisher

I finished this quilt. Then I gave it away.

It was always for Meredith and Eric. A present to celebrate the love story of two dear friends.

Want to hear about their love story? Of course you do (PS - Meredith reads this blog from time to time, so, hey friend!).

Meredith became my friend when we were introduced at a party couple of years ago. It was basically friendship at first sight for me. I had to do some work to convince her. Well, as in I had maybe one too many cocktails and told her I thought we should be friends while we were talking. She thought I was loony. But, we were right for each other. Fast forward a couple of years and we are still friends (heart you, girl).

Meredith is the one who made me the quilty egg (and inspired me to make an egg-y quilt, see story here).

Meredith met this boy (Eric) and they were sort of friends. Then they took an intensive French class together and sparks flew or something like that. They knew it was right.

Then Derek and I started hanging out with the two of them. They were adorable. As a friend, sometimes you have a gut feeling about a guy your friend is dating, sometimes this is bad…. sometimes it is warm and fuzzy (you ALL know what I mean). Derek and I both had fuzzy feelings about these two.

The thing is Meredith and Eric knew this thing they had was special. They decided that they were going to get married. That spring (2013). Approximately one year after they started dating.

I immediately knew I was going to make them a quilt.

So, I asked the ladies from my Make it Modern Bee to help me make blocks (you know, so it would go faster). I received all of their gorgeous blocks right on time last summer and promptly did not finish the quilt until November (2013). If you didn't want to do the math that is about 7-8 months after the wedding.

Something about a quilt made out of love to celebrate love makes this special.

xoxo.

Quilt Stats:
Size: Big (75"+ x 75"+)
Block: Lone Starburst (by Six White Horses)
Bee Mates/Block Makers: Me! and the ladies from the Make it Modern Bee (Kelie, Samantha, Renae, Kelleigh, Becky, Karen, Jennifer, Jen, Audrey, Licet, and Jamie)
Fabric: Boy I wish I could tell you… the funky print on the back is from Ikea, the solids are all Kona.
Quilted: By me on my home sewing machine in a classic infinity loop with Aurifil Thread.

Back with Something Minor to Report

When I started blogging I read a couple tips for bloggers. One of the things I learned is that a blogger should never apologize for an absence. Apparently, people don't like reading other people's apologies.

I am sorry I have been MIA

I have always been a bit of a rebel (this statement is not really that true).

I think I was busy, but I can't remember what I doing.

Meanwhile back in the sewing room, I had a super productive sewing weekend. I finished the binding on a quilt, but I have not managed to work up the energy for a photo shoot.

I finished a rocking border for one of the medallion traveling quilt groups I am in (seriously, I am in two medallion alongs right now). This is a secret quilt, so I can only show a peek. You will have to trust me, it is boss.

This is Paige's quilt and I do not think I am going out on a limb when I say, we are heading exactly in the direction she pointed us.

Then I made the center/starter for my SURMA medallion traveling quilt group I am doing. This one is with my mountain sewing ladies, although we prefer to think of ourselves as members of Sigma Sigma Upsilon. It is not secret, so I can show you my work every month (for you savvy instagram people #surmasewing).

My medallion theme is "I love color." I am going for a color block/low volume theme, where each border is a scrappy version of a different color (chosen by the maker that month). I decided to make the center my favorite color, BLUE!

The block was made using the Ice Star pattern, which is free from Sew What Sherlock. Full disclosure on this buddy, it was a great pattern, very easy to follow and gorgeous, but it took FOREVER.

I am showing you this picture to give you an idea about how many pieces it took.

My center is now out in the wild, I will not get to see it in person for about a year... But I will get to see pictures.  Yay!

I have some neat projects in the works. I promise I will come back soon.

Tonight I am in a hotel room and I am exhausted. I think I might even be too tired for reality TV... bizarre...

My next post will be cuteness overload, so prepare yourself (I feel I should mention it will not be my cat, although he is cute).

New List for the Girl with the Procrastination Problem

Hello Wednesday. Hello friends.

I am not sure you have noticed, but time has sped up. Now, I know everyone says that... but this time it is true. I know this.

Seriously. I have not even been traveling for work (Yay!), but somehow time is zooming. It is all I can do to grip on and hope I don't get dizzy.

Some non-quilty things (in no particular order):

• My bestie returned home from Germany! 
• We made soft-shelled crab.
• I spilled a glass of wine on about two yards of Kona Snow (well, I guess that is quilty)
• I laughed harder than I thought was possible with my friends in the group we are now calling SSU (mountain sewing weekend before last).
• My cat vomited 4 times. 
• My peer reviews came in from my journal article [spoiler alert: they recommended it for publication]

My list makes me sane. 

The list is, however, prone to fluctuations. Things move on, things get finished, things stop getting care and attention. 

This is where it stands as of July 31st, 2013.

1. Label, photograph and mail Confetti Stars quilt. This quilt is boss. it is pretty much done. I am actually laying on it right now. I know my cousin is going to love it. FYI, this is a pattern I have been testing for Elizabeth Dackson. I am going to photo bomb you with the quilt soon. For now, know you too can make this quilt when the pattern is released soon. 

2. Fix binding, label, and photograph scrappy baby quilt. This is heading to another cousin. It is also pretty ridiculous.

3. Finish rainbow houses baby quilt. This one needs a bit of work. Enough with the babies. 

4. Make backing and quilt my star quilt. This is a wedding present and it could be done soon, but I am not feeling it and it is HUGE, so we will see.

5. Make myself a super tote. 'Cause I want one. 

6. August bee block. Just a churn dash, easy enough. 

7. August Hop, Skip, Jump block and Lucky Star block. Can you believe I am all caught up with my blocks of the month? Exciting, right!

8. Finish my Mother-in-Law's Saint Louis 16 patch. This is fun. I predict a fast conclusion, but then again, I could get distracted. What's that a shiny object?

9. Coworker quit. A friend/coworker asked me to make her a quilt and I could not resist. I got particularly excited when she went onto Design Seed (at my request) and chose some color schemes right at the edge of my comfort zone. I think she is going to get a crazy star quilt with some awesome colors. More on this later.

10. Guild Challenge. More on this later too, it exhausts me to even think about what I am going to do with this. We randomly chose one color fabric from a bag and we have to stay in that color family. I picked brown! Can you imagine someone who is less of a brown person? I have an idea, but I am not sure if I want to waste it on BROWN. Le sigh. 

11. Center of another medallion. I just love traveling quilts. I think the theme for this medallion is going to be summer and winter. Is that crazy sounding?

That's all folks. This list may seem insane, but it is not a firm deadline thing. It fluctuates with the moods and the seasons. I am certainly not trying to do this all in a month (hey, maybe not even a year).

Love you. I love your hair. 

Sarah out.

Posting this to WIP Wednesday.

And I Will Use All of the Colors [now in technicolor]

The inspiration for this quilt came to me suddenly. I was trying to think of a block to assign for my month of the Simply Solids Bee (Gamboge group, woot!) and this just HAD to happen. Prepare yourself for some serious photos.

I wanted to use all of the colors. I wanted to not care about complementary or contrasting, to just let it go. It is unbelievably freeing to just improv the color selection.

I wrote a tutorial on how to make this block, which I call the wonky diamond. The finished blocks all came back beautiful, like little rainbow envelopes from my bee mates.

Then I made a quilt top (posted about here). There is not a whole lot else to say, except I love it. Incidentally, my husband informed me from the start that this is his least favorite quilt I have ever made.   He is not being mean, but the colors are just not his speed (honestly, not everyone has to like everything right?).

The back is pieced from more bright strips, an extra block, and one little Umbrella print heart. 'Cause I heart this quilt.

Happy Rainbow friends (I have to add a photo of myself, quilters have to get in front of the camera sometime).

These photos were taken in an alleyway near my house. This little gopher (?) is known as Saxapahaw Sam and he is a favorite of some unknown (to me at least) graffiti artist. The photos were taken by me or my loving husband.

This wall happens to have a bar on the other side. Therefore, we adjourned to the bar for some refreshments following the shoot. Boom.

I have a lot of projects wrapping up right now, so I am hoping to show off some more finished quilts soon. Stay tuned!

Quilt Stats:
Size: 50" x 60"
Fabrics: Assorted Kona Solids (I did not actually use all of the colors, just some of them) on a Kona Snow background. I think the solid diamond and binding are Steel. Back is from Ikea. There is one tiny little umbrella print on the back too.
Pieced: with help from the Gamboge group of the Simply Solids bee
Quilting: Infinity symbol quilted by me on my home machine with my trusty Aurifil thread.
Finished: July 6, 2013

PS - Be sure to come back for my Christmas in July post on Wednesday!

A New List.

Guess what friends? I am back in another hotel room.

Shocking.

This time I am in Charlotte, North Carolina and it is a quick trip. I think I am going to be at home all week next week. A whole week (maybe longer?).

Do you think my husband will get sick of me?

I am updating my list, it has totally been awhile. Maybe I will get some sewing done while I am in town?

June/July List: 

1. Bee Blocks. I have finished my bee blocks for June.

For Make it Modern, I had a churn dash and a patchwork wheel. They were super fun to make. This wraps up the Make it Modern Bee.

For Simply Solids Gamboge group, we made stepping stones blocks. Hope this is not TOO bright. I just love color.

Still have July's bee block.

2. Meredith and Eric's wedding quilt. The blocks are sashed and now I just need to put it all together, make a backing (buy some fabric?), and quilt it. No biggie. They only got married a couple of months ago.

I love the way it looks so far!

3. Whitewashed Quilt. Remember this? I barely do... I have not even touched this! Ha!

4. Wonky Rainbow Quilt. This one needs to be quilted and bound. I can do it! This quilt is for me and I can't wait to snuggle under it.

5. Drunkard's Medallion Along. I am working on Christen's top right now and I think I get Paige's next. I love getting into the spirit of each medallion and playing with new techniques. I can't show pictures here because we decided these were going to be a secret, so I will just tell you that we will all need shades for Christen's quilt!

6. Baby Quilts. In my crazy world I decided I have three baby quilts to make this summer. No big deal right? I need to pick some easier patterns I think.

7. Block of the Month Blocks. I have June's Lucky Star to make and then June and July's Lucky Star and Hop, Skip, and Jump block. I am loving these block of the month's I can not wait to make them into gorgeous quilts.

8. MIL Quilt (better name to come). I decided to make my Mother-in-law a quilt. Here is my fabric pull so far, it feels so soothing. I think I am going to do some simple patchwork.

There will be other projects. I just can't say no to starting something fun and I love it! No complaining here!

I know I need to make some pillows with animals on them for our couch. Derek is getting a new laptop, so he is naturally going to need a case, he is currently trying to decide what animal he wants on his case (right now raptor is winning, who knows how to paper piece a raptor? oh dear...)

I am linking up to WiP Wednesday. Happy Day Friends! You are all beautiful! Sorry for the epic post.

A Wonky Rainbow. A Quilt Top.

I got back from Tennessee last Thursday and I get to be home for 10 whole days (archaeology is so glamorous)! I came home with a serious obsession.

You know when you need to finish a project? I think it is like when you are reading a suspenseful novel and you just need to know who the killer is? I am actually just guessing about this because I am a huge wuss and I can't read suspenseful novels without getting nightmares (okay, back off this tangent, sorry friends).

I designed this block for my month of the Simply Solids Bee (Gamboge group represent!). I even wrote a tutorial, if you want to make your own. I mailed out long strings of super bright colors with some Kona Snow.

It was pretty wonderful to come home from work all April to happy rainbow blocks in the mail.

Then, they all arrived and I had to decide what to do...

So, I did what any rational person would do, and asked Instagram. I can't remember who had the offset idea, but it was perfect.

To give the eye a place to rest, I added the gray diamond. Or we could say it is some sort of artistic commentary? Bonus, this way I get to use one leftover block on the back.

So far this is just a quilt top, but the obsession is not over, and I suspect I am going to be quilting this week!

Okay, I am entering this in Rachel's Festival of Strings over at Stitched in Color. You should go get inspired, I totally am.

Not Much Progress Here (currently living in a hotel room)

Not a ton of progress this week. I left for Tennessee/Alabama on Monday and I am going to be here until next Thursday. Boo! No sewing machine on this trip either (something I regret). Work trips can be such a drag on my sewing time. 

Before I left for my work trip, I got some list items checked off. 

1.) Bee blocks. Finished for this month and in the mail. 

2.) Graduation Quilt. I have made the most progress here. The quilt has been basted and quilted. I will have pictures of it when it is all done and maybe some photos with the graduate and his quilt... Bloggers quilt festival? Maybe?

It is actually here with me and I am hand stitching the binding in the evenings. I have to do something!

3.) Drunkard's Medallion. I am working on Chrissy's adorable center block. This arrived in the mail and it is currently residing on my design wall (btw, do you see this adorable journal she sent me? Squee!). I have a pretty solid plan for my next border and I have pulled my fabrics. Now I just need to get home so I can play!

May. It's ON.

Hi friends!

There is still time to enter my giveaway here. I am loving reading everyone's homemade gift ideas.

I am back from Tennessee/Alabama early this week because the water levels were so high we could not get into the project area. At least I get to sew a few more evenings this week!

I did really well on my April list, I mean really well.

I decided the list really worked for me. I am putting together a May list.

May List:

1.) Voile Infinity Scarf. This is going to be a late (?) mother's day gift. I am proud to say I finished the hand quilting on my trip. Done. Sorry for the crappy phone photos from my hotel room.

2.) Embroidery Project. Done and received. I think she loved it. Nailed it.

3.) Whitewashed Quilt. No progress. To be honest, it is not a priority.

4.) Bee Blocks. Started, expected completion this weekend.

5.) Baby Quilt. Done and gifted. They loved it. I will share finished pictures in another post.  Spoiler alert... it was is a boss level good.

6.) Graduation Quilt. A friend is getting his PhD this weekend and Derek and I decided that I would make him a quilt full of inside jokes. We had so much fun picking the centers of these log cabins! He is moving to Arkansas in a couple of months and we wanted him to have a little piece of Chapel Hill to take with him. I decided to keep it simple, but he is sort of a big dude, so a lap quilt for him has to be a little larger than it would be for most people... I am happy that I used pretty much all scraps.

7.) Solids Bee Quilt. I have received all the blocks from the Gamboge group from April and now I am gunning to put this quilt together. Rainbows!

8.) Lucky Star Block. Must keep up with May's block. Must not fall behind.

9.) Drunkard's Medallion Along. I need to add a border to Chrissy's medallion when it gets to me. This is a priority, as the next person needs it by the end of May.

10.) Pillow for Guild Swap. I know what I am going to do for my partner. I just need to go for it. Maybe soon? This is also a priority as it has to be there for June's meeting, I can't let someone down. That is not my style.

That's nothing right? I only have to be in Tennessee most of the rest of the month, so right... this might trickle into June just a smidgen. Ha! Let's see how I do!

Linking up to Freshly Pieced's WiP Wednesday.