Just Keep Sewing

In this final week before my summer vacation comes to a tragic end, and school picks up again, I find myself channeling Dori’s wisdom: Just Keep Sewing.  I know once work starts again, I’ll be far less productive and I’m trying to get as much accomplished before I’m pulling wild hours for my new kiddos.  So what have I been up to since finishing the twin quilts?  Everything.

I’ve finished quilting my Chicopee Stripe quilt, and let me tell you – I am loving the straight line quilting on this one.

A view from the back:

And in an effort to finish just.one.more. I’m working away at the binding!

Which we all know is the best binding ever.  Memoir in charcoal.

And it has my husband’s name.

In the meantime, I haven’t rested.  I’ve been working on another project that I want to at least have basted by Thursday – when I go take another FMQ class before I leave NC, and I am so excited about this one.  Red is my favorite color, and I hardly ever use it, but not in this one.  I broke out the entire stash of red.

Check out those adorable deer!

This quilt has been a special project of love with my Mammaw and sister ironing it, my mom helping me put the strips together, my grandmother helping me cut it, my Mammaw helping me put all 9 patches and rows together, and even my Pappaw sewing a little.

I can’t wait to finish this one!

So, for the next 5 days, you might think I’m a mad woman.  However, once school starts my time will be devoted to my scholars first and crafting second.  Today I’m linking up to my favorite linky party: Let’s Get Acquainted Monday!  You should check out the other amazing projects!

Runs in the Family

There is no keeping up with my grandmothers.  You may have noticed that I have been off grid lately…  That’s because I have been soaking up as much time with my grandparents as possible.  This includes lugging my sewing around with me and subjecting them to talking with me, looking at my quilts, and helping me at all times.  Although, I don’t really think they mind…

This means that I have been super productive and I am now super tired.

(They seriously have more energy than me…)

On Tuesday I hung out with my Gramma and Grandpa, picked up 6 gallons of fresh blueberries, finished all the blocks to a quilt, cut out another quilt top, and she made dinner for the family.  I’m pretty sure I made drinks and set out the napkins.  Oh, and loaded the dishwasher.  I am useless.  She had it all done before I could blink.  See, here she is making a cobbler while I sit and use a rotary cutter.

Did I mention she cut all of her quilts by hand?

Utterly useless, I am. 

I also finished another project I have in the works and she helped me lay out part of the finished project in between all of our other projects:

Which I can’t reveal quite yet.

Then, today I went to hang out with my Mammaw and Pappaw, and again she helped me with quilting, she made lunch, and she made dinner for the family.  I made drinks, got napkins, and set the table, but otherwise she basically runs circles around me, too.

I finished some quilt backs and we got all the butterflies ready to be appliqued.

We had a nice little assembly line going.

I would sew the butterflies to their lining:

She finished them of by hand-stitching the opening:

And, wait for, we even enlisted my Pappaw for help with ironing:

(Did I mention that he’s made a quilt – because he reminded me of that tonight!)

Now we have a nice pile of 35 butterflies to be appliqued once my mother teaches us her skillz.

Here are some of my favorites:

Basically, I am having the time of my life, soaking up all of this knowledge, quilt love, and grandparent time.  I apologize if I’m not responding to emails.  I know you all understand and appreciate my absence! 

Happy Quilting!

The Motherload

First up, thank you for all of the love you shared with me over the Chicopee finish!  That post reminded me (like I had forgotten, haha) why I love blogging.  You have kept me encouraged, motivated, honest, and inspired.  I truly don’t think my quilting would be this far along without this blog and the friends I have met over the past 7 months (where has the time gone?!).  Today I’m basting two more quilts, which means I will have three quilts basted and ready to quilt!  I’ve also started cutting my next project that I hope to finish before I leave NC!  Of course, this is being made much easier because I have some serious helper elves while at home!

 

Yes, that is my Mammaw and baby sister folding and ironing my newest quilt fabric so that I could cut faster.  I’m pretty sure I got the better end of the deal and everything was cut and ready for me to sew today in record time.  Unfortunately I can’t rent them out because I’m selfishly keeping them for myself.

Here’s the next quilt ready to start…

Don’t you love sneak peaks?

The Motherload

What might that be?  Well, my Mammaw mentioned that she had fabric from her quilting days (she is a wonderful seamstress, designed patterns, made skirts/dresses/quilts, etc.).  She tried to play modest, all “You might not like them,” but I wasn’t buying it.  You guys, she pulled down a box with multiple quilts already started that she and my mother had cut 30 years ago!  I’m talking tulips, Dutch Boy/Girl quilts, appliqued gingham dogs, and butterflies.  I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am over this jackpot, but I can share the one I’m starting first.

An applique butterfly quilt!

She and my mother could tell me the dresses these butterflies were cut from, and we spent two hours talking about the design and a plan of attack to get this quilt finished.  She even has the backing fabric as well!  Now I’ll have to add appliqueing to my list of “Need-to-Learn”… and fast!

Happy Quilting!

You Don’t have to Tell Me Twice…

Today is National Visit your Local Quilt Shop Day.

It’s almost like I planned it.  Tonight I’m heading to my favorite quilt shop, Rock Paper Scissors, for my first Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  To say I’m excited would be an understatement.  A serious understatement.  My husband’s been great and all – coming to look at my progress after each block, driving to every quilt store with me, and pretending to love all of my fabric selections.  However, a quilter he is not.  I’m excited to be in a room with people who love quilting, know more than me, and see what they have to share. 

Back to Rock, Paper, Scissors.  The cutest, local quilt store in Montclair, NJ.

If I’ve learned anything in this past month of quilting, it’s the importance of finding quality quilting stores.  The first experience I had here was less than pleasant.  If I hadn’t been so dead set on my goal to become a quilter I might have been too intimidated to go to other stores and find ones that were supportive of newbie quilters.  After visiting 10+ stores, I’ve found my favorite.

Rock Paper scissors has an awesome class list – with a great mixture of beginning and advanced classes.  From talking with one of the instructors the other day, I know that they’re supportive and love the excitement new quilters can bring.  I can’t wait to take classes, quilting and beyond!

Most importantly, they have fabric.  (You would think that’s a duh, and it is for a fabric store, but they have good fabric.)  When I walked in the first time, I thought to myself, “I could literally make a quilt with every collection in here!”  On top of having quality fabric, they have an awesome selection of beads and papers for basically any craft you can imagine.  Right now I think I should focus on just one craft style… (who am I kidding?!)

The store is bright and airy, very organized, friendly, and supportive. 

If you’re in the Northern Jersey area you should check it out.  Or when you come visit me, I’ll probably take you anyway.

Oh, and there is a Panera next door.  Which is where I’m eating tonight.  Heeeeeey.

And, because no blog post should be without a picture, I leave you with this:

This is a painting done by Lenore DePree, one of my favorite artists.  It’s of a quilt group, but not just any quilt group, it’s my grandmother’s quilt group.  See the cute lady in the bottom left-hand corner talking?  That’s her.  I come by it honest.  So, tonight I head to my first quilt group meeting, and I hope to be chatting, too!