Pet Project Show #22

These are a few of my Moda Modern Building Blocks I've been working on. I'm not sure I'll make the whole quilt, but I've been having fun doing BIG blocks. You can see the 8.5"x11" paper hanging there, but the 3" Post-It Note in the middle of the largest block can show you the enormity of the blocks. I had to stop piecing blocks, and order a 24" ruler to keep things square and accurately measured. 

I've tried to stay true to the pattern colors, but used prints instead of the suggested solids. Check out some of the great makes of the pattern here.

I thought it would be fun to share a few other blogs that I've been following, and seem to have kept open in my tabs this week. For some reason or another, I've been reading across genres. Not all are quilting blogs, but you may find they interest you, too.

A Typical English Home: Not exactly what you'd think. Yes, good ideas for organization, fun projects, etc., but good tutorials for bloggers on how to add icons, fonts, etc. 

Generations Quilt Patterns: I just happened on this page this week, and I'm impressed at the free patterns, but also on the helpful hints on machine tension, free motion quilting for beginners, and a very detailed tutorial on stitching in the ditch. I wish I'd seen this before my first try at that. Thread recommendations are given for different projects. This feels like a personal lesson in all things quilt related. 

Anita Mathias: Dreaming Beneath the Spires: Inspirational, personal, thought-provoking blog on faith and art. I have really enjoyed her writing on "Thin Places," where the Boundaries between the Spiritual and Physical World are Almost Transparent. She also writes about balancing blogging with our personal lives. It's very good.

A Beautiful Mess: Okay, it runs from fashion, clothes, decorating, food, crafts, whew! It's How-To for everything. There are oodles of posts each week. It's light and fun with lots of eye candy.

Woohoo, Doxie Girls!

It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below)
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until
Monday, June 1st at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will
feature several of the Doxies' and my
favorite link ups. 
By linking up, you are giving permission for me
to post your picture with a link back to your 

blog or Instagram account. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Memorial Day and Pet Project Show #21

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for the 
men and women who have died in service. It is 
a day to pause, and remember freedom is not 
free. My heart goes out to all who are 
remembering family and friends today.

 This wall hanging was made from the same 

pattern I've been using from Jen Kingwell's

book, Quilt Lovely. I'm sure I've seen a heart

modified this way before, but not where.

The piecing is fairly tedious when the strips

are cut only 1" wide. Not all my strips 

were spot on so I made sure to square up

all the blocks before joining them.

I made sure to match the lowest horizontal

strip on the upper quadrants. At least it

gives the 'illusion' that it matches even if

the rest of the strips are a little off.

I had a batting scrap to use, and made my

backing twice as large so I had something to 

hold on to. There's nothing harder than trying

to FMQ an itty bitty piece. I started to FMQ in

the white area, and it didn't look right. I 

ripped out about 12" of stitching. Then I

started over, and just outlined the hearts

with Aurifil 50#. It was enough as the

blocks were already busy enough.

I attached my binding to the back, and 

then realized I hadn't trimmed the edges

quite enough. Would you believe that when 

I trimmed the edge I cut the corner off 

my binding? 

It doesn't pay to hurry, and, Yes, you 

can section binding, but it's not fun!

This binding warranted hand sewing, and 

I looked forward to a little t.v. time with

my daughter. One episode of "The Gilmore

Girls," and I was done.

I thought you would like to see the fabrics

close up. I think it's so interesting how blocks

look close up while we're picking out fabrics

and sewing vs. the whole finished effect.

Linking up with~
Show and Tell Tuesday
Monday Makers
Show and Tell with Bambi
Oh, Scrap!
Cooking Up Quilts
Hug-a-Bit Quilts
Sew She Can

Sew Many Ways

Woohoo, Doxie Girls!
It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below)
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until
Monday, May 25th at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will
feature several of the Doxies' and my
favorite link ups. 
By linking up, you are giving permission for me
to post your picture with a link back to your 

blog or Instagram account. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Custom iPad Sleeve & Pet Project Show #20

I have had the fabric for this iPad sleeve

since January. My mother-in-law requested

something simple yet fairly well padded

to carry while travelling. The project

sat on the back burner while other things

took its place. I had it on my list of 

2015 Finishes for On the Windy Side Q2, 

and I've checked it off.

This is for a bird lover, and the fabrics

seemed suited. I especially love the Acacia

print from Tula Pink used as the 

background fabric. A fantasy print, she's

mixed hummingbirds with what looks

like anemones.

Please Note

The closure is with 3M One. I strongly

warn against using any kind of magnetic

closure with electronics! They don't mix.

I did just a tad of FMQ on this with some

pebbling, and spiraling flames.

It doesn't show much at all on the outside,

but was a chance for me to practice. The

batting is my very dense 'Kevlar' batting,

and though I wouldn't guarentee it, I

think it will hold up fairly well to a drop.

I did a bit of outline FMQ on the front of the

economy block, or square within a square,

and some pebbling in the corners.

Less quilting means more loft.

So, 'Ta Dah!', and another finish down.

Don't forget to visit 
Blogger's Quilt Festival-Spring 2015
Eye candy for quilt lovers everywhere!
I'm entered in the large quilt category.

Now show us what you did this week?

*******
Woohoo, Doxie Girls!
It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below)
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until
Monday, May 18th at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will
feature several of the Doxies' and my
favorite link ups. 
By linking up, you are giving permission for me
to post your picture with a link back to your 

blog or Instagram account. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking Up with~
Q2 On the Windy Side
Free Motion Mavericks

Giveaway Winner and Pet Project Show #18

Congratulations to Sandra from 
Musings of a Menopausal Melon! 

Sandra was the 5th link up for month, and the 
winner of the Variable Star Within a Star pillow.
I'll be shipping this package due north.

Here are a few of the Doxie Girls and my favorite 
link-ups for the month of April. I'm a nut for color
so I'm always drawn to brights.

Tanya linked her zebra quilt from 
Tanya Quilts in CO. It's vibrant!

Debra at Quiltingartist linked this cat quilt. It's
simple, bright, and effectively fun.

Maartje Quilt in Amsterdam linked this 
multi-colored FMQ bag. I'm transported
back to high school, and doodling on notebooks.

Beth at Cooking Up Quilts linked her Bee quilt.
What a lovely composition, and perfect for spring!
I think I need to join a Bee after seeing it.



Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict worked
together this beauty, and it surely suits its name,
Stained Glass.

Cassandra at The Not So Dramatic Life linked
her Marsala Mini, and wowed me. It's
just gorgeous.

Thank you all for sharing, and keep them

coming. I love seeing your link-ups, and getting
to know so many talented sewists.

Come on, Doxie Girls.
It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below left)
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until
Monday, April 27th at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will
feature several of the Doxies and my
favorite link ups.
By linking up, you are giving permission for me
to post your picture with a link back to your 

blog or Instagram account. 

   

    An InLinkz Link-up

   

Modern Spring Patchwork Pillow & Pet Project Show #16

Today was the perfect opportunity to make a

quickie project I've been longing for. I

wanted to try out my new Ditch Stitch

foot that Beth at Cooking Up Quilts had

recommended for the Janome machines.

I'd had it a week already, and never

even opened it up.

I started with a very simple layout of 2.5" squares.

I scoured my scraps, and also the fabric lying around

I'm using for my QST quilt. The green is a Schott

cotton that I can't keep enough of. I thought the 

colors reminded me so much of spring, but 

actually these wouldn't be what I would 

typically call spring colors. Then I looked back 

at the photos I'd been taking over the past few

days while out walking the Doxies.

Early rhubarb

This variety of daffodil almost glows.

This plain, little daffodil is my favorite 

out of all of them.

Many years ago when I was first married, I drove

far out in the country to our farm, and dug these

up beside an old foundation in a pasture. It

was a stagecoach stop at one time. The flower

may be plain compared to today's varieties,

but I think of all the people who gazed on

the flower from that bulb from the 1800's on.

I just love that!

The Ditch Stitch foot fit on my regular shank, and 

was easy to use. I wasn't sure if it would work 

equally well if the seams were pressed to one side 

or open, so I took the extra time to press them

open. I wasn't too careful while stitching, and it 

seemed to be far easier to stay in the ditch

than while just using a walking foot. 

It's always interesting to see what the tension on

the back looks like for me. I probably should have

adjusted it a little, but this was going to be

inside the pillow so no harm done.

The quilted top by itself turned out looking just a 

bit plain. I thought maybe a ruffled edging, but it

was too fru-fru. I liked the idea of a cross between

a ruffle and piping, and worked this out. I starched

my strip well before sewing, and left the cording

inside to give it body and weight.

 I think it feels modern, yet feminine. I finished it

off with a full width zipper, and a flap to hide it.

That's a true Friday finish, and now the

green grass is calling me to give it

the first cutting.

 Pan is watching over my garden,

and begging me to come weed it out.

Just as soon as I brew up some peppermint

tea, my friend. What a springtime treat!

Be sure to stop back for the link up

tomorrow with the Pet Project Show.

Each person who links up is automatically

given an extra chance for the Giveaway at 

the end of the month.

And a reminder to all, if you'd like to enter

the free drawing on May 2nd for this sweet 

pillow, the details are all in the link below.

You have until April 30th.

Pink Doxies Giveaway

Variable Star within a Star Pillow

The drawing is open to everyone so

check out the details, and send me an email.

If you are a No-Reply at Blogger, be sure to

include your email so I can contact you.

Linking up today with~

Crazy Mom Quilts
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Creative Goodness Linky Party
WIDTW
TGIFF with Maartje
LAFF
Planet Penny Happy Friday
Fabric Frenzy Friday
Show Off Saturday


Thank you all for the 
link up opportunity.

Come on, Doxie Girls.

Let's enjoy the sunshine.

It's Saturday, and time for the weekly 

Pink Doxies 

Pet Project Show. 

Add your link here every Saturday. 

Rules

Do we have to have rules? 

No worries! It's EASY.

1. Use the blue 'Add Your Link' button (below left) 
to upload a picture of something you've created 
in the past week. Any kind of handiwork--
share it now! It can be a work in progress, 
finally finished, or even your fab new fabric. 
Whatever it is that inspired you to create this 
week, we'd like to see it here. 

2. Please link to a specific post, and not just your 
blog address. It makes it easy for anyone following 

your link to find the project.

3. Provide a backlink to Pink Doxies with a link in 
your post, or pick up our Pet Project Show 
button in the sidebar. Copy the code, then 
create a Pet Show widget with 'Add by HTML' 
on your Layout page.

-OR-

1. You can link up to your Instagram. 
Click on the Instagram icon at the bottom 
of the link up screen. The URL of your Instagram 
feed will be your link. 
Please hashtag #pinkdoxiespetproject

Either way you link up, remember it's a party 
here, so schmooze with the crowd! Visit others 
who've linked up. Leave a comment so they 
know what you like about their work. 

Don't miss a post! 

Follow me on Bloglovin' or by email. 

The Linky Party starts now, and runs until 
Monday, April 20th at midnight. 

Spread the word, and tell all your stitchy friends.

*The first Saturday party of each month will 
feature several of the Doxies and my 
favorite link ups.
By linking up, you are giving permission for me 
to post your picture with a link back to your 
blog or Instagram account. 

An InLinkz Link-up