Short, Sweet, and Done--Pet Project Show #12

This quilt took me a year to 

complete, and more than once I was tempted to 

not finish it at all. I'm glad I kept at it because 

it forced me to grow my skills. I overcame the fear 

that I would mess up the FMQ beyond repair.

You all told me that the mistakes I knew were

there were not seen by others, so I kept on.

Thank you!

The last post here will give you many details 

of my process.

Now for some show and tell about my

NEW TOOLS.

I went shopping with my husband to

our local mega hardware store. I was 

seriously complaining about my scissors

picking up all my pins. I frequently use a

giant magnet to 'sweep' my floor area, or

skim it over my tables for a quick pin pick up.

Unfortunately, the pins can become the

tiniest bit magnetic.

$1 bought a demagnitizer that fixed my scissors!

Next was a too small, and slippery ruler problem.

I was looking for gripping material to put on my

ruler backs, and came across this 36", heavy-duty

ruler with an anti-slip backing. It has a place to 

keep my fingers up and off the cutting bed, and

it works like a dream!

$20-WOW

Guys have cool toys, and some are way

cheaper than the quilting tool vendors.

Don't forget tomorrow is the Pink Doxies

Pet Project Show. I'll open up the Link Party

just before I go to bed for all you folks living

'Over the Pond.'

Lots to do today, and get ready to show you

next week. I've already been to Miller's Dry Goods 

(my FLQS- favorite local quilt store) early this 

morning, and it was packed with happy 

quilters on the Quilting and Cuisine Shop Hop. It

continues through tomorrow.

Time to finish up another quilt top.

Here's a sneak peek at some blocks
so you can see the fun fabrics.
I'm so excited to get it all together!

Come on, Doxie Girls.

Let's go sew.

Linking up with~
Richard and Tanya Quilts
A Quilting Reader's Garden
Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Quilt Shop Gal
TGIFF
Planet Penny
and 
Sew She Can

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 easier for someone 
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, March 16th 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

One Day Closer to Another Finish

I started this lovely quilt just about a year ago.

I'd made several for other people, and decided

I wanted one just for me. Something a little

vintage-looking, feminine, sweet maybe.

I started it one day without a pattern, and soon

found myself in a pickle in how it was all

put together. I was pretty new at this yet.

Sewing with Abandon a.k.a. Guilt Quilting

I couldn't resist jumping ahead, and did the middle

block of the Modern Tradition Quilts Charm

Square Quilt Along 2015. It's my favorite!

I kept in the spirit of the tutorials, and 

finished the other 2 blocks provided.

The yellow electrifies the prints, and gives

these blocks a very tropical feeling.

I keep referring to this mentally as

the Casablanca quilt.

Join for FREE! Pet Project Show #11

                                                                            

What do you think when you see a sign

with "Free" on it?

I have a tendency to think there's got to be

a catch, or in the case above, 

it's going to cost me a lot. 

'Cuz nothing is free! 

Really?

Quilts for Guys: Modern and Man-ly & Vintage

 My dad's baby quilt--1930's

I kept my hand in the photo for a size reference. 
Tiny, precise stitches, oh my!

Happy Baby Snapshots Finished

 Yes, it is March, 

and, Yes, we still have snow in Ohio.

Keep the faith! Spring is on it's way,

and this quilt is all ready for a new baby!

Pet Project Show #10

It's Saturday, and time for the 
Pink Doxies
Pet Project Show.
I'm so glad you're here!

 

Let's look at some of the Doxie Girls
favorite link ups for the past month.

Melissa made this wonderfully scrappy quilt that
appeals to me for it's improvisation, but I love
for it's beautiful story.

Floriography Quilt Finale

Floriography is defined as 'the language of flowers.' 

In times past, sending certain flowers referenced specific things, possibly secret messages or hidden meaning. We've heard of the different meanings of rose colors. Yellow for friendship, red for true love, and so on. Flowers mark milestones in our lives today, and I love both sending and receiving. Give me a bouquet of mixed wild flowers any day over roses, though. I'm all about color, you know?

What Would Happen If....?

Today is purely play. I think I've said before that

while I enjoy books and demos to learn how to

do things, my favorite way is to just play with 

fabric and blocks to see what happens.

Starts, Stops, and Catch-ups: Floriography Quilt

Here's a sneak peek of the baby quilt done in Floriography.

I had to chase down binding fabric today, 

and it will be a finish by Friday.

The echoed flower was FUN to quilt,

and it went fast! I used a bright pink

Aurifil thread here, but it's blended well

with the pink gingham.

HST Quilt: Quilted and Bound & Pet Project Show #9

Quilted and bound!

It's always a personal little triumph when we can say, 
"I'm done. Yeah!" 

Stitchin' and Beachin'

Can you guess what would be in a 

sewists luggage for vacation?

My trusty computer, fabric, rulers, books, and 

2 changes of clothing with a swim suit.

I have a toothbrush where I'm going.

I'm so grateful that another family member

quilts, and has a fabulous stash of tools and 

a sewing machine left at my disposal!

Sunday Stash-RJR Moonlit and AG Field Day

Cotton+Steel

Moonlit by RJR Fabrics

With respect to our snowbanks and winter weather,

would you just take a moment to dream 

about the warm breezes of spring with me?

The butterflies will be back, and

the flowers will bloom again.

What a magnificent print when you see 
it as a large piece of fabric!

Pet Project Show #8

I'm ready for some serious stitching today!

Happy Saturday!

A special greeting for all of you who are

#NotAtQuiltCon:(

Can we make this a hashtag?

Seriously?

Effy's super disappointed we couldn't go.

Just joking! 
I've loved the Tweets and

the Instagram shots, and I'm living 

vicariously while the snow piles up here.

Keep them coming, please!

Add me to your feeds~

Julie Stocker on Twitter.

PINKDOXIES on Instagram.

Keep me in the loop!

Falling Star Pillow Finish

Do you remember this Falling Star block I was 

working with a few weeks ago?

I thought it would make a quick practice piece for FMQ,

 and decided I should turn it into a mod pillow.

I inserted a covered zipper in the back to make it washable.

The black and white hatched fabric

is from JoAnn's, and teams nicely with everything.

I'm So Jealous! Would You Look at Her Curves!

That was me. 

I was green with envy when I saw

quilters turning out blocks with curved piecing.

I loved it, but I already knew I couldn't do it.

I've sewn my share of little puffed sleeves on baby 

dresses, and fitted skirts round table toppers. 

Neither were on my list of, 

"Let's do that again soon!"

So, when I knew I had to learn to sew curves 

for piecing, I honestly dreaded it. 

I was pretty darn sure it was never going to be 

My Thing.

How to Put a Sleeve on a Wall Hanging-a Better Way!

Have you ever seen a wall hanging that was 

absolutely stunning, except for how the dowel created 

a curvey bump in the top?

I have, and it just made me cringe.

Your eye goes toward any change in the plane.

The Devil's in the details, folks! 

Don't slap the last bit together

just to say, "I'm Done!"

We're ALL guilty at some point.

Giveaway Winner and Sunday Stash

Color Theory from Moda

I have to admit that this collection got a 

cursory glance while shopping online 

this week. I liked the palette, 

but sometimes cyber shopping doesn't 

quite measure up to your LQS experience. 

Such was the case when I saw it in person.

The colors were gorgeous, and it felt luscious!

But was it worth the splurge?

I put a little 'Still Shopping' tag on it, and 

kept looking.(Okay, there was some pink in it, 

but it was soo much better in person.) 

I finally came back to claim it for my own. 

Be Mine Valentine! Pet Project Show #6

Happy Valentine's Day!

Remember all the Valentine parties 

when we were kids?

Lots of sweets and paper,

and decorated boxes.

My grandmother was a saver,

and saved these wonderful 

Valentine's of my father.

Most are from the late 1930's

into the early 1940's,

but I suspect a few are mixed in 

from around 1910 which

were Grandma's own.

Friday Floriography Finish

I am most definitely grateful for Friday!

I pushed all week to get this top done.

This is my last of three baby quilts 

I had lined up, and now it's

ready to quilt.

Winter Sunshine HST Top Finish and Pre-Cut Wrap Up

This reminds me of color prisms 

in the sunshine!

Would you believe I had one extra

unused HST, and no more?

That was lucky!

Upsides and Downfalls of Pre-Cuts

Isn't this just the cutest thing?
It's not my work, but that of Norma at 
Petit Design Co. 
The scrap rat in me loves the color punch it gives.

I'd been inspired by a 

Value Quilt Tutorial 

by 'Sew Katie Did', 

and tons of Pinterest links. 

Stripping the Charm from Pre-Cuts

My HST quilt made with dark and lights is 
coming together. I'm working in my kitchen for 
extra light and table space, and I should have the top 
done early today. I've learned oodles about 
matching points and diagonals, and overall 
it's been a real education in construction 
'Do's and Don'ts.' I'll wait to give you 
all my notes in the finish post.

Pet Project Show #5--Name Dropping

The Doxie Girls and I have been busy sewing these past few days, but one is a project for the Tree Bird Blog Hop coming up in March. For now, it's top secret.

The 2015 Grow Your Blog is still in process. The list is full of blogs covering every interest. I've only made it half way through. One of the most beautiful, original blogs I've come across is Sarah Lizzies. If you want to be inspired, especially just before Valentine's Day, visit this fabulous site.

I have so much fun blog hopping through the week, and joining in all the linky parties. Why? As part of your agreement in linking up, you visit others who've linked up, and build community. It's fabulous! Quilt Along.Net is my go-to site for keeping track of them, and for all the quilt alongs, both current and past. The site grows every week. 

I'm there every day! 

"I See Your True Colors Shining Through": Lighting Problems

Lighting

This is the one most difficult thing I deal with when trying to show what I'm doing. The top photo was done in late afternoon with the light coming from the north. It was not retouched or edited besides cropping. The color is brilliant!

My Valentine's Gift for You

Copyright Pink Doxies-Artistry by Donna Young

Paper Pieced Heart Pattern

How do you give a Valentine to all your Dear Friends-- 

when you've never met most of them, 

and many live on the other side of the world?

Hmmm?

Happy Baby Snapshots

No baby pictures here--just a new quilt in progress using "Snapshots" by Riley Blake. 

I picked up a fat quarter bundle a few months back, but had no ideas for it then. When I found out two of the three babies expected this spring were girls, I knew right away.

Babies aren't little very long. Those of us who've raised a few realize they grow up in a Snap, so I wanted a girly quilt that would grow with her. I introduced some funky solids, and I think it did the trick here.

Show and Tell and Pet Project Show

There have been many occasions lately where someone has asked me if I had a card.

In the age of smart phones, do people still carry business cards?

According to my daughter at university, students there are encouraged 

by professors to carry business cards.

Several other friends said they always cards on their person.

Where have I been?

Jelly Beans and Chocolate

                                               We had a snowy weekend here, 

and I don't know what quilter doesn't translate that as,

"So sorry! We can't make it because of the weather," and

"Hip hip hurrah! I get to stay home and SEW!"

Just don't share that with friends and family.

They won't get it,
and they won't think it's funny!

GROW YOUR BLOG

This is me--Julie, and Minnie, one of the Doxie Girls.

Today is a very special blog post. 

I've joined with Grow Your Blog 2015 along with hundreds of other bloggers. 

Our host is Vicki at 2 Bags Full, and may I say thank you, first of all. 

There are some rules to abide by, so allow me to follow them to a "T",

and then we'll get on to our Linky Party and a Giveaway!

I'm Julie--a Modern Quilter.

I love modern fabric, intense pattern, and improvisational piecing.

I'm all about machine quilting, but occasionally quilt one by hand. 

I would pick a scrap quilt as my favorite 8 days of the week.

 I Dream in Color.

Building a Log Cabin with Fabric

I feel like I've been playing catch-up all week. Whew! 

Today I marked my calendar off just for me, and just to sew. 

I needed a fabric fix in the worst way!

Remember my Log Cabin blocks? Last night I sewed up the pale greens.

 This morning I plunged into the corals...

Buying Fabric

Tokyo Train Ride by Sarah Watts for Cotton + Steel

I placed an order with Fat Quarter Shop last week. It was waiting for me when I made it home Sunday. Oh, Wow!  My taste ran all over, and I tried to rein it in, but the choices were SO TEMPTING!  

Linky Party -Pet Project Show

Christmas palms, and, yes, the berries are really that red! 
I'm off on a get-a-way for a couple days,
and out with my camera to snap some color.

Finish Up Friday

I rarely ever want to make the same quilt twice, but this is an exception.

I'm emotionally drawn to the Depression Era reproduction fabrics, and I blended 

what I had with some solids and recent prints. A few additional prints were 

given to me by the soon-to-be-grandma of the expected baby. 

They blended perfectly,and I used them to make the quilt even more personal.  

Quilt Stats

• 5" tumbler template from Missouri Quilt Co. 
• Sew pieces together side by side, then rows horizontally.
• From fabric selection to a finished top--about 3 hours.
• Used a standard baby quilt size of "Warm and Natural" cotton batting
• Straight quilted with a walking foot on Janome 8200QC. Stitch length 2.8mm following about 1/2" from either side of seams
• Left 'wavy' edges to add to the charm
• Bound with 2 1/4" straight cut binding

Playing with Blocks

I had some time to sew this weekend, and I wanted to jump right in cutting into 
the huge stack of fabric I'd pulled a few weeks ago. 
I'm suddenly intrigued by all the possibilities the Log Cabin block holds. 

100th Post and 1st Linky Party

I had hoped to have this done today, but life takes precedence. I made this wall hanging for my sewing room wall to remind myself that it's not the destination--it's the journey. I have been blessed by all the wonderful people I've met through Pink Doxies and quilting. One hundred posts, and dozens of new friends. Thank you.

I'm Planning a Party! Wanna Come?

I'm proud to say the tote is done. 
The handles are on, and it's ready for service. 
No more travelling in blue Ikea bags for me.
Woohoo!

Selvages and Pieced Oversized Tote WIP

 

Okay folks. I'm smitten. I'm, totally, head-over-heels Gaga over selvages. 

They are like gingerbread on a house to add the final zing.

Orphan Blocks and Selvages

 My sewing room is now 'cleaner', meaning there are still some piles of fabric waiting for another project or two, and, Woohoo! I found my lost ruler! Floors are swept, free of pins, and all table tops are wiped down. Cutting fabric causes a lot of lint and dust, but all surfaces are sparkly now. I was putting away some scraps, and uncovered a stack of orphan blocks. They were made with Kate Spain fabric, and left over from the "Daydream" improv quilt top I did a few months ago. They were begging to be put in a project.

Flash In the Bag

The promised camera bag.

Have you noticed the little changes in Pink Doxies lately? One big one is the Bloglovin' button over there on the top right. See it? You can join Bloglovin' with just an email or your Facebook account. Then you can look for blogs you want to follow--like Pink Doxies, or other great blogs you've never even heard of yet. Bloglovin is searchable, and it's easy to find whatever you're interested in no matter who the blog's host is. They're there. Then each morning an email comes to your Inbox with a daily feed from Bloglovin. All the blogs you've chosen to follow that have posted that day are in it. It's a wonderful way to keep up, and eliminates the need for bookmarking or missing blogs you like.

Salvaged Selvage Bag

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Allow me to prepare you for a wee bit of rambling today, but there are pictures.

New Year's Day was quiet here inside, and very cold and windy out. There was a fire in the hearth, hockey on the t.v., and fast food for supper. I had almost the whole day to sew, and since the year was new, I wanted to try something I'd never done before. Selvages. Wouldn't they look cute on a little zipper bag?