Bread Basket and Christmas Through the Year Club Finish

I have completed my bread basket (thanks again Fiona).  I breezed through it and finished sewing the binding when I realized that I could not fold it over correctly.  So I thought, no problem, I would just cut an 1/8" off the sides.  Never do this, I cut off the corners and had to redo the binding.  I could not salvage the linen fabric and, believe me, I tried.  So in the end I had to use a different fabric for the binding.  But I did learn a very, very important lesson.  I know that I will never make that same mistake again.  I ended up using a very stiff batting (the kind you use for fabric bowls) so that it would keep its shape.

I love how it turned out!  It is just fantastic.  The best part is that I can untie the corner ribbons and it will lay flat.  I plan on using this at the next barbeque.

On another note,  I made a few pin cushions for the Christmas Through the Year club.  I plan on giving one of them at the firehouse Christmas party with some other goodies.  And the other two pin cushions will be given away to friends.

Aren't they cute?

Now to go and work on my Summer Sampler Series blocks.

I Won A Giveaway

Hey, I won a giveaway hosted by Fiona of BubzRugz.  She sent me a bread basket kit along with a sweet note...

I love the colors of the fabrics.  Unfortunately, it looks a bit yellow in this picture.

I wish I had taken a picture of it before I unwrapped it because it looked so nice with the ribbon and all.  I can't wait to get started on making the bread basket and this one I am going to keep for myself.  I love the fabrics.  They feel so nice, I wish you could feel them.

If you haven't visited Bubz Rugz, you should stop on over.  She has a great tutorial on how to make the bread basket here.

A Week of Summer Sampler Series

Here are the next 3 blocks from the Summer Sampler Series.

I have to say that I am learning a bit.  For instance, I have never worked on pieces with 60 degrees.  The third block (in the picture above) I worked on was composed of 60 degree pieces.   The instructions were very easy to follow and I did not have any issues sewing them together.   The second block was paper pieced.  I am not a fan of paper piecing, but I do not mind doing it from time to time.  However, I would never sew an entire quilt using paper piecing techniques.

I am beginning to like this series.  I can't wait for this week's blocks.

My First Mug Rug and Another Summer Sampler Series Block Completed

I have seen so many mug rugs on different blogs, so I finally decided to take the plunge.  Here is a picture of my first mug rug.

This is a cheater cloth and I bought it a long time ago, but could never find a use for it.  So I cut it down a bit and then quilted along the fence, flowers, and birdhouse.  I was thinking about adding beads and buttons, until I realized how silly that would be.  It would so get in the way of placing a mug/cup and cookies.  Sometimes I get so caught up on the creativity that I forget the initial purpose.

I also managed to make my third block for the Summer Series quilt along.  This block was a bit hard.  It looks so easy, but matching all the points was not!!!  But it is done.  I am currently working on the next block.  

We had another sew in yesterday and here is a picture of the table we were working on.  It's a bit cleaner than usual...

Square Pin Cushion and Block #2 Done

I have always wanted to make this simple pin cushion, but have never gotten around to making it until yesterday.  I love this pin cushion!  I used a ceramic button that I won in a giveaway.  I thought it was perfect for the fabrics I used.

 I also finished block #2 in the Summer Sampler Series quilt along.  I am ready to tackle block #3.

A Day of Sewing

It is amazing how fast the day goes when you sew with someone.  My friend Priscilla and I had another sew in (that's what I am going to call it).  We started in the morning and sewed until about 5:30.  I worked on my colorful quilt.  Here is what I managed to get done.

Next time, I am going to take a picture of our table.  It is such a mess and we would not have it any other way.

Joined a New Summer Sampler Series Group

I must be crazy because...I decided to start another quilt.  I ran across the Summer Sampler Series quilt along hosted by Freshly Pieced, Fresh Lemons Quilts, and Swim, Bike, Quilt and decided to join the fun.  Each week we will make 3 blocks;  there is a tutorial for each block.  Of course I decided to join at the very last minute, so I was a bit behind.  I have never made a quilt using only solid fabrics so I decided that's what I would do.

I had purchased these hand dyed fabrics several years ago without anything in mind.  I thought they would be perfect for this quilt.

The blocks are 12" finished and here is a picture of the first block I just finished.

I will be working on the second block tomorrow...so stay tuned.

A Day Spent Sewing

A friend and I decided that we would pick a day to sew together.  Well, we have managed to have two of them so far and this is what I decided to work on...

I came across this block when I was looking through my quilt binder.  Quilt binder?  Yes, my quilt binder holds all those pictures and sometimes instructions of quilts I would like to try.  This one is from QNM April 2002 (Quiltmaker's Workshop Section) and titled Crazy Log Cabin.  I had a lot of leftover brights that I thought would be great!  So I just started to cut and sew.  I started out with 19 blocks and, I don't care what anyone says, scrap quilts are not easy!  For instance, now I am left with 15 blocks because I could not get  four of the blocks to measure 13" square.   I will either have 4 orphan blocks, use them in a different project, or donate them to my quilt guild...nothing goes to waste.