The Continuing HQ16 Story

I tracked down a set of canvas leaders this weekend and put them on today.  Now ... finally ... I can start quilting.  Tomorrow I'll load a practice piece and start playing.  =)

Remember the talking fabric from last week?  I'm so glad I shut up and let it talk.

Sorry for the short post today.  I have to go check the oven ... it's Wet Burrito Night.  Yummy!

Love,

Erin

Did you Know Fabric can TALK?!?!

Today I pulled out this collection of fat quarters by Tina Givens.  I got them from Whittle's Fabrics ... imagine that.  =)

There are 20 prints which is just perfect for a Turning Twenty quilt.  I was hoping it would turn out looking something like this quilt.  Isn't it beautiful!!!

But I couldn't make the first cut.  The fabrics kept saying "No, No!  Another pattern.  No, No!  Another pattern."  So I put down my rotary cutter and stepped away from the fabric.  After a short time browsing Flickr, I found this bit of inspiration:

Perfect and all the fabrics agreed!  I can't wait to lay it out, sew it together, so that I can show it to you.

Love,

Erin

Do you Believe in Fairies?

Abigail built this in the backyard this summer.  Brick exterior, slate roof, a flag pole and a bit of vine landscaping. 

 

Very cozy, don't you think??  If I was a fairy, I'd want to move right in.  =)

Love,

Erin

How a 16 year old Quilter Earns Money

I was sorting through my quilting magazines this morning and found this one --  it's from 1995 and I was 16 years old.

Do you see the basket quilt down at the bottom?  That is MY quilt.  =)  I'd like to share the story behind having it published in a magazine.

I made my first quilt when I was 14 years old and soon after discovered quilt magazines.  Such fun!  I found the Fruit Basket Quilt pattern in a magazine from the library.

I didn't have much of a fabric stash back then but my mom found a big bag of cotton prints at a garage sale for $2.00 so that's what I used for the baskets.  The white background is 99 cent/yard muslin from Joanns.  The sashing is a poly/cotton solid from Walmart.  I thought this was the prettiest quilt I'd ever seen when my mom, sister, and I finally finished it.

On a whim, I sent a picture and little description of the quilt to a the magazine who had published the pattern.  I was SOOOO surprised when I received a letter in the mail, several months later, that the magazine wanted to publish my quilt and they would pay me $50.

Wow!!!  I was over the moon with excitement.  =D =D =D  My dad very carefully packed up the quilt and mailed it to the magazine for photographing.  The quilt was returned to us and I began to wait.  And wait.  And wait.  And wait. 

Nine months went past and then it happened!  A letter arrived from the quilt magazine, apologizing for the delay and informing me that my quilt would be published next month.  And there was a CHECK, not for $50 ... but, $200!!! 

So there you have it.  It's just as exciting to see my (maiden) name in print 14 years later.

Love,

Erin

A Fish Named Felicity

Abigail has been asking for a pony for the past few months.  We are not a pet people, so we settled on a goldfish.  =)  Michael and I brought it home on Saturday night after our weekly date. 

Abigail named her Felicity and is very excited that Mommy is blogging about her new pet.  She also thinks Felicity is very cute.  =) 

Love,

Erin

PSA ... Fabric Enabler!!!

This post will be full of yummy fabric that is CHEAP.

I repeat myself, CHEAP FABRIC ALERT!

Continue at your own risk.  =)

Bell Bottom by  Jennifer Paganelli for Free Spirit.  I can't get enough of Free Spirit.  Their fabric collections are beyond incredible, in my opinion.  Here are a few of my favorites and you can get them at Whittle's Fabrics for $3.50 per yard.

Cloe's Imagination by Tina Givens for Free Spirit.  This is a whimsical collection with very retro and earthy colors.  Whittle's, Whittle's, Whittle's ... why do you do this to me!?!?  I.Cannot.Resist.

Oh.My.  I do love fabric!  It makes me so happy.  =)

Love,

Erin

HQ16 Update

The studio is coming together slowly but surely.  I really wanted to set the table up to 10 feet so that I could quilt MASSIVE quilts but the tracks were not playing nice.  So it's set up at 8 feet which, in all honesty, is more then enough room. 
 

The whole set-up process was a bit stressful for me, so I thought a trip to Zook's was in order.  I justified it in my head because I had birthday money.  =)


 "Sierra" Collection by Anna Griffin for Windham Fabrics - I fell in love with the paisley-like feathers of the first 3 fabrics and decided to buy almost all of them.  I skipped the wallpaper-looking stripes, but now that I look at the photo, I'm thinking they would add a bit of pizazz.  Oh dear me!  Does that mean another trip?

"Tiny Tots" by Indygo Junction for Red Rooster Fabrics - I'm reading "B is for Betsy" to Abigail right now and these prints remind me of the illustrations in the book.  Very vintage and I like that alot!  I'll stash this away for a future baby quilt. 

"Bistro" by Deb Strain for Moda - this is not a current collection but was on super sale.  The colors are totally my sister's so I got them to make her a quilt.  I don't know what pattern.  Something simple, earthy, and modern.  =) 

Between this, that, and the other thing happening this week, I worked on a theory I had to produce a planned scrappy nine-patch block.  I'm very delighted with the results and hope to share it with you next week. 

Have a lovely weekend!

Love,

Erin

Favorite Things in my New Sewing Nook

"Ox Cart Man" metal tray
This is my all-time favorite children's book.  I love both the story line and the illustrations.  You can't imagine how geeked I was to find this tray for a $1 at a MI thrift store.  =)

Knitted String Bag 
I use it for so many things (fabric shopping, project toting, etc).  The colors are so bright and cheerful!  It makes me happy seeing it hanging on the door knob.  =)

Rosey the Riveter Mouse Pad
I know it's a WWII poster, but I always wondered if she was as fiercely independent as I am and had a hidden agenda.  LOL  You go, girl!

Love,

Erin

Sewing Room Re-Arrange

Before - Sewing Room was on one half of the room & Computer Cave was on the other half of the room:

After - Sewing Nook:














Computer Cave:

BIG Space for my HQ16 - the table needs to be disassembled and put in the attic:

I debated whether or not to set up my HQ16 in the Sewing/Computer Room or on the main floor in the unfurnished living room.  I really love the upstairs bedroom -- it's so cozy and inviting!  So that's where the quilting machine will live.  =)  I'm hoping tomorrow or Friday, I'll have pictures of it in it's new home.

Love,

Erin

My Baby has Arrived!

You may not see me here for a couple days while we get acquainted with each other.  In the mean time, do you have any suggestions on a name?

Love,

Erin

Backyard Batiks

Last week Thursday when I went to Zook's (Lancaster, PA), I scored a nice pile of batik samples from the remnant basket.  They were basically two sizes -- 8 x 8 inch squares and 9 x 11 inch rectangles.  I made these two quilt tops using the squares.  One is warm colors and the other is cool colors.

I made a modified stacked coin quilt using the 9 x 11 inch rectangles.  I cut them into strips 2 3/4 inch wide x 9 inches long.  Again I arranged them by cools/warms and sewed them into columns.  There are 21 "coins" in each column.

I initially thought I would use one solid color (Kona Cotton) for the sashing but couldn't decide between brown, red, green, or blue.  So, I used all four and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the result!!!!

It looks just as pretty hanging this way, too:

Oooo, here is an artsy, close-up shot that makes me look like a polished professional photographer ...  NOT!  =D

I couldn't do it without my little side-kick and gal-pal.  =) 

Love,

Erin =)

PS -  I apologize for all the pictures but I just discovered this perfect little spot in our side yard to photograph my quilt tops.

Birthday Weekend

It was my birthday yesterday, September 13th, but the celebrating began on Friday.  Mr. K took me out to eat on Friday night at our favorite local pizza place.  Yummy!  We came home and found Abigail like this in bed.  It was only 8:00pm.

Saturday morning, Abigail and Mr. K came home with flowers, a card, and Edy's ice cream.  I'm not showing the ice cream carton, because it's all GONE.  We had lunch guests after church yesterday and Double Chocolate Fudge Brownie was a popular choice for desert.  Abigail picked out the card because she thought the flowers looked "quilty" and "Mommy really likes quilts."   I also received a birthday check so that I can do a bit of stash enhancement.

Friday and Saturday I spent a lot of time in my sewing room.  I finished two batik quilt tops.  You can't see them because they are folded and sitting on the brown table.  I sewed the panels for the modified Stacked Coins quilt and laid the four different options for sashing so that I could stare, think, and ponder.  =)

I cut out enough 4 1/2" squares to make two sashed squares lap quilts.  One with chocolate brown Kona Cotton sashing and the other with khaki Kona Cotton sashing.  The chocolate brown version is 1/2 done and I can't wait to show the finished top to you next week.

It was a very lovely birthday, I must say!

Love,

Erin

Rain, rain go away ... come again another day.

Brrrrr ... It's raining!

The weather man predicted rain, rain, rain for the whole week.  It's was absolutely gorgeous Monday thru Thursday and today we get the rain.  It's cold and I'm cold.

I feel loose ended and I miss Abigail.  I'm trying to pull myself up by my boot straps and get some simple quilt tops pieced.  Pretty batik squares should make me happy but they don't.  

Love,

The not so chipper and happy Erin

Taking a Blogiday

I'll be back tomorrow.  Today I took a road trip to Zook's Fabrics in Lancaster, PA.  I needed to do a little birthday shopping.  I'm turning 31 on Sunday.  =)

Love,

Erin

SQUEEEEEL!!!!!!!

Remember this quilt that I blogged about recently????  I decided to join the Flickr group, Fresh Modern Quilts, and I posted a few of my latest quilt tops there.  Yesterday afternoon when I checked my email, I found this comment to be moderated in my inbox:

 

happy zombie has left a new comment on your post "Tracey Porter Trio":

I love the quilts, Erin! You've inspired me to make a zig-zag quilt.

I was speechless and still am. 

Monica, the writer of The Happy Zombie, is a blog star!!!  Her patterns are published in magazines.  Her blog was featured in a book.  She designs for Moda Bake Shop.  I absolutely want to be like her when I grow up.

 

Thank you, Monica!  You absolutely made my day.  =)

Love,

Erin

Spontaneity Can Cause Problems

CLICK FOR LARGER VIEW

Running with those brief flashes of inspiration usually result in a great quilt, unless you run out of red polka dot fabric mid project. Ack!

Love,

Erin

Vintage Linens Give-Away ... WINNER!

Sarah, send me an email at erin1978 at gmail dot com with your mailing info and I'll get your package out to you this week. =) Don't forget to tell me what 2 blocks you'd like.

Don't worry to the rest of you who didn't win ... I'm planning on doing small weekly giveaways because they are so much FUN!! I love hearing comments from you and I want you to know how much I appreciate you reading my blog.

Love,

Erin