Happy Fall!

Hello Friends

Sorry for the delay.  Blogging has not been a priority this summer.  My son was home and working a lot and I was running for family.  I did manage to sew a few things though.

First I have to introduce you to my puppy niece.  Her name is Ruby and my sister and brother-in-law got her in April.  She is the sweetest puppy ever!  She just turned 1 in July.  She loves her Auntie too!

 

I like to make gifts for my coworkers for their birthdays.  We have a big Badger fan in our group so I thought this mug rug would be appropriate.  I added vinyl to the front because I was afraid the red would bleed if it got wet.

 

 

I also made this fox mug rug for a friend.  I usually don't make commission pieces but this was fun to figure out.  I did not use a pattern but I have since bought the pattern Fancy Fox by Elizabeth Hartman.  I will be posting more foxes soon.  I just think they are so cute!

 

The first Thursday-Saturday in September is the Wisconsin Quilt Expo.  I tried to enter a quilt this year but was rejected.  And, I am ok with that.  I will try again if I have another quilt to enter next year.  This year I wore a t-shirt and was free advertising for my friends shop, Blue Bar Quilts.  I ran errands for them and brought people to the booth who stopped me when they saw my shirt.  I only went on Friday because I discovered that Tula Pink was coming to give a talk.  I usually don't buy fabric based solely on the designer, but during one of the big Quilt Markets, I heart Tula had a sale on her fabric.  They had a kit for hexies and you received a sampling of her new line Spirit Animal.  I like to make hexies so I ordered the kit.  Then it sat for a few months.  When I found out she was coming to Madison I had to do something with that fabric. 
Many years ago when my son was very young, he bought me a white denim jacket.  I wore it a few times but hanging in the closet caused it to get dingy.  I decided to make a bunch of the hexies and add them to my jacket.  But first I thought I needed to dye it.  I have never done that before and I usually don't work with clothing at all.  This was actually fun.  Changing the color to the right shade made me a little nervous.  But I think it came out great!
When the doors opened to the event, Tula was front and center and graciously signed autographs and took pictures.  She talked for the whole 2 hours and then took more pictures.  She is very funny and I suggest you all go and see her if you get the chance.

 

September is also Ovarian Cancer Awareness month.  My friend Trish is a survivor and talks about the Teal Mini Swap each year at our guild meetings.  This year I decided to join.  It was $15.  $10 of that was donated and the other $5 went to admin costs.  This wonderful woman Beth is in charge of it all.  You are given a swap partner from somewhere in the country and you either make a mug rug or mini quilt.  My partner was Jeanne and she was from Virginia.  We agreed on a mini no larger than 20x20.  This is what I sent her.

 

We are sent a swatch of teal fabric and need to include at least a small piece of it in the quilt.  I tried to do a lighthouse paper pieced pattern but it was in Dutch and I could not figure it out.  Then I found my No Scrap Left Behind book from Amanda Jean Nyberg and knew I had found my pattern.

I had loaned my Pfaff machine to a friend who was trying to finish a birthday gift so I had to bring out my old Singer.  She did an okay job.  I did discover that she needs a good cleaning and oiling.  But the tension was easier to fix on her than on the Pfaff.

 

This is the quilt I was sent.  She did such an amazing job.  I just love it!!

 

Very modern and just the perfect addition to my collection.

 

Not much else going on right now in my sewing world.  I am going to Denver this month to see my Bestie who moved there in March.  I can't wait to see her.  I haven't flown in over 10 years or had a vacation either.  Looking forward to seeing some family and old friends while I am there too.

 

My current goal is trying to finish things before I start anything new.  I am doing pretty good so far.  Just sent two quilts to the longarmer and should have them back this week.  Trying to get tops quilted so I have bindings to do this winter.  Stay tuned for pictures of the finished quilts. :)

 

Blessings

Amy

 

 

 

 

 

Happy first day of Summer!

Hello Friends!

I have a finish to share!  I decided to do the off season Project Quilting Challenge.  For June the theme is 'June Buggy'.  A little back story for this.  My uncle had a yellow VW beetle and I thought it would be fitting to try and make one.  I am trying to get better with my applique and I think the more I do it the better it gets.  Here it is:

 

I wanted to keep the quilting simple so I just quilted lines out to make it look almost like a sunbeam.  Let's talk about the flower.  During the Madison Modern Quilt Guild meeting, I won a door prize.  If you really know me, you know that I love to make yo-yos and I have a few plastic forms to make them.  Well, I chose this Kanzashi flower maker:

I thought it would be fitting to have a flower on the car.  I used my rainbow batik fabric to make it.  This device was so easy to use and the flower was very simple to make. 

 

This little quilt is 12 x 12 and was made in Verona WI.  Here is the link if you would like to join in the fun.  You have until June 30 for this challenge. Project Quilting-June Buggy

 

Big shout out to Kim for organizing such a fun challenge!

 

 

Blessings,

Amy

Getting things done

Hello Friends!

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying summer.  It has been unbearably hot here.  I have a few top finishes to share and a picture of my winnings from the Modern Mini Quilt Challenge sponsored by Quilt Expo and Nancy Zieman.

First I will show you the sashiko piece I finished.  I am hoping to turn it into a tote bag.  I think I will put the iron on vinyl on it to protect the stitches.

This piece is a light teal color so I thought the orange would really pop on this.  I am going to look at batiks for the bag.

 

When I wasn't working on this I was working on English paper piecing.  This is called Daisy Chain and I followed Rita-Red Pepper Quilts.  I think I need 150 to make a decent size quilt but I only have 15 done.  May end up in something modern at this point.

 

My friend Gael has opened a quilt store not too far from me.  It is very modern and just a wonderful place to gather.  If you ever get to Middleton WI check out Blue Bar Quilts.

Make sure to tell them that the The Turquoise Button sent you.  There are a lot of Amys in my guild that go to the shop so this way they will know who you are talking about.

They are having a grand opening next weekend and I am going to help with a make and take.  I found a pile of button forms in a drawer and decided to use them.  Also, all this paper piecing and Sashiko has had me needing one.  I had seen a tutorial online a while back and decided to make my own needle minder.  Of course nobody can make just one, or maybe that is just me.  It was a great way to use up those small scraps.

 

I even made little cards to attach them to.  I have already sold one and I am sure I will sell more.  I will be adding them to my etsy store soon.  I will add the link here when I do get them on there.

 

I feel like I have been pretty productive lately.  Late last year I found this BOM (block of the month) and thought I would give it a try.  I have been using my scraps and stash for about 2 1/2 years now and thought that would be a great way to use things up.  You can find the pattern here-Moda Be My Neighbor-Bear Creek Quilting Company

I think I will embellish this quilt after it is quilted.  I think I will put curtains in the windows and use buttons of different themes throughout.  Stay tuned for that.

Also late last fall I decided to make a quilt using Bonnie K Hunter's phone book pages scrap quilt idea.  She uses the pages for stability.  I found an old phone book at work and cut it up into 7 1/2 inch squares.  This was a lot of fun digging into the scrap bin.  At one point I sorted all of my scraps by color and was able to mix up and use better color combinations.  I made 72 blocks.  Some days I would make 5 or more and some days I made just one.  I have had the stack de-papered for a while just waiting to sew them together.  That part took about an hour and a half.  I realized that having everything cut to the correct size and using the same seam allowance really does help. :)

 

I am not sure if many people know this about me but I love all thing nautical.  I should have been born by the ocean because I love it!  When Blue Bar Quilts opened they had this line from Cotton and Steel that I just fell in love with.  I just had to make a baby quilt with this line.  I just need to quilt this and then it is ready for gifting.  Or for sale on my etsy store.

That light blue colored dot fabric will be the back and the red will be the binding.

 

At the beginning I talked about my winnings from the Wisconsin Quilt Expo-Nancy Zieman Blog Modern Mini Quilt Challenge

You may remember my fingerprint quilt.  This is what I entered and I received an honorable mention.  It may be the last quilt listed but it's mine and I am super proud and excited!

 

 

And this is my prize.  I was not expecting anything but I just love this book.  You will see a quilt or two from this book soon!

 

 

So, I have been pretty busy lately.  Still have a list a mile long of things to do and finish.  Hoping to quilt some of these before I start something else.

 

What are you working on?  I would love to hear how you stay organized as I struggle to even keep my sewing table clean.

 

Blessings!

Amy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this a dream?

Hello Friends

Thanks for stopping by.  I have a lot to show you that I have been working on but this post is going to be quick.  Earlier in the month I saw a post for Quilt Expo/Nancy Zieman Mini Modern Quilt Challenge.  All they wanted was a picture of a 20x20 or smaller modern quilt.  I thought I would enter this fingerprint quilt:

 

They announced the winners today and I may have the last quilt listed but it is an Honorable Mention!  Yay!!!  I won a book from Martingale.  Here is the link-Quilt Expo MMQC winners

 

So excited that this little quilt is becoming so famous. :)

 

More pictures coming.  I had a very productive weekend!

 

Blessings

Amy

Hello Friends

Hello!

Hope you all have been well.  Sewing has been slow around here but I do have some finishes to share.
First off, I would like to thank everyone who voted and or left a comment on my Project Quilting posts.  I am truly blessed by your kindness.  It was a lot of fun but also a lot of work.  I am glad it's only 6 projects.  But I can't wait for the next round already.  Because I was able to finish all 6 projects I felt I deserved a gift.  Check out my new sweatshirt!

Check out Kim's site for other great clothing options.

 

I am a member of the Madison Modern Quilt Guild.  We meet once a month and I just love everyone in the group.  They are so encouraging and supportive.  One of the members and my friend, Natalie

is amazing!  She is so talented and makes the most wonderful things.  She made a zipper bag pattern with vinyl and glitter.  When I saw that at the meeting, I just knew I had to try it. This is one of the half dozen I have made.

I then decided I would try making a few other designs.  I am hopeful I will get the anchor bag done soon.  But that is for me so it always takes the back seat to other projects.
One idea I had was to make a bag for boys.  Glitter for boys?? Heck yes!  I thought it would be fun to do a road with grass on the back and a car on the front.  Then they can keep their cars inside the bag.  This is what I came up with.  Sewing on vinyl is not as hard as it looks.

I have 3 special little boys in my life and I filled these with cars for Easter.  They were a hit!  Thank you again Natalie for such a fun and easy tutorial!

I am still working on my Missing U quilt and my Moda Be My Neighbor quilt.  The blocks are done for the Missing U and I have 3 more to make for Be My Neighbor.  These are on the short list to get done.  I was also able to get all 72 blocks made from my phone book foundation paper strip quilt.

All of the paper has been torn off, I just need to lay them out and decide on a design and sew them together.

 

Stay tuned for an update on my word of the year and my new favorite quilt shop.

 

What are you working on?

 

Blessings

Amy

 

 

 

PQ 8.6

Hello Friends

Today I am sharing my final quilt for Project Quilting Season 8.  The theme this week was 'Time is Up'.  I have always wanted to try the Dresden Plate Quilt Block.  I was able to find a pattern with 12 blades.  I bought a burlap frame and got to work.  The burlap was too flimsy and the clock mount would not stay on.

 

And it didn't look like a quilt.  So I grabbed another color from Amanda Jean's fabric line called Good Neighbors and came up with this.

This is actually hanging on my wall in my sewing room. :)  And the clock works! I am linking up to Project Quilting.  Voting opens at Noon CT on Sunday.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings

Amy

 

Project Quilting 8.5

Hello friends,

Hope everyone is well. This week the theme is Well-dressed Man.  I have been addicted to Mad Men on Netflix.  So, I chose Don Draper (Jon Hamm).  Last year at the WI Quilt Expo, Kristy Daum had her quilt, Sherlock there. It was a pixel quilt. She took a photo and uploaded it to pic2pat and it created a pattern for cross stitch but she turned it into a quilt.  I have wanted to try this but never had a subject until now.

I took this picture and did the pic2pat

Then I had to find fabric. I actually had to buy fabric for this one.  Not once but twice.  The first time I made this I measured wrong . Each square was to measure 1.5 by 1.5.  So my thinking was 1.5+1.5 equals three, it doesn't it equals 2.5 when you take away the seam allowance.  Nothing was matching up so I decided to start over . So off to the quilt store again to buy more fabric.  

 Did I do it right the second time? Of course not. The brown I had chosen was way too dark and he look like a scary skeleton.

 He still does look a little scary up close but if you squint you can see his figure better.

He measures about 27x27.

Linking up to project quilting.  Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, 

Amy

Project Quilting 8.4

This week's challenge is 'Brighter the better'.  I decided I wasn't going to stress about this and just make something bright. I found This herringbone quilt pattern from Maureen Cracknell.   I love her work and her fabric.  I used all scraps and stash for this. It measures about 61x61.

This will be linked up to the project quilting site. Voting will open on Sunday afternoon. 

This quilt is going to a special place. More on that next month.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings,

Amy

Project Quilting 8.3

Hello Friends!

This weeks Project Quilting 8.3 is Tuned in to Texture.  I really struggled with this one.  And then I cut my finger with my rotary cutter and thought for sure I wouldn't be able to participate.  But my finger is healing and I found inspiration.  The first thing I did was google 'tune in to texture'.  This is one of the images that came up:

 

 Bingo! A fingerprint!  Now how do I make this happen.  I really don't care too much for applique but I sure have been using it a lot lately.  So I found this image online:

 

 Perfect!  I printed it out as big as I could with the paper I had.  Then I put the Heat and Bond over the picture and copied the lines with a marker.  Then I ironed it to the black fabric and cut out each black line.  Then I took the printed copy and laid the white fabric over it.  I lined up the black pieces and ironed them on.  When that was done, I sewed on each piece.  Then it was time for the quilting.  I really struggled with this.  Free motion was not working and I didn't care for the straight lines either.  It was getting late and I needed to decide.  I just made a continuous circle all around it.  Here is a close up of the texture:

 

And here is the finished project: measuring 20x17

 

Thank you to Kim and Trisha for a wonderful challenge.  Voting will open on Sunday, you can check it out here-Project Quilting 8.3

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Blessings

Amy

 

Happy Monday!

Hello Friends!

Hope you are all doing well.  I have a lot of quilts going right now.  I need to buckle down and finish something.

I started the Moda Be My Neighbor quilt.  Here are a few of the blocks that I have finished. 

I am using only scraps for this quilt.  Bear Creek Quilts wanted everyone to post their finished quilt by tomorrow.  Not going to make that deadline. 

 

I am also working on a pinwheel quilt for my neighbors and I just started this quilt late last week:

 

It's Millennium Pyramids by Bonnie Hunter

 

This quilt has 2000 pieces.  Yep, I am crazy.  But what a good way to use up scraps.  I love the process she uses with 3 inch squares.  However, you must be very careful when you are cutting out the triangles.  Yep,  I sliced the corner of my finger and took off part of my nail while cutting these out yesterday.  Going to take a break from quilting for a couple days while it heals.  I did not go to the doctor for stitches because there was nothing to stitch.  I think I need to invest in some metal gloves.

 

This week's challenge for Project Quilting 8.3 is Tune in to Texture.  I am stumped but I will do some looking around this week to see if anything appeals to me.  Depending on how my finger is healing we will see if I am able to do a quilt this week.

 

I am really going to work on finishing a project or two next month.  Since I am out of commission with my finger injury, I think I will organize my sewing space and see exactly how many UFOs I have.

 

What are you working on?

Blessings

Amy

 

 

A sewing weekend

Hello Friends

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  First I want thank everyone for your comments about my Lily quilt.  You all are so wonderful! Thank you for taking the time to read my little blog.
The weather has been warmer than usual and it's been foggy and drizzly here.  Perfect weekend to sew!  I met a couple of my besties out for coffee Saturday morning, then it was time to sew.  I have been working on my The Missing U blocks.  You can check out the book here-Sunday Morning Quilts.  I can't believe I made 11 blocks.  I did other things like dishes and laundry but for the most part it was sewing time.
Here are the 11 blocks I made:

I have 16 blocks done and I may stop there.  I am going to size them up and lay them out to see if I need other colors or more of one color.  It's been a great way to use up scraps.

 

I also just received the labels I had made from The Dutch Label Shop.  This was a place that Kim from Persimon Dreams mentioned.  It only took a week for them to come and it was so easy to create.

Now, everything I make will have a label.  I love them!

Also, Project Quilting 8.2 is now open for voting.  My quilt is #21 if you choose to vote for mine.  Here is the link,  thank you!

 

I have a busy week of running and doing things around the house.  Hopefully I will have another sewing weekend soon.  What are you working on?

 

Blessings

Amy

 

 

 

 

Project Quilting 8.2

Hello Friends

This weeks challenge for Project Quilting 8.2 is Carolina Lily.  I knew I wanted to do something 3 dimensional.  I made the petals first using an orange peel template.  Then I made the leaves.  I just took two pieces of fabric with batting in the middle and sewed a leaf shape.  Then I cut out as close to the stitching as I could.

  Because I didn't want the batting to show, I used a brown marker to color in the batting.  Then I took a kitchen straw and covered it with fabric.  I made the stamen by curling brown wire and inserting it into the top of the straw. 

They are held in by hot glue.  While assembling I thought it would be fun to have the leaves hang off the sides.  Of course, when I was quilting the background I found puckers in the back.  Thankfully they were on the other side of the flower.  This measures 16 x 9 1/2.  Linking up to Project Quilting 8.2 Carolina Lily  and Crazy Mom Quilts.

 

This weekend is all about organization!  Wish me luck!

 

Blessings

Amy

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2017!

Hope you are all well. This last half of the year has been a trying one with the exception of my sister's wedding.  We almost lost dad again in December. He is doing much better now though.  We celebrated the holidays with family at the nursing home.  My son is currently out of town with his girlfriend and her family.  Can't wait to have him home for a couple more weeks until school starts again.

This year I made my co-workers some crocheted dish cloths. I wanted a project that was portable for my dad's hospital stays and this fit the bill.  I can't seem to stop making them now so I might have to put them up on my Etsy  store.

I will post pictures of them soon. Along with the pot holders I made.

This year I am trying to do some qal (quilt alongs).  My internet friend Izzy and I are making a quilt from the book Sunday Morning Quilts.  We have chosen the quilt The Missing U.  It will be nice to use up more scraps.  You are welcome to play along. Just find me on Instagram-the turquoise button.

I am also trying Project quilting.  I just finished the first project.  The idea for this week was 8 is great! You could do anything as long as you completed a quilt. I made this to honor my high school. I was the Monticello Ponies mascot for two years and I graduated in 1988.  It's not as fancy or as good as the ones I have seen, but it's mine.  People can vote on their favorites and we can win prizes. I am just happy to use more stash.
Feel free to join along!

Wishing you a blessed year!

Amy

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.