New Jelly Roll Quilt

I have a jelly roll of Mama Says Sew and have started putting it together.  Here are some of the strips waiting to be put together.

I have a few of them up on the wall.

Not sure I like it right now but when all the strips get done, I am sure it will be better.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–July 30, 2012

Nothing actually on my design wall today but I do have a new project to work on.  I have been teaching my beginning machine piecing class for several years now and am going to add a follow up class to expand the students knowledge and experience with more complex piecing.

Well, this photo is a little fuzzy isn’t it.  This quilt will be a typical sampler with 12 blocks.  The white is the background, the flower next to it will  be the border and the blocks will be made from the other fabrics.  I am designing it in EQ7 and it is looking good so far.

For more design wall, go to Patchwork Times and check out all the inspiration from around the world.

Melinda

Traveling Stash Giveaway

As you saw yesterday, I have a traveling stash box here.  This is the one that is posted on the 29th of each month and that is today.  It is really stuffed full and I had a hard time deciding what to take out.

There are quite a few 5 inch charms in the box and I picked out some of the polka dot ones.  I also took a cut of Christmas fabrics and the other polka dot fabrics from the box.  I also took the wool scraps to add to my wool collection and one pattern for a notebook cover.  There are several other patterns in the box.  I forgot that I took two other patterns out.

I haven’t replaced everything yet but rest assured, the box will be packed full of goodies when it moves on.

Here are the rules:THE TRAVELING STASH RULES AND GUIDELINES

RULES:

1. Be an active blogger. Post about receiving and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.
2. There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been. Please add your info and place the note back in the box.
3. There is a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box. Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
4. You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken. See guidelines below.
5. Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.
6. Due to the amount of postage shipping is only within the USA.

GUIDELINES:
The definition of a stash is a secret store of valuables. For quilters it's a collection of usable quality products. The stash should contain mostly fabric with a few patterns and/or books and other items.

• FABRIC:     Should be quilt shop quality in new condition. Scraps should only be included if they are cut for adding to a collection and packaged accordingly (i.e. I-Spy squares, postage stamp squares, etc.). There should not be anything under a Fat Quarter unless packaged like this.
• PATTERNS/BOOKS:     Should be in new or gently used condition. They should be kept to a minimum (books are bulky and add weight).
• OTHER ITEMS:     Should be in new or gently used condition. Tools, notions, etc. These items should be packaged if necessary.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:

• If you receive a box with anything that is of "poor" condition you should not feel guilty in tossing it out.
• Only put items in the box that you would be proud to own. The box is NOT a dumping place for all your outdated unwanted items.
• Items should be free of smoke and pet hairs.
• You must replace items you take with the same quantity of like-kind items. Replacing more than you take is always welcome.  :) 

The winner of this Traveling Stash will host the next giveaway on August 29th.

If you are interested in winning the box, leave me a message on this post.  As part of your message, tell me what your favorite summer dessert is.  I think mine is homemade ice cream. I will draw for a winner on August 5th and send the box on right after that.

Melinda

Stash Reports–Week 29 and 30

I didn’t do a stash report last week but have combined it for this week.  Don’t forget that I was out in California during much of this time and visited several quilt shops.

First what came in:

I picked up 5 FQ to use for placemats, 3 yards for pillowcases, a layer cake of Mama Says Sew (2.75 yards), fabric for a purse (1.5 yards).  I won a door prize at retreat for .5 yards, and found another polka dot jelly roll for 2.75 yards.  Lastly I bought a kit to make a quilt that I want to enter in the upcoming ECQG quilt show.  It contains about 8 yards.

At least I do have one completion of the Christmas in July project.  It used 7 yards for the front and 4.5 for the back.

Here are my current totals.

Used this Week:  11.5 yards
Used year to Date: 214.25 yards
Added this Week: 19.75 yards
Added Year to Date: 260.25 yards
Net Used for 2012:  -45.25

The good news is that I have lots of new UFO’s from the retreat and hopefully can finish some of them soon so I can report the fabric used.

For more stash reports, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

From my iPhone - traveling stash

I won the traveling stash that moves on the 29th of each month. That is tomorrow so be on the lookout for my giveaway.

Here is a quick preview of the box

Christmas in July

Here is my Christmas quilt hanging in the shop – ready for all the customers to come in.  I finished it just in time.  We spent several hours last night getting ready for Christmas.  Of course, it is almost 100 degrees here but we are still decorated for Christmas!

Melinda

Christmas in July Tomorrow

I finished my project for Christmas in July a few minutes ago.  Since it is due in the store in about a hour, I just made it in time.

Here it is folded up – I used a panel for the back.

I will try to get a photo of it hanging in the shop tonight after set up or tomorrow.

Melinda

Back Home Again–Home Sweet Home

I arrived back in Georgia about 10 pm last night.  Plane was crowded but the flight was my favorite kind – uneventful.

On the kitchen table was a huge mound of mail – I just started going though it but since I knew my little quilt swap was here from Ireland, I cheated and opened it first.  I love it.  I love the circles, the fabric, the stitching – everything about it.

I have been wanting to do a small wall of these little quilts and this will be the focus. Here is the link to Karen’s blog – my little quilt is part of her header.

Thank you Karen – I love the little quilt you made for me.

Melinda

Georgia–Here I Come

I am headed back to Georgia this afternoon.  I have had a wonderful time but I am anxious to be home again.  Can’t wait to sleep in my own bed.

For today, I have a photo of a quilt shown at Las Vegas.  I really love it.

I bought the pattern and will add it to my list of quilts to make.  I certainly have the dots collected already.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–July 23, 2012

My design wall is in Georgia and I am still in California – fly home tomorrow.  I am using my sister’s living room floor for today.  Here is the progress I have made on my grandmothers flower garden.  I have six rows sewn together.  There will be a total of nine rows when I finish.

I have lots of projects from last week to finish when I get home so should have something on my design wall for several weeks.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

From my iPhone

We are in the car headed back to Seal Beach. Can't wait till next year.

Melinda

Las Vegas–Day Four

Yesterday was my day to teach.  I offered two options – both made in very much the same way.  Scrappy Bargello or Scrappy Trips by Bonnie Hunter, who kindly gave me permission to teach her patterns.

Here are a few of the quilts in process.

We also worked on a group special project.  This is going to be beautiful.

Off to the sewing room for one last day of the retreat.

Melinda

Posting from iPhone

Just testing posting from my phone. The photo is Carolyn's Hunters Star from our guild retreat.

Las Vegas–Day Three

Wednesday’s quilt being taught was a scrappy pinwheel quilt.  Unfortunately, I left my camera in the sewing room so don’t have pictures to share.  Will do that tomorrow.  I did get a photo of one of Robin’s projects.  She had a jelly roll race quilt and decided to cut it up and add sashing. It really turned out great.

She had the perfect fabric for the border and is planning on using the border fabric to bind with.  I love it!

Off to teach!

Melinda

Las Vegas–Day 2

Yesterday was Hunter’s Star day.  Here is the sample quilt that Robin made.

I don’t have any photos of mine yet.  I decided to go completely scrappy and it is taking a long time to cut and sew everything.  Hopefully I will have some photos to share later.  Here are a few of the finished blocks so far.

Lots of nice Hunter’s Stars and a few that don’t have enough contrast in the fabrics to really show off the pattern.

Today is another scrappy quilt and we have decided to work on the first two projects instead.  I teach the scrappy Bargello or Many Trips tomorrow.  One person has already been working on her bargello.

Off to the sewing room.

Melinda

Las Vegas–Day One

We arrived in Las Vegas Sunday afternoon but were not able to get in the sewing room until Monday morning.  We started making Hidden Wells quilts right off.  Here are the fabrics I had picked before leaving Georgia.

I changed a couple of the purple fabrics using my sister’s stash but don’t have a photo of them.  Here is the current state of my Hidden Wells.  I have just started to sew the blocks together.

Some of you might remember how excited we were a few years ago to find that Las Vegas had one of our favorite restaurants called Roberto’s.  Well last year we found that it had changed hands but never could remember what the new name is so we just call it Not Roberto’s.  Here is the sign at Not Roberto’s.

Fortunately the food hasn’t changed at all.  Here is the menu.

Here was lunch!

Thank goodness Not Roberto’s makes the same rolled tacos that Roberto’s did.  Yum!  After lunch we went back and sewed for a while but interrupted our afternoon by a trip to one of the local quilt shops.  I got a few things but left them in the sewing room – will get photos later.

Today’s project is Hunter’s Star taught by my sister Robin.  Stay tuned for more.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–July 16, 2012

My design wall is here in Las Vegas but we haven’t actually set up for sewing yet so everything is packed away in hotel storage for another hour or so.  I did take a photo of my small quilt exchange that the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild is doing with the Ireland Modern Quilt Guild.  My little quilt is in the mail and should arrive in Ireland soon.

It measures about 16 inches square – actually it is slightly taller than wide because of the quilting.  I quilted it with straight (or close to straight) lines vertically.

Here is the back.

The three smaller triangles is for hanging and the larger one is the label.  Obviously this photo was before I wrote on the label.  I forgot to take a photo after the label was added.  The three triangles will allow it to be hung in either orientation.

For more Design Walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Stash Report–Week 29, 2012

Nothing bought this week and only 1/2 yard used.  Robin and I decorated project bags but they are all packed for our trip to Las Vegas.  I do have a photo to share.  It was taken through the front fence to the neighbors house.

Used this Week:  .5 yards
Used year to Date: 202.25 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 240.5 yards
Net Used for 2012:  -38.25

For more stash reports, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

 

Food Trucks in Seal Beach

On Thursday nights, the local food trucks meet at a place close to my sister’s house.  We took everyone and had dinner there.  It was raining some so the crowds didn’t show up.  Here are a few of the trucks.

Bakery truck

Fresh Fries

Komodo Truck

Rancho A Go Go Truck

Seabirds Truck

Spanish Bistro Truck

Street-side Truck

The Lime Truck.  If you remember the Food Network show about Food Trucks, they won the last one.

I looked at all the trucks and finally decided on carnitas fries from the Lime Truck.

Afterwards, I went to the Bakery truck and got a cream puff.

Both were very good.  Here is the rest of the family enjoying their food truck experience.

Atlanta has a new food truck park – must go check it out.  We saw it on the way to the airport.

Melinda

Seal Beach Day 5

The hexie quilt is out in the back yard this morning.  Robin and John had the wall painted by a local artist and it looks great.  You can see a little bit of the great flowers in this photo.

Last night we went out to dinner in Huntington Beach where my niece Tali works on Wednesday nights.  She is the DJ and teaches line dancing.  I tried to take a photo of the line dancing but it was too dark.  Here is a good photo of my nieces.

Aren’t they beautiful?

Melinda