Happy Easter! (Eggs and Rainbows for All)

Eggs, eggs, and more eggs!

What a wonderful weekend! It was filled with family, egg dyeing, chocolate croissants, scrambled eggs, bacon, and eggs containing a wild treasure trove/scavenger hunt. The Council of Egg Hiders decided it was to be an adventure and so it was.

(Don't even get me started on the deviled eggs that ensued today. Yum!)

I made a quilted place mat for our nephew for which I received many kisses and thank you's.

Rainbows!

The Easter Bunny dropped off a great gift on Saturday for me! He knows how much I love a pretty rainbow of cotton fabrics.

So many great colors, I don't even know what to make yet. Any suggestions?

Making Progress in March

This month has been a whirlwind of fun. Despite a busy season at work, I'm still making time to sew and quilt. I even completed my long arm certification at my local quilt shop so I can make larger projects this year. I haven't had a chance to rent time on it yet, but I can't wait to expand on designs in my sketch book. (My guild president offered to show me how to use her L.A. machine, too, which makes me eager to get crafty!)

I completed a few mini quilts for the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative challenge and a several pillowcases for the 1 Million Pillowcase Challenge. I can't wait to create more this year for the different challenges our guild plans to sponsor.
I also spent a lot of time enjoying my sewing table and practicing free-motion techniques before I put together my QAYG project.

Time for a photo summary...

"I Wish I Made That" Winner at OMQG

Gifts from QuiltCon. I am so there in 2015!

Bargello Blues for AAQI

Missing You for AAQI

For Mom (AAQI)

BOM for April OMQG

My Pillowcases

More of my pillowcases

I love our guild's creativity and generosity.

Leftover gingham strips for top of baby quilt.

Drunkard's Path blocks
(Pattern TBD)

... and that's all for now. I look forward to making more to share.

Madrona Road Challenge

The Madrona Road Fabric Challenge was interesting. I do love a challenge and had a design that morphed a few times before I settled on a sketch that I hoped would work.

I started by fussy cutting blocks from the various fabrics that I wanted to frame. (My favorite is the journal design which says "Sweet Dreams" with a heart in the center.) Here's a quick look at how I made them:

White squares marked to cut in half.

Pinned squares to corners.

Squares sewn on the diagonal line.

Measured 1/4 in and cut off  the excess.
Then press open.

Add borders to all sides.

After completing the "frames" for each block I used the remaining fabric to create a braid that I thought would show how the fabrics complimented each other. Finally, I used black to unify the squares. The effect I wanted was a gallery wall of colors and fun. I think it worked well.

Madrona Road Top finished!

The final size is 45 by 46 which I think will be a perfect lap quilt once the border has been added. I have not finished the backing because I'm torn between using all white or all black. However, I do plan to use the chevron fabric on the back to mimic the braid on the front. I also haven't figured out how to to quilt it. I want to learn how to use a long-arm quilting machine this year and think this might be a great first project.