moda

Do You Hear Voices?

| Cindy Anderson

Sandy Quilt Block Drive

Do you hear voices?  Not the random disturbing kind.  I mean the little voices that prod you along to finish a project, to buy a certain item, or to eat chocolate, etc., etc.  Well I hear them often.  Recently a little voice began badgering me.  The voice began echoing in my head the minute I opened the Quilting Gallery newsletter.  The main topic of the newsletter was the Sandy Quilt Block Drive.  Pictured in the top right corner was this photo.

Sandy Quilt Block Drive

Not being able to resist the little puppy’s plea I continued to read.  As I got further into the article I learned of a quilt block drive being organized by the Quilting Gallery.  The little voice, we talked about above, started whispering in my ear.  The whisper grew in intensity until it was impossible to ignore.  I moved my cursor over to the link taking me to Info and registration.  I clicked my left mouse button.  Up popped a new window providing details of the Sandy Quilt Block Drive.  Listed were options to register as a Block Maker as well as a Team Leader.  The quilt block they are using is the Wonky Scrappy Log Cabin.  A link to the block tutorial can be found here.

In no time I was registered to make 20 blocks.  Then heeding the continued urgings of my inside voice I signed up to be a Team Leader as well.  I’m so excited about participating.  So far I’ve made five blocks with the sixth one well on its way to being finished.  Here’s a photo of one of my blocks.

I can’t wait to see them all finished and then take delivery on my team member’s quilt blocks.  I will keep you updated.  Stay tuned.

Updates on Still Life with Crows

Last week I shared a photo of my quilting progress on my daughter’s Still Life with Crows.  I’m happy to let you know I have now finished and delivered it to my daughter.  Here’s a picture

My daughter was thrilled with the outcome.  I believe if you visit her blog you will see the wall hanging complete with its binding.

Halloween Table Runner

In last Wednesday’s post I included photos of a small wall hanging.  The wall hanging belonged to my youngest daughter’s mother-in-law (we’ll call her Mrs. M).  Mrs. M delivered another small project for quilting.  The item, although too late for its season, was a Halloween table runner.  Due to its small size I was able to quickly quilt and return it to Mrs. M.  Take a look at the table runner.

A New Project

As if I didn’t have enough irons in the fire, I added yet one more.  This one I actually have cut out and sewn together.  Currently in my quilting room waiting for my long arm quilt machine is a Garden Party Runner by Mary Cain.  I purchased the pattern at a local quilt shop.  Unfortunately I’m not able to share a link to a website.  Apparently the pattern is not available on the internet.

The pattern is very simple to assemble and follow.  There is, however, one error in the instructions.  Since there is no website to obtain additional information I found a way to work around it.  I used a Flirt charm pack by Moda for the body of the runner.  Here’s a sample of the table runner.

Well that’s it for now.  I’m linking up with Freshly Pieced.

A Quilt is Finished

| Cindy Anderson

Welcome!

As many of you know, I’ve been working on an adorable little quilt for my middle granddaughter Miss L. Since it’s been a while since my last update you’ve probably been waiting to see the finished product.  Well I have good news and sad news to report.  The good news is Miss L’s very pretty quilt is finally finished.  The sad news is, since I had so much fun putting the quilt together I will miss working with the bright and playful Moda fabrics.

Miss L will have to wait to snuggle with her soft and comfy quilt until I have the opportunity to create one for her older brother Mr. J and her younger sister Miss M.  Presenting her with her very own quilt before I have one ready for the other two would most definitely create sad faces.  Until then I have the privilege of storing this treasure in my home.  I absolutely enjoyed creating this quilt for my little sweetheart.  Take a look and see for yourself.

My sewing room has been rather quiet of late.  My husband, my daughter Katie, her husband Luke and myself recently took a vacation.  Preparing for our adventure, the excursion, as well as the inevitable aftermath, consumed the majority of my time.  Now that I have returned home I am slowly getting back to work.  Perhaps next week I will have a new project to share.

I’m linking up with Freshly Pieced and the other wonderful quilters.  Be sure and stop by there to checkup on other WIP projects.

A Quilt for a Special Little Girl

| Cindy Anderson

I am very fortunate to have three wonderful grandchildren.  The oldest is Mr. J, then comes Miss L and last but not least Miss M.  All three of them belong to my oldest daughter and her husband.  Mr. J is seven, home schooled and thrilled with everything Lego.  Miss L is my ballerina.  She adores all things remotely related to dancing, dolls and above all PINK.  Miss M is only two.  Her two most favorite things in this world are her Mommy and Elmo.  Spending time with these three is always an adventure, never boring and always, always exciting.

Since starting my own long arm quilting business it has been my desire to create a very special quilt for each of my grandchildren.  No specific plans have been made as to patterns, fabrics or whom will be first to receive their hand-made hug from Nana.

Recently I traveled to Rockford, Illinois to visit Acorn Quilts.  While there I came across this luscious fabric, in a sale bin.

My mind began racing with ideas as my eyes lit up at the colors.  Immediately my oldest granddaughter, Miss L, popped into my mind.  She adores pink.  Being the fun-loving sweetheart that she is I just knew this fabric would send giggles through her tummy. I grabbed for the carefully rolled bundle of joy and added it to my purchase.  This was going to be my inspiration.  Also added to my selections were the pink and white polka dot fabric for a border and backing and an adorable aqua piece for binding.

This was going to be a simple quilt.  No special pattern was needed because I just knew Miss L would love anything that I would make her.  Besides the floral print was wonderful all by itself.  Anything that I might try to do to it, aside from quilting, would detract from its beauty.

Strips were cut from the pink and white polka dot material and sewn to all four edges of the pink floral fabric.  The leftover polka dot fabric was not quite large enough for a backing.  Quilts loaded onto long arm quilt machines need extra inches added to the backing to accommodate the pinning process.  Unfortunately this was not taken into consideration when the yardage was calculated at the store.  Rather than purchasing a whole new piece of fabric I decided to add inches via a Sophie charm pack by Chez Moi for Moda purchased from Loose Threads of Milton, Wisconsin.  The charm pack not only included squares of fabric made from the identical print as my pink floral it also included fabrics that very nicely complimented it as well.  All except three charm squares were combined to increase the measurements of the backing.  Pictured here is a sampling of the added squares.

I loaded the quilt sandwich onto my Tin Lizzie Ansley 26 long arm quilt machine and began the process of quilting Miss L’s surprise.  Her quilt, with borders, measures 39 x 48 1/2.  Since it is not very large the quilting process took very little time.

It was kind of sad that the quilting went so quickly.  I really had fun adding flowers and hearts to an over-all loop-d-loop design.  If you look closely you can see one of the flowers.

Miss L’s quilt has since been removed from my machine.  All that is currently left to do is the hand stitching on the adorable aqua binding.  As soon as I have the binding finished I will share the completed project.

* * * * *

Thank you for sharing in my enthusiasm.  I’m linking up with Freshly Pieced.  Be sure to stop by her blog and check things out.

* * * * *

BTW my list of WIP can be found here