The Birthday Quilt

Look at what I'm working on now!

My awesome friends and I started this quilt when I turned 30.  In six weeks I will be 32...so....I thought maybe I'd try and finish it before I turn 35.

I never had a plan to begin with when I started this project, which is why it is taking me so long to finish.  I had my friends draw pictures for me with crayons on sandpaper then I iron transferred the pictures onto fabric.  My intention was to then make each picture into a quilt block, then quilt it together for a cute little wall hanging.  

A few problems occurred.

I was a BEGINNER in regards to quilting, so I planned on just framing each square with a single fabric to make each block 10 x 10 inches.  I was trying to make them all the same size but I didn't calculate the piece sizes correctly and I used a layer cake so I had a limited amount of fabric... each time I messed it up I got more and more frustrated...yada yada yada....basically I ended up with 8.5 x 8.5 inch squares and 9 x 10 inch rectangles.  Nice, right?  I tested out of math in college and had to teach myself basic calculus last year but I could not figure out how to cut fabric with seam allowances.  

So the blocks sat unfinished as I took on other quilting projects and learned a lot about piecing together quilts.  

This week I sat down with the blocks every day and just kind of stared at them for a while and let my brain boil it over in the back of my mind while I did other things (like, you know, work at my job).   When that "aha!" moment I was waiting for didn't happen, I pulled out a block and just started putting pieces together.  Amazingly, it worked out, so I took on a whole new attitude about the birthday quilt.

     (most fantastic rendition of Red Rocks ever)

Each drawing is different and special just like each of my friends, so I am going to make each quilt block different and special......whatever it takes to make each block 9 x 10 inches. 

Looks like it's going to be pretty awesome.

 

A Little Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

Oh, Saturday!  All week I thought I had to work today, and just the other day I was told that I don't work this Saturday, I work NEXT Saturday.  So, in between loads of dishes and laundry, I decided to squeeze in a little sewing.  

I cut out pieces for a baby play mat the other day, so I thought I'd put it together.  I hatehatehate pinning so I lovelovelove my quilting spray adhesive.  

This technique is called "Really?  You're Really Going To Do That On The Wood Floor?"  My husband named it. It's not the best technique, and I actually don't recommend it, but until I can rip out the carpet in my craft room, this is what I have to do.  

Also, in case you were wondering, dogs stick to newspaper covered in spray adhesive.

Let's see, I sandwiched the fabric, batting, and cotton chenille together and then sewed it and trimmed off the excess batting and chenille fabric.  

Next I quilted the layers together.  Two straight lines will hold the layers together AND will make it easy to fold.  See?

I made this binding the other night when I couldn't sleep.  

Some people just sit down and make something from start to finish in one sitting and some people spread the process out over days, weeks and years.  I like to spread stuff out, procrastinate, forget about it, remember it later and get excited about it all over again.  Well, I dont know if I LIKE doing it that way, but that's what happens. 

When I make binding tape, all I can think about is how horribly annoying it is and how time consuming it is and how it is possibly the worst sewing chore ever.  BUT, in making your own, you arent bound to the limited colors of the pre-made binding at Joann's.

Of course, after making the binding, I have to actually bind something, and that becomes the worst chore ever.  I mentioned that I like making blankets, right?  I'm just whining.

One day I am going to be amazing at blanket binding.  Right now it is my nemesis.  I haven't figured out why yet.  Doesn't this faux-mitered corner look fantastic?  It's the only one that looks that good.  

Here are the two sides of the play mat/blanket and the binding.

(that corner doesnt look to bad, does it?) .....And now I have one extremely cute play mat, all dressed up and ready to go.  

Do you know any pregnant chicks?  My friend is all preggers but she is having a boy and I have other plans for her.....  This one should probably go to a girl, but I don't judge.

Also, I might do Buffy Thursday next week.  Maybe.