Boston Lobsters

I can't find the words to describe how much I love this quilt. LOVE. 

Isn't she perfect!? I made this quilt for my manager who is having a baby boy in about a month. She loves Lobsters, Boston, and the Red Sox. When I found this lobster print (which I'm hoping really is lobsters and NOT crawfish), it just seemed perfect. When I was looking for fabric to go with it, I came across a Reunion Jelly Roll (by Sweetwater for Moda) I had in my stash, which complements it perfectly - so many great navys and reds.

Just a simple 16-patch that I strip-pieced and then alternated with the lobster squares. In case you are interested, these are 8-inch finished blocks, so this is somewhere around a 40x40 quilt.

I just did a simple stipple for the quilting, and did machine binding.

Aren't they cute!?

My First Lone Star

My quilting goal this past year has been to challenge myself (my goal next year is to actually quilt and finish all these wonderful tops I've been making!). I'm a sucker for easy and quick patterns with modern, fun fabrics. But after awhile, I was getting bored.

Here is the finished quilt top for my very first lone star quilt.

Before you become too impressed with my mad skills, this was pieced using what I describe as the "cheater method." I used a jelly roll and followed a pattern out of the Jelly Roll Quilts book:

This means I didn't have to do any of that pesky y-seam piecing shananagins. I simply sewed some strips together, then cut at an angle, sewed strips together again, and wall-lah! 8 diamond chunks to sew together for each star. I would show a picture from the book that shows this technique but that is probably illegal, so I won't. Just know it sure as heck was quicker and easier than the traditional method.

First step, selecting strips to go together for each of the four stars. Sounds easier than it was. I had plenty of brain fart moments trying to figure out which color went where to end up in the finished star how I wanted it.

Here are my four sets of strips:

First star done:

All four done, sans sashing and border:

And another shot of the final top:

The fabric used was a jelly roll of Hometown by Sweetwater for Moda. No clue how I will quilt this baby.

Can't Wait!

Don't you just love the excitement of a new project with the most awesome fabrics!? I do!

I picked these up at a local quilt store the other day thinking I would use them for a sunflower quilt I am doing at my upcoming quilt retreat this fall. However, after thinking about it, I don't think these fabrics will be right for the pattern. The pattern uses an unfinished raw edge for the sunflowers, and I think these fabrics would look better in a more polished pattern. I may have found just the right pattern, but am not ready to commit yet.

For right now, I'm just going to enjoy these beautiful fabrics. I could just sit and look at them all day.

I think the large flower pattern and a couple of fat quarters are from Free Spirit, and most of the fat quarters (and pink dots) are from the Lucy's Crabshack by Sweetwater for Moda. There may be some Reunion by Sweetwater for Moda as well. I don't know. I just LOVE THEM ALL.

That green bird fabric is the only one I'm a bit unsure of. It was on the ultra-ULTRA sale rack, and I got all three yards for only $6. Couldn't pass it up. Just not 100% this is the right fabric or not to be a border for this project.

QA - Quilter's Anonymous

This is going to be one of those embarrassingly honest posts, where I hope no judgement is given....just your love and support. So, you all have seen those hoarding and buried alive shows right? Well, if you entered my quilt room, you might sign me up.

Here is a sneak peek into my quilting room and what I am working on right now. Please, PLEASE tell me other people's quilt rooms look like this! (Of course I will not be sharing my stash bookshelfs.)

Here is a picture of the quilt top I just finished up using Extreme Sports by Riley Blake:

Here are some pics of my projects somewhat organized in some plastic bins:

Still excited to get working on my Sweetwater Countdown to xmas quilt (can be seen in the bottom bin):

Here is a list of projects I have (and that I'm hoping to get through this year get a good chunk done).

UFOs (Unfinished Projects)
This is a list of projects I have started, in one way or another:

Quilt tops done - waiting to be quilted and binded:
1. Georgia's quilt (see previous post! one down, many to go!)
2. Tiffanie's quilt
3. Brianne's quilt
4. Extreme sports quilt
5. Gathers n' giggles quilt
6. Halloween quilt
7. Reflections quilt
8. Ginny's quilt
9. Utah stadium blanket

In process:
10. Give a hoot quilt
11. Xmas quilt
12. Flowers quilt
13. Off track
14. Schnibbles picnic
15. Alphabet quilt

Quilt kits or most of fabric ready to go:
16. Kaleidoscope quilt
17. Robotz
18. Daisy Cottage
19. Basket quilt
20. Buttercup jelly roll sampler
21. A Boy's Story
22. Pirate quilt

Fabric I have ready to do something with:
23. Hullabaloo layer cake
24. Sherbet pips layer cake
25. Fandango jelly roll (and lots of other goodies including yardage and fat quarters)
26. Urban chiks Dream On jelly roll
27. A couple of various xmas projects
28. A couple of gift items
29. BYU stadium blanket or two
30. University of Utah stadium blanket or two

I think when you hit 30 projects, that is a good time to stop counting, and start quilting!

I would like to try out a plus or cross quilt...maybe I will use the Hullabaloo or Sherbet Pips layer cake for that.  And of course I have dreams of making my daughter a few cute things this summer.

The one project I will be purchasing this year (and the only one I have plan on getting!) is Moda's Urban Cowgirl line coming out. Not sure if I can stick to this or not, particularly with the way cute lines Riley Blake and other fabric makers have been coming out with, but that is my goal as of right now.

I am trying to commit to only buying fabrics necessary to finish the above projects! Here's to a wonderful and productive 2012!

Happy Quiltings!