Summer Pattern Testing

Over the summer, I was able to pattern test The Alice Quilt Pattern for Erica at Kitchen Table Quilting.  I was sooo behind on turning my notes in to her - I had been battling a headache and got started late and then spent the whole day sewing and still didn't manage to get done on top.  I felt so horrid about it.  I'm usually a last minute turner-iner, anyway, but this was completely past due.

Anyway, if I have the time and I like the pattern, I always say yes when Erica asks for testers.  Her patterns are always very well written.  I highly recommend them!

I made this quilt from a fat quarter bundle of Anna Maria Horner fabric that I had won quite a few years ago in a giveaway from Pink Castle fabrics (I think). The darker border fabric also came from my stash.  I had to buy the lighter background fabric and I also bought a fabric to be used for binding.

You should know that this quilt is still not finished.  I have to see if I have enough AMH fabric in my stash for the backing.  I've already purchased a pack of Quilter's Dream Cotton Request loft batting to use for it.  I want this to be a light quilt to be used for last spring/early summer napping.  I also think it would be less bulky if I want to drag it along on a road trip or something of that sort.

It's Been a While....

I don't know that I've been so busy, but I sure haven't posted for a while!

I went on spring break.  We visited California... my SIL lives outside of San Diego and my aunt lives near Disneyland.

I went on a Segway tour of San Diego:

It really was a lot of fun and no one wrecked, either!  I decided that if I lived in a metro area, I'd have a Segway to ride around :)

I also went to a discount fabric shop by my aunt's house.  I had gone there two years ago, also.  I went a bit crazy....

Some of these pieces,  I already have a plan for and some I don't.... I've been wanting to get them organized with my other fabrics, but I wanted to take photos and share them, first.  Mainly, I just couldn't resist.  I think I ended up paying an average of about $4/yd for the fabrics and there are a few pieces that are even organic cotton.

What else have I been doing?  hmmm...  Well, I went on a quilt retreat weekend with the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild.  We went to a place in Racine, Wisconsin called the Siena Center.  I had a good time getting to know a bunch of the other guild members.  My friend, Emily, was kind enough to let me pick her up and ride along with me.  She thought that I was doing her a favor by giving her a ride to the retreat.  Really,  I was delighted because then I didn't have to arrive all by myself, especially since I've never been there before and didn't know the routine.  

I know there is so much more to tell, but I'm getting a bit foggy (it being all of 9:30 pm and all....).  I am counting down the days until the end of the school year, and I'm getting ready to write along list of all the things I would love to accomplish over the summer!  I probably won't get even half of them done, but it will at least give me some direction.

Piles of Fabric

I believe I mentioned in my last post, that I went on a bit of a fabric buying spree?  All of these fabrics were purchased from Hawthorne Threads:

The fabric in the above photo, I am planning to use to make a quilt.  I have in mind one of those zig-zag quilts.  I have no idea if I have enough fabric, because I haven't planned anything out, or read any directions...but that's what is currently in my mind.

The above fabrics may or may not get tossed in with those others that are destined for the zig-zag business.

These three pieces are Oval Elements by Art Gallery Fabrics.  The color is a bit off in this photo.

Isn't this fabric adorable?  I think so, anyway.  I am pretty sure it is a Michael Miller print...just checked...it is titled "Prom in Gray". 

Other random fabrics.....above and below

I also ordered a Sherbet Pips fat quarter bundle from Fat Quarter Shop:

I haven't been able to make myself open the pack yet....it's so nice and orderly right now.  I'd never be able to get it back to that state again.  I have no specific ideas for this fabric yet, but I'd like to make it into some sort of a quilt.

The Reason....

that I have to borrow books like this (photo used from Amazon):

from the library is because I have spent too much money on fabric in the last couple of days.

Okay, so really I just wanted to borrow the book from the library to see if I would really like to have it in my personal collection or not.  I haven't had a chance to really look through it yet since I only just picked it up this evening.

I did however, spend a lot of money on fabric in the last two days.  Granted, I had some "reward" money from my debit card which covered over half of the purchases.  I didn't intend to buy the second group of fabric (Sherbet Pips), at least not until maybe April...not thinking that pre-cuts would come in sooner than actual yardage...but I also didn't want to miss out on this fabric and I thought it is a good way to sample all of the prints in the line.  Then, when the yardage comes along, I can pick and choose which, if any, that I want purchase.

Christmas Wishlist

I'm nearly late to the game, but since I have done all of the "prep" work I decided to summon the energy to finish.

Above All Fabric Blog has been running a giveaway of sorts.  If a person goes to the Above All Fabric shop, adds all the things they would love to have to their wishlist, blog about it, and then go back and leave Melanie a link...  AWESOME PRIZES!  ($100 gift certificate to the store, $50 g.c. to the store, $25 g.c. to the store!!!)  There is no way to go wrong on this one.

I went last week and made my wishlist, then came Thanksgiving, and then the day after Thanksgiving I got sick.  I was thinking maybe I had strep throat since I had this horrid sore throat for three days.  The Dr. says it's just a reallllllly bad cold.  All I know is that I have been miserable and have done almost nothing but sit in the recliner and watch t.v./sleep for the last 4 days.  So, I didn't get my wishlist posted as soon as I wanted.

Some of the things on my list:

#1!!!!  Some of the Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush Cotton Velveteen

I also  think that I would like to try this Proper Attire Skirt pattern by Anna Maria Horner.  I especially love that the pattern is in a range for ALL sizes.

Then, in no particular order:

Peach Medallion Bloom Fabric

Grandma's Pearl's -Fiesta

Several Colors of the Henna Garden Fabric

There are a quite a few more things on my wishlist....    It might be time to start selling my no longer loved rubber stamp sets on eBay, so that I can fund a shopping spree (just in case I don't win!).