Fruitcake in September!

Not normally a fan of Fruitcake, but this Moda Fruitcake is pretty yummy...fat-free too!  I bought 2 charm packs and some border fabric from the same line. 

20 unique blocks, each with 16 half-square triangles. 

Quick and Easy HST (Half-Square Triangles)

Place two contrasting 5" charm squares right sides together.  Draw a line diagonally down the center both ways.  Sew 1/4" seams on either side of both lines.  Cut in 4, then cut each in half.  Press  to the dark side.  You will have 8 half-square triangles.

Happy Labor Day weekend! 3 days of sewing! Whooo Hoo. Throw in a salmon barbeque in Chino and some R&R with my Pete and my Willie.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Aunti

Mini Design Wall

I wanted to layout 20 different designs with 16 half-square triangles and I knew I wouldn't get to sewing them together for a couple of days.  I wanted to be sure they were each unique designs and that they looked good together. 

So I arranged each block on top of the next and took a picture each time.  Then in my new camera took a picture of each as I layed it out. 

Then used the viewing function on my camera.  Mine is called Mosaics and I can see all of the blocks.  This way I can ensure that each is different.  I can actually see all 20 if I want, but the picture I took for you doesn't turn out so great.

So here is a picture from my old camera of my new camera.

I will be putting the blocks together this weekend!  Yeah a sew weekend!  Big surprise there huh?
Love Aunti

3/8" Two Sided Binding Posted

Hi All,
Here is the tutorial it should be free to all!

Two Sided Binding Tutorial
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BzIhh09L_PINZGJmODUxOWUtY2FlZi00OGYwLTk3Y2QtNmU4MzQzMzA5ZTky&hl=en&authkey=CPXijY4O
Please give me your feeback and let me knwo if you still can't read it. 
Send me sample pictures and I'll post em.

Have fun!
Nicole

Two Sided Binding w/ Tutorial

I found this great dot fabric for the back of Patience's quilt and had plenty left for the binding.  But I don't really like to bind with the same fabric as the back...boring, even if it is big colorful dots.  So I came up with a simple way to create a two sided binding. 

This binding is made similar to a standard binding with a few extra steps.

Two Sided Binding Tutorial, click below
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BzIhh09L_PINZTk2ZjczN2MtZDVmMy00NGZkLWEwZTctM2VjMzExMTFkMjgw&hl=en

I would love to hear feedback on these instructions.  You may want to try it out on a sample before binding a large quilt.

This tutorial assumes you have done a standard 3/8” binding before. If you have not, a great reference for a standard binding can be found on http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/  specifically http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2010/01/perfect-binding-tutorial.html

Here is the finished quilt. I used www.jaybirdquilts.com Circle Around pattern and added a fun hawaiin print border I picked up from Beyond the Reef Fabrics.  I machine quilted with brightly colored variegated thread.

Happy Quilting

Aunti Nicole

A bit Sheepish

A few months ago I joined a new friendship group.  The group is called "Wool Gatherer's" and I would say rightly named on all accounts. 

wool·gath·er·ing  –noun

1. indulgence in idle fancies and in daydreaming; absentmindedness.
2. gathering of the tufts of wool shed by sheep and caught on bushes.

The group is a great group of women from the Orange County area. All are extremely experienced quilters. Our common goal is to have a support group while we emmerse ourselves into the art of woolgathering. Each week I hear of new tools and materials to use in quilting with wool. I am so engrossed in our meetings that I forget to take pictures to post for you or write down the tips that I hear, but I promise I'll try harder ;P and share what I learn here.

So this is my first piece 28"x20", pattern by Lake View Primitives called "Love in the Spring."  My nieces helped me pick out the bead for the sheeps and birds eyes.  It really didn't take too long once I shut and started sewing.  I mounted it to a thick piece of fusible that I had wrapped in Kona black.  

 My 2nd project is almost done and I'll post it as soon as its done. 

Have a great weekend.

Aunti

Nicole

Friend's Let Friends Piece Drunk!

This month's block for my Bee Splendid group is for Mary.  She chose improv blocks inspired by Denyse Schmitd's Drunk Love.  

This block was really fun to make, but at one point I had to quit drinking because the border's were going to be too small.  It all worked out and I think I may have to make one for myself.

She included some Kona solids and some different patterns to include in each block.  I think I'm in love with this solid pink, ah... yum!

So the stripe is the only fabric of mine that I included, I hope she doesn't mind.  Its like that obnoxious friend that you invite to your parties even though they may lite the bathroom towels on fire.  (True story, that actually happened at my 40th birthday party.)

Whoa looks like drunk love to me! 

Have fun, bee safe.

Love

Aunti  

Busy Weekend and Quilting Catch-up

Had another busy weekend.  My dear friend Gina, her kids Jade and Pablo, and her cousins Hector and Alissa stayed with us for a couple of days.  We went to the Orange County fair yesterday in hopes that we would see Led Zeppelin play at 8pm.  After a long fun day, at 7pm we took a vote, who wants to stay for the show? who wants to go home and sit in the Jacuzzi?  So we got home at 7:30, lol.

They left today at noon so I got to catch-up on some quilting.  Made a birthday block for Jamie in my EZ Quilter's group...

Made two drunk love blocks for Mary in my Bee Splendid group, pictures to be posted tomorrow. 

Gave a crochet lesson to my friend Jonathan who wants to finish his mother's afgan, more on that later.

Went to Joann's for yarn for Jonathan and came home with 2 new rulers.  The hexi ones.  Can't wait to make some of Jaybird's hexigons.  Saw her do them at the Long Beach show and it looked like great fun.

Made my supply list for my hand quilting tutorial, soon to be posted.

So I think I crammed enough into a weekend.

Nite to all
Aunti