A Finish-Out of the Box Quilt

 So, I was asked to make quilts for my darling SILs grown up grands. I went seeking a pattern for the first one. SIL described this one for a grand daughter as Boho...oh good-scrappy! I came across this pattern

in this magazine and I think it will be great!

 Here are the blocks I'm laying them out...which way is the best?  hmmmm

 Like this or...

 Like this or.....

 Like this.....

 I'm liking this one the best.

So here they are sewn together.

 She also requested that the grands nick name is incorporated somehow too. SO I just embroidered it on with the handy alphabet on Bernie.

 We are basting! And it's hot in the afternoon sun!

 This quilt looks so bright and happy!

 I'm in love with it. I might even make another one.

 I was lucky enough to have time to go over to Helio's fabric shop over in Mt Vernon and found this fabulous fabric for the back!I love love love it!

 And all quilted together. I had a major malfunction as I was quilting. Poor Bernie is in the hospital aka the sewing center. I don't know if I'm planning a funeral or budgeting for an extended stay in rehab. Anyway, I finished meandering on my back up machine.

 It looks great! Love that backing fabric!

 And good looking corners too! After a little wash it's in the mail. I hope they all love it as much as I do! I sent a note telling SIL that if she hated it to send it back. Hubs says that will not be happening. He even commented how much he likes it!

I80 One Stop Shop

I dragged Darling Daughter out to the I80 One Stop Shop at the Clarion Hotel in Iowa City. They had quite a few quilt shops with displays.

 It was terrible weather on Sunday, but the plows had the roads cleared and I snow blowered the drive way and off we went-the vendors were very attentive! When there's no one out they love the few folks like us who are!

 Love looking at all the displays! So much inspiration!

 Lots of unique ideas to see, and it seems like the trend is digital printed fabric-very bright and vibrant colors and details.

 I bought the Double Wide Dresden Ruler and Book by Me & My Sister Designs.

 Here's the sample I whipped up. Hmmm, I guess I better get busy and make a bunch of these!

Magical Magnets

 So I was working on this table runner-I need to get it in the mail. Anyways, I like spray basting my quilts outdoors. I have been taping them to the garage door and spraying them there. But the last quilt I did wouldn't stick very well. I don't know if it was bad tape, or too hot outdoors or what, but I had a heck of a time with it!

 

So, since I'm kind of a genius in my own mind, I thought why not try magnets?! I grabbed the strongest ones I had from the fridge door-they weren't very strong...but the idea has merit!

I shopped on Amazon for a little bit and found some that are supposed to be able to hold 25 pounds on the hook!

 And they are pretty strong little magnets-only about the size of a nickle, but they worked great on this little table runner.

 I just smoothed the backing on the garage door, and secured with magnets all around.

Then spray basted and had a pretty good result! I need to make another big quilt to give them a real tough teat, but I think they will work well-I may need to order more though, just to keep that backing nice and snug!

I-80 Quilt Mart

So on Sunday I popped over to the local Clarion Inn where they were hosting the I-80 Quilt Mart.

 There were about 15-20 vendors from the area all set up with really beautiful quilts, pre cuts and tools to inspire!

 Lots of pretty quilts!

 Look at this applique wall hanging, the words just bloom are sewn completely over with giant zig zag-I love that idea!!

 There was quite a good crowd there, I'm not very up to date with the quilting trends, but I think these folks are!

 I loved this lightening bug quilt! So clever!

Next stop the library! I can't be out of books!

Taunting Fabric

 I blogged about this quilt I got started
Back in July of 2015 here.
But things happened and I kind of lost interest and got busy, and this quilt was taunting me, wanting to be finished. 

And today I finished it! It has been sitting over on the sewing table taunting me. I guess I showed it a thing or two!!

 I did a kind of sloppy meander all over to get it done!

 Sometimes, you just need to finish! And I always plan for my quilts to be used, not just looked at, so it will be durable.

 I do love this fabric, but I'm glad it's not giving me that unfinished glare any more!

 And here it is all washed up and ready to cuddle.

I turned out good and I think this is my favorite binding ever!

Random Is NOT Easy

 So last week before I was rudely interrupted by a leaky air conditioner, I had placed all of my snow ball blocks on my bed-it's almost like a design wall, right?
 hmmmm, well DD mentioned that she thought all the striped blocks should go the same way, so OK.....

 

 But I think they really will look better going the other way...oh and that's too much yellow in one space...oh wait those paper clip prints need to go the other way......

 hmmmm, well that's better...oopsy, that typewriter print is upside down......oh wait those key prints should go the same way as the typewriters.....

 there that's better...wait no those stripes.....

 Ah, there that's better...dang it look there's a rebel stripe! But I think this is it! Now I just need to find some time to get it all sewed together! YAY! for vacation!!