Family Time, My Life, quilt as you go lap quilt

Anabelle’s Baby Quilt

Another new baby is on the way

& you know what that means, right?

Time to pull this out again:

SuznQuilts+NameThatQuilt+Book

Usually I beat myself up because I think of things after the fact… a bit too late… hindsight is 20/20…

but not this time!

I’m so proud of myself for having the insight to predict this next generation of babies coming close together & me not having the time & energy to decide on a quilt much less make it.

Remember Lucy’s quilt & Hadleigh’s quilt?

I’m sure you’ve heard the story time & again too of that baby quilt someone is still trying to finish by the child’s 3rd birthday!

Well, not me, at least not yet.

Anabelle’s mom (my niece) gave me fabric colors way back in January at my birthday party

& sent me this image of the nursery items they had decided on.

Jojo-Designs-Princess-11-Piece-Baby--pTRU1-17780660dtSweet, huh?

Their furniture is dark not like all the white shown in this Babies r Us image.

I chose these fabrics:

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I thought they were extra girly & had the same feel as the nursery set.

The hardest part of this quilt (& nothing is hard about it)

is centering the letters in a fun way.

AND double, triple, quadruple checking the spelling!

  Suzn+Quilts+Anabelle+quilt+letters

By the way,

I discovered the “Big Board” & I love it.

If you remember, here for instance I show you how I use layers of towels to press the whole width of quilt at once?

Well, the big board is big enough to press the whole width of quilt at once too & since I had it out anyway…

While on our retreat at Rosemary’s this year we used one. More than one of us could press at once.

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I love the height & the way she incorporated storage into her base.

I need to buy some of the silicone coated fabric for mine.

It will be more durable than the muslin it came wrapped in.

It has gotten really scorched with the heavy usage the last couple of months.

Anyway,

We had the baby shower Saturday & I’m happy to say, Heather LOVED the quilt!

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 She was too funny.

When she read the card from me she knew what was inside the package.

She had been anticipating the quilt & was very curious what I’d done with her suggested colors.

I’m was touched that it meant so much to her.

She is going to use the quilt so I gave her washing instructions.

It’s all cotton & very durable so machine washing & drying will be just fine.

I made Clare nervous Wednesday when I asked her to help me spray baste the foundation.

She couldn’t believe I hadn’t made the quilt yet!

Ha! It only takes a few hours.

Any babies in your future?

You can buy your own book here.

It comes with instructions for both the baby & lap size quilts

along with the whole alphabet which is reversed & ready to trace.

Now, we get to wait for Anabelle.

Just keep sewing!

Susan

Tutorial

Diagonally Piecing Quilt Backing Tutorial

Are you familiar with diagonally piecing quilt backing fabric?

It can save fabric or allow you to use the fabric you want for backing even though it appears there might not be enough!

I first learned about this from Rosemary at one of her Thimbleberry Club meetings (back in the good old days…)

It’s actually John Flynn’s technique.

First look at John’s formula.

You’ll need to go there to calculate how much fabric to use.

All you need to know is the size you want the backing to be & the width of your backing fabric.

Once you know that, cut your fabric to that length then:

Press out the center crease with starch.

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Fold fabric diagonally.

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Doing this on a tile floor will help you keep the fold straight.

Next, press this fold.

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You don’t want it to stray…

Then, cut on the fold.

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Since I press this nice & flat, I’m confident enough to do this with my rotary cutter & slice off about 1/4″.

Now remember how big you wanted your backing to be & adjust the two halves to get that measurement.

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Then pin in place.

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 Keep in mind you’re working with bias edges that stretch!

Sew that seam.

I use 1/4″, John recommends 1/2″. Whatever!

Press the seam flat, as sewn, AS ALWAYS!

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Then press it to one side.

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John says open… You say tomato…

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Don’t you dare trim those triangles off without measuring in BOTH directions!

Now trim.

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It’s like magic, sort of.

Very little waste & it only used 10″ more backing fabric, not twice as much which it would have taken for two lengths of backing.

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So, I’ve done this for 3 quilts this morning.

What have you been up to?

Just keep sewing!

Susan

My Life

Chloe’s Graduation Quilt Finish

With Blake’s graduation party on the horizon I was determined to I finish up Chloe’s graduation quilt.

Remember me showing you?

Suzn+Quilts+Red+cross+fabric+perfection

I already had a spot reserved on my quilter’s list way back last summer for sometime in December, so it worked out perfectly that I was able to finish it up in time.

I got it back from my quilter two nights before Blake’s graduation party just before Christmas & sat down to bind it soon after but I was a bit too busy to instigate a post.

I was excited to be able to show it to our guests that had signed the blocks at Chloe’s party & to give it to her by Christmas.

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I really liked the way it all came together after I finally decided on a fabric theme & design.

I love the little nurse caps & the colors look great in her apartment wherever she decides to put it.

I used the EQ Printables for the image in the middle of the quilt.

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These are great!

The image is so clear!

Just put the prepared fabric right into your printer like a piece of paper & print.

Next trim the image, keeping the scant 1/4” seam allowance in mind.

I then sewed it into the quilt just like every other piece of fabric.

The hardest part was figuring the sizes to cut the triangles to frame the image which wasn’t hard at all.

The quilt isn’t overly huge, so it can be hung on a wall or draped somewhere.

I’m glad to have it finished especially now that I have a new one on my to-do list!

I did the same thing for Blake’s party, but since he is a history major, his quilt will be patriotic in theme.

(I think, but time will tell…)

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I have the fabrics & the signed pieces

now I just need time & inspiration to collide!

Doing anything fun?

I hope so.

Just keep sewing!

Susan

Dresden Plates, fabric shopping, My Life, Quilt Retreats, Quilt Shops

Rosemary’s 2016

It’s another January

which mean’s another quilt retreat to Rosemary’s!

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In case you don’t remember, Rosemary’s is a quilt shop in Highland, IL.

Rosemary has a retreat center that consists of sleeping quarters & a sewing room with lots of authentic restaurants within a couple blocks; Chinese, Italian & Mexican to name our favorites, but there are many more.

A great weekend spent with good friends

(at least the ones that didn’t have family obligations to tend to)

& no cooking or cleaning.

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 Loraine must have been shopping during this one…

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My “spot” for the weekend.

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 Spending valuable time with some of my other best friends

(Moda & Roxanne)

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Making new friends

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only after they promised to get along with my other friends.

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It may appear that I bought the same polka dot fabric twice, but Rosemary & I were a bit chatty & weren’t paying attention to her measuring; a side affect of being in good company!

It’s OK, I’m going to cut it into little pieces just to sew it back together anyway.

(crazy!?!?!?)

(short) Overnight drying time…

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My field of dreams, ahhhh.

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Can’t get enough.

I hope you’re getting time to work on your favorites too.

Just keep sewing!

Susan

new fabric collection, New ideas

Yet Another Moda Lovin’ Post – Garden House

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I think maybe Jan Patek designed this collection just for me.

I absolutely LOVE these fabrics!

I know.

Don’t say it.

There’s BLUE in there!!!

It is in the gray/green family, but it’s definitely blue.

Also included though is charcoal, gold, olive, ecru & red.

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The reds…

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perfect!

I can’t wait bear to cut into them…

I think I’ll just look at them a while longer.

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Garden House

by Jan Patek

for Moda.

Taco soup is simmering in the crock pot,

so I’m ready for dinner when the time arrives.

No excuses.

I’ve got to get cutting…

Just keep sewing!

Susan

Family Time, My Life

A Sparkly New Year to You!

Suzn+Quilts+glittery+day

I have never chosen a word for the year.

I don’t know how I could concentrate on just one word for 365 days when my life is SO full!

When I look back at the highlights of 2015…

I sewed lots of Dresden plates for new pattern samples.

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Helped our oldest move into her very first home away from home.

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Empty rooms have so much possibility…

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An almost missed trip to spring market because of my dad’s heart surgery (moved up in schedule because of his condition…) the day we were to leave for market,

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followed by 6 weeks of almost daily trips to hospital then rehab to help get this guy back to baling hay!

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Attended our quilt guild’s ”Quilt Away 2015” that I coordinated with 3 wonderful teachers, which finally helped me make this Primitive Gatherings kit that I bought at Paducah 6-8 (maybe more) years ago!Suzn+Quilts+wool

Turning over 200,000 miles on our Odyssey (10,000+ miles ago)

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going to Bloomington’s 3rd Sunday Flea Market w/ Clare, so FUN!

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We found this cutie (& a few other trinkets).

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Lots of this, yum!

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Taught some wonderful quilters my tips for making Tiny & Mini Dresdens.

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I hope you guys are finished with those quilts by now.

Lots more of these.

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Helped my Mother-in-law (one of my best friends)

with numerous trips to doctor appt’s. & ER visits

which sadly ended in her passing away the day before we were to leave for fall market…

Unfortunately I didn’t use this.

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But I did get this ready between everything else going on.

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& with the help of my photographer (& Nemo)

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eventually turned them into:

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this pattern now available.

Does this quilt make more sense to you now???

Among lots of other things, I thank God for quilting in my life!

  1. Faith
  2. Family
  3. Friends

I will concentrate on the here & now.

I did get to Festival with the help of my sister, Lori.

Typically I only let her slave over my accounting so it was fun having her help me with this side of my business.

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We attended our son’s college graduation the weekend before Christmas.

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Complete with a party the following day.

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Notice Abe on his cake? 

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I adapted his silhouette from my Abraham Lincoln Tribute pattern.

I had help fine tuning.

Blake’s a history major, ready to go out into the would and shape the minds of our youth.

Know anyone looking for a history teacher?

Santa brought Clare this cute “Anthropology” looking comforter set which lead me to this post.

Suzn+Quilts+bird+shamUnfortunately the set didn’t come with a dust ruffle.

I guess dust ruffles are no longer the thing because they’re hard to find in any form.

She looked for a while, then I told her we could make our own.

She really wanted a gold polka dot ruffle…

So, she bought a cream dust ruffle, then I added the sparkle yesterday.

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First finishing the edges

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pin basting to store-bought cream dust ruffle

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completely basted

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stitching to ruffle

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glittery residue

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which will NEVER completely be gone!

The curse of a creative mind!

I guess what comes around, goes around.

I remember driving my mom crazy while we designed (she labored over) my wedding gown.

I wanted these sleeves… on this bodice… with this skirt, with this train…

I get my creativity from her.

Thanks mom!

It didn’t start this way, but since it took me a while to compile this post & I had to sleep on it,

I decided to add a bit of my 2016 forecast too.

S.P.A.R.K.L.Y.

& not in this order I will:

S. –sew

P. –pray

A.–argue for what I think is right

R.–relish my time with family & friends

K.–keep a positive outlook

L.–love

(hopefully inspire) Y.–you

 Happy 2016!

Just keep sewing…

Susan

My Life

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

2015vintage-thanksgiving-postcard

I hope you’re able to spend Thanksgiving with those you’re thankful for like I am!

Our pies are warm from the oven & ready to go to my sister’s house for dinner at noon.

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Clare baked the Cherry & David & I made the rest.

It takes all morning since they have different baking times…

Too bad for my family, I make them come for cinnamon rolls at 7:30 a.m.

When they start whining I just ask them if they want pie for lunch or not.

Wow does the whining stop in a hurry.

I think everyone’s favorite is here at least none will go to waste!

Happy Thanksgiving &

Just keep sewing…

Susan

A Giveaway!, Blog tour with give-aways

100 Blocks Volume 12 Winners!

I hope you’ve been inspired to get your sewing machine going with all the beautiful blocks in the new issue.

100+Blocks+VOL12

It was fun reading your favorite season or reason to quilt.

Now for the winners…

For a free copy of the new 100 Blocks Volume 12:

+++++

Pat D Says:

I like your Tiny Dresden series patterns. Thanks for a chance to win

+++++

and for a free pattern from Suzn Quilts:

+++++

Patricia Says:

I love giving at Christmas, especially handmade. Thanks for the recipe.

+++++
I hope all of you had fun & hopefully won something too.

If not, don’t forget the magazine is now on the newsstands.

Just keep sewing…

Susan

Family Time, My Life

Knee Deep in Red Crosses Today

I can’t believe it’s been a year & a half (no way…) since we celebrated Chloe’s college graduation & in a few weeks we’ll be celebrating Blake’s.

I don’t think I procrastinate, it’s just time flying faster than me!

Nothing like a bit of a reality check for a kick in the pants, huh?

Being a quilter…

I had this cool idea for Chloe’s party.

Suzn+Quilts+Red+cross+sign+block.jpg

Until today, this is where cool idea had stagnated for the past 18 months.

Before her graduation I received these lovelies for my 50th birthday from some of my quilting friends & since the colors went together perfectly with this piece of nursing fabric & her signature blocks, I thought this is where the quilt was going. Also, because Chloe spends time with these quilting friends at market with me that would be even more special.

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Today though, when I came across this piece of fabric,

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I knew it was where this quilt needed to go since this fabric matches Chloe’s living room perfectly. This also leaves my friends’ gifts to do something just for me.

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I had these charm packs or pieces of charm packs close by.

Look how perfectly they coordinate with a one of the nurse hats.

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This was meant to be!

I’m so excited to get working on this project, finally!

So, I’m marking crosses

(notice I had the guests sign pieces of fabric ironed onto freezer paper with a window cut where they should sign instead of the actual hat shape)

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& practicing my stitching.

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I don’t want to mess any of these up.

Sadly, three of our relatives that attended the party have passed away since then, including my Mother-in-law just last month.

This is what I treasure about these kind of projects.

My next obstacle is whether to include my block as “Susan R. Marth” or if I should do like David did & sign it “Mom.”

What do you think?

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Please don’t tell me to include both because I have an even 48 blocks including just one for me.

Gotta get to work.

Is this procrastinating, Lol???

Don’t tell Chloe, I want her to be surprised.

Plus I may get delayed again so I wouldn’t want to get her hopes up.

Just keep sewing!

Susan