MSP Modern Guild Challenge: Cross Blocks

Here is an update of my first post on my Minneapolis Modern Quilt Challenge... I used my background fabric and the 2.5 inch strips from the other members to make 36 cross blocks. After finishing the blocks though, I decided I was looking for a bit more wonky irregularity... so of the blocks below about 2/3rds have been modified. The fabric draped over the ironing board is going to be my binding and backing and I plan on hanging the finished piece up.
What do you think? Wonky enough? To see some of the finished projects, check out the flickr group.

Moving Day!

No, not for me...the Minneapolis Modern Quilt guild is moving to it's new site at big tent. If you are in the area and haven't signed up at all or were just on the Ning group, be sure to join the new group. Nikol has posted a recap of the July meeting and for August we will be gathering on the green space at the Walker for a hexagon paper piecing sesson.

Also, be sure to check out our new flicker group too!

Sunday Stash: 1974 by Urban Chiks

These fabrics are from the 1974 collection by the Urban Chiks from a few years ago for Moda.


This set is one of my favorite modern sets of red, white & blue fabrics and I love the addition of gray which is fast becoming a favorite as well.


I think the red plaid will be just perfect for binding too!




To see more Sunday stash, check out the flickr group.

Poetry Stones

While I have been busy with life, kids, yard work & baseball...I HAVE done a few crafty things. Several years ago (when we had just one child) I made Poetry Stones for our yard and both sets of grandparents. My mom had been asking for one of my youngest child for over a year, so this summer I made each set of grandparents updated stepping stones for each child.

I used the Poetry Stone Kit by the makers of Magnetic Poetry and love their forms & letters. I was sharing the information with a friend and discovered that it looks like the same kit that I paid over $40 for years ago is now regularly $20 at Joann's and on sale for $12...which is such a deal. Once you have the kit, you can buy bags of vinyl patch mix at Lowe's for about $10 and get 2-3 large round stones...your embellishments would be the only other cost.

Here are a few of my original stones that are in my yard (wet from the sprinkler this morning). I have also made them on occasion of Mothers & Fathers Day & anniversaries, they make such memorable gifts which to me are so invaluable.

3x6 Sampler Bee: 2nd Q Sent

These are the Ohio Star blocks I made for my fellow group members for the 2nd Quarter of the 3x6 Sampler Bee. I picked the design & used my fabric to make blocks based on their color selections. Several members selected a rainbow of colors or surprise me, so I made some pretty bright blocks this time around!

This one is for Deb's Works in Progress.



For Mrs. Sorrells2009

For Isaacsmama

For CreationsbyRachel

For Jen at Gehring Road

For Scrappy Stash

And I made one for me, too!

Sunday Stash: Saffron Craig

If you happen to be a flickr contact of mine... I apologize for all the photos of stuff. While this summer has been very busy with kid activities and visiting family (hence the lack of sewing), I have also been on a cleaning/sorting - I have just way too much stuff kick. Accordingly, I've been uploading photos of patterns, magazines and such to craft swap groups on flickr... (Anyone planning a wedding... I have 23 Martha Stewart wedding mags to swap including the very first issue!)



So this Saffron Craig fabric that I'm sharing to today was aquired from a swap with Viv from New Zealand...



It is the Nesting Panel from the Owl Collection and oh so cute!

Grandma's House: Fat Quarter Tote Bag

A couple of weeks ago, I met up with some of the other members of the Minneapolis Modern Quilt guild at Sewtropolis for a night of sewing. I decided to bring a project that had gone long past my due date...literally. I found this fabric line, Grandma's House, just before my second son was born and decided it would make up great into bags as thank you gifts for the two grandmas for all their help associated with the new baby...baby sitting while I was in the hospital, help after, etc. Well that baby is now 4 years old!



It is a very bright collection of fabric, perhaps a bit bright even for the recipients, but it does say Grandma's house!? (though neither Grandma has the hair bun?!) I have the bodies of the bags pieced (the photo above shows one side of the tote bag)and am ready to move on to the handles before layering it all together for quilting. This pattern (Fat Quarter Tote Bag by M'Liss Hawley) calls for handles with batting only inside and I have recently seen patterns that recommend using webbing inside also... and I am wondering if anyone else has tried this and has any feedback? There is nothing worse than a handle that cuts into your shoulder?!