Notting Hill Sampler Quilt

Posted by Tricia on Apr 13, 2013 in A Rainy Day Creation | 0 comments

I am about halfway through a Sampler Quilt using Joel Dewberry’s Notting Hill line. Every time I work on a block, I have a new favorite from this line. Here are photos from the first half of the blocks, including Rail Fences, Nine Patch, Nine Patch Variation, and Log Cabin blocks. Working on a Half Square Triangles block, and a Square Dance I think.

Rail Fences Blocks:

Nine Patch Blocks:

Nine Patch Variation Blocks:

Log Cabin Blocks:

Run Like A Mother

Posted by Tricia on Apr 8, 2013 in Miscellaneous Events | 0 comments

Do you run like a mother? I am not a runner, but I have made it a goal this year to run in several events, including Run Like A Mother on Mother’s Day. I had my first interval training yesterday and despite the cold and rain, it went really well! If you live in the Seattle area and are a mother, you should sign up and join me in running like a mother on Mother’s Day May 12th at Magnuson Park. The link to the Seattle page can be found here – sign up today! And if you live in or near the following 7 cities (Ridgefield, CT; Portland, OR; Hinsdale, IL; Davis, CA; Dallas, TX; Milwaukee, WI; Raleigh, NC), find the main page for Run Like A Mother here. Below is our post-run training photo from yesterday, you can see the glorious raindrops.

Party Favors – Superhero 5th Birthday Party

Posted by Tricia on Apr 8, 2013 in A Rainy Day Creation | 1 comment

My baby boy turned 5 a couple weeks ago and we celebrated in style – Superhero style that is! Not just one Superhero showed up to the party, we had several superheros including Batman, Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America (well, the kids were the Superheros of course). And trying to be Supermom, I wanted to give a Superhero mask to every party child, and a crayon roll up in their favor bag. It took longer than expected to create all the masks and crayon rolls, but it was definitely worth it. All the kids had a great time and loved their party favors, and the parents were pleased too! If you want to create your own Superhero masks, check out oxeyedaisey on Etsy for her Super Mask and Super Bat Mask patterns.

The crayon rolls were fun to make – I kind of figured it out as I went along. I have some modifications I will do next time I create them, but I loved the ombre fabric I found and how they blended together. And each crayon roll holds 16 crayons. They were a hit! See photos of both projects below, and one of all the Superheroes in the middle – the birthday boy is in the Superman shirt!

A Ghastly Quilt Project

Posted by Tricia on Mar 10, 2013 in A Rainy Day Creation | 0 comments

I have been staring at these fabrics for months now – they have been screaming to be cut. But newbie quilter that I am, I was too afraid, as this is my first real fussy cut quilt and I don’t want to screw it up! Luckily there are several repeats with this in case anything goes awry. However, one fabric I want to save for the backing so I’m not sure if any of those Ghastly characters will end up on the front! These lovelies however are cut and ready for their next step. Not all Halloween quilts should be black and orange you say? Well this one definitely won’t be! I went in and looked at several orange fabrics, solid and patterned, and nothing seemed to work with the lovely rosy pink cheeks. Funny thing is… I don’t do pink. I never really have. I have red hair, and yes, there was pink in my clothes when I was little, but nothing that was ever PINK!!! You know? And now I’m getting a bit more experimental with pink, as long as it is not the only color in the clothing. It has to be a secondary color, or have a very strong coordinating color player.

Anyways… I haven’t decided exactly how to build these guys out, but a beautiful pink ombre will be part of it. Including some other fabrics from the Alexander Henry Ghastlies line. I’ve taken the first step. And once I start I have to finish! So here goes…

Since I’m starting this now, you would think it would be ready before Halloween right? Let’s hope so!

My Very First Completed Quilt, and Prince Charming Quilt Top Vol. 1

Posted by Tricia on Feb 27, 2013 in A Rainy Day Creation | 0 comments

I was finally able to get some photos of my very first finished quilt – my Moda Rainbow Batiks Jelly Roll Quilt. I know this isn’t quite sound logic, but I consider both the Halloween Quilt for Riley and this Rainbow Batiks Jelly Roll quilt my ‘first’ finished quilts. I started them both about the same time, and though the Batiks quilt was finished first, the Halloween quilt was start to finish done by me. Yes it has some issues, but I will be that much better next time!

Anyways – this Jelly Roll quilt was fun to make, and I have plans to make others with this same pattern. And as for the back – I made a mistake and cut one section too small. So in order to correct it I had to get another Jelly Roll, and I used the strips for the back of the quilt, and then filled in the sides with a blue and a pink fabric from the line that I liked, added a narrow and wider border to the front, and a rainbow splatter for the binding. Considering this is my first ever quilt, I think it turned out pretty well. The colors of the Rainbow Batiks are so rich and bright and are difficult to capture – you must see this fabric line in person to really appreciate it! Looking forward to my next one like this!

And I have my first Prince Charming top done. This one is for my mother-in-law – she has a thing for frogs so I thought this would be perfect for her birthday. I have another one in progress using ivory instead of the khaki.

Any suggestions on what you like to use for batting? The last one I used (for the batiks) seems kind of thin. Wondering if there is something soft and thicker and warm. Thanks for stopping by!