Friday Finish and the Start of Some Fun!

I finished both Friendship bags this morning. The one on the left is for ME and just needed the lining stitched closed and the final sewing around the top edge. The one on the right I made this morning from ironing cut pieces to final sewing. Half a birthday present for tomorrow - DONE!






I managed to finish the quilting on the first Birthday Baskets quilt panel. I took a closer picture so you could see my diagonal lines. The plan is for a zigzag effect across the quilt top with possible braids in the sashing borders. The braids will depend on how well the lines match up when I get all three panels completed.





And the stash strip fun has begun! I couldn't resist! My sister and I are already planning to work on these blocks throughout the year. Now Stephanie at Loft Creations (our major inspiration) is doing a challenge! For now, I'm happy I got started:)

Here's to a weekend where you (and I!) can fit in some quilting time!

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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My First Quilt

Welcome to the story of my First Quilt.

Camille of Simplify and Carrie of LaVieEnRosie are hosting a blog hop featuring First and most recent quilts.

I thought I'd join in!

This is a baby quilt I hand pieced, but machine quilted back in 1997(?) I didn't label it - and will now! I used all scraps from my mother's stash from clothes she had made for us or our dolls. I had been married for a year and not expecting, so I wanted both blue and pink in the quilt.
I still really like the white floral fabric. I think my mom had made a doll bunting bag with it. Not overly proud of the craftsmanship here...but hey, wrinkles show work and wisdom, right:)
It took me awhile to piece this quilt and I think I was expecting when I decided that I had to get it done!! Big plans for the quilted border are evidenced by the pencil lines that are STILL there. And my *wonder* binding! I think I just folded over the back and then just kept quilting it by machine until it was all stitched down. Ugh! It was a steep learning curve:)
I am impressed with how much machine quilting I did. I think I must have wore myself out before I got to the border.
No one has used - or seen- this quilt! I have been unimpressed by the finished product, but at the same time didn't want any 'baby messes' on it. So it stays in one of my UFO containers.

Flash forward 12 years!!!!!
This is my most recent finish. It's twin size and all stash fabric. I started it in February 2009 during Pat Sloan's OP challenge. I love orange! This quilt is being used - on my daughter's bed.

What have I learned so far?

I love to play with colour on fabrics.

I love to try new blocks, new settings, new techniques.

I go slow when I get scared to try something new
- and feel JOY when I push through and create it anyway:)

I love to make things as gifts.

I love to make things for my family.

I need to make more things to KEEP:)

There's lots of people out there enjoying making beautiful quilts too.

I have lots more to learn!

That's my journey so far. Thanks for reading.
Sew JOY,
Sarah Vee

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How does your Quilt Grow?

Design Wall Monday and today, my design wall is working overtime!

My birthday Picnic Quilt is UP! I have all of my blocks completed except for the blanket stitching around the last 2 flower applique blocks. The whole quilt doesn't fit up here so I will have to resort to the kitchen floor again at some point to lay everything out.

I am now trying to decide if I love the lime green sashing between the blocks. I think it might be too light and get lost in the row. At the same time, the longer I look at it, the more I like it.
I think the green looks better than this purple option. I have another 'plainer' purple to consider as well. I don't have anymore of the red and white polka dot. Just enough for the outer border. As I'm trying to work with what I've got, well, come back again and see what I decide:)

I worked on more over the weekend as well, which I'll post later in the week. I also have a 'product review' of Mistyfuse scheduled for Thursday.

Enjoy checking in on everyone's design walls. Remember it was Judy who started it all!

ENJOY the week,
Sarah Vee
p.s. Happy 13th Anniversary to me and my hubby today:)xo

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Yay for Sisters!

Or at least mine who has a great stash that she's willing to share from.
I asked for some help in getting some more neutral fabrics for my Lady of the Lake blocks.
She didn't deliver, but mail it she did! BIG time.
Lots to love here.
After a quick flip through the stack these 2 came out on top as favourites. Don't think the green one will make it into the quilt. Too much of it - it must have another purpose:)
Some sweet mini prints that remind me of feedsacks.
Pastel solids. Something I don't have any of, except baby prints.
Baby blues that aren't. . . 'baby' blues:)
Delicate looking florals.
Some country neutrals. A bit blurry.
An eclectic mix of florals. Blurry, again. Haven't taken pictures of this many different fabrics in awhile!
The remaining group of wonderfulness. Thank you sis! Check out what she's up to here at her blog.

Now if only she would come visit and IRON it all too:)
Well, only 26 more to go after this one. That's 416 MORE half square triangles. But whose counting? At least I'll get to cut into some new fabrics:)

Find JOY in your SEWing today,
Sarah Vee

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That was (SEW) Easy!

These blocks were quick to sew and turned out fun!

Full credit is due to Marcia Hohn of the Quilter's Cache.
If you have never checked out this awesome list of blocks - I recommend it. It was incredibly handy for me because I was looking for another 10 inch block to complete my outside border of blocks.She has the blocks organized by size, alphabetically. I was also thinking of a star for the four corners.

This block is perfect. I love the "Monkey Wrench" or whatever name you know it by. This one Marcia named "Double Wrench". Again I'm happy that I had enough white and red polka dot fabric to make these all the same. Her pattern called for just 2 colours - which would look great too.

I really like them all lined up together! I just may reuse this pattern in another quilt all by itself!


I did some studio journal work too last night. Might share that another time.
EnJoy some time quilting today,

Sarah Vee

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You Matter! It's Monday...

It is time for the design wall Monday post, but here is something I'm sure most, if not all of us, need to read sometimes (and sometimes on Monday mornings the most!)

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/you-matter.html


I have been busy looking and cutting and playing with fabric for this quilt that has grown exponentially in my mind and on the design wall!

I have added an inner border to the design and started to work on each of the different blocks that will frame the centre.
ALL the fabric is coming from my stash! I am carefully measuring and counting inches to make sure I have enough main fabric choices for each set of blocks. I am trying to keep the colours moving around yet similar throughout. I am very glad that I had enough of the red and white polka dot fabric for the inner and final borders. And enough to put in some of my outer blocks.
This block is a mistake due to my inability to count by twos:) Luckily I can change it and rescue fabric from it. I hope to get a set of each of the 4 outer blocks done each day to show you.

What happened to the Lady of the Lake blocks, you ask? I'm still working on them! I am sewing all the half square triangles I have ready as 'leaders' and 'enders' as I go. Today I will slice them all apart and spend some time pressing.

Check out Judy's Patchwork Times to see what other quilters have up on their design walls.

EnJoy the process of creating today - you matter:)!
Sarah Vee

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