Little Kisses pillow (and coupon code!)

I've got this little pillow in Fat Quarterly's new issue: Modern Traditional.

It went to the lovely Crystal, as part of a swap we arranged.

You saw me working on it back here:

For the design, I re-sized my French Kisses pattern to make a good pillow size.  And though I named it "Little Kisses," that is only a relative term.  The pillow actually fits a 24" pillow form!  But we like big pillows around here, and Crystal said they would too.

Crystal was part of a small group who managed to collect a charm square of every single one of Anna Maria Horner's quilting cottons, and she asked for a pillow to go with that epic quilt she has planned.  Anna's fabrics from all her collections play so well together.

And look pretty on the couch too.

In a little over 2 weeks, I'm going to Portland for Spring Market, and I'm having a pattern sale to earn some spending money!

20% off everything, including templates, in my little pattern shop through May 15.  Use code "SpringMarket" for the discount!

a little top

Sometimes, no matter what the list looks like, you have to sew for fun.

And for the naked 24" pillow form that was unearthed during your weekend's intense closet cleaning work that has been claimed by the hubby and the big boy and the little girl.  (I shudder to think of what it will look like if it doesn't get a cover on it soon!)

I was also fairly desperate to make something that was done with little blocks (these are 8" each).  And used my stash.  And was cute.  And gratifying.



Can't wait to finish this!

P.S. Still plenty of time to link up with this month's "Just Three" if you feel so inclined...

WIP Thursday

- you have an hour or so to link up with November's "Just Three." :)

- you have a few hours if you'd like to vote for my Cosmic Quilt at the Blogger's Quilt Festival (it's in the Bed Quilt category)

- I'm getting Scrappy Sprouts for my friend Chelsa's quilt in the mail every day!  They're going to be so amazing together!  Here's our flickr group if you want to see and join in. :)

- I'm working on writing my Cosmic pattern, and it's getting so close!  I am teaching myself Illustrator and InDesign, so it's been very brainy work, but going well!  Here's a little glimpse of what I'm learning!

yes, I'm feeling *quite* smug to be figuring this out. ;)
We moms of wee-ones don't always get to feel smart or in charge. ;)

- Speaking of the Cosmic pattern, I am in the process of ordering templates!  I just got my first sample set in the mail, and I am trying all of them out tonight (I hope!).

- One of the Cosmic templates is doing double-duty.  I am playing with my AMH rainbow fabrics, and Value, and planning something happy. 

- ^^ this AMH rainbow quilt, was inspired by this pillow talk swap top.

Now to get it quilted!

There is my WIP report.  A day late.  Like most things around here.

from my friend

I got some happy mail this week (and in record time from Canada too!)

One day, Krista (of Poppyprint fame) and I were lamenting the fact that we hadn't been paired with someone we knew in a swap...
*bing!* (that's the sound of a lightbulb)...
So we decided to do a little side swap of our own.



She asked me if I wanted a pillow or a doll quilt... I requested a pillow cover with binding so it could masquerade as a wall hanging if necessary.

But since it matches my couch quilt, and another French General quilt I have in the works, I have a feeling it will remain a pillow (though I do need to pick up a bigger pillow form)



A final note --
Should you ever see that Krista has signed up for a swap -- join that swap pronto, in hopes that she might be your partner.

Her work... flawless.

Even the back of this pillow is gorgeous, and with buttons!



Thank you Krista!  I adore this little quilty project... adore, adore, adore.

(Now you just need to come to Quilt Market with E and I). :)

lucky me. :)

I showed you what I sent... but I didn't show you what I got yet. :)

And I have to say that I was, yet again, blessed with some excellent swap partners. :)

First, with "Make Mine Modern"

Lisa was my partner, and she completely spoiled me.



A sewing machine cover (that is reversible to hold the goodies you can see above)



This super ridiculously cute wall hanging (that hangs above my sewing machine)



And some really adorable fabric... (none of which I had... which is hard to do!)



Thank you Lisa... you get super partner award. :)

(P.S. Lisa is competing in SYTYC (So you think you're crafty)... I've seen her work; I think she'll go far. ;)

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And the Pillow Talk Swap

Amanda (amandaquilts) was my partner, and she made such an incredible. thoughtful, adorable pillow... I absolutely ♥ it.

Those half-square triangles are tiny and so precise!

It will look perfect with my chubby stars, and is made in one of my very favorite fabric collections (Nicey Jane).



Thank you so much ladies!  These were so great... both of them. :)

time to visit the post office.

Pillow Talk Swap pillow -- done.



Modern Swappers bundle -- done.



For the Modern Swappers swap, the person sends a handmade item, something for the sewing room, and at least 1 1/2 yd. of fabric.

I used this tutorial by Oh Frannson's Elizabeth Hartman to make a thread catcher/pin cushion.



(yep, there's a Hera marker in there)

These are the fabrics I'm sending -- that check plaid by Momo (third down on right) is my new favorite...



And of course -- the pillow I've been working on.



Both my partners have similar taste; and I want to keep these pillows together... forever... but then I'd have more sewing to do (because I am not a flake), and I have enough to get done by December 24!

I hope they're both happy! :)

Steiger sure approves.



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P.S. If you haven't done so yet -- sign up to follow our in progress Quilt Hope In blog!
And grab one of the adorable buttons designed by Lee!

P.P.S  The next post -- a Go! giveaway!!! :)

I had to show you!

Look at the ridiculously adorable header that Lee has worked up (she might make changes, but I really love this)

In aqua

or orange...

I usually go for the aqua (shocker, huh?), but I think I might really like the orange this time...

Progress on Quilt Hope In:

Heartline is working with us now to get the funding logistics sorted (we'll have a link on the Quilt Hope in blog -- in progress), and we're trying to decide how to link the paypal funding so as to minimize charges/admin costs.  

Anyway -- I was just excited about these really cute headers and wanted to show you. 

(We also have our first fabric bundles donated from SewLoveFabrics... and I'm working on gathering some more -- for our giveaway, I hope to have fabric that y'all can win that you will then use to make quilts for the Moms and Kids in Haiti.)

Oh, P.S. -- If you knit or make a bag or something, we'll happily accept those donations too...any high quality fabric/yarn goodies will be accepted.

P.P.S.  If you have some beautiful, high quality quilting fabric you'd like to destash to our cause, email me.

P.P.P.S

Speaking of orange and aqua...

I'm working on finishing up my Modern Swappers and Pillow Talk Swap 4 projects.  

I decided to hand-quilt one of my pillow covers, originally thought to be for my Modern Swappers partner... but my PTS4 partner has similar taste.  

I've caused a bit of a stir in flickr land... oops. 

Yes, I did use my Go! cutter to make this... the Rob Peter to Pay Paul die.

pillow talk swap progress

I'm trying to get this finished well ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline (because I have a million Christmas gifts to make.)

Got the top pieced!



I've asked my partner if (s)he would prefer a hexagon shaped pillow, or for me to square it up.  I can't decide which I'd like to do more.

This was my starting stack of fabric.



I used a design idea from Material Obsession 2, ordered the template from here, and got busy.

It was my first time doing set-in seams, and they went really well thankfully.

You can kind of see in this picture, each of the sixty degree triangles are make up of thirds.  Then it's just about rearranging (I think I rearranged for over an hour, and have a nice stack of those little pieces cut in a spare box... waiting for me)



I do think it's funny that both my pillow talks so far have been in the orange and grey color scheme... I think it's quite popular these days.

Oh, and in case my partner doesn't respond -- what say you all?  Keep it a hexie, or square it up?

I gave in.

Pillow Talk Swap Round 4.

I had to.

It's my favorite swap, and last time I got such a great pillow.

My inspiration mosaic.

I'm thinking something to go with my Chubby Stars quilt.

1. Pillow Close up, 2. Sew New To Me VQB Quilt Top Finished, 3. Nicey Jane hexies, 4. Quilting Divas Dresden, 5. Chubby stars progress, 6. Circle of geese block for Tracey, 7. Quilting Divas--Tracey, 8. bedtime story quilt, 9. munki starburst quilt, 10. Sew New to Me VQB--July, 11. Doll Quilt Swap 9, 12. Quilted Cotton Gauze baby blanket -- Blue leaves, 13. Tracey's block, 14. trenton's quilt, 15. pink tree, 16. Wild Thing- Nicey Jane

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

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(I'm waiting for the final Go! ahead from AccuQuilt to start the giveaway... soon!) :)

Go! play... with a little round pillow tutorial

This weekend, I cleared off my sewing desk, and pulled out my accuquilt GO! (sent to me by the arrangements of the lovely Carolyn).

Just to play.

Here's what I made.

And here's a mini tutorial for you.

Materials:
Go! Round Flower Appliqué die with 5" x 10" cutting mat
Some Heat 'n Bond lite
4 1/2" (ish) scrap squares

Use the video from this page if you're not sure how to apply Fusible webbing to the back of your squares.

And while you're there, you can check out anything else Go! related you might be curious about.

1.  Get your pieces ready.



2. Line them up on the die, over the flower part. (I didn't mark my die, but a lot of people find that handy)



3.  Wheel those pieces through.  (I did two or three at a time)



4.  If you like, use the scraps to make some more little pieces from the die (like the circles or leaf) -- you won't use them in this project.



Very little waste.



5. Cut those little petals apart (there are six/flower)

6.  Get a base piece of fabric (I think mine was very close to 13" square)  Fold said piece of fabric in to quarters, so that you can easily find the center.



7. Use a compass or some kind of guide to draw a circle in the center.  (I used an artichoke steamer--we had artichokes for dinner last night after this)



8.  Arrange your petals around this line --> peel off the paper --> iron and stitch them in place.



9.  Repeat until you get to the center.



10.  So pretty!



You can do what you like with this at this point -- make it a quilt block, make it a Mug Rug, or make it a pillow.

11. Layer and Quilt.  Cut a piece large enough for the back and sew that on too -- but make sure you leave a space for stuffing later.



12.  Add some binding most of the way and stuff it.  But be warned that stuffing and finishing binding isn't super easy, and might have involved a visit with Mr. Seam Ripper.

But it turned out all right in the end. :)

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I played a little more with the die that comes with the machine, and cut some 4 1/2" squares, which became some HSTs (half-square triangles).  

More on that to come.

After Steiger went to bed, Mr. Jay and I decided to have a wild and crazy date night.

We made... 

...cookie dough.

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There will be a sponsored giveaway for a Go! cutter here soon...

in the mean time, go check this giveaway out... at The Quilted Fish. :)

some really cute stuff.