December - Just Three!

Here we are... the last month of the year...

My report -- last month's goals:

1) Finish Pickledish! 

Not done -- but still looking good. :)

2) Finish Treasure Boxes 

I have the top done!  I'll be getting the link up for prizes up and ready very soon... so watch for it!  If you'd like to donate your Quilt to "Quilt Hope In" (benefits go to Heartline ministries in Haiti, who run a sewing education center as well as birthing center) -- just email me at traceyjay at gmail dot com, and I will get it listed.  

3) Learn to knit!  Amanda is coming over tomorrow!  yea!

I have learned the basic knit and purl... but haven't practiced enough to finish anything.  But I get the general idea!

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This month's goals:

1) Really finish Treasure Boxes, and donate! ♥

2) A couple custom orders.

I have this one for baby Harrison up first.  They wanted a re-make of a quilt I made for my cousin's baby, with a Red Sox theme.  I was so happy with how the letters turned out (because I draw them by hand based on the Red Sox font).

I'll also be working on this girly one... so cute, no?

3) And my most important goal this month -- to help give my babies a Merry Christmas...and the big guy too.  ♥ ♥ ♥

RULES -- Pick three goals for the month, and link up here! (You can do more than three if you prefer... I'm flexible like that... and goodness knows I have more than 3 things I'd like to accomplish this month!) :)

Linking to Fabric Tuesday! and WIP Wednesday!

Treasure Boxes - Quilt Top

So... don't know how that happened, but I thought that THIS week was two weeks from my last set of Treasure Boxes directions... it's actually been three!  Sorry about that (sheepish face).  This is harvest as I've mentioned, and it's been 7 weeks since my hubby had a day off (he had most of today off due to rain...which is a mixed blessing for sure, since they're still not done with their last field, but it was good to see him!)

Anyway -- I digress.

Our most recent installment had us piecing block quadrants in to blocks.

The charm size has twenty blocks and the fat quarter size has twelve blocks.

This week -- Arrange them all pretty-like and sew 'em together in rows.
Press seams in opposite direction when joining rows if you like nesting seams (I do).

Nothing fancy with the border... I actually figured on a 5" border for both of them.  Normally I wouldn't do that, but ironically, it feels balanced on both (to me at least -- feel free to adjust as you see best!).

Here are the directions for adding the border! (You can find a pdf here)

My apologies for being late.  ♥

Feel free to work ahead -- we'll be linking up finished and donated Treasure Boxes quilts for prizes from Julie at Intrepid Thread on the week of the U.S. Thanksgiving (which is the week of November 18).  So you have about a month to finish!

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Other than doing my mommy duties, I was very busy with an exciting surprise project I mentioned to you before... 

Lots of binding (which I finished thanks to this favorite new to me show)...

But I got it finished, and had to take it out to the field to get a decent picture (which I'll show you in a couple days!)


My parents held it up for me before driving off...

Here's a little peek.



I will sigh audibly when I get my email from Laura saying that it's in her hot little hands and up in her booth (I mailed it last week). :)

(You can see a couple of the other quilts my quilt will be hanging out with in Houston on Laura's blog.)

Treasure Boxes Quilt Along - piecing

Sorry they weren't up yesterday... but here you go! :)

Piecing instructions for the Treasure Boxes Quilt Along. :)
See previous posts here.



Get a pdf copy of these directions here.

After step 1, you do not have to trim your HST's to make your design work, but if you'd like to trim them to 8 1/2" square (unfinished), then they will be perfectly perfect. :)

Make 12 blocks for the larger size (cut from fat quarters).
Make 20 blocks for the charm size!

Don't forget to add your photos to the flickr group!  (You can see Michelle was a bit of an over-achiever). :)

You have 2 weeks to make your blocks!  We'll be linking up the week of the U.S.Thanksgiving with finished/donated quilts  for a chance to win fabulous prizes from Julie at The Intrepid Thread! :)

P.S. I'm doing a pattern giveaway over on facebook because we hit 100 "likes!" :)
Go tell me which pattern you'd like to win, and I'll pick a winner on Monday. :)

Treasure Boxes - cutting

It's still Friday where I am!

What a week!

Harvest started this week... 'nuff said.  Good news is that it's the last crazy/busy season of the year, so I just have to make it until a little in to November.

Here are the cutting instructions for the Treasure Boxes Quilt Along.
This is our "assignment" for this week. :)  Add your pictures of your fabric!



Here is a pdf of the cutting instructions.
*Please note: you can cut your squares at 8 7/8" instead of 9" if you prefer not to trim when done.

I hope these directions are pretty clear!  When I'm done with the Quilt along posts, I'm going to compile the graphics/pages in to a pattern that will be for sale with all proceeds to benefit Quilt Hope In.  So if you think you might want this pattern -- save/copy the file now. :)

And so this post isn't left without a pretty picture --

The little etsy shop Quilt Hope In had its first sale since re-opening.  I listed this little color wheel dresden I made; it sold and shipped off this week. yea!

If you would like to list something, email me with pictures, the price and all that jazz.  The payment goes directly to Heartline, so if you need compensation for shipping, please make sure to let me know, so an arrangement can be made with the buyer aside from their payment.

Anyway -- I gotta go to bed.

Much love to you all.

And I'm praying I adjust to the hubs working a lot again soon... quality time is my main love language, and I miss that big hunk... *sigh*  At least I'm not 37+ weeks pregnant or caring for a newborn this year... so there's that...

Treasure Boxes Quilt Along - fabric requirements

yea!  We're ready to get started with the Treasure Boxes Quilt along! :)

Julie at The Intrepid Thread has put together a wonderful deal for any one who wants to quilt along!

The pattern and instruction will be here, and posted here.  I'll get cutting instructions up next week. :)

Fabric Requirements:
For a 64" x 82" quilt, you will need:
- 12 fat quarters
- 3 yards background and border (I used white here)
- 1/2 yard binding
- 5 yards backing

I will be using Out to Sea for my quilt, but this design is incredibly versatile, and will be beautiful in a number of designs -- all you want to keep in mind is good contrast between the diamonds and the prints.  You can achieve that contrast with a solid vs. print, value difference, or color distinction (warm vs. cool).  I'm going with white.  Because I like it...

Here's the great part... you get to pick your fabric for the kit Julie put together!  She's giving us 20% off her already reduced prices. :)
So exciting... I know!...
(and yes, I am tempted to buy another kit... just because....)

Some links to my favorites--
Bella
Chicopee
Field Study
Coquette (with charm pack)
Madrona Road

What you need to do -- pick your 12 fat quarters (you can go from one collection, or mix and match), let her know what yardage you'd like as your background/contrast and border print (3 yards), and choose a binding( 1/2 yard).  Then Julie will wrap it up all

Here is the first little quilt I did with this design, in which I used a monochromatic palette of saturated pinks and reds...

If you would like to make this quilt with charm squares instead of fat quarters (smaller blocks), then here are the fabric requirements:

46" x 55"

60 charm squares (2 charm packs)

1 1/2 yd. background

1/2 yd. binding

Here is a mock-up of the quilt done with Ladies Stitching Club (I have a charm pack of this fabric -- it's even prettier in real life)

A last word on how this Quilt Along is working -- 

A long time ago, I opened a little etsy shop called Quilt Hope In.  The money for things we made that sold went directly to a birthing center and sewing education center in Haiti run by an organization called Heartline.  When I was pregnant, I let it lapse, and I'm thinking it was such a good idea that it's time to re-open it.
I'll be accepting donations -- email me if you've got a high quality hand-made item you'd like me to list.

When I'm finished with this Treasure Boxes quilt, it will go up for sale in the Quilt Hope In etsy shop.  And y'all can donate yours there too.  Or to another great organization.  And no quilty police are going to come get you if you decide to keep your quilt... BUT...

We'll have a link up when we're done, to show off our quilts, and remind ourselves to store up our treasures where it matters... and not just in our fabric stash. ♥

But you know that Julie... she's offering up three amazing prizes for those who finish and donate a quilt! She says "they'll be something good," (which if you've seen her giveaways, you know that's saying something!)  We're thinking about 2 months as a time-frame; I'll give you an exact date with next week's cutting directions.

OK -- the kiddos just went to bed, and it's time to go hang out with the hubs or get some sewing done, or veg out to the new fall shows. :)

Important links

 -- Our flickr group

-- Awesome deal for fabric from Intrepid Thread

-- Our button is over in the sidebar... I hope I got the code right!  (html is not my native language)

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My WIP report -

Cutting -
- Treasure Boxes
- Beauty is You baby quilt

Piecing -
- Chubby Stars (all I have left is the border!)
- Glassy quilt
- new design

Quilting -
- Hello Luscious baby
- Baby S
and more!

Linking to Lee's!

better late...

...than never!

I pulled out my Chubby Stars this weekend, and got a few blocks made!

I've changed my original plan (since I have a quilt for my bed now, and the chain/X blocks are SO tedious to make), and it should be done soon!  It'll look great on the couch too. :)

My motivation --
Next month I'll be starting a new quilt along, and it was just shameful to not have the other one done. :)

Here's a peek...
It was inspired by this little quilt, but I sized up the blocks.  (I'll have instructions for both the small and larger blocks).
Now I just have to wait until Julie @ Intrepid Thread gets her Out to Sea in... This block is MUCH simpler than the Chubby Stars, and I'm so excited to make -- and donate -- this quilt!

Details coming soon...