Advent Calendar

Whew! This baby - well, the applique numbers- was a learning experience! I created new curse words with those things! But once the numbers were done the rest flew and now it's done...and we love it! And I'm happy cause we'll be using this for several years! Used this tutorial.

2!

Sorry it's been a while since I blogged! Life is busy this time of year!

My baby girl, Avery, turned 2 last week! We took her to Disneyland and she had a blast! So we got annual passes - we'll be there a lot this next year!

FMF!!!

This is such a fab giveaway!!!

Spring Lap Quilt

Spring Lap Quilt, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

Another christmas gift checked off the list! Yay! This quilt is 60x60 and is backed in flannel. It is a lap quilt for Sean's paternal grandmother. I really love the pattern - but the colors kind of dissapointed me. I'm gonna tray it again soon!

Baby McKey Quilt

Baby McKey Quilt, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

This quilt was a group effort...
Lisa, Gwen, Sarah, and I met over 2 years ago in our Bradley Method birthing class....after our babies were born we started meeting once a week and local parks to get together and talk about being new mommies. Now, 2 years later, we still meet every week at the park and our kiddies have become best friends. Best of all, we all have become awesome friends - who get together later in the week (without the kids) to sew! Sarah is prego with baby # 2 so Gwen, Lisa, and I each made 3 strips, added the sashing and took turns quilting a few lines - hence some of them aren't very straight! But we love it and Sarah loves it!
(recognize the fabrics? Leftovers from the PRB quilt...and I stil have more!)

Lots of bags!

So a few a months back I won a Chic or Treat Jelly Roll from Quilt Taffy. I've been looking at it for a few months and decided that I just couldn't make a quilt out of it...and I'm sure you understand why. So I made about 8 Trick or Treat bags!

I gave them all away to friends...and of course I made A one that was a little more special... They are about 10x12...

I bought some home dec fabric from here for $5 a yard! I know, I know. It's Prairie Gothic from Jane Sassaman and the pattern for this bag is the Birdie Sling by Amy Butler. You may recall that I made this same bag about 6 months ago in Amy Butler home dec fabric - It is very large and I've been using it as a diaper/carryall bag when I'm out. I absolutely LOVE it. It has 2 large pockets inside and soo roomy! I made the pink/red bag for my lil' sis for x-mas and the black one is for me! I needed a little more hardcore bag to go with the hardcore tat on the arm that's carrying it...but still cute!

The butterfly/moth is on the strap and on the band that goes around the bag.

I love the lining....I used the red lining in the red bag and the black in the red, just a little something extra when you look inside!

Fabric Co-Op

You all need to check out FabFanatic. It's a fabric website where you place an order for yardage of new lines of high end designers...and they pool all the orders together then order the bolts. So you basically pay a little over cost for the fabric plus shipping. And you don't have to pay for it until it comes in! I've placed an order for Tanya Whelan's new line Dolce for about $6 a yard and they also have Denyse Schmidt's new line too!

String blocks

String blocks, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

I've been working on these bad boys for a few weeks now. Just doing a couple here and there. They take a long time to make because I spend so much time digging through my scrap bucket....which is getting more and more crammed with every project! I've been meaning to whip them out faster so I can at least see a dent in the scraps...but I've got like 5 quilts going on right now. I guess these can wait. But I do love the bright colors!

Christmas quilt 2009

Christmas quilt 2009, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

I made this quilt top with Have a Sherri Berry Holiday fabric and panel. It came together super quick. I have 4 blocks leftover so I have already cut sashing to make a 40x40 quilt for my baby girl.

Did I mention that I bought a BOLT of Minky fabric at Joann's in the clearance section for $3 a yard? So I may back this with it and use the rest for the quilt I will make for Avery's future bed...I have plenty of time, right?!

Mr. Darcy quilt

Mr. Darcy quilt, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

Right now I'm reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies...it's friggin fantastic! I made this quilt top for my sis-in-law and she loves all those period piece love stories and with the toile fabric - Mr. Darcy is perfect. It's really big 80x85 so I'm working on piecing the back now....

Work!

PRB Quilt, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

Now that the weather here in So Cal is getting a little cooler (80 deg), I can quilt and not be totally gross and sweaty when I'm done. So I've been working on a few projects. Christmas and new baby gifts...

First up, the PRB (pink, red, blue) quilt which is a x-mas gift. Just needs to be washed for crinkly goodness and labeled! Do you remember that I actually made 3 of these quilt tops a while back? Well, the first one is done!

Color!

DSC02900, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

I finally have color! After 3.5 hours last night...here it is!

And now that football is on...I've been quilting! I'll posts pics soon!

What would you take?

The Station Fire is less than 2 miles from my house. Not that the fire would actually make it down the mountain to Pasadena ( I hope) it did cross my mind and if we had to evacuate, what would I take? My mental list went like this: Pictures, laptop, external hard drive, Bernina....is that bad??? I'm sure you would all do the same, right?!

Don't be scared!

DSC02751, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

This is actually my 30th b-day present...I know, it looks a bit scary right now! Lots of bright colors are on the way but large tattoos take time, so this is definitely a WIP! I'll post new pics after I have appts...
This is actually after a session on Wed afternoon - 4 hours of shading! You can't see in this pic, but there is A LOT of work that was done on the backside of my arm.

Artist - Paul Dhuey of Guru Tattoo in Pacific Beach (San Diego), CA

oh, did I mention that I drive 2 hours each way to subject myself to this?! ha!

I am officially 30!

DSC02726, originally uploaded by 30andquilting.

Well, I turned 30 at the end of July....

Here is the stacks of FINISHED quilts (minus the wedding gift quilt) that I have made by the time I turned 30. I think I'm doing pretty good! Quilting has been an awesome stress reliever (and producer) and has led me to meet awesome new people, patterns, creativity I didn't know I had, and of course...fabric!

I've been back into the swing of sewing lately - several dolls, purses, and dresses for Avery. Pics to come soon!

Summer slow down....

I have sooo not been in the mood lately to sew! I'm a little sad about it and every time I see my sewing table littered with non-sewing stuff I get inspired to clean it up, sit down, and make something...but with the weather here in so cal being 97 degrees and 75% humidity (what, in CA?) , and did I mention we don't have central A/C???? Well, can you blame me? But I promise to get busy soon...I did make a pair of bloomers the other night and I hated the pattern - it has seams on the front and back instead of on the sides....does anyone have a cute bloomer pattern???

Also, I have a new camera on the way to me - our old one landed on top of my cell phone at the perfect angle and the LCD screen shattered! ugh...so as soon as I get it in the mail - I promise to post new pics of the projects I finished last week.

Oh, I'm reading "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides and I love it- so interesting! And I've read the first 3 Sookie Stackhouse novels in the past two weeks ( ya know, True Blood is base on them!)

A few things...

I've finished a few projects and have started a few more....

My neighbors are getting married this summer and I thought I would make them a quilt for a wedding gift. I chose the Plain Spoken design but I'm not only using solids, I've thrown a few prints in there too...because those of us that are married know that rarely is anything 'plainly spoken'! Their colors are hot pink and black, btw, not my go to colors - but I love the way they work with the Engaged fabric from Alexander Henry....you'll see!

I sooo love the wedding/engagement rings!

I will be backing with Henry's Toadstools in black - cause they are a bit hippy-ish if you get my drift!

I also made this purse - the Birdie Sling by Amy Butler, using Amy Butler home dec fabric...fabric and pattern from Pink Chalk.

I finished my mini quilt and sent it off to Utah on Wednesday....I kinda used it as a practice quilt to try my applique and embroidery skills...I was very happy with myself when I finished it - I almost kept it for myself!

And I finally finished the Sweet quilt for my lil sis!

Sewing Machine Meme

The gals over at Sew, Mama, Sew! are having Sewing Machine Month! So I'm answering a few questions to help out future machine buyers....I was I had this resource when I was looking!

What brand and model do you have? Bernina Activa 220
How long have you had it? Approx 4 months
How much does that machine cost (approximately)? $1000.
What types of things do you sew? Quilts, clothing, purses
How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get? I sew about 5 nights a week for about 2-3 hours a session
Do you like/love/hate your machine? I LOVE my machine!
What features does your machine have that work well for you? I love the EASY threading of top and bobbin thread, the thread cutter, and how efficient it is!
Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine? Not anything that isn't the users fault!
Would you recommend the machine to others? Why? Absolutely! Even though the price can be a bit jarring - the machine works beautifully, is quick, and very user friendly for new machine users - like me!

Yay!

I was ALL over the MTV Movie Awards last night....of course to see Rob, but also to see the trailer for New Moon! Here it is! November can't come soon enough!
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Kut8sX1P0

Hi!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while....I've been working on the NBA quilt for Father's day and I have to do it when hubby is away...which is hard! The funny part is that he's been making fun of me for having 'too' many projects started and not finished...but little does he know it's because I'm working on his gift! It is quilted and I'm now hand stiching the binding. Which is a pain...

I ordered a binding/bias tape folder thingie so that I can machine stitch the binding on for now on. I do love the look of the hidden stitch binding (i'm sure it has a name but I can't think of it!) but it takes soooo long to do by hand!

Also, my replacement Sew Steady Extension table for my machine has been shipped - after 2 months - the first was broken during shipping by Fed-Ex....so as soon as it's here I can finish my other quilts! yay! And I promise to post pics soon!!

See!

I have been sewing!  The Twilight series is done...and yes, I'm a little depressed but now I can be productive!

First up:  Wasabi!  The green quilt for Ruth...mostly Fresh Cut fabrics.

next:  Deep Sea 9 for my little bro.  Random 9 patch with 3 Tula Pink's Neptune charm packs minus the coral.   I will sash with navy blue.

Lastly, and my favorite...my hubby's basketball quilt for Father's Day.  I love the bright colors, the woodgrain fabric and especially the one orange block.  It is a twin size...

Mini Quilt Swap

So....I've signed up for a Quilt Swap....and I'm a little nervous!

My time

has been directed elsewhere. Quilting, sewing, pressing - have been put on hold. Ok...I admit it. I am as smitten as a teenage girl. I have been reading the Twilight book series non-stop. Like 600 pages read in one day. I am halfway through the the 4th book and as soon as I'm finished I'll be back to my sewing machine. But...I will definitely miss Edward Cullen. Guess it's a good thing that I have the DVD at home to watch again...and drool over.

Have you read the series? And were you as hooked as I am??

PS...my only wish is that there was more 'action' between Bella and Edward...yes, I know, the books are for young adults, but still!

Quilt Festival!

Amy over at ParkCityGirl is having a Bloggers Quilt Festival!  And I had to join!

My entry is the FIRST quilt I made.  And the ENTIRE thing is hand stitched.  It is my 16-month-old daughters clothes from her first year of life.  Mostly onesies and sleepers.  It means sooo much to me because I can look and it and recognize every square and at this right now I can tell you what item of clothing it used to be.  Not sure how well I'll do when she's 10!  But I'm super proud of it and I hope she'll treasure it as much as I do!

Thank you for stopping by!

My back hurts....

from standing up, leaning over, and cutting all night!

These are the fabrics/block style/ backing for Sean's basketball inspired quilt for Father's Day.  He does a Boot Camp workout on wed nights so I cut all of the fabric last night and I'll be working on it on wednesdays to keep it a surprise!  FYI - the backing is a twin sheet from Pottery Barn Kids.

 The Orange block in the pic will be the only orange block on the quilt to represent the ball!

I so love this fabric!

Neptune by Tula Pink....I LOVE this fabric!  So masculine yet so pretty!  I'm going to use these charm packs to make a bordered disappearing 9 patch for my lil bro - minus the coral fabric, I think it's a bit too 'girly' for this 15 year old!

I won!

I won this awesome Chic or Treat jelly roll from Quilt Taffy!

I'm going to make my nephews a Halloween Quilt!  And I still have plenty of time to make it!

Cut

I cut the Fresh Cut fabric for the Green quilt.  I'm doing a bento box pattern of my own measurements...graph paper and a calculator is a quilter's BF!

Another dress...

This was a gift for a 5 year old...she opened the present and put it on backwards, and stated that it was NOT a dress, it was a jacket!  ha!

While hubby watches a movie...

and eats popcorn...I'm cutting and sewing!  So much for cuddling, huh?

I have finished the back of my Swell quilt and need more batting!  

I cut enough 4x5 squares to make 3+ of these...

It is big - 60x70ish...That is laying on my queen bed!  I'm planning on giving one to each of my sisters and sister's-in-law...we can all match!  and I have enough squares left to make A a matching baby size one!  I was inspired by this.  Thanks Kerri! 

i'm here!

I'm sorry I haven't posted lately! But I have been working on a few project and my 'old lady quilt' is quilted! I borrowed a walking footfor my Bernina and I need to buy one! But I feel bad dropping $100 on one!

I'll post pics tonight before hand stiching my binding!

more...

Finished my darla quilt and have it pinned and ready to go...not sure how I wanna quilt it yet...

Sean calls this my 'old lady' quilt...

Almost complete...

Ok.  I've finished the Sweet top in a stacked coins pattern...

Dresses!

These dresses are totally reversable!  And so easy to make.  I want one in my size....