Uppity-Mama

Quickie Quilt

I used a pack of  Tula Pink Plume charm squares, some pearl pink Kona cotton and polka dots for the binding.  I've got two bigger quilts in the works and just really needed to finish something!

Fabric Giveaway #2

Yup, just leave me a comment on this post before Monday at midnight and these (and probably more) could be yours!

*****To those who saw this post before I edited it, I'm sorry if I mislead you!  I didn't mean to indicate that I was giving away all the fabric in the other picture...that's the new stuff I'm making room for by giving away the above fabrics!  I'm really sorry for any confusion.

 

Crazy Nine Patch Quilt Top

The parenting books all tell you to give toddlers a choice of A or B.  Too many choices can be overwhelming.  When one of my daughters was toddler age, I tried this with her.  She would always choose not A, and not B, but C.  Something I hadn't even offered.  This drove me crazy but I know where she got it from.  See, I offered you a choice between white and lavender.  And then I chose gray.  I hope you still love me. 

 

Lavender or White?

Crazy Nine Patch blocks made with Oh Fransson's tutorial.  Which color do you like with them?  The pictures aren't great...gray afternoon.

Feeling Stashy

After one stinkin' giveaway I seem to feel the need to re-stash.  Seriously, I'm on a roll.  I do believe this will inspire another de-stash and giveaway as well, so stay tuned.

First pic top to bottom: Mingle- Monaluna for Robert Kaufman

Amy Butler

More Mingle

Dolce, by Tanya Whelan:

 

Timber by Jessica Levitt:

Even more Mingle:

 

A Nicey Jane jelly roll:

 

Tula Pink's latest PLUME: (so excited)

Joan gave me some of her vintage sheet stash because I was drooling over it at the LAMQG weekend sew:

And Jane sent me this fabulous-ness for my birthday (again because I was drooling at the LAMQG meeting:

NOTE TO SELF:  keep drooling!

A Valentine Drawn with the Sewing Machine

I have been wanting to try this idea of drawing with the sewing machine.  I'm not sure why, since I really don't draw at all.  But I think this came out pretty cool, for a first attempt.  It's for my man, who may think that it is a bit too "Holly Hobbie" but I hope not... I'll let you know after I give it to him. 

I figured I would practice my drawing on sketch paper. I kind of like what I did and figured I'd have a hard time reproducing it on tear-away stabilizer or paper so I just pinned that puppy on and started sewing.  

 

I did it on linen with cotton batting and plain white kona fabric for backing.   I bound it with some Anna Maria from my stash.  So it's like a mini quilt, wall hanging, thingy.

What Do You Think?

It looks as if I'll be doing some ice skating in a recital in April.  I have a solo program and now, well, a pairs number!  My friend Joe and I have teamed up and it is sooo much more fun skating pairs than skating solo! Anyway, it looks like I'll have to wear some (gulp!) skating dresses.  So I bought this pattern:

 
but I'm pretty sure making a skating dress would be an exercise in frustration for me, especially now that Capril isn't around for me to run to for backup.

So I'm considering these:

 

See that hair scrunchie on the side there? Don't worry, I'll not be sporting that!

 

The whole thing feels a bit ridiculous considering my age.  And I'm terrified of actually putting one of these on.  But if I don't do it now... well, I never will.  And if I don't do it at all, it will feel like a bit of a fail.  So, although I may look a bit silly in my outfit, and I may fall on my face, I'm gonna do it.  Won't you help me decide what to wear for this spectacular event?  Opinions and suggestions please!  Has anyone out there ever made a skating dress?

LAMQG Meeting and Valentine Swap

At last night's meeting of the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild we had a Valentine Swap and it was so much fun. Here's what I made:
A Moleskine journal with decorative stitching on front...

and back.

 

Wrapped and ready to go.

Here's the table of goodies at the meeting.

Jolene got mine, which is funny because I got her potholder last time!

See Katie looking at me that way...

It's because I was opening the GORGEOUS drawstring bag that she made!  I love it!

 

Playing With Circles, Part 3 (a tutorial, kinda)

My friend Lisa kindly showed me another circle method the other day involving freezer paper.  Lisa learned this method here, but I believe there are other places to find similar methods.  Check this out.

 Cut a square of freezer paper.  Use a compass to draw a circle in the middle and cut that out.

Next iron the freezer paper, shiny side down onto a square of fabric.  Sorry, I used white fabric but I think you can see the differentiation between it and the paper.

Cut the circle out of the middle of the fabric (I used my new Olfa circle cutter which is awesome) leaving about a half inch allowance. Clip the fabric allowance close to the paper. 

 

 

Remove the freezer paper stencil.
Run a glue stick around the edge of the fabric. Yes, I did it on the paper but that was silly.

 

Using your fingers and the tip of your iron (or a mini iron) press the snipped seam allowance back onto the fabric.

Apply more glue stick (or basting glue, or Elmer's school glue) to the edge of your circle.

Here's Lisa doing it with basting glue.  Can you see that incredibly thin line of glue she got with that thing?!  It has a really fine tip, like a needle.

Place a square of fabric that will become your circle onto the back of your fabric and dry iron again.  I let it sit for a few minutes to dry/set the glue before I... 

Flip it over to the right side, pull back your outer fabric and carefully stitch right on the crease. 

From the right side, you will have no visible stitching!  After you sew it, you can iron the fabric snips toward the center for more of a puffy, applique look, or back over the outer fabric for a nice flat look (my preference).

Now, after all my circle play, I have to decide (by tomorrow) what instructions to give my fellow quilters for the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild bee... Circles?  Improv. log cabin?  Both??