Another Finish

Sorry for the crummy hotel room cell phone pics. I promise to take some real photos and upload a "real post" later this week.

Christmas Crafting

My girls are obsessed with elephants and when I saw cute little kits at my local craft store I had to pick up 2. I made one of the Ellie's and have one more to make. The pattern was super simple and easy to understand.

I also made 24 baggies for my daughter's Christmas party craft. I have a couple more says to print out and I am all set for their party at the end of December.

Vote for me, vote for me, vote for me!!!

My Red Dress quilt made it to the Top 5 for favorite applique quilt in the Bloggers Quilt Festival.  I need your help!!

Please go to http://amyscreativeside.com/2012/11/05/bloggers-quilt-festival-vote-now-2/ and vote for the Red Dress quilt.  You will have to scroll down to the favorite applique section to see it.

While you are online, you can go to: http://amyscreativeside.com/2012/10/26/bloggers-quilt-festival-fall-2012/ and click the vote button under quilt #515 for the viewer's choice award. You have until Thursday evening to vote.

I really appreciate your help!!!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

Happy Halloween! 

I am entering my Red Dress quilt into the 2012 Blogger's Quilt Festival.  As most of you remember I am a Chapter Advisor for a fantastic Greek organization, Al.pha Ph.i.  Every year the chapter holds a Red Dress Gala to raise money for the Alpha Phi Foundation.  Our Foundation donates money in the form of the Heart to Heart Grant and this past year we donated $50,000 to the Univers.ity of Washington to help fund research looking at the gender differences in heart disease.   I am very proud of the women that I advise and the tremendous support that they are able to provide to our foundation which does so much to not only support sisters in need, but to raise awareness about heart disease.

If this year's quilt looks oddly familiar, you're right!  The women loved the quilt last year and asked me to make another one this year. I used scraps from my 2011 quilt to make another one this year.   I did have to purchase some fabric to finish the quilt including some white for the background, the fabulous cherry border and just a little bit of backing material.  The fabric is Sew Cherry by A Bee in My Bonnet...you may be able to find some on Et.sy. 

 

That is my little legacy (one of them) at the Chapter House holding up the quilt for me. 

 

 

Just like last year, I forgot how long this quilt actually takes to make :).  There are 30 appliqued red dresses that each have their own embelishing on them, plus the 30 snow ball blocks and the "snowball rectangles" to finish off the outer diamonds.  I was sewing my heart out in a hotel room 1.5 weeks before the auction!

 

 

I finally finished the quilt and was all ready to baste it and quilt it (in the hotel room) and realized that my batting was 1.5 inches too short.  We were heading out of town for the weekend as soon as I got home form my business trip so I quickly called my husband and asked him to get some batting out of the closet so I didn't forget it...well I forgot it and we were visiting his family who lives in a small town....thank goodness there is a craft store (and by craft store, I mean a big box store that starts wiht a W)  about 30 minutes away and I hopped in the car and found some great batting.  

 



 

 

I got the quilt all quilted up and hand sewed the binding on our return trip.  The quilt went to acution and raised more money than I could have expected.  I was approached about making a red dress quilt for a different auction next fall.  I will definitely be starting that one a little earlier.  All in all, my chapter raised $21,000 for our Foundation, an increase of $10,000 from the year before!

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats

Finished quilt measures : 54″x 61″

Special techniques used : applique

Quilted by : Me!

Best Category : Throw size quilt, Applique Quilt

 

 

Crazy Busy

Crazy Busy is an understatement. I had to travel for work (again) this week and since I was flying I couldn't bring my machine. It had been well over a week since I sat down to sew. I have to say it was so nice to be able to sew tonight. I cut out all this fabric a while ago so everything is ready to be pieced. I almost stopped after I messed up the first block (the top right) ...a little seam ripping is good for the soul.

The fabric is Sail Away by Connecting Threads (found here) and the pattern is a Rachel Griffith one...Pinwheel Sampler (found here).  I think the block in the bottom left corner is my favorite...so far.  At this rate, I may have another finish by next week!



I am linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts with my Red Dress Quilt for Finish it Up Friday.

Some more red dress quilt photos

Quick update...we raised $21,000 for the Alp.ha Phi Foundation!

Red Dress Quilt

Now that the silent auction has ended, I can post photos of my most recent finish.  I made the same quilt last year for the soroity that I advise.  The women loved it and asked me to make another one this year for their annual Red Dress Gala, which raises money for the Apha Phi Foundation.  I am very proud of the women that I advise and the tremendous support that they are able to provide to our foundation which does so much to not only support sisters in need, but to raise awareness about heart disease.

 

(one of my future Al.pha Phis in the piano room at the sorority house).

  I forgot to mention....my quilt sold for $430!!!!

Fabric Tuesday

I am linking up with Quilt Story.

A finish

Now that this quilt has been delivered to its owner I can post some photos. As I mentioned before we love Brown Bear, Brown Bear at our house and I had to make another baby quilt using the fabric (you can still find it at www.fabric.com).

 

Our very good friends had their first baby girl a few weeks ago.  In fact, I was finishing up the last stitches on the quilt while they were in the hospital for the delivery.  After a good wash and dry to get the quilt all krinkly, I put it in an envelope along with a copy of the Er.ic Car.le book Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  I hope their little girl loves the book as much as our little girls do!

Finish it Up Friday

Finally!!!! Some sewing machine time! Block #4 of the fatquartershop.com 2012-2013 mystery block of the month.

Friday Finishes

Not a whole lot of sewing this week, however, I did make not 1 but 3 peacock tutus for Halloween. My daughters and my oldest's beat friend are going to be peacocks together. What little girl doesn't love a tutu and glitter?

I found the perfect royal blue shirts and brown leggings, both with rhinestones for the girls. The big girls are going to have peacock feathers in their hair and the little one has a peacock feather headband that my sister scored at a doll.ar store. Pics of the final costumes to come.

So many works in progress

I am hoping to post some finished projects in the next few days. In the meantime, here is a finished Farmer's wife block (#2, Autumn Trails)

Three finishes this week!

First, I quilted and bound two quilts that are going to their new owners this week. I have been machine binding recently and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed hand binding both of the quilts. They are washed and all crinkly! I also pieced some flying geese and put the first row of the 2012-2013 mystery block of the month quilt together.

 

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Block #3

Farmer's Wife Quilt

Block #1, Attic Windows

The blocks are all inspired from the letters of 1920's farm wives.  There are a total of 111 blocks.  I have no time frame on this quilt and am going to make blocks every now and again using scraps.  I am excited to see what this quilt looks like when I am finished (maybe in a year or 2 or 3).

Head on over...

I am being featured over at Quilt Story!! Head on over and check it out. While you are there you should red some of the other posts. This site is one of my favorites!!
www.quiltstory.blogspot.com

A quilt for a baby girl

While on face.b.ook one afternoon I noticed that my cousins and aunt had all posted on a particular page regarding a little girl.  I was curious and clicked on over to her profile and read her story.  She is an incredible little girl that is just 2 months younger than my baby girl.  My heart ached for her and her family and the incredible battle that they are fighting on behalf of their littl girl.  Their strength and devotion to God is amazing and such an inspiration.  I periodcially checked back, following their story and kept up with their Car.ing Brid.ge site as well.  I finally sent a friend request and have been following their story very closely. 

Their little girl is in and out of the hospital a lot and as a volunteer quilter for Quilts for Kids, Inc. I knew that this amazing little girl deserved a quilt.  I reached out to my Aunt and told her what I wanted to do.  She was incredible supportive and provided me with the address for the family so I could mail the completed quilt. 

I picked ladybugs because this little lady's first birthday was ladybug themed and her Car.ing Brid.ge site had been ladybug themed for a while.  Here are the photos of the finished quilt.  The little ladybug received her quilt right before her last hospital stay.  I hope the quilt can bring some comfort and brightness to this family and their daughter.  They continue to amaze me.

#24!!

Block 24 is finished. I started cutting all the pieces for the sashing and borders this past weekend and have I got my work cut out for me :).

12th Block Finished

I finished the 12th block tonight during the opening ceremonies...I have to admit that I was not impressed. Anyway here is block number 12. I also discovered that I only made 1 copy of a particular block...no biggie. 23 down and 1 to go. I think I am going to cut the borders, sashing and binding this weekend :)

Vintage Modern Block #2 is Complete

11 down 1 to Go!!!

I finished another block from the 2010-2011 Block of the Month Club at Fatquartershop. In case you forgot, I am making 2 of every block and will have 2 quilts when I am finished...one for each of my girls :)

Friday finishes

Block #1 is finally pieced!