Such a Sew and Sew

I would like to introduce any that does not already know about the wonderful blog "Such a Sew and Sew" hosted by Elizabeth.  This is one of the blogs that has influenced me the most since I have started quilting and one of the first that I followed.  You could say I am a little biased because I have won things from her.  I will explain my newest thing later in this post.  A year ago with in the first few weeks of the year she was celebrating her Birthday and Blog anniversary, She inspired one of the funny posts I have done in the past where I offered as a giveaway my 17 year old son (well 16 at the time) if you have not read it go do so, its funny.

Long story short I won my first prize from her in February of last year, a Jelly roll which you can read on this post.  I am one that loves to talk (if you can't tell from my blog) and if you have ever commented on my blog (which I encourage) you will almost always get a fun response back.  I have had many a fun conversation with Elizabeth.  I think what I enjoy most about her and her blog is that she is friendly and helpful.  Through the early days of my blog when I had no clue what I was doing (Sometimes I still think I have no clue) she would always help and encourage me and later on I though reading her blog was inspired to try many new and exciting quilting techniques.  For example my great desire to learn paper piecing is so that I can do some of the amazing things she has done.

Well she does not know that I am doing this today, but I am sure she will read it as she has read and commented on almost every post I have ever written.  She is a True hero to me.  Take some time today and go visit her blog at http://emsewandsew.blogspot.com/.  You will love her blog, and while you are there tell her hi from me.

So as mentioned above there was incentive to me praising Elizabeth and its not just because she is a wonderful person.  Its that I won a wonderful prize from this months B-Day and Blog Anniversary.

This is a fat quarter from each of the 20 prints in  the Indie from Pat Bravo (Art Gallery Fabrics).  I am sitting here right now looking at all the pretty colors and trying to come up with a project or 2 to use them in. (suggestions welcome). This is not what makes me realize how special and neat Elizabeth is, almost a year I talked about a quilt that my wife Tanya wanted to make.  It is a "Bug Jar" quilt if you have ever seen one I talked about it back in this post. One of the things we realized is it is harder then one thinks to find the proper type of bugs to go in our bug jars.  In our conversations she mentioned that her and her mother were also working on a bug jar quilt.  Well along with what I won above, I received a huge stack of "Bugs" I am so excited Tanya and I can now finally do the bug quilts that we wanted to make.

So again check out Such A Sew and Sew and see why she deserves a post all about her.  Oh and for those interested in giveaways she has a wonderful finish giveaway every month (I won one last year) Go link up your finishes and win something too.

Madrona Road by Violet Craft Chevron Challenge Quilt

The Modern Quilt Guild is having a quilting challenge with the Madrona Road by Violet Craft for Michael Miller Fabrics.  As a member of the Salt Lake Modern Quilt Guild we are participating in this.  The Parent guild gave us 8 fat 8th's of this line (well 7 of the line and then a yellow solid) the rules were we could only use material from the line and then add any solid.  The SLMQG added the rule that we had to include triangles.

I will have to give my wife Tanya the credit for the design on this one.  While at the December meeting, one of the guild members gave me their piece of with the words on it which is the top full and bottom full row (She said she hated the words, Me I loved them).  So this quilt was made with exactly 8 fat eights. (OK, binding I bought a half yard to do this) and of course the solids.

Well this is what I came up with (OK. Tanya designed it and I quilted and bound, oh yea Tanya basted it).  I echo quilted all of the lines.  On the rows, when I was quilting it I decided to have some fun. On the non yellow Chevrons I quilted from the beginning to the end of the lines (echo), but on the yellow I echoed around the full yellow chunks.  You will have to look at it close up to see what I am saying, but the 3 rows of chevrons that were non yellow I echo quilted the whole groups.  I thought it turned out wonderful.

I had a yellow solid back, which I though was BORING! I quilted it in all black, both front and back so that you can see all of my quilting lines on the back.  I thought it turned out fantastic.  I am still not sure if Tanya does, she just glared at me, which is typical.  I really wanted to get outside shots as I need to post my photo soon to get into the final contest.

When I opened the door, this is what faced me.  You can't see it in the picture, but it was dumping snow out of the sky as fast as it could.  I should have fun digging out my car in the morning to take Jared to school.

Here are some other views of it.  So what do you think?

Link a Finish Friday #51

It is now time for Link A Finish Friday.  Today I would like to start with a big thank you to Fat Quarter Shop who has offered to Sponsor our Link A Finish Friday with Prizes.  This month's winner (January) will win a $15 gift certificate to spend on Fat Quarter Shop. 

Please remember to thank our sponsor by visiting their store at http://www.fatquartershop.com/ their blog http://www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com/ and Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/FatQuarterShop

Rainbow Hexagon Quilt - Re Engineered

Adding Up Nicely by Meadow Mist Designs

Tea For Two - Blossom Heart Quilts

These are 3 of the wonderful quilts linked up last week.  Please share with us what you have done this week.

1) Who likes rules. Toss them out.

2) Add a link to your finish blog or where ever you show off your finishes (Not limited to quilts but I like them the most).
3) Visit a few of the finishes and comment or encourage them on.
4) Monthly random winner picked from all of the months linkups to $15 gift card from Fat Quarter Shop.

Not required but fun to do

1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow the blog of all those that link.
3) Link back to my blog.
4) No finish, go quilt and stop reading the web.

Scraps, Strips, and 2 1/2 inch Squares

A few weeks ago I started working on a "strings quilt" and went though a small pile of  strings that my wife put in a small basket.  I had 2 large plastic containers of "Scraps" in my stash and since I want to do a large project with 2 1/2 inch squares more or less a rainbow.  Any way I have been going though the bins and I have made a small dent in the pile.  I now have the gallon size bag of strips for my strip quilt above and I have tons and tons of 2 1/2 inch squares.  The ones on the left below are sorted by colors and the ones on the right still need sorting.  Note this pile does not include the leftovers from my Gray and Orange quilt (or the Orange + quilt).  Though there are a number of new grays on the bottom right of the not sorted stuff to add to that.

The amazing thing is I still have too much to go through, this is what is still left in my "Scraps" basket below.  I think it will take me another month of cutting to go though it all.  Maybe I will have to make some string blocks again this week.  But then again, Tanya plopped a new quilt she basted on my desk and told me its ready for the "Quilting Fairy" to quilt it.

Twisted Around

The other night I told my wife that I was finally going to use my twisted ruler.  I bought the ruler a year ago, with the desire to make a wall hanging or quilt with this pattern as I find it enjoyable.  Being scared of the weird shape, it has set in a box all that time without being used.  Well I am finally turning over a new leaf and doing things that scare me.

On other notes of things that can sound scary, last Thursday was our January meeting for the SLMQG and they elected their new  board of officers for the next year.  You say that does not sound scary.  My thoughts exactly when I walked into the meeting. When I walked out I was thinking other things.

Here is the Board as it was Elected.

President: Colleen Molen
Vice President: Marci Warren-Elmer
Secretary: Sarah Oviatt
Treasurer: Rachel McPhail
Historian: Brooke Johnsen
Web Content: Richard Healey
Charity Coordinator: Barbie Mills

Yes you read it right I am on the board.  I am excited in the sense that I guess that means I have been accepted as a male quilter. I am also nervous because now I need to step up and do a job that makes me nervous.  Not that I don't have the skills.  I am a programmer first and know my way around some web content.  I am nervous that I now have some responsibility and can't let them down.

So I like to have a question in almost all posts I write.  My question for today is have you ever served on a Quilt Guild Board and if so what position and tell me about it so I know what to expect.  If not a quilt board have you ever served on any board for a group or organization and if so same question.

Any way I need some encouragement and advice.  I guess I need to step up the modern game a bit more to fit in better.

Oh and if you don't think I am in enough trouble with just the board stuff check out this video of Julia walking.  Julia has improved her talents.