July Hip 2 Bee Squared block

This block is for Ahava. She asked us to try a technique we'd never used before. I was planning to use the freezer paper circles technique, until I realized that I had already cut out the fabric wrong. Alas. So I ended up using circles anyway (which I have always been pretty frightened of) and made machine applique circles on a minimalist composition.

I made a ton of sketches beforehand, but I finally realized that "less is more" sometimes. I hope she likes it!

block party top finished

I finished this top. I really like how the brown sashing and border really sets everything off. I think it makes everything else really POP. My husband is so good--he was telling me that the strength of the design is having contrast in the sashing, rather than blending in. He was totally right.
I apologize for the poor photo job. My camera is on its last legs and I was also having trouble getting good light.

Now to find some backing. This one is going to the longarm quilter for the special treatment--it's a wedding present for a very special family friend.

my first bag

I made my first-ever handbag today. It's pretty basic, but I was a little nervous and didn't want to try anything too fancy for a first bag. I used some of the fabric from my friend's furniture store that I posted about here. I think it turned out pretty cute.

And the best part is that I made something usable out of something that was going to be thrown away!

cancer quilt

I posted about this quilt before, but I finally finished it. I ended up tying it and machine sewing on the binding, because I really needed to finish it. Every time I looked at it I felt guilty that I hadn't finished it. So here it is--each heart was decorated by someone in my choir, all for our fellow choir member who has breast cancer. A lot of prayers went into this quilt. I hope she likes it and finds that it brings her some peace.

my first quilt

Camille and Carrie are hosting a parade of quilts, and I thought I would join in. You have to be nice--my first quilt was made when I was about 10 years old. I got into it until I got to the finishing part--it took me forever to put the binding on (I am still not as good about finishing quilts as I am at starting them....). It is hand quilted on the first border, and it was tied (long ago). It's in rough shape now, but I have a sentimental attachment to it. I know, it's kind of ugly.
My most recent quilt is this one:

Since my first quilt (19 years ago) I have changed a lot! My color choices are drastically different, my hand quilting is much better, my machine quilting (which didn't exist then) is coming along. I have also gotten more accurate in my piecing, and I've become a lot more willing to step outside the box in terms of colors and patterns. When I first started quilting, I made all my quilts with cream as a background color (maybe not all, just a lot). I also often would see a picture and decide to make the quilt in the same color scheme. Now I am much more willing to try out lots of color combinations that would have scared me in the past. So that's it! I can't wait to poke around and see everyone else's quilting journeys.

More fabric...

Last Tuesday I went to a fabric swap hosted by Mary Beth at The Lazy Milliner. It turns out I knew her already from swing dancing but hadn't made the connection. It was fun to get rid of some fabric that has been sitting around my stash for awhile. It's been there for years and I could never find the right project for it, and I didn't love it. So it went to the swap. At the swap, there was some fun fabric as well as some patterns. I picked up two bag patterns and a skirt pattern as well as some fabric.

Also in the mail I got some gorgeous hand-dyed fabric that I won from Heather Bennett. The pictures don't do it justice!

And finally, I've gotten some goodies in the mail from various internet sales. This fabric I've been eyeing for awhile, waiting for it to go on sale. It is from the "Proud" collection by Keri Beyer.

I wouldn't use it in a regular quilt, but I think it is perfect for a one-block wonder. One block wonders require a lot of yardage from one fabric, and they work best with fabrics that have a lot of colors and a large repeat. I think this one fits the bill perfectly.

Here are some other goodies I've bought recently.

Now back to work--I've been away for the past two weekends and traveling for work as well, so I'm glad to be back at the sewing machine. I really need to finish the group quilt for my fellow choir member.