Pop Stars

A Spider Web quilt has been on my "To Do" list for years. My sewing buddy, Vicki, and I decided to make that our next project for "Sewing Tuesdays". Since we just finished up making playhouses for our grandchildren, we are both ready for some quilty fabric love!
Kathy Doughty's instructions will be our guide.

Our webs will be made with 1.5 inch strips so I dug through the ones that I've been accumulating from other projects and pulled the bright ones. Today, I'm adding more strips cut from my fabric stash. Since I store my stash in drawers by color, it is easy to pull out a drawer and choose the fabrics I'd like to add to the quilt.

When Vicki and I sew together, I usually get out my lovely featherweight Singer and park her on the dining table. (Looks like she could use a dusting!!)

Vicki sews on a Pfaff which is very portable, as well.

I'm loving the look of Vicki's beginnings of a web! Using a stash of reproduction fabrics that she collected several years ago for the strips, she is adding a large red dot which will be the stars in the design. The spots really brings a modern balance to the traditional look of the strips.

For the stars in my quilt, I chose a bright red floral called Gypsy Girl by Lily Ashbury. The selvage notes 16 colors in the design. That's good, since I'll be using tons of colorful strips to make the webs!

We have agreed to only sew on our quilts when we can do it together so we will probably be working on them all through the winter months. They will add some cheer to the drab cold days ahead.

I can already tell that making these blocks is like eating potato chips...it's hard to stop at just a few! Our next sewing day can't come soon enough!

Sunday Morning

"I have strength for all things in Christ

Who empowers me [I am ready for anything

and equal to anything through Him Who 

infuses inner strength into me;

I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

Philippians 4:13 AMP

Flying South

Having very little experience with making art quilts, I was a bit hesitant to join the Four-In-Art Quilt group when invited by Elizabeth last summer. But, being game for a new adventure and thinking that I can't mess up a 12 inch quilt too badly, I held my breath and said 'yes'! This is my rookie entry: Flying South.

Each year, the group has an overall theme with quarterly challenges connected to the theme. Beginning in November, this year's theme will be Urban. Our first quilt challenge was to depict the word "maps".

Coming from a family of map lovers, this first challenge was a fun one for me and I immediately starting thinking of ideas. Looking at real maps helped guide me to try my hand at creating highways bisecting the make-believe city, Hometown.

By fussy cutting two different red fabrics from my stash, I endeavored to make interstates, as well as highways, connecting suburban towns to the heart of the city.

My selvage stash became a great source for naming make believe suburbs. I also tried to separate the improv pieced township areas with subtle color differences as well as quilting motifs.

A Sweetwater map print by Moda made the perfect backing, I think. Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman adds believability to the map as well as making  a great binding. 

 And, this time of year, who hasn't seen a flock of birds flying south for the winter?

Being a rookie, I'm probably too green to realize what difficult future challenges I'll encounter, but for now, I just know that I had a fun time making my first map! I hope that you will take a look at our Four-in-Art Flickr site and find out how the other 7 quilters interpreted this first Urban challenge.Their blog posts are listed below:

Leanne of She Can Quilt, Rachel of the Life of Riley, Amanda of What the Bobbin?, Nancy of Patchwork Breeze, Anne of Springleaf Studios, Elizabeth of Occasional Piece and Betty from her Flickr Site.

I am also entering 'Flying South' into the art quilt category of the Fall Blogger's Quilt Festival. Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy all of the categories and entries.Be sure to vote for your favorites!

October Friendship X and + Swap

Friendship X and + Quilt recipe: Makes one awesome lap quilt

Step One: Open airmail package from Suz in Austrailia. Squeal in delight! 

 Step two: Find my first four blocks in the same color wave.

Step three: Mix the two sets of blocks together...

 Keep stirring till thoroughly blended together.

 Step four: Arrange the friendship blocks side by side.

Step back and admire!

 Step five: Store blocks in a cute container. Keep adding more pretty blocks every month with the goal of 64 total. Watch closely in anticipation!

If you have been on the fence about joining Susan and me in making this friendship quilt, I hope that all the prettiness has pushed you over!  You can find the guidelines here. Check out the Friendship Swap flickr group, too. We plan to post photos of our blocks on the last day of every month. Susan is blogging about the swap today as well. Hop on over!

P.S. Happy Halloween from me and my friends!

Where's Waldo?

Welcome to 1234 Cupcake Lane

Hello? Did I hear the doorbell ring?

Oh, hi! Yep....we're home.

You say you want to look around? 

We'd love to show you.... Lolly got the shutters painted, roof on and the landscaping finished just in time for the the home inspection!

Look! The mailman has even dropped off some letters!

 Shhh....don't tell Lolly, but we are trying to figure out how to pack this house into our suitcase.

 Oh, bummer! She must have heard us whispering and said, "No, 1234 Cupcake Lane stays here." 

I guess that means we'll have to come back to visit soon! She said to tell you that she used plans from Empty Bobbin Studio to build her house... in case you want to build one too. 

Bye...thanks for stopping by!

House Specs:

Walls: painter's drop cloth from Lowe's

Windows, door, roof, mailbox: decorator fabrics

Tree, bushes, leaves, flowers: felt

Pattern: Card Table Play House by Empty Bobbin Studio

Co-builder: Vicki N.....didn't we have fun!

Sunday Morning

"Yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord 

and find the knowledge of God."

Proverbs 2:3-5

Almost Ready For Inspection!

Today i hung the curtains....

 ...and the new owners stopped by for a look around.

 As soon as the roof is attached...

...the house will be ready for inspection. I sure hope it passes!!