simple Analogy

Welcome!

I see that many of you are popping in from Quilting Bloggers.  Welcome to simple Analogy!  

For those who don't know about Quilting Bloggers, it is a site that connects quilters all over the world.  If you're like me, sometimes it is daunting to try to find other blogs.  Yea, I know Technorati, etc. are out there, but still, I just haven't quite figured it all out.  Quilting Bloggers makes it easy with their directory of bloggers who quilt.  You can search by country, state, alphabetically, or by name.  It's the mother load of quilting ideas!  

Right now I am so interested in the whole improvisational quilting idea.  I want to learn, but until I get back in my natural habitat, that will have to be put on hold.  If anyone has a favorite improv book/site you could recommend, please leave it in the comments!  I'd like to at least be studying up on it in the mean time.

The Yellow Brick Road

This was my first time to go to the quilt festival, and it was quite overwhelming.  Looking at all those quilts so intricately done was amazing!  The amount of time they must have taken! 

The vendor section was no less amazing - miles and miles of them.  I got a few fat quarters to use for binding some kitchen towels, some new Vintaj pieces that I've been eying, and my prized purchase...

My feet hurt!

Playin' Hooky

I've been crazy busy this week, and haven't had much time to blog.  I miss you, but I'm playin' hooky for one more day.  This is the reason.  You can click the red slippers on their home page to experience Quilt Festival at home!

My mom and I are going!  It's her birthday present to me.  Thanks, Mom!!!!!

 

Sore Hands

My hands are sore.  I finished the binding on the quilt.  This is the first time I have handstitched the binding on the back side.  Usually I sew it in place, but this time I decided to do it right.  I followed Heather Bailey's method of binding and everything went smoothly.

 

I watched a lot of Dick Van Dyke while doing it.  I love these old shows! 

from The Night the Roof Fell In

Go!

It took me about 1 1/2 hours to do the whole quilt.  My shoulders were achy and I was hot as blazes, but I did it.  It wasn't scary at all!  It's not supposed to look perfect, so that took a burden off.  It is free indeed!  Some of my loops did not stay exactly the same size, so when the row started looking a bit slanted, I used painter's tape to give me a guide across the bottom of the next row to get me back on track and made some taller loops to fill in some of the space.  I guess I could have used the guide the whole way, but I like the different size loops here and there.

My thoughts on free motion quilting - LOVE IT - easier than I thought - fun, fun, fun - everyone should try it - going to do more!

Ready, Set . . .

Getting ready . . .

Free Motion!  I used black thread so I could make sure I could see how I was doing.  I practiced the free motion all over the first practice sandwich.  Adjusted stitch length, tension, speed, my own tension in my shoulders and grip.  When I liked what I was seeing on that sandwich, I switched to the second to practice some more.

Getting set . . .

   

Yeah, it isn't at all like driving a car.  All the advice I read online compared it to a car and suggested that you practice for a whole month.  Shoot, whole month nothing!  If I had to practice a whole month, I'd never do it.  I spent about 45 minutes practicing, was comfortable with the results, and decided to dive right in.  Pics tomorrow!

Detailed Bumps

Bumpy quilt top is finished.

The places that look empty have some hand stitching details.

I did some free motion stitching around the bumps.

 

And these little circles were fun.  I took a cue from House on Hill Road.  Her blooms were beautiful.  Mine aren't blooms, just circles.  Hers are so much more professional, but my simple circles work.

Step Two - free motion quilting.  Meg gave me some tips, Sew Inspired's tutorial was very helpful, and the lady I met at the fabric store today had some great ideas.  Now to practice!

Bumpy Quilt

I cut out pieces for a quilt this weekend.  This is a pattern from Amy Karol included in Simple Contemporary Quilts.  I am cutting the original down to make a baby quilt.

 

This quilt has several things that make it really interesting visually . . . applique, some accent hand stitching, free motion quilting, and lots of bumps.  We'll see if I can pull it off.  I'm excited about working on another quilt.  It's been a while!

Gold Mine

My cousin is having her first baby, and that gives me an excuse to quilt!  Not like I need an excuse, but, sometimes I feel like I do.  I want to make her a baby quilt.  Something simple, cause I'm going to be really busy over the next few months, but something stylish/modern.  And since it will be small, I can try out some machine quilting. 

While perusing the craft section of my library, I ran across Simple Contemporary Quilts:  Bold New Designs for the First-Time Quilter.  Front cover looked modern, back cover looked pretty good too.  I loaded it onto my pile-o-books.  When I got home I plopped on the couch and went through the book two times!  There are some great designs in there!  The directions are very easy to understand, and there are lots of diagrams and pictures.  I like that!  The hardest thing is picking which one to do!

I also found The Fabric Stamping Handbook.  Since doing the potato stamping with the kids, I am interesting in making my own stamps to try out.  Sounds like fun, and the book gives even more possibilities.  Maybe during the summer.

I found my pot of gold this week!

Towels Updated

Have you ever noticed how one home renovation leads to another?

In November, we started with this . . .

and ended with this . . . 

     

My kitchen is absolutely beautiful!  But after a few months of seeing my tired old kitchen towels . . .

Well, something had to be done!

I bought some new towels at Target that fit into my color scheme.  A  little better, but still lack luster.  Enter strip quilting!  I had seen this method used on several blogs, and thought that it might work to jazz up my "blah" towels. 

1. I cut and pieced strips of coordinating fabrics. 
2. Cut the strips to the length I needed, and fused them to the towels.
3. Zig zagged the edges.

 Perfect update for my new decor!