a SOLID plan

I've never made a quilt with only solids before and it's about time.  There have been blocks for bees and swap placemats, but not a quilt.  Here's my October aLYOF goal, a mini.  

HST all sewn and the rest is a mock up

It had better get done this month because I hit submit on the entry form to hopefully have it at the Community Exhibition Amish: A Modern Muse.  Titled "Capitola Crossing" instead of my catch-all Amish-ish I'm super excited about paying tribute to the little town I'm lucky to live in.

The original inspiration, a quilt from 1930 has a four block layout which I set out to duplicate and went into major mass production of HST to get the parts made. But in the end, the single RR was more fitting to represent the tiny 2 mile radius and the trestle that runs through.

62nd annual Begonia Festival August 2014

The upside is that I'm all set to make something amazing for my IGminiswap partner with the extras and I've got my heart set on a new Travel Handmade to take to Houston later this month - or at least to QuiltCon in February. 

Bling Solid

If you look closely at the last two ribbons you'll see that I added a bit of Cotton & Steel basics for a subtle bit of sparkle.  Here's a shot of one version of where I was headed earlier in the auditioning phase:

So many choices - I love that step

I also narrowed the with of the crosses for a more delicate girly look than the original Amish inspiration quilt.   My extra parts seen to the left are much fewer. 

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts after a much too long of a break (April, yikes).   I may try and recreate the missing mosaics for my flickr album to fill the gap.  

Don't you love how the King Clam looks the same size as my new mini?

Here's the proof that I've been working with solids.  I toss all my bits to the floor as I'm working and "combed" them up before vacuuming resulting in this heap.  Pretty sure my Dyson was not designed for this kind of mess.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced - check out the Round Up beauty she's been creating, gasp!

Union Jack and March 2014 Monthly Mosaic

Union Jack

While you're browsing Lily's Quilts blog and the link ups for Fresh Sewing Day, check out her Union Jack wall hanging tutorial, the Jack Attack QAL and this recent beauty.  I'm making a secret one of some sort with these:

The four Andover London fabrics were purchased specifically for this and I'm pretty sure about the sketch black and white in the center.  The others are just stash auditioning for the part.  

Should I make one jumbo sized Union Jack or a bunch of small ones?

Fresh Sewing Day

Chain+Link Wedding Quilt progress, Finished front and "second front" Rainbow Twirls quilt, Houndstooth Birthday Quilt, Pincushion swap, Stitch Africa workshop.

Linking up for April to Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts 

Vaca Fabric - Stash Expanded

We stuffed the large flat rate box to the brim and it was waiting for me when I got home. 

Isn't it hard to believe my pretty pile of possibilities came from this messy heap?  Digging for treasures was quite exhilarating I must admit.  My sister and I had a blast and it's probably a good thing this place is an airplane ride away or I might need an intervention. 

SAS Tempe AZ

2014 FAL Q2 Goal Mosaic - TEN

1. Chain+Link Wedding Quilt 2. Sparkle Punch 3. Union Jack 4. Corduroy Improv 5. Workshop Improv 6. Curve On 7. 21st B'Day in  Parsons Gray 8. Stitch Africa 9. Polaroids 10. MQG Michael Miller Fabric Challenge (fabric hasn't arrived yet so it's not in the mosaic)

MQG Michael Miller Fabric Challenge

You would think with only one out of four completed in 2014 FAL Q1 that I would be conservative with my mosaic but instead I'm tossing them all out there (well not ALL).  Linking up with Katy @ The Little Thistle's 2014 FAL Q2 goal setting party.

Spring Blossoms

So many quilters and bloggers are also great cooks and gardeners - you may have noticed that I am neither.   Fortunately a few of my plants have survived and thrived, especially with the recent bout of rain to interrupt our drought.  I'm please to share this shot from my front yard:

Hope you're enjoying flowers in your neck of the woods too.  Happy Quilting!

February 2014 Monthly Mosaic

February 2014 Monthly Mosaic, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

Somehow I missed making a January Mosaic but am pleased to be presenting some projects from February and link up to Fresh Sew Day.  (The 2 Sun Bonnet Sue blocks, the Echino Clutch and some Houndstooth progress are all that come to mind for January)

Only one item (the pillow) was on my 2014 FAL Q1 list so that's not the best stats so far, thumbs down. I did include several non-quilty items with a New Year resolution to branch out so that's a thumbs up.

Since it's the shortest month of the year I think I did pretty well, how about you?

December 2013 Fresh Sewing Day

December 2013, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

I'm happy to report that I gifted 3 quilts, 1 table runner and 1 Kitchen Aid mixer cover in December. 

My first Quilt Show is making an extended appearance through the month of January which means it'll be a bit longer before xPlus is on our bed and that might be good since it trashed my body FMQing and I haven't quite forgiven it.

I got to play a bit with Improv in corduroy with high hopes of more to come.   Mixed style FMQing and trying out different patterns in general was also fun.

Wrapping up the year felt both rewarding - for having pulled off what I did - and frustrating - for not having started earlier.

Linking up to Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day December and to Finish it Up Friday with Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts with new projects start to finish competed and gifted - yeah.

I'm hoping that making a 2013 recap post will be easier with the help of my Monthly Mosaic Set on flickr.  Motivated by the joint  Year-In-Review Linky Party at Play Crafts and Sarah Quilts, I'll be busy taking inventory and reflecting on highlights so that I can take my time hopping around- how about you?

July 2013 Fresh Sewing Day

July 2013 Mosaic, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

It's been a good month. Linking up to Lily's Quilts for Fresh Sewing Day  My bee blocks were delivered ON TIME, my fabric is now safe from harmful UV, I got to play along a little with Zakka2 SAL, completed 5 of the 9  FAL Q3 goals..

With July behind us it feels like Summer is zipping by.  Normally, I'd find that depressing but August has a fabulous workshop on the calendar with Weeks Ringle so for that I am happy to see the page flip.

Our Negative Space secret swap item exchange will happen at the South Bay Area MQG August Guild meeting and we'll be taking Fall Retreat Sign Ups. I'm looking forward to finding out who is planning to attend.

August also means Baby Shower FUN- and even a new baby girl if she decides to make an early appearance!

Here a better look at the first of what I hope to be many for 100 Quilts for Kids Link Up at Swim Bike Quilt between now and September 30th. A traditional log cabin with a bit of a twist for the blue placement to give it an "off" appearance.  I also had fun mimicking the border geometric shapes for the FMQ which can be seen on the flannel backing.

39"x55"

Binding on and complete

FMQ done at SBAMQG Sew Day

Top done at BAMQ Retreat

So goodbye July - bring it on

2013 so far: a look back at June, May, April, March, February and January mosaic posts

June 2013: Fresh Sewing Day

June 2013 Mosaic, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day:

3 blocks and the piecing of the SBAMQG collaborative quilt made especially for "You are my Sister", Heather Ross/Hart's auction, Bee blocks for MoStash and F+F2, Ombre Cradle quilt top, QAYG jumbo beach tote, FMQ for H, Quilting workshop nine patch.

Sewing Room Redo Progress:

There you have it :)

April 2013 Goals met and Goals set

April 2013 mosaic, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

Busy Busy

The month has come to an end and here's the mosaic of what I've been up to. 5 finished quilts, 2 bee blocks and a shelf full of nicely folded and sorted fabric stash.

I've been busy in April- obsessively so - with one workshop, two Sew Days and three guild meetings and lets not forget the complete redo of my quilting room. Only the bookshelf is completed - the rest is stuck in the "worse before better" stage.  

I met my April goal for ALYoF  it's Tweet Tweet Two in the upper right of my mosaic and #64 of 103 entered on the link up for prizes.  I've chosen to finish this quilt with a batik improv pieced back that needs made for my May goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes with Melissa of Sew BitterSweetDesigns and Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts. They have wonderful sponsor - check it out. 

Are you a lazy sentimental control freak like me?

Palette Builder 2.0  

As you know, I'm a big fan of the Palette Builder at PlayCrafts - well, they've just release 2.0 with all kinds of exciting new features based on feedback.

If you're kind of a control freak - like me - you'll love the flexibility of the new version with the ability to move the color dots around the picture individually and if you're super lazy - like me - you'll appreciate the handy share button for flickr.  I also love the easy plus and minus buttons that add or subtract the number of swatches. If you're super sentimental - like me - it's a great excuse to take a trip down memory lane like I did with these old photos of my two boys when they were little.

More enhancements are on the horizon and they encourage input on what you'd like to see in the future.  Be sure to check it out and have fun playing around with it yourself HERE and read more details here.  Their flickr group is a fun resource for inspiration as well.

 I created this palette and chose these fabrics for my Quilts for Boston blocks.  One is done and the other on the design wall - they will be in the mosaic for May.

Linking up to Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day and Finish it Up Friday with Crazy Mom Quilts.

March 2013 Mosaic / FAL Q1

It is Fresh Sewing Day link up time with another page flipped on the calendar this weekend. Crazy!

I've started a set for myself in flickr to file away these monthly mosaics as a way of keeping track of projects. Blog housekeeping is not my favorite part but an attempt to maintaini a resemblance of order seems the least I can do.  Consolidating my tabs and sidebar for "links" was also part of this effort.

Finish A Long 2013 Q1 -Six of Seven!

FAL Q1 is also coming to a close with a tutorial hop that is sure to be fun and informative. I'm happy to say that 6 of the 7 qualifying projects are DONE.  1) No Inherent Sense of Direction 2) Tassels 3) Driving in Circles 4) Luminosity 5) Sisterly Love 6) QuiltCon Charity featured below (and previously blogged here, here and on our MQG blog here).

The swap tote was made too but with only a few of the original fabrics pulled and was only a concept (like the schoolhouse tunic) so it shouldn't been in my goals post to begin with. The Scrappy Trip is in my UFO bucket without really any incentive to finish.

Q1 Goals Mosaic

Leanne posted a Q&A that was really helpful if you are in FAL or joining us for Q2, take a peak.  It'll be interesting to see how the other 175 participants did.

I'll use this post to link up the finish of the QuiltCon Charity FMQ since the other items already have finish postings to link to (see above). It might be hard to tell from the original Goal Mosaic picture but the bottom row center is the stack of blocks we started with and the back was made by our talented founder and President Tina- so proud of what they became:

Katie Blakesley of SwimBikeQuilt was sweet enough to send me this picture showing our SBAMQG quilt displayed at QuiltCon and I think it looks great with all the others.

January 2013 mosaic: Fresh Sewing Day

January 2013 mosaic: Fresh Sewing Day, a photo by capitolaquilter on Flickr.

The New Year has been a whirlwind of deadlines and of pushing the envelope for me. I managed to mail off my bee blocks on time even though they aren't all shown in the mosaic.

A lot of FMQ and finishes for me with the QuiltCon charity and both of my Madrona Road #1 Madrona Road #2 challenge quilts completed. I've never spent as many hours behind the machine as I did in January. Bonus is that all three were on my 2013 finish-a-long list so now I'm 1/3 of the way to my Q1 goal.

This month was a social one with two Sew Days and during a Sew Date I dabbled with a metal frame purse that will hopefully come to life in February.

I'm pretty please with it all which feels good. Linking up to Lily's Quilts.
happy Superbowl Sunday