Swapping

As always, I've been busy swapping lately.

I joined the Schnitzel and Boo Mini Quilt Swap. My partner, Filomena, loves everything red & aqua, so I purchased Camille's new Mini Puddle Jumping pattern, and dug out some of my favourite fabrics.

Mini Puddle Jumping Quilt - Pattern by Camille Roskelley, Sewn and quilted by Quilting Barbie

These blocks are teeny. They measure 3.5" unfinished!

Teeny Quilt Block - only 3.5"!

Mini Puddle Jumping Quilt - Pattern by Camille Roskelley, Sewn and quilted by Quilting Barbie

I also received a lovely quilt from Nikol. She's an aqua lover too, so she used tiny pieces to make a ticker-tape quilt. She even added a touch of orange - my favourite colour scheme. (Nikol, if you are reading this, can you say hello, so I can follow you on flickr/instragram and say a proper thank you?)

Mini Ticker Tape Quilt. I'm calling it Aqua Love!

Don't you just love that orange?

Cute little orange rectangle hiding in the sea of aqua.

I'm working on some other swaps too, so hopefully I'll blog about them soon. Things are pretty crazy here. Last month, we found out that the mill that my husband works for is closing in March. Thankfully, it doesn't mean that we'll be out on the street, but it does mean that we're most likely going to have to move sometime next year. That will be 3 moves in 4 years. Yikes. I am starting to hate moving. As of right now, we don't know where it will be, but likely further north. I am just hoping that we can move to a town big enough to have French Immersion and Highland Dancing. Apparently, those two things are extremely important to me. Two of my kids are in French Immersion (Grade 2 and Kindergarten) and I teach FI Kindergarten part-time too. And, my daughter is an extremely talented Highland Dancer. I'd hate for her to have to give it up. I Highland Dance here too, but I've accepted my fate that I'll have to give it up when we move. There aren't many places with recreational adult Highland Dancing. Don't you hate it when you have weird hobbies?

Sorry for the rant. And Happy Thanksgiving to all of my American quilty friends.

Drunkard's Path: A Finished Quilt

This quilt was actually finished, and mailed off to it's new owner eons ago, but I never got a chance to share the finished quilt. Here she is.

Drunkard's Path Quilt by Quilting Barbie

In the end, I was completely thrilled with how it turned out. At first, I was a bit nervous about all the bright colours, and then there was the whole quilting/machine eating my thread fiasco. But now that it is finished, sent away, and loved by it's new owner, I'm quite proud of my quilt.

Drunkard's Path Quilt by Quilting Barbie

Quilt Stats:

Pattern: Circle Dance by Elisa's Backporch Design

Size: 63" x 70"

Templates: 7" and 3.5" Crazy Curve Templates by Elisa's Backporch Design

Fabric: From my stash (Denyse Schmidt Katie Jump Rope and FMF Legacy, Kate Spain Honeycomb, Tula Pink Salt Water, plus many others)

Backing Fabric: Sarah Jane Out to Sea, Denyse Schmidt Chicopee, Kona Cotton, plus one unknown from my stash.

Quilting: FMQ Stippling by me.

Quilt Back in the dark

The real reason I haven't shared the quilt is that I am not happy with the photos that I took of it. I was in a rush to get it in the mail, so I quickly snapped a few shots in the evening after the kids were in bed. Not a great time to take photos. This is really something that I need to work on. Do you have any great tips? I just got a hand-me-down DSLR from my Mom, but I'm still using the auto focus. I need to learn how to use the manual settings!

All wrapped up!

Linking up with Amanda Jean's Finish it Up Friday!

Drunkard's Path Quilt

I started a new quilt a few weeks ago. I am making it for someone who loves circles, and asked for bright colours with pink, green, orange and aqua.

Drunkards Path Quilt

I decided to dig out my drunkard's path templates that I've had forever (mine are Elisa's Backporch Design in both 3.5 and 7 inches), and use only fabrics from my stash. These templates are amazing. The cutting was so quick and easy as compared to paper templates.

 

The blocks were easier to piece than I expected (the templates came with great instructions for only using 1 pin per block). However, once I got all of the blocks made and placed out on my design wall, I hated this quilt. It just seemed much too bright. When I was picking fabrics, I really tried to mix my mostly medium tone prints with both light and dark prints, but it was difficult to do using only stash fabrics. I think now that I really needed more low volume, or even a light neutral background fabric to tone down the brightness of the quilt.

I must admit, however, that it is slowly growing on me. It helps to take a step back, and to take a look at it through the camera lens. Then it is possible to see the circles, and the quilt is a little less crazy.

Drunkard's Path on the Design Wall

I am now working on quilting it. But I'm having a terrible time. I bought new thread - a pretty variegated Mettler silk finish thread, and it keeps breaking. The tension doesn't seem to be the problem, so I think the needle is too small for the thicker thread. Of course, I can't buy needles for my machine locally (I need heavy duty needles for my Pfaff Grand Quilter) so I ordered some new ones today. I'll give them a try, and if that doesn't work, I'll have to change thread.

Free Motion Quilting

I'll leave you with a photo of me and my youngest. She loves having her photo taken, especially by her big sister.

Percy the Tank Engine...aka Quilt Basting Assistant

Yesterday I attempted to baste a quilt while my kids were awake. Percy decided that he needed to help.

Percy the Tank Engine 'helping' with basting a quilt.

Oh, and if you're wondering about the quilt in the photo...the blocks are from here. Yes, a full year ago. But I'm working on all of my UFO's....I promise.

Thank you to everyone who commented on my SUTK swap projects. Sorry I didn't respond to you individually...it was just that kind of week. But I appreciate and value each and everyone of them! Thanks for reading.

Edit: Go check out Cheryl`s post about quilting with kids in the house.

Blue and Brown Whirlygig

I'm thrilled to show you another completed UFO! This one was started 2 years ago for a friend's wedding present. 




 

  Obviously, I am not opposed to sending late gifts. My mother causally suggested that I might consider sending some nice pottery the next time I get invited to a wedding. My husband agrees - he strongly encourages me to make small projects because they actually get finished.

This one is a good twin size. I forget the actual dimensions, but honest, it fits a twin bed perfectly.

Okay, back to the quilt. My other friend and I decided the we would each make half of the blocks in a variety of blues and browns. (I blatantly stole that idea from Amanda Jean...this quilt of hers was the inspiration. Here are the template measurements). All of my friend's blues and browns coordinate perfectly, while mine were much more scrappy. Together I think it is a great mix.

Ahhh...I love to see those KJR fabrics in an actual quilt instead of just on my shelf.

Since we don't live in the same town (or at that time, even the same province), she mailed me her blocks and the backing, and I sewed all of the lovelies together. I quilted it with a simple stipple. Say that three times, Simple Stipple, Simple Stipple, Simple Stipple!

The back...I'm loving a pieced back these days. We decided on a tropical print since they got married in Hawaii.

There was a point in the last two years that this quilt sat in my pile of UFOs that I really hated it. But now that it is finished, I'm really happy with the final product. My husband suggested that we keep it. While I was pretty tempted, I didn't...I dropped it off on my trip to Vancouver earlier in the month.

It feels great to check another one off the list!

New Year Resolution Complete!

As I've stated over and over again, I really wanted to finish some UFOs in 2011. Especially with a new baby on the way.  With only 3 months to go, I'm ready to make some gorgeous baby stuff. (Like all of the gorgeous things Ashley has been making lately).

So here is UFO finish number 1.  I'm actually quite proud of this one. It's big. It's huge. And I made it all by myself.



A Quilt for my Sister.



Although there are no designer fabrics in this one (I pieced the top before I became a fabric snob), I still love it. The pattern was originally from McCalls Quilting and called Roots. (sorry, it doesn't seem to be online anymore).

Almost all of the quilt.

I was going to call it "Nobody is Perfect" because it really, really, really isn't perfect. The quilting is crooked, the star points don't match, and there is a bit of a ripple in the border. But since it is for my sister, I figure she might take offense.

Outdoor photo shoots are trickier than they appear. Especially with 3 feet of snow in the backyard.

Any ideas on a good name for this one?

It is now raining here in Prince George, so I thought I'd share some photos of the weekend. It was gorgeous, warm and sunny and we had so much fun skating on our community outdoor rink.

My daughter wearing my sunglasses.

My son really only wants to play hockey...it's time for some 'real' skates.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

I really don't need another project...

I have to admit that I'm not always completely honest about the number of projects I have on the go at one time. Sure I have a small list on my sidebar, but the truth is that I have way more in the works that I have blogged about once or not at all. It seems that in the past year I've become extremely good at starting projects and terrible at finishing them. I think it is all the gorgeous inspiration out there. I'm hoping that I'll get to the point where I can disclose all of those projects, but today, instead, I'm just going to share a new start!

I've been in love with Joelle Hoverson's colourwheel quilt forever. And then of course my idol, Melanie, made a gorgeous hand quilted one, and I knew it was time to make one for myself. So I got the book out of the library, and made myself a template of the wedge and pretty much left it there. 

Until, I met a new bloggy friend, Holly. She blogged about her start and I commented that I was working on one too (or at least I had the intention of making one anyway). Then she suggested a fabric swap. What a wonderful idea...so I got right to cutting. 

I got 22 wedges cut the other night. I seem to have lots of pinks and oranges, but I'm lacking in the blues and purples. I can't wait to swap with Holly so that I can round out my colour wheel.

And I'm determined to finish this one. This summer. So I can hang it in my new house! And so that it won't join the growing mass of UFO's in my sewing room.

How about you? Have you made a colour wheel quilt? Do you start one project and finish it? Or are you like me and have quilting ADD?

Pink Patchwork

One of my good friends had a little baby girl last week, and we decided to throw a last minute baby shower for her this weekend. So of course, I had to make her a quilt. And since she already has a little boy, I thought that the quilt had to be pretty girly. 

Don't you think moms of sweet, brand, new baby girls want to embrace pink? I know I did. So I made a quick patchwork quilt in shades of pink and grey.

 And I made a couple of zig-zags, a la Denyse Schmidt, for the back. Then I just quilted a 1/4 from each seam.

 Overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

It is a bit loose though - my last minute basting left a bit to be desired. Note to self: Must work on my hasty basting technique in the future.

Hope you had a great weekend! Things here are a changing...moving truck arrives Tuesday!

Blue & Green Should Never Be Seen...

"Except in the Washing Machine." And of course, in a Quilt!I'm actually a wee bit embarrassed to admit that I only finished this quilt a couple of weeks ago, since I've been using the blocks for my blog header for over a year! But it took me forever to actually get this top quilted and bound. This quilt is very special to me as it was my first attempt at Wonky Piecing and making a quilt without a pattern. I was inspired by Jacquie's Project Improv and her Wonky Log Cabin tutorial and just started piecing with a bunch of scraps that I had. It was so freeing!

I also love that I made this quilt before I became a fabric snob - I don't even know the names of the different prints and I still love it. It seems that now I'm just a wee obsessed with 'designer' fabric that I forget that great quilts don't need name brands.

Although I still adore traditional quilts and piecing, I feel like I've rediscovered the artist in myself with improv and wonky blocks. Thank you Jacquie for inspiring me to put away patterns (at least sometimes) and to just create.I LOVE this quilt...it makes me happy everyday. So I'm going to keep it for myself.

Happy Sewing everyone!

Happy New Year!

Thought I'd make a quick mosaic to celebrate all of my finishes for 2009! I have been so inspired by quilting and crafting blogs and flickr in 2009. I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring.

So Happy New Year! And all the best for 2010.

Barb

And the winner is...

Sandra from Thistle Cove Farms! Congrats! I'll be in touch soon to get your address so I can pop it in the mail and maybe Canada Post will deliver it before Christmas (but I wouldn't count on it!)

Thank you to everyone who entered. Hope you were lucky on Give-away Day. I was...I won a beautiful tote from Miss Print! Thank you!

Give-Away Day

This Give-away is now closed. Thank you to all that entered. The winner will be announced soon.

2009 has been the year of the Doll Quilt for me. I made my first in January for my daughter's Cabbage Patch doll. Since then I've participated in a bunch of swaps. I LOVE Doll Quilts. So I thought I'd keep it going right through the holiday season by giving away....a Doll Quilt!I whipped this up last night and I still haven't decided if I want it crisp or if I should wash it and make in nice and crinkly. So I reserve the right to wash it before I mail it. If you are absolutely opposed to this please let me know in your comment. And I'll throw in a couple of Fat Quarters too.

Leave a comment for an entry to win. Please tell me where you are from and what you want for Christmas. Or just say hi! I'll give followers a second entry so please let me know in a separate comment if you are a follower of if you become one.
I'm happy to ship anywhere in this beautiful world of ours. Winner will be drawn December 6 by that fancy random number generator thingy. Good Luck!

Pumpkins...

I saw this and had to make one of my own.

It was wonderful to dig into my orange scraps (although I don't have too many of them - I really need to use more orange in my quilts) and make these fun pumpkins.I finished it too late for Canadian Thanksgiving, but we will be able to enjoy it the week before Halloween. I'm so happy with how this turned out, I really think I need some trees for Christmas.Between this table runner and my placemats for the placemat swap, I'm practicing my machine binding. It isn't pretty, but I am getting better. And it sure beats doing it by hand!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Bloggers Fall Quilt Festival

Here is my entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival. Sorry to all of you who have seen too much of this quilt in the past few months, but it really is my pride and joy, so I'm showing it off again. I made this mini quilt for Hayley at Lulabell for DQS7. She asked for bright colours, birds, animals or flowers. Hayley is an amazing quilter and does lots of work in the Don't Look Now style, so I wanted to make something beautiful for her. I dug into my scrap bin for some of my favourite fabrics, made some log cabins, and worked on my raw edge applique and free-motion quilting.
My husband didn't want me to give it away. But I was so happy to send it to Hayley and I'm thrilled that she likes it. And thank you to Hayey at Lulabell for the gorgeous photos!

WIP Wednesday

As I've said before, I'm feeling a wee bit overwhelmed by all the projects I have on the go. To keep me accountable, I've decided to join the wonderful world of WIP Wednesdays to keep me on track. Sorry in advance for the horrible photos. My basement is dark. I dream of a day-light sewing studio!
So here she is...my nine-patch from CrazyMomQuilts 1st round quilt along. I finally got the sashing cut and pinned...I hate cutting sashing along the length of fabric. It makes me nervous.

And I know why I don't like cutting sashing. I always make a mistake! Can you see my oops?Now I just have to decide if I want to just add a long sashing strip to the right side (then both sides would be a wee bit different) or cut off the sashing strips on the left and add long sashing to both sides. Hmmm...I know what I should do but as always that is more work!

Finally, I got an invoice from this amazing designer from her Studio Sale. And she also emailed to say that it wouldn't fit in an envelope (Yay!). I am so excited to get my goodies in the mail!