Inspiration followed through

My hubby and I were watching TV the other night when I saw something so beautiful. He was fast forwarding through the commercials (remember when we couldn't do that) when I said "Wait go back!!! In the blur I saw a quilt." He went back and paused it so I could take some pictures. I don't even remember what the commercial was for, but I instantly fell in love with it :) 

I have never been that great at math and I thought I would never be able to make my own patterns. Since I have started quilting I am getting better at math and I can be pretty determined. So I got out the ol' graph paper and colored pencils and started sketching. I thought this would be a great one to cut my teeth on since it's just squares and rectangles. 

I took a piece of tracing paper and traced the outlines and figured out the size of each piece. 

Once I figured out how much fabric I would need I started searching online for some Kona Solids. I really loved this bundle of fabric but it didn't last long at all!

I started cutting my pieces and throwing them up on the design wall, which by the way is to small. I had to improvise a little and also use the floor :)

Once I sewed the pieces into panels I did some rearranging with the help of my honey.

I love the way it turned out and can't wait to get the back done so I can quilt this monster. I'm still not sure how I'm going to quilt it, any suggestions? 

I hope your having a great start to your week!! 

~January~

Tokyo Subway Quilt

Is there a project you absolutely love, but have been working on it for so long that you begin to dread even the thought of it? This is the love/hate relationship that I have right now with my Tokyo Subway Quilt. Lately I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all my WIPS. This year (which is a running theme with a lot of bloggers) I plan on finishing them before I jump into anything else. This is torture because I have so many projects I want to start and there are so many awesome QAL right now. Getting back to the point - see I'm still avoiding it :) I think this is why it has taken me so long to get where I am with this quilt. I fell in love with Elizabeth Hartman's Tokyo Subway Quilt instantly. It's beautiful and so unique and once you get into a groove you can knock them out. I finally got all the blocks done and just started piecing the blocks together today. I have jump started my heart for this quilt again and now I'm ready to getter done :) So here's to all of you who are on the same journey to finish it in 2013!

Hope your having a wonderful day!!

~January~

January's BOM

At our Modern Quilt Guild we are doing a BOM. I have done a lot of scrappy/multiple color quilts so I decided on doing a pink and gray quilt. Our blocks for this month are the Eight-Pointed Star and the Economy Patch. The Economy Patch or Square in a Square was a very easy block to start with. 

The star took a little more time because of all the points you have to match up.  It's so pretty and I will be making more for sure.

I can't wait to see what next month's blocks are going to be.

Have a great day!!

~January~

Mo-Stash Bee

This will be a little Sewing Summit/Mo-Stash Bee Post.

There were so many people at Sewing Summit it was hard to meet everyone. I'm glad I got to meet Whitney From The Peacocktree and Deb from Trio Stitch Studio. I was sad we met so late on the last night. I have to say, that night was one of the highlights for sure. We had such a fun time!! I also think we were all deliriously exhausted which meant everything was extra funny.  

Deb, Julie, Kait, January, Diane, Caitlin, Tiffany and Whitney

 As you can see from the next group of photos we were not all there :)

This brings me to Mo-Stash. Whitney and Deb started this bee and I am so glad I got in. It's a six month bee and I am up first. I don't know why they gave January to me! I decided to go with the Supernova block from Lee at Freshly Pieced. Love her blog!!! I have been wanting to make this block forever and will be making more for sure. It is a giant 18" monster so really you don't need a ton to make a quilt top. They go together so easily. The ladies in my hive have been awesome, they got right down to business. I chose yellow and gray as my color-way and I'm thrilled with the blocks the girls made.  Here is my block that I sewed together late one night. 

One of these things is not like the other!!

I got the whole thing sewed up and then just sat there thinking something was off.  Finally it hit me and I decided to go to bed and tackle it in the morning. 

Fixed and ready to go - I love this block!!! It is so cheerful to me :)

I also got some wonderful mail today all the way from Australia. I am really shocked at how quickly her blocks came. Happy Go Lizzie did an amazing job!!! 

Have a fantastic weekend!!!
~January~

Quiltcon Show

So, how many of you entered quilts for Quiltcon? I only entered one, but there were over 700 entries. That's pretty incredible!! I am  so looking forward to that show. They announce on December 31st who made it and I'm so excited to find out. Here is a sneak peak at my entry. I will reveal it soon :)

 I hope you guys have a fantastic Holiday and are filled with Joy. I have some last minute sewing to finish up...eeekkk....

~January~

Modern BOM

I really loved doing the Modern BOM on Sew Mama Sew.

It was such a fun sampler and really helped me to think outside of the box. I finished this baby, but haven't had the chance to quilt it just yet. I have about three tops finished and just need to quilt them. Hopefully after the holidays I can get right on that :) 

I wasn't a big fan of the improv block so I tried my hand at paper piecing. My friend Diane From the Blank Pages is an amazing paper piecer :) and pattern maker. I loved her Double Star Pattern and she has a fantastic step by step tutorial for it. It really made paper piecing not so scary. I'm super excited because I get to see her in a few days - I can't wait :) I made some great friends at the The Sewing Summit and she was one of them and our roomie. 

Here Is The Finished Top 

I would love to turn several of these blocks into quilts of their own. someday. 

I hope you guys are having a wonderful and Joyful Holiday!!

~January~

I'm not in hiding :) anymore

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted last. I went to Sewing Summit and came back full of inspiration and exhaustion. I have taken a break from almost all technology and plowed through tons of projects that needed to get done by the end of the year. I have missed blogging something serious. I will be posting my VERY LATE recap on Sewing Summit shortly, now that I'm back in the saddle again.

 My boys love to read and love the Bearsteain Bears so they each got a quilt for their bed.

My oldest son loves red, so I gave him more red crosses and did some straight line quilting on his.

My youngest son loves green so he got more in his quilt. I did a little FMQ on his.  They are so different and wanted a different back on their quilts. They loved their quilts!! Mom - 1

I have quite a lot to show for and will be posting again. Thanks for sticking with me :) 

~January~