granny love.

i'm making progress on my granny square quilt and loving every step of the way! 


i hope you are all having a great week! 
xo, megan. 

dilemma. swoon style.

sometimes i just can't resist temptation. especially when it comes to quilt alongs. there's just something so enticing about sewing along with lots of other fabric addicts like myself. am i wrong? well this time it's the Swoon-Along hosted by Katy of I'm a Ginger Monkey. but being that i had already picked up the Swoon pattern by Camille Roskelley when i was in Salt Lake City for Sewing Summit last fall and the fact i just happened to have a FQ bundle of Outfoxed by Lizzy House just laying around from Pink Castle Fabrics, it was practically meant to be. right? right. 

last weekend i set out to make one block -- just to test the waters. after seeing erin's KJR block i knew i wanted to take the scrappy road with this quilt. so i jumped in, head first, and when i was done i had one terrible quilt block. so terrible, i didn't even want to take pictures...sorry about that. take my word for it, it was like a terrible episode of "scrappy gone wild" was sitting right in front of me and i didn't know what to do. even the boyfriend so kindly advised that "there's just too much going on." so i ripped it apart and let it sit for a few days.


then i had the idea to separate my Outfoxed into "warm" and "cool" colors. that way i could keep the scrappy look, but still maintain the look of the original Swoon block. make sense? 

now here's where you come in. tell me, do you like it? keep going? send those hedgehogs and fox to the curb? honestly, i'm looking for some good healthy suggestions. i personally like it. sort of. blurg. i really don't know. sometimes i look at it and think "yeah! keep going!" and then a few minutes later i change my mind. help! 


oh, and while i've been stuck in limbo all week about this block i made a little mini quilt (finished size 8"x 8") using the left over HSTs. i'm sending it off to my little sister at college. hopefully it will bring some quilty cheer to her dorm room!

there you have it. my swoon dilemma. i'll just be sitting here, anxiously awaiting your advice+suggestions. thanks in advance! :)


xo, megan.

bow tie block [a tutorial]

June is my month for the BLISS circle of do. Good Stitches and I am really excited to say our theme will be a Rainbow of Bow Ties.  I have put together a little tutorial for the block with the measurements I am asking the Bliss girls to use, but I am so happy to share it with you all as well!

NOTE: The inspiration for this quilt came from Angela's Pink Lemonade quilt, which I absolutely adore!


For each block, you will need:

• 8 -- 3.5" x 3.5" squares (in this example, I am using Kona White)
• 2 -- 3.5" x 3.5" squares and 2 -- 2" x 2" squares of each of your four prints

1. The bow tie block is made up of four units.  Concentrating on one unit at a time, place your cut pieces as shown in the picture below.

2.  Making sure right sides are together, sew from corner to corner on the two "partial snowball blocks," either by marking your fabric or by using the center guides on your sewing machine.  Trim middle piece of print fabric to 1/4 " to help eliminate bulk in your block.

3.  Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the four 3.5" x 3.5" squares together as pictured below.  Pressing all seams open.

4.  Repeat Steps 1 - 3 for the remaining three units.  See below.

5.  Using a 1/4" seam allowance, sew the four units together as pictured below.  Press seams open.  Your finished block should measure 12.5" x 12.5".

Happy Sewing and thanks Bliss ladies!

Also if you like this overall design, Lee from Freshly Pieced has a great tutorial for some yummy placemats.

xo, Megan

WiP Wednesday {14}

It's WiP Wednesday time....

NEW PROJECTS

Single Girl Support Group
After my fabric find over the weekend, I thought it was a sign that I should join the Single Girl Support Group.  So call me crazy, but I dove head first into yet another quilt along.  As of right now all the fabric is stacked, the templates are cut, and I have started tracing and cutting the pieces out.  It is actually really nice to have something to work on in the evenings that doesn't involve being behind the sewing machine (as if that is a bad thing). But twice last night I asked myself, What have you gotten yourself into?  Are you nuts? It is a little overwhelming, but it helps to know there are over 200 people in the quilt along going through the same thing.


FINISHED PROJECTS

SUTK Swap
Like I mentioned last week, I was having a hard time committing to a project because I was unsure if my partner would like my idea.  Her taste is a little outside my comfort zone.  So on Sunday I took the challenge head on and just decided to just go with it.  Let me tell you, I love it!  And I hope she does too, because I am going to have a hard time giving this project up.  I promise more pictures to come!

Don't Call Me Betsy's Sliced Coins Quilt Along
Somehow the weekly steps seemed to slip by me, so I played catch up with this quilt along last week.  In one afternoon I was almost able to complete the entire top, that was until I ran out of the Kona Med-Gray.  Ugh, hate when that happens!  But after a quick trip to a LQS, I got my hands on some more. Now the top is finished and the whole thing needs to be quilted.


Quilt Story Block Party Entry


Now, for everything else on my work-in-progress list.  Well, not much has changed since last week. :)


WiP Stats
Last week's total:11
New Projects: 1
Completed Projects: 3
This week's total: 9 (yay! The list is getting smaller!)

Now head on over to Freshly Pieced

to see more great WiPs!

Block Party Entry {x's and o's}

Here is my entry for the Block Party over at Quilt Story.

I wasn't planning on joining in on the fun 

because I didn't think I had time.  But after seeing

all the great blocks I changed my mind and

last night I found the time.

Here is my block.

Block Details:

Name: x's and o's

Designed by: Me

Fabric: Bliss by Moda and Kona White

Category: Traditional

I am hoping to turn this block

into a cute little Valentine's Day

pillow before Monday. 

Now head on over to Quilt Story

to see some great quilt blocks!

xo, Megan

do.Good Stitches {a charity bee}. Bliss circle.

Remember my Kona White dilemma over the weekend?  Well the situation has been resolved!  Monday morning I took the ten minute drive to my LQS, through heavy snow and not so wonderful roads, to get that darn Kona White. I guess that's the crazy quilter in me.  Some of you suggested a quick run to Joann's since they are open late.  Unfortunately I live in the middle of nowhere and the closest Joann's is a good hour and a half a way.  That was definitely a no go. Oh how I envy those of you who have a short drive to get your Kona fix. :) Anyway I am getting off track, the moral of the story is that I was able to get my hands on some Kona White yesterday.

Which is good because, starting this month I am part of the newest do. Good Stitches {a charity bee} circle called BLISS and am very excited to work with this great group of ladies.  Michelle from I like orange, too! chose the roman shades block and asked us to use limes, teals, blues, lavenders, violets, and greens.  Here's a look at my blocks.

I can't wait see everyone's blocks all together.  If you want to make your own, Michelle has put together this great tutorial. Go check it out!  Oh, and all of her patterns are on sale this week!

xo, Megan

WiP Wednesday {8}

It's time for another WiP Wednesday.  But first I think I need to start off by saying,

Hi.  My name is Megan and I have a 

newfound addiction to dresden plates.

NEW PROJECTS

Dresden Plate Quilt

I started 2011 off with organizing my sewing space and a practice block for this month's bee block for the {Sew} Beautiful Bee.  Cherie chose the dresden block for January and I was a little nervous about starting the block.  So instead, like most of us bee-er's, I started with a practice block. And I think that's where I went crazy! :)  I loved the block so much, I cut up more fabric decided to go bigger.

It has been looking like a dresden factory over here the last few days. There has been lots of sewing,

And even one of these,

One of my quilting goals for 2011 was to make a quilt for my bed so that's where this quilt will be heading.  Oh and Cherie, if you are reading this, I promise, promise, promise to start your block next. :)

As far as everything else on my list?  Well, I won't go there.

WiP Stats

Last week's total: 8

New Projects: 1

Finished Projects: 0

This week's total: 9

If you would like to see more great 

works-in-progress, go check out WiP Wednesday.

2011. a fresh start. a new year.

I love the fresh start feeling of a new year.  Along with my quilting goals for 2011, I have a set a personal goal of GETTING MORE ORGANIZED in all aspects of my life.   

First on my list this morning was my sewing area.  With many swaps, sewing bees, and projects lined up for 2011, it was definitely a must.

After a few hours of folding, refolding, labeling, and organizing, I was pretty satisfied with all of my hard work.  So satisfied, I just had to sit down and start sewing.  Can you blame me?

I decided to tackle my practice block for the {Sew} Beautiful Bee.  Cherie's choice for the month of January was the dresden plate quilt block.  Let's just say I was a little intimidated, but it was great to get out of my comfort zone and try something new!  All in all, it is an awesome block and went together a lot easier than I had expected.

Now I am off to sew the actual block!  Happy New Year!