A Sampler Quilt and my "Double Hourglass" for "that other group"!

I have been working on making duplicate squares whenever I am able and have the time. These are the squares I have chosen for my first "sampler" quilt. (I have more squares for a second!) They are examples from the first 2 years of Trading Pieces and 12 Squared.  It is a little like "I spy... my square!" Can you find yours? (I will be changing out one of the "Granny Squares" for a "Dresden Plate" I am working on.) 

Any ideas for sashing? Don't quite have a handle on that yet. All I know is that the squares look better separated than mushed together. 

 Below is what I have so far for my Trading Pieces "Double Hourglass" quilt top! I am loving how it is coming together. The bright colors are perfect! Mixed in with the squares that I have made, it is looking just like I wanted it too... except not big enough yet. 

I'm taking donations for extra squares... if you are interested in a quick and easy square! 

(See February 2013 @ trading pieces.blogspot.com for details) 

Wow! That was shameless...

the "book" bag

Hello ladies,

Teacher Appreciation week is over.  I wanted to make something extra nice for Vivian's teacher since she's been in her class for 3 years (special ed) and Vivian will be going to a different school next year.  I saw this book bag on pinterest and knew it was what I was looking for.  I used a denim bag I already had and added a band of fabric "books".  I think she liked it.

 see the geography book?  and the alphabet book?

 

DI-A-MONDS... (Cruella DeVille)

Camie, I really liked doing this one. I have more paper cut out so I can make one for me!

This will be so cute. I can't wait to see it all done. It will make any picnic taste better!

Mardie

(A word to the wise... Always read and re-read the directions!)

I almost sewed it in an X!

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

This kind of diamond gets me way more excited than the actual gemstone kind.  

I guess that's good news for my bank account.   I hope you like it, Camie!

Strings for Camie

I've said it before and I'll say it again, paper piecing and me just don't get along... but I LOVE the way this block looks!  If it weren't for tearing all that pesky paper off, I'd make a queen sized version for my bed.  

Camie, I am sorry that some of my sections have four strips instead of three.  If there is a fourth strip, I tried to make it small in the corners so they will mostly be taken up by your seam allowance. But, if you'd like me to re-do it, I'd be happy to!  This was really fun (ignore my complaining about the paper)!

may 2013: string diamonds

Here's the idea for the month of May: String Diamonds!

I found it at this site.  It didn't come with a tutorial so I made up a tutorial using all the skills I've learned while quilting with 12squared!! : )

Using two 8 1/2 by 11 pieces of white paper, cut four 5x7 rectangles.  On two of the rectangles, draw a diagonal from the left upper corner to the bottom right corner.  For the other two, draw a diagonal line from the upper right corner to the bottom left, as shown.

Cut a 1" strip of Kona white fabric and divide it into four pieces.  Run a glue stick lightly over the line you drew on each rectangle.  Place the white strip of fabric evenly over the line and press in place.  Do this for each rectangle.
You will need three strips of fabric with a print for each side of each rectangle.
Place a piece of fabric right-side down on the white fabric, lining up the edges.  Sew with 1/4" seam then iron open.  Add two more strips on that side the same way then add three strips on the other side.
(You'll notice that on my example there are more than 3 strips on some sides.  Please ignore that and stick to three.  I realized later that the finished blocks look much better with fewer strips.)

Once they are all sewn onto the paper rectangle, flip it over and trim to the edges of the paper.

Here is one finished rectangle:

Now make three others just like it.  Remove the paper from the back of the rectangles.

Now sew them together.  No need to trim.

I will need a total of 30 squares for my picnic blanket so I made 24 myself.  I can't wait to see the squares you make for me!!  Here are what a bunch of mine look like together (laid down without any thought):

Thank you so much for helping me make this quilt!  If anyone needs ANY strips, please do not hesitate to let me know and I will get them in the mail; I am more than happy to send fabric your way.  Again, thank you and happy quilting!

Some trees for Emily's forest, from Mardie and Liz.

Mardie's squares.

Emily, these were so fun to make. (I made one for me.) 

For some reason, I couldn't label Elizabeth's squares. 

They are the pink and green ones. You might see some cherries in hers ... 

Quilts for Two

I posted a little while ago on my personal blog some pictures of Charlotte and Tess' nursery, but in case you didn't see it and were wondering where your beautiful quilts ended up, this is for you...

The girls love to stare at the bright contrast of the quilts, hanging there over the sides of their cribs.  It's overwhelming to think of all the love that is around them in this room.  I'm secretly hoping all the time they spend looking at them will help them grow up to be quilters.

Love, Love, Love Makes the World Go 'Round

Is this what you think of when you hear the words "love" and "color"?

I used to, 

until I got the top of my Love Letter quilt almost done!

Now, this is what I think of, because I love, love, love it!

I'm going to add some Kona white to the sides to make it wider, then back it with some colorful flannel.

It may take me another year to get that done, but I'll be sure to post when I do!

12squared twin blankets!

We've had a number of babies born in our group over the past three years that are wrapped in some of our beautiful quilts, I'm sure! 

However, when one of our fearless leaders announced she was having twins, we thought we should get together and do something! 

My Mom and I found a simple and lovely square (c/o Red Pepper Quilts: Liberty Nine Patch) that we thought everyone would have scraps for and contacted three years worth of quilters.  Thanks so much to all who contributed! We just got word that Becca received the quilts and loved them! Success!! (and we expect a follow up post with Charlotte and Tess on their 12squared blankets!)

 We asked for colorful, Becca-like squares and we got the perfect variety!

 We backed each quilt with Bonnie and Camille's Sundae prints, which we knew she liked!

 I wanted to do a neat graphic with everyone's names printed over the top of this picture but I'll list the squares' owners below instead.

 L to R: Kristin, Camie, Camie, Rachel, Robyn
Emily S, Emilee N, Holly, Mardie, Amy
Liz, Robyn, Mardie, Emilee, Teriney
Mardie, Rachel, Kristin, Holly, Camie
Amy, Teriney, Camie, Liz, Emily S

 L to R: Camie, Liz, Mardie, Holly, Emilee
Amy, Teriney, Kristin, Camie, Mardie
Mardie, Rachel, Amy, Robyn, Emily S
Emily S, Holly, Emilee N, Kristin, Camie
Robyn, Camie, Rachel, Teriney, Liz

Much Love from your 12squared sisters!!