Ooo!!  Let’s see if I can do this!

1. The first thing I ever made on a sewing machine was a heart-shaped pillow with purple dinosaur fabric & lace around the edges.  I was four or five.  Proof:
2. My car’s name is Carolina.  My name is just Anne.
3. I have 5 quilts in progress right now - including the first lap size quilt top I ever made circa third grade (I’ll finish it one of these days)!
4. I absolutely hate can’t stand sewing garments.
5. I have three sewing machines in my new apartment.  I have two more waiting to move in :)
6. I’m the Portland Modern Quilt Guild’s 2013 treasurer!!  
7. I just learned how to do English Paper Piecing and I’ve got it bad for hexagons!!  Beautiful followers: Please message me some of your favorite patterns using hexies
8. My favorite quilt shop is cool cottons
9. Minutes ago I finished piecing the top for my niece’s baby quilt, but I’m going to keep photos hush hush until it’s finished & in my sister’s hands
10. Pickles & Wine, you’re my favorite

It hasn’t quite been a month since I moved into my new apartment but I just made my bathroom curtains today!!  I love them!  The fabric is Cross Stitch Rose in White from the Hope Chest collection by Josephine Kimberling for Blend Fabrics.  The line came out Summer 2012 and I only had the smallest swatch left in my fabric stash - I drove all over Portland & couldn’t find it anywhere.  I hopped online & discovered this amazing Etsy shop.  There was only a yard listed but I messaged the shop owner & was able to get the cut that I needed!!  I had the best experience with my order so if you’re doing some online shopping, please please please (!!!!) check out Skye Reve Fabrics.

Happy Sewing to all of you!

On my lunch break! I just learned English Paler Piecing last night at the Portland Modern Quilt Guild meeting!! Ah! I might have a new addiction!

“What’s that?!”, you ask!!  MY VERY OWN DESIGN WALL!  Have all of my dreams come true?!  Yep!  Just about!

Thank you all for your sweet messages - I’m sorry I’ve been MIA!  I have had a wonderful month so far!  I moved into my own apartment and I am still getting settled - but the best part?  I get to decide how it’s lived in.  My living room is 75% sewing studio and 25% “living room”.  I’ve got my grandmother’s lovely chair (shown) and a turquoise couch (HA!!  Because I can have whatever I want!!) and the rest is devoted to everything I need for quilting!

Up on the design wall is a baby quilt in progress that I’m making for my favorite niece due in May!!  I’m using Elizabeth Hartman’s Sparkle Punch pattern found here.  I love it more than you know!

I love you all and I will be much better about posting now that I’ve got an Internet connection & a sewing studio!  Happy Quilting!!

xo,

anne

Comment/message me the best quilt shop in town!!  Please and thank you!

Sooo, I’m starting a new job on Thursday (cheers!) and I’ll be happily giving up the weight of my car keys for a bus pass!  That being said, I need a new wallet, one with a pretty little clear window so that I can flash my bus pass with ease and pride!  Last night, circa 1am, I was looking for a new pattern on Craftsy and I came across this one by Birdiful Stitches.  I downloaded the pattern, printed the template, and got to work!

If I make another one, there are quite a few changes I would make, but I’m pleased with the result!  It was my first time installing a zipper like so, and using that style of snap, so I can’t complain.  I would not recommend the pattern if you’re a beginner sewist - I’d say the instructions are more like guidelines and there are quite a few “educated” assumptions you need to make.

And I love anything that Phillip Jacobs makes for Westminster.

Thanksgiving aftermath: hand-sewing the binding on a potholder with Old Man Sugs, and watching a documentary on the Civil War. It’s been a good day!!

I made this chevron quilt for my friend’s firstborn niece!! I used this tutorial by Elizabeth Hartman and expanded the number of HSTs from 36 to 100!  Finished size is 40” x 40”.  

Go ahead and rain, Portland!! I’m quilting!

Yes of course!  I have three general points that I usually offer new quilters:

1. Start small!  Baby quilts (or smaller) are great for beginners.  I don’t recommend going larger than a lap size for your first quilt because they are tricky to quilt on a home machine (size, weight, etc)!  And always, if you want to try a quilt block before you commit to the whole thing, do it!  Quilt blocks can be made into pot holders, pillows, mug rugs, anything!!
2. Avoid triangles, diamonds and curves for your first quilt.  I actually try to avoid them all of the time but that’s rather impossible because they create amazing designs.  But they will drive you to tears - trust me!  I know all about it…
3. I always strongly recommend The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman (to any quilter)!  Her quilts are beautiful and her advice is impeccable - she does a wonderful job explaining the entire quilt process.

Feel free to shoot me specific questions as you quilt!  Good luck and have fun!!