Finished! I Spy String Quilt

Something on an episode of Fons & Porter made me actually write down a quilting bucket list.  I'm still not entirely sure what made me add "string quilt" to that list, but it's on there.  I didn't think I'd like doing a string quilt, as it is so random and chaotic.  But I actually found the process highly enjoyable.  I liked to do a set of blocks when I had had a rough day; it was great stress relief. 

I used 8" foundation squares of muslin.  I used almost exclusively strings from my I Spy quilts & swaps.  There are a few floral prints and a polka dot or two, but it's mostly I Spys.  I'm not sure if you can tell by the picture, but I used scrappy binding as well, so I used up 5 different ends of bindings! 

I did find that strings become never ending.  I started with a gallon ziplock full of strings, made this entire quilt, meaning 36 8" squares of strings, and my bag is still full!! 

Close up:

I plan to take this one to Project Linus as well, and I hope someone has fun finding all the different stuff in there!

This is a Quarter 1 finish for the Finish Along, hosted by On the Windy Side
Click here for the original project list.

Finished! Monkey Quilt!

I finished this one several weeks ago, but hadn't gotten around to posting a picture.  This one, like the butterfly quilt, is based on this pattern. I think hers actually calls for a few more repeats, but otherwise, this version is fairly faithful.

I don't love the brown solid, but it went with the colors from the monkeys and I had it, so there you go.  I'm trying really hard to use up what I have.  Which will explain a lot of the "quick stripe" quilts I suspect I will be producing.  It's a great easy pattern, it adapts well to fit what you have, and I can use up the odds & ends I've accumulated. 

I hope to take this to the local chapter of Project Linus in a few weeks.

This is a Quarter 1 finish for the Finish Along, hosted by On the Windy Side
Click here for the original project list.

Swap #3 is full!

That was fast!  Swap #3 is full!  If you want to be a back-up in case someone drops out, leave me your email below.  I will also add emails to my notification list for future swaps.

I Spy Swap Round #3

It's time for a new I Spy swap! I have such a good time with these!!

The Rules:
1) We are swapping 5" squares.  Each "spot" in the swap will contribute 24 squares each of 4 different fabrics.  There will be 24 spots in the swap.  This means we will each end up with 96 different squares of fabric!  If your fabric does not require fussy-cutting, you should get 24 squares from a half yard of fabric.  So each spot is essentially a total of 2 yards of fabric.

2) Participants may have up to 2 spots.  If you are doing 2 spots, each of your 8 fabrics must be different.  You will receive back 2 identical sets of 96 fabric squares.

3) Quilt shop quality fabric, please.  No licensed characters or teams. I Spy quilts are for everyone, so no adult-themed fabric.  Anything identifiable by your average child is a-okay. Creative and unusual fabrics encouraged!

4) Packages must be mailed to me no later than April 18^th if you are in the United States and April 11^th if you are international. This is a mail-by date. (Change from my previous swaps.) Earlier mailing is encouraged. If you do not think you can meet this deadline, do not sign up. I will send an email with my address once the swap is full.

5) Sign up at the form on the bottom of the page.  Then check out our Flickr Group. https://www.flickr.com/groups/ispywithmylittleeye  I will use Flickr to track who has signed up and when I receive squares.  If you don't have an account, it is free to create one.  You can also post pictures of your fabrics on the group if you choose, but that is not required.

6)   Place your charms in a ziplock bag with an index card containing your name, address, and Flickr ID.  Please place all 4 fabrics for a “spot” in one bag together, alternating fabrics.  (ABCD, ABCD, ABCD....)  Include a prepaid self addressed envelope.  If you do not, I will not be able to return your squares to you!

7) If you are using up stash, it is okay to combine 2 or more fabrics to make a group of 24, with the following guidelines: please limit to one of your four fabrics per set, please put the variable on top of your stacks when you sort ABCD, and make sure that fabrics aren't duplicated between sets.

8) No public complaining! If you have an issue with the quality of fabric, the cutting of the squares you receive, or anything else, contact me privately. Do not send or post admonishments of any kind to the group.

9) Have fun!  Leave me a comment with questions! 

Finished! Dogwood Wall Hanging

I have a thing for dogwoods.  They are one of my favorite flowering sights in spring.  They are also the state flower of the state where I was born (Virginia) and the state where I live (North Carolina).  So I sometimes buy things with dogwoods.  I bought a pattern for a wall hanging at the Statesville Needle Arts Expo in January 2011.  That's right, I bought the pattern 4 years ago and just finished it last weekend.  I'm not sure when I actually started working on it, but it sat idle for a while.  It is half finished no longer!

This is my first time adding beaded embellishments to a quilt.  I also used Spectrum Noir markers to give detail to the dogwood petals. Here is a detail shot of one of the petals.

I'm very pleased with how it turned out!  I think I will hang it in my new office.

The pattern is Dogwood from the Floral Fling series by The Overall Quilter.

This is a Quarter 1 finish for the Finish Along, hosted by On the Windy Side
Click here for the original project list.

Finished! Butterfly Quilt

At one point, I had no idea when, I saw this butterfly fabric at my local quilt shop and really liked it, so I bought the half yard cut they had.  Quite a while later, I had something in mind for it, so I looked for it but couldn't find it.  When I was at that shop again and I saw they still had it, I bought some, and decided to round up.  Something like a week later, I found the original half yard. So I ended it up with a lot of it.  I've used it in a lot of I Spy swaps, but still had some left.  So using this pattern as a basis, I cut what I had up, combined it with some fabric in my stash, and presto!  Quilt!

I actually finished it mid-February, but hadn't had a chance to take a picture.  I'm going to take it to Project Linus on Tuesday.

This is a Quarter 1 finish for the Finish Along, hosted by On the Windy Side
Click here for the original project list.