FITF: Film in the Fridge | modern quilts, clothing, fabric, and photos

Modified Coin Quilt

Posted on August 15, 2008

I started this new quilt recently and have finally made a bit of progress on it. I’m using scraps of most of my fabrics – mainly Amy Butler & Joel Dewberry, with a bit of Jennifer Paganelli and Michael Miller as well. I’m hoping to end up with a queen sized quilt for our bed, but it’s taking more fabric than I imagined.

So far, I haven’t repeated any fabrics, but it looks like I may have to (or I have to buy a lot more fabric… hmm… or I have to win some fabric giveaways (see yesterday’s post)).

This will be my first quilt, and I’m a bit concerned about everything lining up correctly. For some reason I am unable to cut in a straight line, even when using a ruler, so my squares are definitely not all the same size. I’ve made myself a pattern out of a file folder, but somehow it keeps getting smaller and more crooked as I keep removing slivers of it with my rotary cutter. I’m on my third pattern, so hopefully some of these rectangles will be the correct size (not that it matters, since they’ll be matched with rectangles of the wrong size!) I guess it will have that look of “this is my first quilt!”.

I still don’t know what to use for the batting, and I don’t know what the backing will be, and I haven’t even considered the binding (nor do I know how to make or attach that…). I definitely have some work ahead of me!

Posted in Household Sewing - bags, napkins, pillows, Posts about Quilts | Tagged Amy Butler, Coin Quilt, Fabric, handmade, Jennifer Paganelli, Joel Dewberry, Michael Miller, quilt | 7 Comments

two blog giveaways you should enter

Posted on August 14, 2008

I, for one, am always up for a chance to win something. Sometimes it doesn’t even matter what it is, or if it’s something I’d ever use. Luck doesn’t seem to be with me though – the only thing I’ve ever won (despite throwing my name in any number of drawings) was a large, not so attractive, stuffed rabbit. I’d post a photo, but unfortunately it was years and years ago, and I think that rabbit found a better home with someone else long ago.

(I guess I should note that just today I received a package with a free bottle of multi-vitamins. It doesn’t really count I suppose, since it wasn’t a contest, just a freebie from the web. I didn’t expect to actually get them though, so standing out there by the mailbox, I acted as though I had won something… the neighbors think I’m a bit crazy!)

In any case, I’ve been entering many blog giveaways, but still have nothing to show for it. I guess if I’m not going to win, then maybe someone reading my blog should. Here are a couple giveaways you may want to enter –

Amber at One Shabby Chick is giving away a beautiful handmade quilt. It looks to be made of fabric from the new Anna Maria Horner garden party line, and would certainly look great on my bed! Here’s hoping. If I had put in all the time required to make a quilt, you can be sure I wouldn’t be giving it away (This might be called “don’t look here for a quilt giveaway!” or “other bloggers are much nicer”)

Another giveaway I entered is over at Juicy Bits. Jess has put together a great assortment of crafty items, including a number of lovely fabrics, a couple of zip pouches and a cute patchwork belt. I’m sure I could put all these items to use! (pick me!)

That’s all for now. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I win something!

Posted in General | Tagged anna maria horner, Fabric, giveaways, quilt | Leave a comment

The couch (finally) gets some pillows

Posted on August 13, 2008

We bought a new couch about 6 months ago. It’s really long and just cries out for pillows. I figured I’d make a few, and even went so far as to order fabric (two Amy Butler prints) and buy the pillow inserts.

A couple months went by – no pillows.

I finally made one of the small ones, but then got caught up with other projects. It was a sad-looking couch for a while – one small green polka dot pillow and another with a pillow cover I purchased at April Cornell years ago (which really was not the best colors and completely did not match the new pillow).

We had guests for dinner the other night and I got the urge to finally sew those pillow covers. I only thought of it about half an hour before they arrived though, and consequently only had time to complete one of the larger ones. So despite my best efforts, things still weren’t completed and still didn’t match!

I finally got them all finished last night, and now can show the couch in all its glory. (ok, ok, I’m sure the couch doesn’t care, but I think the new pillows suit it quite nicely!)

The original plan was to also use the Amy Butler Full Moon Polka Dot in Camel, but as with any fabric that sits here too long, I already used it for another project!