Finished the Ugly Challenge Quilt Top!

I finished the quilt top that I made for the UGLY fabric challenge on Quilt and Needle. The fabric is in the center of each star. I started out really hating this fabric and then it grew on me. Now I like it. I picked all the colors for the quilt from the ugly. It had a pretty blue gray, teal, dusty gold, rust, black, brown and white. The blue gray, teal, rust and olive greens are surrounding each center, then I added black points on the stars. The plaid is black and dusty gold. It's hard to see the border but I surrounded the quilt with brown. As soon as JoAnns has the batting on sale, I'll start quilting this. I'm going to bind it with black.

Working on my Seven Sisters Stars

I've been working on my Seven Sisters quilt as Al and I travel. We went to California for a funeral and to visit with Al family. It was a rushed trip.. just overnight and back to Arizona, but on the road I was able to get some hand sewing done. I've been using a lot of the strips I've been receiving in the mail. That 30's strip swap sure came in handy. How do you like my portable sewing center..LOL. I have about 3 of these cardboard boxes with different projects in them. Easy to grab on as I head out the door. I keep the thread, needles, fabric, templates and anything else I need, in the box.

A New Round Robin

I finished up the first border of our new round robin for QUILT and NEEDLE. This is AJ's medallion. She wanted black and white and allowed us to add any other color if we wanted. This buttercup yellow was calling out to me. I just love black, white and soft yellow together.

Another quilt idea from the Phoenix show

While wandering around the show yesterday, I spotted this quilt that would be a great way to use our batik strips. It's an easy 4 patch star center. My friend pointed out that the points don't touch so that there is no matching of points... makes it SO EASY! And the border is strip friendly also!

Phoenix Quilt Craft Sew

Here's a great quilt idea to use our 30's strips from BC. I have this diamond template at home. It's a beauty! I love the soft white they used with this... kind of a creamy white and a nice buttercup yellow border.
The strips looked to be about 1" (1-1/2 unfinished). It was at a booth selling sewing machines ...not sure what pattern it is.

We had a great time at the show ... I bought LOTS of fabrics there, and at other quilt stores afterwards. I went to the show with a friend that knows the area. She drove us to a bunch of shops before and after the show. Put quite a dent in the checking account! I may not have money for food for the next few weeks but I'll be able to sew up a storm :)

I finished the little girl quilt for Al's cousin's daughter. Not the best picture but today was rainy and overcast... the house was too dark and outside wasn't much better. Check off one more project!!
My next project is to finish up the quilt for my BIL... almost done with that.. Plus I have quite a few swaps to make things for. We are doing a scrappy strip block swap on BC and I need to make a block for that right away. I'm making 5 little pinwheel blocks for a baby quilt on Q&N, and adding a border to a black and white medallion (also from Q&N).

A few more Quilt Show Pictures

This is the BEST of SHOW Quilt.... What a beauty!

I love this star pattern.

This one was made by a friend of mine. The black pieces between the braid colors are ribbons... LOTS of work in this one!

I voted for this one for viewers choice. I love orange peel and pickle dish patterns. They are both on my SOMEDAY list.

Not too many quilted clothing items but there was this... LOL!

The Quilt Show in Tucson, Arizona

The show was wonderful... Lots of quilt and lots of vendors. I bought a few pieces of batik to add to my collection. I found one wonderful batik quilt that I loved but the picture came out kind of fuzzy so Im not posting it.

I just loved this quilt... so striking and wouldn't it be perfect for Christmas? I may have to start setting aside dark green and dark reds.

I love applique! Beautiful work!

Chocolate bunnies!! How cute!

Wouldn't this be a perfect pattern to use our 30's strips? I have a pineapple ruler at home. I'd like to give this one a try... maybe make a summery table runner? hmmmm....

Rain, Rain, Rain!

This is a picture from yesterday as we were leaving my BILs house... check out the Superstition Mountains! Aren't they beautiful with the low clouds? It's been raining cats and dogs here lately and today the roads are all flooding. We're going to spend some time inside... at the library, shopping then at home sewing. I would like to finish up quilting the childs quilt today... tomorrow is the Tucson Quilt show :) I'll be sure to take some pics.

I picked up a really cute, girly package of charms at the quilt store out here in Mesa... there's some owls, turtles, flowers, abcs. I'm working on a quilt quilt for Al's cousin's daughter. She's about three and if I remember right, when my girls were little the favorite color was pink. Im doing kind of a happy block with a border of pink around that and then going to do white sashing with little squares in all the corners. It's getting a yellow flannel backing. Sure is fun working with this color after working with so much beige and brown.

Quilt shop in Mesa

We're in Mesa, AZ shopping in this cute quilt store. I found a few pink Moda pieces for a little girls quilt I need to make for Al's cousin's daughter. Yup, that's Al being the sweet, patient guy he is. He even helped to choose some of the fabrics.

Al and I have been walking every morning here... the weather is WONDERFUL! Of course, almost anything would be wonderful compared to the Michigan weather we left behind.