Be ... a Listener

Whew! Snuck these in just at the last minute.

Listening I will admit is a weakness. To hear and process information is actually quite difficult for me. I do my best when I have a chance to visualize and interact with information. For example, when attending a lecture, I am able to better understand what is being said when I doodle or take notes. The physical act of moving my hand some how allows me to keep my focus on the speaker. In school my class notes were all in sketchbooks for this exact reason, even back to high school.

Now for the exact opposite example, I hear everything in my classroom and know when students are off task even when I am not directly watching them. The whole eyes in the back of the teachers head is clearly a lie, it's our hearing that gets student's in trouble! This is also different because I don't have to process anything.

So this month, I tried to be a better listener. Maybe it's my overactive creativity, or my in ability to sit still. Either way, listening is a skill I haven't mastered, and probably never will. At this point, I am relaying on the tricks I have picked up in life to help me deal with this deficit. If you're wondering, no this month didn't make me a better listener, but at least I am trying.

I am that classic case of in one year and out the other ... 

- Patch & Chels

Mosaic Me

Hopefully everyone enjoyed family, friends, and serious carb over load yesterday. But, more importantly I hope everyone saved room for desert. I took a break from quilting, to enjoy everything Thanksgiving has to offer and reflect on all the reasons I have to be thankful. Which are in fact, many.  This also got me thinking to all the things in my life which make me happy ... 

As a little mind relaxation, I thought it might be fun to create a "things I currently love" mosaic. This journey started by going through my pins on Pinerest to find some happy things. Clearly I love giraffes, that one is a no-brainer. Somethings you might not know about me is my huge sweet tooth, hello cake. Also, I love to grow things. Succulents are a new obsession, along with my old obsession, stargazer lilies. I love farmhouse/americana decor, love the color teal, and currently in love with low volume fabric. The shoes are just adorable, no explanation necessary! 

1. Churn Dash Quilt  2. Felt Flowers  3. Polka Dot Cake  4. Toy Giraffe 
5. Giraffes  6. Country Cottage  7. Lace Oxfords  8. Succulents
9. Strawberry Bunting  10. Giraffe Print  11. Farmer's Wife Quilt  12. Stargazer Lilies 
13. Heart Giraffe Spot  14. Teal Pumpkin Truck  15. American Flag  16. Low Volume Quilt 

You may notice my Farmer's Wife Quilt up in this mosaic of happiness, and remember my disappointment with all my lost points. I am glad to say that the whole project is growing on me and now I am not so discouraged, but seeing it with all those other happy things gives a new life :) 

My challenge to you all ... create a "things you love" mosaic and share what currently makes you happy. 

-Patch & Chels

Looking Glass Giveaway

It's finally my turn! This week a group of us have been blog hopping to celebrate the release of Meadow Mist Designs new pattern Looking Glass. If you're interested in a quick, easy, beginner pattern with no fuss, but still has the pizzaz of a more complex pattern. This is for you. 

*If you want a chance to win your own copy of the PDF pattern, comment how you follow this blog! The giveaway closes in one week, the winner will be announced December 3rd.

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 54 inches x 64 inches 
• Pattern: Looking Glass
• Fabric: Honeysweet by Fig Tree
• Batting: 100% Cotton - Natural 
• Thread: Connecting Threads - Cream

Here are some things I loved about this pattern ... 

• Quick and easy to assemble,

• The whole top was constructed in one afternoon,

• The directions are for both charm squares and layer cakes,

• Directions for a variety of sizes (baby, lap, twin, and queen), 

• Super easy to chain piece, 

• You do not have to stop and iron frequently,

• Great way to use up pre-cuts with no plans. 

Check out the others participating in the blog hop and for other chances to win the pattern! 

Friday Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs

Saturday Lin @ Lin's Quilts

Sunday Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty, Anna @ Fresh Dew Drops

Tuesday Chelsea @ Patch the Giraffe

Wednesday Shauna @ Shauna's World
Friday Shelley @ The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts

- Patch & Chels

Round Trip Quilts ... Border 2

This month was a stumbling block for me. A writer's block for sewers. Is there a name for that? Sewer's block? Either way this month I felt a depletion of my sewing creativity with this border. Don't get me wrong, I love what is going on here, I just didn't know how to add to this one. The block sat on my coffee table for two weeks as I waited for some stoke of creative genius. That never happened.

Leanne requested stars, but other than that gave us the creative liberty to go crazy. When I am given the rights to go bonanza, I love to take advantage of the situation. That was my exact, downfall. I also was stumped on the yellow background. It's not my thing, but I really liked how it was working out. I wanted to be me, but still adhere to the original intent of the quilt. This left me perusing through Pinterst looking for inspiration, my handy 500 Quilt Blocks book, even the new Moda Modern Blocks patterns. Nothing was drawing my attention.

Eventually I settled on the idea of a shooting star, but how?! I really needed a great block to start from, and eventually settled on the Farmer's Wife block #23 - Country Life. I dug out the templates and got tracing. Then design also has flying geese radiating outwards. 

It. finally. just. worked. 

Hopefully, Leanne will like the newest border.

Another PSA: I am involved with the blog hop going around at Meadow Mist Designs. Click on any of the links in the schedule below to check out who also pattern tested Looking Glass for Cheryl. My post will be this Tuesday.

Friday Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs

Saturday Lin @ Lin's Quilts

Sunday Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts

Monday Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty

Tuesday Chelsea @ Patch the Giraffe

Wednesday Shauna @ Shauna's World

-Patch & Chels

Swell

The time change is killing me, the lack of daylight is making it difficult to take pictures of quilts. This quilt has actually been finished for some time, but I haven't had good weather to take pictures. Blah. I finally found a sliver of sun to get some pictures, before it dived behind a cloud.

Swell comes from the book Simply Retro by Camille Roskelley. Instead of using the 2.5 inch square in the pattern, I changed it to use 5 inch squares. It was great to use up some scraps. I made a quilt following the real Swell pattern too and liked it ... a lot. 

Quilt Stats: 

• Finished Size: 57 inches x 57 inches 
• Pattern: Swell
• Fabric: Assorted prints pulled from scrap bucket
• Batting: 100% Cotton
• Thread: Connecting Threads - Parchment

My very picky friend actually like ALL these colors in this quilt, so she finally gets one! Now off to conquer the rest of my WIP list. 

-Patch & Chels

Sunday Stash ... Take 3

Molli is back folks, and just in time. This stash post has been growing. I almost resorted to posting this one with a "I miss you Molli" memo, but super excited that I can link up! 

These lovelies were picked up at Sew Fresh Fabrics going out of business sale. The top two prints I got from Missouri Star Quilt Company. They are not intended to be used in one single quilt, but they do play nice with one another! Lately, I have had better luck with purchasing 1/2 yards of the fabrics.  This just works with my style and current stash. With the discounted prices, I feel no guilt with this purchase.

This next group is a gift of scraps so I am not breaking any fabric fast rules for myself. Michelle over at From Bolt to Beauty graciously gave me a HUGE bag of small scraps to use in projects.  Here are some of my favorites in the pile. You can see there are many, and it was hard to narrow it down this much!

I have gone back to re-arrange these beauties a few times, just because I like looking at them! 

Last, was damage done at yesterday's sew-in with the New Hampshire Modern Quilt Guild. I regret not bringing my camera so I can share all the amazingness that surrounded me. Also check out my instagram to see the charity quilt the guild has been working on! It's pretty awesome. 

New additions to the stash include, some awesome clearance fabrics, a couple newer fabrics, Patchwork City book (insert squeal), Fancy Fox pattern, and Hazel Hedgehog pattern. You could say I spoiled myself with some Elizabeth Hartman.

All these fabrics are going to be used in my Patchwork City quilt. More on that later, probably won't get around to this quilt until next year.

Ok, now I am back to never buying fabric ever again.  Or at least until the end of 2014. These last couple months I have been been bad. No more, everything for holiday sewing is purchased.

-Patch & Chels

Linking up with Molli Sparkes Sunday Stash!

Veteran's Day

To all the service men and woman out there, to just say thank you for your service is not enough. The freedom we enjoy as a country is a direct measure of the scarifies you have endured. Thank you for all the work you have put forth to defend America's honor. You are all heroes. Enjoy your day. 

**Now on to the quilt talk: 

This quilt was started back in July as a 4th of July quilt. Then didn't get finished, no surprise. And, still not finished.

Then a couple weeks ago, I dug the quilt top out of my WIP stack and decided it would be a great finish for Veteran's Day. After a string a no good events, this one is ALMOST done. 

First, I started quilting the top. Hated every stitch, then proceeded to rip out all the work.

New plan was just wavy lines, reminds me of a flag blowing in the wind. It worked, yay.  

Then I ran out of time to get the binding on! Answer, photograph without binding.

Then, set up the shoot take out my camera, snap a few shots. The camera dies. I am up visiting my parents and I don't have my real camera charger or the bag of accessories. Epic fail. Looks like no photos.

Go inside the house and admit defeat to my family. Family's solution, use my sisters regular camera. Think to myself, ok, the photographs will at least be finished. Photographed the quilt, then the pictures are horrible. Back home to photograph the quilt again.

After a crazy experience of nothing going right, this is finally semi-finished. This week I will spend the time sewing the binding on. At least this will be another project off my list of WIPs. 

Now, I am off to spend the day with my mom at IKEA (sounds of me squealing like a child with delight). 

-Patch & Chels 

Quilt Challenge 2014... The Reveal

 Last year my grandmother and I started our annual Quilt Challenge. For 2014, we are using a charm pack of Birds & Berries by Lauren & Jessi Jung, along with 3 fat quarters of coordinating prints. Check out last year's challenge :)

This weekend was the big reveal.  We finally got to see each other's work. We keep it a secret, so it's extra exciting. Here is what my grandmother came up with, pretty awesome! Hard to tell that these two quilts use EXACTLY the same fabric!  

Gram's Version

I went with a scrappy crossroads block for mine as I absolutely loved the patten. It did a good job showing off all the patterns in the line. Then finished it off with some hand quilting. 

Now we just need to decided what next year's challenge will entail .... oh the possibilities! 

-Patch & Chels

List o' WIP

Ok this summer it was no secret how I had an epic list of WIPs that needed some control. At one point I was up to twenty, which is a huge amount for me (insert me pulling out my hairs!). Well, months have passed and many quilts did get finished, but I still have quite a list of WIPs to go. In fact, I have started a couple more even before getting to my goal of five. This post is mostly for me to document what needs to be done in terms of WIPs to finish out the year.

Farmer's Wife - top finished

True Pink -  top finished

Sugar Block of the Month - 6 more blocks to go

Aja's Twin - blocks completed, top needs to be assembled

Dapper - binding to be hand-stitched (sorry no progress shots)

Thimble Blossoms - top finished 

Patriotic Star - top quilted, need binding

Fireworks - need to finish blocks, 10 of 19 done

Large Swell - finished, need to photograph and blog

+ Scrappy HST - top finished, no photos

+ Looking Glass - top finished

In case you weren't counting, that's 11 in all. Ok, down from 20 but still I feel it's quite excessive in my world. Looks like the end of 2014 shall be a productive time! Also some of these quilts are going to be gifts this holiday season so that is additional motivation. 

-Patch & Chels