Modern Maples

Finally finished my Modern Maples quilt! I backed this one using some number fabric from Ikea and a grey binding.  This time around I also tried the spiral top quilting. It was difficult at the center with my small domestic sewing machine, but started to get easier as less fabric had to fit through the throat!

This one might be one of my favorites!  Now it just needs to find a good home.

Sew long for now,

Patch & Chels

Girl's Day Out and a HUGE THANK YOU!

Look I made progress :)

Now for the real intent of this post.  I want to say thank you to those who have regularly visited my site, and those who are new welcome :).  These past two months have been a delightful experience for me, so many unexpected things have happened along the way.  I have meet so many great people and received such kind words of encouragement and appreciation for my work.  It's so refreshing to be part of such a positive environment :).  

Some firsts/highlights so far .... 

• Mary found me.  She is another blogger in NH, from Urban Quilter, who loves giraffes, was an architecture student, and quilts.  First person to have a ridiculous amount in common.  
• I got listed as a Blog Favs for Daughters of Dornida.  First, that I know of :)
• Cindi over at Today I ... who was my very first comment on the blog.
• Candace over at Saltwater Quilts was my first bloglovin' follower!
• Being able to link with Crazy Mom Quilts and Freshly Pieced on a regular basis.  
• All those who make every day here wonderful and much more than I expected (yeah, that's you too!).

So many thanks!

Last week my Aunt Bonnie and I had a little girls day out and took a trip up to Center Harbor, NH to visit Keepsake Quilting.  This place is epic in terms of quilt shops!  If you have no self restraint in terms of fabric or yarn, this place would not be recommended.  I could easily have told the woman at the cutting counter, yes one yard of everything :).  The place also has a yarn shop so double trouble.

My Aunt no longer quilts and has graciously given me her stash (insert a happy dance!).  Although she did request that I make a quilt from her favorite prints, of course I agreed.  Today we were on a mission to get all the materials necessary for this quilts completion.  She also got carried away and got material for a whole second quilt.  The fabric choices are not my typical but so pretty.  I am excited to have a project that will be in a unique pallet.  

Pattern ... check

Fireworks by Thimble Blossoms

Fabric ... check

Backing and Binding ... check

The binding is the second fabric down in the right pile, and the backing is the fabric right below the binding.

Started ... check pending

Being on a fabric fast and trying to be good financially was more than challenging today, but I made out with minimal damage.  I can feel good about that!  Things I purchased include this book of knitted toys.  I have been BEGGING my Grandmother to knit me a giraffe softie, and she has yet to follow through.  (Patch needs a friend). This book has a great pattern for a giraffe, so I got it as a little inspiration!  I also got some yarn to knit an infinity scarf, project number 2 on my new knitting list of projects.  

My Aunt also surprised me with this this little knitting bag!  How stinkin' cute is this thing???  Pretty sure it had my name ALL over it!  Pink with giraffes, can't get any better than that!

The bag has a grommet to feed the yarn through so the yarn ball doesn't roll all around when you're knitting out and about.  How genius?!

On the inside is a generous pocket with another grommet hole.  I put my crochet hook, yarn needles, a pair of small scissors, and some little things nice to hand around when knitting in the pocket.  **I haven't balled up the second skein of yarn, not sure it will work well not balled?

Okay, that was a lot to say and share!  Thanks for taking the time to read all this and be part of my blog.  All the support is appreciated.  

Sew long for now, 

CHELS

California Girl

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

I few years ago I taught down in New Orleans and got to experience Mardi Gras from the local standpoint.  In parts of town it was very family orientated.  Let's say that the French Quarter lives up to its reputation.  Uptown was pretty cool parading with friends, a crawfish boil on the street car tracks, kids standing on ladders above the crowd catching beads and stuffies.  Much different than I expected in my head.  My college friend came down to enjoy the festivities and it didn't let us down.  The floats were spectacular, but what I like most about the parades was the high school marching bands.  They did such a great job.     

Today I also finished this UFO using California Girl fabric by Moda.  This quilt top has been sitting around since last summer and it's about time I finished this project.  (Middle quilt in my UFO pile, 3 out of 5 done).  Yay for another finish!

This project started as a layer cake.  To be honest, I cannot remember how I cut each square to create this quilt, but it involved some narrow pieces and the larger pieces got made into a border.

Here is a glimpse of the backing, which is also priced, using a strip from the front and two different fabrics from the line.

The top finishes at 54 inches x 71 inches.  This size is perfect for a toddler bed and not to heavy for a small child.  The whole thing is top stitched using a stippled pattern, all done free-hand.

Backing.

Hope everyone is having a happy Fat Tuesday and getting their UFO finished up this week!

Sew long for now, 

CHELS