Crazy Star Finished Quilt (& FQS Giveaway Winner)

About a year ago I pinned this great tutorial for a Crazy Star Block from Rashida Coleman-Hale.  May was my month as quilter for the Wish Circle and I thought this would be a fun choice.

I needed 36 total blocks and since there are 10 of us in the circle, I asked everyone to make 3 or 4 blocks using pinks, reds, oranges, and yellows for the star points and low volume prints for the background.  Despite being a little vague about how many blocks to send, I ended up with exactly 36 blocks.  Perfect.  The stars (which are made up of 4 blocks) are 20" finished and I really like how big and graphic they are.

I quilted it with an all over paisley pattern.  This is the second time I have used this pattern and I really enjoy it. The finished size is a little under 60" square.  

The backing and binding are both Sanae prints from Moda, but they are from different lines.  I think the backing is from Oh My! and the binding is from Oz.

I had a little assistants give a trial run this afternoon.  Can you tell they are annoyed at me because they are trying to watch their TV show and I'm standing in the way?

Speaking of Do Good Stitches, have you seen this quilt?  It was quilted by Caitlin who is also in the Wish Circle.  I loved making these blocks and I absolutely love how the quilt turned out. 

Thank you to everyone who entered the Fat Quarter Shop giveaway.  Random.org has kindly picked a winner for us and it is . . .

Congratulations Aoife!  I will forward your email address on to the FQS and they will send you the gift card.

Orange! Mini Quilt

If you have been following my blog for a while you might remember the orange! mini quilt I made a few weeks ago with my daughter.  I am reposting this project to enter into Ellison Lane's Modern Mini Challenge.

I love that my daughter has an interest in sewing so this was a fun project to do together (she's 5).  I definitely did not have that interest when I was younger and I want sewing to be something that we can share.   

My daughter helped me arrange the fabrics and we pieced them before she went to bed.  I quilted, bound, and hung it on the wall behind my computer while she was sleeping.  It was so fun to see how excited and proud she was.  

Finished size: 20" square

Welcome Fat Quarter Shop!

I am beyond excited to welcome the Fat Quarter Shop as a sponsor today.  No quilt shop out there sends out better looking packages or has better customer service.

Here are just a few of the things that I love about buying from the Fat Quarter Shop:

• They carry a great selection of Aurifil Thread.  One great thing about buying Aurifil from them is that if you buy 6 spools of the same color they give you a discount.  They also recently started carrying the huge cones and they are amazing!  If you machine is equipped to use a cone I highly recommend it.  They even have my 2 favorite colors in the cone size: 2600 and 2024. 
• They have an amazing sale section. This is a great place to stock up on fabric for quilt backs at a great price.  Seriously, the sale section is HUGE.  
• They have just about everything.  Check out the "What's New" section.  I really need this and this and this.  And this too.  

The Fat Quarter Shop is offering a fantastic giveaway to one lucky reader: a $20 gift certificate. To enter the giveaway just leave a comment letting me know your favorite thing currently in the shop.  I have my eye on this low volume bundle from Moda.

The giveaway will be open until Monday evening.  
The giveaway is now closed.

Other than their wonderful fabric shop, the Fat Quarter Shop can also be found . . .

Blog: www.fatquartershop.blogspot.com
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/fatquartershop
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fatquartershop
Twitter: www.twitter.com/fatquartershop
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fatquartershop.com

finished princess quilt

After last week's WIP Wednesday post I spent some time arranging, rearranging, trimming, and scowling before I figured out a layout for the princess blocks I made last week.

If I were going to do something like this again I would definitely make a plan first.  I am still a little on the fence about how I feel about the finished product, but I do love the princess print.  

I quilted it with loops which is one of my favorites.  This shape comes more naturally to me than most FMQ designs and it is pretty quick.

I backed the quilt with another print from Alexander Henry's Once Upon a Time.  I love this floral, probably even more than the princesses. This quilt is going to my cousin for her baby girl (she is naming her Aurora so I thought the princess theme was appropriate).  

Other WIPs: 

• I am in the process of piecing May's do Good Stitches quilt top.  Our circle agreed to donate this one to Moore (particularly since a member of our circle lives there) so I need to finish it up before the June 30th deadline.

• Postage stamp scrap quilt - All of the squares have been cut (all 1664 of them!).  Now I just need to sew them together :)

Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced and Finish it up Friday.  

Simply Style Stacked Squares Quilt

Head over to the Moda Bake Shop to check out a quilt that I made with Vanessa Christenson's new fabric line Simply Style.  I absolutely love this line and I cannot wait until yardage is available.

2013 Let's Get Acquainted Bloghop

I am excited to be participating in Beth's Let's Get Acquainted Bloghop because I love reading blogs and this is a great way to find some hidden gems out there.

My aesthetic is fairly modern, though one of the great things about quilting is that you can really do whatever you want.  Sometimes I like to follow patterns and sometimes I like to do my own thing, but I always love working with fabric and I love to make things. 

If you have been reading my blog for a while you have probably seen these projects, so I thought I'd answer some questions that you might not know about me :)

I am a 29 year old mom of two wonderful kids.  For the past 7 years I have lived in West Los Angeles, but before that I lived in Utah for several years and I actually grew up in a very rural community in Texas.  I am a bit schizophrenic when it comes to interests and I actually got my Bachelor's degree in biology while minoring in math and English.  During my time in college I worked as a lab assistant  an editor, and a calculus TA.  One of the wonderful things about quilting is that it uses both my analytical and creative sides.

How did you start quilting?

When I was pregnant with my son 3 years ago I felt a real need for a hobby.  My husband is an attorney and tends to have long work hours and I was staying at home with my daughter.  I convinced my husband that I needed a sewing machine and just figured it out.  Thank goodness for all of the wonderful resources on the internet; there were some bumpy moments (understatement!) but quilting has turned into a very rewarding hobby.

What type of sewing machine do you use?

I have a wonderful Janome MC6600p which I bought a little over a year ago.  It sews like a dream and I don't know what I would do without it!

Why did you decide to start your blog?
When I started sewing I found blogs to be invaluable.  There was so much information out there and I loved being able to read about all aspects of the quilting process.  I wanted to become part of that quilting world and I have really loved sharing my projects.

What is your favorite/least favorite part of sewing/quilting?

This is actually something that I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about.  Because quilting is an expensive and time consuming hobby, it is important to me to try to enjoy as much of the process as possible.  At this point I have 3 things that I don't particularly enjoy:

• Sewing the final seam of a quilt top. I guess this is only true of a larger quilt since smaller quilts are easier to handle, but I always find this step awkward.
• Sewing the binding onto the quilt.  I am not talking about hand sewing it onto the back (I love that part!) but I don't like actually machine sewing the binding onto the front of the quilt.  
• Squaring up the quilt after quilting.  I know that some people skip this, but I do think it is important.  I just don't like doing it.  

I am working on finding joy in these parts of the process.  Eventually I will get there :)

What other social media do you actively use?

I am on Flickr, Pinterest, and my Instagram username is ericajackman.  

Thanks for stopping by!  If you would like to see more of my projects . . .

Tips and Tutorials

2013 Quilts

2012 Quilts

If you are you interested in following my blog, you can find me on Bloglovin'.

Be sure to check out all of the other wonderful bloggers who are participating:

Friday, June 7th

Nancy @ Owen's Olivia

Amy @ 13 Spools

Ashley @ Wasn't Quilt In A Day

Casey @ The Studiolo 

Nanette @ Yeah, I Made That

Ange @ Heart Of Charnwood

Kim @ Robot Mom Sews

Erica @ Kitchen Table Quilting

Friday, June 14

Julie @ Jolie Maxtin

Melissa @ Melia Mae Quilting

Adrianne @ On The Windy Side

Molli @ Molli Sparkles

Laura @ Little And Lots

Sarah @ Duck Egg Threads

Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation

Cari @ There's A Thread

Valerie @ Between Quilts

Friday, June 21

Leigh Anne @ Ella's Cottage

Stacy @ The Tilted Quilt

Sarah @ Quilt Candy

Jackie @ NW Patchwork

Liz @ Beadqueene's Bits And Baubles

Erica @ Happy Fabric

Stephanie @ Simple Sewendipity

Lauren @ Seraphym

Amy @ Cloud CouCou Crafts

Friday, June 28

Green @ So Sew Green

Gwendellyn @ The Rainbow Revolts

Jessica @ Stitched In Thyme

Amira @ Little Mushroom Cap

Kathy @ Kayak Quilting

Michelle @ Factotum Of Arts

Paula @ The Sassy Quilter

Kris @ Sew Sunshine

Camilla @ Faffling

Friday, July 5

Christa @ Christa Quilts!

Alyce @ Wonderland By Alyce

Anna @ The Crooked Banana

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After 

Stephanie @ Quarter Incher

Kristy & Shayla @ Sassafras Lane Designs

Caroline @ Carolines Craftiness

Lisa @ Hilltop House Creative Works

Fridau, July 12

Leona @ Leona's Quilting Adventure

Karen @ Karen, {Novice} Quilter

Anne @ PlayCrafts

Rachel @ Let's Begin Sewing...

Jan @ Sew And Sow Farm

Anna @ Quilting Along The Grain

Cath @ Wombat Quilts

Sarah @ {No} Hats In The House

Friday, July 19

Karen @ Little Birdie Quilting Studio

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Katie @ Snuggle Up With A Dish From Karma 

Alison @ Making Happyness

Sarah @ Sowing Stitches

Ella and Nesta @ Ella & Nesta's Little Room

Adrienne @ Chezzetcook Modern Quilts

Nicole @ Modern Handcraft

Aylin @ AyliN-Nilya

Friday, July 26

Vicki @ A Quilter's Mission

RobinSue @ RobinSue Quilts

Elisa Lea @ Lovelea Designs

Elizabeth @ In The Boondocks

Jenny @ A Note To Follow Sew

Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts

Sonia @ Fabric & Flowers

Emily @ Sew E.T.

wip wednesday

After I finished this giant quilt for my husband, I wanted to make a quick and easy baby quilt for my cousin who is expecting her 2nd daughter.  So I just started cutting and sewing and just hoped I would figure out how I wanted to put it together when I was done making the blocks.

But that hasn't happened yet.  I think I'm going to have to trim some down or leave some out or something because I couldn't find a combination I was happy with.  They are all different sizes so I need to do something to make them more uniform.  Also I think I need more pink.

When that didn't work out I started another big giant quilt.  Oops.  I am making the "Make This Quilt" quilt from Sunday Morning Quilts.  I am scaling it down a little bit because I am going to back it with Folksly Flannel and I don't have quite enough to make the 80x88" version in the book, so mine will be a few inches smaller.  This is still going to require 800+ 2.5" colored squares and the same number of white squares.

The great news is that unlike my Maple Leaf Rag quilt (which I loved making but which created as many scraps as it used) I am making a good dent in my scraps.  I am also using a couple of mini charm packs I had on hand.

Hopefully I will make some progress on one or both of these this week.  I am also planning on making a Super Tote soon, I just can't decide what fabrics I want to use.

Linking up with WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.