Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

It's true!  Especially after you've taken the Craftsy Diamond Quilt Designs class to learn all the practiced techniques.  These were easy peasy.  The most difficult part was deciding which fabric to use!  Ok, not really - I'm working on this for a friend, for her birthday, and I wanted a design that was traditional for her ethnic background.  Come to find out, that design was a star!  Shut the front door, I LOVE stars!  It was fun-tastic and convenient.  I probably shouldn't post these pictures, it might ruin the surprise, but I can't resist (resistance is futile...)  

I made this with a fat-eighth of Indian Summer fabric from Westwood Acres.  Check out their shop, they have an awesome selection and are super to work with.

See the triangle taped to my sewing machine?  Yep, tricksy insider idea from the Craftsy course.

Forget Christmas, Halloween!! In August

The other day I was at The Joann's, helping a friend pick out some children's knit fabric (for an awesome charity event) when these sale, Halloween prints jumped into my cart! Imagine my dismay when I arrived home a realized I needed a new project in order to use them. What to do, what to do ... Triangles!! It just so happens I have a girlfriend whose birthday I may have missed who LOVES Halloween. I decided to make her a mug mug for her work desk. It turned out to be sort of ginormous HA! But I think she'll like it.

And the back, with a quilted spiderweb:

Prism Along - Finite!

My Prism Along quilt top is COMPLETE!  Truth be told, it was finished last week but I was lazy and had multiple issues taking photos of it O_o.  But hey, that's all in the past and it's here now.  Woot!  I decided to go with the alternate layout because it was fun aaaaand I'd like to claim some sort of creativity for part of it...  After all, I bought the pattern and stole someone else's color layout.  So, without further adieu, here it is.  Fractured Prism:

And then a couple in neon.  Just for fun.  (Love, love, LOVE neon!!)

The neon photos were created using Gimp software.

Sweet Swap!

I just signed up for a swap.  Yes, yes I did.  I must admit I'm a little nervous (this is my first swap and it's pouches) but I can definitely do this and the excitement I feel at getting goodies in the mail outweighs the anxiety.  I think.  O_o

Now to find that perfect pattern ... and sweets!  Must look for amazing sweets!

Fame and Notoriety!

OMGosh I'm famous! I decided that this morning when I realized I have had 2 comments on my posts.  I only have (had) 4 posts published and I'm pretty sure that's some kind of record!  No?  Ah, well, burst my bubble.  Either way, I'm still pretty excited that people are out there and have enjoyed my blathering enough to comment.  Keep 'em coming, y'all!

Prism Along

I have to admit I've loved the look of the Prism quilt pattern from the moment I laid eyes on it.  Love the modern look, the grays with the pops of color in the corners...  When Amy of 13 spools mentioned a quilt along, I knew I had to jump on board.  The only issue left was what fabric to use, what fabric to use?  Well Amy solved that one for me too when she posted all her color ideas for the pattern.  When I saw this, I knew I had to use all the horrendous yellow/gold/mustard fabric I'd just received from my Pink Castle 1/2 yard bundle subscription.  

From Amy @13 Spools  http://www.13spools.com/2013/06/the-design-process-prism.html

I have a secret to share, OK, not so secret any longer, you might have guessed by the "horrendous" descriptor that I kind of loathe the latest "modern" mustard colored fabric trend .  I mean, really?  Mustard?  UGH.  I must admit, however, that it looks beautiful with my grey diamonds and Bella Solid Prune centers.  But hey, YOU be the judge.

Lil' Red - WIP

My ex husband's niece is having a baby.  She isn't sure what the gender of the baby is yet, but every time I think of her and the pregnancy I see a little girl. I started this quilt with that instinct in mind.  Inspired by this quilt by Malka Dubrawsky.  Looking back and comparing the two, it seems hers has more layers but I'm still enjoying my version.

I'm working on the quilting, with my Huskavarna Viking (Quilt Designer II), attempting the Roses pattern (some spirals, some olives and chained circles) from my LAQ lesson.  Let me tell you, FMQ-ing on my home machine is much more challenging than using a longarm.  It seems to require much more control over my fine motor skills.  Who knows?  After all this FMQ practice maybe my video gaming will improve.  Wouldn't my boyfriend be pleased ... ;)

So far tonight I've broken 6 new needles on the machine.  It's been frustrating, but I think I'm working out the kinks.  HOWever, 5 replacement needles was all I had so the remainder of the quilting will have to be done after our holiday camping trip.  I was hoping to have it done and one side of the binding sewn on so I could hand stitch the rest while relaxing by the campfire but that was not to be.  See you next week Lil' Red.  I know you'll be waiting for me.