FNSI & National Quilting Day

I actually managed to get sewing on Friday night -  I got the quilting done on Laffy Taffy Basket!  Well, at least I got what quilting I wanted to get done, done.  I'm debating doing more quilting to the center.  I'm at that edge where there could be *too much* quilting, and I don't want to regret my choice and pick out a bunch of stitching.

I got the binding done today while I was at the meeting/sewing day for the Rock River Modern Quilt Guild.  There were only two of us today - Sandi and myself - but that's okay.  It was still dedicated sewing time, which I desperately needed. EDIT:  I stand corrected - Lisa did join us for a couple of hours.  My memory being the sieve that it is... LOL

Now, I just need to make a label, attach a sleeve, and this baby can get in the mail.

More Laffy Taffy Basket

I haven't been able to work on my DQS 10 quilt as much as I've wanted to...  My mother-in-law is visiting friends in California, so I haven't had any nights off of watching the kiddo.  He's super thrilled - I'm feeling super behind ;)

Isn't that thread just delicious looking?  I made a midnight run to Walmart a couple of weeks ago and got this Coats & Clark thread thinking I could 'quick' sew the applique onto the flimsy.  No such luck (I got struck down by that sinus infection), but at least I'm prepared!

Speaking of yummy, I think this is coming along nicely!  The flowers are currently glue basted down, so that I can hopefully crawl over the last hump and get this flimsy quilted this week.  I already have a quilting plan in mind, so once I get time, it should be fairly quick.  Then, once this is done and en route to my partner, I can move onto other projects.

Laffy Taffy Basket with Borders!

Yesterday was the second, first official meeting of the Rock River Modern Quilt Guild.  There were four of us:  myself, Sandi of Piecemeal Quilts, Melinda of Quirky Granola Girl, and Beth of A Wandering Mistrel I.  I love that my group of fellow, local quilters is expanding.  Melinda and Beth are great, and I look forward to getting to know them better!

Don't get me wrong - I love the online quilting community.  It's expanded my horizons so much!  There's just no substitute for being able to get together and chit chat while we work on our projects.

So, while we sat and talked, I worked on adding the borders to the Laffy Taffy Basket.  I ended up buying three more fabrics for the borders - it was just too boring with the selection I had.  Really, there wasn't enough randomness to the strips comprising the corner triangles.

I'm really happy with the progress thus far, but now I'm waiting...

Waiting for what?

My Accuquilt GO!

Yeah, I gave in.  It was on sale at Joann's for $199, along with some of the dies that I wanted, so I gave in.  I'm just waiting for it to arrive at my home now, and then I can start on the applique portion of Laffy Taffy Basket.  Now, I just have to watch for die sales - I still want the Double Wedding Ring, and a few others, but I'll hold off for a bit yet.  There's other things I need to buy - like a new vacuum.

Laffy Taffy Basket

A particular print is often my starting point and inspiration for a new quilt.  I draw from it the basic shapes and color palette that will be used.

The fabric to the left is just such a print.  I was growing increasingly frustrated with my creative side for not rising to the DQS 10 challenge.  My swap partner seems to have far more traditional taste than I do, and I was stymied.  Finally, I gave myself permission to buy some fabric at my local Joann's.  This print is what I found.


I was still at a creative impasse, though, so I quite literally slept on the issue.  My sleeping brain had obviously had enough with my waking brain, and I woke up with the final image of this quilt.  It obsessed me, and I needed to make another trip to Joann's.

Yeah, that's what I came home with.  Okay, so there was more, (I mean, I spent $100 - bad, bad me!!) but this stuff is what's important at the moment.  The other stuff isn't ready for a reveal yet ;)

Some playing and drawing, cutting and sewing, debating sizes and borders, and options...  A decision to simply let the quilt do what it wanted and to stop second-guessing my instincts occurred, and it was freeing.  I have to remember that feeling - and that I actually do know what I'm doing.



Apparently, my signature design element is going to be including a New York Beauty blog in every swap quilt I do from now on...   What can I say?  I love that block and its potential for variety.

This will eventually have appliqued flowers and a basket handle.  The on-point block will be squared off with stripes of the bright colors seen in the second picture.  I'll probably include more from my stash for an increase in palette options.  The binding will be the small brown print, and the backing will be the inspiration print.

This mini already has a name - "Laffy Taffy Basket".  Thank you to Sandi for inspiring the name with your comment about the fabric looking like taffy!  With any luck, I can the top done and ready for quilting very soon.