Friday Finish & Winner Announced

Posted by Pretty Lady Baby on May 10, 2013 in Link up

Hey Guys!

I have been really busy this week working on two quilts for two birthday boys! These boys are the children of my friends Maya and Steven. I have only finished binding one but i am in need of a nap and I will be back tomorrow to show the second quilt. The quilt is designed from the St. Louis 16 Patch and if you don’t know what that is you should go read the tutorial trial on the St. Louis 16 Patch. Here are the pictures:

Here is the quilt top. The fabric is from Shore Thing which was purchased at the Fat Quarter Shop. I quilted the quilt with straight line quilting in a double line grid pattern. The pictures do not do the quilting justice..;0( I did all the quilting with silver aurifil thread (My favorite for quilting) and binded the quilt with a Bella solid. I picked this sandy brown fabric because it made me think of the beach.

The back of the quilt has raw edge appliqué. I used scraps from the block to create the base of the quilt back. I also used scraps that I sewed together to cut out the letters and ship …making patchwork letters. I think it’s super cool!

Here is a picture of both quilts folded waiting for binding.

Alright, well now it’s time to announce a winner for the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway! Here is what Mr. Random said:

2013-05-10 09.03.07 pm

That would make our winner….Ms. Anita! Congratulations! I will be emailing you shortly!

Thanks if you decided to join in on the fun! I will be linking this post to Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday , if you are visiting from there…Welcome ;0) Please leave a comment so I can visit your blog!

Until Next Time, Sew Pretty!

~Kare

Tutorial Trial Thursday

Posted by Pretty Lady Baby on May 9, 2013 in Tutorial Trial Thursday

My Grandmom’s Quilt! You can read more about this quilt here

Hey Guys!

Today’s tutorial trial is from Stephanie who blogs at Sew With Sass-SKBurton Design. She created the wonderful St. Louis 16 Patch, which I am currently in love with! I thought I would put this tutorial on trial so you could be even more encouraged to attempt this block! I would suggest you read the full tutorial, join the flicker group and follow along on Instagram so you can see what other people are doing. This quilt comes together incredibly fast and with blow you mind! Well that is enough of that….let’s get down to business ;0)

Let’s see the results:

How long did it take? To create two blocks, it took exactly 21 min and 16 seconds. I timed it to further convince you LOL
Was it easy to follow? The tutorial has a lot of pictures and clear instructions. It is really easy to follow and after you do it once, you could really do it with your eyes close …it’s that easy!
Do you have any tips? I do have some suggestions for this block and will point them out in the pictures below.
Would you make it again? Well …yes. I have made three quilts like this already and am heading to a fourth…should I be ashamed? I really love this block!

Here is what you have been waiting for the eye candy:

You need two fat quarters for two blocks so for this tutorial trial I thought I would time how long that would take. I am a believer in starch and no steam when I iron. I starch my fabric before I cut it and then press with just a hot iron as I am sewing it together. This really helped me with this block because the squares are so big you want all points to match. Before cutting my strips I also square up one edge. I didn’t do this one time and ended up with a wonky block ;0(

I like to layout what I am doing because I get easily sidetracked. I finished all my ironing, cutting and sorting in five mins. I think you will get it done faster because you won’t be taking pictures.

I chained pieced all my strips to speed up the process.

Once I cut my strips I laid them out again. I have sewed the strips by just grabbing two and ended up with a different pattern. It seems unlikely but it is possible. I always pin my seams so I get matching points. Also, the starch also helps the fabric from slipping keeping your fabric in place. I finished the first block around 17 minutes.

Finished! This block is too easy. I will be back tomorrow with a finished quilt. If you are following me on Instagram you have already seen some pictures of the pieced back. I can’t wait to show yall these two quilts tomorrow for two special birthday boys.

Until then, Sew Pretty!

~Kare

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

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Posted by Pretty Lady Baby on May 8, 2013 in Participating, Uncategorized

Hey Guys!

I have decided to jump into the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day! If you are new here, let me first say welcome! My name is Kerrie and I have been blogging here since December. I like to share about my current projects, my ever-growing fabric stash, tutorial that I try and the books I am reading. I blog often for the most part and hope you take some time to look around my little blog. I love comments and try to reply to each comment (as you will see below). I also post about tutorials I try…here they are called Tutorial Trials! Check them out! I would love your feedback! Here are some of my latest creations:

Today I will be giving away a fat quarter bundle from Liberty of London! I know breath! I really love this collection and have the full collection of their quilting weight fabric Stile.

This giveaway will be open until May 10th at 5pm. I will ship internationally! I will pick a winner on Friday using Mr. Random. Hopefully he will get your number ;0)

You have four submission to this giveaway:

Submission 1: Post in the comment box below, tell me what you like to read on blogs.

Submission 2: Follow my blog! Just comment, “I Follow!”

Submission 3: Follow me on Facebook! Just comment, “I follow on Facebook”

Submission 4: Follow me on Instagram! Just comment, “I follow you on Instagram”

Please make sure you include your email address so I can contact you! I am so excited! Giveaway day is so fun!

Until next time, Sew Pretty!

`Kare

St. Louis Sixteen Patch Squared

Posted by Pretty Lady Baby on May 7, 2013 in Participating, Quilting

Hey Guys!

Since I got back on Friday, I have been working on two little quilts for two special birthday boys! I decided to do another St.Louis 16 Patch, which as I told you in previous post that it comes together really fast! Well, let me first explain about the St. Louis 16 Patch.

I first saw it on Instagram, if you are not following me there I take lots of pictures! Stephanie from SKBurton Designs posted a tutorial for this pattern. It is super easy and here is the link. You can read along there to find out how it came about. There you will also find a flicker group to join or search for inspiration. I hope you go check it out!

After making the quilt for my Grandmom because the boy’s birthday is on Saturday, I knew it was the right choice. I used 18 fat quarters that I grouped into set of 2.

The fabric collection I am using is called Shore Thing and I got this particular fat quarter set from The Fat Quarter Shop online (and they ship everywhere in the world). I added some fabric from my stash to get all 18 fat quarters and on Sunday my husband allowed me to sew even though I was still under the weather. I finished all 18 blocks and used me design wall to figure the layout of each quilt. Here are the pictures:

Above (Quilt #1) At first I thought I would put a block from each fat quarter set in each quilt but the white center block and the flamingo print really did not make that work. Then I decided to make the white block the center block and use sets of two…to make a plus sign. Thank got for a design wall!

Below (Quilt #2) I really like the flamingo print! It was my favorite in the line but when it came to arranging these blocks I needed some help. Darcy from Modern Cozy helped me out and i finally got it right! If you get a chance check out her blog!

Today I worked on the quilt backs and I will be back tomorrow to share more about that. But before I go, I wanted to pick my goal for the month of May for the Lovely Year of Finishes:

May Goal: Finish Bentley quilt!

Now that the top is done all I have left is to piece a back, baste and quilt! I think that is totally possible. Until, next time Sew Pretty!

~Kare

Fresh Start & New Finishes

Posted by Pretty Lady Baby on May 6, 2013 in Quilting

My Grandmom and my son.

Hey Guys,

I am sure you have been wondering where I have been…well I have actually been to Philadelphia. I went to see my Grandmother who was recently in the hospital and today I heard news that she stood up and took two steps. This means she is well on the road to recovery. I am relieved now that I am once again at home with my sewing machine…I mean husband ;0). I have so much to share with you guys! I finally finished the Cloud Song!

Front of Cloud Song: This quilt was much harder than I though but overall it was really fun to put together. Quilting it was really hard to do …it was hard deciding what to do. I ended up making diagonal lines 6 inches apart and I think I pretty happy with it.

Back of Cloud Song: The back I did some appliqué. I used a blanket stitch to finish it off. I think the blanket stitch is my new favorite.

That is not all! Even though I was unable to post for my lovely year of finishes, I did finish my quilt top for Bentley. Here are the pictures:

I really love all the colors! I can’t explain why it too me so long to finish but I finally get to join the Scrappy Trip Around the world club. :0)

Last but not least, I have one more quilt to show. As soon as I found out my Grandmom was is the hospital, I started making a quilt for her recovery. That is how much I believed she was going to be okay. A friend helped me finish it a day before I left to go to Philadelphia and I carried this quilt with me on the train, then later to the hospital. Here are the pictures:

Here is the quilt folded. I used the pattern called the St. Louis 16 Patch. This pattern comes together really fast..I mean we finished the quilt in one day! The quilt measured finished 60 by 60 inches.

Here the quilt is folded to show the back of the quilt. The fabric is from the collection Madrona Road by Violet Craft. You can buy it at the Fat Quarter Shop.

Here is the quilt opened up. I really love the colors! My Mom said it reminded her of candy because my Grandmom really loves every type of candy.

Well that is all for now, I am sure that is enough! LOL I hope you are having a great day ;0)

Until, Next Time Sew Pretty!

~Kare

Work In Progress

Posted by Pretty Lady Baby on April 17, 2013 in Work In Progress

Hey Guys!

Tonight I will revealing a finished quilt…maybe two finished quilts! Last night I took a class with a friend and made two envelope pillows and finished another clutch. I have been a busy girl. Here is a picture of the latest clutch …this one is quilted!

Next I will be working on these two quilts:

I have done all the cutting for this quilt and have to start piecing.

The picture below is my goal for Lovely Year of Finishes. This month is almost over so I really need to get a move on!

That is all for today, I will be back tonight (maybe) to post my finished quilt!

Until next time, Sew Pretty!

~Kare

Free Motion Quilting

Posted by Pretty Lady Baby on April 16, 2013 in Quilting

Hello Guys!

I have been finishing some quilting, working on others and having fun since the last time I wrote. On Saturday, I participated in my first Sew In with the West Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild. We came together and worked on projects, shared talked and laughed! It was great fun! Afterwards, I went to the Atlanta Sewing Center to take my first Bernina Class, which was on buttonholes. I walked in, tired from the Sew In confused because the class was TWO hours long on BUTTONHOLES! Let me tell you, buttonholes deserve two hours ;0) … plus the instructor showed me how to use my darning foot or “The Free Motion Foot.” After she showed me, I went home and made this:

After playing around, I started reading Beginner’s Guide to Free Motion Quilting by Natalia Bonner. If you are embarking on the FMQ journey like me, YOU NEED THIS BOOK! You do, go get it!

On Sunday, I went to my Maple Leaf Rag Quilt class. I worked on that quilt for awhile with my classmates/friends then I went home and made this:

This is the front. I stabilized this nine patch by stitching in the ditch and then making a grid to practice making single arches. Some looks like arches others…not so much but it is practice. Below is how it looks on the back.

Then I wanted to try stippling and loops on a block I made a long time ago.

This one, I feel better about then the previous one. I will be doing a lot of practice so I can do one of these designs on a quilt. Below is the back.

This is a picture from the book Material Obsession 2. Fabricate Studios is where I am taking this class, the Maple Leaf Rag Quilt. It is made of scraps. I have finished almost all of my kites, which make the star pattern. After making all kites, I am ready to make a plan for the spider webs. Here are my plans:

I plan to use low volume fabrics for the spider webs. I have made kites in the color groups above and I am really excited as this quilt top comes together very slowly. VERY SLOWLY ;0)

I will be linking up today to Better Off Threads, which I was very surprised to see my apron was featured on today’s post! Make sure you check her out and link up! If you are visiting from there today, please leave a comment! I love getting comments ;0)

Until next time, Sew Pretty!

~Kare