First things first - if you go by the name Candace Mugele or Aggiequilter, check your e-mail box. You've won a Sew Merry and Bright book and a couple of Christmas-related layer cakes. Congratulations!
It was a good weekend here but as too often seems to be the case, I wanted to do "Y" and instead finished doing "Z". I got to sew a little but mostly I got a couple of things done that needed to be done. Now that they are, I'm free! For a few days anyway... and "free" only in so far as it means that I can get back to the sewing I need to finish.
I know Laurie and the "other" Sisters - Barb and Mary of Me and My Sister - have mentioned that the four of us will all be doing the Stitchin' Heaven Moda Quilting Extravaganza Caribbean cruise next January - the 27th through February 3rd to be specific. It should be a hoot. Laurie is convinced that either the Sisters or I are going to pitch her overboard for one reason or another but that isn't going to happen. She's been so funny in expressing her opinion about cruises that I fully expect her to be appearing nightly in the main showroom shortly after departure. Unless she gets pitched overboard, of course.
That's our boat - ship? - Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas.
Even though the cruise is still months and months away, there are still cruise-related things to be done like figuring out the kits. After talking about it a bit, Debby Lutrell - the brilliant mind behind Stitchin' Heaven and these cruises - and I decided that we should use Blackbird Designs' gorgeous Cinnamon Spice collection to make a big version of Lincoln, the quilt I'll be teaching. And instead of just giving everybody two Layer Cakes, she's going to see about having the kits laser-cut so that they'll be ready to go from the start. I love it... except that Debby asked me which pieces to cut from which fabrics. Huh?
It was a little odd just writing it down instead of sorting the fabrics as I was prepping them for cutting, though the thought process is the same. I definitely know which prints I like to use in which places.
This is going to be the collection for the classes.
Do you see some of the little notations - SC or S or SP? SC = star centers. SP = star points. S = strips for the rail fence blocks and the outer borders.
When I'm picking which print to use for which piece, I like to use the solids, tone-on-tones and darker fabrics for the smallest pieces so that they aren't overly dominant. For example, , the tone-on-tone pieces will be used for the star points. The large floral prints that have a fair amount of color and pattern on them so they will be used for the rail fence blocks and pieced outer border.
Just as I like to use the small prints and tone-on-tones for the smallest pieces, the biggest pieces - the centers of the stars - get the biggest prints. Except that I still try to mix that up too and use a couple of other multi-color prints for the stars. It really is easier when you can look at the fabric.
I am looking forward to actually making the quilt when the background fabric arrives, if for no other reason than to see if I picked the right fabrics for each part.
So after completing my list of SKUs and pieces and how many of each to cut, I got back to work on these...
They're not finished - some need closing, a couple need a little embellishment, and there are a couple more to make. These aren't for a pincushion pattern, they're part of something else. One of my awful brilliant friends decided that some upcoming patterns needed something else in the picture to show scale. I think she's been watching too many CSI-type shows. Since a quarter or a dollar bill in the picture next to the quilt wouldn't make any sense at all, it was decided that a pincushion, thread, etc. would be the perfect solution. Perfect for who? Not for the person who has to make the pincushions.
Pseudo-grumping aside, I did have some fun with these because I got to experiment with something. Have you seen these printed feedsack towels from Moda Home?
They're great fun and I had this awful brilliant questionable idea about using them as part of a quilt backing - I'll let you know how that goes. In the meantime, the towels come packaged in a very cute little coordinating pouch that I know I'll never, ever use for anything so I cut it up. I'm sorry, I should have gotten a picture of it before I did. Next time, right? This is the backing on two of my pincushions.
I know. They're a little goofy but I love the way they turned out. Because the feedsack towel is a medium-light weight, I lined the backing with a thin muslin. (For this sort of thing, I like to use the $3.00-a-yard muslin from the coupon-store. It's perfect for something like this.)
That's it for now. I'm off to finish some more pincushions and maybe get my cutting table cleared off.
Though not until after I've finished the pincushions because some of this is going to be used for that.
Does this look a little compulsive to you?
Whatever. It isn't like I don't have shoes in that size.
Until next time, don't foget that there are still a few more hops on the Sew Merry and Bright Book Tour. There are still books and prizes to be had! So go say Hi to Linda!
- Monday, July 23 - Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced
- Tuesday, July 24 - Martingale & Co.
- Wednesday, July 25 - Henry Glass Fabrics
- Thursday, July 26 - Fat Quarterly
- Friday, July 27 - Aurifil
- Saturday, July 28 - Fat Quarter Shop
- Sunday, July 29 - Mark Lipinski
Happy Monday!
Your cutting table looks perfectly normal to me! Your cruise looks so tempting. I was reading that the teachers all have one day for their projects so no one needs to "choose" the project they want to make since you will have a chance to make all the projects.
I have Lincoln on my to do list. I loved the schnibbles version but when you made the bigger one in Another Bite, I LOVED it. I have Claremont Farms put aside for that project but wouldn't mind making it in Tapestry (I'm soft on Fig Tree fabrics).
As to the pincushions.. I think that is a great solution, but I'm not making all those pincushions. You could always give them away after the photo shoot! LOL!
Posted by: Sandy | July 23, 2012 at 07:34 AM
I'm registered to go on the Moda cruise. Please don't throw Laurie overboard until after I've had my class with her (if you really have to throw her overboard at all). I love that we will have a choice of fabrics for your class. Now I just have to decide which of these options I want for my project. I can't wait for January!
Posted by: DebrafromMD | July 23, 2012 at 08:54 AM
The cruise looks so fun. I'd love to go. Nice to have 3 fabric options for the quilt. I've made Lincoln but had issues with the flying geese so thought about making it again. Love your pin cushions and the backing flour sack fabric. Very cute!
Posted by: Diane | July 23, 2012 at 09:31 AM
Oooh, looks like you're busy and having fun. I love the way you've used the feedsack towels. And, I hope Laurie packs her floaties.
Posted by: Thimbleanna | July 23, 2012 at 09:47 AM
Such fun and funny business! Wish I was cruising but I will just have to be a stowaway this time. love the idea of the flour sacks for pincushions. Pincushions are my "go to " project when I just need to do something!
Posted by: Mary ann | July 23, 2012 at 08:08 PM
Sure wish I was going on that cruise - do you know if there are any openings left? We are usually in Florida at that time, but....
That will be the cruise of the year for sure!! Pincushions are saaaaawheeeet!!! And the backings are quite clever! I don't have those towels, but have had other Moda ones, that are great!
Posted by: Linda P | July 24, 2012 at 09:59 AM
Oh you crack me up. I wish I was going to be hanging out with you guys. Laurie totally kills me and those other sisters crack me up too. And you seem to be rather hilarious as well, so the 4 of you would be a blast together. Especially if there were cocktails.
Posted by: pam | July 24, 2012 at 04:27 PM
I wish I was going on that cruise!!! I love your pincushions and can't wait to see what the lovely stacks of fabric on your cutting table turn into!
Posted by: Archie the wonder dog | July 27, 2012 at 06:50 AM