#85 Exciting News..... "Twists & Churns"

Remember all the hints of what I was secretly sewing.....Well, I'm so excited to finally be able to share...... I designed a cute mini quilt, Twists & Churns and it's being published in the next issue of The Art of Home free eMagazine by Jacquelynne Steves.
I hope you will all pop over and sign up, and let me know what you think!! If  you decide to make a Twists & Churns mini I hope you will tag it with #twistsandchurns on social media (especially Instagram)  so I can see what you come up with!!
If my pattern isn't enough to grab you, Jacquelynne also has an interview with Pat Sloan in this issue!!

What I've Been Up To:

I finished my Elephant Parade Quilt pattern by Sew Fresh Quilts. I used Lorna's scrappy bits border technique and it looks so cute.

Used my new label (don't forget, upstairshobbyroom,  is the coupon code to save you 5% if you are looking for labels, link is in the sidebar)

 I put a 5" square folded in half in the top corner for a hanging hook and maybe an extra label (if I am blessed to someday give this beauty to a grandbaby, just say'n)

I still need to add the embroidery details....working up to it...it's been awhile and I'm rusty.

I tested the Geometric Butterfly for Kristy at Quiet Play. Oh my goodness it turned out so fantastic. I love rainbows, and wanting spring to come sooner, I am playing with lots of colour right now!!! It just makes me smile.....happy colours......

Which turned into making an Easter Basket, pattern by Amy Smart

Which turned into a rainbow table runner......which I love.......smiling big this week, even with the freezing weather we are having......

I thought I would share the pattern/ measurements I made for my runner, incase anyone else is inspired to create their own rainbow.

Rainbow Table Runner Quilt as You Go

Measure your table to get the size you want for width and length. I will give you my measurement, but you insert your own in its place.

I made my table runner approximately 14" wide by 94" long. You will need to add about a 1/2 " to an 1" to your width for trimming later.

You will need a piece of backing fabric and batting a couple of inches bigger than your finished runners length and width.

Cut: (40) 2.5" strips 14.5" long in various colours (I chose 27 colours from Kona jelly roll strips) 

        (39) 1" strips 14.5" long in Kona White

Binding strips: (6) 2.25" X WOF strips Kona White

I spray basted the backing and batting together and starting in the center with a coloured strip right side up and a white strip wrong side up and right side to the coloured strip 14.5" raw edges lined up stitch a 1/4" seam through all layers. Press the white fabric back and add the next coloured strip. Continue sewing on alternating white and coloured strips until you cover to the end. Tip: Sew the white strips top to bottom and the coloured strips bottom to top to even out the pull on the fabric, or your will have a very misshaped runner. Then repeat for the other side.

*If you are unfamiliar with quilt as you go check out this tutorial I did or another one here

When you're done, trim up the sides and ends and bind your runner!!

Good luck and happy sewing!!!!

#65 50th Birthday Celebration

My husband turned 50 at the end of July. What better way to celebrate than with a quilt!! So I made him a fantastic quilt with batiks! I had been working on it for a while starting back in 2013, but since finishing the top I tucked it away (out of sight out of mind) and was able to get it quilted and bound while he was away for a few days!!
As some of you will know from following along on my quilting/long arm journey, I have not had a great experience with my long arm quilting machine. I have now connected with the right person, and quilting my husband's quilt has been the most fun, the best turn out, and fingers crossed the beginning of a great friendship with my machine!!! lol Thanks Greg!

Let me tell you I was doing a very excited happy dance right here!!! First quilt I have finished without any major quilting issues!!!! The first of many, fingers crossed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 This quilt pattern is made from Jelly Roll strips and the video tutorial can be found here.

I had to share some of the celebration food too!! Especially the cake, that my friends sister made!!

Marinated Veggie Salad  Really good! I made it 2 days ahead, yum!!

 Couscous Salad

 Orzo and Spinach Salad from The Art of Home E-Magazine if you aren't getting this free magazine, you should check it out!!

 and some iced coffee steeping and simple syrups to sweeten it with.  I made regular, vanilla and cinnamon!!

 And there's my friend Kellie (miracle baby's mom!! lol) giving Dave his cake!! My husband owns a 1964 Suburban, thus the cake!! It was a homemade cherry chip cake, that tasted as good as it looked!! Thanks again Stephanie!!!!

#49 WIPs and UFOs My List

Ok so this is just for me really! Lol!! I need to get organized and get old projects completed. If just to the completed quilt top stage, being as I still do not have a working long arm!! (sad, frustrated face should be displayed here)
I can't seem to help myself and keep joining new QAL. Which is find and lovely and creatively inspiring. But when I look at the projects that use to stir up those same feeling that have never been completed, they are mocking me and raining on my other wise lovely parade of new projects, lol!!! So a list to inspire me to check  finishes off was in order.

WIPs (Current):

1. Sugar Block Club 2014

2. Sew Kitschy BOM

3. Classic Meets Modern BOM

4. Modern Blocks BOM

5. Globe Trotting BOM

6. Layer Cake Sampler QAL

7. Triangle QAL

8. Scrappy Trip Around the World Bee

9. Modern Insta Bee

10. Diamond Tread (quilt )

11. Batik Quilt (just moved from UFO to WIP!!) How to make the block, can be found here!

12. Sugar Block Club 2013 (top needs to be sewn together)

UFOs ( I'm being real, haven't touch these in over 6 months or more)

1. Block Rock'n (paper pieced)

2. Sampler Quilt

3. Flower Patch QAL (ended last yr)

4. Fusion

5. Craftsy BOM 2013 (never finished)

6. Six quilt tops waiting for the long arm to work properly, so that I can learn how to quilt, so that all the                lovely quilt tops will become quilts.

What I have been doing:

New Labels!!

Layer Cake Sampler Blocks 9-12

Modern Insta Bee 2014 August Block (little early, but she knew what she wanted) 

And why make 1 when making 2 is just as easy?!! For my Sampler Quilt

and late arrival......Modern Blocks BOM (last one with the group, but this book has 99 blocks and I have only sewn 12......so there will be more!!)

And Sew Retro Kitchen BOM

#45 Give Away Coming

 I will be back on the 12th of February to post my projects for the Hugs and Kisses Blog Hop!! I also rounded up two great prizes for a give away, so come back, don't miss out!!!

 Ikaprint is donating 90 labels!!  I love my labels!! I have 2 different ones. You will love this prize! Don't forget to use the coupon code upstairshobbyroom if you decide to order on your own to save 5%.

Zipit is donating a $25.00 gift certificate. 

Love her zippers and zipper pulls! You can also use upstairshobbyroom here for 15% savings.

The coupon codes for these online stores are always active, they do not have an expiry date.

What I've Been Up to:

Parisian Star, from Modern Block QAL

2nd Block in the Sew Kitschy,  Sew Retro Kitchen over at Quiet Play

 January Block (Polar) Bear Paw for Classic Meets Modern QAL over at Sew as Home Mummy:

February Block Amethyst (why seams!! WHY?????) This may need some work to get it flat!!

 February Block for Pat Sloan's Mystery BOM Globtrotting:

I'm behind so I went for the easier of the two. January still to come!!

 Joined Modern InstaBee 2014:

 First Block up Stacked Windmills and why make just one, so I made 2. Really I made 3 this one gave me some problems, my first block turned out 16" instead of 15.5!!

 And a cute little label to mail with the block!!

 Coming Soon:

I will be participating in the Safari Moon Launch Blog Hop Event my post date is March 7 unless there are unforeseen changes. Will keep you posted!! Here's a sneak peak of some of what I have been up to.......

 Enjoy your weekend!! See you all back here on the 12th!!