Finish Something That's Difficult - NAM

I put aside the NAM quilt for about two weeks because something didn't come out right.  I read and re-read the directions.  I measured and re-measured all the pieces, but couldn't make it work.  So I put it down and made two quits and a pillow.

But this quilt has a deadline so I must pick it up again.  I think I have to accept that the directions were wrong.  This is hard for me because I want directions to be orderly and correct so I don't have to think about it.  A safe world.  Good grief.  Why would I think that?  No world is perfect or that orderly.

Thus my one week one challenge is to finish the next section of the NAM quilt.  I have blogged about it previously so some of you may have wondered why this thread disappeared of my blog.  But here it is again.

Quilting But Not Blogging

I have been really busy.  I finished two table runners, a quilt, and a pillow cover these past two weeks, but I haven't really blogged about it.

Sometimes I just want to keep sewing.  It's safe.  I don't always have to think or "put myself out there" when I quilt.

I have two quilts that I want to create into patterns.  Why don't I start?  I've made the quilts, I know I like them.  I have thought of several ways that the quilt can be appealing to more than one audience.  My husband has had a brilliant idea for a quilt and why don't I design his idea?

What stops you from taking the next step?

Here is one of the quilts I finished.  This is from Kids Quilts.  Its called Oops a Daisy.  I used only fabrics from my stash to make it and was surprised how many prints I had with butterflies in them.  This quilt turned out cheerful and happy.  I love that the butterflies are 8 inches across and the flowers are about 6 inches across.  Children will have so much fun sitting one this quilt and finding the butterflies, flowers and hearts.  If you want the pattern go to the Kids Quilts website.  I bought three other patterns from this company, all for kids quilts.  I think the patterns are unique.  If you want to buy this quilt, you can go to my Etsy page.

Three Jelly Rolls - Two Quilts

Moda Bake Shop has these two quilts you can make from three jelly rolls.  Great quilt in a day or weekend project. Its called:

Lawn Chair Quilts
Yield TWO 48" x 75" finished quilts
by Monica Solorio-Snow of Happy Zombie

Stolen Quilts

Be on the lookout for these pieces, especially if you are in the New Braunfels, Texas area. You can see the images and read what happened on Karen's blog at
http://karencombs.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/quilts-stolen/

Happy National Quilting Month and International Quilting Day

AccuQuilt and TheQuiltShow have teamed up to give all of us the ultimate experience for International Quilt Day! 

Join in on March 16-18, 2012 as we celebrate all things quilting!
Visit TheQuiltShow community for FREE and watch more than 100 shows hosted by Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims featuring the Top Quilting Teachers in the world

• *Explore classrooms, unique tutorials, inspiring slideshows, and much more
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• *Enter the contest to win amazing prizes from companies you know and love—here's a sampling of the prizes you can win:
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• •A BERNINA 550 sewing machine (yes! a new machine!)
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• •Gammill's Deluxe Chair—perfect for sewing at any machine
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• •Fantastic assortment of books from AQS Publishing, plus a 1-year membership to American Quilter's Society
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• •A selection of inspiring quilting books from C&T Publishing
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• •AccuQuilt's GO! Baby die cutting machine, GO! Value Die, GO! Birds die, and a 6x12 Cutting Mat
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• •Bundle of 41 fat quarters from Ricky's Blended Solids collection, compliments of Red Rooster
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• •Box of silk threads from Superior Threads
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• •One of five DVDs from Why Quilts Matter
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• •One of five Stitched: The Movie DVDs

Plus, you'll have exclusive access to an episode of Why Quilts Matter, Stitched: The Movie, and many other sources of excitement and creativity in The Quilt Show community. Simply click here to get started.

Abstract Formal Garden Table Topper - Amy's One Thing One Week Challenge

I used Deb Strain's Tend the Earth line from Moda to make a formal garden table topper.  The garden is in the abstract and each block represents a different part of the garden.  There are ponds, streams, areas for birds and bees, gates and pathways.

Prairie points bring parts of the garden together.  

At the center of each square are bubbles of water fountains and one garden gate.

I still have to add the border and quilt it, but I had been staring at the fabric for three weeks before I started sewing the jelly roll and charm pack so I accomplished my goal.  I love the abstract thought that went into making this project.  Thinking about it opened my mind to new possibilities.

Deb Strain's description of Tend the Earth fabric line

This group is a collection of items that I love to see in a beautiful garden. Architectural pieces, antique watering cans and bee skeps. Of course seeing butterflies, dragonflies and colorful birds add to the allure of nature’s perfect setting. Flowers of every kind bring color, color, and more COLOR! Blues, greens and purples portray the calm, peaceful feeling of a garden with accents of red and yellow adding excitement and wonder. Nature’s palette can be seen in every part of a beautiful garden.