Today is My Day on the Pre-Cut Party & Give Away!

Fabri-Quilt asked me to use one of their Snack Packs and participate in their Pre-Cut Party Blog Hop, and I was happy to play with this "Baby Talk" Snack pack of (42) 2.5" strips.

I started with the Snack Pack of strips, plus a few coordinating prints to make two cute Toddler quilts that go together...Yes, I said two quilts! One will read more "boy", and one more "girly".  Who can't use a couple quick and easy kiddy quilts for those needed gifts that pop up on us!

Here's what you'll need in addition to the Snack Pack of strips, for the two quilts:
   
     3/4 yard of Large Focal print
            From that, cut (2) 10-1/2" WOF strips ~ one for each quilt.

I really like that the Snack Pack comes with the little fabric swatches on the front cover card, and then on the back there is this list of skus that correspond with the fabrics to make ordering coordinating yardage easy...

You will also need 3/4 yard each of two prints.
I used the Gray Large Dot print and Yellow Small Dot print (Gray will be for the Boy quilt, and Yellow will be for the Girl quilt)
            From each of these, cut (20) 4-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangles
               
*Tip: I neatly stacked the two fabrics and cut the strips all at once to save time.

 And finally, you'll need 3/4 yard of Green Stars print
            Cut (40) 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangles ~ (20) for each quilt.

*Tool Tip: I used my Stripology Ruler from Creative Grids to cut my strips...

It's conveniently labeled for those common 2-1/2" and 1-1/2" strips.  For the 2-1/2" strips I cut in the slot at each of the markings with the squares by them.  

The strips look so yummy right out of the package :) I started by dividing up the strips into two groups of fifteen.  

The group on the left used more pinks and purples to make the girl quilt, and I used more blues and greens in the one on the right.  I arranged them into sets of five strips that will be sewn together to make a strip set.

Save aside the remaining strips to be used later for the binding.  

 Here are my two piles ready to sew.

 

For each set of five strips, sew them together along the long ends to create strip sets.  Make three 5-Strip sets per quilt.

*Tip - After sewing the first five strips together, check your seam allowances by measuring across the width of the strip set.  It should measure 10-1/2" inches wide.  Make any needed adjustments to your seam allowances, then proceed to sew all of your strip sets together.

Sub-cut the long strip sets into 4-1/2" segments (each segment will measure 4-1/2" x 10-1/2").  For each quilt, cut (7) segments from two of the strip sets, and (6) segments from the third strip set.  You will need a total of (20) for each quilt.

Then for each segment, you will sew a 4-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangle to the top (Gray for the boys quilt, and Yellow for the girl quilt), and a 2-1/2" x 10-1/2" rectangle to the bottom of all.

The blocks will measure 10-1/2" square at this point.  You will make a total of twenty blocks for each quilt.

These are the three different blocks I made for the Boy Quilt.

Once all the blocks are pieced, I arranged the blocks in five rows of four blocks. You can alternate and turn the blocks any way you wish for a random look, or I just turned every other block 90 degrees to create a zig zag look on the quilt. 

Insert the Large Focal print strip  between any row you wish for an accent.  (I put it in between row two and three)  Then sew the rows together.  This photo shows both of the quilts :)

After quilting them I used the remaining 2-1/2" Snack Pack strips to bind them.  I used six strips for each quilt's binding.  Cut the strips in half before sewing them all together end to end to add to the scrappy feel.  

Then they're all ready for the kiddies ~ for nap time...

  play time...

Or quiet reading time :)

Now for the giveaway! Fabri-Quilt is giving away a Snack Pack of Baby Talk for one Lucky Winner!

Please visit Fabri-Quilt's Inspired by Fabric blog and follow them by email or blog reader - then let me know in a comment here on my blog how you are following them.  (And let me know if you are following me too!)

My Give Away will be open until Sunday, April 19th at midnight CST ~ Good Luck :)

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

Pre-Cut Party Blog Hop (And Give Aways) Starts Today!

I'm having fun with this "Snack Pack" from Fabri-Quilt.  Come back here on Wednesday to see what I made with it :)

In the mean time, hop on over to the Inspired by Fabric Blog by Fabri-Quilt to catch the beginning of the Pre-Cut Party Blog Hop that starts today!  Get inspired, learn a few things, and maybe win some fabric!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Quilt Show Weekends!

We've been spending time monkeying around at quilt shows lately :)  First we spent a weekend vending at the Baltimore Heritage Quilt Expo, then this past weekend we took part in the Southern Comforter's Best Little Quilt Show in Maryland.  I didn't get a chance to go around taking photos at the first show, but this weekend at Southern Comforter's I made sure I took the time to snap some pictures.  I'm a member of Southern Comforter's Guild, and really enjoyed hanging out all weekend and meeting some more members :)

There were tons of fun quilts.  These are just a few that I enjoyed ~ this really cool piece was made by Shelley Jackson. 

 It was exciting to see some that were started at classes held at our shop :)  Misty Cole made the center of this one from the class we hosted with Pat Sloan last Spring.  The center is Pat's Little Bird pattern, and Misty added the the amazing Leaf and outer borders of her own design!

 This sweet quilt was made by Wendy Allen.  Heather and I both chose this one to receive our Vender's Choice award.  It's sweet and happy, and Wendy's workmanship was amazing!

Then, I had to get some photos of the Featured Quilter exhibit that featured my wonderful friend, and teacher at our shop, Mary Nielsen!  It included a nice selection of some of Mary's work...

It was a beautiful assortment of quilts!  I had seen many of them before, some she has even taught at the shop, but to see them all arranged together was just amazing!

Speaking of ones she's taught at our shop, her Bird Dance quilt in the show received two Vender's Choice Awards!

And yet another shop quilt...My friend, and colleague, Starlyn Baker had her Baltimore Christmas Album quilt that she made as our shop sample for last year's Block of the Month in the show.

 She also had her Mardi Gras quilt displayed...

 And she won a Blue Ribbon and Vendor's Choice award for her Mini Nine Patch quilt.  (I snapped these photos before the ribbons).

 Simply Amazing!

Yes, I did touch the quilt...a no no for a show quilt ~ but I've handled this quilt before, and I knew she wouldn't mind.  I just really wanted to show how tiny those little patches really are :)

And finally this is Starlyn's stunning Dresden quilt that won multiple ribbons at last year's show (this photo was taken last year).  It was displayed in a place of honor on the stage this year, but the few times I had a chance to get over there and snap a photo, it was surrounded by people!

There were so many quilts at the show that were simply amazing! I'm so proud of my friends and in awe of all the quilters that gave so much of themselves to put the show together...It was a weekend of fun and pure inspiration!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Mountain Baby Blanket Goodness

While preparing a recent collection of baby quilts, books, fleece hats & such for delivery I was reminded that the Quilt Shop has many groups, students, individuals, designers, teachers, friends, family and neighbors who are very talented and look forward to crafting things that can be put to good use for the needs of others.  And many of those have knowledge of not only sewing but crochet and knitting too.  Thanks to all this support, this month we sent out a full box that contained 14 quilts paired with books, some crocheted afghans, hats, gloves & scarves to the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP).

CAP is an interdenominational, non-profit Christian organization committed to serving people in need in Appalachia.  One of which is providing opportunities for children to reach their highest developmental potential by providing physical, spiritual and emotional support.

For all who would like to participate in that effort we are accepting donations of handcrafted & store bought (if preferred) of children’s hats, gloves, scarf's, socks, baby quilts & blankets to include books and school supplies.  Donations of sewing materials to be used for this purpose will be accepted too. 

These donations are being accepted on an ongoing basis, and I look forward to seeing the wonderful items you all come up with to meet the needs of these children. 

Also, remember Spring Water Designs is participating in Moda's Piece & Comfort Challenge to recognize and honor the sacrifices that are made by our country's military families.  The challenge begins January 1, 2015, and finished quilts are due in the shop by March 31st.  The featured fabric lines are in the shop now, and proceeds from the challenge will benefit USACares.org. Click Here for Fabrics, and Layer Cakes. For more information about the challenge click here

Enjoy the day!

~ Dawn

So Much Variety

One of the things I love most about spending so much time in a quilt shop, is I get to see what people are working on.  It never ceases to amaze me the vast variety of quilts and styles that are being created.  On any given day in the shop, we are treated to a show of so many different quilts.  Just this Saturday this vibrant beauty was quilted up by one of our Renters, Caroline. 

At the same time, one of our monthly classes was taking place in the classroom.  This one, taught by Barbara Burnham meets once a month for a year as students continue on learning the art of hand applique and work on blocks for their Baltimore Garden Quilts.

 This month among other things they were learning how to hand applique "twisted ribbons".

That day was just an example of the various styles we are honored to see on a regular basis.  From very bright and pieced, to soft, lovely traditional applique.

These beauties are samples that Barbara brought to her class this month.  Simply Amazing :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn