March Mini Madness

With March here the 2016 Island Batik Ambassadors were given there first Challenge.  Design and Make a Mini Quilt no bigger than 24" x 24". 

I have never worked with something that small, so this was a real challenge.  After playing around in EQ7 I came up with my Mini Quilt, but what fabric should I use.  It was a hard choice from what fabric was included in my Island Batik Ambassador Box.  

My choice of fabric was 4 of the 5" strips from the Stash Building Package.  My challenge then was to make a 13" x 13" Mini Quilt out of these strips.  Would I have enough fabric?

My Mini called for Flying Geese and Half Square Triangles.  The piece size ranged from 1 5/8" to 3" squares.  It was a great challenge to work with these small pieces and it was fun. 

After making 9 blocks measuring 3" square, my final product is a cute 13" x 13" Mini Quilt. I have to say it was also fun to quilt. I love practicing my stippling on my longarm; yes I did put it on my longarm and it was a fast 5 minute quilt job.  

Oh by the way, I did have enough fabric to finish the binding.

 Have a Great Quilting Day,

Tina

#IslandBatik
#minimadnessib

Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop!

Welcome to International Quilt Week.  It was a pleasure to be invited by Marian at Seams To Be Sew to be part of the Quilt Qwazy Queens Blog Hop!  Starting today through March 25th, bloggers like me will be telling you about their inspiration, what made them start quilting, perhaps create something new and tell us about their proudest achievements as a quilter.  Also each day, the opportunity to win various giveaways from each of the featured bloggers for the day.   You will need to leave a comment on each of the featured blogs of the day to enter.

Today, I would like to share a previous blog post from December, 2012 on my biggest Inspiration in my sewing and quilting.
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My Mom, Sister, and Me 2012

My mom is my biggest inspiration for my sewing. When I was young, she would make my sister and I clothes and also sew my dad’s shirts. I can remember watching her lay patterns out of fabric, and then make them into nice clothes. Also I remember going with mom to the Sew and Vac store in downtown Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and watching her test drive sewing machines. She still is using that New Home that she purchased so many years ago. My mom first taught me to sew on a Holly Hobby sewing machine that I received one Christmas as a gift. When I was in middle school and high school, I took several home economics classes and we had a semester or two in sewing. I was always ahead of the class due to what my mom had taught me. One year I remember making a pair of sweatpants with her supervision for high school home economics class project. The teacher was so pleased with how fast and nicely I completed the work. I own it all to my fantastic mom. 
Also while I was little, I remember my mom going to a quilt class in Spokane, Washington and watching her put the log cabin blocks together for a quilt. It was very scrappy, and I still have and cherish that quilt. I think that was when I fell in love with quilts, now that I think about it. I have collected a lot of her quilts that she made over the years, I used them for our bed and throughout our house. That’s what I love about quilts, they will last forever due to the loved and care that is put into making them.

Another inspiration in sewing is my aunt. She is a gifted seamstress, and would make clothes for people in her sewing room from her house. She was especially gifted in making formal clothing. In fact she made my prom dresses for two different years, and then she made my beautiful wedding gown.

This summer, when I was home on vacation my mom gave me a box of quilting patterns that had belonged to my great-grandma Evers. These patterns came to her by mail from Farmers Magazine. In working on the pattern my great-grandma cut many of the patterns templates from old cereal boxes. Also in the box containing the old template pieces was an old quilt block she had sewn together. You turn it over you can see her hand stitching.

As you can tell, sewing and quilting runs in the family. But my biggest inspiration in my life, sewing and quilting is my mom. Plus, she along with my dad have always been my number one fans. I thank them for always being there for me and my sister. I love you!
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Thank you for letting me share with you my inspiration in quilting and sewing.  Do you have family inspirations like it do?

Remember to enter for a Calibre Arts Mat 18" x 24" giveaway below (Note: In some cases, you may need to pay shipping):

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Add Bonus, Fat Quarter Shop is offering 10% off discount during this blog hop ,by entering in the following code (can be not used with gift certificates): 

seamstobe316


 

Batik Heaven!

I'm now in Batik Heaven!  

Yesterday, I receive my Island Batik Ambassador Box #1.

Wonder what kind of project will be in store these beauties this year...

#Islandbatik

Tina

Block 2 Release

March 1st is here and that means the release of Block 2 for "Dance with Me" Block of the Month 2016 is now available. 

 

Block 2 is the Applique Blocks.

The blocks will be 10 ½” x 10 ½” unfinished.  You will need 12 Blocks!

Download Your Free Block HERE!

The pattern is has been written for both Machine and Hand applique. If you like to use your favorite applique technique please feel free to do so.

If you need the Fabric Requirements, the link is located HERE.

Some Reminders: This block be will only be available for Free until February 29^th.  (See Requirements, on our website or blog) 

Block 3 will become available on April 1^st.

Do you have Block 1 Finished?  Please share your beautiful block on our "Dance with Me", Flickr Group.  

Join and Upload Here

Please feel free to comment below if you have questions or comments.  

See you next Month,

Tina