The Buggy Baby Quilt

I finally finished the Buggy Baby Quilt. Some of the fabrics I used have little lady bugs on them, so I've named this one The Buggy Baby Quilt.

It measures 32"X38"...

...and has a flannel backing.

I also tried using a blanket stitch to tack down the binding. You can see it in the above photo. For the most part it turned out really well and I like the look. However, I'll have to practice it some more because not every corner is neat.

I really like the quilting, though. Curly Q's are one of my favorite free motion designs because it's really hard to mess it up.

This quilt is going to charity along with the Flights of Fancy baby quilt.
Next, I'm going to try to finally finish the last rows of hexagons on Sunny's quilt. It's been languishing in my sewing room for almost a year now waiting to be finished!

Is There Anything So Lovely As A Quilt?

This is the top and the finished quilt will go to charity.

Quilting is so relaxing, isn't it?

Flights of Fancy Baby Quilt

At work, we are making baby quilts that will be donated to the NICU at the hospital where my girls were born. My twins were monoamniotic/monochorionic, which means there was nothing necessarily wrong with them, but there was everything wrong with their environment, in utero. They are identical twins and because their egg split a little too late, a membrane to separate them did not form. So, for almost 8 months they shared the same amniotic sac and during that time, they got their umbilical cords all knotted up together. So, I sat in the hospital for 6 weeks on 24 hr fetal monitoring and they were born via c-section a month and a half early. That's not too bad, really, considering that many monoamniotic twins are born earlier than that. And if their egg had split any later they likely would have been conjoined, if they had survived at all. So, because I'm a hopeless optimist, in my opinion, I lucked out. It could have been worse. However, they still required a stay in the NICU, which is a very, very stressful experience for new parents. The NICU is a blessing, but it also sucks.

So, this quilt, and two others that will soon be finished, will be donated to their NICU.


I love the backing to this quilt. I found it at Joann's and can't believe how good it looks with Flights of Fancy by Paula Prass!

As for the quilting, I stippled the center square and made loop-d-loops around the white border. The outermost border was not quilted. It measures 33"X33"...kind of a weird size, but that's how I roll. ;)

Have a great weekend!

Almost Done. Almost.....

I have two more rows of hexagons to sew on the top and bottom and a border all around and the top will be done. The nice thing about sewing a hexagon quilt is that by the end of it, you are really good at sewing Y seams! I also used Dritz spray adhesive to hold the letters of Sunny's name in place while I satin stitched around the letters. I love this spray adhesive!! If you recall, I used fusible web to keep Ellie's name on her quilt and I wasn't happy with it because the fusible made the letters too stiff. The Dritz spray adhesive I used on Sunny's quilt washes out and the letters are nice and soft and flexible. I'm sure there are other brands of this type of adhesive, but this is what I chose and I'm happy with it.

At the bottom of the photo you see a little bit of orange...that isn't part of the quilt. It is orange felt that I use as a design wall. The next 40% off coupon I get from Joann's will be used to buy white felt. :) The quilt top is also not wonky, it is just heavy and is not hanging straight. I have it hung on the design wall with snap barrettes; it isn't really stuck to the felt.

I can't wait to finish this quilt top. It will fit a twin sized bed. My girls still sleep in cribs, but they are getting "big girl beds" soon. They're too big for cribs!

So...I hope you all are having a great weekend!

Once A WIP, Now A FO

Love those acronyms! I finished binding the baby quilt I started back in the middle of December.
This one is going to charity. It is 34" X 48" and is flannel backed. I love using flannel to back quilts. It's so soft and cozy!

I also used high-loft poly batting, so it's warm and fluffy. It took me forever to decide on the binding. I tried to find either a solid pink or purple that would look good, but had no luck. In the end, I decided the polka dots were the best choice. You can't go wrong with polka dots, right? :)

The Super Duper Ellie Quilt...

It washed up really well. The only thing I'll do differently in the future when doing large applique on a quilt is not use fusible web. It didn't soften up as much as the rest of the quilt so the letters are stiffer than I'd like them. I know there is a temporary spray adhesive you can use to stick the applique to the fabric while you do a running stitch--or whatever stitch you want--around the edge. Then the adhesive washes out so the applique will not be stiff. I'll have to check into it for my next quilt. Here's a picture of the Super Duper Ellie Quilt lying on the couch

It measures 42" X 58". Here's a close up of the applique. Maybe you can't tell in the photo that the applique is a bit stiff. And it isn't unpleasing so, but we're our own worst critics, right?

The only problem now is that Sunny cried when I gave the quilt to Ellie. Sunny wants her quilt now. Right now!
Here's a close up of some of the tumbler blocks...

And here's Ellie!! I love how excited my kids get when I make them things. I know it won't last long. When they're preteens they'll probably think I'm archaic and cheesy. So, I'm going to enjoy every moment of it now!

Have a great day!

Another Super Duper Quilt

The Super Duper Ellie Quilt is finished! I haven't washed it yet. And I'm nervous about washing it because I didn't prewash anything and it's the first time I used fusible web on an applique on a quilt (I usually do needle-turn). Will it look disfigured when it's washed? I have no idea, but the fusible web makes the applique stiff and I'm not used to that. So, I'm wondering how it will wash up. I'm hoping for the best because I put a lot of energy into this quilt. Ellie loves it, too.



I used wool batting so it will be nice and warm. I usually use cotton batting, but quilts with cotton batting simply are not warm enough for the winter. Luke's Super Duper Luke Quilt has cotton batting, so I layer him with two quilts when I tuck him into bed each night. He wants a new quilt now. One with airplanes. But, first, Sunny gets a Super Duper Quilt.

I'll have more photos tomorrow with the results of the washing. My fingers are crossed that it washes well!!!

The Super Duper Ellie Quilt

Last year I promised Ellie I'd make her a Super Duper Ellie Quilt, but I never got around to it. Until last week. Here is the finished quilt top. Ellie is excited to have a Super Duper Quilt just like Luke.


It needs to be pressed again, but I'm happy with this quilt. Ellie loves it. Now I just need to decide on a quilting design...

The Charming Girls Quilt Club

With so many UFO's in my sewing room, I think joining a quilt club will be the only way I'll get them all finished! So, I joined a fun group of women at Charming Chatter:

I'm leaving for vacation in 2 weeks, but I have 2 quilts I would like to finish before then (actually, I have 3 I'd like to finish, but I'm trying to be realistic!!).

The first quilt I'd like to finish is my pinwheel quilt. I have all the pinwheel blocks finished; all I need to do is sew them together and then make a flying geese sashing and another sashing and, and, and.... you can tell I have this one well thought out, can't you? Here's a photo of some of the blocks:


The second quilt I'd like to finish is my "Beach Quilt". Its a quilt made of super bright orange and yellow obnoxious polka dots and an equally obnoxious vintage sheet backing. I've been wanting to make a quilt to take to the beach to sit on, but could never decide on fabrics since I don't want to use really nice fabrics; this quilt will be soaked and rubbed in the sand! I couldn't bare to use expensive fabrics. I don't have an "in-progress" photo because I just started cutting it yesterday, but I swear I'll be embarrassed to show a photo of it when I'm done. I'm almost certain it will be the most obnoxious quilt I've made thus far. But at least my kids will always know which blanket is ours.

Some Free Quilt Patterns & Site Links

I was recently listed on the site Free Quilt Patterns and thought I'd share the link. When you go to the site, at the top is a list of categories for the free patterns that are linked to. But, and this is the greatest part, if you scroll down you'll see a huge list of quilting blogs (including my blog!). I spent almost an hour looking at all the sites listed and only got through the blogs that begin with the letter "A". It kind of makes me think I should have named my blog something that begins with the letter "A"... How about A Stashtivist instead of The Stashtivist?? lol!

The ORB Strip Quilt

I'm almost finished with the top to my Old Red Barn (or "ORB") quilt-along quilt. I could stop where I am and call it finished, but if I add another 10 inches in length and width it will fit a queen sized bed very nicely. It is on a queen sized bed in the photo below, but it doesn't hang low enough over the edges for my liking, so, I'm going to add on to it. The quilt-along ends this week and, obviously, I won't finish it by the end of the week, but I don't mind. This quilt turned out much better than I had anticipated, so I'm taking my time with it.

Luke can never resist jumping on my quilts when I'm trying to photograph them....crazy kid!


I also won 2 giveaways and a contest, but I'll tell you about those next time because I don't have photos yet. Exciting!

Just Call Me (Quilt) Block Head. Its A Good Thing!

Who is also quilting along with the Old Red Barn Co.? If you are a quick cutter/sewist, there's still time to join the fun! The grand prize is a Janome 6600P! We are in week 4, so there are three weeks left to the quilt along. I finished pressing and cutting my blocks this morning and will begin sewing them together tonight. Here's a look at my blocks:

Click on the Old Red Barn Co button on the right sidebar if you'd like to learn more!

I've also been working on two other quilts that aren't nearly as finished as I'd like them to be!! First is a hexagon quilt:

This is almost half the blocks I need. The fabrics look very subdued compared to the other quilts I'm working on!

Then there's my double pinwheel quilt. I love the bright colors of this one!

I'm using Baskets of Flowers by Mary Engelbreit for Moda Fabrics. I'll be working on these three quilts all week along with completing more 9 patch blocks for Amanda Jean's quilt along. Lots to do!

What are you working on???

A Road Trip Was In Order

What is in the water???! There must be something in the water because my kids have been horrible the past few days!! Screaming, fighting, whining (lots of whining)...so I told my husband I needed 4 hours and $200 to myself this morning. His eyebrows lifted as he tentatively answered, "Ok....i think!" So, I was off.

I am a woman on a mission. Look Ma! NO KIDS!


I got halfway to my destination when I encountered a construction sign that said, "Expect Delays." Boy, if that isn't a phrase to live by. I was pondering the philosophical implications of that phrase when my peaceful reflection and introspection was rudely interrupted by:

An actual delay!!! I sure wasn't expecting that!!!

Go WEST, young old woman!


I finally arrived at my destination.


And now you understand why I needed 4 hours and $200.

Both stores are located in Morris, Illinois.

Unfortunately, after browsing the store for a half hour I realized I had lost my mojo. I was no longer gung-ho on fabric shopping. I don't know why. Maybe it's the huge pile of stash I already have; maybe it's the quilt-a-long I just joined and the two others I'm trying to stay in. Maybe it's just that getting away from the chaos at home allowed me to breathe for the first time in days and that was enough. I didn't need to shop. (Gasp! I just slapped myself!) So, I bought a cup of coffee and sat by the river that runs through this town and relaxed.

I didn't leave empty handed, though. Sunny and Elle both love cats and bugs (quite the combo, I must say), so I picked up a few cute fat quarters and some thread so I can make quilts for them.


I was amazed to see that they still hand write their receipts. It's a wonderful store with a TON of fabrics and I'll definitely go back when my stash needs replenishing.

So, I drove home and when I saw the city I actually felt like I was home. Pretty scary for someone who wants to move out to the country! We've been here for 5 years, though, so I guess it should feel like home by now. Here's to a good weekend!!

New Fabrics I'm Excited About

What new fabrics are you excited about?? Moda has three new lines I love:
First is Clementine, which is bright and happy:






Second is Figgy Pudding, which is, as you can tell by the name, Christmas-y. Is this cute, or what?


And this one I'm WAY excited about. Its called Shirtings. I'm definitely making a big quilt out of that one.



And did you know you can download .jpg files of Moda fabrics so you can use them in EQ6? Yep, right here. To download older collections, click on the link that says, "visit the Moda Fabric ARCHIVE."

In The Beginning fabrics has a new collection called Lily Pond that looks really cute for kids. My girls are currently fascinated by bugs, frogs, turtles, and birds, so I think they'd love this collection!


I also really like a collection by Henry Glass. Lately I've been feeling very vintage and want to work on a few quilts with reproduction fabrics or vintage inspired fabrics. Pocketful of Posies by Bev Proulx fits the bill. They are reproductions of 1930's fabrics. MUST. GET.





Now I have to get off the computer and do something productive...like finish my pinwheel quilt and my hexagon quilt....maybe do some laundry and put some of these toys away. Good Lord, my kids have a lot of toys!!! And they're all over the living room!

Be sure to comment on the fabrics you love...I'd love to hear about them!