I made this quilt for my best friend in her favorite colors. I kinda made it up as I went along, but I figured out the size squares I wanted and then cut the different fabrics into various size blocks and strips and figured out a few different blocks I could make with each one. I used pale lavender fabric for the binding. It took me more than a year to finish it, due to procrastination and losing some of the fabric mid-way, but I finally did and gave it to her and she loved it!

This is the second quilt I made for my cousin's new baby from a fat quarter set of Michael Miller First Sight fabric. Technically I made this quilt top first, but then decided I hadn't used very much of the fabric up, so made the second one, found here. Then I finished that one first. I had only meant to make one quilt, and to send it to my cousin by her shower. Instead I made two and sent them a week after the baby was born. Considering how much I can procrastinate, I think that's ok

I used the Mod Mosaic pattern from the Oh Fransson blog.

Front:



Back:



Quilting Close-ups:











My cousin should get them tomorrow, I can't wait to hear how she likes them! And, my aunt, her mom, is visiting for the week, and I am anxious to get her opinion too, as she is the only other one in the family who is crafty and sews! She made tons of dresses for me when I was little.

I'm so excited for this quilt! My cousin is having a baby boy, due tomorrow. Her nursery colors are red, black, and white.  I made her a quilt top, then decided that I hadn't used enough of the fat quarter set I had bought (First Sight from Michael Miller) so I started on another one, which I ended up completing first. The other quilt is basted, just needs to be quilted and bound. Hopefully I'll have that one done to share tomorrow, I want to send these out friday!

I had found a quilt online on the blog SquaresandTriangles .com that was made really simply with half square triangles, with half of each triangle being white, and they were all oriented the same way. I used white kona, added in 3 different shades of gray fabric, and made half square triangles like they were going out of business! I liked the idea of keeping the red as squares to break up the hst's. I added in the four solid gray squares for more visual interest + a desire to not make any more half square triangles. The dark gray is an ikea sheet set that I've used on a couple projects now.

I just made 16 patch blocks, then arranged them in a 4 x 4 grid. Simple pattern, but it did take me quite a bit of time to complete!









I really like the quilting I did on it, I first did a diagonal line going through each large block, then quilted one walking food length on each column of blocks, then turned the quilt and did the same on each row.



I don't know if I've used a striped fabric for a binding before but I like how it looks! I found the striped fabric in the close out room of my fabric store and it fit perfectly! And was like, $5 a yard!

Please vote on your favorite theme for the next challenge.

Here are the featured projects from the quilting board for Quarter 2 of 2012. These were chosen by your "This Rocks" clicks! I also like to feature quilts here that haven't been previously featured as a Featured Project in the main Craftster-wide Featured Projects.


SimplySandy has made another beautiful baby quilt, this time featuring some fun notions in her Yo Yo and Rick Rack Baby Quilt





I love this quilt from Chocolate_Jo! She used t-shirts to make My First Quilt (kinda a t-shirt quilt...kinda?)





I made this quilt for a friend in a swap with some fun fabric she sent me, and it was my own pattern take on a lot of traditional blocks. I'm mildly uncomfortable putting my own quilt on this list, but I am very proud of it and a lot of people rocked it! Thank you! The Ghastlies Focus Fabric Sampler Quilt by MareMare





This quilt is really fun to look at! The quilt is an illusion by danynn. I think I would have gone cross-eyes trying to make it though





Maddys Mum made this great Angry Birds Quilt for a birthday present. Can you believe that she made this in under 24 hours?

I found the inspiration for this in Good Housekeeping magazine* but then just kinda winged it from there (because that's how I roll). I get some beautiful produce from my farm share every week, so I went for it! It was super yummy!


100_5136 by maremare312, on Flickr

I started with these ingredients:

Pre-made pie crust (I think all the vegetable chopping I did makes up for this shortcut )
Garlic
Sun-dried tomatoes
Cream cheese
Baby purple onions
Yellow summer squash
Zuchini type squash (it was something else, but don't remember name)
Shredded mozzarella cheese (not pictured)
Various herbs along with salt and pepper
I ended up not using the pretty round yellow squash in this dish.


100_5120 by maremare312, on Flickr

I mixed the cream cheese with a pressed clove of garlic, sliced sundried tomatoes, salt, pepper, and some Italian Seasoning. Spread the pie crust on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and then spread the cream cheese mixture over it, leaving about an inch at the edge
.

100_5124 by maremare312, on Flickr

After chopping the baby onions (with their green tops) I sauteed them in a non-stick pan, then spread on top of the cream cheese.


100_5125 by maremare312, on Flickr

Add a thin layer of mozzarella cheese over the top


100_5126 by maremare312, on Flickr

I peeled strips off the zuchini and yellow summer squash with a vegetable peeler, and then proceeded to weave them like a top pie crust on an apple pie.


100_5127 by maremare312, on Flickr


100_5131 by maremare312, on Flickr


100_5132 by maremare312, on Flickr

When the weaving is done, fold up the pie crust edges. Sprinkle the top with black pepper, coarse salt, and Cajun seasoning.


100_5133 by maremare312, on Flickr

Bake at 425* F for around 25 minutes, or until browned on the bottom.


100_5136 by maremare312, on Flickr

It was delicious! I served it with a salad on the side for dinner.


100_5138 by maremare312, on Flickr

*Changes I made from the original recipe include using sun dried tomatoes instead of basil, changing the type of onion, omitting the red pepper, adding mozzarella cheese, adding Italian Seasoning to the filling and Cajun Seasoning to the top, and weaving my squash in a different way.

Congratulations to Rousseline for her Epic Slime Quilt taking the first place prize package!

CraftyMamaBee won second place for "Charm"-ing Paris! Congrats!


It's time to vote for your 2 favorite quilts in the Scrappy Charms Quilt Challenge! To see the  awesome prize packs, first and second place receive, go here

I made my first Dresden Plate for the IYP swap. My partner had some on her Pinterest and one of her comments on it was that she thought a pillow would be nice for that design. Done and Done! She liked purple, green, and blue, and to start with I was pulling fabric in all of those colors, but then realized I could easily pull together 20 different green prints from my stash without expending too much effort. Not sure if I should be proud or ashamed of that  

I used the Easy Dresden Ruler to make these, and it was very easy! A nice neutral dark gray for the backing, and I was pretty pleased with how it all came together. I did a ton of quilting on it, more than I usually do. Initially I was going to do more quilting in the gray (outside the Dresden) but I stopped with just one line and decided I liked it that way.


010 by maremare312, on Flickr

ETA: Here's two close-ups of the quilting that my partner took. I couldn't find mine.


dresden closeup2 by maremare312, on Flickr


dresden closeup1 by maremare312, on Flickr

I have this shirt that I like but the collar is too high and I don't like anything around my neck. It fits well otherwise so I'm trying to find some resources to figure out how to alter it into a lower collar or just a v-neck or something. Does anybody have any links or ideas? I'll post a pic of the shirt in the morning, it's a button up shirt and I think it's a Mandarin collar, very short but high?

I LOVE Sangria! It's awesome for the summer--fresh and fruity, perfect over ice, and stretches your wine and alcohol into a super refreshing drink! I don't love paying for it in a restaurant though because it always seems a bit spendy. You can make it at home with any fruit juice/fruit and wine/alcohol you have on hand, but for an extra special touch, use fresh fruit juice! I pulled out my juicer for this and grabbed some fruit from my fridge. This is great for fruit that is over ripe or about to go bad. As you can see, my sad little farm strawberries are on their last legs.


100_5094 by maremare312, on Flickr

Fresh Juiced Sangria

2 granny smith apples
2-3 oranges
1 grapefruit (I was out, but it's great in this and how I usually make it!)
1 lemon
1 lime
1 bottle of Red or White Wine (for reds, I love Syrahs, Cabernets, and other not too dry ones. For whites, a Pinot Gris, Riesling, or Gewurztraminer is great. Cut down on the sugar if using a sweet white. Or use a sparkling wine/Champagne and omit sparkling water)
Sugar or Sweetener to taste--since my wine and fruits weren't very sweet, I used a little less than 1/3 cup.
2 ounces or more Peach Schnapps or other liquor or liqueur you like
Fruit for garnish--I used some frozen raspberries

Some kind of sparkling water/seltzer/something bubbly

100_5091 by maremare312, on Flickr

Slice your apples, de-stem the strawberries and peel your citrus fruits. Introduce the fruit to your juicer and make sweet, sweet juice babies. If you don't want the pulpy/foamy texture, go ahead and skim off the foam, but I don't mind it so left it. Pour the juice into your pitcher and add a bottle of wine, your peach schnapps or other liquor/liqueur, and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved and add your fruit garnish.


100_5092 by maremare312, on Flickr

If serving immediately to a crowd, pour in 2-5 cups of sparkling water or seltzer to make it however strong and bubbly you like. If keeping in the fridge to drink off all week, like me, don't add seltzer to pitcher, but rather add a bit to each glass. To serve, fill glass with ice and pour Sangria over. Drink, and be happy!


100_5094 by maremare312, on Flickr

For a Holiday Red, White and Blue Version~

Keep your main liquid as clear as possible--use white wine and keep your fruit juice clear--I would do green apple, green grapes, grapefruit and possibly some store bought white cranberry juice. Float strawberries and blueberries in it for garnish.

1 bottle Riesling or Gewurztraminer
2 green apples
1 bunch green grapes
1-2 grapefruits
1 lemon
1 lime
1/2 to 1 cup white cranberry juice (store bought, optional)
2 ounces or more Peach Schnapps
2 T to 1/4 cup Sugar
Fresh or Frozen Sliced Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries, and/or Blackberries for garnish
Sparkling Water or Seltzer

Quarter apples and peel citrus fruits. Get your juice on. Add juice and optional white cranberry juice to pitcher. Add sugar and wine. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add fruit garnish. Add seltzer if serving immediately for a crowd, otherwise just add seltzer to each glass. Fill glass with ice to serve.