Hexagons, half square triangles and housekeeping

Posted on May 20, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

During the previous quarter of the 4×5 Modern Quilt Bee on Flickr, I was a part of the hexagon group. I made my Multiples of 3 block (top center of the picture below) in the color schemes of my hive-mates, and received in return, 5 different hexagon blocks in my chosen colors of lime, tangerine and lemon yellow on a gray background. These will be fun to incorporate into the finished sampler quilt, which will one day become a fun, fresh, summer picnic blanket.

During the most recent quarter, I chose a classic half square triangle block and made five for my hive-mates and one for myself. This would really be great as a scrappy quilt, and I’m sure it’s been done. I’ll definitely keep it in mind when my scrap draws begin to get really unruly.

My favorite color combinations of this group were the scrappy rainbow (no surprise there),

and this one: green, gray and navy. I was surprised by how much I like these colors together because I usually tend toward brighter fabrics when it comes to quilting.

And the housekeeping part. As you are no doubt aware, Google is dropping Google Reader this summer. (sniff, sniff) I’ve been trying out Feedly and it has been working well, but for comparison sake, I thought I would give Bloglovin a go as well.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Big things, small things and finally a winner

Posted on May 18, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

Eight weeks post baby, I was sure I would be back on my A game. I must have blocked this stage from my memory or something. You see, I seem to makes babies whom are affectionately termed “high needs.” I call them “high maintenance.” They are all good until you set them down. Then they do this:

Think I’m kidding? I’m not. Every read every book … er … in the book, but the solution to avoiding this poor, sad little face is: hold the baby. All. The. Time. Usually, the holding occurs in the form of a baby carrier so I can at least have my hands free. However, having a human attached to you makes sewing difficult. Not impossible, but definitely more challenging than usual. If she is sound asleep and I set her down, she wakes up. Sometimes within minutes, sometimes within the half hour, very occasionally, I might get a full hour. We co-sleep because it’s the only way anyone will get any sleep. She must be touching another human or she lets you know about it! I’m confident that this daughter will grow into a confident, independent child as her older sisters have, but for now, progress in the sewing room is slow.

Add to that we’re suddenly moving half way across the country. In three and a half weeks! Needless to say, I have a lot on my mind right now.

But hey, I have a winner from the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day! Send me your address, quick, so I can mail this to you before I pack!

When I do get a moment or two to sew, I’m working on my project for Moda Bake Shop. The motivation is there, the means are not. Little by little, I’ll get there.

Presently, I am still hoping/planning to lead the Road Trip Quilt Along next month. In light of my new life situation, though, I may have to postpone it. I’m going to try the quilt in all solids, the colors inspired by this dress my daughter wore for some recent family photos.

And! I got Brian’s quilt back from my friend who long-armed it for me. She did an all-over leaf pattern, which fits perfectly with the nature-inspired colored scheme.

Now I just have to bind it. I was going to go with something more subdued, but I really like how this bright green (at the top of the photo below) looked.

So, that’s what’s going on with me. What are you working on in your sewing space? Do you have any awesome packing and moving tips you’d like to share?

Giveaway Day in Shades of Gray

Posted on May 6, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

It’s Giveaway Day over on Sew, Mama, Sew. If you haven’t heard of this event before, well you’ve been living under a rock. Seriously, if you like sewing, crafting, or just handmade goodness, get yourself over there and check out the hundreds of blogs with something to give away this week!

Thanks for stopping by Sewing by Moonlight. Things have been pretty quiet around here as I’ve basically been on maternity leave from this blog space. I miss it, and I especially miss my nighttime sewing sessions, but with a six week old, I’m just beginning to come out of the sleepless newborn haze. I hope to get my sewing and blogging time back soon.

In the little time I’ve been able to sneak in with my sewing machine, I’ve been working on my first project for the Moda Bake Shop. With a white background, it doesn’t fit in with the May “color pop” theme they have going on over there, but it should work nicely for the June “baby and bridal shower” theme.

When that’s finished, I will finally publish the long ago promised paper piecing pattern for the book I used on the Nancy Drew tote.

In June, I’m also still planning to begin my Road Trip Quilt Along here on Sewing by Moonlight. I LOVE my Road Trip Quilt from last summer, and I’m looking forward to creating another great series of state tutorials. This year, I’m planning 12 states in 12 weeks instead of 16, and this is an imagined road trip since my family will not be traveling across the country this year. You can find the plan for the 2013 Road Trip Quilt Along here. The blocks will look something like this:

I would LOVE for you to join the Road Trip this summer. So, please, subscribe to Sewing by Moonlight in your favorite reader or Like Sewing by Moonlight on Facebook to stay up to date and learn when the tutorials are posted!

And now for the Giveaway. I love gray as a neutral. I think it looks great with just about any color. For you, a fat eighth bundles of some of my favorite grays, and because I can’t give you just gray, a fat quarter of one of my favorite prints from Amy Schimler’s Fly Away line.

To Enter: Leave a comment below. Tell me what makes you come back to a blog: writing, inspiration photos and finished projects, tutorials (what types), works in progress, etc.

And if you’re so inclined to come back to this blog, follow me and then leave a second comment telling me that you do.

Works in Progress: No List

Posted on April 17, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

In past Works in Progress posts, I often posted The List of projects currently in the works. I’m going to put that on hold right now. I have a newborn. I need to focus on just one thing at a time. And this week, it’s my project for Moda Bake Shop. I currently have a pile of 300-and-some squares with little triangles sewn to one side. I have close to 200 more to complete. Then, it’s time to trim the extra white, iron the pieces, trim the squares back to 2.5 inches and make a quilt. Whoo-hoo!

Five little zippered pouches

Posted on April 8, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

A couple weeks before Aurora was born, some friends hosted a brunch for me. Because this is baby #3 for me, I was really humbled that they still wanted to have a baby “sprinkle” in my honor. It’s always nice to have a reason to get together with your girl friends, I guess! I decided to make them each a little hostess gift.

Because I decided on this project late, these are simple, “no frills” zip pouches. Just outside, lining, and a fun colored zipper.

They are each about 8 x 4.5 inches, if I remember correctly, so they will work well for a little wallet or cosmetic bag or a place to keep smaller items in a larger bag.

I tried to choose the fabrics that reminded me of each friend, or that I already knew they liked. I hope they enjoy their little bit of handmade fun!

The Road Trip Ends (Finally!)

Posted on April 5, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

I am beyond thrilled to finally have finished this quilt. For awhile there, I was convinced I would never finish it. The process was long. Though only a twin sized, this is the largest quilt I have quilted on my home machine and I was using this project to learn free motion quilting, so I was definitely taking baby steps toward the finish.

Since this is the quilt from my Road Trip Quilt Along, each block represents a state, so I quilted the state names below each block (can you see it?).

This is one of my favorite quilted blocks. I love the look of the flowers and half flowers, and I feel like I was finally getting a grasp on free motion quilting by the time I quilted this block, so it looks nice and even as well.

The back is pieced and includes a lot of my scraps from working on the Quilt Along blocks, as well as a couple of rejected blocks.

I did a nice back and forth loop on the border (inspired by Amylouwho on instagram) with flowers in the corner. I love the stripe-y yellow and gray binding.

I am so proud of this quilt and the fact that I used it to learn free motion quilting. It’s reassuring to see my physical progress. I definitely need lots more practice, but you can see how far I’ve come. Below, you can see some pebbling I did in one of the first blocks I quilted on the left, and on the right, the same pattern in one of my later blocks.

This quilt has taken residence in the living room, and in addition to a quilt, it has already been an elevator, the ocean, a hideout, and an animal home. I am sure it will be well-loved by our family!

More fun finishes from the quilting world at Crazy Mom Quilts and Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday.

A lovely year of finishes: for Brian

Posted on April 4, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

I have been meaning to play along with A Lovely Year of Finishes, and here we are, ~~month #3~~ month #4 (I really did write month #3 first. shit. where has the time gone?!) of 2013 and this is my first goal post (that’s goal setting blog post, not the goal post from the end zone). Though, if one finishes a goal for the month, it’s kind of like a touchdown, isn’t it? I’ll go with yes!

I started a quilt for Brian ages ago. I wanted to be finished with it before baby girl #3 arrived. Well, she’s here, so that didn’t happen! I wanted to be finished before Brian moved into his new house. He moved in this week, so that didn’t happen either.

However, the top is finished. And so is the back. And the whole quilt sandwich is off visiting a friend with a long arm who has offered to quilt it for me. So, assuming I get the quilt back in time my ~~March~~ APRIL! (I did it again) goal is to bind it and mail it off to Brian.

The question remains: to hand sew the binding or to machine sew the binding? What do you think??

The 39 Week “Work in Progress”

Posted on March 26, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

I understand things have been quiet around Sewing by Moonlight. I’m thrilled to tell you about the “Work in Progress” that took 39 weeks to complete!

We welcomed our third daughter to the family 5 days ago. Aurora Diane was born this past Thursday at 2:41 in the afternoon. At 8 pounds, 7 ounces, she was nearly 2 pounds larger than her sisters were at birth! She entered the world gazing skyward, fully face first, and as a result, she was rather bruised and swollen her first day of life. She has fully recovered, and is beautiful and healthy with a full head of dark hair, amazing round baby cheeks, and the most elegant, tiny, long fingers.

Bruised baby, happy mama

Lucky guy, with daughter #3

The big sisters meet the new baby (Kaia crashed out in the background)

Sierra holds baby Aurora for the first time

Three sisters

Kaia is awake and gets to hold the baby. She’s thrilled with her “big sister” role!

First family photo

Perfection, at 5 days old

And now … back to sewing! But less sewing by moonlight for me for awhile. I can barely keep my eyes open past 9.

Paper pieced book pattern update + Giveaway winner

Posted on March 16, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

Last Friday, I had a giveaway for my Nancy Drew tote bag and I promised you a pattern for the paper pieced book I drafted for the tote.

I know I said it would be up this week, but I opened my file to tweak the seam allowances a little bit and discovered a much easier way to do the layout. The original had nine separate sections that then had to be sewn together. The new one has just three. More pieces in each section, but fewer sections. Anyway, I ended up re-doing the entire pattern. Now I feel like I should probably make one first to make sure it works out okay. I’ll try to have it up by early next week, okay?

Also, the giveaway winner is Judith.

She said:

Love your Nancy Drew bag! Great tutorial to follow. Thank you for sharing today.
Judith, Texas

Congratulations, Judith. I hope you enjoy your library tote; it will be in the mail next week!

This WILL be finished!

Posted on March 15, 2013 by sewingbymoonlight

I am finally seeing the end in sight for Brian’s quilt.

My friend Brian, whom I’ve known for practically my entire life, lost his home in the Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs last summer. Devastating, for sure, but there really wan’t much I could do to help him out from 1600 miles away.

What I can offer, though, is a new a quilt to give him something warm and snuggly from a friend for his new home. My goal was to have the quilt finished before his house was rebuilt (who knew it would take me just as long to make a quilt as it would to build an entire house). I made about half the blocks myself, and others came from friends from (literally) around the world.

When I asked for help from an online quilt group, I actually received more blocks than I needed for the quilt, so I used the extras in a pieced back (should have taken a picture of that!).

I had a friend offer to quilt this for me on her long arm (thank goodness, at 96 inches x 96 inches, this would have been bear to quilt on my home machine!) and she said she would probably be able to get to it this week! Last I checked, Brian’s move-in date was April 2nd, so there’s a chance this will actually be finished before then!