Teaser Tuesday: What I'm Working On ...

At the far end of the table you see my laptop and two notebooks.  That's what I'm mostly working on, slowly plodding away on the new novel.  But I have a feeling that what is on the rest of the table is more interesting to my quilty friends.  Those are the "Selvage Countdown" blocks I started last year.  I now have 80 finished 3.5 inch blocks ...  

...and I have started sewing them into a mini quilt. 

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Happy Tuesday.  I'm linking up with Fabric Tuesday.  Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

I Spy Quilt Top Finished

 This quilt top was fast and fun to put together!  It is a layout I have used before here and I must say that I like how it works combining I-Spy busyness with some sense of organisation.  I think the rows work as good clues when actually playing I Spy. 

 Some stats should you wish to make a quilt like this:  It uses 132 I Spy squares.  They are 4 inches each.

 The sashing strips are 2.5 inches wide.  The outer border is 6 inches.

 The sashing fabric is called "Sassy Plaid" by Michael Miller.  It may be an older line, I'm not sure.  It was in my stash. 

 I am going to make one more of these quilts for another nephew.  I still have a few more I Spy squares from a swap, plus enough variety in my scraps to add squares of my own.

 Thanks for stopping by!

Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

New I Spy Quilt in Progress

 I've started a new I Spy Quilt.  This one is for my five-year-old nephew. 

 It uses 132 I Spy squares.  All different.  Four inches each.  I got most of the squares in an I Spy swap last year and only had to cut about 25 of my own.

 You can see in this pic that I used painters tape to number the rows.   I love painters tape.  I often use it to tape quilt tops to the wall for photos.  I also use it to put all the kids' artwork up.  We can stick the pictures right to the wall anywhere in the house and even if they are up for a month or more, the paint on the wall isn't hurt when we finally take them down.

 The rows of squares are all sewn together.

It shouldn't take too long to finish at all!
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I'm linking up with WIP Wednesday and The Needle and Thread Network.

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Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

Wordless Wednesday: Fun Fabric Ant Farm Quilt Complete

Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

Selvage Heart Pillow for Valentine's Day

 This was a quick evening project.  I started it before my daughter went to sleep and I told her it would be in bed beside her when she woke up in the morning.  And it was. 

 The main reason it was so quick to do was because the selvage heart was already made.  It was a reject block from the Love-Serendipity-Family quilt I made last year.  So I just added some borders, quilted it simply and sewed it up.

 This is the back.  It is a Jennifer Paganelli fabric I believe.  It is a simple envelope back.  I like to make a nice deep pocket.

 Here it is in the rapidly growing pillow collection on her bed.

 I haven't taken any flying pillow photos for a while, so here's one ...

... and another.

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Happy Sewing.  Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U

I Think This is One of Those Love It or Hate It Quilts ...

 So, okay, surprise, I finished this quilt top today.  I had been stacking up the blocks for a while, but I didn't get around to taking or posting any progress photos.  Oh well.

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I am pretty sure this is a love it or hate it quilt, with no inbetweens.  I love it, but anyone who has read the blog for a while knows my taste is questionable. 

 You may recognise the green and white check fabric as some I showed earlier in the year. I had bought it as backing fabric.  Yes, for BACKING.  Then, well, you know, see Exhibit A above. 

 I had wanted to make another somewhat simple selvage quilt (that is not a mummy or snowman or the like) and the thought of HSTs seemed pretty straightforward ...

 ...but too straightforward is boring, so enter some selvages, a checkerboardy/ginghamy fabric (in not just one colour but two) and mix together ...

 If I may say so, I think the white in the gingham does something calming?  to make the whole look tolerable ...

 ... or you may disagree. 

 Here's the back.  Yes, my seams are pressed open.  Although I got lots of nice comments and messages last time trying to pull me over to the dark side of simply pressing them all in one direction, I am stuck on my current method.  I really find for quilting myself, since I typically quilt close to the seam, that pressing open makes it all lie flatter.

Ta da! (Those are 6 inch squares BTW.  80 of them)

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So, in other news, let me see, it's winter.  I'm inside most of the time.  I'm writing my new novel!  It is going well, knock on wood.  I have been having fun using Twitter (@RielNason) I like how tweets are so short and sweet.  I have been sewing a bit, but most of my creative energy is going into the book, so the quilting is getting done just a wee bit at a time.  As per one of my quilty goals for the year, I filled out an entry for the CQA national juried show.  I will mail it tomorrow.  I am entering the Selvage Mummy.  I have NO IDEA if he will or won't get it.  I followed all the entry instructions carefully and IMHO it's a cool quilt and I did a good job, but all I can say is we'll see.  I have never been to a big quilt show, only local shows.  I don't know if he would fit the scene or not.  But, it is all about trying.  Right?  You never know unless you try.  I'll let you know yes or no when I find out.

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Now, finally, I'm linking up over at The Needle and Thread Network
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Cheers!  Posted by Riel Nason on The Q and the U