Design Wall Monday

Good Monday morning!  I have the day off because of President's Day and I am loving it!  I went for a nice brisk run this morning and it felt great.  It is amazing how good 22 degrees can feel after being cold for so long!

Here is what is on my Design Wall this morning.

I have the center all pieced but I am having fits with the borders.  I know, I know I should use EQ for designing but it doesn't work on my Mac and I didn't have time to go to my mom's and play around with it.  Right now I am trying to decide what would look the best.  I have a few options like black borders or pink, blue, or gold.  I think I am leaning towards the pink but haven't decided yet!  I am the worst decision maker ever!!!  Just ask my husband when I try to pick out a candy bar, it is almost as bad as trying to name a child!  If you have an opinion please throw it my way.  The last round really helped me out!

There are many other great projects at Patchwork Times, click on over to get more inspiration!

Design Wall Monday

Good Monday everyone!  I had a very relaxing weekend and even accomplished a bit more on my stash quilt.  So far I have (almost) all the blocks made, depending on which layout I use.  I REALLY need some feedback on which layout to use, so please leave a quick comment on which is your favorite.  I can't decide and I need to make a decision soon so I can finish this puppy during February!

Layout 1, straight set

 There would be one more row with layout 1.  I have all the blocks for this one but I'm not sure if it is the "right" one.

Layout 2, diagonal set

I would have to make more blocks for this setting, and I'm kind of sick of sewing little squares together.

With either setting I would have a border or two.  I'm hoping some sweet pieced border will be in my future, but we will have to wait and see. The blocks will be 9" finished and the quilt will end up being a good lap sized, used for snuggling on the couch or with someone!

Check out the other's design wall at Judy's blog!  Have a great week.

Free ebook from Fons & Porter

Happy Weekend to everyone! I have big goals of finishing many items on my to-do list this weekend.  But before I scamper off I wanted to share a way to get a free ebook from Fons & Porter!  I was contacted to give a review of their Log Cabin ebook and let others know of this possibility.  (I was not compensated in any way, other than getting the ebook for free just as everyone else can)

First of all, I love log cabin quilts.  It was one of the first blocks I learned how to make and the possibilities with one block are pretty much endless.  Here are my thoughts. . .

*  The ebook is set up very well, wonderful pictures, diagrams and directions.
*  The patterns have different examples so you can see other color schemes of the same pattern.
*  It is broken down in three main blocks, Traditional, Courthouse Steps and Chevron.  There is really something for everyone.  You can make it as modern or classic as you want.
*  I loved the extra "tips" they give you on subjects like trapunto, piping and binding.

I did have some reservations about it, but I think they are just my personal opinion and not necessarily about the quality of the book!

*  At first I wasn't sure about the whole "ebook" thing.  I have a Kindle and I love to read on it, but I still love traditional books.  Part of me still loves to look through all my old magazines and actually hold the pages.
I downloaded it to my iPhone and it is really handy to have with me all the time.  When I had a dental appointment I sat in the waiting room and looked through the patterns without any extra clutter.  You could download it to any device you have, iPad, computer or tablet and it would work the same!  It wouldn't just have to be in one place, you could have it where ever you go.  If you know you would prefer a paper copy you could print it out at home or have someone else do it for you.
I soon realized it is "okay" to move my quilting life into technology also.  It wasn't as hard of a transition as I thought it would be.

*  To get the ebook have to enter your email and sign up for their free e-newsletter.  Sometimes I hesitate to sign up for anything because I get a lot of emails anyway.  This may be a deterrent to some,   I know how much I hate when my inbox fills up to quickly.  I would actually sign up after seeing the book, it is great information to have and in a format that I can check whenever I want!

So, are you interested?  If so head over and check out Fons & Porter's Build Your Best Log Cabin!

January Progress & February Goals

January has come and gone much quicker than I anticipated.  Remember when I said there wasn't much substance to my January goals?  I was wrong, very wrong!  Here's how it all turned out.

1 - finish gluing all the small My Tweets blocks to the background fabric

Finished!!!  Wow this one feels good to check off. 

2 - complete the large center medallion for My Tweets

Not finished, in fact the only thing I accomplished was purchasing the pattern.  It is not even printed out yet.  

3 - finish hand sewing 2 small My Tweets blocks

I almost finished hand sewing one block.  

4 - finish star blocks for gift quilt 

I finished most of the piecing components.  I have 52 very small flying geese to make and then assemble the star blocks.  

So in reality I finished 2 of my 4 goals.  If I was being graded I would fail January.  Since I'm not I am happy to say I feel this month was successful!  I sewed more in January than in the past few months and enjoyed it.  February is looking more promising!  

Now, onto February goals.  

I have started a new quilt (no comments asking how many UFO's I have) and I love it!  In my stash there were a lot of strips of Civil War Reproduction fabrics already cut to 1 1/2 inch.  So I am using up the fabric I have left and making a really scrappy, geometric quilt!  the inspiration is pinned here. 

There is the background story, here are the new goals.  

1- Piece all the blocks

2- Design and piece the borders

3- Quilt it

4- Relax, because if I get this much done it will be a very productive month!

Here is a sneak peek of what I have accomplished so far.  I know, it is only the 5th and I have something to show!  

Cute huh?  The colored squares end up being 3/4 of an inch.  They were so much fun to piece!  

Good luck to everyone participating with Judy at Patchwork Times.  If you haven't been to her site check it out she has so much to read!