tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67274016425174665102024-03-14T02:40:14.171-07:00toothpaste & orange catAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17011852018085338948noreply@blogger.comBlogger532125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-58091471224537877682021-03-16T08:00:00.001-07:002021-03-16T08:00:00.235-07:00ombre weave baby quilt - 26 in 21 quilt 2<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50952107786_d60a783df0_b.jpg" /></center>a quilt! a quilt!<br />finally a quilt!<br />yes, i know it has been long overdue, but between deciding to vlog, a baby shower and now moving at the end of the month... sitting at my computer to blog clearly fell by the wayside.<div>but never fear... 26 in 21 is still going strong!</div><div>so let's backtrack to january, when i made this cute little number from start to finish... to go with a quilt that i STILL haven't finished... insert facepalm emoji here.</div><div>lisa's caboose baby was born in october, so of COURSE she needed a quilt. i was ready to get back in to some girly fun quilts after a wave of baby boys. i had purchased 2 half jelly rolls from <a href="http://www.caliquiltco.com">cali quilt co</a> to make this ombre weave quilt, but it turns out... the "new colors" of the v and co ombre confetti fabrics just weren't all the fun colors i needed. so i purchased a few more colors to punch up the variety, and well... this beauty was born.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50952107626_b3cd9a85f9_b.jpg" /></center>punching it up with a few more colors really helped bring out the fun in this quilt... and it was SO EASY to make! the trickiest part is making sure the different color chunks cut stayed in their zone to make sure each "circle" had one part of each section to get the matching effect.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50952205247_1bba1376ca_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50952107711_d5281269e4_b.jpg" /></center>as far as the layout goes, i shuffled the colors around randomly, making sure the purples were spread out from each other, as well as the pinks, grays and such. a few colors only had one or two blocks, so they were pretty easy to spread out throughout the remainder of the quilt without getting too much of a harsh diagonal of color... which is always something that drives me crazy when it isn't intentional.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50952205297_cc907fc0e5_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50951405158_3ff371fcec_b.jpg" /></center>i used one of my favorite pantographs on this quilt, and it added the perfect amount of movement and texture to the quilt. i actually used a goldish thread to coordinate with all the metallic dots (glide sand, if you're curious) and as usual... i was nervous when it first started quilting... but i LOVE it so much.<div>so much so, that i really need to hurry up and finish the second quilt, which is technically the first quilt... yikes!</div><div>but seriously...</div><div>just look at the minky backing too.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50952205377_f81141f9e9_b.jpg" /></center>i'm glad i went with just the pink to bind it (which will also happen on the other quilt so they match that way) but it just quilted so fabulously on both the front and the backing!<div>this quilt is still just sitting at my parents, waiting to be shipped...<br />but word just came in that i *might* not actually have to ship it. providing i can get the other one done in just 2 weeks. here's to hoping!</div><div>and as always (since i'm saying it for the 2nd time now... so therefore, always) here's the current <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0TZqTzYH7v5TNLOmvslde27a_8mWUd5n">26 in 21 playlist</a>, which includes the videos from making this quilt!</div><div><br /></div><div>pattern information: <a href="https://vandco.bigcartel.com/product/ombre-weave-ombre-fabric-quilt-pdf-pattern">ombre weave by v and co</a></div><div>quilt count: 149</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-64722526142718668832021-02-18T08:30:00.004-08:002021-02-18T08:30:03.539-08:00feeling forgotten?<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50951405428_83e7f4a6c0_b.jpg" /></center><p> oh dear sweet blogger.</p><p>i haven't forgotten about you.<br />sure, my ventures in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx5cXdLZGnCSwD4MN6lRQxA">youtube land</a> have been quite time consuming, but i know you're still here for me, waiting in the background.</p><p>here's a little bit about what's coming your way soon:<br />-ombre weave quilt<br />-purple weekender quilt<br />-strawberry quilt<br /></p><p>i've also signed up to participate in my first swap in 5 million years (so it feels) and it is dinosaur themed... so i clearly couldn't resist. you'll be able to see my finished items from that soon enough (my ideas are formulating and need to be shipped in march.</p><p>also.<br />throwing a social distance drive by baby shower, which i haven't made a quilt for, and packing up my entire apartment life all by the end of march.</p><p>no sweat... right?</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-39145402221887682952021-01-19T08:30:00.086-08:002021-03-15T14:40:18.068-07:00circuit board quilt - 26 in 21 quilt 1<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851667256_4bf45b1b2f_b.jpg" /></center><p> the first final project from the 26 in 21 adventure is here!</p><p>for being such a big project, it actually wasn't too hard to get going and keep going throughout.<br />i think having the fabric purchased already was absolutely helpful to make that happen, which was kind of my hope for this first quilt.</p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851759657_c7b542ee4d_b.jpg" /></center>the circuit board quilt was one that i saw at some point last year, and knew instantly it would be the perfect quilt for my older brother.<br />in contrast to the 4732 quilts i've made my sister (okay... like, 3...) i haven't made a single one for either of my brothers. with markham's birthday being january 12, this was the perfect reasoning to kick off 26 in 21 with this beast.<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/75754264@N06/50851759642/in/photostream/" title="circuitboardquilt-4"><img alt="circuitboardquilt-4" height="689" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851759642_a9c70a458b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>after purchasing the pattern, i had collected the various black on blacks from two places in town. <a href="https://www.swiftystitches.com/">swifty stitches</a> and <a href="http://www.caliquiltco.com">cali quilt co</a>. the green, which is i believe "kelly" in the grunge family, also came from cali quilt co, as it was my final piece to pick up after leaving work one day in december. i had all my fabric pulled and ready, and things were set to kick off on january 1st!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851667221_7d77ab76b7_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851667206_987aa6dae0_b.jpg" /></center>while it felt like a dozen other things were happening at the same time, i still managed to set aside time to work on this quilt most nights. i started with the traditionally pieced blocks (the straight line ones were first) and then once i moved my way through everything (even while hunkering down at my parent's for an over night car repair) and on to the paper pieced blocks. for being straight diagonal lines, i sure found that they had their tricky moments!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850944168_8ae6f15605_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851667166_c180bf786d_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850944118_910edffb68_b.jpg" /></center>it was pretty fun getting all these black on blacks to look as scrappy as possible. it turns out i had a lot of different star prints as well as polka dot prints. keeping them from clumping sure was a challenge! but i think i did a pretty fair job of it, even with this beast not being able to fit on my design wall. i seriously underestimate how big 76 inches is ALL THE TIME even though i'm fully aware 72 inches is 6 feet... someday it might sink in....<br />someday...<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850944058_ab8c232e12_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851667126_74af7134ff_b.jpg" /></center>i quilted it after work one day on the q'nique 21 that we have at the shop, which is fully computerize and AWESOME. i had purchased a cat themed pantograph that i felt would be perfect for this project (and let's be real... probably many more to come) and it totally was. i also backed this quilt in shannon cuddle for the first time, and i pretty much love how it turned out. i love the feel of a weighted blanket (hence that i currently have 5 quilts on my bed right now) and this cuddle backing adds a little extra weight to it. plus, the pricing wasn't far off from the 108" wide backing i would have used anyways. <br />i had enough of my black on black fabrics initially that i was able to do a black scrappy binding on the quilt to frame it all up without having to purchase anything additional. which was extra nice, since i'm trying to track my fabric intake and outtake this year. go me!<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50850944263_38c63d71de_b.jpg" /></center>here's a peek at how the cuddle quilted up on the back. perfect and fuzzy to replicate those black cats that always seem to reside in markham's room.<div>speaking of black cats...<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50851667281_dc0150b92b_b.jpg" /></center><div>apparently veruca has already tested out the quilt and made sure it was up to her standards.</div><div>this circuit board quilt was a fun new challenge to take on, and i totally enjoyed it being something new and exciting to kick off 2021 and my crazy plans. don't forget, the whole journey is on my youtube channel, which you can find here: <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0TZqTzYH7v5TNLOmvslde27a_8mWUd5n">emily's 26 in 21</a></div><div><br /></div>pattern information: <a href="https://shop.flyingparrotquilts.com/products/circuit-board-pdf-quilt-pattern">circuit board by flying parrot quilts</a><br />quilt count: 148</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-16613711333394105312021-01-06T08:30:00.002-08:002021-01-06T08:30:03.988-08:00emily loves dinosaurs - teal dinosaur baby quilt<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50785711263_25f053fbfb_b.jpg" /></center>last quilt of 2020, first quilt post of 2021!<div>the moment this quilt pattern was announced, i think i was tagged at least three different times per post. and so i instantly bought it the day it was released. the pattern sat for awhile, waiting to become reality. then, tayva asked me if i would make a sample for the shop, and of course i gave it a big fat YES.<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786572202_ee86c9548b_b.jpg" /></center>picking the colors was the HARDEST part.</div><div>every sample i had seen was in rainbow, which was super cute and all... but i wanted to be different! i played with so many different grunge color ways, and ended up setting on this delightful teal/aqua combo. gah. so cute.<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786469021_fdab098392_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786468981_680070c1cb_b.jpg" /></center>instead of having my plants different colors as well, i kept them to be just two shades of green grunge so they'd stand free of the dinosaurs as well. the plants were the first things i pieced at a sew day way back when... and they went together so quickly!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786572067_92cfcbe126_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50785711328_bce42c86e0_b.jpg" /></center>having the balance of regular grunge mixed in with printed grunges made the dinosaurs a lot more fun too. i tried to keep one of each per dino, but you'll see in one of the stegosaurus blocks, one of them is SUPER printy. he's still so cute though! the blue t rex cracks me up a lot, because how his print ended up, it looks like he's got polka dot socks on.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786572252_2748c95528_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786572282_6c109862f6_b.jpg" /></center>i ended up not using the solid turquoise grunge in the dinosaurs themselves, so i couldn't help but bring it in as the perfect bright binding. and can we talk about this pantograph??<br />since i now have access to a computerized long arm machine at work, i HAD to make this pantograph happen on this quilt. from far away, it looks like a stipple, but when you look closer, there are tiny little dinosaurs in there. gah. i love it so much.<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786572322_fff62fe931_b.jpg" /></center> i had a real good time piecing the back, and have no regrets at all.</div><div>the grunge stars are the same color as one of the plant colors, and i used a chunk of scraps to piece in some turquoise as well to get the right size.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50786572367_ba1b153126_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50785711478_32a0ac6c43_b.jpg" /></center>it was so much fun to do this little version of the quilt, that i cannot WAIT to do a larger version for myself. yep, you heard it here. i absolutely plan to do the lap size quilt in this same color scheme so i can have one all to my very own.</div><div>all the small pieces went together well, it was just super helpful to keep them labeled and in order (garage sale stickers are the best tip i've ever heard for that with elizabeth hartman patterns)</div><div>plus, i've got to get another use (or ten) out of that pantograph! </div><div><p>pattern information: <a href="https://ohfransson.bigcartel.com/product/dinosaurs-pdf-quilt-pattern">dinosaurs by elizabeth hartman</a><br />quilt count: 147</p></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-9583195817492291362021-01-05T08:30:00.009-08:002021-01-05T08:30:03.207-08:0026 in 21 - an introduction<p> well here we are, in 2021.<br />yeah, i know i mentioned a quilt post after the <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/12/things-2020-taught-me.html">2020 round up</a>, but new years day on a friday really threw me for a loop...<br />but it's coming tomorrow!</p><p>in the meantime, i'm here to share with you my newest crazy venture as a result of what 2020 put us all through.<br />through <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/04/15-minute-march-recap.html">the 15 minute a day challenges</a>, to the bullet journal trackers, 2020 left me with needing something big and bold to really push me out of my comfort zone. block party with emily was doing that to an extent with <a href="www.caliquiltco.com">cali quilt co</a>, but i was really needing a personal challenge that would be all my own.<br />whelp. here it is.</p><p></p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50801818908_fc512eb71f_b.jpg" /></center><br />26 in 21 has become the reality of what my comfort zone pushing needed.<br />the plan: 26 quilts made from start to finish every 2 weeks in 2021.<br />you read that correctly.<br />one quilt, two weeks, start to finish.<br />from fabric pull & cutting to quilting and binding.<br />yes, my brain is about to explode on it's own, so you're in good company!<p></p><div>i created my intro video last week, so you can take a look at that here:</div><div><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7xqfwmchvFE" width="560"></iframe></center><br />so now the plan is that on tuesdays, the videos will drop regularly. each quilt should end up with three videos, that is only if i mapped it out correctly. video one will be an intro video, video two will be an in progress update, and video three will be the quilting, binding and final reveal.</div><div>some of my projects i've already got planned ahead, and others might end up flying by the seat of my pajama pants when they roll around. the good news is, that january is planned in it's entirety. so that's 3 down, 23 to go!</div><div><br /></div><div>oh, did you notice i said videos would drop on tuesdays? did you also notice that today was tuesday?</div><div>well, here you go!</div><div><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9BwiEe8S6Hc" width="560"></iframe></center><br /></div><div>in reality, my plan is that this will keep me finishing projects all at once, instead of having a quilt top linger forever... such an example would be the great <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/12/bright-and-merry-juniper-berry-quilt.html">juniper berry quilt</a> of 2020. top was done in march, but for some reason, i didn't get it finished until DAYS before christmas.</div><div>and i have nobody to blame but myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>so here's to a new adventure in 2021, unlike any i've done before.</div><div>i'll be making these 26 projects, block party projects, and even more exciting (and possibly even non-quilty) things to come!</div><div>i'm also trying to track my fabric intake vs. outgoing this year... </div><div>so wish me luck on THAT reality check!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-52206094376735663782020-12-31T08:30:00.002-08:002020-12-31T08:30:06.298-08:00things 2020 taught me<p> oh boy, where do we begin with this year end round up?</p><p>it truly is a weird year to be saying farewell too...<br />and who would have thought that this photo that was from exactly a year ago today would have truly set the tone for the year's emotions.</p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50780567913_741c981248_b.jpg" /></center>and now here we are, bidding farewell to the year that was terrible for many, confusing for most and just straight up different for all.<p></p><div>what did 2020 teach me?</div><div><br /><b>travel when you can. and often.</b><br />i was able to <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/03/thoughts-on-quiltcon-2020.html">go to quiltcon</a> right before everything shut down, which also meant spending time in texas with my best friend. i was supposed to go back over the summer, but hopefully next year...<br />hopefully.<br />i was also able (by way of work) to take a quick trip to SLC in september, which was nice to get some cousin time and shop hop a little bit.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50781436106_85c3222553_b.jpg" /></center><b>curves aren't scary</b><br />i sewed TWO quilts with curves this year<br /><a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/08/winnie-pooh-parallel-path-quilt.html">parallel path</a> and <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/08/neverland-themed-take-heart-baby-quilt.html">take heart</a> were totally not scary at all, and have opened my eyes to new possibilities for quilting.<br />it was great to be able to challenge myself in a new way, in the midst of all the chaos.<br />plus, doing them as baby quilts really helped the new challenge seem a whole lot less daunting<div><br /></div><div><b>take the plunge</b></div><div>with the shut down, playing the waiting game to go back to preschool was HARD.</div><div>happening in to the position at <a href="www.caliquiltco.com">cali quilt co</a>, which has clearly spiraled in to so much more than i could have imagined. it was easily one of the HARDEST decisions i've ever had to make, and so many options were vented and tears were shed...but i don't regret it one bit. preschool, from what i've heard from coworkers, is still in limbo anyways, so i would still be playing the waiting game.</div><div>taking the plunge in to something new and scary has pushed me in to wanting to come up with other new and challenging experiences, both in real life and virtual life. block party has been it's own adventure with the shop, but i'm also looking to push and challenge myself in my own way via youtube.<br />nothing is "official" on that front yet... but given that i wanted to kick things off TOMORROW... i will probably be up late getting situated and what not.</div><div>as far as real life plunges... you'll have to wait on that until something official happens :)</div><div><br /></div><div><b>breathe</b><br />one particular line from "everybody's free (to wear sunscreen)" by baz luhrmann always sticks out to me. </div><div>"don't worry about the future. </div><div> or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum"</div><div>boy did 2020 bring some worries to a whole lot of people, and rightfully so. but sometimes, you just gotta step away, take a breath and let things settle before jumping back in to it all.</div><div>sometimes it helped. sometimes it needed an even longer breath.</div><div>and a whole lot of dr pepper.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>other things from 2020</b><br />i binged a whole lot of tv...<br />schitt's creek<br />emily in paris</div><div>community</div><div>dash and lily</div><div>unorthodox</div><div>love on the spectrum</div><div>new girl</div><div><br /></div><div>i stayed in touch with all my friends, both near and far.<br />i became proficient in wal mart grocery ordering. at least so i think...</div><div>i do miss sitting inside restaurants and eating... and hanging out with my friends. and movie theaters. OH how i miss movie theaters...</div><div><br /></div><div>but most of all<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50781546242_e759527680_b.jpg" /></center></div><div>i made a lot of quilts, many of them for very important people.</div><div>can you tell it was hard for me to pick just a few favorites?<br />this is nearly all of them that i made from start to finish throughout the year!<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50780671223_b63ab291d6_b.jpg" /></center></div><div>but my FINAL quilt of 2020 will be revealed tomorrow!</div><div>goodbye 2020.<br />you were really something. </div><div>but now i'm off to an adventurous 2021!</div><div><br /></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-89249594315950681662020-12-28T08:30:00.128-08:002020-12-28T08:30:06.078-08:00bright and merry juniper berry quilt<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50769260143_05471df026_b.jpg" /></center><p> this quilt has been a few years in the making, and now i'm super excited to say it is finally done!<br />and in true fashion, despite being the first christmas quilt started this year, it is the fourth and final one completed. whoops! but i have to say that even after all this time, it was well worth the wait.</p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50769260283_08958307c1_b.jpg" /></center>i first saw the pattern in probably 2017 as part of a kit at <a href="https://www.fabricgardenquiltshop.com/">fabric garden</a>, a local quilt shop in the area. they didn't have any patterns available solo, but they were able to eventually special order it for me. after getting a pattern in my hands, it sat for awhile since i knew i wanted it, but didn't know what it would look like. then, i found the backing fabric in 2018, which then set the tone for the whole quilt.<div>the bright colors reminded me so much of the <a href="https://youtu.be/Jiq_VvgEC1Y">tree lot scene in a charlie brown christmas</a>. i was happy to have an idea for a christmas quilt that had a traditional idea to it, but wasn't completely traditional in christmas colors.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770123547_fd55022ca0_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770123582_cab3e668c0_b.jpg" /></center> i shop hopped around town to find a variety of colors and prints to make the trees unique, and then this project clearly sat for awhile since 2019 came and went, but still no christmas quilt. i think this became one of my first projects for the 2020 UFO challenge, which was quite motivating early on in the year. as you can probably guess, i fell off that wagon at some point. i picked up the background fabric from thistle dew in january, which was after a great debate of what color to do. i'm super glad i went with this icy blue that really helps the trees pop out.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770123637_f002fb3389_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770123662_157a568267_b.jpg" /></center>when it came to selecting the borders, i knew i wanted them to be grunge, but also different than what was already in the trees. i paid a visit to <a href="https://www.swiftystitches.com/">swifty stitches</a>, since i knew susan had the stars which ended up being the perfect outer border. the great debate for the inner border began, because i had just heard that glitter grunge was being released. the green was the one color she didn't have on hand, and neither did any of the other local shops. silver is more my vibe, but since she did have the metallic, i picked up the amount i needed just incase. worst case scenario, i have more grunge in my stash.<div><a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/03/thoughts-on-quiltcon-2020.html">while at quiltcon</a>, i found and purchased some of the glitter grunge to audition for the inner border.<br />whelp. i think you can tell the gold metallic won that battle, and now i have some glitter grunge in my stash!</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770008821_4b9759cb4b_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770008891_2e5609a728_b.jpg" /></center>i finally stayed with my plan, and quilted a wood grain free motion pattern on this quilt.<div>though, i couldn't bring myself to use red thread on the middle portion, or light blue thread on the borders, so i had to deal with a lot of color changes. but it was so worth it. </div><div>i just love the texture it brings to the quilt, and allows it to be a little more free and not exact.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50769260253_8122a85250_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770123462_3df6780c62_b.jpg" /></center>okay, so FINALLY here's a look at the backing that started it all.<br />can you blame me??<div>i can't even remember how i came across it, but this alexander henry print was PERFECT in every way.</div><div>i did my usual way of breaking up a backing by including a stripe of the blue i had from the background on the front, which with that red bobbin thread really pops out that quilting. </div><div>i also debated going for a bold binding, but with the amount of color going on in the trees, went ahead and got more of the grunge seeing stars in red to frame it up. worked perfectly for the front of the quilt and the back!</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50770123437_20fbffcb66_b.jpg" /></center>this quilt took a lot of organization and planning when it came to the layout, but many MANY episodes of encore! on disney+ got me through it. even though i had the top done in early spring, my procrastination (and other quilt distractions) got the best of me, making my own projects be the last ones done. i'm SO glad that i was able to get it done before christmas and get use of it this year before putting it off for yet another year.<div>well, even though we're post christmas...it is still on my bed.</div><div>and while we may be rolling in to 2021 this week, i have no shame in my procrastination game right now.</div><div>honestly, i'm surprised my halloween pillowcases aren't out still...</div><div><br /></div><div>pattern: <a href="https://antlerquiltdesign.com/products/juniper-berry">juniper berry by antler creek design</a></div><div>quilt count: 146</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-15432919901937190742020-12-25T08:30:00.001-08:002020-12-25T08:30:11.043-08:00merry 2020<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50757568551_8ddeaa9d8b_b.jpg" /></center><p>here we are at another traditional sibling line up.<br />we wish you a merry christmas...<br />and an impending new year that was better than this one.</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-69619258867846764882020-12-22T08:30:00.003-08:002020-12-22T08:30:08.829-08:00nerdy math themed festive fir quilt<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334325282_f770da1b4d_b.jpg" /></center><p> here we are, the week of christmas, can you believe it?<br />a whole lot has been going on around here, but this quilt has already been in it's home and used (i hope) all month long. i won this pattern on an instagram giveaway by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sewbrainy/">the designer, sewbrainy</a>, along with my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kathmosacto/">guild president kathy</a> and waited for awhile to see what fabric i might use for it. once i found this math print in blue for <a href="https://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/03/may-quilt-force-be-with-you-gradu-mas.html">ben's star wars gradu-mas</a> quilt last year, i knew it would be perfect for my sister (and ben) as a holiday quilt.<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50333478763_b9f677c03c_b.jpg" /></p>this quilt sat in limbo for awhile, because i was waiting for the perfect background fabric to go with it.<br />while home on unemployment in march (the perfect time to buy fabric, right?) i found this white on white molecule fabric from my now place of employment, and it was the perfect science addition to this quilt. the top was knocked out in the month of april, and then sat around forever waiting for the perfect quilt back.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334165016_5f88dc4a97_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334325582_46788537e1_b.jpg" /></center> the shop that i bought all the math fabric was had a retirement/closing sale, which was so sad to have happen, but i was able to swoop up some of the red math fabric for the binding, which was a perfect addition to the quilt as well as it went with the backing.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50333479123_20e0017df8_b.jpg" /></center> i just love this little star tree topper.<div>we have always had an angel on the top of our actual christmas tree, which would have been a little tricky to piece, but man did sewbrainy designs NAIL it with this cute little star.<br />no math fabric in the star, just some cute itty bitty stars on stars on stars.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334165151_ebb0194ce5_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334164981_b08921283c_b.jpg" /></center>originally i was going to free motion the woodgrain that i've done before on this quilt, but i kept going back to the poinsettia stitch i did on the <a href="https://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/11/norweigan-woods-christmas-quilt.html">norweigan woods quilt</a>. i had to refrain from doing it again and again and again... but this was PERFECT for it. i used a white aurifil thread for the quilting, both top and bobbin, and i just love how it gave it the perfect texture from a distance and then close up, you can see the flowers and berries.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334325447_e42df35278_b.jpg" /></center> this backing was EXACTLY what i needed for this quilt, and i couldn't imagine anything else going on it. little did i know, it was on the way to our shop! well, it came in just last weekend, so this would have been waiting awhile for it. anyways, i did a strip of vanilla grunge to break up the prints, since i don't mind piecing backs, but also can't stand when prints don't quite line up. these grumpy faced "not ameowsed" cats by dear stella are the best... so much so, i have four more yards of this fabric in my stash now. whoops!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334325377_f39fe0e86c_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50334164796_9968eb4d82_b.jpg" /></center> this quilt went home with ben and aileen the week they were in down due to the chaotic fires in oregon as well as the ones here in california (hence all the hazey looking photos).<div>i had a lot of fun putting together this quilt, and since the pattern comes in a few sizes, it could make a great wall hanging or pillow for christmas next year! i can already imagine a lot of fussy cut ornaments that would be super cute. maybe these grumpy festive cats even!</div><div><br /></div><div>pattern: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/757997971/festive-fir-christmas-quilt-pattern-pdf?ref=shop_home_active_3">festive fir by sew brainy designs</a><br />quilt count: 145</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-50647618916972231412020-12-21T08:30:00.012-08:002020-12-21T08:30:20.438-08:00christmas week<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50743014721_4640af435e_b.jpg" /></center><p> WHAT.<br />how has it gotten to be almost an entire month since my last post?</p><p>ooof.<br />well, to be honest... things have gotten crazy, so that's totally on me.<br />but i'm just popping in to say that a few things are under way.</p><p>my christmas quilt FINALLY got finished last week! <br />i quilted it at some point during the month, and then just got binding on it.<br />i'll be photographing it this evening, and HOPEFULLY getting a post up for it before christmas.<br />i know that gives me like... three days to do so... so fingers crossed!</p><p>i also never posted aileen & ben's christmas quilt either...<br />so here's to hoping i can get that post up as well.<br />in addition, i made a lot of gifts for my friends i don't get to have mug exchange parties with this year, and block party with <a href="www.caliquiltco.com">caliquiltco</a> is still going strong. we're off from new videos these next two weeks, but i'll be making my samples over that time to really get the ball going for january's shows.</p><p>plus, i've got a personal project endeavor i plan to kick off january 1st...<br />and yes, i realize that is just over a week away... THE STRESS IS SETTING IN!</p><p>i was able to gift my <a href="https://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/11/christmas-village-bold-blocks-quilt.html">bold blocks quilt</a> to my dear friend and co-teacher from this summer, and the excitement she had when receiving it was well worth it. </p><p>once my orders come today in the mail... i am DONE with my holiday shopping! it was looking rough there when i had ZERO tracking information for about a week and a half. ugh.<br />happy christmas week to all of those celebrating! </p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-43035601640322900032020-11-24T08:30:00.002-08:002020-11-24T08:30:01.630-08:00short and sweet... but probably a little long winded.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50640441606_14c4da8fe2_b.jpg" /></center>so i had intentions for a longer post, but between last week and this one, i've got a whole heck of a lot going on at work to get ready for.<div>plus, i totally meant to get another christmas quilt blogged last week... but clearly that didn't happen and set my schedule back a bit. oops.</div><div>last week was block party number 2, and i feel like it went quite a bit better than the first week. i demonstrated how to make the hexi muggy ruggy using the creative grids hexagon trim tool, and they turned out pretty cute. i didn't get a chance to take a good photo with my camera... and i think i failed to post on instagram as well.</div><div>i also made the full table runner as a sample to go with week 1's leaf block, and it turned out AWESOME. i quilted it up and finished it up for saturday's live show (for my show it was only the top) and look forward to hearing how well it sold.<br />which this also means that a finshed project means another blog post in the works. i already informed my family it would be on the table for thanksgiving, so it will get used before fall is gone.</div><div>this week i'm demo-ing another creative grids ruler to make some placemats as well as show how else you can use the block if you don't want to make all the placemats or the table runner. that's what this blog post's main photo is of, so you can tune in for more about that soon :)<br />block party is at 9:30am PST every wednesday over on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/caliquiltco">facebook at cali quilt co</a><br />if you are one of my few blog followers and haven't met me in real life, shout out in the comments when you watch. i'd love to know what kind of traffic i get here!</div><div><br /></div><div>friday i FINALLY quilted my christmas quilt. i also tested out my new video camera that i bought over the quarantine summer, and it worked okay-ish, but i think the battery died or it got bored before i finished. maybe it ran out of memory card space? i'm not sure. but i also learned that if i'm going to free motion and record it, don't put the camera to my right... whole lot of my backside in view. <br />my plan is to get the quilt bound this week so it is all ready to go by december 1st.</div><div>but that should be interesting with block party planning, black friday working, a dentist appointment today AND thanksgiving happening.</div><div>plus all the HSTs i still need to make for the all star quilt.</div><div>i should probably set a goal for that to make a certain amount a day.</div><div>100? is that realistic?<br />there are 54 squares of each color... so if i make a full set a day, then i'll be game.</div><div>maybe i'll just HST marathon on thanksgiving. its not like i am useful for any of that cooking process.</div><div><br /></div><div>i also need to clean up my sewing table a bit...<br />i put my laundry away FINALLY... which ate in to a lot of my sewing time.</div><div>stupid adulting.</div><div>plus, my computer keeps shouting at me about running out of space.</div><div>ACK.</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-38389834942137427962020-11-17T08:30:00.055-08:002020-11-17T08:30:11.374-08:00i've retreated and returned with progress<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50612511291_bf95d7e959_b.jpg" /></center>this past weekend was our first ever retreat for the sacramento modern quilt guild.<p>it was a short, but very eventful weekend that was well worth it, and a well needed escape.<br />friday morning, i packed everything up (don't be surprised i waited that long...) and then grabbed lunch and a quick stop at wal mart before beginning my voyage.<br />i picked up one of my guild members that lives just down the road from me, and after a quick stop at the shop to get ironing boards and wool mats, we were on our way. our ETA started off at 3pm, but the change in weather quickly pushed that back past 4pm.<br />driving in snow for the first time can be checked off my list. that's also why i borrowed my dad's car instead of mine. thank you, all wheel drive.<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50612621372_4e16b42db8_b.jpg" /></p>once we finally made it, we checked in and got our machines unloaded before locating our cabin.<div>we did a lap around the area, thanks to the confusing map, and then we found our home...<br />are you ready for this??</div><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/75754264@N06/50611761963/in/photostream/" title="retreat-3"><img alt="retreat-3" height="497" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50611761963_9071fcb3d6_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center>see that TINY little window up at the top? that's where i stayed with three other guild members.<div>that is our room inside (my bed was the back right one) and even while we had the hike up the stairs... and more stairs... we were thankful we at least had a bathroom on our floor! after putting our stuff in the room and gathering what we needed, it was back to the parking lot, and then the hike down the next set of stairs before settling in to get going for the evening.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50612532371_8204d44bfe_b.jpg" /></center>as you can see, we each had our own little island for sewing, and remained masked up unless we were on our island. after a few welcome notes, an ice breaker game and dinner, we were sewing away for the rest of the night. well, i was trimming, trying to get all my current HSTs ready to go for the morning. and i got almost all of them done.<br />we left around midnight the first night, and then had to hike up the INSANE stairs.<br />the four of us realized quickly how out of shape we were, and probably spent at least 5 minutes trying to regain our regular breathing once we got back inside our cabin.<br />oh... and i'm not just talking about the cabin stairs...<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50612621337_d2e97a2fea_b.jpg" /></center>i'm also talking about THESE stairs!<div>we went down them each day, and that first night was easily the worst, since they still had remnants of snow and ice on them. SUPER fun.</div><div>saturday was all day sewing!</div><div>a few games thrown in here and there, like a fat quarter swap/steal and the kona/aurifil challenge.</div><div>i'm please to say i got the most right out of each set.</div><div>all the konas that i've had to pull in the last few weeks has really paid off in more ways than one. ha!</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50612621297_8f43b01618_b.jpg" /></center>what can i say?<br />i might get a little competitive when prizes are involved...<br />and i did feel a little guilty for constantly winning thing. oh well!<div>we got a cool collection of swag from olfa, omnigrids, the mqg and cali quilt co, including a cuddle scarf a few guild members sewed that night. i ALMOST sewed mine as well, just to say i've sewed minky, but i was too in the zone with making my star blocks. we also battled technology and got the saturday night facebook live show up on the big screen to watch and see what they decided to sell while tayva was out of town.<br /><div>saturday night i stayed until about 11:45 and was part of the last three to go. i lucked out and was able to hitch a ride back to the cabin instead of taking those stairs in the dark all by myself. at that point, i had managed to get 31 of my 120 blocks done, which was perfectly okay with me, since it meant i had less than 100 to go.</div><div>sunday morning we had to pack up, and get everything out and clean before check out. we had to be out of the cabins by 11 and out of the main hall by 12. i pretty much threw everything in my suitcase haphazardly, since it was only going to come out when i got home. i managed to sew and get a total of 36 blocks done (4 color sets of 9) which was fabulous in my book.</div></div><div>loaded up the car, and after cleaning we were out of there and hit the road around 1130.</div><div>stopped by the shop to drop off the boards, and then dropped off my fellow guildmate before heading to take my dad back his car.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50612621262_0c66e9673c_b.jpg" /></center><div>all in all it was a great little escape to have some solid sew time in a nice, scenic environment.</div><div>i'm totally looking forward to next year, in hopes we get one more day at the site, and our fingers are crossed we will be able to stay in the dorms. the cabins were cute and nice, but man would having everything in one place AND get fed be amazing!</div><div>i ended up working yesterday to make up for some of the time off, and catch up on some of my impending work projects as well. some great kits are coming together for shows, and my sewjo is still holding up strong. be prepared... block party is looking like it is going to be pretty awesome tomorrow! </div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-16129074069284265632020-11-12T08:30:00.001-08:002020-11-12T08:30:01.714-08:00norweigan woods christmas quilt<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50314872511_e1aa67652e_b.jpg" /></center>it's time to meet my first shop sample quilt!<p>working at a quilt shop has been AWESOME, and making quilts to have on display has been one of the perks of the job. quilting for work, and then having an awesome project in the end? don't mind if i do!</p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50314201913_9fbecccc04_b.jpg" /></center>tayva showed me a handful of quilt patterns and asked if i was interested in making any of them, and when i saw this quilt with trees made out of triangles, i fell in love. originally, i had another line of fabric in mind, but when that quickly sold out on a live show, i found the farmhouse christmas line of fabric from northcott and fell in love with the cute little candy canes and gingham prints.<p></p><p>i had to add some extra emily to it, by creating the star out of moda grunge as well as the entire background. silver grunge is probably my favorite shade of gray to use. it is perfectly perfect! </p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50315050487_41c2e30eca_b.jpg" /></center> i debated doing a white star, since i wasn't sure how the yellow would blend with the other fabrics, but after some convincing, lemon drop yellow grunge was there to stay on top of the trees<p></p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50314201838_bc7eac6e1a_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50314201803_d87a480e7d_b.jpg" /></center> piecing the triangle trees was incredibly easy. i actually did most of them at a sew day with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SacMQG/">sacramento modern quilt guild</a>. the templates are included for all the triangle shapes as well as the stars. there were a few pattern corrections, but it was just the labeling of pieces. no measurement changes or anything.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50315050352_43773e466d_b.jpg" /></center> i just love these little trees!<div>i was pretty certain i was going to gift this quilt to someone (not that i had any idea who at the time) but i'm pretty sure i might keep it... even though i still have my own planned christmas quilt to finsh up... which i finally bought thread for too!</div><center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/75754264@N06/50314872486/in/photostream/" title="norweiganwoods-7"><img alt="norweiganwoods-7" height="689" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50314872486_c18a0e3448_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center> i didn't use the red snowflakes in the trees, so i thought they would make the perfect binding.<div>and they did.</div><div>i have been talking about binding options with a lot of people lately, given my job, and i've come to find that i'm all for a bolder binding that really frames up the quilts. if it is lighter or more subdued, its great and all... but boy do i love that red against the gray!</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50315050592_1b419892c0_b.jpg" /></center>alright now this quilting...<div>i had planned to go in and just free motion woodgrain all over it, but once i saw this holly berry/poinsettia pantograph, i couldn't NOT use it. it went so well with the prints in the fabric, and added a great all over texture to the quilt as well. the way it popped out over the darker colors, but blended in with the rest... perfection.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50314872556_8213ae20e8_b.jpg" /></center> and i loved the candy canes so much, i couldn't help but use them for the backing.<div>i'm not one that devours candy canes by the package during the holiday season, but they are probably one of my favorite festive prints to have in fabric. plus the holly berries and snowflakes just make it that much cuter!</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50314872526_e72c4b7d09_b.jpg" /></center>spud cat... always in the way.<br />with the new shop open, plus the grand opening this weekend, i was able to make a few kits of this pattern for customers to buy. many had been asking for awhile, and since the fabric had come and (almost) gone, i was able to get 9 kits put together. it was pretty awesome seeing people buy them, since that meant they really liked my choices!<div>now that this quilt kit has had such success, i cannot wait to see how well the dinosaur kits do. which is totally on my list of things to get together soon, so stay tuned if you shop our live shows!</div><div>pattern information: <a href="http://abbeylanequilts.com/norwegian-woods/">norweigan woods by abbey lane quilts</a></div><div>quilt count: 144</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-26540008014601614712020-11-10T08:30:00.091-08:002020-11-10T08:30:08.433-08:00boxed up beauty and the beast quilt<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562236432_62002cbdde_b.jpg" /></center>i'm in LOVE with this quilt!<br />for being a (huge) baby quilt, it couldn't have turned out any better.<br />and the best part? it went to live at my best friend's house for her sweet baby girl.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50578727447_2bfe15066f_b.jpg" /></center>when erika was pregnant with jackson, figuring out the fabric for that quilt was a breeze. (<a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2016/07/goodnight-quilt-winnie-pooh-baby-quilt.html">see it here!</a>) but when it came to this little one, i was at a complete loss of what to do. do i do another winnie the pooh one? do i do something simple and basic? do i make it match her nursery? WHAT DO I DO???<br />so the plan just sat.<br />and sat and sat and sat. until one day, someone posted a thread in a quilting group i'm in asking what fabric lines everyone is drooling over. then, someone in the comments shared the riley blake beauty and the beast fabric line, and as soon as i saw it, i was putting a fat quarter bundle in my cart and calling it a day.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562236767_0d9cd412c2_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562106281_317050e963_b.jpg" /></center> i don't think i quite had an exact plan right off the bat, except that this fabric needed to happen.<div>i knew <a href="https://cluckclucksew.com/">cluck cluck sew</a> had easy, awesome, fat quarter friendly patterns, so i cruised through their selection and decided on the <a href="https://cluckclucksewshop.com/collections/pdf-patterns/products/boxed-up-175-pdf-pattern">boxed up quilt</a>. this pattern featured the fun prints in a great way, without chopping them up and eliminating everything that was cute about them. once the fabric arrived, it was then time to decide on a background color.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562236727_7f08e638d2_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562106211_525d2e93d4_b.jpg" /></center>i could have easily done white, but that would have been asking for danger with a baby quilt. my first instinct was green, then i started to second guess it... i tried some pinks, i looked at dear stella moonscape dots, but my eyes and my heart came back to the konas. i landed on kona asparagus, which was the perfect shade of green to go with the leaves in the rose prints. i also decided that more fabrics needed to be featured in this quilt. the crib size only needed 7 fat quarters, and well... i just bought a full set of 18... <br />so what did i do?<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562106151_2d6cab202f_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50561362228_06cb504926_b.jpg" /></center>i went ahead and made the lap size version of the quilt!<br />sure, she's just a tiny baby right now, but now she can use it for years and years! i also went ahead and used 15 of the fat quarters and changed up the ratio used in the quilt (3 sets of each when it was 10, down to 2 sets of each at 15). i took out the three brown fat quarters, since they stood out SO MUCH. i used my design wall to figure out the layout of the large blocks, but that part was actually the hardest.<div>the blue/yellow/pink ratios were a little mismatched, so it was harder to create a balance of everything when creating the final layout. i had to fussy cut some of the smaller pieces for the sashing type strips, because i knew it would drive me CRAZY to have sideways prints.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50561362183_46b15cef06_b.jpg" /></center>i used a day at my parents to get the little strips thrown together and then sew together the complete quilt top. once those little bits were all laid out, things went together pretty quickly. minus the occasional cat laying in the middle of the project, but such is life.<div>i quilted it using a rose garden pantograph that i used on a previous quilt, because when you're doing beauty and the beast, it OBVIOUSLY has to be roses! the backing and binding are out of the same rose print from the line, because as soon as i saw it, i couldn't imagine anything else to frame up the quilt. the colors were perfect.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562236522_5c80a9cc31_b.jpg" /></center>i mean cmon, just look at how cute that little beast guy is!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562236502_ed4e660ccc_b.jpg" /></center> erika was originally due on october 6th, but after little baby gemma decided to turn herself in the wrong way, she was induced at the end of september. <div>that sure kicked finishing this quilt in to high gear, and i was sewing the binding on the day that she was born. it took a little bit longer to get mailed out to her, due to finding a package the right size to fit it in... because poly mailers are MIA right now, like no other. but i did receive word when it arrived, and that it is already well loved!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562106001_5ec62d4f48_b.jpg" /></center>this quilt turned out better than i could have imagined!<br />well, given that it started off with nothing imagined, i couldn't be more thankful to have stumbled across that riley blake line by way of the facebook group.</div><div>there is a secondary pattern that was also included in this, and i cannot wait to take a look at that and give it a go. truth be told, i have SO many patterns i have purchased, i don't even know where to begin on some things! i really just need to pull out all the ones i've done and work my way through them, even if it is just as a charity quilt to work through my stash (which i'm sure i've mentioned is way excessive and a bit overwhelming most of the time)</div><div>so here's to winding down the rest of 2020 with wrapping up current projects before blowing the roof of with the plans i have for 2021. but first...<br />i'm really just itching to meet the little one that got this quilt and snuggle her.<br />texas is so far away though... :(</div><div>pattern information: <a href="https://cluckclucksewshop.com/collections/pdf-patterns/products/boxed-up-175-pdf-pattern">boxed up by cluck cluck sew</a></div><div>quilt count: 143</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-34394784366200580462020-11-09T08:30:00.043-08:002020-11-09T08:30:07.049-08:00it's been a grand (and exhausting) week<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50582682957_b96ee697ab_b.jpg" /></center>another week, another collection of updates!<div>we made it through halloween last week, kicked off november, and had a tuesday that seemed to never end. but we've made it, and here we are at another monday!<br />but a whole heck of a lot happened in between.</div><div>i trimmed a lot of half square triangles.</div><div>and when i say a lot, i mean a LOT.</div><div>also last week...<center><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/75754264@N06/50582686677/in/dateposted/" title="20201105_153919"><img alt="20201105_153919" height="497" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50582686677_9eb607047b_b.jpg" width="1024" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></center> ya girl turned the big 32.</div><div>i celebrated by going to work. sounds pretty typical, right?</div><div>a year ago, or even 6 months ago, i had plans to go big for this birthday. angelina had told me once about having a second annual sweet 16 when she turned 32, but that idea got forgotten. i was SO determined to do it up big, but well... thanks to COVID, my celebration couldn't happen as planned.<br />i've already started to envision plans for next year's 33... so keep those fingers crossed.</div><div>thursday i had mexican food and friday i had pizza at godfathers. all in all, a pretty well fed birthday.</div><div><br /></div><div>also this week was the big grand opening at <a href="www.caliquiltco.com">cali quilt co</a>, and boy was it BUSY. </div><div>friday and saturday were very consistent with people in the shop, and we STILL ran our live show on saturday night. sunday was my day off, but i headed down to the shop to get a few more ombre fabrics to fully stock what i need for my all star quilt. plus i got some of the dino prints i had been eyeballing... because everyone (me) needs astronaut dinosaurs and super hero dinosaurs. but now, i need to head back to reality and just need to keep chopping, sewing, trimming, and repeating until all 720 sets are made. our guild retreat begins on friday, so i'd like to have as many HSTs done as i can so i can make blocks there instead of just HST all day err day.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50581826603_4ba158f2e6_b.jpg" /></center>also coming this week is my first live show!</div><div>while i've been the hands and voice behind the camera on our shop's saturday night live shows, starting this week, i'll be doing my own "block party" every wednesday at 9:30am PST. we also have a monday live video called "miek's mondays" with our shop manager annemieke that starts today! </div><div>i made this week's block as a practice round yesterday, and it is honestly so cute, i cannot wait to make more of them. you'll be able to purchase the kits and all the goodies we share through the show and then be able to make it with us when you rewatch the videos. cool, right??</div><div>be sure to "like" cali quilt co by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CaliQuiltCo/">clicking here</a> to go to their facebook page :)</div><div>happy monday!</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-469552057100177622020-11-03T08:30:00.020-08:002020-11-03T08:30:01.337-08:00one month (and three days) in<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50562098857_9b93569916_b.jpg"></center><p> i've officially made it one month as a full time employee.</p><p>can you believe it?<br />one thing i have already noticed is that it has REALLY helped my eating out habits.<br />when i did the split shift, i worked in the morning from 7-12:30, and after eating something for lunch, worked from 1-5:30 or so, which left me hungry and lazy once i got off work.<br />but now, i work from 7-3:30, bring my lunch with me each day, and then remind myself it is WAY too early for dinner.<br />so now, i maybe eat out once or twice a week if i'm out running errands or something?</p><p>moral of the story: more money for fabric. <br /></p><p>oh, and i did a thing last week too :)<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50560564197_58d0f831bb_b.jpg" /></p><p></p><p>being that blonde for a hot second was weird, but the end result was exactly what i was hoping for.<br />still getting used to seeing the teal hair i've been wanting for years (but couldn't because of my teaching job) and the fact that it isn't just going to wash out after one rinse... ha.<br />but do i anticipate this being a long time thing? absolutely!</p><p>otherwise, this week has been mildly productive quilty wise.<br />purchased some black on black fabric for my first project planned for 2021, so with that started (i already printed the pattern as well) then it relieves a little bit of the chaos of kicking off the year with something new. plus, i usually marathon sew on new year's eve, and since i don't anticipate any parties happening, i'll for sure be sewing away to get things going.</p><p>speaking of "parties"...<img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50560442241_f228ea61c5_b.jpg" /></p>i saw my friends for the first time this weekend since april, if not longer. the last time we "gathered" was for jared's drive by birthday, and that was all of 15 minutes tops.<br />it was a well missed experience.<br />clearly, i had no costume plans for this, and when it was planned to be outside, i borrowed my dad's rosco onesie, made a mask and called it a day.<p></p><p>no major projects or quilt tops completed this week, but i finally convinced myself to start working more on my big sister/little sister quilt combo.<br />i'm super stoked with the projects i chose, but making over a thousand HSTs is daunting!<br />sunday night i got 4 sets of colors sewn and trimmed while marathoning episodes of new girl on my phone. yesterday, i got those pressed, and i had hoped to trim them as well... but man that was a chore just to press them. now it is back to drawing guide likes on the next set of while squares to line up my </p><p>i <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/10/just-give-me-cape-and-call-me-super.html">bought the planner i was debating about last week</a>, and i think it is really going to help keep me on track for all of my 2021 personal quilting plans as well as work tasks and such. <br />sure, i plan to still use my bullet journal tracker and such as well, but having a calendar i don't have to draw myself will also be nice.</p><p>what's on the agenda for this week?<br />sewing<br />sewing<br />birthday dinner<br />birthday pizza<br />more sewing<br /></p><p>that's right, everyone.<br />november is officially birthday month. well, it is easy to make it last when you're used to celebrating your birthday either in october or thanksgiving at grandma's house.<br />it's a hard tradition to break, especially when grandma's furniture is in my living room now ;)</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-6081641649351423592020-11-02T08:30:00.122-08:002020-11-02T08:30:11.507-08:00christmas village bold blocks quilt<p> <img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556303896_1390ff9ac4_b.jpg" /></p>today is the day! bold blocks quilt is available and ready for a sew along! head on over to <a href="http://allisonramsing.com">allisonramsing.com</a> for more details about getting the pattern, timeline and more on that straight from the designer allison herself :)<div>once the <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/10/moda-grunge-kapow-quilt.html">kapow! quilt</a> pattern test was over, i was totally on board to test another (and clearly put off all my own projects even more). i saw the "<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/caliquiltco/?search_query=better+not+pout">better not pout</a>" line of fabric while cutting orders one day at the shop and couldn't help but fall in love with these cute houses and need to find something to make with this. allison sent out a call for pattern testers, and once i was chosen, i KNEW i had to incorporate them. I picked a wintery/festive variety to include, and then BOOM. it came to life!</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50555658663_a7a700dee3_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556437127_4a3ba3499f_b.jpg" /></center>the simplicity of these blocks and the way the layout makes them look askew without being overly chaotic. i stuck closely to the pattern this time, and didn't get too fancy with adding more colors to the quilt at all. i purchased exactly what the pattern called for, and while my cutting instructions changed from the recommendations Allison gave, i still had enough fabric to use (both the blue blocks as well as the yellow background fabric were cut directionally)<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50555572258_e75fa2c4e7_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556304176_84106d0b46_b.jpg" /></center> i considered doing the same poinsettia quilting i had done on previous christmas quilts (which you'll FINALLY get to see sprinkled through this month) but the more i thought about it, the more i wanted the prints and the quilt's layout to be the focus and not be overwhelmed by the quilting. i used one of my favorite pantographs "loop the loop" with jade green glide thread and i'm SO happy with the results.<div>i decided to use glide in particular because it was new in our shop and i had been getting a lot of questions about it from customers. i was able to use a mini spool for the quilting (plus winding three gamill bobbins for it) and still had plenty of thread to spare in the end. i have also heard it is good for piecing, so i will have to give that a shot sometime as well! my current projects are far from jade green, so i'll have to find something soon to give it a go with :)<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556303861_6a805534ec_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556303766_158fbd9f8e_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556304216_a379643f55_b.jpg" /></center></div>i went with blue grunge 108 for the backing, since it was a perfect "solid" tie in without having to add even more print to the back. after talking with customers and hearing about how "nobody wants to cuddle up with a cotton backed quilt, they want minky" i ALMOST took the plunge, but at the same time... i don't know if i'm ready to jump in to that quite yet. maaaaybe soon.<div>i also had a huge struggle trying to decide on binding. i asked instagram, and got a lot of responses. i wanted to steer clear of red to keep this more "wintery christmas" instead of IN YOUR FACE obvious christmas. that way, it isn't awful if it stays out just a little bit longer beyond christmas. i even purchased a stripe from this same line of fabric, but when i got it home and next to the quilt... i hated it.</div><div>so back i went the next day to get a bit more of the holly leaves to finish up the quilt, and it is perfect.</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556437377_8bff94b2f0_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50556437437_a94f207d82_b.jpg" /></center> someday i won't feel like i have to include a quilt tag photo on each and every post...<br />but today is not that day. i'm still pretty obsessed with them. and i also managed to remember to fold this one out of the way when i was top stitching so that it wouldn't have a green line through it. it's the little things, guys. mentioning green lines, i DID sew on my binding with the glide thread, and it worked like a breeze for that as well. nothing wigged out at all beyond the weird spots my machine occasionally catches ALL thread, so there was nothing specific to glide that i had to grumble about. <center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50555572508_2dd5b98c46_b.jpg" /></center>and now that you've made it to the bottom of the post, rosco is here to remind you the quilt along starts TODAY! go get yourself that pattern (it's on sale through my birthday, even!) and join in the fun. allison has some great prizes in store, and i'll be rummaging through my stash to see what i might come up with for my very own quilt along version. this holiday one has a home already, but the recipient doesn't quite know it yet. will it be you?<br />guess you'll just have to keep checking your front porch every so often this month!<div><br /><div>pattern information: <a href="https://allisonramsing.com/patterns/p/bold-blocks-quilt-pattern">bold blocks by allison ramsing</a></div><div>quilt count: 142</div></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-23320434962166555252020-10-30T08:30:00.065-07:002020-10-30T08:30:04.474-07:00not a girl. not a robot.<b>Jason</b>: And to Janet, the best robot. <div><b>Janet</b>: Not a robot. </div><div><b>Jason</b>: Girl. </div><div><b>Janet</b>: Not a girl. </div><div><b>Jason</b>: And straight-up hottie. </div><div><b>Janet</b>: I am attractive, yes.</div><div><br /></div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50531965472_868fa0b854_b.jpg" /></center><div>2020 is SUPER WEIRD guys!<br />i didn't even think about making a costume this year, but who really has anyways?</div><div>though i did realize that i never did the post i promised from last year's halloween costume. so, 365 days later... here we are!</div><div>disclaimer: if you have not watched the good place, please note that i'm not a flight attendant. also, if you haven't watched the good place... go do so now. 4 seasons of delightful mike schur feel good fun.</div><div><br /></div><div>watching the series, janet was pretty much my favorite character.</div><div>seeing her evolve and grow from being not a robot and not a girl to a straight up awesome individual was so much fun to watch. when the series was ending, i knew i needed to be janet for halloween, while she was still "relevant" as a tv character. <br />granted, she'll always be relevant to me... but that's neither here nor there.<br />so since we're a year behind, here's some photos i made my dad take this past weekend so that i'd have something beyond dark phone photos for y'all</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50531965667_435b9b8394_b.jpg" /></center> i was so determined to find the actual fabric for janet's shirt somehow, some way... and after searching for a good long while... i did!<div>and of all places, it was project runway's favorite fabric shop, mood (<a href="https://www.moodfabrics.com/watercolor-clouds-digitally-printed-stretch-neoprene-scuba-knit-307442">thank you, mood!</a>) now finding a pattern for all the pieces though... THAT was an adventure. the vest pattern was sized down from something else we already had (because apparently finding vest patterns are quite difficult these days, and the skirt came from a few rounds of buying patterns that i thought were the right style but then i'd compare and go "nope"</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50531807011_f6850489b0_b.jpg" /></center>since i'm a quilter by nature, i absolutely did a test run on this shirt pattern before cutting up my fancy mood fabrics. so somewhere around this apartment is a very harry belafonte blue and yellow ruffle front shirt, because i ran out of fabric to do a practice one in a solid color. it's SUPER attractive, really. the worst part of this was the zipper, because i just couldn't quite do it right. i know i pulled it apart at least twice, and left it for my mom to do. two thumbs up for having a costumer mom who is WAY more familiar with stretchy fabrics and such than i am. i also sized down the vest a little too much, so i'm quite surprised i didn't hulk out of that thing at any point.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50531807056_936a870924_b.jpg" /></center> i am still super stoked with how this all came together, even if people thought i was a flippin' retro flight attendant. maybe at some point we'll still get to throw together the good janet/bad janet/michael combo with my sister and my dad like we had planned for our dance recital... unless we come up with some other crazy idea to go with instead!<br />and for good times sake, here's some halloween throwbacks from 2019 in the costume.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50531137688_749be59445_b.jpg" /></center>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-53852177477917659642020-10-28T08:30:00.092-07:002020-10-28T08:30:01.536-07:00moda grunge kapow! quilt<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496173138_95e854694a_b.jpg" /></center> i think i've tested a few patterns in my day prior to this one... but i honestly cannot think of any others besides <a href="https://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2016/10/boba-fett-pillow-pet.html">boba fett</a>... but this one was a real delight to put together!<br />in the past month or so i joined a young and millennials quilter group on facebook, and have zero regrets about the group. like... i made <a href="www.instagram.com/sew_l1sa">lisa</a> join it too, and she's had great results from it. one of the first posts i responded to was from joanna with kustom kwilts looking for people to test her pattern. i thought it looked AWESOME, so i jumped on board and responded, despite the other things i still had planned to do.<div>i'm sure you're sensing a pattern here with my project behaviors. can't be productive if 10,000 things aren't happening at once! originally, i signed up for the lap sized quilt, but when she needed testers for the baby size, i gladly obliged. let's be real... i should have only taken on the baby sized quilt for testing... but you'll see where this same situation happens again VERY soon.<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496173183_42e7a4791e_b.jpg" /></center>before this quilt, i had never made one that was 100% out of grunge. and if you've seen my posts before, you know very well how much i love, love, love it. like, we just got all the moda grunges in at <a href="www.caliquiltco.com">the shop</a>, and i'm like a walking heart eye emoji whenever i'm near them. i took advantage of this size and pulled a rainbow assortment of fat quarters that helped complete the rainbow plus a few extras to make it pop (i needed 9 for the baby size). with that, i starched, ironed, and then got to cutting!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496882651_e8952d3728_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496882666_6703c46ae6_b.jpg" /></center> i tried to space the colors out the best i could, since i didn't want the same three colors to rotate through the blocks, leaving me with only 3 different colorway sets. i have to say, i think i did a pretty darn good job with it! this quilt, much like<a href="https://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/10/mini-meadowland-kitty-quilt.html"> the mini meadowland</a> i posted last week, had 16" blocks, which was perfect. the size of the center star was just the right side, and with the grunge there was no worry about anything being directional.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50497037492_bccbb279b0_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496882556_a7c5c408a8_b.jpg" /></center>the great thing about this crayola-esque color way, is it isn't really gender specific. the fabric i picked for the back was this perfectly matched rainbow brick print i got at thistledew's retirement sale. once i quilted this quilt, i assumed it was just going to sit and wait for a home before i decided how to bind it. then, i remembered a dear friend of mine from high school was expecting her first baby, and she would be the perfect person to receive this fun quilt. i bound it in raspberry pink grunge, since i had a ton left over from the meadowland backing, and sent it on it's way.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496173078_8312023586_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496882521_08994789d2_b.jpg" /></center>beyond the grunge, i loved a lot of things about this pattern. everything is made from traditional quilt block piecing - half square triangles and flying geese in particular. there is plenty of room to trim down, and most of the points aren't even near the final seam allowance to get lost. i'm one that often loses points on my block edges, but this one i had GREAT experience with, and i think i only lost a few points, and that was due to binding. i call that a win.</div><div>i loved looking and seeing other pattern testers versions of this block. some fussy cut things for the middle and others used only two color ways instead of 9 to get a totally different effect. i hope someday i'm a little more bold when it comes to pattern testing instead of following the instructions EXACTLY as written.<br />but you know what.<br />i love my grungey kapow so much. i think that top left pink/yellow/aqua one might be my favorite block though.<br /><p>pattern information: <a href="https://kustomkwilter.com/product/kapow-pdf-quilt-pattern-digital-download/">kapow! quilt by kustom kwilts</a><br />quilt count: 142</p></div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-64716955777860381662020-10-26T08:30:00.038-07:002020-10-26T08:30:02.358-07:00just give me a cape and call me super productive<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50531932767_c64b12f2dd_b.jpg" /></center><p> but seriously...</p><p>i got SO MANY PROJECTS done this week!<br />first off, i ran a bunch of errands last monday, got some cans exchanged for a solid $5 AND got taco tree for dinner. that was just on monday!</p><p>tuesday was a trickier day - our dance studio started back up, which was an event all in itself.<br />can i just say i'm glad at least some of us know how to wear masks correctly? oy.<br />psa: not covering your nose doesn't count.</p><p>wednesday though... wednesday was productive! <br />after a full day at work, i knocked out the quilting on my bold blocks quilt i've been pattern testing for <a href="https://allisonramsing.com/">allison ramsing</a> AND came home to make 2 pillowcases that i had been putting off. i bought some really cute"dinoween" fabric well over a month ago at the big J, but it just sat. finally on monday, i bought the flannel to coordinate and i knocked these suckers out. at least i'll have 10 days of pre-halloween useage of them this year.</p><p>thursday and friday i sewed up the rest of my dinosaur blocks in to a quilt top, and then saturday i got binding on my bold blocks quilt. on sunday, things got photographed, which means more blog posts are about to happen!</p><p>i've printed off a blank calendar to start planning for next month's posts, and that leads me to my next predicament. should i invest in a 2021 planner? or is it going to be a total wash like the one i bought for 2020? i've got some big blogging and youtube plans for 2021, so part of me wants to say yes, just based on that alone. its not like i'll be having to keep track of summer camp writing deadlines, preschool meetings and such.</p><p>i guess if i go run errands and hit target today (or stay home and spend too much time on amazon) then i'll see if i end up impulse buying something!</p><p>granted, i'm nearing birthday week. so impulse buys are going to be more justified (by me) than normal...<br />but that's also really difficult with a november birthday followed by december in christmas. i usually get told i'm not allowed to buy anything for myself between now and january. ha.</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-62857430079304166732020-10-23T08:30:00.112-07:002020-10-23T08:30:03.874-07:00ghouls and goodies tote bag<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496120871_4ed0f901d6_b.jpg" /></center><p>for the first time in forever, i did a swap!</p><p>there was awhile back where i did a LOT of swaps (primarily in my craftster days) but it also seems like the swapping concept totally died out on instagram. it is weird how these things come in waves. anywho, my friend <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ohsewangelina/">angelina</a> added me to her online crew of sewing/quilting type and at some point during one of the saturday night hangouts, they suggested a halloween themed swap.</p><p>simple small item, sounded easy enough, so why not put off all other things and jump on in?<br />sounds like my style.</p><p>once the wait was over, i was given angelina's name to create something for. i decided that i would create a tote bag using one of the <a href="https://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/search/label/fussy%20cut%20sampler">fussy cut sampler blocks</a> from the class she did in 2018, but make it "spooky." i switched between a handful of fabric ideas before settling on using a bunch of the fabrics from moda's ghouls and goodies. this line was just TOO CUTE to pass up, and PERFECT for fussy cutting.</p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495414998_afc039178b_b.jpg" /></center>i used one of the blocks from chapter 6 (<a href="https://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2018/06/fussy-cut-sampler-chapter-6.htmlhttps://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2018/06/fussy-cut-sampler-chapter-6.htmlhttps://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2018/06/fussy-cut-sampler-chapter-6.htmlhttps://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2018/06/fussy-cut-sampler-chapter-6.htmlhttps://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2018/06/fussy-cut-sampler-chapter-6.htmlhttps://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2018/06/fussy-cut-sampler-chapter-6.html">see the catasaurus version here</a>) and the majority of it all is the ghouls and goodies line. the black squares are moda grunge (holla!) and the witch boots i believe are riley blake. those teeny tiny kitties were just too cute to not arrange this way!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495415083_fc2711bdf1_b.jpg" /></center>when crating the front of the back itself, i used this star print i picked up locally from <a href="https://www.swiftystitches.com/">swifty stitches</a>. i didn't use a specific tutorial for the bag/block placement, but instead just doodled up some measurements in my bullet journal and went for it. the bottom strip is probably an inch bigger than the top one, just to give it a little more weight visually. things i learned in photography classes do in fact pay off with quilting!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496276122_457e603a8b_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495415253_9b37c1b0d0_b.jpg" /></center>for the back of the bag, i considered just doing a solid... but i kind of went on an impulse buying spree and had so many cure prints leftover that i hadn't used yet! i made 3 strips of fabrics of varying colorways and prints, pieced them together and wha laa! one fabulous bag back. as far as the quilting goes, i primarily did a stitch in the ditch on both the front and the back of the bag, and then did a skinny straight line stitch on all the black. on the front, the vertical and horizontal lines intersect in the corners. keeping it simple sure helped my sanity! i probably should have layered the batting with some muslin to stabilize it a little bit better when quilting, but i still think it turned out great.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496276002_e8830fb894_b.jpg" /></center> <p>the purple clothesline from the collection was something that i instantly knew would be the lining. i couldn't bring myself to cut it up and loose bits of it because of how insanely cute it was. i sewed up the sides, squared up the bottom and then attached at the top. i should have left a hole in the side to flip it right side out, but instead i left the hole in the top and closed it up when top stitching. if i made a tote again, which could easily happen, that is what i'd do instead. </p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496120801_cd6745a52c_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496275977_15c08f4b2d_b.jpg" /></center>fot the straps i started off a little bit wider, but once i got the inner witch boot strips cut, they needed to come down a smidge, so the focal could be on the boots in the center of the lining. i kept the star black consistent on top and sewed the 3 layers together before flipping right side out. top stitched the edge and about a quarter of an inch away and they were perfect! i also wanted to include one of my new quilt tags on to my bag, so after realizing i could have sewn it in the seam of the lining (fail) i cut it down to size and sewed it on to the inside of the strap. i love how it turned out there, and i might just need to order some square tags now specifically for these kinds of projects!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496276067_41163d6c86_b.jpg" /></center>while i might tweak the creation process of this bag, i have no regrets in the final result!<br />i'm so glad i went with this one line of fabric... and it honestly made me want to keep making fussy cut sampler blocks for a halloween quilt. but then i swiftly reminded myself i have a list a mile long to deal with, and that fleeting idea will have to wait for another day (or year).<div>happy spooky season!</div><div>book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fussy-Cut-Sampler-Favorite-Fabrics/dp/1940655226">the fussy cut sampler</a> by elisabeth woods and nichole ramirez</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-63478596092138931452020-10-21T08:30:00.088-07:002020-10-21T08:30:02.214-07:00mini meadowland kitty quilt<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495808413_29d6f11e02_b.jpg" /></center><p>oh my goodness... this poor quilt has been done FOREVER and just got mailed off last week.<br />it is WAY over due for it's time in the spotlight!</p><p>when i found out my dear friend jessica was having baby girl number three, i was thrilled to come up with a way to incorporate our childhood love of kitties in to this quilt. but apparently that is the theme for her getting baby quilts... they come eventually! (<a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2018/03/half-hexi-smokey-cat-baby-quilt.html">half hexi smokey cat quilt</a> was baby girl #2).</p><p>being in the midst of quarantine while making this, and possibly even during my unemployment phase, i needed a pattern that was quick, easy and i could use my stash for. the meadowland quilt was one i had my eye on for quite some time, and it was the perfect size for a wee one to grow with. i had a lot of pinks, aquas and grays from previous projects, so it was the perfect mix for a baby girl.</p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495808808_a40d404d77_b.jpg" /></center>the collections of pinks i had surprised me, since i don't often use them in my quilt!<br />granted, a bunch of them came from my <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/02/emilys-rad-100-days-100-blocks-tula.html">rad 100 days 100 blocks</a> quilt that was all over the rainbow. the aqua kitty heads were just too cute to pass up when i did some shop hopping awhile ago, and they became the perfect tie in for this quilt!<br /><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495808738_cc5cb5a633_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495808678_9b530c4ac1_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495808628_5a26b463bc_b.jpg" /></center>these blocks were much larger than i expected them to be, which was great to feature these fabrics even more so. bigger blocks = more kitty cuteness, am i right? i used to think 12"blocks were gigantic and good, but something just feels good about these 16ish ones. maybe that's because i spent a good three months making 6 and a half inch blocks a few years ago!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496671552_86e6bb7f9b_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496516136_acf12418e9_b.jpg" /></center>i picked up the gray binding and raspberry grunge backing from <a href="http://caliquiltco.com">caliquiltco.com</a> to help tie it all together. i felt like the gray was enough to frame it up without being too "in your face" while the pink on the back was perfect. i did a simple crazy puzzle pantograph all over it to keep the focus on the blocks and not necessarily overwhelm it with quilting.<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50495808478_e8aeded25f_b.jpg" /><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496671417_0185dff078_b.jpg" /></center> i would absolutely do this quilt again, using a wider variety of colors and in a larger size. could i use a new quilt for my bed? hmmm... 6 quilts layered during the wintertime could be exactly what i need! <br />i should also add that i found a blog post that helped figure out how to keep the directional fabric going the same way on all of the flying geese pieces (helpful for those kitty heads especially)<br />if you plan to do a meadowland and want to know how to keep it directional, the link is here: <a href="https://evquilts.wordpress.com/2019/02/28/four-at-a-time-geese-directional-fabric/">four at a time geese with directional fabric</a><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50496671357_5b284f23b2_b.jpg" /></center><p>pattern information: <a href="https://thencamejune.com/products/meadowland-quilt-pattern-pdf">meadowland by then came june</a><br />quilt count: 141</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-53995832548315025392020-10-19T08:30:00.038-07:002020-10-19T08:30:07.277-07:00spooky season<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504499601_5b635cf51c_b.jpg" /></center>i think calling october as a whole "spooky season" is pretty cute.<br />but this post doesn't have a single spooky related thing in it...<div>oh well.</div><div><br /></div><div>i have to say overall, this week has been pretty good in the crafty department.</div><div>monday, i went to the long arm to complete someone else's quilt, and after a few funky moments, i finished it! it will go to it's home this week, and then i'll actually be back long arming my own project this wednesday. whoo hoo!</div><div><br /></div><div>last week, you may have heard i cut out 1200 white squares...<br />yeah. true story.<br />well, a few days went by that i had nothing to sew, and then i finally hit the ground running. i bought the fabric i needed for the next phase of my cutting, which is only half of the ones i need. we don't seem to have all of the "old colors" for the v and co ombre dots, so i'll be looking to see which new ones to mix in. as well as comparing to add in to the little sister quilt that goes with this one.</div><div><br /></div><div>ALSO... we had a sew day yesterday out in elk grove, which means i got started on my baby sized elizabeth hartman dinosaur quilt. so far, i got all my plants done as well as half the dinosaurs. i don't have any sneak peek photos yet, unless you look on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wereradletshug/">instagram</a>, but this one is SO GOOD. i had a different idea for when i made the one that would be "my size" but man, i'm going to have to scrap it and make it in this colorway for sure, i love it so much. also, i had to start the hashtag <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/emilylovesdinosaurs/">emilylovesdinosaurs</a>, which i imagine will take over instagram in no time. <br />well, a girl can dream, right?</div><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50504499611_2f1317718e_b.jpg" /></center>i also impulse bought a ring light this week, which will hopefully be a game changer when i have to do late night blog header photos (like the one above) BUT i also have a crazy idea for 2021, quilting and youtube, and i really think that this will help out. granted, i bought the cheapest one on amazon, which comes with a crummy non adjustable tripod and a weird phone mount, so i might need to make some adjustments there.<div>stay tuned for new finished projects this week! i've got 4 coming at you before the end of october, so don't miss out.</div>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-49769404103738115172020-10-12T08:30:00.012-07:002020-10-12T08:30:07.268-07:00october!<center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50449563052_bcca7b0697_b.jpg" /></center><p>can you believe we're now over a week and half in to october?<br />where has the time gone?<br />i feel like it took SO LONG to get through april and may, and now the days are just flying by and christmas will be here before we know it.<br />am i ready for christmas? despite the amount of holiday quilts i have made... absolutely not!</p><p>i've officially worked a week and a half full time retail now, and i have to say...<br />i regret nothing.<br />the transition between everything has been smooth, and besides my whacked out sleep schedule, everything is going great. i feel like i'm getting better each day about pulling online orders, getting things put back, and being overall knowledgeable about where things are, information about products, and all the random bits in between.</p><p>yesterday i went to brunch with a few members of the preschool team, and it was delightful. noisy, but very delightful i look forward to many more future "non-work" gatherings with these lovely individuals i worked with these past 6 years. don't worry, we were distanced, masked and extra safe even with things starting to be lifted in our counties here in california.</p><p>after brunch, i took my trolly full of things to my parents house to get projects started, double checked, and even on their way to their new homes! i photographed and packed up 3 baby quilts, sorted my grunge FQs for my dinosaur quilt, and even got some kona cut for some matching quilts. productivity underway? you betcha!</p><p>now on to this week.</p><p>today, i'm long arming a quilt for someone who got my info through caliquiltco. holla!<br />it's a mega one, so even though i just finished a quilt i'm pattern testing, i will be holding off and putting all my energy in to the one.<br />i'll be doing a pantograph i'm very familiar with, so that helps as well. (loop the loop, for reference. it is the same one i have done on my <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/2020/02/color-me-happy-kittens-quilt.html">kittens quilt</a> and <a href="http://toothpasteandorangecat.blogspot.com/search/label/music%20quilt">numerous music quilts</a>)</p><p>after i complete that, it will go back to it's owner and i'll be able to take a breath and do some more things on my own list. those things include, but aren't limited to:</p><p>-finish bold blocks quilt<br />-prep little sister quilt<br />-prep big sister quilt<br />- FINALLY start my dinosaur quilt</p><p>i also realized you all never saw my halloween costume from last year...<br />there was a plan for it to be worn during our dance recital this summer, but due to current situations, that clearly did not happen. so perhaps i'll add "awkwardly photograph self in parent's driveway" to my list of things to do in the days before halloween as well.</p><p>and i think once we hit november, i'll feel better about hitting you all with my christmas quilts.<br />once i finish my bold blocks quilt, i'll be up to three completed quilts, and then i just need to finish MINE. can i get it done before december? let's all send good productive vibes out in to the world saying a big fat YES.</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6727401642517466510.post-4495421464484242372020-10-09T08:30:00.020-07:002020-10-09T08:30:05.737-07:00so i quit my job. <center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50420950331_a8d95483bf_b.jpg" /></center><p>don't worry, i'm not jobless at all.<br />in fact, quite the opposite.<br />ya girl is FINALLY working a full time gig.</p><p>months ago, when i went back to working childcare after being unemployed and then hired by caliquiltco, i was put on hold at the shop due to COVID still being fairly new and unknown of what i could contract now working with children of essential care workers.</p><p>spoiler alert: i didn't get covid.<br />(granted, i fear jinxing myself EVERYTIME i write that)</p><p>anyways, in the meantime, i was given a full time offer that lingered for awhile.<br />but i was anxious for the potential of preschool to resume.<br />but it didn't. and it still hasn't.<br />so after much reflection and realizing the things i want to do with my life that putting everything on hold just wasn't going to help with, i made the plunge to leave my job of 6 years and accept the full time offer presented to me.</p><p>of course, i did it the day before i went to the training, which i guess was nice, since it helped cushion the blow and shorten the amount of days remaining before my final day.</p><p>yeah, i cried. <br />a lot. i'll admit it.<br />for like a week before and after.<br />but come my final day, i survived. i got a little teary and sad when i saw the note on the white board, but i managed to not fully melt down. so that's a plus.<br />man, we're getting REAL on this post!</p><center><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50420258583_8befaf566e_b.jpg" /></center><p>i'll miss the familiarity, and i'll for SURE miss the kiddos, but now it is on to a new adventure that will open doors for so many more things. it's going to be a transition working retail again for the first time in like... 8 years? but here's to new adventures.<br />onward and upward, they say.</p>Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12011578142358578421noreply@blogger.com0