Settled on Octagonal Orbs

I've been putting off selecting a pattern for my Madrona Rd Challenge quilt until recently.   I was supposed to pick something that was "new to me" or something I hadn't done before.   I browsed the started and finished projects on the MRC Flicker page and was inspired to get started!

I finally settled on Oh, Fransson's Octagonal Orbs block pattern.  She posted a tutorial on the MQG website here.  She also just recently posted her finished quilt.  I adore her bold use of orange, since it is the best color, of course! 

 Here's what I've accomplished so far...

Strip pieced yellows and blues...

 Grays ready to cut and piece

 yellows waiting to be sewn

My planning page.  I was trying out several color combinations from the fabrics I received.  I chose the middle block. 

I have just begun to cut and piece the blocks, so hopefully with the holiday on Monday I can get some serious progress made on this.

The One Hour Before Dinner Mom's Scraps Challenge

I've signed up for several swaps and challenges this year already, and I think they may have been inspired by a recent challenge I participated in with my friend Krommama while I was down in FL visiting my folks.

Krommama (who lives a few hours north of my folks) drove down for a visit and my mom had several bags of fabric scraps for her to go through and take what she wanted.  After she picked what she wanted and we were waiting for dinner to be ready, I posed a challenge.....




The One Hour Before Dinner Mom's Scraps Challenge!

During the one hour before dinner, we had to use only the leftover fabric scraps from my mom to make a 10" x 10" block.  duh.

So we went to work... I chose my favorite colors orange and yellow (after getting these colors approved by Krommama's daughter, that is) and she chose holiday fabrics.  Here are our finished blocks:

Krommama's wonky house block with holiday angel cat

My wonky sunrise block with free motion stitching on Sun

We left these with my mom, of course, so we'll see if she ever does anything with them!  Mom's cat Nala seemed to like the blocks!

Starting Simply Solids!

I may have overbooked myself sewing-wise this year, but I couldn't help myself!  I've joined a year-long sewing bee - the Simply Solids: a modern {bee}.  We can only use quilting quality solid colored cotton fabrics.  Each member of the bee picks a month and a block pattern.  Then when it's your month,  you can either have the other members make your block by stash busting or you can send them fabrics to use. 

I cleaned up the sewing space and in the process consolidated my solid scraps.  The first block for February was a wonky log cabin.  I had fun making one so I didn't stop there and I made two!  I'm going to let my bee partner pick which one she likes the best and I'll keep the other for myself.

Finished February Wonky Log Cabin Block #1

Finished February Wonky Log Cabin Block #2

Hooray for sewing!

Belated Shameless Self Promotion

This is long overdue, but I'm really not very good at promoting or selling my work...  This is why I have Dawson at Pussies on Parade! 

If you hadn't heard yet, last summer I was sewing up a storm getting ready for the Renegade Craft Fair here in Chicago.  Dawson, who owns Pussies on Parade, an online gallery and shop showcasing feline art from around the world, had a booth and I created lots of cat quilty things for him to sell.

 There were lots of pillows and mini quilts with very cute cats thinking very snarky things.  The items that didn't sell at the craft fair are now on his website: pussiesonparade.com, so go check them out!