2014 at Busy Hands Quilts

Left to right from the top.

1.  Queen 30s Barn Raising - Custom

2.  Queen 30s Barn Raising in Purples - Custom

3.  Magic Garden Lap Quilt - Sold

4.  Queen Jacob's Ladder - Custom

5.  Queen Star Light Star Bright - For Sale

6.  Lark Lap Quilt - For Sale

7.  Scrumptious Star Wall Hanging - Gift

8.  Hello Sunshine Lap Quilt - Custom

9.  Hello Sunshine Baby Quilt - For Sale

10.  Antique Quilt - Custom / Gift

11.  Lovey Dovey Baby Quilt - For Sale

12.  Drawstring Play Mat - Gift

1.  Fall Flying Geese Table Runner - Gift

2.  Twisted Irish Chain Lap Quilt - For Sale

3.  Rainbow Sparkler Twin Quilt - For My Son

4.  Bee My Honey Table Runners / Window Valances - For Sale

5.  American Flag Wall Hanging in Thimbleberries - For Sale

6.  Cat Wall Hanging in Thimbleberries (not blogged) - For Me

7.  Thimbleberries Table Runner in Mauves - For Sale

8.  Happy Ooh La La Baby Security Blanket - For Sale

9.  King Phoebe's Flower Box - Custom / Gift

10.  Amish Shadow Window Valances - Custom

11.  Amish Shadow Pillow Cover - For Sale

12.  Full Size Photo Memory Quilt - Custom

Twenty-four in all.  Way less than last year's 54, but I am content with what I did create.  I have lots of plans for 2015 quilting.  Here are some of them.  Won't you join me?

 

Linking to:

Crazy Mom Quilts

Don't Miss Crafty's Year-End Clearance Sale!

Just pretend I didn't tell you yesterday how much fabric I have, and join me over at Craftsy to buy more in their Year-End Clearance Sale!  I LOVE Craftsy for quilt kits and fabric yardage and precuts!  Did you know that the Dot fabric I am using for the Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt-Along is actually a repurposed Craftsy quilt kit?  The kit was the 2013 Craftsy Block of the Month.  The prices of the kits are so low that if I love the fabric, I'll buy the kit even if I don't like the pattern!

After I make a run through Craftsy, I'm heading off to exercise and then begin my sewing room messover makeover!  {See, you can justify heading to Craftsy when you run over!}

Custom Twin-Size HST Quilt {A Peek!} + Take Charge of Your Health

This pile of deliciousness arrived on my porch today!  Oh happy day!  This fabric is for my next custom order, which I plan to begin after the New Year following the major re-do of my sewing area which commences today.  This is a twin size half-square triangle quilt with a white background.  My customer had the amazing foresight to photograph her baby girl every month on a different fabric for 24 months! Such an adorable idea!  In memory of these pictures, she's asked me to make a bed quilt for her daughter.  And I'm happy to do so!  Can you believe I've never made an entire quilt with only HSTs before?!?  Triangles yes, but not HSTs.  I'm super excited to begin!

I'm looking forward to new things in the New Year, one of them being continuing on the healthier path that 2014 has been for me.  This year I have battled and overcome intestinal candida - YEAH!  Well, actually, I battled candida for at least the past five years, aware that something was wrong but not able to pinpoint what it was.  The symptoms that were so bothersome to me over those years are gone, and I am looking forward to continuing toward a healthier me - for myself, for my family, for our dog {she loves to walk and run!}, and so I have more energy to quilt!  {I LOVE them all!!!}

My naturopath has been so very helpful in guiding me through the maze of health products and lifestyle changes I needed to make.  But what I really learned this year is that nothing will change for me if something doesn't change inside me.  I am the key to my success in being healthier.

And if you struggle with even thinking about making any changes to your health, please, please, find a good naturopath {ask your friends, family, and co-workers for suggestions}, and get help from them.  A good naturopath will look at your whole being, your detailed symptom list and develop a step-by-step plan to get you moving toward a healthier you which is really a happier you.  And honestly, being happy inside might be the key to buying less fabric!!

I will be reading over The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle which I purchased earlier this year.  It has lots of info on getting fit, making more nutritious meals, using natural skin and hair products, how to do your best at preventing chronic disease, using essential oils, and so much more.  I'm particularly interested in reading more about avoiding chronic disease, getting fit, and meal planning, some of my weak points that need shored up.  This Bundle is coming back for 48 hours only and will not be offered again.  Would you like to take charge of your health along with me?

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt-Along {Clue #4 Finished!} + Commitment to Healthier Living!

Clue #4 blocks are completed.  That's 80 more for a total of 400!  I just might go buy some more black dots since all I have left in black is this big dot, and I'd like a bit more variety.  

I'm ready to start Clue #5 but first I'm going to rearrange my sewing room, moving desks, tables, shelves, and a whole lot of fabric.  This will be nothing short of a major mess.  I'm sure you like to see major messes, so I'll take some pictures for you!  I'm going to the local comic shop to get comic book boards tomorrow with the plan of refolding all of my fabric.  Okay, I'll work on Clue #5 before I finish that HUGE project because I have at least 750 yards of fabric!  Why yes, thank you for asking, I do plan to keep track of yardage as I refold it all.  If that doesn't get the stash busters involved and make buying fabric a capital crime {that means the DEATH sentence, ladies}, I suppose nothing will.  {SIGH}  You have no proof that I already mentioned buying more fabric in this very post.

And just in case you are not on a fabric diet {okay, even if you are - diets are meant to be broken flexible!}, Craftsy is having a terrific Year-End Clearance Sale!  Run on over, because buying fabric is justified when you run!

Speaking of healthier habits, although one could easily argue that buying fabric is cheaper than professional therapy, would you like to join me in a healthier 2015? I'm committing to exercising six days a week {I've already begun!}, tracking what I eat everyday, and doing a better job of meal planning.  My family just heads to carbs if solid meals are not available, and as a homeschooling mom that means three meals a day, folks, and they're all teenagers so this requires a lot of food and planning! I need super hero help in this department!

The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle will help me with all of these goals and encourage me on to develop other healthier goals, as well.  The Healthy Living Bundle will be available for 48 hours only - that's it! After that it will no longer be available.

Join me for a healthier New Year!

Lilla Rose Purple Friday Sale!

Lilla Rose is having a One-Day Flash Sale today only!

You will save 10% off all items, 15% off selected items and receive free shipping for orders over $40!!

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt-Along {Clue #3 Finished!} + {Clue #4 Progress}

Clue #3 finished!  These easy strip pieced blocks were a nice change after the more intensive Broken Dishes blocks.

 Clues #1, #2, and #3 checking each other out - 320 blocks in all! 

Here's Clue #4 ready to assemble into blocks!  I forgot that we had 80 leftover HSTs for this step and was not looking forward to making Broken Dishes blocks again this week!  When I realized there were only 80 HSTs to make and 160 squares to cut I was so delighted!  This time I used squares rather than the Easy Angle ruler, and it was so much faster.

Christmas dinner tomorrow is later in the day, so I'll have time to assemble them.  We're making the desserts, and we made most of them today so tomorrow is clear to sew!  I say "we" because for holiday meals I get all the kids in the kitchen, and we bake together.  They will leave home knowing how to make pie!!

Linking to:

Quiltville

Custom Full-Size Photo Memory Quilt {Finished!!}

The custom full-size photo memory quilt has been finished and mailed off in time for Christmas!  

It's a fun mix of navy, gray, and white.

My customer says, "Beautiful job, gorgeous final product!" 

For this order, my customer gave me the overall picture of what she was after as far as pattern and fabrics by sending pictures of quilts she liked.  The first thing I did was learn how to print photos on fabric.  It just takes time and is quite simple, really.  My customer left final fabric choices to me, and I had fun shopping my local shops for navy and gray fabrics suitable for a man.  I made a few sample blocks for her approval and consulted with her regarding block structure {whether or not to put triangles in the corners of each block like a photo mount on the corner of a picture}, and she chose to leave them off.  It did seem busy with the triangles and much cleaner and crisper without them.

Most of the time I like quilts how crinkly quilts get after being washed, but this time I liked it better before washing.  I did not quilt through the pictures, and after washing they were raised above the rest of the quilt, yet still wrinkly.  It was so crisp and clean before!  Below is what the quilt top looked like before quilting and washing.

Backing is Robert Kaufman Architextures in Grey.  It is a super soft extra-wide fabric.  Extra-wide fabrics tend to lean toward crispy, but this one is a soft winner.

Scrappy binding from the navy leftovers!  They pop next to the solid navy border.

Quilt Stats:

• Pattern:  My own, Picture Frames
• Size:  Full size
• Fabric:  Quilt-shop quality fabrics in navy, gray from lines such as Remix, Dear Stella, Simply Style, Architextures, Ta Dot, and many more, along with Kona White and Indigo.
• Batting:  100% cotton, thin
• Backing:  Robert Kaufman Architextures in Grey, extra wide
• Quilting:  Allover medium meandering stitch in gray thread on Mrs.Singer, my antique 31-15 mounted on a quilting frame. 
• Binding:  Leftover navy scraps.
• Value:  Memorable!

This quilt was a custom order in my Etsy shop, Busy Hands Quilts.  You can choose the pattern and all fabrics, or you can leave the fabric selection to me.  I consult with you each step of the way unless you want me to make it as I see fit.  For some customers, it can be overwhelming to make a decision, and I'm happy to make the decisions for them!  I can work either way, depending on what you desire.

Linking to:
Quiltville
Crazy Mom Quilts
Tuesday Archives

Custom Amish Shadows Quilted Window Valances with Coordinating Pillow Cover

Also in the works this month have been two custom quilted window valances in the Amish Shadows pattern.  I received three custom orders in one day the week before Thanksgiving!  Something about that time of year inspires people to order custom quilts - it happens every year for me.

My customer had a quilt an Amish lady made several years ago and wanted window valances to coordinate in her home.  She cut out a patch of the quilt so I'd have exact fabrics to match!  I just about spewed cocoa on my computer when I read she had done that!  {#@%$!!}  Then they come in the mail, and I realized she was serious!  I was so happy to have a Moda Bella Solids color chart on hand to match them just about perfectly!

As with many custom quilts, this is the first time I've made this pattern.  With the exception of applique and some really time-consuming patterns, I always say, "Of course I can make that!" and I set out to learn how.  

I used Missouri Star Quilt's YouTube tutorial, Summer in the Park Revamped, to create these blocks using strip piecing.  You can find the written pattern in Missouri Star Quilt's BLOCK magazine.  The downside for using this method to make these blocks is that it creates an even number of blocks with the colors on the opposite side.

With the extra blocks I made a coordinating pillow cover. 

Quilted window valances make a beautiful addition to any room.  

Quilt Stats:

• Pattern:  Amish Shadows
• Size:  38" wide x 15" tall
• Fabric:  Moda and Kona Solids
• Backing:  Natural muslin.
• Quilting:  Straight lines on diagonal
• Binding:  Double fold in black, attached by machine.
• Value:  Simple and unique!

These window valances were a custom order in my Etsy shop.

Linking to:

Quiltville
Crazy Mom Quilts

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Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt-Along {Clue #2 Finished!}

Clue #2 is finished!  Exactly 100 blocks in yummy dots!  The points match very well on most of the blocks - I was kinda worried about them not being right.  Center seams are pressed open so the little "V" appears which will help me sew them together in the next step with more perfect points.  

I used method #3 for these triangles, tossing the small triangles in the garbage.  I do NOT consider this a waste because I do not usually keep small pieces like that anyway.  It's all in perspective, folks!  I did think about making them into a separate HST but simply don't have time, so I tossed them, and it was liberating!!  {GASP!}

Clue #3's green, neutral and black strips have been cut and are eagerly awaiting sewing.  It's great to work with the green since it hadn't been used in any previous clues and was the last color we're pulling in.  Hopefully tomorrow I'll have time to work on Clue #3 because Clue #4 comes out tomorrow, and I don't want to get any further behind!  My goal is to finish along with the group!  I think I can ... I think I can ... I know I can!!

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