The Finale...

The Scallop Peel Quilt is finally completely done and in use! I was able to finish getting it quilted the day after this months Friday Night Sew-In. The next day was a beautiful one, so we went on a picnic after church and took some pictures of the quilt.

Looks nice draped over the bridge, but I wanted to get a few more :)

So we took these...

I really like that guy in the sunglasses ;)

 The back...

And a beautiful picture of the family...

So the class has been done for months...and now my quilt is finally done! It's a great size large lap size...small twin bed size.

Quilt Stats:

Name – Scallop Peel Quilt

Size – 52 x 70

Material – Keepsake Calicos from JoAnne Fabrics

Quilted - by me :)

It's been washed a couple times already and is so comfy feeling already!

Added this post to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story...see the right side bar for the link to the party!

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 

an holy nation, a peculiar people; 

that ye should shew forth the praises of him 

who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:

1 Peter 2:9

If you are a Christian - a believer saved by the grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ's death on the cross and  His Resurrection - you are the child of God. And as such, God has set His children apart to be special...a light to the world to show His holiness. Although we will not be perfect till we get to Heaven, we should strive to be an accurate example of Christ in this sin-filled world we live in. Are you doing your best to represent Christ to others?

Amanda

FNSI Recap...

So, last night was Friday Night Sew-In...and I was able to participate :)

I was able to get started just after 6 pm... I was going to start sooner in the afternoon, but it was such a beautiful day that the girls and I went for a walk instead!

I was planning to start quilting on my Scallop Peel Quilt and had hopes of getting it done... however, I remembered I had some garment repair projects that needed done for some relatives, so I proceeded to get those done first!

I also added a small improvement in my sewing area... I hung up a thread rack that has been in the storage area for years. Still not sure why it took me so long to get it out :)

So during the first couple of hours, I did that and the garment repairs...then took a break to help get the girls ready for bed [or in Amber case, put her back to bed...she took her nap very late :) I really thought she'd just sleep all night the first time I put her to bed... ]

I was back to sewing around 9:45 and did some quilting around the Orange Peel section of the quilt.

I didn't get much farther than that, but I hope to finish up this quilt today!

How was your Friday evening?

O praise the LORD, all ye nations:

praise Him, asll ye people.

For His merciful kindness is great toward us:

and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever.

Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 117

Amanda

Scallop Quilt Top...

Last week in Curves Class with Rachel from Stitched in Color we began working on precise curves. The projects included the DP blocks, a Scallop Quilt, and an Orange Peel Pillow. We are not required to do every project each week, but I did all three of these...they were just so great!

I did the DP blocks to get comfortable with precise curves and because my wonderful husband got me the template from here for Christmas...which I love :) I showed my DP blocks on last Wednesday's post if you want to see them.

Wednesday's class was a greatly anticipated class...the Scallop Quilt! I bought my fabric for this quilt in mid-January with Christmas money, and couldn't wait to get started on it!

Here is a close-up of the main fabrics in the scallops...

The original pattern was for a baby sized quilt. Well, around here, we like larger blankets...so I added two extra scallops, some inches to the width, and then some borders.

 So now it's about the size of a twin quilt.

It's been quite windy around here this winter...today was no exception!

Thursday's project for class was an Orange Peel block for a pillow. I didn't really think I needed a pillow and thought it would look nice in the quilt...so I added it to the quilt!

Close-up of the Orange peel block before adding it to the quilt...

I'm loving this combination of material, colors, and shapes so much that I decide this is going to be my quilt! I love how the top turned out... 

and I did get the material with my Christmas money...

and I'm making it for the class I got for my birthday...

and I need a quilt for on my office chair :)

However, now I want to 'decorate' my sewing/office space with this combination of fabrics...so I have some of the scrap pieces cut for mini granny squares to make a chair pillow.

I'm going to wait to quilt this on my new sewing machine...once I get it, I'll tell you all about it... :) So EXCITED!!!

Also, once I get this and Liz's quilt quilted, I'll show them off!

So, I finished this top today,

and I also received some great fabric in the mail... :)

I finally WON a giveaway! Randi, at Fresh-Squeezed Fabrics and writer of I have to say... blog, hosts a weekly fat 1/8ths giveaway...and I won last week! I was so excited when I found out I won... I probably would have started jumping up and down, but I was holding a sick baby.

So, keep commenting, you never know when you'll actually win...  :)

Be still, and know that I am God:

Psalm 46:10a

Sometimes we need to remember in all the chaos of life, that we need to stop and regain our focus. Even in the midst of knowing that God is in control, we need to be still and listen for His will and regain a vision for following Him.

Focus on God and follow His will...
Amanda



Sharing at the great linky parties with wonderful hostess's listed on the right side bar... Check'm out :)

An Early WIP...

Wow! a Tuesday night early Wednesday morning Work.in.Progress Wednesday update...probably one of the very few :) I usually do mine on Wednesday afternoon! Will link up with Lee from Freshly Pieced later today.

It's been a busy sewing week. I think the Curves class has added to that, but enjoyably so, well mostly enjoyable!

Thursday, and part of Friday, I worked on the Clamshell Table Runner. That was fun!

Then for the next three days, I worked on the Improv curves project that involved a tree - not a great success, but Chad didn't mind it. I told him I might just finish it for him to hang in his office :)

I like the tree...not so sure about the hills :)

Since that project was done, I decided on Monday I wanted something more...um...personal, easy, less pressured...I'm not sure what to call the feeling, but it made me start a quilt that I had the idea for and designed on the computer in MAY 2011! I've even had the fabric since then...it was easier to not use it in other projects because it's flannel and was already labeled for this quilt!

I named it 'Log Cabin Block Chairs'. The idea came while I was in the nursery at church and playing blocks with one of the little girls. We had them set up in the configuration that the Log Cabin blocks make and they looked like big, boxy chairs. I decide that flannel with a fleece backing would just seem to fit this pattern.

So, I FINALLY cut into it... and now this pile of flannel is at the end of my work table and I have one block done.

However, there are a couple of design fixes, so this one block will be slightly off from the rest that I make...it'll probably end up on the back or as a doll quilt for the girls...or maybe even for the little one that help develop the idea...hmmm...she'll be turning 3 in June :)

Cutting and sewing Monday was a great relaxation. No time pressure. A great feeling of personal design...even if it is using a basic and classic base as the main design element :) ...and it's really nice to be able to sit down and make the changes on paper the computer before going and mass cutting the rest of the pieces!

It was great to get started working on a good sized quilt rather than just all small stuff...but tomorrow I also get to start a lap quilt for Curves Class - this is really exciting!!!

Tuesday, I worked on some DP practice pieces for Curves Class. I made three blocks, but only finished one completely.

My first and third practice (unfinished) blocks...

 

My second is also the one I decided to finish because while sewing it together I had an idea for FMQing it and wanted to give it to Chad as a new mug rug for his office desk... so, now he can take it to work tomorrow :) It finished at 7.5" x 7.5".

Really enjoying that my FMQing is going so much nicer... maybe I should have had my machine looked at a long time ago ;0) ...however, my 'a' still didn't get closed in 'praise' - so, I still have something that needs worked on. LOL!

Weekly Review...
New Projects: 4

[Improv Tree, DP Blocks, Log Cabin Block Chairs Quilt, Scallop Quilt {will start on it later today :) }]

Completed Projects: 3 ...well, at least the tops of the first two...

[Improv Tree, DP Blocks, Clamshell Table Runner]

Continuing Projects: 5

[Log Cabin Block Chairs Quilt, Scallop Quilt, Liz's Sashed Postage Stamp Quilt, the Table Topper, and 'the lost' Quiet book]

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe

in Macedonia and Achaia.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord

not only in Macedonia and Achaia,

but also in every place your faith

 to God-ward is spread abroad;

so that we need not to speak any thing.

1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

The Thessalonians had a REAL faith in Jesus and they did not hide it. It was known everywhere that they were believers of God and trust Him.

If we are Christians, true Christians, bought by the blood of Jesus and His victory over death in the Resurrection, then shouldn't we be living lives that reflect the virtues of Jesus...and that they'd be so evident that we wouldn't even need to say anything?

Preach the gospel, and when necessary, add words.

Amanda