Stellar Stars

I'm a member of the Phoenix Modern Quilt Guild.

As our optional block of the month this year, we're making this beautiful modern Stellar Stars quilt, designed by Cristy Fincher, 

@cristycreates on Instagram.

 My friend Nedra and I get together at one of homes, and make our blocks.

These are January.

I love how the blocks can look so different 

with the depth of the colors.

We quilt the whole day while my cute little 4 year old grand daughter Isabel, entertains herself.  

She is sooooo good and sweet and polite.

Izzy took this photo of Nedra and I, with our blocks.

I'm actually taller than Nedra, but.....

This is February's block, so pretty!

This is the companion February block too!

Nedra gave me some triangles on a roll to make this block,

they are awesome!!!

These are our March blocks :)

Finally, here is little Izzy, my protege photographer :)

Vintage Block Along

Have you been following Lori Holt's Vintage Block Along on her blog,

 http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com?

She writes the cutest stories about growing up and being influenced by her grandmother's style of quilting.

I've been making her blocks, they're very pretty and a lot of fun!

Each block has their own story.

This is Block #1, Grandma's Star

Block #2, Pattern Basket

 Block #3, Around the Corner

Block #4, Little Farmhouse

Block #5, Rhinestone

Block #6, Vintage Lilly

Block #7, Star Shine

Block #8, Humble

Block #9, Egg Money

Block #10, Quilting Bee

Block #11, Sunday Star

Block #12, Sweet as Honey

Lori gives step by step visual instructions on her blog for all these blocks.

I've done her quilt alongs before and they never disappoint!

I know that these blocks are going to make the most beautiful quilt, that's why I'm making all the blocks, I don't want to miss out!!!

There's still time to catch up :)

Needle Book

I made this little needlebook for a sweet friend of mine.

The pattern is by Amy Sinibaldi of Nana Company.

Amy designs for Art Gallery fabric and she made this tutorial in October 2011.

My friend is a modern quilter, so I tried to make this book as modern as I could, 

even though I added vintage buttons and rick rack.

Here's the inside, the theme is green :)

The little patchwork squares are 1" finished, all Denyse Schmidt fabrics except for the teal one.

I hand quilted the back and the spine of the book, 

giving it more of a "zakka" look.

You can see the other needle books I've made

here, here, here, here, and here.

The tutorial can be found on my Pinterest board here. 

Thanks for following me and I hope you are inspired to make a needlebook :)

Farm Girl Chicks

I moved from northern California, to Arizona last June.

I met Nedra in Gilbert, and we have been fast friends since!

We took a day trip to Payson Arizona, 

and went to the Copper Needle.  

It's a fabulous quilt shop where we met Gina, the owner.

Nedra invited me to a quilting group called "Farm Girl Chicks", 

at Quilters Oasis in Mesa.

The rule is, you can only be working on a Lori Holt project.

Oh boy, is it ever a fun group, and right up my alley!

I love Lori Holt :)

There's laughing and sharing, more laughing and laughing again!

Ooohs and awwws at everybody's beautiful creations.

Last week, Becky Parzy came to our group 

and showed us some of her beautiful quilts!

Here is Becky's version of Lori Holt's "Quilty Fun" quilt.

Becky said that she thinks it's much more interesting if you piece the back.

She always makes beautiful labels too :)

 Here is Becky's version of her Penny Pig quilt, 

from Lori Holt's "Farm Girl Vintage" book.

She used the Farmhouse Lane setting found on Page 128, and substituted Penny Pigs for the Farmhouses.

You can see Lori's quilt here.

Here's the back of Becky's Penny Pig quilt, really cute!

 Here's Becky's Farm Girl Vintage quilt, so beautiful!

Becky said that she chose the border fabric and used the color scheme from the fabric to choose color choices for the blocks.

Such gorgeous machine quilting!!!

Notice the little printed borders that Becky added?

Very original :)

Lori always says that she loves it when someone makes one of her quilts "their own".

Becky had a couple of extra blocks which she added to the back.

Here's Becky's version of Lori's "Spelling Bee" quilt.

 I took closeups so you could see the individual blocks.

 The back of her Spelling Bee quilt.

The label :)

 I'm not sure what this quilt is called, but it's lovely!

 Becky has also made some really beautiful Tilda dolls.

 Becky and her friend designed this sweet heart conversations quilt.

 ...and this pillow to match.

Nancy (in red) is the awesome and incredible and darling 

host of our Farm Girl Chicks group.

She is also the heart and fun of the group too!

Nancy grew up with Ellen (white and blue), they have been best friends since childhood.

Ellen is good friends with Becky, that's how we were able to have Becky come to our group and do the trunk show.

They are all the sweetest ladies!!!

To add to the enjoyment, we had a baked potato bar for lunch with every single topping you can imagine!

This group is the highlight of my month!

I hope you enjoyed all the trunk show :)

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

I have a cute little two year old grand daughter named Taylor.

 Many months ago, when I first saw Stacy Iest Hsu's Goldilocks and the Three Bears Novelty Cut Sew Doll Panel, I knew I had to make it for Taylor for Christmas.

She loves dolls and role playing and I hoped she'd like it :)

I'm not usually a fan of doll panels, but some of them are really cute!

Isn't Taylor precious?

But seriously, what little girl wouldn't want these?
I wanted one, lol!

Goldilocks has a removable skirt, and so does Mama Bear.

Papa Bear's bow tie is too much, along with his shorts and suspenders.

I added a little "I Love You" tag to baby bear but sewed it on backwards, oops!

I had them all nestled in a large lined drawstring bag by Jeni Baker.

I made the bag out of Lori Holt's fabric line "Flower Patch".

I had the brilliant (ha ha!) idea of including the book in the bag.

I researched all the goldilocks books and this one seemed the best.

Goldilocks is very naughty in the book, she doesn't listen to her mom.

There are a lot of lessons to learn from that.

I'm pretty sure Taylor likes her gift.

Thanks to her mom Kimalee for taking the photos for me :)

I was so intent on wrapping and delivering the gift that I totally forgot!