Orientation Station!

Well folks!  That's it for Project Quilting, Season 5!  Except for off season and bonus challenges -- hooray!  This experience has been amazing, and I am so thankful for it!  I've grown a lot, learned a lot, have made 6 great projects, and have won some prizes!!!  Woohoo!  Now on to this week's quilt!

This week's challenge was to incorporate triangles.  I started by browsing the half-square triangle quilts on pinterest.  I loved this pin, and wanted to make something similar as a sort of table runner/decoration for the area where we prepare our tea and coffee in the morning (no, all day).  I am so thrilled with how it came out (other than the binding -- I wish I had chosen a different color.  Oh well, not redoing it!).  I love the two-tone background creating secondary arrows.  I love that these are not all colors I would have typically chosen, but they work fantastically with the space where it will live.  It's thanks to Pink Castle Fabric's color inspiration club that I even had these to begin with.  I think it will add a little brightness to those early morning routines.  Because of the triangles and its location in our home, I have named it "Orientation Station".  The finished size is 64"x 13".  I create in Broomfield, CO.

Because no photo shoot is complete without some posing.  Who wouldn't have tea with these cuties!

Aren't these teas so pretty?!  I found them on sale at Whole Foods, so I snatched up a bunch.  As well as being pretty, they are also quite tasty.

The voting post will be here after noon Sunday if you're interested!  Thanks for reading!  :)

Perfect Pattern Parcel #1: Summer Concert Tee & Lady Skater Dress

Perfect Pattern Parcel is a really awesome concept.  It is a bundle of great patterns by independent designers for which you can name your price AND a portion goes to charity!  How cool!  So I snatched that right up.  Here is the summer concert tee pattern by Dixie DIY.

This is the second one I made, so it came together much better and quicker.  Let's just call that first one a muslin.  ;)

It is so incredibly comfortable in a jersey knit.  It will be a perfect summer staple.  I also love the lowered hemline in the back -- perfect for leggings.  I lengthened the pattern just a touch as I am too old for showing my midriff.    I also decided to make the XS even though I'm usually a medium.  It is so roomy, and I just prefer a closer fit on tops like this.  I also didn't use the collar dimensions after ripping it out twice on the first version.  It just wasn't long enough for me to work with.  I found this youtube video, and followed her instructions. 

And here is the Lady Skater Dress by KitschyCoo.  It sewed up like a dream.  I would not have thought myself capable of this at all, much less during naptime (mostly).  This cotton jersey fabric from Girl Charlee feels like butter.  So comfy.  I think I'll wear it tomorrow.  Pardon the winter white legs and strange facial expression.  I was laughing at Everett.  No modifications on this one.  It was perfect as is. 

Quiet Book Pages

This week's project quilting challenge was to be inspired by 3 things at the grocery store.  I found this a good time to get started on another one of those meaning to do for a long time projects.  My mom recently bought this book for me...

http://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Book-Patterns-Easy---Make/dp/1462112455/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1394227944&sr=8-7&keywords=quiet+book

So with the book and a challenge to inspire me, it was time to get busy!  I also needed a bit of a smaller project this week as I was finishing up a baby quilt for friends and was anxious to mail it off!  I used the book for basic instructions on getting going and for the cookie page.  I used pinterest for the strawberry puzzle.  The book's instructions are really for minimal, if any, sewing, but let's face it...it's much cuter when you do!  So I appliquéd like crazy. 

My threefold inspiration:
1. I used to love going to the grocery store with my mom.  I don't know if she realizes it, but she taught me a lot of math there. 
2.  My boys loooove strawberries.  I generally have to avoid pushing the cart near them unless I'm willing to shell out the organic price. 
3.  Baking with our grocery store ingredients is one of our favorite things to do together. 

The first book page is 7"x10", and is a baking pan with cookies.  The task is to match the number of sprinkles to the number on the pan.

Everett really likes to be in my pictures, even if it's just his hand. 

The numbers are one side of the velcro!

 The second page is a strawberry puzzle. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see that it wasn't too easy.  At least on the first time.

So there it is.  I've got two pages done!  Hah!  This will be a time consuming project, but worth it in the end.  I hope to have two decent size books before our road trip to Wisconsin this summer!  I think I'll go back through the project quilting challenge topics for more inspiration...zipper page for the string along with me challenge, something with stars, maybe constellations for the universe challenge...etc...etc...

If you'd like to vote on this week's challenge, it will be at this link after Sunday at noon. 

P.S: I can't believe it, but my one block wonder "Infinite Possibilities" won the last challenge!  I'm flabbergasted and really appreciate all the kind words, love, and support!