How to Quilt With Your Brain Disengaged

Wow! I was finally able to grab some time to quilt tonight!
It has been a while since I have had the energy to sit and
think about what needs to happen with old quilts I have forgotten
about, such as this menagerie of five inch charm squares.
"Fric and Frac," the tumbling, fist fighting duo have worn me to
oblivion lately. They have used all available brain cells to
monitor their every need and squabble. So imagine my surprise
when I was able to sort through old projects on the
'quilt project shelf' while they played reasonably well in the back yard.
I secretly sat down at my sewing machine(which overlooks the
sandbox.) to sew a few of these EASY blocks together.
Now here comes the brain disengaged part.
I wanted to sew, sooo badly. I was tired. I decided that if this
flimsy is EVER to get done, I need to just throw these blocks
together randomly and see what happens. I do not have the time
OR the room to lay them out. So... after the Littles were bathed
and put to bed, I disengaged my brain and sewed my heart out!
You can tell, but once it is quilted, it will not be so bad.
I feel like a million bucks. I actually got something of substance
sewed-up and close to being finished. Wahoo!!!

Love, Moorea

Giveaway!

I am very happy to be offering this beautiful panel as my first
quilt blog giveaway! It makes a medallion wall hanging.
click picture to enlarge.

Please tell me how you began and how long you have been quilting.
Contest will end Monday, Sept 1st. I will draw names out of a hat.

I began quilting because Princess Buttercup, who has quilted since
high school, kept saying "You should quilt." over and Over and OVER.
I kept saying "no, No, NO! I cannot possibly understand quilting."
But, i REALLY wanted to make a picnic quilt when I saw this ant
fabric, and she told me how to do it over the phone. I was hooked.
Now all my scrap booking is collecting dust and getting more and
more disorganized everyday! But I love Princess Buttercup for
being patient and teaching me all kinds of quilting stuff over the years.
Quilting is one of the most satisfying hobbies I think I could ever have.

Love, Moorea

p.s. I am also doing a giveaway on my homeschool blog,
check it out here.

Scrap User System

I finally broke down and got plastic bins for
Bonnie's Scrap User's System.
I am sure you have heard of Bonnie Hunter, I would not believe
it if you told me you had not! If you have, but not checked out
her SUS, you must!!! It is quiltingly enlightening.
And look directly below- that turquoise fabric I picked up
for my Southwest Quilt with my 40% off coupon.
Gorgeous color!
/

I picked up some drawers at a Joann's on a 50% discount!
The reason I need them now? This pile:

I went through my stash and took out all the lengths & fat quarters
& bits that I absolutely can live without, but do not hate (those, I
donated to the thrift store.) I just had to get rid of fabric that have
been sitting there and will in all reality not be used in any projects
because there is too little of it and they do not match. But with
Bonnie's SUS- they don't have to match! So... I am going to cut
these fabrics up and put them in various quilting projects.

Wish me luck! Moorea

Loved This

I was finally able to get a better picture of the rag quilt.
The natural sunlight is so much better to take a picture
in than those fluorescent bulbs! The color is such a soft pink,
it is very lovely with the floral print. It turned out to be a
perfect lap size, 58 x 48.

I had some little labels made with my name on them.
I just love to use them! This project was perfect for it.
I'll be off to the post on Monday!

I am getting better at making these. I am taking my time
when sewing the blocks together; making sure all the seams
are going in the right direction. I was also very careful when
I made the cuts for the ragging. I only cut through the stitching
two times!

Happy Quilting, Moorea

UFO Day

I spent a very fun day with my quilt club "The Strip Piecers."
We met in the morning, had a delicious lunch and quilted the
afternoon away on our UnFinished Objects!

Here is Princess Buttercup and her daughter 'Miss. O'
who sat and crocheted granny square and cleaned
all the nursery toys for me! Thank you so much!

Here is a blurry, but very happy Princess Buttercup because
her UFO "Lover's Knot" is completely quilted!

Here is Tea Rose, quilting away on her beloved Featherweight.
Notice the lovely quilting gloves, luckily it was an air conditioned
room!

Here is her Nickel Quilt in all its glory. It is stunning, and big!

I offer this simple fare, my Rag Quilt. I was able to get all
the blocks quilted and sewn together. I stared 'ragging' it tonight.
It will be off to its happy new owner next week after a
good wash!

I had a great time gals, I know you did too! TTFN.

Love, Moorea

Dolly Quilt

I am getting my projects together for a
serious quilt session with the Strip Piecers!

Isn't this adorable? It was in a bag of upholstery samples given to
Princess Buttercup. I could not resist making a doll quilt out of it
for the church nursery. I found time this week to prepare it for
quilting today. I was also able to get the binding on. I could have
gone navy blue, but I could not resist the maroon- it brings out
the little flowers.

OK- I've got Yvette's pink rag quilt blocks ready with batting,
this doll quilt to finish the binding on and assorted fabrics to
iron for a scrap quilt for my brother.
So much to do, so little time!

Love, Moorea

South Western

Relaxing tonight after a long day of working at a Boy Scouts fund
raiser, I was looking at the options I had in fabric to try my hand at
this pattern in the Fall Fons & Porter Easy Quilts magazine. I have
been looking for a pattern to use these beautiful South Western
fabrics in. I received them as a gift from my Auntie Ruthie who
lives in Arizona. She worked at a JoAnn's there, at the time. Anyhow,
I think I found what I am looking for, but I do not have enough fabric,
so I will have to go shopping to add to it Who knows when I am
going to make this thing, but hey, I'm a quilter right? I can stockpile
fabric and books with patterns and fabric with patterns and half cut
fabric with patterns and half done quilt tops and everyone already
thinks I'm nuts because I am stashing & quilting...

Love, Moorea

Picnick Quilt

You have got to listen to my new Playlist!
Turn it up so you can listen to it while doing housework!
Have fun!

I thought this picnic quilt with rock pockets was sew cute.
Even though Summer is almost over, it would be a great
gift for a house warming...

Love, Moorea

Work Day

I am scheduled to get together with the Strip Piecers next Wed.
for a day of quilt time! We will meet in the nursery at church
where there is a/c and doors to shut, to keep wanderers and
other possible interested parties from interrupting us. I am
looking forward to visiting, laughing and spreading out!

I hope I can get all the pink rag quilt blocks quilted. It will be nice
to finish a project before school starts for us in September.

Love, Moorea

Quilt Confession

I have a confession to make. Hubby & I went out on a date night
to Coldstone Creamery (not the confession ;o) and to Borders,
where we could each get one book, not counting books for the kids!
I was looking through the quilt books. I had picked out
Mastering the Art of McTavishing,
but as I was perusing I had been hearing the sound track to
Mamma Mia, the Abba musical, which I saw last week. Here is the
confession: I put my quilt book BACK! I walked over to New Relases,
I watched helplessly as my hand reached out and clasped the CD, I
held it to my breast! I had to have it. I bought it. I love it.
My kids hate it. Mainly because I play it at the maximum sound
allowed by out vans speaker systems AND I torso dance as I am
driving. My shoulders have not seen this much action since my
club-hopping days.

Love, Moorea