How I am Spending My Summer Vacation ~ Part 3

Getting ready to get Back-to-Sew!

Moving back into my sewing room is going well.

I am still organizing, although I have done some sewing.

Had to make sure my machine was up and running after she moved back in! 

While sorting my  huge stash of fabrics and old magazines and patterns,

I found this gem ...

American Patchwork and Quilting, April 2008, Issue 91

This was a great issue.

I love the cover quilt, which is called "Two of A Kind"

and in featured in the 30's prints l

and also in soft summer batiks.

The pattern is a interesting variation of the Card Trick block.

The cutting and layout makes this an easy sew.

I really want to make this quilt!

I pulled the fabrics in the photo from my 30's stash.

Th fabrics for the blocks and background is the bottom row. 

The top row in the photo shows two possible options for the border and binding,

one red and one blue.

I have not decided which I will use.

Suggestions and opinions always welcome.  

Here is a photo taken about a week ago before I moved my sewing machine back in.

As you can see, my quilty kitties are already enjoying the new digs. 

A lot has been done since then.

Grand Re-Opening of My Sewing Room post coming soon! 

Fabric Loving, The Quilty Queue & Blog Hopping Goodness

Here Kitty Kitty!

I <3 these lovely organic fabrics
by Alyssa Thomas @ Penguin & Fish
from  Clothworks.

These are the fabrics for my

 Kitty in the Cabin Quilt 

for my grand-darling.
I had a fat quarter bundle but had to order a few more half yards
to have enough fabric for the size quilt I want to make
for the growing Baby Girl.

This is my July Goal for  ALYOF  so I best get sewing!

I washed these fabrics and hung them to dry outside and now they are on hangers waiting to be pressed.

Do you wash your fabrics?

I do ... except for small precuts.

The chemicals used in the finishing process in most fabrics give my hands
a rough red rash, so I always pre-wash.
These organic fabrics had much less finishing and sizing chemicals
and had a nice soft feel when they arrived,
but habit is habit and I washed them anyway.
The fat quarters did shrink almost a inch on each side.

Today I am working on my

Baby Sister Pink Charm Quilt

Here are the 120 Pink Charms sewn together and on my design wall.

Here is the plan!

These strips are just pinned on right now while I decide where to put them and how many I need to cut.

Then I will add them to the top ...
using this new idea

... for sewing first and cutting later.

I am loving this new method!

I have a lot of quilts in mind using this
fun strip method ... 

Including one for this upcoming blog hop!

Rush over to Sew We Quilt for details!

and then

Rush over to Sign Up Now with Carol @ Just Let Me Quilt!

I like the new Rush Hour fabrics,  particularly the black street scene and the clock designs,  but I am not sure I will be able to buy any fabrics for this hop. I am on a "sew my stash" diet and the Here, Kitty Kitty fabrics were a big splurge that I found on a great deal, so I will be sewing from my stash for this hop. This is what I have in the planning stages  for the Rush Hour Hop ... 

Kona Solids! 

I am thinking of making a unique

"interwoven" quilt for a very special young man,

my nephew, who recently achieved his life-long dream of 

becoming a firefighter.

I know he and his wife love red and black and white and

the Kona "Ash" seems the perfect touch.

I am really looking forward to making this quilt!

Hope to see you joining in the blog hop fun!

Have a happy, quilty day!

<3