A 'Squishy', the First Cut and a Give Away

Faith, at Nutbud Quilter is going through a difficult time right now. Mama Spark thought it would be fun to send her some 'LOVE Squishies'. Faith is a hand quilter who loves applique and brights so here is the picture of what's in my 'LOVE Squishy'. If you wish to join in, e-mail me or Mama Spark and we will share Faith's snail mail address :)

The FAB's are having a Wacky Challenge and this is the piece of fabric we are working with. The deadline is August 1 (or earlier, if possible). I know that two of the FAB's have their Challenges done and the other two are almost done, so here I am dragging my feet :( I've changed my mind at least a dozen times on what to make...the challenge is to make something for everyday life and not a quilt! and use a piece of every fabric in the 1/2 yard cut. Well, the first cut is the hardest and I've taken the first step...but now to the store as I need a notion I didn't realize!

Are you interested in a Quilt Give Away? Hop on over the The Old Red Barn Company and find out how to enter! I'll be joining in with about 1500 other commentors, so far :)

A LindaJ Quilt Show

In June, LindaJ sent me four tops to be quilted for Pam's M2M project.

I'm happy to report that the quilts are labeled and ready to be packaged and shipped to AMOR Ministries.

Let's enjoy the quilt show together!

First up: Pioneer Braid pieced by Linda.

Close up: I used the Happy Times pantograph from Willow Leaf Studio.

Second: 9 Patch Pizzazz pieced by Linda. You might recognize this as a pattern from the FAB's sew-in a few months ago.

Close up: I used the Happy Times pantograph on this one, too.

Third: Strings pieced by Anne B. and Linda

Close up: I used the Double Rose Vine pantograph by Norma Sharp.

Fourth: I've been referring to this pattern as Delectable Mountains by Nancy but I think this setting has a different name (?).

Close up: I used the Popcorn pantograph from Willow Leaf Studio as I 'needed' practice with this pantograph.

Fifth: Strippie by Pat (yes! I had to sneak a few of my own donations into the box!)

Close up: I used the Ebb and Flow pantograph from Willow Leaf Studio.

Sixth (but not least!): CGF pattern by Pat (me, again!) from the June FAB sew-in.

Close up: I used the Popcorn pantogragh from Willow Leaf Studio.

This is starting to sound like a commercial for Willow Leaf Studio but I just really like the pantographs they offer! :)

Hope you enjoyed the quilt show! Thanks to Linda, Anne and Nancy for piecing the quilt tops for me to sew on! :)

I also joined Eileen's Attic's Summer Stash Challenge. Now to make that quilt entirely from stash!

WIP Wednesday

If it's Wednesday, then here at Bell Creek Quilts that means Binding Day! and I won't disappoint!
The current binding is for the 4th (and final!) quilt that LindaJ sent to me to quilt and bind for Pam's M2M project. I volunteered to quilt these tops so I could practice more with Valerie. LindaJ was a sweetheart and sent along the tops, backing and bindings!

BTW: if you are interested, the secret projects from two weeks ago were birthday gifts for Mama Spark. She celebrated her birthday the day after we met last week!

I made her the Holiday Gift Bag from All People Quilt. Mama Spark is a graduate of Michigan State University so I used a little of the leftover fabric she had sourced out for me! I used InsulBrite in it, thinking it could double as a lunch bag but maybe it might be better for a couple of sodas as Mama Spark suggested. She also didn't have any pincushion so I made two! (here and here). I made the pincushions out of University of Michigan fabric and 'stuck' green and white (Michigan State University colors) pins into them. In case you aren't familiar with the state of Michigan, these two colleges share a friendly (and sometimes, not so friendly) rivalry. So now, Mama Spark can 'stick it' to University of Michigan whenever she wants :) I also included a few fat quarters in blue and gold (University of Michigan colors) to replenish her stash.

Vacation Wrap Up

After being gone for almost 10 days, boy do I have lots to share!

Friday...we arrived at the cottage in time for a quick bite to eat and head into town for the fireworks after lots of hugs and kisses from DD who has been with the Grandparents since June 23rd.

Saturday...travel to Gaylord with SIL (shopping for swim tops for kids) and stopped into The Ice House Quilt Store. Sadly, nothing wanted to follow me home :(

I did make my first trip into Wimpy's for ice cream so the day was not a total loss :)


Sunday...hanging out on the deck/beach as the kids took turns riding the tube, etc. Daisy had brought 12 new tennis balls with her and she was in doggie heaven :)

Monday...headed downstate to visit with my Mom. As soon as I got there, she hurried into my van and wanted to go shopping. Off to the big box store to stock up on supplies! My Mom is doing much better now. Her health is improving and she gets around very nicely :)

Tuesday...Mom and I headed out on our own mini shop hop.

First up: Monarch Quilts in Brighton Michigan. This store has a ton of brights and I was loving it!
Second store: The Stitchery in Howell Michigan. This store is a Janome dealer so I was able to buy a walking foot for the Janome Gem I have.

Next up: Wendy's Simple Stitches Quilt Shop in Howell Michigan. This shop just opened up in February and it was totally cool...don't let the 'little brown house' fool you. The ladies were very sweet inside and the fabric selection was varied and interesting :) At this point, Mom had enough shop hopping so we went back to her condo to rest up.

Wednesday...I meet up with Mama Spark at The Lake Street Mercantile in South Lyon Michigan! What FUN! Pam is a very energetic and very friendly. I felt like we were old friends catching up with each other instead of meeting for the first time! I was very happy that we have sooo much in common and can hardly wait to see her again! The gals at the store were a little surprised that we had meet online first and it was our first 'in person' meeting as we talked and laughed like long lost friends. Here we are with our purchases. Pam went to town...I tried to control my spending as I was only half way through vacation :)

Thursday...headed back 'up north' and the cottage. DH, DD and the Grandparents had gone to Mackinaw Island and I was on Daisy duty. But of course, I stopped at Caroline's Sewing Room in West Branch Michigan. She had many many patterns there and one just had to follow me home :)

Friday...hanging out on the deck/beach day. DH took Daisy and I trolling in the pontoon. Daisy liked to poke her head through the railings on the boat and I even went into the lake!

Saturday...I headed into Gaylord and went to The Quilter's General Store. It is located in this cute little mini mall and they, too, had a pattern I couldn't resist. The whole town is themed after Germany and even the gas station is decorated!

Sunday...we loaded up to head home! My Mom got DS a Detroit Tiger T shirt as a souvenir, DH sent fudge from Mackinaw Island and I brought a few Ralph Lauren polo shirts at the outlet mall. I think the best thing though was the dirt/road bike that Grandpa sent for DS to practice his road riding skills :)

And what everyone was been waiting for (if you made it through this word-y post), the goods that followed me home!
A little bit of fabric...





A few notions and patterns :)

It was a nice break from the regular day to day activities but now I need to get back into the swing of things around the house :) I'll be the one dusting off Valerie and Baby Brother :)

Welcome Home and Stash Busting Report Week # 28

Last week was vacation and I did manage to shop my way through certain portions of Michigan and even meet with Mama Spark! (but more on my vacation wrap up later...okay?)

My report for last week follows:

• fabric received in: 8 yards
• fabric used: 0 yards
• net fabric for the week: + 8 yards

Net fabric for the year: -51.5 yards

What I accomplished this past week:

• shopped, shopped and shopped a little more (is this really an accomplishment?!)

Goals for this week:

• load, quilt and bind next M2M quilt
• package and post M2M quilts to AMOR Ministries
• make and mail FABWacky Challenge

Thanks to Carolyn at Ohio Quilter's Journey, I won a give-away a few months back and when the package didn't arrive, sweet Carolyn sent another wonderful package of quilt-y gifts. Many thanks, Carolyn!

Stash Busting Report Week #27

My records are a little sketchy this week, might not be able to remember all that I accomplished this week. My report for this week follows:

• fabric received in: 4 yards
• fabric used: 12 yards
• net fabric for the week: -8 yards (used)

Net fabric for the year: -59.5 yards (used)

What I accomplished this week:

• quilted and bound CGF (airplanes)
• made two Jiffy Totes (one...good, one...not so good :))
• completed some secret gifts (I promise to show the gifts later...okay?)

Goals for next week:

• nothing, nada, zero, zip

Why?! Vacation time...need I say more?! I'll be window shopping at a few quilt shops along the way...hopefully, I can keep my stash acquisition under control!

Right now, we are scheduled to return to Wisconsin on Sunday July 13th and I'll be blogging in the days following our return....Have a GREAT week everyone! :)

The Birthday Quilt

Last summer, my niece was telling me how she gets cold riding in the Jeep after a trip to Wimpy's for ice cream. This was the incentive for her 'Jeeping to Wimpy's Quilt' At first, I remembered seeing a bright Jeep fabric in my travels, but where? I searched and searched but couldn't find it, either in person or on the web. What's a girl to do? Thanks to the big box store, I was able to find a Jeep print but it is a little subdued for my taste but I thought, why not? Break out of the 'comfort zone'.

At about the same time, I had ordered this book (for another pattern)

and saw this pattern. I thought, great! Jeep trails (tan), mud (brown) and forest (trees) since when she gets done Jeepin' the trails with her family, their Jeep is usually very muddy :) sorry...Uncle T...but you just seem to hit every mud puddle on the trail :)

The result is her Birthday Jeepin' Quilt. I quilted it with the Trailing Vine panto from Willow Leaf Studio (outdoor theme here).

Then I decided it needed a bag. The first attempt of the Jiffy Tote didn't quite make the grade but thanks to the big box store, they had just 1.5 yards of the Jeepin' fabric left, which was enough to make the bigger bag.

A much better fit for the quilt, too. I quilted it with the Popcorn panto from Willow Leaf since I needed the practice and it was still on the table. DS suggested the messenger style handle and I found that Mamaspark had posted a tutorial for a similar style purse complete with the messenger style strap (here, here and here) Thanks Mamaspark!

I hope A. likes the 'Jeepin' to Wimpy's Quilt'!