Calamity Kim

Strips, Rows, Blocks, Rows, Top!!!

Happy Monday!
Did you have a nice weekend?
I sure did- sewing and sewing and sewing!
I got all my strips together.

Then I ironed and cut them into 11 1/2" blocks.
Which I just laid out on the bed to get an idea of how it will go together.
Now, the finished quilt will probably go in the other bedroom because it has butter yellow walls and light pink/cream curtains. It's a little girlie for our room- which is more sea greens and blues leaning toward mermaid snuggles pirate theme.
I just recently took the quilted bed skirt off and put on the white yoyo bed skirt I found at Home Goods. It's light for Summer. It looks green from across the room- doesn't it?
OK, so I am waiting for the UPS guy to bring my new sewing machine- the mailman  and the Fed Ex guys have come and gone.
I am going to go get to work on my place mat swap- I have an idea and I sketched it out- I'll take some sneak peeks but this one has to be a surprise until she receives it.
I'll be back later with quilt updates.
I'm beginning to feel afraid of the quilting part- y'all need to start pouring on the encouragement!
This is 7 rows by 6 rows of 11.5" blocks- that'll be 77 by 66 without any borders- I must be mad!

Quilting Along with the Old Red Barn

It's Saturday! What are you doing today?
I was cleaning house until the doorbell rang and the Fed-ex guy almost threw a package at The Mr- I chuckled and reassured him that it was probably just fabric and not a hand grenade or anything fragile!
Once I opened it and saw how happy and bright the colors were I was even more anxious to get started on the cutting and sewing to catch up to everyone on the Old Red Barn Quilt a Long. I had originally just planned to use whatever I had but after seeing the Flight of Fancy Fabric ( I had already purchased some of the par avian and the butterflies before) I decided to place a fast order with Hancock's of Paducah.
 Ya gotta love the internet when you want to find something fast! I had it bought and was drinking a cup of tea in the time it would have taken me to drive to a local shop (and no disappointment that they didn't have the fabrics!)
The hard part is waiting!
Now, don't think that I don't support the local shops- there's nothing like the kind reception and big hellos when you walk in to Alma Sue's and they are glad you are there. (Local news- did ya know she's moving to a bigger location? Yep! Not too far- right on the other side of the Heritage Place- where the furniture guy was- later this Fall- in Sept I think)
Anyway, I hurried up with the chores and got to ironing and cutting and now I'm ready to sew!

I hope it has enough different fabrics to make it look good.
 I used 12 half yards of each color way available in the Flights of Fancy designed by Paula Prass  ( for Michael Miller) and cut them in 2 1/2" wide strips. I got 8 out of each half yard.
Now I think I sew 6 together until they are all matched up.
I'm going back to check at Old Red Barn and make sure before I start.
Lord knows I don't want to be holding the seam ripper all evening!
My new sewing machine should arrive on Monday- I can't wait to share it with you all...it'll be just in time for quilting this new quilt!!!
Hope you are having as much fun as I am! I feel like I am finally doing something that I have always wanted to but been to scared- this is a simple quilt and the fabrics are so pretty it's sure to look wonderful!
Happy Weekend,
Happy Sewing,
calamity kim

What to do this Summer

Are you bored?
Feeling like there's nothing to do?
Nothing to get excited about?
Do you have at least 12 different half yards of fabric just sitting around gathering dust?
Why not take a peek over at the Old Red Barn Quilt Along and hitch yer wagon to a star and get busy cutting some 2 1/2" strips- I found out about it over at Flickr and after reading the what for's over at Red Barn Blog I just had to sign up!
I don't make big quilts and this will be my first (if you don't count the one I have never finished from a class I took 2 years ago!) and if you don't want to do it, then you can just watch my progress as I quilt a long with everyone and share it here!
It's a 6 week project and I believe they are just beginning week 3.

 Week one was to gather your materials, week two everyone cut their 2 1/2" strips from half yards of 12 different fabrics.
This should be week 3, but it really doesn't matter- you could do it six months from now, well, except she is giving away a sewing machine!
Go read all about it- I have to go in search of a new machine myself-
Happy 1st day of June, y'all!
xo,
calamity kim