WIP Wednesday: WIP Candy

Happy Halloween, and I hope all of you that were in Hurricane Sandy's path are now safe and sound and dry. Talk about scary!

I'm planning a bee quilt this week. My bee mates will be getting charm squares in these yummy colors ...

... and they will be using them to make this block ....


.... which I will then make into this quilt. The design is by Rita of Red Pepper Quilts—you can see her beautiful version in Chicopee right here.

What have you been working on? Here are the rules for linking up:
1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress (WIP).
2. Somewhere in your post, you must link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other WIP Wednesday links. Because what fun is a linky party without comments?

Have a great week!

A New Quilt Design Tool

I have long lamented the fact that because I'm on a Mac, I can't use the EQ quilt design software. I use Adobe Illustrator to design my quilts and patterns, and that works fine, but of course Illustrator isn't about to do any quilty math for me. Nor does Illustrator have handy libraries of pre-loaded fabric swatches or traditional block designs.

But there's hope for us Mac peeps (and everybody else): The online sewing community Threadbias is developing a web-based quilt design tool, which will be accessible to anyone (on PC or Mac), will be constantly updated with the newest fabric designs, and will be available for a monthly subscription fee (so no need to shell out lots of cash up front for software). There will even be a "lite" free version available. I'm so excited about this!

But Threadbias needs our help to get it going. They're raising money on Kickstarter to fund the development of the program. If you're as excited as I am about having a good alternative to EQ, please click here to donate. And if you're not familiar with Kickstarter, it's a great way to help small businesses grow—your credit card isn't charged unless the company's Kickstarter goal is fully funded, and you almost always get something in return for your donation. So it's essentially like buying a company's products in advance. Everybody wins.

Good luck, Threadbias!

WIP Wednesday: Going Minimalist

 I spent this dreary, rainy afternoon chain-piecing a little Chicopee.

How about you?

Here are the rules for linking up:
1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress (WIP).
2. Somewhere in your post, you must link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other WIP Wednesday links. Because what fun is a linky party without comments?

Happy sewing. : )

WIP Wednesday: Just Forget About the WIP Part

Yes, it's another WIP-less WIP Wednesday! With Sewing Summit taking up the majority of my week, I've got zip to report today. But you guys ... Sewing Summit was last week! So let's talk about that instead, shall we?

Um, yeah, it was completely awesome. Dare I say, even more fun than last year. Last year, I was meeting blogging friends in person for the first time, so I wasn't quite sure what I was walking into. This year, I truly felt like I was getting together with old friends. In fact, for many of them, I don't even use the term "blogging friends" anymore—I think they've graduated to "actual friends" now. : )

My Friday morning class, practicing their paper-pieced star blocks

And my first-ever teaching experience? It was fine! Fine! (Sorry, couldn't resist a little private joke there.) But seriously, my Foundation Piecing class with Elizabeth went very, very well. I don't think I've ever taught anybody anything in my life (well, besides a few curse words here and there). So I had no idea what to expect from myself or this class. And I was ridiculously nervous going into it, especially when I had to stand in front of all those expectant, staring faces, patiently waiting for me to impart valuable information.

Paper-piecing samples galore—some by me and some by Elizabeth—on display in our class

Fortunately, once we got into the block demonstrations, all my nervousness disappeared, and it just felt like a chat with friends about making something pretty. And I do love to chat with friends about making something pretty. : ) So in the end, I really enjoyed teaching—and nobody's more surprised about that than I am.

Okay, so let's run down the rest of the weekend, Instagram-style:

Joel Dewberry's keynote address. I loved the sneak peak at his new collection, Notting Hill, and hearing about his inspiration and process.

Sukie modeling some kick-butt (unfinished) lounge pants. Oh yeah, my own foxy flannel lounge pants turned out super cute!

Katie and her sister-in-law Mary, who was nice enough to put me (a virtual stranger) up at her house on Wednesday night and drive me around all weekend long. Thank you so much, Mary! (Instagram photo by @freshlemonsquilts.)

Hanging with a couple of my fellow Art Gallery Fabrics Fat Quarter Gang chicas (Amy and Faith) during open sewing time, in our Fat Quarter Gang t-shirts. Because I'm proud to be an ambassador for this amazing fabric company. : ) (Instagram photo by @freshlemonsquilts.)

One of my two visits to Bruge's for the most delicious waffles ever—with Sukie, Kelly, and Faith. (Instagram photo by @sewfantastic). No, I did not have the "Machine Gun Sandwich." Oh well, guess I'll have to go back!

Our unofficial fabric shop hop on Thursday—with Brooke, Terri, Sukie, Kelly, and Elena. (Instagram photo by @freshlemonsquilts.) Why can't Milwaukee have fabric shops like Salt Lake does?

In general, Sewing Summit weekend was once again inspiring, exhilarating, and a chance to hang out with like-minded people. Every one of you ladies was a joy to spend time with this weekend—I miss you all already! Just like last year, there were some people I wanted to meet but didn't get a chance, and people I wasn't able to spend as much time with as I might have liked. But hopefully next time.

A huge thank-you to Erin Singleton and her staff for doing such a great job with this conference. It's hard to believe this was only its second year, with the way it has taken off. I see nothing but great things ahead for Sewing Summit.

Okay, so now that I've spent an entire post talking about everything except WIPs, how would you like to link up your own WIP post? Here are the rules:

1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress (WIP). (Yes, I'm breaking my own rules here. Well, it's my linky ... deal with it. LOL.)
2. Somewhere in your post, you must link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other WIP Wednesday links. Because what fun is a linky party without comments? : )

Have another wonderful and inspiring week!

WIP Wednesday: Sewing Summit Prep

It's been all about prepping for Sewing Summit around here this week. And I'm not even talking about all the work Elizabeth and I have done for the class we're teaching together!

I got this adorable flannel for half-off at Joann's the other day. Can't wait to make myself some foxy lounge pants in Jana's class.


This charcoal heather knit will soon become a maxi skirt in Leanne Barlow's class. I'm just glad to finally have this fabric in my hot little hands—I ordered it from Fabric.com on September 21, and they didn't ship it until yesterday. And that was only after I made a threatening phone call demanding that they overnight it, or else. What is up with them lately??


I picked out this happy stack for the Curves Mini Quilt class with Christina of The Sometimes Crafter. Most of these prints are from Art Gallery's fun new line, Floressence, paired with a texty background print from Mama Said Sew by Sweetwater.

Last but not least, I can't wait to learn how to machine-piece hexagons, partial seams, equilateral triangles, and more with my friends Kati and Faith. For their class, I'm using some of the yummy new Kona colors, like Carrot, Citrus, Peapod, and Azalea.

I'm off to Salt Lake City later today, and I'm really looking forward to seeing friends both old and new! So if you're attending Sewing Summit, I would love for you to introduce yourself. I'll be hanging out in the sewing room during open sewing time most nights, and I would like nothing better than to see some of your WIPs in person instead of on a computer screen for once! So don't be shy. :) For those who didn't get into my Foundation Paper Piecing class with Elizabeth, I'll be doing a short informal class on foundation piecing in the sewing room on Thursday night at around 10 p.m.—come join in!

And even if you won't be at Sewing Summit, you can still share. Here are the linky rules:

1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress (WIP).
2. Somewhere in your post, you must link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other WIP Wednesday links. Because what fun is a linky party without comments? : )

Can't wait to see some of you in Salt Lake City! Safe travels!

WIP Wednesday: With Guest Host Debbie from A Quilter's Table

On the first Wednesday of every month, WIP Wednesday gets a guest host! I've chosen some of my favorite bloggers and WIP linkers to take the reins for me on those days. -Lee

Hello! I'm Debbie from A Quilter's Table, and it is certainly my pleasure to be guest-hosting W.i.P. Wednesday today! Thank you, Lee, for having me! Considering W.i.P. Wednesday was the first link-up I joined when I started blogging, I have a special fondness for it. Plus it helps keep me on track!

Ongoing projects
Modern Crosses quilt - I'm still in the beginning stages of this project, but have at least doubled the amount of blocks since last week.

Mod Pop Quiltalong - I'm kind of having to force myself on the piecing of the curves. The actual assembly should be alot of fun though, since the pattern is so striking!

Nametag for Sewing Summit - Patchwork is done and embroidering the details is in the works!

Weekender Bag - Oh my. This is where my time has gone lately. So far, so good, but the scariest steps are yet to come! I had a layer cake of Lotta Jansdotter's Bella  that I cut up to make the patchwork which I've been straight-line quilting as I go. Alexander Henry's Heath seemed perfect for the piping, handles, and lining. Next up is the zip!

Christmas quilt and Dresden projects - no progress.

Upcoming projects
* scrappy Metrolink - who knows when, but I still really want to!
* another frame purse
* use Polaroid blocks
* placemats
* Binary quilt using blocks from Modern Blocks Bee
* Sew Lux Challenge project
* UR Priceless Blog Hop project
* Christmas!

So what are you working on this week? Here are the linky rules:

1. Link up any post from the past week that features at least one unfinished work-in-progress.
2. Somewhere in your post, you must link back here to my blog. (Or grab my WIP Wednesday button for your sidebar.)
3. Comment on at least a few of the other WIP Wednesday links. If we each comment on just 2 or 3 other links, everybody will get so much comment love!

Happy sewing!

Doing Cartwheels

My Cartwheels quilt is now complete, and I am so happy with how it turned out! It's a sweet little girl quilt for a sweet baby girl.

My gray and yellow love is still going strong, as you can see, plus I threw in some pink for good measure. The background is Kona Ash and the binding is this Lizzy House print, which is fabulous for binding!

Some of my favorite stash prints can be found in the blocks and on the back, including this yellow print from Riley Blake, which I used up and must now buy lots more. : ) (Fortunately it's on sale here.) Sarah Jane's ridiculously adorable narwhals are in there too.

This is how I almost always piece my quilt backs now–they're pieced, but it's pretty simple and quick piecing. I hardly ever buy fabric specifically for a quilt back anymore. I just use whatever I have in my stash that coordinates. But since I don't usually buy a whole lot of any one print, it does necessitate a bit more piecing than if I was doing a back from all one print. That's good, because it forces me to do something with the back at a time when I'm usually running out of steam on the project and getting lazy. : )

Since I've had a few requests, I'll be offering a pattern for this quilt very soon (I'll be releasing it on December 13). The pattern will include a paper-piecing pattern to make the Cartwheel block, as well as full cutting and assembly instructions to make this quilt in three different sizes: Baby, Lap, and Twin. The Cartwheel block is a lot of fun and deceptively simple to sew—there aren't any seams to match up when you put the block sections together, and that's always the trickiest part of foundation piecing. So I hope you'll give this one a try!