Have you heard about Fabrics N Quilts annual 

Scrap Quilt Challenge?

It's a great opportunity to bust through some of those scraps that I know you all have lying around (wink, wink).  PLUS, you get the chance to win some fabulous prizes!!!  Simply upload a photo of a scrappy quilt (that you finished this year) to the Scrap Quilt Challenge 5 Flickr Page by midnight on October 15th (that's just two more weeks, friends!) and you could win BIG!!! Click HERE for more details!

As one of the featured designers for this challenge,

I wanted to share with you my recently finished Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt!

I started this fun paper piecing project about 7 months ago 

and loved every minute of it!

♥ ♥ ♥

Now, there are lots of ways to make a Log Cabin block but I decided to go the paper piecing route because... 

#1 I love to paper piece

#2 I didn't have to pre-cut or press my strips

#3 Paper piecing ensures perfectly straight, square blocks!

Here are some details about my quilt:

Finished block size = 7"

Finished quilt size = 70" x 84"

Total number of blocks = 120

Total number of pieces = 1,560

Machine quilted by Cathy Barney in Alpine, UT.

Quilting design = Modern Loops

 Would you like this block pattern?

Click HERE for a free download.

+ check out my tutorial for a paper pieced Pineapple Block 

to help you get started!  Click HERE.

 

Now go on and get scrap busting!

~ Amber

A Review of January's Quilting To-Do's

I'm really loving the idea of making a quilting to-do list at the beginning of each month.  It's helped to keep me focused and motivated.  January went pretty well, I'd say.  It wasn't perfect.  I didn't get everything crossed of my list but I still feel like I accomplished a lot.  Here's where I'm at...

#1 - My Sea Glass quilt is half way bound 

so I half-way crossed it off my list :)  I'll show pictures soon.

#2 - My sewing room was needing a little bit of TLC so second on my list was to hang frame, spools quilt and fix chair (and CLEAN UP!)

 

So I finally framed the Sew on and sew on and sew on picture that I had for about a year.  I displayed it on this little shelf and then decided the area also needed a little something on the wall so I used a single Dresden Plate block that I had lying around.  I also added the white iron (which was a gift from my sister) and the small red iron (which was a gift from my mom).  The spools were found in a box my husbands uncle gave to me that was my husbands grandmothers.  And it's hard to see, but the green container that is holding the spools has a #2 printed on the burlap.  I had to buy it to remind me of the two little cuties that call me mommy.

 

I quilted the Dresden Plate wall hanging myself, which was a lot of fun.  That was a bonus project but at least I was putting a loner block to good use.  Should I get a bonus point for that?

It was bothering me a little bit that I didn't have any quilts hung in my sewing room since I got my new Ikea storage cabinets about a year ago.  So I made room for this Spools quilt (pattern by Camille Roskelley) and finally found the perfect spot for the giant safety pin that was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law!

And just days before the months end, I recovered my sewing chair with this cute little fat quarter I had on hand.  The fabric is from Lecien's Flower Sugar line.  (I love that fabric line so much that I featured it in two coordinating quilts in my upcoming book!) I liked having my "to-do" list to keep me on track and motivated because this was one of those projects that probably wouldn't have gotten done for a long, long time.

#3 Bind Honey Sweet Runner - Check!

(you can see my blog post about it HERE).

#4 Finish Farmer's Wife borders

   

My inner border is on and my outer border is pieced and ready to be sewn on as well.  I'm hoping to do that today so I'll post pictures soon.

#5 Make design wall quilt 

(that's going to be on hold for a little while...)

#6 Get heart quilt to the quilter

I did and it's back.  The binding is sewn on.  I just gotta hand stitch it on the back side.  Pictures coming soon :)

Lastly, I made two projects for a secret friend swap (that you can read about HERE) and started two new projects.  I'll post about the smaller one soon but here's what I spent the majority of my time working on at Quilt Bliss:

They're paper pieced Pineapple Blocks and I'm so obsessed with them right now!  I figured each one took me about an hour and a half.  It will definitely be a long term project but I'm really hoping I can find some more time this week to work on them!

So that's it.  I think it was a pretty good month and now I've got lots to blog about in the next few weeks.  I've also got to make my February list so stay tuned...

~ Amber 

Secret Friend Gifts

This weekend I'm heading to a Quilt Retreat and I cannot wait!  

 I signed up for two swaps while I'm there: 

#1 - a low volume fat eighth fabric exchange and 

#2 - a secret friend swap.   

Now, I know it's not much of a secret if I'm publicizing it on my blog but she doesn't know she's my secret friend and I don't think she knows me or my blog, so I think it's okay to show you what I'm giving her!?!

She said she likes orange, yellow and purple and Heather Ross 

- so I'm crossing my fingers that she likes these goodies.

 

I started by looking on my "More Sewing" Pinterest board for some ideas and came across a couple of super cute bags made by Messy Jessy.  Her photo led me to her blog which led me to Jeni Baker's blog, In Color Order - where Jeni has posted a wonderful tutorial for Lined Drawstring Bags.

 

This bag was super easy and quick to make 

(and you know I don't "do" bags so that should say a lot! :)

The part that took the longest was running out to buy the ribbon - twice because I only bought enough for one of the drawstrings on my first outing!

I lined the bag with some interfacing and 

Robert Kaufman's Essex Linen that I had on hand.

I knew I also wanted to make a boxy pincushion for my secret friend.

So I started by making a tiny star block (using more of my Essex Linen and matching fabric).  Then I wondered the best way to make the "box" part of the pincushion and found this pincushion tutorial by Heather Bailey.  I had never made a fabric box before but it ended up being easy peasy!

 

 I adjusted Heather's measurements and it actually worked out!

I stuffed the pincushion with some stuffing and silicone sand that I had on hand (to give it some needed weight).

I'm throwing in some more Heather Ross fabric, my favorite seam ripper and two of my patterns (that color coordinate, of course! :)  Oh, and some chocolate.  You gotta have chocolate for a retreat, right?

It was fun to try new things.  I learned that I CAN make bags and how to make a box!  These small projects were a nice change from the usual big quilts that I make and I look forward to making more bags and pincushions in the future!

So do you like to learn/try new things?

What's the latest (new) thing you've tried making?

Did it turn out?

Well, thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

~ Amber

 

I'm back

 Well, I just got back from the most awesome-est quilt retreat EVER.  I loved every minute of it!  The retreat was held in a HUGE, luxurious cabin/house - that even had a slide in it!  It was located in the back of scenic Hobble Creek Canyon, UT (a short 45 minute drive from my house).  It was hosted by the amazingly talented and wonderfully witty Emily Herrick of Crazy Old Ladies quilt patterns. There were about 30 of us sewing till the wee hours of the morning.  The food was delish.  Just the right amount of games and make 'n takes.  Swag galore.  New friends and a beautiful snowy setting surrounded us.  And guess what!  I took absolutely NO pictures!  I'm sorry!  I've been hunting around blog land for some and haven't come across any yet.  But I shared a sewing table and a bedroom with Heather from Quilt Story and Amy from Diary of a Quilter so I'm hoping they'll pull through for me!  Also at our table was Kathleen from Quilt My Phone who hooked me up with an awesome new quilty phone case!  Thanks Kathleen!  I LOVE it!

So before I left I worked frantically on making this weekend traveler bag. I had the pattern for a long time and thought it was the perfect excuse to actually make it.  It came down to the day before the retreat and I hadn't started making it.  But, a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.  I was able to get it done and I LOVE how it turned out!!!

 The pattern is called My Paris Traveler's Bag by Fig Tree Quilts.

It was the perfect size for a three day trip.  I felt like Mary Poppins when I was packing because of how much stuff I was able to fit in there!

I hope I'll be able to use it again soon.  

Like maybe at a Cabin Fever 2 retreat?!?  

It was a fun and productive weekend and I got two quilt tops done.  

Stay tuned.  Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share soon.

~ Amber

Finished Apron and Giveaway!

Apparently I have been in a non-quilty mood lately!   

This is the second apron I've made in the last few weeks and I feel like I stretched my beginner seamstress skills with this one.  It felt kinda good! You'll have to please excuse the lame picture though.  Although I am excited - you might be able to tell that I feel extremely awkward having my picture taken for all of YOU to see?!?

 I love the girly waistband and the full skirt and these darling pockets.  I also love the scoop neck.  There are lots of fun little details on this one!

This pattern is called Lime Rickey and was designed by my good friend, Eva Garlick from the blog and pattern company called Sew Much Good.  

 

Eva has so generously offered to giveaway 5 - count that FIVE - of her patterns to my blog readers!  All you have to do to enter is stop by her blog, check out her apron and skirt patterns, decide which one is your favorite (that will be the hardest part) and then come back here and leave a comment telling me which one that is! Take a minute to do these 4 little steps and one of these patterns could be yours!  

Be sure to leave an email address if you are a no-reply blogger.

BONUS POINTS:

If you are a follower of my blog, A Little Bit Biased - leave another comment saying "A Little Bit Biased".  If you're a follower of Eva's blog, Sew Much Good, you can leave a third comment saying "Sew Much Good!"

This giveaway will end Thursday night.  The winners will be announced Friday morning.  Good luck!

~ Amber

One Project Down

I finished up this apron last night:

 

The pattern has been around for quite a while but I've always liked it. 

It kind of says I'm-not-pregnant-but-I-could-be-and-you'd-never-know (and what girl doesn't like to wear clothes that fall into that category?!?)

It was a super easy pattern to follow and make (which is really good for a girl like me since hemming, ruffling and gathering are a little out of my comfort zone). It's also super comfy to wear.  Did I mention that? 

 

And what woman can't appreciate two giant size pockets?  You could stash a million spools of thread in these things!  Or Lego's... Or hair bows...whatever!

It was fun to take a small break from quilting to whip up this apron.  

This was a great pattern for a beginner and I had so much fun with it, in fact, that I decided to make one more for a friend.  

I hope she likes it!

 

This pattern is the Lilly Apron by Busy Bee Quilt Design.

Around The Block Sampler {Finished}

 Oh my gosh.  It has been forever!  Happy Monday everyone!  

I have missed you guys and have been thinking about you!  

I have been a busy little girl, doing a little of this and a little of that.

I'm hoping to be able to share some of the fun things with you over the next week or so.  If you haven't forgotten about me??? :)

Today, I thought I would share with you my newest finish.  This actually has been quilted for quite some time.  It took me FOREVER to bind it though (as it was my first time doing a scalloped binding and I was trying out a new stitch I learned that took me some time to get down).  Then, she sat in my quilt cabinet for a week or so, wondering when I was going to find her a good home and take some pictures of her!

 Even this, may be a temporary home, because my sewing room is under a little bit of "construction" (or maybe "rearranging" is a better word...) but I know she will definitely be on full display in there because the colors are perfect!

 

 

There is more information about the beginnings of this quilt HERE. 

It's fun to look back and see how the quilt has evolved...

 

I decided to use a solid white for the outer border because I knew I was going to get some fancy custom quilting in there and yet I still wanted to leave the emphasis on the blocks themselves.

 

 I used the same solid white on the back, as well.  My quilter said she hates solid white backs because you can see everything but I think it turned out great!  Wren Woodland in Highland, UT. quilted it for me.  She is a custom, free-hand quilter that I reserve for my most special quilts!  She does a fabulous job, always.

All of the blocks in this quilt, came from the book, Around the Block with Judy Hopkins.  It's a great book with tons of block patterns each in several different sizes.  My blocks all finished at 10".   

 

My little quilt group picked out these blocks together and then each of us made our own quilts in our own color schemes with our own settings.  Each quilt is so different and lovely (maybe someday I can show you pictures of all of them together!)  We started them a long time ago and I think I'm one of the last to get hers done.  I'm happy with the end result though and enjoyed the process of making this sampler style quilt.

A Handmade Gift

First, there will be no Tuesday Tips today. 

I didn't have the heart to ask anyone to even think about guest posting during this busy time.  But please join us next week for a fabulous Tuesday Tips guest post by the amazing and talented...

Oh you'll just have to come back.  It's gonna be so great! 

Anyways, do you often feel bogged down during the holidays?

I know I do.  There's always a million things to do.  With neighbor gifts, teacher gifts, friend gifts, family gifts, decorating, card sending, baking...well, it can get a little overwhelming at times.  This year, I set a goal to be finished Christmas shopping by December 1st.  We did go past our deadline a little, but having that goal definitely helped us be more prepared this year.  It gave me the extra time I needed to do the card and gift sending, the cookie delivering and the enjoying-the-Christmas-season-feeling that I so desired.  It even gave me time 2 days before Christmas to have an impromptu sewing session that resulted in my one handmade {family} gift.

I used scraps from my stash to make a little doll quilt for my daughter.  I couldn't resist these 30's prints that I recently acquired.

I cut one hundred 2-1/2" squares. 

I had to dig deep into my stash since I don't have a lot of 30's fabrics.  The red gingham back and green polka dot binding aren't 30's, but I felt they still kept the integrity of the quilt.

These two red fabrics featured above are ones that I collected from my grandmother {Gigi} so they add some sentimental value to this little gift.

I got all of the piecing done while my husband and daughter were out on a daddy/daughter date Friday afternoon.  I got the binding hand-stitched on that evening.  And  I got the very simple quilting done on Saturday {Christmas Eve}.  I finally got to take advantage of this Tiger Tape that I purchased many years ago.  The big stitch style and minimal lines that I actually quilted made it possible to get done in an hour or two.  I would have liked to have quilted it more, but seeing that it was Christmas Eve I knew I had to be realistic with my time.  Also, I sort of thought it would take over if I quilted ever row in both directions.  What do you think?  Should I go back and quilt some more lines?

A 20" x 20" quilt for little Izzy {the newest member of our family}.

So, did you do a handmade Christmas?

Either way, I hope you had a wonderful day filled with family and friends.

~ Amber

The Perfect End to Summer

I can't say that I won't miss the long, lazy days of summer, sleeping in, not having to rush my kids out the door so they won't miss the bus in the morning,

watching them become fantastic swimmers after numerous sessions of swim lessons, playing with cousins and neighborhood friends, b-b-q's, late nights, spontaneous frozen yogurt runs with the fam and all the other wonderful things that summer entails. 

But I will say that I am sooo over trying to keep my house clean after two little tornadoes make their way through every day and I am also over repeating myself 10 times to get my kids to "hear" me.

So.  This is the PERFECT way to end summer.

A quilting retreat to St. George with my friends.

3 glorious days of sewing, sewing and more sewing.

I've got my supplies all ready to go.

I'll be bringing four projects to work on: 

A scrappy Goose Tracks quilt.

A {not as} scrappy star quilt using a fun new gadget I just received (more on that later).

My 2 color "crayon" project that I've been dying to start.

And, a little Halloween wall hanging that I started the other day.  Can you see how I'm all over the place here?  I kind of lost my focus a while ago and hope to find it again one of these days. :)

My scissors and rotary cutter are "labeled" with orange ties so they won't get lost in the excitement of things.

I've got everything a quilting girl like me could anticipate needing on a weekend like this ~ pins, glue, an extension cord, my favorite seam ripper {hope I don't need that too much} and all of my favorite colors of thread.

I've got the other essentials too, like my cutting mat, ruler, iron and travel ironing mat.   I hope that's everything!!!

Just one last thing to do ~ spend some quality time with the kiddos and hubby before I leave.  [Thank goodness for a sweet husband who is so fully capable of having his wife be gone for a few days.  He's such a good man!  They'll probably party hard while mom's gone.  Let the good times roll!]

Cherry Pickin' Baskets

I found a {new to me} blog a while back and fell in love with a basket quilt that Jolene from Blue Elephant Stitches had made.  Well, she actually made two.  This and this.  I was so inspired by the scrappy and whimsical nature of the two quilts, that I immediately started making my own basket quilt that night.  I have been wanting a "basket quilt" for quite some time and for some reason, hers just spoke to me.

I call my quilt, Cherry Pickin' Baskets because once I got going on the quilt I just knew I wanted to put this fabric on the back.  It's from the fabric line Cherry Fizz by Barb Jones for Henry Glass Co.

I was so sad though because I bought a couple yards of this backing before the quilt was finished and ended up being a little short of fabric.  When I went back to buy some more of it I found out that someone had bought the rest of the bolt that morning.  So I had to piece it.  I ended up using this herringbone fabric from my stash to supplement.

The basket pattern comes from Gwen Marstons Liberated Quiltmaking #2.

My quilt ended up being a little different than Jolene's.  I added a stop border and some of my baskets are more centered on the block.  Making the baskets was really fun, easy and super addicting though!  I had a lot of fun making it.

I did follow Jolene's idea to add a piano key border.

I have a thing for scrappy quilts and this one definitely fit the bill!



Natilie Thompson did the quilting.  I asked her to do a basic stipple so the focus would be on the baskets.  

Her contact info is: 801-787-2496 (South Jordan, UT).

Have a good day!

~Amber