Spoonflower I-Spy by Crafterhours - AND a giveaway!!

Ooooh, I am so excited to share this!!

Remember how Susan at Crafterhours headed up not one, but TWO Spoonflower I-Spy Swaps? Who DOESN'T love Spoonflower fabrics? Who DOESN'T love I-Spy? It's a match made in heaven!!

Well guess what!!! Susan has taken a giant leap and created not one but TWO assortments of Spoonflower fabric I-Spy squares... available now in the brand spankin' new Crafterhours shop!

And guess what... She chose lil' old ME to do a review on one of the sets...
and... I get to give away a set here on my bloggy! :oD
AND... I have a discount code for all my readers!! :oD :oD


Behold the beautiful packaging of the set called Alloy....

My favorite part of the packaging? Little itty bitty thumbnails showing each and every one of the 56 squares! :o)


Now to show you my family's absolute favorites from the assortment....

I love the tiny cards and giraffes, Buzz loves the daggers and pencils, JellyBean loves the donuts and mac 'n cheese (or MACKIES, as we call them!), and Mr. S adores the guinea pigs and gnomes. :o)

If you want to see photos of every single square in the Alloy assortment, you can check out this post on Crafterhours.

There is also another assortment available, called Eden. Check out the fabrics at this link!


* * * * *

Now for the fun part! :o)

Crafterhours is offering a 20% discount on all orders in the Crafterhours shop through this Friday the 17th! Simply use the code "ISPYCARE" at checkout!


ALSO -- you've got a chance to win your choice of either the Alloy or Eden assortments here on my bloggy! All you need to do is leave a comment here including your email address. That's it! I will pick a random winner Wednesday morning (the 15th) at 8AM!

!!!!YAY FOR I-SPY!!!!

I-Spy Quilt for JellyBean!

One of my Christmas sewing projects this year!

JellyBean has been wanting an I-Spy quilt of her own... and we had a great time picking out squares together! Each square represents something she likes, something about her, or is something she just plain couldn't live without at the moment we were choosing!

I opted to set all the squares together in rows with no sashing this time... that way we could cram in as many I-spies as we possibly could! There are quite a few of my Ultimate Favorite Squares in there... squares that, until now, were too "special" to use in any other projects!

There is a narrow purple border to frame the quilt, followed by another border of I-spies. She adores it, I adore it, and it is perfect on her "big girl" bed!

:o) HOORAY for I-Spy!! :o)

Um.... Hello?

Hellooo!!

I am still here! I didn't intend to be gone for so long! I'm still alive and kicking, obsessing and sewing! :o) I guess I've had quite a lengthy sabbatical, but I hope to be back around here at least a little bit more often! :o)

I just wanted to share this ridiculous photo... That laundry basket right there contains all the 4" I-Spy squares I've collected over numerous swaps. Hee hee! Should I be embarrassed? Yesterday my sister-in-law and I busted them out and pawed through them, searching for those perfect squares for Christmas projects. It was like greeting an old friend again! Ahhhh, I-Spy.... The box contains uncut fabrics, ready for more swapping, which WILL happen again. :o) Maybe sometime in January/February -- the "doldrum months."

(It's a BIG basket, too!)

Anyhow, I have intended to create a roundup of QUICK and SIMPLE last-minute Christmas gift/stocking stuffer ideas before now, but must delay it a little bit longer! Watch for it in the next few days!

I-Spy Swap SEVEN!

It's that time again!!

THE BASICS:

Mail 200 I-Spy squares to me by August 9th.

Get 200 I-Spy squares back, all different, by August 19th.

I know this is a tight schedule, but recent experience has shown that swaps with tighter schedules are more successful... so this one will have a fairly tight schedule too.
PLEASE be sure you can meet the deadlines BEFORE you sign up!

THE DETAILS:

1. The first 36 people to comment are in. [If you live outside the U.S., no problem -- but please mail your fabrics a little earlier so there's plenty of time to meet the deadline!]

2. Cut 20 4" squares out of each of 10 different novelty print fabrics. A 1/4-yard cut or fat quarter will get you 20 4" squares, so you will be purchasing a total of about 2 1/2 yards of fabric. This is NOTHING when you think about all the different squares you will be getting back!

3. In order to avoid duplicates, everyone will need to search out unusual or obscure prints. Look for things that aren't available at chain stores. But, please, pick FUN ones! If you love it, the other swappers will love it too!

4. Remember that we are looking for fabric with objects on it, not printy-prints. (A fabric with FLOWERS on it is very different from a FLORAL PRINT.)

5. No "licensed" prints: No Disney, Dora, L.A. Lakers, etc.

6. Remember seam allowances! Be sure you can tell what you are looking at within a 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" square. Nobody wants only half of an object in their square -- cut them well! (Depending on your fabric choice, you may need to buy more than 1/4 yard in order to get an object into each cut square.)

If you want to join me in this obsession, leave a comment here that
includes your email address!!

Remember: The FIRST 36 who comment are IN!
*IF by chance we don't make it to the full double swap,
we'll do a single swap with the first 18 and save the rest
of the swappers for the next swap.

SERIOUS SWAPPERS ONLY...
Please read the guidelines before signing up!

Bloggers Quilt Festival

I'm joining in the fun over at Amy's Creative Side with the Spring Bloggers Quilt Festival!

Today I am sharing a recent favorite quilt -- my all black-background I-Spy quilt! I just love the look of this quilt, with it's all black-background spies (in pairs! It's a matching game!) and the bright pop of turquoise in the border, binding, and backing.

I started this quilt last December when I really needed to procrastinate getting some Christmas gifts done. Turns out, though, that it made the perfect Christmas gift for my nephew -- and it also renewed and rejuvenated my soul to create something so fun! Timing is everything, even when you may not think you have the time! I had so much fun going through my ridiculous stash of I-Spy squares and sorting out all the black ones. In fact, my stash is SO ridiculously big that I was even able to pick and choose things especially special to my nephew -- even with the color limitation I gave myself.

I backed the quilt with a super soft fuzzy backing, which gave it that extra snuggliness I was craving.
This quilt is definitely in my top ten favorite I-Spy quilts!

Thanks for stopping by!

Girly I-Spy Ticker Tape -- FINISHED!

It's done!

After a loooong break from working on this quilt (other obsessions crept in!), I finally revisited it and finished it night before last. Yesterday I sent it through the wash a couple times, trimmed off the extra hairy threads, and resewed the edges of a couple squares that frayed beyond the stitching.

I love the fun, girly backing and bright binding.

And THIS, my friends, is the pile of threads that came out of the wash! Amazing!

I-Spy Ticker Tape Quilt... the Girly Version!

I'm at it again! I've been sorting through my I-Spy scraps to dig out little pieces for this Ticker Tape quilt (inspired by this one). This isn't the first time! My other (boy-themed) one can be found here.

Yes, it's true, I save the most miniscule bits and pieces of my I-Spy fabrics if there is a visible object on it -- and this is the perfect project to use them in. I don't have an official tally, but when all is said and done there will be hundreds of scraps of I-Spies on this quilt -- each one from a different fabric!

I start by creating the quilt "sandwich" -- backing, batting, and white Kona on the front -- and pin-basting it together. Then I attach the scraps directly on top, which quilts it as I go. Looooooove!!


I can't wait to get this one finished up so I can give it to... well, it was going to be a secret, but if it's here I guess it's not. It's for my new sweet niece, born just a few weeks ago! I admit, it's heavy on the kitties. Hope little K-doll doesn't mind! :o)

Black I-Spy Quilt -- COMPLETE!

It's done! And I love it! A quilt made from 100% black background I-Spy squares!

I decided to go with a nice bright pop of color for the inner border. And get this -- it's a matching game! For every I-Spy in the border, there is one to match in the center of the quilt! Ha ha, I love it!!

I decided this quilt needed to go to my nephew for Christmas. I ended up taking out a few squares that were originally in the quilt and replaced them with some squares that would be specifically fun for him. Not too much seam ripping -- I only took out four squares on the edges.


The bright turquoise-y blue came from my stash. It's four different prints, all in the same color. I even ended up with exactly enough left over to do the binding.

I backed the quilt with a luscious piece of fuzzy Ultra Cuddle from JoAnn. The color is a perfect match. And, get this -- when I got to the cutting counter there was EXACTLY enough left on the bolt to fit the back. And it was on sale! I even had a leftover piece of batting at home, also the exact size I needed. Serendipity!

All in all, I spent $5 for the backing -- and had everything else on hand. Not too shabby -- especially for a quilt that I absolutely ADORE!!

I-Spy Quilt -- ALL BLACK

This project tickles me!!

I have been sorting, re-sorting, and re-re-sorting my I-Spy squares. I have a few collections in the works, but this one is my current favorite!! I pulled out all the squares with black backgrounds, just for fun, and laid them all out. I love it!!! I sewed them all together last night (when I really should have been working on other projects -- hee hee!), and I just love the look of it! Having the same background really makes it cohesive, without looking too scattered and busy. Again -- I love it!!

All the fabrics are different, with the exception of that cupcake print in the top two rows. Blast! Wish I had seen that before. Oh well, I have a square I can replace one of the cupcakes with.... And does that square with the pixy sticks, second down from the right, not have enough black in it? It's kind of standing out....

Hmmm....

At this point it is a 35"x45" rectangle. It needs to be bigger, obviously, to be a usable quilt. The question is, do I start with a narrow border of a solid color, and then add black borders? Or do I go straight to a black border? Or, do I stop here and wait to collect MORE squares with black backgrounds before I continue?

Maybe I should stop, and work on some of those Christmas projects......... :o)

MY I-Spy Quilt -- Serious Progress!!

Well... I finished sewing borders around all 357 I-Spy squares necessary to make my queen-sized I-Spy quilt. And I didn't get tired of it until the last group of ten! Amazing. It helps that every square and every border is from a different fabric -- and it also helps a little to be Just Plain Obsessed. :o)

I learned after the last sad, sad attempt (what WAS I thinking??) at this quilt that it is a REALLY good idea to do a test run, so here it is. And I LOVE it! I mean really, really *L*O*V*E* it! And it's easy to do, too!

I just have to post this little picture of my piles of scrap strips. It has been SO fun to go through all my scraps, and my mom's, and remember which quilt each fabric was originally used for. And I get to have all those memories sewn up in one quilt -- for me! Meeeeeeeee!!

Must. Sew. More!!!

MY I-Spy Quilt

My obsession with 2 1/2" I-Spy squares has been renewed. Over the past year+ of more intensive I-Spy obsession (including numerous swaps I have hosted and joined!), I've been working here and there on a quilt for MY bed. I've been collecting 2 1/2" I-Spy squares for YEARS, and during 2010 I have been adding borders to them little by little.

Here is my collection so far -- 216! They are all completely different squares with completely different borders. Needless to say, this takes a lot of dedication and patience and mostly OBSESSING. The borders have come from my ridiculously full scrap bins. Did I mention each border is from a completely different fabric? :o)

I am getting closer and closer to my goal of a queen-size I-Spy quilt for my bed!

Why for my bed? Well, when I was little my parents' bed was an impromptu gathering place. My siblings and I would end up there during the day with one or both of my parents, sometimes all of us at the same time and sometimes not. I have fond memories of just hanging out there, thinking and chatting with my parents. I want my bed to be the same kind of comfortable gathering place -- a good place -- a happy place -- to chat and hang out with my kids, learn a little more about their lives and thoughts, and just BE. And wouldn't it be fun to look at all the hundreds of little I-Spies while we're at it??

Here are a few examples of my squares. Each finished I-Spy is 2", and will have a finished border of 3/4". (Small squares mean I can pack more I-Spies in there!!) I have thoughts on the layout, but haven't settled 100% on that.

Anyway, just thought I would share this week's obsession. Yesterday alone I added borders to 51 squares in my stash! :oD

Completed I-Spy Strip Quilt

It's done!
I actually finished it last Friday night. I got all obsessed and put together the back, quilted, and bound it all that evening! It was a late night -- but so worth it!

After counting there is a total of 76 DIFFERENT I-Spy fabrics in this quilt -- ALL SCRAPS!


After staring at the photos from my last post multiple times and reading all your comments and suggestions (thank you!) I ultimately decided I liked it ending with the colorful I-Spy borders.


For the back I dug out a few options for fabrics I had on hand. There were three "I-Spy-ish" options, but I liked this funny dog print best for theme and for color. I had 1 1/2 yards of it, and needed just a few more inches -- so HOORAY, I got to paw through more of my I-Spy scraps! :o) I created a long strip to set in, and laid it on top of the backing to see how it looked. All those spies got lost in the print! So, I looked around and found I had a couple strips of black scrap fabric sitting on my cutting table. It was destiny! They frame the strip of spies just right, and give them some POP.

I really wanted to have a nice crisp finished edge, but I still wanted to stay with the I-Spy theme. Black fabric with tiny white paw prints! It's a very narrow binding (had to squeeze it out of the fabric), and I love how it finishes the quilt.

This quilt has been SO MUCH FUN to make! I truly enjoy embarking on projects without a finished product in mind; it really tickles and stretches the creative part of my brain in a way that starting with a plan just can't!

I counted carefully, and there is a total of 76 DIFFERENT I-Spy fabrics in this quilt -- ALL SCRAPS! I had everything on hand -- with the exception of that binding, which cost about $1.50 (a necessary expense; it's too perfect!). Even the batting was a leftover scrap.
TRIUMPH! :o)

I-Spy Strip Quilt Progress

I've been ignoring a few "ought to finish" projects in favor of this one, and this is what I have so far:

Yes, I know it appears that the center is, well, off-center. It's not. Let's just say, WE'RE GOING WITH IT. :o) I do need some input on the next step, though....

I have enough I-Spy strips with white backgrounds to do a border. Shall I? I do think I need to have a white border before the binding... Does this count, or will I still need a solid white border beyond it? Or, do I skip the I-Spy strips with a white background and go straight to a solid white border? Or do I call it finished where it sits now? The current size is 40" x 56", sans the white background strips.

Help!

I-Spy Scraps & A Quick Note

When cutting my 4" I-Spy squares, I end up with a strip of scrap fabric at least 1" wide by 20" long. Of course I have been saving those scraps -- I-Spy is like GOLD to me!

At the risk of revealing just how I-Spy obsessed I am (Who am I kidding?? You already know!!) -- here is a picture of my strips -- each one representing yardage I have purchased for my obsession. I think I've finally got enough scraps to create a quilt. After lining them up, they reach all the way across my living room!

The only question is how to arrange them. I could sort by color, or theme...


...but at this point I am really liking the randomness of its current arrangement.

Either way, it is FUN to look at all my scraps and think about how to finalize my quilt! YAY for scrap projects, and DOUBLE YAY for I-Spy scrap projects!!


Also... a quick note:
Right now we're going through a period of adjustment. The boys have started school, and JellyBean has decided to boycott naps. Between dropping off and picking up, a crabby toddler whose nap schedule I am trying to figure out, and still being elbow-deep in sewing room reorganization -- sewing and therefore blogging have taken a back burner. Thanks for sticking with me! I promise I will be TRULY back with more fun projects as soon as we get more settled in with our new schedule!

(Speaking of crabby toddlers -- I've got a sleep-deprived and therefore rage-filled toddler screaming at my feet. Gotta go!)

Guest Posting at Crafterhours!

Today I am over at Crafterhours, one of my favorite blogs to follow, with post about I-Spy!

Come on over!

I-Spy Swap FLICKR GROUP

I've created an I-Spy Swap FLICKR GROUP, where swappies can get ideas and share projects they've created from fabrics from our swaps.

I hope to see lots of goodies being posted!

SORTING!

Last week I spent a huge chunk of time sorting my I-Spies by color. I am DYING to make an I-Spy quilt like the one Susan at Crafterhours made! Hers is brilliant. Really.

Anyway, this stack represents -- ahem -- only half of my I-Spy square stash... heh heh......

I haven't felt much like sewing the last little while, but at least I can sit in my sewing room and stare at my stack of squares!

I've been obsessing....

Ever since I first saw Amanda Jean's Ticker Tape Quilt last September, I have been DYING to give it a go. After three straight days of Strep last week, spending much of my time lying on the couch and watching the littles play (none of them have caught it, luckily!), I neeeeeded a good project to get me up and get my sewjo back.


Enter the I-Spy version of the Ticker Tape quilt!

I've been saving oodles of I-Spy scraps ever since I first started collecting I-Spies years ago. Like many other quilters, I just can't get rid of even the tiniest little scraps, especially if they are super cute ones. This was the PERFECT project to make a dent in my overflowing I-Spy scrap bin!

The finished quilt is approximately 36"x45". I used all fabrics I had on hand -- with the exception of the binding, for which I had to go buy this morning. (Only 1/4 yard, though!)


I pin-basted my quilt sandwich FIRST -- white on front, a print on back, and batting sandwiched in between. The raw edge applique and quilting were done simultaneously when I free-motion stitched each scrap in place.

That backing fabric is perfect -- I'm so glad I picked it up on sale a few months back, even though I had nothing in mind for it. This quilt ended up fairly boyish, but you can bet I'll be making a girly version sometime in the near future.

I've got the quilt in the wash now, and can't wait to see those raw edges all frayed up and texture-y!

I-Spy... The Kitty Version!

JellyBean LOOOOVES kitties... In fact, "kitty" was her first word! A little while back I started going through all my I-Spies in search of kitty squares and discovered that I had nearly enough to do an entire quilt! I've been keeping my eye out for kitty fabrics ever since.

Over the weekend we spent a little time at my mom's house, and I raided her fabric stash. I took all my kitty fabrics with me, and she and I swapped some around. (She's collecting kitties too!) Finally, I had enough for JellyBean's kitty quilt!


61 different kitties! There are a couple kitties cut from the same fabric, but the cats themselves are different.


I am in LOVE with the kitties I found for the back!

She loves her new quilt, and has been plopping herself down right in the middle of it and pointing at each square, saying "KITty!! KITTy!!! KITTY!!!" in her cute little voice.

It was SO worth all the effort and all the collecting! :o)

I-Spy Quilts for My Boys!

About two weeks ago myboys and I went through my extensive I-Spy square collection so they could pick out squares they wanted for quilts of their own. (They have had the same quilts on their beds since they were babies. Definitely time for something new!) They had a FANTASTIC time going through and picking out things they liked -- and of course it was super fun for me too!

They picked out the fabrics for the sashing squares and borders.


They each also picked the fabric they wanted for the back. Mr S went with a rocket print, and Buzz went with a map print. Then of course I discovered another pile of I-Spies I'd forgotten about, and since the backs needed to be a little bigger anyway, they each picked out a bunch more to go on the back.


Of course I couldn't stop the I-Spy fun there, so Mr S has a stars on his binding...


...and Buzz has itty-bitty candy corns on his!

I finished piecing the tops and backs on Friday, quilted them both and attached the bindings on Saturday, and hand-finished the bindings last night -- just in time for bedtime...

...and they had to sleep with flashlights so they could check out all the I-Spies in their beds!

(I used my Disappearing Nine-Patch: I-Spy Version tutorial for these quilts -- SUPER EASY!)