Swap Buddy gifts...

I think I mentioned that I've joined a Bonnie and Camille swap on Instagram. We're making 2 blocks a month for 2 different members and we've each been assigned to make a special gift for a secret Swap Buddy.

Here are my May blocks - very simple, but one of my favorite blocks - Maple Star.

May was my month to spoil my buddy, so I made her a mini of my Bursting Star quilt. It uses 1 1/2" strips. It took a couple of practice pieces to get the fabric placement I wanted. You may notice it's a bit scrappier than the original.

Along with some goodies of the chocolate kind and some of my favorite pen and paper supplies, I made my favorite pin cushion. I think these are so cute and you can store different types of needles in each "bubble". The dish is a painter's palette, found on amazon or art/craft supply stores.

I think she liked everything and it was such fun to make some secret gifts and a new friend!

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A Glimpse into my Sewing Space

You may remember that earlier this year I made some cosmetic changes to my sewing room. New floors {dark wood laminate} and paint {SW Reserved White} gave it a fresh new look. And since everything had to be removed, I've slowly been reorganizing, changing what wasn't working and making the space "cute".

Thought you might like a glimpse!

All those mini quilts I've been making? Now hanging on the wall...

Including the latest, mini Round and Round...

This is my new favorite storage piece! Martha Stewart thread rack to hold all my Aurifil. And yes, I have quite a collection. I started buying it years ago when it was super hard to find. Every annual trip to the AQS show in Paducah, I'd splurge on 6-10 spools to get me through the year. I'm happy to have it displayed, readily reachable and the bonus is that it has freed up 2 large drawers.

I crocheted these flowers this Winter and then had to find a spot for them! 

I have a terrible aim trying to hit the trash can, so I've taken the "garbage bowl" idea from Rachel Ray and created a tabletop container for all my trash. One for the cutting table...

And a pretty bowl for threads at the machine...

My Ikea cart is holding all my WIPs...

And I got this idea from Lisa at Vintage Modern Quilts. She calls it "Table Top Sewing". I have an easy to pick up project in a basket on the sewing table. The current project is my Economy block quilt...

I got a new desk and revamped this side of the room adding a few more mini quilts...

A major need was to organize my notions! Buttons...

And the two drawers that held the thread, nicely organized using drawer dividers from Target...

So there you have it! Always an evolving space, but I'm super happy to be here!

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Another Mini!

It was a fun retreat! I made progress on several projects and will be finishing those up soon.

I did get my mini Spools quilt done on the day I got home. My original plan was to make it short and wide with two rows of four blocks. There really is something aesthetically pleasing about an odd number of blocks. When I got home I ripped it apart, made another block and set it together just like the pattern 3 x 3.

It quilted up quickly with organic, wavy lines. It's now bound and hanging in the sewing room!

And I'm keeping up with the weekly duo of blocks for the Layer Cake Sampler QAL. Block 7...

Block 8...

Be back soon!

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More Minis...

I hung my mini Swoon up in the sewing room and decided I needed a few more minis. They're kind of perfect to add some quilty decor to the room and fit in my limited wall spaces.

First up, I can finally share my MQG Riley challenge. I decide since it was due in February and I've been wanting to piece some feathers, I'd go with a Valentine theme. The idea came from a print I saw on etsy...

It was a challenge to get everything to fit together, but definitely fun to make!

So back to the minis... After toying with a few ideas, I decided to miniaturize my Garden Lattice quilt from my book. You can see it here compared to the big one.

It turned out so cute! Someone on Instagram requested the measurements for this little block, so here you go:
White: 2 - 1" x 2 1/2"; 2 - 1" x 3 1/2"; 4 - 1" x 1 1/2"
Print: 1 - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2"; 4 - 1 1/2" x 1 3/4"; 4 - 1 1/2" x 2 3/4"
The sashing is made from strips cut 1" and the block is constructed just like the one in the book!

Don't you just love this little mouse print from Catnap? The color is so pretty - I'll be using that one again!

So with this mini and a mini "C" quilt I made, my desk area in my sewing room is all set up. I got the initial quilt idea from Camille - saw it hanging in her booth at Quilt Market!

And this beautiful bundle arrived on my doorstep last week! I'm quilting-along with Amanda at Material Girl. It's a layer cake sampler quilt-along. You can learn more about it here, see the quilt and if you get there by Friday enter for a chance to win a Layer Cake to get you started: Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along. Hope you'll join us!!

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