Blogger's Quilt Festival - Fall 2011

It's that time again- the Blogger's Quilt Festival! Woohoo! I love looking through all the awesome quilt entries- and the chance to win some prizes isn't too shabby either!

I considered posting about my newly-finished t-shirt quilt (because it's getting the most use around this house on these chilly evenings!), but when I looked through pics of all my finished quilts I have to say I really love the look of Olivia's baby quilt!

I made this quilt about a year ago for a good friend from middle school and her new baby girl. Amazingly, I managed to make this quilt from start to finish in one day. Given, I used a charm pack (Moda's It's a Hoot!), but still- that's fast work for me!

(aw, look at bebe Noah)

I quilted this one very simply in a criss-cross straight line pattern because it was fast (it took about 20 minutes total!) but I think it really showcases the charm pack squares

The binding didn't take long since, if I remember correctly, I was watching episodes of LOST back-to-back until I finished the entire series in about 2 months. Whoops.

The quilt has gotten much love from mama and baby since it made it's way to Texas.

More recently it's become a hang-out for baby girl and her big brother.

Making this quilt taught me 2 big things.

One, that pre-cuts are super helpful when it comes to making a quilt in a hurry.

Two, I learned that it is super easy to re-kindle a friendship with crafting. :)

Olivia's mom and I met in 8th grade in a technology class. I don't remember much about the class other than we had to use a computer to whittle designs into blocks of wood (seriously? That was a class?), but our friendship was formed there and cemented by hilarious late-night slumber party antics involving Will Smith's "Getting Jiggy With It". We lost track of each other in high school when I moved to SC and she moved to TX. Over the years we caught glipses of each other's lives on myspace (remember? back in the stone age before facebook?) as I earned a music degree and she moved to Hawaii (seriously- HAWAII! I was so jealous!).

Our boys are less than a year apart (and look suspiciously alike) and when Miss Liv joined the bunch I just knew I needed to make a little something for her. I have really enjoyed seeing pics posted on facebook of all of the places this little quilt has been and I love keeping up with my sweet friend's family.

who's got the power? the power to read?

who answers the call for friends in need?

Super Why!

Super Why!

he's the guy, he's Super Why!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween- I know this kid did!

I'm leaving... on a jet plane.

So, I've never been on a plane.

There.

I said it.

My friends think it's so bizzarre, but honestly, where would I have flown to? We travel a good bit, but it's usually to Wilmington, Hilton Head or Atlanta- close enough to drive!

Well, ONE week from today, I'm getting on a plane and flying to Texas to meet my awesome cousin Maureen for the International Quilt Festival! The market is this weekend (trade show so not open to the public... and I am "the public"), but I hear a lot of vendors stay for both weekends! I'm so excited to see all the awesome quilts and, let's not kid ourselves, SHOP!

These pictures (from IQF's facebook page) make me so so so so so so excited!

Have you ever been? Are you going this year?

all together now: "oooh... aahhh..."

Lookie there! Quilt Story is featuring my Kappa T-shirt Quilt today!
Head over to check out a really unique quilting blog. They feature a quilt and its story everyday AND I'm kind of in love with their Fabric Tuesday link-up post (for me it's a swift kick in the rear to get something completed over the weekend and post it by Tuesday)!
Go see!

Oh, did I mention...

I ran another 5k!

I actually walked twice during this one (only once the last race) yet still managed to beat my last time, so I'm assuming that means that when I *am* running, I'm running faster!

Noah was stoked to see Homer (the mascot for our local minor-league baseball team) there and spent most of the time that I was running waving at him.

See? That is a stoked face.

Joe only got this one pic of me running.

I'm the blob in the back wearing a grey shirt and pink hat.

So see that 4 year old in front of me? Yeah, that's a complaint for the race. They started a 1 mile fun run about 10 minutes after the 5k started, so the kids that walked the 1 mile were finishing right as the 5k'ers started coming in. Logistics fail.

I can't say that I love running, but I'm getting to where I love how I feel when I'm *finished* running, so that's a start. My friends and I (from the first pic!) have been running together 3 mornings a week, but we're backing off a little for now, as a lot of that was time the kids were in school when we really should have been doing other stuff. We plan to continue running on our own and signing up for another 5k in December!

I also read about the Ramblin Rose Triathalon this week... maybe that could be next year's project? Yeah, I've officially lost it.

and in the years after, with tears and with laughter...

... we'll always remember our dear Kappa days.

I told my dad my senior year of high school that I would absolutely not go through Rush at USC.

"I'm not going to PAY for my friends." I said.

Little did I know that some of the best friends of my life were waiting for me.

The memories that this quilt hold are worth every penny.

mmm... fall.

I'm not sure about where you are, but in South Carolina it's dang-ole-HOT until about October. This week has totally taken that to a new level.

yesterday = September = high of 84 degrees

today = October = high of 65 degrees (holla!)

We took advantage of this ah-mah-zing weather and headed to a pumpkin festival at our local farm (and CSA provider!). Noah met some cows...

we took a hay ride

picked a few pumpkins

checked out some pony rides (just watched!)

and totally crashed a half mile down the road.

In other news, it's been about a month since my last blog entry. No good reason, just attempting to spend a little less time online and a little more time doing the following:

making akward faces all. the. time.

... especially while re-fashioning some clothes that have been in my closet for YEARS without wear.

finishing my KKG t-shirt quilt (yup, that's all the preview you get.)

It is currently at the quilters, totally quilted and ready for pick-up and binding!

snuggling with this cute kid who just recently decided that cuddling with mom isn't the worst thing ever

and all-around enjoying his whacky antics (yeah, this is how he came out of his room that morning. What a weirdy).

Oh, and running. Yeah, THAT'S still going on. I have my second 5k one week from today. I wouldn't say I'm "enjoying" it, but I do like the chit-chat time that comes with running and I'm not missing the 17 pounds that running scared away OR the new jeans it brought with it!

I'm hoping I'll have a finished t-shirt quilt to show you soon along with some appliqued fall clothing and possibly some step-by-step pics of a shirt re-fashioning? (aw shucks- I've had 2 people request that already!)