Family Tree Progress Week 1

It has been one week since I started the family tree quilt.  On Saturday morning the quilt looked like this:

And this afternoon it looks like this:

I may add a few more background leaves but I won't make that decision until I add all of the family names onto the tree.  I am really pleased and can't wait to give it to my husband's grandparents in a month!

May Block of the Month

I love the first of the month when the Amy Gibson adds to her block of the month series on craftsy.com.  I worked on the blocks last weekend and showed them off a little already.  Here are the wonky log cabins, the blocks for May.

The blocks were easy and relaxing to complete.  The quilt is coming along nicely and we are half way there!

Busy, Busy, Busy

I love fatquartershop.com.  I ordered fabric Saturday afternoon and it was in my mailbox Tuesday afternoon.  This is the first time I have ordered from Fat Quarter Shop and I am very pleased.  I was worried about my fabric because of the rain, but my order came sealed in a plastic bag!

I opened the package and I loved my fabric choices.  The brown and greens are for the family tree quilt and the blue is for my Tradewinds quilt.

I cut right into the brown and started the tree.  I cut up my template and placed it on the fabric and cut roughly a quarter inch around it.  Then I turned the edges under, pressed, spray basted, and straight stitched it onto the background. I worked in sections and went very slowly.  The process took about 3 hours start to finish.  I didn't worry about it being perfect because trees are not perfect.

I also started in on the leaves.  The leaves were cut using my Cricut and I started wrapping them in fabric and basting them. My husband write out all of the names and I started embroidering.

Here is the quilt this morning with one branch of leaves sewn on.  I will add the name leaves after I am finished with all of the background leaves.

Today I was able to sew three buttons onto my Bingo card!

Work In Progress Wednesday

I have made a lot of progress this week on several projects.

I finished my two blocks of the month for my craftsy.com class.

Family Tree Quilt- The background has been put together, the tree is cut out and appliqued on, and the leaves are being cut out and hand embroidered.  I thought I had until July 16th, but the anniversary party for my husband's parents is June 16th.  I have to get moving.

Tradewinds Quilt- My mom bought me a layer cake and my sashing fabric came in the mail today. I have a plan, but it will have to wait until the family tree is completed.

Granny Squares Quilt-  I have 8 blocks of the estimated 42 needed.  I may sneak in a few blocks here and there while working on my family tree quilt.

May for Me Bingo-  I am not doing very well but I am having fun!

I also finished up a little something for my mom for mother's day! No pictures so I don't spoil the gift!

Day 2 of The Family Tree

Today I dragged my daughter to a local quilt shop to pick out some background fabrics.  I settled on a light blue for the sky and Wildflowers for the ground.

I folded over the top edge of the wildflower and did a blanket stitch to applique it onto the backing.  I put the tree template back on to see how it is going to look.

Now I am waiting on my package from fatquartershop.com to finish up the tree and start on the leaves.  Tomorrow I will cut out some paper leaves using my Cricut to make templates.

Family Tree Quilt-Planning Stages

My husband's grandparents are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary this summer and we wanted to do something special for them.  I wanted to make a family tree quilt representing all of the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in the family. My husband loved the idea and my father in law decided to help by pitching in some money for the materials.

The hardest part is trusting myself to select good fabrics and then draw the tree.  I jumped in this morning, purchased a roll of craft paper and drew the tree.  I cut it out and placed it on my design wall.

It is white on white, so it is hard to see, but you should be able to make out the six branches, one for each child. After I had the tree, I went to fatquartershop.com to select some fabrics.  They are having an awesome sale right now (20% off with a coupon code I found at fabricdonkey.com), plus free shipping on purchases over $40.

I selected Moda Marbles in Green Apple for the leaves that will have embroidery on them.

Then I selected Moda Marbles in Shamrock for the filler leaves.

 Finally, I selected Little Gatherings in Walnut by Moda for the tree.

I am still searching for the background though.  I want a light blue for the sky.  My first choice is a light/blue batik in extra wide (108") so there are no seams and is cheaper than piecing a background.  For the ground, I would like a wildflower or blue bonnet  print to add some color. 

If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.  I plan to make a trip to one of the local quilt shops in Austin tomorrow to see if I can settle on the backgrounds.    

May Day!

Today is the first day of May and I can't believe we are already into the 5th month of the year.  I have neglected my sewing machine and I have gotten back in the groove the last few days.  I have finished up several granny squares, 6 total so far.  Only 35 to go.

Today was the start of May for Me Bingo!  If you created a card, don't forget to check in on the items called. 20 are being called each day!  Today I was lucky and got 2 spots covered.  Maybe I will win a prize.