Saturn V Wallhanging (aka mini-quilt)

This is a mini-quilt.  I got my inspiration from a sweet little book with lots of techniques for making mini-quilts:  pretty little mini quilts, published by Lark Books, featuring 25 quilt projects by various designers.  What I like most about the book is all the instructions, including optional binding methods and using embroidery as the actual quilting method.  One of them has French knots all around the edge of the quilt, which inspired me to use French knots as my quilting in the blue outer-space portion of my mini-quilt.  I tied each knot on one of the tiny white squares, so you can't even see them unless you get right up close.  I pieced the entire top, then stitched in the ditch on the rocket and on the curves of the planet and moon. I also ran some wavy stitching across the planet, and since the scrap of fabric I found for the planet has stitches as part of the fabric design, you really can't see the ones I added.  I used white embroidery floss to show the exhaust from the thrusters.  My Saturn V mini-quilt measures 18.25" X 19" finished.  I hope you like it!

For those of you not familiar with the Saturn V rocket,
this is not to scale.  It is my interpretation.

Fun Red and Blue Baby Quilt

About three years ago, I was looking at some quilting blogs and found a darling pink and white baby quilt that had an asymmetrical design.  I thought it was interesting and different and decided I would like to try making it.  I, eventually, used scraps from previous little boy baby quilts, to make the blocks and red border.  After I completed the top, it drifted around my quilting room for a couple years, before Teresa inspired me to use that gargantuan rick-rack that you find at quilt shops.  I guesstimated how much I would need and bought a bunch of red rick-rack.   I let Teresa do hers first, so I could learn from her mistakes.  I did forget that she rounded the corners on hers, until after I had cut mine after sewing it down one side. Too late now!  I used some dark blue flannel rocket ship fabric that I have had for 10 years.  After I turned it and whip-stitched the opening shut, I smoothed it out and pinned it all over, then I stitched-in-the-ditch and stitched two straight lines lengthwise on the blue fields that are on two sides.  It won't shift around and looks pretty good, if I do say so myself.

pinned it before quilting it with stitch-in-the-ditch

About the guesstimated rick-rack: I had 3 inches left over.

What Is On The Design Wall In May?

I finally went to Home Fabrics and got some flannel backed vinyl to make my new improved design wall.  I took my flannel quilt down and got my new design wall up.  It is big enough to really lay out my liberated houses.  I have all the house blocks up, and most of the sashing up. I ran out of my cute little car fabric.  I needed just enough to do three more city blocks of roadway.  I called four quilt shops and visited two today. I found more of the black with white dashed lines at Quilt Expressions, so I bought the rest of the bolt. I had high hopes that Nancy's would have some, but I cannot get a hold of her.  My Husqvarna is in the shop, so I don't want to start sewing my rows together yet, as I don't think the quarter inch on this Necchi will be the same.  I want to sew them all on the same machine to avoid any sashing-matching-up issues.  I did design the outside sections this morning and pieced my grain silos that are going next to the rail road tracks. 

Yes, I only discovered I need grain silos this morning.  It is going to be awesome, but I have to really get to work on it, so I can have it completed before I go to NYC in June.  I am soooo excited!  I should have my Husqvarna back Monday after work.  Yeah!