Super Simple Strip Quilt ~ Days 4 and 5

This next step can be a pain in the neck (and back, literally), but it's so important.

Once you've got your quilt sandwich laid out as smooth and straight as possible, pin it together with safety pins. Lots of them. I prefer the ones sold by Singer that have a curved pokey side.

Then it's time to quilt.

A friend showed me her completed jelly roll quilt this past Sunday. It was quilted with a floral design and was beautiful! Sadly, I do not have a quilting machine, can't seem to get my machine to stipple (could be the operator), and am not willing to pay $60-120 for someone else to quilt it for me. Therefore, I'm stichin' in the ditch on this one. I don't like the ditch...I seem to enjoy jumping up on the banks (a little farm humor). But we'll give it a try.

This is my backing fabric...it's so cheery that this quilt might spend some of it's time with the backing facing front!

Super Simple Strip Quilt ~ Day 3

Sew on the 1 1/2" border

Sew on the 6 1/2" border.

I am loving how this is turning out!

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I started the two borders on Fri eve at 10:00 pm and finished two hours later. I was a bit surprised by how long this step took. Now it's time to put it all together...I can't wait to see how it looks with the binding, backing and quilting.

Rest: peace, ease, or refreshment resulting from sleep

or cessation of an activity.

Super Simple Strip Quilt ~ Day 2

So now you should have 1600" of fabric, with seams trimmed and pressed.

Once you find them, match your two ends, right sides together.

Follow your fabric all the way back to the fold...make sure that neither end is twisted or turned the wrong way. I tried to imagine ripping out 1600" of stitching...not a pleasant thought.

Once you're sure it's all laid out correctly, start at your two matched ends and sew...sew...sew...with a 1/4" seam.

Once your 800" seam is complete, trim the folded edge at the bottom, match the two ends again, make sure it's all lined up, and sew a 400" seam. Keep doing this until your quilt is approximately 50" x 60." It goes amazingly fast since you double the width of your completed sewing each time you fold it in half.

In less than an hour, I had this!

Now to find some border, binding and backing fabric to finish it off!

Super Simple Strip Quilt ~ Day 1

My Christmas gift to myself this year was a Moda Jelly Roll from

Quilt Expressions. With the purchase of the jelly roll, you also get a pattern for the "Super Simple Strip Quilt."

Look at these colors! This is the Happy Camper jelly roll, which is full of reproduction 1930's prints.

A couple of favorites

A jelly roll consists of 40 strips of fabric, each measuring 2.5"x44."

After unrolling the jelly roll, you take the first strip of fabric on top and cut it in half. Set aside one half for later (insert it anywhere you want later on), lay the remaining 1/2 right side up, take the next strip of fabric and lay it perpendicular to the other (right side to right side) and sew it together at an angle. If you've ever made your own binding, it's the same thing. Continue until you have 1600" of fabric sewn together. Yes, it's veeeeerrrrry long!

The pile behind the machine grows and grows!

After it's all connectged, cut off the excess at each seam to 1/4" and press.

It seems like it would take F*O*R*E*V*E*R! But, it doesn't!

I started this Tuesday night at 10 p.m. and finished through this step by 11 p.m. (And this included a trip upstairs to check on the kiddos.

Come back tomorrow for the next step...

Our Weekend

We spent Saturday afternoon at Ryan's Scout's Blue and Gold ceremony.

We're still learning how everything in Scout's works...it's a bit overwhelming.

This event takes place each February...and it's where Ryan officially received his Webelos badge.

He'll continue as a Webelo for another year; once he's achieved all he can at this level, he'll

branch up to Boy Scouts (I think!!)

The theme this year was "Carnival." Each Den made their own table centerpieces, and a winner was chosen by the audience for the best display. Ryan's den won with the roller coaster (above) and the clown (below).

Each den also provided a game for the kids to play. They were pretty simple, but all of the kids enjoyed them. Prizes and treats were handed out at each game.

This is the mini-mini-put Ryan's den designed. They had a blast making it...anytime they get to use power tools is a good day! It's hard to see, but they put obstacles under the carpet, so it was pretty hard to bet the ball in the hole.

Marshmallow flip

And who doesn't love cotton candy?!

Emma with one of her prizes.

Bob was unable to come since it's the middle of tax season.

Mom came and spent the day with us. Thanks, Nana!

Me and my (getting very tall!) Webelo!

Ryan receiving his patch.

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Saturday night, I spent the evening scrapbooking at Archiver's with these wonderful ladies to celebrate Amy's (sitting, middle) birthday. What a great way to celebrate!

When I got home at 11:30, I had a bit of fun walking around the house taking photos of what the kids had been up to...

...and then Emma woke up with a terrible cough and a bit of congestion at midnight. And that's what we've been dealing with ever since...

The next generation...

Mom and I took Emma scrapbooking for the first time this afternoon.

She's often "crafting" at home, but this is her first time at the store.

She had a great time!

She did get a bit annoyed with me as I asked her to look up for pictures. She told me, "Mom! I have to get back to crafting!!"

Oh yeah, I've raised her right!

Her first page ever.
Aunt Amanda got her a scrapbook for Christmas, so these pages went right into that.
She finished six pages while we were there.

Em and Nana

She had to hold up the photo of the three of us taken

while baking for Christmas, as the store clerk was taking the picture of the three of us. :)

I think she's gonna be a good scrapper!