Today was the first time I have mailed a full size quilt to it's recipient.  In the past I have sent off fat quarters, blocks, mug rugs and pouches but today was the first time sending a full size quilt and I have learned through swapping that sending anything made with fabric should be sent in a Ziploc bag.

Is there a Ziploc bag big enough bag to enclose a XL Twin size quilt?  YES!
Ziploc makes a "Big Bag" as you can see by the photo below which is plenty big to house a XL twin size quilt.  You might think they would be expensive, but at $6.99 for a box of 5, I think they are a very good value.  Check them out here.

So now the T-Shirt is on it's way to North Carolina.  A big thank you to Zina for helping me with the label - she has the BEST handwriting!  After a nervous wash and dry, checking for stray threads and a quick iron, I was ready to send this baby off to it's new home.  Wonderful to have this project complete.
I went "Stargazing" today for the Modern Blocks Bee I participate in.  Marci asked us to make her a "Stargazing" block from Modern Blocks (pages 189-179 by Angela Pingel) and it was fun.  First time up for this block for me and I really enjoyed making these three different sized stars which incorporated the block.

Stargazing by Angela Pingel for Modern Blocks pg 178-179   12 1/2 x 12 1/2

Buona Sera,
Susan

T-Shirt Quilt Top quilted and ready for binding

T-Shirt Quilt Back quilted and ready for binding

Some of the *Picture-Perfect* Polaroid Block Swap 2.5 inch blocks cut out

Pie Week #1 Chocolate Cream Pie

Pie Week #2 Key Lime Pie with Walnut Graham Cracker Crust

My guess is that if you are growing vegetables in your summer garden, you may be growing zucchini.  If you are, you must have enough to stash everywhere in your house, give to the neighbors and still have some leftover that you have no idea what to do with. I've enjoyed a great deal of ratatouille, steamed zucchini and zucchini thrown in many different dishes that I wouldn't normally think of adding it too this summer but never seem to be able to use all that I grow.  

Zucchini Relish

Basting the T-Shirt Quilt

Last night I purchased the batting so I have no excuse for not moving forward. Basting today and maybe quilting by the weekend.  My cousin sent the t-shirts to me last July...think I can get this baby done by next Tuesday?  We'll see...

Enjoy your Thursday,
Susan

In my post last Saturday about my latest podcast, I slipped in that I was going to take a break from the T-Shirt quilt.  I intended to fold it up neatly and hang it in my closet along with my other WIP's but it never made it.  I did fold it up neatly but then it sat in front of the TV, taunting me with comments such as, "You're going to let pieces of fabric beat you?" and "Susan....get your butt in gear and finish me, I want to be finished!".  I listened:

T-Shirt Quilt 96 x 71

Why not a sideways shot?

After some helpful motivation and advice from my quilting buddy Zina, I decided to finish this quilt top up.  We were both working on projects which we were dreading so we kind of goaded each other into getting those things done so we could feel better.  As for the advice, she suggested using the walking foot for piecing as sewing the Kona Cotton to the interfacing backed jersey fabric was making me crazy. The fabrics didn't like each other and were bunching up  - by switching to the walking foot my problem was solved.

Other Projects in Production:

Block 11 of Sew Happy Quilt QAL

Yoga Mat Bag fabric washed, cut and ready to go

Lastly,
I made the Chopped Salad with Bacon and Fried Garbanzo Bean recipe that Debbie from A Quilter's Table showcased yesterday on her blog.  Let me say that fried Garbanzo Beans are amazing - crunchy, creamy, salty and spicy - wonderfulness all wrapped up in a tiny package.  Try them!  

Chopped Salad with Bacon and Fried Garbanzo Beans

I'm linking up (a little late...busy at school) to WIP Wednesday with Lee from Freshly Pieced today. Please go visit and see what she's been working on - you must see her New York Beauty QA quilt block.- stunning!

Sixteen years ago today I gave birth to my first child. For many who read this sixteen may seem trivial but to me this is an important time - he's completely in teenager mode but mindful of his future with his eye on college.  He's a young man just two short years away from jumping into the rest of his life.  No doubt he will go away to college, which I guess at some point will sadden me, but for now I cannot help but help guide him and cheer him on while he makes wise choices and plans for his college years.

Once I could carry him:

so hard to believe he was once that little

Not anymore:

I'm back on track with the T-Shirt Quilt.

This past weekend I started cutting into the t-shirts that were sent to me by my cousin Liz to make her oldest son a t-shirt quilt.  On Saturday I cut the backs and fronts apart, cut off the sleeves and neckline and felt no pang of nervousness while doing so but the next step was another matter.  Thanks to the positive feedback via Facebook and the comments from my Saturday post, I began cutting out the logos on the backs and the fronts but I was sweating the whole time.  The recurring thought running through my head was: What if I cut them too small or crooked?

I persevered and ended up with 33 logos that are 13"x13" and a few random larger and smaller sizes which I may incorporate into the back.   It seems like a lot of blocks but I am making a twin size quilt.

My "favorite cousin from Annapolis" (Hi Liz!) asked me a few weeks ago if she could commission me to make her oldest son a quilt out of his college t-shirts and I agreed only after making her aware that I've never made a t-shirt quilt before.  Last week a rather large box arrived at my doorstep which upon opening I discovered 22 various college intramural sports shirts:

first look at the t-shirts

Now that I had the shirts I had to start doing some research on how to make the quilt. After about an hour of research I discovered a tutorial by Mandy of Dixie Chicken Quilts that provides clear step by step instructions to making a t-shirt quilt.

This morning I took an accounting of the fronts and backs of all 22 shirts and came up with:
22  12 1/2 x 12 1/2 logos
9   12 1/2 x 7 1/2 logos
a few smaller 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 logos
three 16 x 16 logos

My next step is to cut the shirts up to remove the fronts from the backs.  Once I have those larger pieces laid out then I'll actually start cutting out the blocks for the quilt and I guarantee I'll be nervous at that point.  My cousin told me she trusted my creativity....oh boy I've got to dig down deep to find that creativity! LOL

By the way this photo is the inspiration photo for me that my cousin sent me.  The quilt below is for a female so I am aiming for a quilt similar this this style but obviously for a male.

inspiration photo of t-shirt quilt

I'll be posting every step of this t-shirt quilt process so come back to cheer me on.  If you have made a t-shirt quilt and have any advice, please feel free to share it.  My goal is to be standing in line at the post office on Monday, August 29th to send this quilt off to Annapolis.  Wish me luck!