I'm celebrating my birthday with quilting

Tomorrow is my birthday. Most people have a party or a couple drinks, and while I will probably do the latter in the evening, I'm going to spend most of my day in a quilting class.

One of my local quilt shops is holding a free motion quilting class. I'm a quilt in the ditch or in diagonal lines kind of girl. Anything more complex and I have to do it by hand, which takes forever. So I'm really excited to learn this new technique.

My birthday pass time kind of reminds me of the character Vinnie, in "Cross Country Quilters," by Jennifer Chiaverini. She always spends the week of her birthday at quilt camp. The only difference is Vinnie is in her 80s, I'm turning 25.

A few of my 20-something quilting friends will also be at the class though, so at least it won't be like the other classes I've attended where I'm the only one younger than 40 in attendance.

Making time for personal projects

I've been working on a T-shirt quilt for a client. He has several T-shirts from his days in the Navy, a union member and from several presidential elections.

The sashing is an appropriate red, white and blue. I finished sewing it to the top and left sides of the blocks two days before meeting the client so he can decide the layout of the T-shirts.


So I've been using my free time to work on a few projects of my own. I learned the big stitch quilting method in a class last fall and finally finished quilting my first block in the hand quilting style. Once I finish the entire quilt, I plan to use it as a wall hanging in my sewing room.


I also decided on a layout for a signature quilt of blocks signed by the guests at my husband and my wedding. They're made with the colors from our wedding. We'll have been married for five months on Friday, so it's about time I start sewing the blocks together. That's Lady, one of our three dogs "helping" lay out the blocks.

In defense of my procrastination, the best man forgot to sign his block at the wedding and just sent it to us in the mail a few weeks ago.

Matching baby and doll quilt for sale

I found a cute charm pack of contemporary pink and brown fabrics, combined it with a coordinating jelly roll and a cute white print to create a matching baby and doll quilt.

They are both for sale at www.stephaniesoebbing.etsy.com.

Taking advantage of the 3-day weekend

I've been very busy sewing on my three-day weekend.

I finally finished snowmen quilted placemats that I had hoped to finish before Christmas. Now at least they'll be finished for next year.


I also made this messenger bag that's for sale on www.stephaniesoebbing.etsy.com. It's large enough to hold a laptop.


I also sewed together some extra blocks from my grandmother's Christmas present for a doll quilt. My quilt guild makes doll quilts for charity so I'm going to donate it at our next meeting.

I've got a few more projects in the works. I'll post pictures once I get them finished.