WAKE UP TO KONA COTTON BLOG HOP

Rise and Shine my loyal readers.  We've got lots of Kona Cotton from Sunrise to Sunset.

And we have some awesome giveaways from Amanda Murphy, Robert Kaufman and Aurifil Thread... 

AND we have the best leader Madamme Samm and a fabulous cheerleader Carol.  We couldn't do this without them.  

When I signed up to participate in this blog, I knew exactly what I wanted to make I thought what in the world were you thinking.  You have never made a quilt from solids and you hardly even own any in your stash.  But I had seen some quilts recently from solids and liked them.  However, after reading this woman's journey I realized I probably wouldn't live long enough to complete this and am certain that the deadline of January 20th was a bit unrealistic!  Really?!  Ya Think??!!

Then I saw this pattern for this New York Beauty and purchased it online not long ago.  It would be the perfect excuse project to make for this blog post and I was pretty certain I could finish it by the deadline.


I'll have to say, I'm not sure I could make enough of these blocks for a whole large bed quilt.  That would be a UFO in the making for many years to come.  I think this may be my one and only!  I had some tools to make my paper piecing a little more pleasant.  In fact, I don't think I could do it without them.

This nifty little mat was the perfect size to trim the papers on the back.

I put it right beside my sewing machine.  I didn't even have to get up to trim.

And of course an "Add a Quarter" Ruler.  

And last, but not least, I couldn't have made it without my cup of Sonic Un-sweeten Iced Tea (do you spot it in the background in the photo above?).  I know, some of you would have to have your morning coffee.  But not me, I NEED my iced tea.  And not just any iced tea.  It has to be SONIC iced tea.  My sweet hubby brings me one every morning before he goes to work.  

To make this gem of a wall hanging, I started with this jelly roll of precut 2 1/2" strips of Kona Cotton in Brights.  I'll post about my journey to make this project tomorrow and you can read about it then.  I am very happy with my first attempt. I'm calling this one Geese Circling New York.

This is the original picture I posted on the blog.

These are additional pictures I took outside this afternoon on the fence.

After I finished my New York Beauty, I had tons of fabric left over. Did I have enough time to make another project?  Why of course I did.  I quickly designed this quilt from a counted cross stitch picture I pinned to Pinterest.  It surely wouldn't take too long.

This is the orginal picture I posted on the blog.

And these are the updated pictures I took this afternoon outside on the fence.  

The back of the quilt.

I originally thought I would use the 2 1/2" jelly roll strips cut into 2 1/2" squares, finishing at 2".  I counted the squares in the project.  It was 35 wide by 49 long.  Hmmmm... lets see, that would make this egg 70" x 98"!!! That's a giant Easter egg!  Well darn, guess I'll have to cut those 2 1/2" strips down to 1 1/2", with a finished square of 1".  Yikes those are a bit small but I can do it!  After all, I have 10 days and I had a retreat to go to and I would take it along to work on.   I did manage to complete it at the retreat.  On to the quilting.  What should have only taken a maximum of 1 day to quilt, somehow this quilt ate my lunch!  It took me 2 1/2 days to quilt it; it was only 45x60!  There are a lot of small 1" squares to quilt something in.  But hallelujah it's finished  and I am very pleased!  I'll post cutting directions and layout in a couple of days for this too.  I'm calling it the Pixel Faberge Egg.

Be sure to leave me a comment, subscribe to my blog, and/or like my Facebook page for a chance to win some tools of your own, courtesy of the Queen.  I'll be giving one lucky winner a mat, ruler, and Kona Cotton charm pack.  Sorry, Iced tea doesn't ship very well or I'd send you one of those, courtesy of the King!  Do all three and that's 3 chances to win.  Share it on Facebook and that's 4 chances to win!  (If you already subscribe and/or like me on FB, please leave it in the comments so I know.)

Now get busy hopping to these other sites before your coffee gets cold.

January 20

More Stars in Comanche

Buzzing and Bumbling

Quilting Quietly

Grammie Q’s

The Quilted Cat

The Quilting Queen Online

Lauraluvsloons

 Sew Incredibly Crazy

January 21

Just Sew Sue

Pigtales and Quilts

Miss Priss Quilts

Charlottes Creation

Childlike Fascination

Renee Luvs Quilting

Cherry Blossoms

Sew We Quilt