“I just started sewing/quilting in March of 2011. I started making my quilt in the class I was taking but got the flu so was unable to finish. I got frustrated on my own so took a break. Then I found your pattern for the black and white quilt, and decided to make that for a wedding gift for my sister in law. So I used red and gold, their colors, and finished my first quilt! I love it and am so happy that I could do that for her and her new husband. It took me about two weeks, would’ve been one week but I have a two year old son! Plus a husband who is going to college part time and working full time. Everyone at the wedding reception signed it and it looks beautiful!”
Thanks much,
Traci

Traci, I love it! You did a wonderful job. I see many more beautiful quilts in your future.

Here is the PDF of the Instructions for the Free Easy Black and White Quilt Pattern.

I bought the dinosaur fabric on sale. A steal really and the Eric Carle fabric was for a swap. Um…not on sale. I bought extra to keep some for this quilt. It looks great with the bright colors in the dinosaur fabric. The orange fabric is almost like a batik. The green polka dot fabric is batik fabric that I got for a steal also. I wanted to make a modern baby quilt. I had all the fabrics laid out on the table trying to figure out  a pattern that I hadn’t tried yet. I also wanted something that would be easy to make but not too simple. I cut the fabric into 3 1/2 inch strips, then into 6 1/2 inch rectangles. Then the rest is pretty simple, well if you know how to make quilts anyway.

I decided to use the left over pieces of fabric for the back of the quilt. This isn’t the usual for me. I generally don’t piece the back of quilts. I think of Crazy Mom Quilts when I think of quilts with the backs pieced. I have been admiring her quilts for years. I love the simplicity of them. I love the fronts too! I keep telling myself that I need to try it. So now I have. It was fun and a great way to use up the leftovers. I quilted horizontal lines in the ditch of the front. The back turned out great with that. The quilting on the back looks abstract compared to the front. Very cool!.

I took a break from making anything bigger than a fabric postcard since before Christmas of 2010. I think after 6 years of constantly working on a project or projects I was burnt out and just had to stop. I was making fabric postcards and got burnt out on that too. For the last three months I haven’t sewn anything. Well I did mend a few clothes. This baby quilt is for a dear friend from church who is just salt of the earth. One of the most humble and honest people I know. (Love you Sandy.)

I started a part time job in July for Ken’s Sewing Center in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I absolutely love it. The people who work there are amazing to be around, laugh with, and of course work with.

Thirty One Gifts kind of fell in my lap in late July. Some people ask what Thirty One is. I asked the same thing the first time I heard of it. It is a faith based company founded by Cindy Monroe. She started the company at home and now it is a huge company that celebrates and encourages women all while living with God in our hearts. When I got a catalog from a friend who is a consultant I browsed through it and found a couple things I wanted for myself. It was a few months later that I decided to have a party. When I got my products I just fell in love with them. They are well made, affordable, and look really good. I get told all the time that my purse is cute. Sometimes I get asked where I got it. That is when I hand out a business card and a catalog. So not only am I 24/7  day a week mom of three boys I have 2 part time jobs.

Joshua and Timmy Tyler are playing football. Every night of the week we have a football practice or a game and homework. I long for football season to be over. I say that with a twinge of sorrow. It is fun and well worth it but I am one tired Momma. On my Facebook update the other day I put, “I’m so tired that my tired is tired.” So this is where I have been. No time for Holly the artist the Elam family needs mom.

I’m trying not to be selfish and enjoy the boys while they are young. Timmy will be 17 in January. Where has the time gone? Pretty soon he will be off at college. I will be at home CRYING  because I  miss him and will feel to old to have a child in college. When I tell people that Timmy will be 30 when Andrew will be graduating from high school they usually chuckle and say, “What where you thinking?”  What was I thinking? God has truly blessed me with three healthy babies and a wonderful husband to be their father.

What more could I ask for? I have a great life. Thank You God.

No Flash

With Flash

I made this for another “Quilting Buddie”. It is the first big project I have ever hand embroidered. I really enjoyed it. The wall hanging is about 23 inches square.

With a Flash

Without a Flash

I made this table runner for a “Quilting Buddie”.  I hope she likes it. It is an original design. Something I kind of just came up with. I used a green variegated thread for the leaf design in the border. I used a brown to quilt in the diagonal lines.

I have been too busy to make much of anything lately. It has been well over a month since my last post. I did make this selvage fabric postcard yesterday. The great thing about fabric postcards is that you can get one done fairly quickly. I keep my fusible interfacing and muslin backing in a bin precut. That way if inspiration strikes I can get right to it and not have to cut everything up. This particular one took me all of 15 minutes to complete. I already had the variegated green thread on the quilting machine for a table runner that I am almost done quilting. I ran with it and practiced some loops.

It is very cold today. Tyler had a soccer game @ 12pm. It was 33 degrees. Yikes. Andrew and I didn’t make it long out in the elements. His poor little face looked like it was getting chapped. We went to the van and I let him sit in the drivers seat. He loves to sit and “drive”. He was having way too much fun. He had the windshield wipers going and the window going up and down. It is amazing how the simplest things amaze him. I wish more people could keep that kind of joy as they get older.

This table mat measures about 15 inches square. All of the material used was from my stash. Even the batting.

With a Flash

With Out the Flash

Just thought I would add a picture of my boy from his football game the other night. He sacked the quarterback. Way to go Tyler!!!

Isn’t it just beautiful? I love the colors and material she used. The heart fabric is just to die for. It really brings movement to the paths. I am so excited to be able to share this with all of you. Here is a link to the pattern and a picture of the baby quilt I made using the pattern.

Crossed Paths Quilt Pattern