Friday, December 21, 2012

finish it up Friday, 12/21/12

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

I have no finish to share today, (boo!) but I still wanted to host. So, I thought I'd show you what I've been working on this week instead.
I've had this idea in my head for a few weeks now. Last Saturday night I finally had a chance to sit down with some graph paper to sketch out this block. Lots of math, lots of cutting, and a little sewing later (with several happy squeals along the way) and voila! Trees!!! It is SO FUN to see a plan take shape!
The blocks feel very vintage and retro, don't they? I'm so charmed by them!!! For a bit I considered making a KING size quilt out of these....but that might be a little crazy. I'm aiming for a nice lap size instead. I'll need to make 20 blocks for that size. That's managable!
I'm really enjoying the process of piecing this quilt rather than rushing through just to get it done. That feels pretty darn good! There is a LOT of cutting, though, and that's not my favorite.
Yesterday I cut one of the FQs wrong (grrrrr) and I didn't have any extra fabric....so I ended up piecing some of my pieces. I tried to line up the dots as well as I could, as to not distract from the print. These pieces are only 1 1/2" wide! I think I'm taking my level of crazy up a notch, (maybe too much?) but I really wanted to use this fabric! I bet (I hope) this makes me smile every time I see it in the finished quilt. This was my 3rd cutting error so far in this quilt, which is NOT a great track record, so it's a good thing I'm good at making do!

(Because I've already been asked several times, yes! I'm happy to say I'm working on a pattern for this quilt. Stay tuned!)
On a side note...my daughter brought this home from school yesterday. They were talking about jobs in school and this is her paper. It totally made my day! She is a product of her environment, no doubt about it! :)

How about you? Do you have a finish that you can share today? If you do, please link up to a specific post. Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday!

71 comments:

Glinda ♥ said...

Love the trees ... Sooooo cute and thanks for the link up - its such a wonderful opportunity to share. Merry Christmas :)

Tina Short said...

What lovely trees - will you be doing a tutorial or a pattern for them in the New Year? I can see a couple of these in my future - love the spotty dots? Merry Christmas x

alidiza said...

So pretty!!! I just LOVE a pink & green Christmas;-)

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

Dear AmandaJean, Your trees are terrific! So is your daughter.

Nancy, Near Philadelphia

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Very pretty! I love the colour palette, it reminds me of Aneela's prints. The vintage style is so cute!

badlandsquilts said...

I love those trees, and yes they look very retro. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Anonymous said...

Yes, the trees are delightful!!

mmeblue said...

I love the trees! I could see doing a little wall hanging with one tree and some fun little buttons sewn on as ornaments!

Dana - Old Red Barn Co. said...

Um . . . so . . . looking down at the floor and twirling my hair . . . is there any chance you'd do a little tutorial on how to make that block? Ya know. . . so that I don't have to pull my hair out doing all that math and stuff?

Pretty please?

With sugar on top?

I promise to squeal too!

Anonymous said...

Really love your trees!! Amazing. Can't wait for your pattern to be released. Thanks for hosting.

ChristaQuilts said...

Love those trees! It's "sew" original!

Go-Go Kim said...

LOVE the trees and can I second EVERYTHING Dana said,LOL!!!!! I am REALLY AWESOME at the squealing part!!!!!!

April (Polkadot Sparrow) said...

Delightful! I especially like the pink swirly one. I've pieced fabric when I ran out. Actually, on the quilt I'm working on right now. And I smile whenever I see mine because it makes me proud of my resourcefulness!

Merry Christmas, Amanda Jean!

tara said...

Oh how fun. And the colors are great Christmas combos

Svetlana said...

wow, what a fantastic idea for a quilt. Totally love how you joined all those dots together, too!!!

mjo said...

I love this quilt! I hope you will turn it into a tutorial or a pattern for sale. I need one for next year. Seriously.

LOTJE said...

I do love your block, marvelous idea & design!!

Kerstin said...

What a fun holiday quilt this will be! Very nice!

Anonymous said...

love this! It will be perfect to cuddle under this season.

Mina said...

I am totaly loving the trees!

John'aLee said...

What an adorable pattern. You are one talented lady!

Sallie B. said...

The do look retro! How cool!

Merry Christmas to you and all your family!

beth said...

Oh my Goodness! This is THE BEST christmas quilt block I've seen yet!

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Those are totally adorable!!! Enjoy the process!!

Anonymous said...

I'm in love with your trees! I did happen to finish some Christmas cards and a pincushion. How's that for surviving our remodel?

Merry Christmas! Blessings to you and your family!!

Casey York said...

Your tree blocks are adorable; glad to hear you are enjoying the process. Thanks again for the chance to link up, and happy holidays!

Anonymous said...

Lovely trees.
Good work, Abby.

karen said...

I love tree blocks, any and all tree blocks, but these may be the coolest tree blocks ever!

Tara said...

I love those trees!! It would make a really unique Christmas quilt, a very scrap-friendly one, of course. :)

Books_Bound said...

Adorable! I'd love to make a wall hanging out of this pattern! Next year. :)

Live a Colorful Life said...

SO cute!!!

Jane said...

Been a little absent commenting on your lovely posts, BUT these trees are so amazing, I am taking the time to let you know! I ADORE THEM!
Jane

Clair said...

I am having a start it up Saturday tomorrow...start to make some Christmas gifts. And maybe help dad with his shopping.

I LOVE what your daughter wrote. :)

MaterialGirlQuilts said...

Love the trees!!! I agree, a King size just might do you in, lap seems much better :)
Amanda

Jess @ Elven Garden Quilts said...

Awesome trees! I want to make a Christmas quilt (eventually!) and I love that design. Thanks for the inspiration.

Jessica Christensen said...

SO cute. I love, love, love the trees!

tink's mom said...

I tried something like these trees a while back but they weren't anywhere near as sweet as these. Lovely job.

Anonymous said...

These are great - love them, nice simple design :-)

Linda said...

Those are soo cute! Leave it to you, my creative friend!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

Love trees and these I won't need to rake the leaves!! Cute.
Love little girl's school paper.

Anonymous said...

Ahhh! You quilt is so sweet! I've never even considered making a seasonal quilt, but this one is SO tempting. Maybe if I started it now,while in the mood, I'd have it ready for next year!

Karen said...

That looks great! Please share the pattern. May need to ride out the Christmas cheer with it.

Chase said...

The note is so lovely! I saved all the notes { small to big} in a photo box and these are best to keep. I can't wait to see your new quilt put together! Happy Holiday to you and yours~ Hope I will have something new/ fun to link up next week.

Beth said...

I really liked the birch trees and the opportunity to use the little pieces was GREAT, but these trees - these trees are AWESOME, they are really speaking to me as something I will be making for next year. Thank you for the inspiration and I'll be watching for the pattern. Happy Holidays

honeyguide said...

These are so great! Can't wait to see the pattern.

kelgurl said...

oh, my goodness, I LOVE this quilt.
can't wait for the pattern!

quiltnlady said...

Oh I love this quilt! You amaze me with how you take something simple and make it so charming. Your sense of color is incredible.

Rachel said...

LOVE this quilt! Your daughter's school work needs framing...just saying!

Anthony and Sharon said...

Oh man! Just my luck! I'm deep into a Christmas quilt of my own using a design that doesn't inspire me NEAR as much as this one does! Now I see how quilters have so many works-in-progress! I know EXACTLY what I'm going to do with any extra material from my current quilt. :) Also, thanks for noting your mistakes. I feel like such an amateur when I make cutting mistakes. Good to know it never stops happening! HA!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Heleen Groot said...

Incredibly beautiful! I have just finished the top for Bronwyn Hayes' Wish quilt.....I might need another one to make now.....WOW!

Anonymous said...

I didn't finish anything up either this Friday, but I LOVE your block and this quilt will be awesome!

Ida said...

I love the trees!! Just wanted to tell you that I always look forward to Fridays (although by the time everyone is done linking up its usually Saturday morning here in Turkey.) Have a great Christmas!!

Michele said...

The trees are so cute and it will be a great looking quilt. Don't you just love it when an idea pops into your head and you can turn that into reality.

Maria said...

Love that Christmas Trees block! As a retired teacher I just have to say that that is an impressive bit of story writing from your little one :-)

Michelle said...

I am SO loving this quilt!!! I sure hope you do a pattern of the quilt...I know a few people who would love to get a Christmas quilt next year and I would love to make it for them :) I (finally) have a finish to share. This is our Mom's birthday quilt Rene' and I were planning at Gruber's this summer. Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!

Rene' said...

Great post Amanda! Your daughter's writing is wonderful. Love the trees and so glad you will have a pattern available for this quilt. Thanks for hosting your linky party again and for keeping it open long enough for me to play along ;-) It's been a while since I had anything to share. Merry Christmas to you and yours!!!!

xoxoxoxoxo

Sarah Craig said...

Love those trees, Amanda, and I'm so happy to read your post in time to link up my finish for the week!! I'm also looking forward to the pattern for your trees - they are just too cute! Have a very very merry Christmas!!

Unknown said...

The trees are adorable! 1.5 in strips sounds perfect for a Honey Bun. Thanks for sharing.

Janis said...

I can't stop staring at this darling quilt. I would love to make it someday. I really enjoy your blog.

Shauna said...

Love your trees! They are too darn cute and I'm loving the colours!

Cheryl Arkison said...

You should make it king! Maybe scale up the pattern a bit for the big version?
Love this!

Altax said...

These trees are great!!! Merry Christmas.

Kids Games

MTN MAMA said...

Love the Trees! Can't wait for the pattern. A large tree would be a great base for an advent calendar this time of year!!! HMMMM....Christmas 2013 !!

Patrick said...

You turned me on to Connecting Threads. I love their great prices on thread, and was wondering what you thought of their flannels. I have used their regular cotton fabrics, which are always good quality, just wondering how the flannel stacks up?
thanks!
Patrick

Unknown said...

I'm adoring these trees! What a simple (and tricky) idea! Brilliant

Judi said...

WOW! ONE THOUSAND posts! That's AMAZING! And at Christmas too. I must admit that I love checking out your blog, and always find something interesting here. Hope you and yours have a WONDERFUL Christmas.

Hugs

from

Judi in the UK

PS. My favourite colours are turquoise and fuschia pink.

Sherryl said...

Oh my gosh, I LOVE those trees! I would even be willing to purchase a pattern that looks like that (hint hint). Fabulous!
- sunshdws at yahoo dot com

daveandlo said...

Love the trees and the pieced polka dots - you did a wonderful job of making do - no one will notice but you. Lois

Cheerful Homemaker said...

I love the trees! I had several Christmas gifts I made this year, but failed to take any photos. :-/

Aimee said...

I love the trees! What a cute idea! Maybe for next Christmas...

maureen said...

Would love it if you would do a tutorial for these trees. I can picture making one for myself and another for my sister. (shhhh... it's a secret.)