Quilt - Pineapple Blossom

After seeing Becky's beautiful Pineapple Blossom quilt and then playing with her extra blocks from the same pattern, I decided to take her class... it was the first one she'd taught and every teacher needs a friendly heckler in the front row, don't-ya-know?

The timing turned out perfectly, since Becky taught the class at Cutting Edge Quiltworks over Halloween Weekend... which I happened to be spending with her. While in Arizona, I cut the pieces and sewed all the blocks. Home less than 24 hours, I've played with layouts. Here are "a few" of what I came up with... all from the same 36 blocks!

I would love to hear your input on which layouts you like and why.

I love the variety of a diagonal block like this, and am quite pleased that Becky convinced me to make this a two color quilt instead of just mixing all the pieces together.

Seeing Becky teach her class has inspired me... I'm thinking of taking this quilt into the local shop to see if they might like it on (I'm thinking) their January class schedule... it feels like the dead of icy winter to me. I'll let you know if I get the nerve up to share Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Pineapple Blossom Pattern in a paid capacity.

Painting a Quilt

I'm beginning to think that, perhaps, painting a quilt is more difficult than making a quilt! I know what colors I want to use in my painting of the quilt, but I can't figure out the design for the quilt.


Finally, I traced the quilt, then colored it with colored pencils a few different ways. I plan to paint the quilt in very muted tones, so look more at the design than the intensity of color here.


Which version of the quilt do you think would look the best? Not detracting, but still interesting?



PS: Isn't it amazing all these designs were colored from one drawing? I love how you can make a quilt look SO MANY different ways, just by color and value placement!!!

Swine Flu and Watercolors

We disappeared, yes we did. Two weeks ago, Jack started our whole family on the path of the H1N1 Virus, affectionately known as "The Swine Flu". Our whole household was quarantined for a full week! It has just wiped us all out, but gratefully, we are all on the mend.

The past few days, I started looking at two artists I like, Nadia Tate and Suzy Toronto. Yesterday, I printed out 16 mini-versions of Suzy Toronto's work (in black and white, all on one page) then sat down and started to sketch. Based on her style, I wound up with this version of myself:



Which I began painting today. Did you know that I like to paint? I do. I often get busy and "forget" about it, but I am always glad when I finally put pixels pigments to paper with a paintbrush once more!


I think she might use acrylics, but I like watercolors, so that is what I am working in. When I scan and reduce it, it will intensify the colors, plus, with my new Photoshop skills, I'm already thinking things like "I can fix that" or "I can change that color". But trying to draw and color things on the computer is still VERY hard for me... I'd rather do it on paper and then modify it on the computer.

I hope to use the illustration for my Suzy Qute Designs (specifically the business cards I've been working on).

Anyway, I thought I'd share my WIP (that's Work in Progress).

Leapfrogging

Yesterday, after a full day of Grouchy-ness on my part AND being a Certified Crab Apple (also on my part), my hubby, who had already cleaned house, sent me out on my own, did laundry, cooked repeatedly and totally kept the house running, told the boys that "Mommy is going up to her Sewing Room while we watch a movie together." Even when I can't figure out what I need... he knows!


I spent the first 25 minutes cleaning up the sewing room (and made a marked improvement in the room). Then, in just 75 more minutes I finished up this project, which I started TWO YEARS AGO (when I cut it). TWO MONTHS AGO, I assembled the parts (insides with pockets, outside with padding, straps). Last night I quilted and assembled it. I learned/remembered two things:

1 - I must sew more often... I love it!

2 - My current quilting setup is not as desirable as the one I would like to have... by way of a Juki sewing machine. The biggest problem (at least for small projects like this) is not the size of my machine, but the fact that the machine is slightly higher than the surrounding table-top. This is troublesome because I found a great tool to use (Quilter's Halo, by Sharon Schamber) but it works better when the area around the needle is flat. Hmm...

So. I need to find time in my busy schedule to make sure I am spending time each day (because weekly goals seem to disappear) in my sewing room... which probably means I will sacrifice computer time.

Anyway. Wanted to share a quick project completion in quick blog post.

Making Progress

Now that I've been on antibiotics for a full week, I can feel my "Bronchitis, Asthma-Like-Flare-Up, Low-Blood-Oxygen, Almost Pneumonia" abating... finally.

While I've been sick these past four weeks, I've done A LOT of reading (over 1,200 pages in the past two weeks alone!), some knitting and a little crochet. Nothing's finished and not much worth mentioning (starting two different styles of sock - with the same yarn (and still not decided on a pattern), making dishcloths and coasters, continuing work on a never-ending-scarf).

Today I played with the scraps from the Happy Hour Quilt I started last July.

I finished the last four blocks of this group of String Pieced Blocks, inspired by Becky, who's inspired by Bonnie.


I was thinking of putting a sashing in between these blocks, to help with the bulk. But, after talking with Becky, I'll probably sew them together just like this (after trimming them up square). Since it's just planned as a 24" square table topper, I may not use batting. I'll have to see how it feels once it's pressed together. The muslin the strings are pieced to was cut 7.5". I'm in love with these blocks, but I'll probably be gifting this quilt away.

I always like to make one extra block, for myself. One day, I'll have this AMAZING sampler quilt full of blocks I've made in the past. Just thinking of the memories it will hold makes me smile.

After listening to my Aunt talk about making scrappy Log Cabins this week AND Amanda Jean blogging about the same thing. I took a page out of Amanda's book and added an inner border in white. I also allowed myself to go a little Wonky, remembering Jacquie's Wacky Tutorial. I'm planning to even this one up to 9.5" for a 9" finished block. I think I'll have to make some more of these fun Log Cabins.


Finally, when I was last in Arizona, Becky and I sat around one evening sewing her "crumbs" together into random little 3.5" blocks. She kindly sent one of her blocks home with me (the non-purple block you see below). So, as I was piecing the Wonky Log Cabin block, I started putting crumbs together and wound up with these two little gems:


I think I'll send one to Becky... kinda a long-distance Feel-the-Love thing. I am so tickled when I look over at the little crumb block she and I made, I think she might enjoy one from me. Actually, it's got me thinking about starting to trade little crumb blocks with my quilting buddies... since we can't always see what the others are doing, we could drop little crumbs in the mail for them. The thought makes me smile, now, to Share the Love!

I like making little scrappy things out of the bits and pieces from a specific quilt... even if you don't have the whole quilt, you get an idea for the feeling of the fabrics and colors in little things like these. As such, I actually PLANNED to do the string blocks when I was cutting the original Happy Hour Quilt, and I trimmed my selvages wide, making sure I had AT LEAST 3/4" at the narrowest point... that way I had plenty of fabric to play with scrappy things later.

It feels good to be putting thread to cloth and creating again!

I'm looking forward to cleaning up my sewing room and getting back on track with Suzy Qute Quilt Patterns again.

Quilt Pattern - Crack A Lackin

Sound the Trumpets... my first quilt pattern is completed!

Crack A Lackin

Frank named the quilt (and thus the pattern).


As you can see...


...there's just *a touch* of excitement about it around here...


I've also opened a shop in etsy to sell the patterns. Tom has created (a very basic) web page for my new company, Suzy Qute, which you can find at www.suzyqute.com.


As a Grand Hurrah Special, I'll be offering the first ten patterns up at half price... so hurry over to my etsy shop and be one of the first to see what a wonderful job I've done!

[And I'm not at all pround of it either!]

Quilt Design - Sample FINISHED!

I JUST finished the quilt... all the way down to the label! I always mean to put labels on and often make them, but don't actually ATTACH them. Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good about finishing the quilt, even though I STILL need to do the final draft of the Pattern, plus actually GET READY to go to Arizona... I'm planning to leave Wednesday... not really sure how I'm going to get EVERYTHING done tomorrow that I "need" to do. I guess I'll just have to "figure it out."

I wanted to let you know that the quilt itself is done... concept to completion, February 11-23. :D

Quilt Design - Break Time

Can I take a break? Today, Jack and I left the house at 8 and returned at 3.

Here's an ice sculpture in the town we were quilting in.
You can see Jack's GREAT Self-Haircut!

During that time, we drove to the quilt shop and set up my quilt


I found I made a mistake with one of the zippers, so I had to re-pin it (to make it easier to attach the quilt to the machine, I have a set of zippers I pre-pin the quilt to). Then, I spent 3-1/2 hours quilting the quilt.

It was handy to have a little guy along...
he was able to climb under the machine and attach my zipper when I put things on in the wrong order!

Now, for the binding and label and to finish the pattern, but I think I'm going to take the rest of the day off from all things quilting.


I'm pooped and I need a little break! And you know what... I think I've earned it!

Quilt Design - Almost A Job

Perhaps your tired of hearing about the Nitty-Gritty aspects of creating a quilt AND pattern to go with it... but do you know, I've been keeping track of my time and in the past six days, I've spent over 20 hours on this project. That's "almost like having a job!" And of course, I'm intending to make it lucrative, but, for someone who's "only" job has been running a house, homeschooling, and sorting out mounds of medical bills, adding 20 hours of ANYTHING to a normally busy week is quite a bit.

Tonight, I hit my wall. I miscut one piece, but one measly inch (over the course of 80" it doesn't sound like much). It was easy to fix, but not with the time crunch I was in. Instantly my hands started to itch (a nervous thing of mine) and I knew I was Done. I called Tom up and he encouraged me to take a break (I spent an hour cuddling with the boys on the couch) and push out the quilting until tomorrow. Tomorrow I won't have help from the machine owner. I have used a long-arm machine four times before, but the last time was last May and I had trouble with it. I guess, just like the rest of this project, I'll have to figure it out myself.

It's been enlightening to me that I've wanted to create patterns for so long. Finally, last week I decided I was going to do it, and I am doing it. I've realized that all this time I was waiting for someone else to encourage or nudge me, and really, I just had to make the decision and go for it. I've been so excited, but true to my nature, I've also worn myself out a bit.

I'll be leaving for Arizona AFTER my planned day of Monday. The trip will still happen next week, but I want to finish the pattern this weekend so I can get paperwork in order and pack (kinda HAVE TO do that) before leaving in the middle of the week.

Oh yeah. I JUST finished the quilt top - again. I decided it wasn't done with just the piece-work and added two borders. Today I also designed, cut, and pieced a scrappy back for the quilt. Now, I have to pin on three giant zippers so tomorrow I can "zip it" onto the quilt frame (at 8:30 am with Jack in tow!)

Quilt Design - Cheerful Child, Almost There

I can see that the quilt is nearly done, but I really have worn myself out. I've been doing normal things, plus designing and sewing this quilt. It's just kickin' my butt!

Here's a little sneak peak at the blocks...


I've really been enjoying working with these fabrics! I enjoy or have wanted to make quilts with the following color themes:

• Red, White, & Blue
• Red, White, & Black
• Caribbean - Blue, Aqua, & Green
• Turquoise & Red
• Pink & Brown
  

This quilt has all of those combination. It's turning out to be a very happy, cheerful quilt!

Quilt Design - Cheerful Child, Progress Report

The Progress Report is that I'M MAKING PROGRESS! I can see it. I can feel it. I'm excited about it. I think I'll make my goal of having the quilt AND pattern ready to go on our trip to Arizona next week (though due to shipment of the plastic bags (to hold the patterns) we may leave one day later than scheduled).

I just added up my notes on my calendar... I put a fun hanging calendar in my Sewing Studio and as I leave the room, I jot down the time I've spent in there, the project, and the step. In the past five days, I've spent 12 hours on this quilt and it's design. It's not much per day, but, it's a LOT more than I've been spending on any ongoing project. The boys are all missing me... especially Tom (who's been picking up more than his share of Domestic Duties while I design and sew away).

Today, Frank was helping me with snipping pieces apart after I ironed them. When I ask what he thought of the colors he said they are "Crack-A-Lackin'!"

"Ding-Ding-Ding!" went my head. I'll probably call my pattern/quilt "Crack-A-Lackin'!" or perhaps "Qrack-A-Lackin!"? Hmm...

Which brings me back to names. As I see the completion of the sample and pattern, I MUST finalize a name for my company. Must do this. Any other input would be great, I think I'm leaning towards...

• Suzy Q Sparkles

...but what else?

• Sparklin' Designs
• Shiny Quilts
• Angel Quilts
• Suzy Quilts
• Suzy Q-ute
• Suzy Q Sparkles
• Suzy Sparkles
• Suzy Angel
• Happy Quilts
• Happy Happy Happy Designs - ooh. I LIKE this one. I get a LOT of positive responses from an email address based on this phrase.
  
• Shadona Designs
• Color Me Happy
  

Also, as I think of names, my Minds' Eye wanders to possible graphics to go along with them.

Everything is fuzzy now, my eyelids are heavy and my body is sore (this much fabric cutting and work all at once IS hard on me.) I MUST get some well deserved rest! :D

Quilt Design - Cheerful Child, Fabric Values

Off my list, I've accomplished everything but The Pampered Chef work, which REALLY needs to be done... tomorrow!

[Truth be told... Tom took care of dinner and the dishes, so, I just had to stop to eat. I'm very lucky that way... Tom helps me A LOT in the Kitchen (and around the house in general!)]

I did make it upstairs to start cutting fabric, but first, I wanted to sort by value (you know - light - medium - dark - like that.)

I quickly pulled fabrics into groups of 10, approximately by shade/value, and re-stacked them. Then, I'd snap a picture, look at the image on my digital (small) camera screen and rearrange a few. I did this twice, first rearranging the bottom (lightest) row, and the second time rearranging the middle row.

I wanted to make this little collage to show you what I did, then I thought "I can switch this to black and white so we can really see the value".


After switching the pictures to black and white, I realized I SHOULD have done that with my camera in the first place... used the B&W setting. Because on looking at this, I see AT LEAST seven fabrics that should be moved about.

Color is tricky that way. You see the color and forget about the VALUE... even when you're trying. So, here are ways to find the real VALUE of your fabrics...

1. Turn off / down the lights in the room (I use to do this all the time, but forgot about it today). If you have just a little light from another room, you see the value more than the color.
2. Look through a piece of colored plastic (red or green work well - unless you are looking at that color of fabric, then use the other color - so, for a red and green quilt, this would be tough to do).
3. Photocopy the fabrics and look at the printed pages. (This is an older method that will work if you can't do any of the others.)
4. Switch your camera to B&W, take a shot, and then look at the picture (this would work for film or digital cameras).
5. Take a digital picture, upload to the computer, convert to B&W, evaluate.

Many people underestimate the power of VALUE in art (and quilts ARE Art, if you were wondering!) In order to really SEE the different areas, you need to have light, medium, and dark shades... they all work together to create contrast, which keeps the eye moving AND helps you to see different areas/shapes.

Yesterday I showed a neighbor my fabrics, and she didn't think I should have the (one) pink or the beiges... I had to explain about value. Try removing the bottom row from the fabrics above... you loose so much of the contrast in the fabrics. The blocks I'm working on need contrast to really show off the design.

So. Today's lesson for you is about looking for different shades, even if they are all in the same color family, using lights, mediums, and darks is critical!

Quilt Design - Cheerful Child

I spoke with my Mom about buying versus using my stash. I also spoke with my Hubby... who said to go ahead and purchase some of the pre-cut units. His quick support, in spite of our financial concerns, gave me the encouragement I needed to go up and poke around my Studio.

I discovered this little pile of fabric, which I've had set aside for OVER three years to "do something with".


Thing is there are only eight fabrics here and most collections have 30-42, so, I'd need to add to it. This isn't my "usual" color palette, but I think I've pulled together enough fabrics that can work...


I keep reminding myself that it doesn't have to be "perfect", just complete. I also remind myself that it "just has to look good on a small photo", not up close. I mean, who would put Stars with Bamboo with Mosaic Tiles? Me, that's who!

Now that I think about it, I may know of a place I've stashed some other muted fabrics in the process of "Suzy's Carrot Quilt Replica" project. I'll have to go peek and see if there are a few more rose, brown, or green pieces I can use.

I'm so grateful for Tom's support and I'm also grateful for my abundant stash (also compliments of Tom) that I can use for spontaneous projects! :D

Quilt - Ice, Pucks, & Blood

I made and donated a quilt for charity... in one day! Granted, it was only about 24" square, but I DID IT! Yeah me!


Here's how much time I spent on it:

30 min - Design pattern and choose fabrics.
2 hr 15 min - Cut and Piece the Top
15 min - Clean & prep Sewing Machine, pin layers for quilting
25 min - Quilt
30 min - Make and attach Binding
5 min - Label (I cheated and wrote on the quilt top with a permanent marker).

4 hr - Total Time, Start to finish

This quilt was made for a raffle at Frank's Hockey Tournament January 10th. The day before the tournament, I remembered that I'd said I would make a quilt for the Raffle, so, I went home and did it! I felt good starting and finishing something AND keeping my word, even in the middle of all the Medical Hub-A-Loo! :D

Freemotion Quilting

I was just reading a comment on Amanda Jean's Blog, Crazy Mom Quilts, and it got me to thinking about taking classes to learn things. I've never been big on taking quilting classes... mostly, I figure it out on my own, with books, the internet, or for a while from Videos of Simply Quilts. In a nutshell, here's what I think about what you need to "do" to learn how to Freemotion Quilt.

• Lower your Feeddogs (if you can, if not, cover them with something like a piece of plastic).
• Be willing to play with your tension to "get it right"
• A stippling foot (either clear plastic or metal shapped like a letter "C") will help TONS!
• A pair of gloves with Rubber Grips is VERY HELPFUL.
• Get your brain past the fact that you have to rev your sewing machine engine, but move your hands slowly.

Maybe take some junk fabric and do some practice pieces, and then donate them to your local animal shelter... the biggest thing about machine quilting is PRACTICE!

That's all I can think of. Does anyone else have any ideas on Freemotion Quilting, or Tips that Help Them? Do Share! :D

Quilt in the Works - Happy Hour Update & Football Splash

Two days ago, I finished the last 14 blocks and did the layout of the quilt. Today, I got the columns sewn together.


The columns are all chain pieced. Next up: Pressing all of the new seams, then sewing the rows together. The blocks are 9" finished with eight across and ten down. So, at 72" x 90", I think it will make a nice "lap size" or small twin just as it is. I'm not planning on any borders.

I've been having so much trouble with my back, now I'm trying to decide between quilting it on the long arm or at home. At home I can do it in little bits at a time. The long arm would require less total time spent, but would be bigger time increments. Still trying to decide...

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This evening the boys were both sitting on the sidewalk across the street. They were playing with a neighbor-boy, in the water collected during watering the lawn. Pretty soon, they discovered how to splash a football in the water.

When the older boys saw me coming, they ran for it. But not Jack, he just kept on going...


You can see the question in his eyes as he's about to throw the ball.


He had the most amazingly satisfied smile after each splash, which I was unable to capture fully.


And the finish...


Here's a little bit of that smile I was talking about...


One great splash calls for another...


Now, it's Frank's turn. He's always got to get in on the photography action...


Look how casually the neighbor-boy is watching Frank. Now, he's got to show off his stuff...


"Wait!" He says. "I can do better!"


Not to be outdone by his younger brother, the other boy joins in with the biggest Whopper of them all...


Taking pictures of and encouraging the boys to make a mess was a great way to end a day that I found myself stressing over and yelling at the boys too much in. They just wouldn't clean their room up and we're implementing the Accountable Kids program, and my back hurts and it's slow-going and I just get frustrated. So, taking and playing with these water splash pictures was a good thing.

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I tried to take pictures of my fresh haircut (from today).


Same style as last month, I enjoyed watching they layers fall around my face differently.

Quilt Update - Happy Hour AND What I do with my hands.

27 more Happy Hour blocks finished, 14 to go.

My back is feeling OH-so-much-Better! Today was my first day without extreme pain and or medicine to assist me. I wore "regular" clothes (as opposed to "sick" clothes), but I also kept myself in check. I didn't go any further from my home than six doors down the street, and I didn't do any chores beyond sorting one VERY small box of stuff (like 4" x 12" x 10" little box) and simple meal time preps. On Sunday, Tom made something like eight meals and froze or refrigerated them so I could just warm things up and let my back rest. My boys did the daytime dishes, and Tom washed this evening. One of my friends heard about this and said "Good for you!" That made me feel better about not "doing" things all day.

Actually, I did do some things. I posted 22 auctions to ebay. We could REALLY use some extra cash right now because we've depleted our reserves with the move and my recent back care, so we listed like 50+ WWII 1/72nd scale models that Tom's been meaning to sell off (he also has a pile of 1/35th scale, which have more detail, that he's keeping). I too have things to sell on ebay, but this was a good start today. If your interested, my ebay name is "SiouxzQzz".

Today I also helped my new neighbor. I met her in May and showed her the neighborhood we were about to move into. Well, today their family moved in six-doors-down. So, at 9:00 I walked (the boys ran) down and invited her to send her kiddos (DD7, DS5, DD4) down. They were here off and on from 9 to 4. I also visited with her a few times when she'd come down for a break.

This is where the "what I do with my hands comes in." I'm just SO used to doing something that I found it very odd to just sit and visit... without being in the kitchen cooking, or teaching a sewing / quilting craft, or doing some sort of handiwork (ie: crocheting or knitting). I tried to crochet the other day and the muscle relaxer just made my head spin to follow the hook and yarn visually. So, I just wanted to say that today, I sat. I visited. And it was really weird not having my hands busy. I grew up with my Mom telling me two things that I still think about weekly, if not daily:

Busy Hands are Happy Hands

Idle Hands are the Devil's Workshop

Are there any phrases you grew up with that you often think of or repeat? What little pearls of wisdom has your family passed down?

Quick! POP QUIZ! Stand up. Walk away from your computer. Grab a piece of paper and a crayola (pen, pencil, whatever). Write out your computer keyboard's main numbers and letters. Then, come back and check your work.

My son's have been making "computers" out of folded pieces of paper. Frank usually draws keys, but today Jack gave me one and I was suppose to put my own keys on it.

So. I gave myself the test I just gave you. I wrote the numbers and "Esc" across the top, then I proceeded to try to fill in the alphabet and : ; , . symbols... without pretend "typing". Just from memory, I forgot the Caps Lock (I included Tab and Shift), and I had the B and U in the wrong spot (which I knew something was "wrong" with both of the areas I'd stuck the B and U.)

What about you? Did you walk away from your PC write out the keyboard correctly?

I want to think this is some sort of Mensa test or something, but also, I just want to know if you can do it, or if you'll miss something like I did.

Quilt in the Works - Happy Hour Update

So. Here's what's been happening with the quilt I recently started:

Monday 7th - Made two test blocks. Calculated cutting dimensions. Cut Pieces from WOF strips.

Tuesday 8th - Cut more pieces from WOF strips that were directional.

Friday 11th - Cut pieces from FQ and whole squares (VERY directional fabrics).

Monday 14th - Finished cutting last few blocks.

Resulting in this pile of pieces:


I know it would be "easier" to just have one set of cutting dimensions, but I prefer to get the most use out of my yardage, that and I just plain like doing the math! Doing several different cutting scenarios also wound up breaking the cutting into more manageable bites... I cut 81 blocks (80 for the quilt and 1 for me).

Tuesday 15th - Next up, matching the fabrics into their blocks:


Just about every fabric will have two blocks backgrounds in the quilt. There are three "windows" of one fabric, and a few fabrics will have one window.


There were just a few fabrics that didn't want to "work" with this quilt, they were almost all batiks. It would have been a little easier if I'd had a few more lights in the quilt. I prefer to have good contrast in my blocks, but I had enough medium and darks that not all of the blocks have the best contrast.

Wednesday 16th - Starting to sew some of the blocks. 26 done, 55 to go.


Monday 21st - Finished 14 more blocks and started another pile.

Already I can see some of my "favorite blocks" coming together. Isn't it true that every project has some units you just love more than others!

The project is moving MUCH slower than I'd hoped due to the fact that I hurt my back and after four weeks of trying to "ignore it", I've realized I need to rest and ice and drug it. As a result, I'm pretty loopy much of the time. When I'm honest about my pain level, sitting at the sewing machine isn't easy. It actually makes me cry (literally) though, because I want to be sewing and "doing things" instead of sitting, A LOT. Anyway, that's why I've not been bloging... not much is going on, and I'm loopy from the medication, and typing on the PC winds up hurting my back too.

Okay. Enough whining! Here's a picture of one of my "helpers" to lay out the blocks... Zagawuki.


Jack also was helping to pick fabrics to go together. At first, he kept putting the same fabrics together, then I got him mixing them up a bit.

Quilting - A Blog that Inspires Me

This week I discovered a quilter, Lynne of The Patchery Menagerie, who absolutely inspires me! I ADORE so many of her projects and am quite grateful for her many tutorials!

I just wanted to share Lynne and her work with you. Here are a few of her pieces that I especially like:

Wonky Alphabet

Wonky Butterflies

Chessboard Leftovers

Seminole

You can click on any of the above pictures to go to the blog post about them.

Quilt in the Works - Happy Hour

Amanda Jean, of Crazy Mom Quilts, recently made this quilt for herself...


The pattern is Happy Hour from Atkinson Designs.

I'm planning to make my own version from these fabrics:


Which I picked out yesterday.

Since I don't have the Atkinson Designs book, but the design is so simple I just calculated yardage yesterday on my own. I can get two 9" blocks out of each 5 1/4" WOF strip I cut. So, with this assortment of 42 fabrics, I'll have 84 blocks. Enough for a twin size quilt.

Now. I'm on the hunt (in my sewing room, the local clearance racks, and online at Marshall Dry Goods and eQuilter for some backing.) I'd like to use my own fabrics to do Bonnie Hunter's (of Quiltville Fame) method of 10 1/2" blocks for the back, BUT since many of my fabrics are still packed (I actually had to open my purple and green boxes to find the fabrics for this inspired piece), I think finding some fabric cheap will be my better (quicker) option.

I'd like to have this quilt top done by Wednesday and quilted Thursday or Friday... will have to see when I can get an appointment on the local long-arm machine.

Can I do it?

Make a quilt (and paint a bathroom (also on my list for this week)) by the end of this week?