It may look like a turtle

I used circular fabric and stitching

to make this round case,

using the tutorial found here

to keep my new iPod safe in my gym bag.

This little Nano has an FM radio

and a pedometer, both handy for the gym.

I made it slightly larger than the tutorial.

I also finished up a table runner made from Echo charms by Lotta Jansdotter.

It matches the sewing machine cover for my Juki.

It's machine quilted with lots of parallel straight lines.

I'm linking up my finishes to Amanda and Sarah.

Thanks for visiting.

My word for the year

Over at Modern8Create,

we're choosing a word to reflect 2012.

My word is not just about quiltmaking

and it's not about running,

but completing my MA thesis.

I want to FINISH it this year,

and then move on to another chapter in my life.

Now I have a visual reminder of my academic goal

hanging in my sewing space.

Start your engines, gentlemen!

Spicing it up

I like making quilts partially because I like playing with colour.

Certain colours speak to me, and others I just ignore.

I find myself playing in the same colour palette again and again.

This little quilt (9 by 11) in spice colours is out of my colour comfort zone.

It's from a pattern by Susan and machine quilted in freehand feathers.

I choose these for a challenge over at the Modern8Create blog

and you can read about my process here.

With this one, I went with more organic red bars,

incorporated two shades of grey

inserts here and there

 and organic quilting lines.

Here I pieced all the leftovers into a neutral palette

and inserted curved red bars

and quilted more curves into it.

All three together.

I plan to donate them to Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.