Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Off The Floor With You!

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Before I could get started on Belle Meade, I had a big task ahead of me.  I had to get my Ridiculously Cute Basket blocks sewn together and off the floor of my sewing room.  The blocks had been on the floor being endlessly rearranged since just before Christmas.  (Because unlike the rest of the quilting world, I do not have a design wall—don't get me started).  Finally I had them the way I wanted them, but had no time to sew them together, what with the holidays and surprise house guests and so on.  We were stepping over those blocks for at least three weeks.  Naturally, the dogs were banned from the room.

So, on the floor they stayed.  I don't know about you, but before I embark on a new project, I have a compulsion to tidy up my work space and start off with a clean fresh slate.  I was itching to get going with Belle Meade, but refused to allow any work until RCB was mostly together.  The photo above shows the center part of the quilt, with no borders attached yet.  I will be putting this project away (but not too well away) to finish up next month when Belle Meade is together.  There will be a scrappy half square triangle border and a wider solid fabric border on the outside. 

It should make a nice bed sized quilt that will be wonderful for spring and summer.  You all will be seeing more of this one for sure!  Fabrics are Simple Abundance by Bonnie and Camille for Moda and the pattern is MoJo by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

If any of you are interested in the evolution of this quilt, it started about three or four years ago, when Darlene of Quilting Daze posted a photo of her finished MoJo quilt.   I was so taken with her version of the quilt and the pattern she had used that I vowed that I had to make it as well.  My fabric choice ended up different than hers, but I could not be happier with my quilt.  Often, when you see the work of others, you can be so inspired to create your own version.  So the next time you see someone's quilt that you adore, and you tell yourself, "I must make that some time", have faith in yourself.  It can happen.

54 responses to “Off The Floor With You!”

  1. That is so cute. I love the baskets. That will have to be on one of my to do list this year. Oh I dont have a design wall either. I have to go downstairs and put it out on my bed. I dont even have floor space.

  2. That is so cute. I love the baskets. That will have to be on one of my to do list this year. Oh I dont have a design wall either. I have to go downstairs and put it out on my bed. I dont even have floor space.

  3. Mojo is beautiful. Beautiful summer quilt! It says “August” to me. You are so right about seeing the work of others and then being inspired to create your own version…hence Blissful “Toulouse” is being created! 🙂

  4. Mojo is beautiful. Beautiful summer quilt! It says “August” to me. You are so right about seeing the work of others and then being inspired to create your own version…hence Blissful “Toulouse” is being created! 🙂

  7. Hi Nicole, Gorgeous as always. Re the design wall – I have a really simple portable one that goes up on the wall (I used picture hooks so as not to mark the wall too much). Its made by Fons & Porter and works just great – in fact my purple crayola challenge quilt is up on the wall as I type.

  8. Hi Nicole, Gorgeous as always. Re the design wall – I have a really simple portable one that goes up on the wall (I used picture hooks so as not to mark the wall too much). Its made by Fons & Porter and works just great – in fact my purple crayola challenge quilt is up on the wall as I type.

  9. It is beautiful. My problem is that so many times when I see another quilt, I have that “I want to make that” thought. There is not enough lifetime to make them all, although I could certainly fit a few more into the schedule.

  10. It is beautiful. My problem is that so many times when I see another quilt, I have that “I want to make that” thought. There is not enough lifetime to make them all, although I could certainly fit a few more into the schedule.

  11. I have a design wall but it is only about 4″ square. I understand the use of the floor. How nice to get most of it together. It is beautiful and I love the setting.

  12. I have a design wall but it is only about 4″ square. I understand the use of the floor. How nice to get most of it together. It is beautiful and I love the setting.

  15. I’m in the “Don’t Have a Design Wall” club too! 🙂
    I have a small apartment where I’ve put basement sub-flooring in my ‘dining room’ area so I have a practice dance floor and it doubles as a great place to lay out quilt blocks and tape down my backings when I’m in the pin basting stage. But only for smallish quilts! 🙂 Sometimes we just have to make do with what we have – the quilt is coming together beautifully!

  16. I’m in the “Don’t Have a Design Wall” club too! 🙂
    I have a small apartment where I’ve put basement sub-flooring in my ‘dining room’ area so I have a practice dance floor and it doubles as a great place to lay out quilt blocks and tape down my backings when I’m in the pin basting stage. But only for smallish quilts! 🙂 Sometimes we just have to make do with what we have – the quilt is coming together beautifully!

  17. It’s another beauty, Nicole.
    For a very long time I didn’t have a design wall – sigh! I’m thankful for the one I have now but often have to use the living room floor.
    Thanks for the shout-out about my version of Mojo! 🙂

  18. It’s another beauty, Nicole.
    For a very long time I didn’t have a design wall – sigh! I’m thankful for the one I have now but often have to use the living room floor.
    Thanks for the shout-out about my version of Mojo! 🙂

  19. Applause, applause!!! Love the baskets and the arrangement of blocks! Isn’t arranging a scrap quilt the most fun and time consuming until you reach the “enough!” point? Sooner or later the rearranging has to stop and the sewing start. You stopped rearranging at just the right time!
    Sadly, I’m happy to fold one project out of the way to start something new …
    Have you seen Susan’s folding design wall? If you have floorspace for Mojo, you probably have room for the portable wall she has.
    Hugs!

  20. Applause, applause!!! Love the baskets and the arrangement of blocks! Isn’t arranging a scrap quilt the most fun and time consuming until you reach the “enough!” point? Sooner or later the rearranging has to stop and the sewing start. You stopped rearranging at just the right time!
    Sadly, I’m happy to fold one project out of the way to start something new …
    Have you seen Susan’s folding design wall? If you have floorspace for Mojo, you probably have room for the portable wall she has.
    Hugs!

  21. I, too, have a ‘design floor!’ It’s the living room floor and there are no doors to close off entry by a couple of furry, nosy dogs when I lay out quilt blocks!! Take a picture of those blocks??? sure!! but there WILL be a dog plopped in the middle of them, guaranteed!!

  22. I, too, have a ‘design floor!’ It’s the living room floor and there are no doors to close off entry by a couple of furry, nosy dogs when I lay out quilt blocks!! Take a picture of those blocks??? sure!! but there WILL be a dog plopped in the middle of them, guaranteed!!

  23. Love your quilt. So many times I have wished I would have purchased that fabric line….sigh! Anyone out there have a fat quarter bundle for sale?

  24. Love your quilt. So many times I have wished I would have purchased that fabric line….sigh! Anyone out there have a fat quarter bundle for sale?

  25. Such a wonderful basket quilt! I’m a relatively new quilter, so no design wall, no sewing room, not even a sewing table for me! Just the dining room table, so you can see why my progress is slow. But I still love it!

  26. Such a wonderful basket quilt! I’m a relatively new quilter, so no design wall, no sewing room, not even a sewing table for me! Just the dining room table, so you can see why my progress is slow. But I still love it!

  27. You do have a gift with the eye!!!! Beautiful as per usual! I will be Dancing the Zumba nightmare as you quilt……and I do mean nightmare…………..

  28. You do have a gift with the eye!!!! Beautiful as per usual! I will be Dancing the Zumba nightmare as you quilt……and I do mean nightmare…………..

  29. It’s gorgeous! That fabric… every time I see a quilt with it, I think I should have bought more.
    Yes, I clean up when I finish a project. Mostly… pretty much. I try. I think about it? 🙂

  30. It’s gorgeous! That fabric… every time I see a quilt with it, I think I should have bought more.
    Yes, I clean up when I finish a project. Mostly… pretty much. I try. I think about it? 🙂

  33. I had a design wall for almost a year before DS moved back in and I lost my sewing room, but blocks that big sure wouldn’t all fit on most people’s design walls anyway! I always lay out big blocks on the floor or table. So glad you got back to these RCBs!

  34. I had a design wall for almost a year before DS moved back in and I lost my sewing room, but blocks that big sure wouldn’t all fit on most people’s design walls anyway! I always lay out big blocks on the floor or table. So glad you got back to these RCBs!

  35. Another GORGEOUS quilt Nicole ! I just love these baskets the fabrics just screams ” SUMMER ” It must feel so good to have another UFO almost finished

  36. Another GORGEOUS quilt Nicole ! I just love these baskets the fabrics just screams ” SUMMER ” It must feel so good to have another UFO almost finished

  41. Hi Nicole-
    I love your RCB quilt and have enjoyed reading your blog. It has inspired me. I often experience an ah-ha moment after reading it. Thank you.
    When I visited the Sew Many Ways ‘Tool Time Tuesday’ post today I knew you could relate to it. Here is the URL if you need it. http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2011/01/tool-time-tuesdaydoor-design-wall.html You may also find Karen’s portable design wall instructions helpful too.http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2009/08/large-design-wall-tutorial.html

  42. Hi Nicole-
    I love your RCB quilt and have enjoyed reading your blog. It has inspired me. I often experience an ah-ha moment after reading it. Thank you.
    When I visited the Sew Many Ways ‘Tool Time Tuesday’ post today I knew you could relate to it. Here is the URL if you need it. http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2011/01/tool-time-tuesdaydoor-design-wall.html You may also find Karen’s portable design wall instructions helpful too.http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2009/08/large-design-wall-tutorial.html

  43. I am often inspired by what other people make. Either the pattern, design or the fabric. And I always enjoy seeing what you are creating 🙂

  44. I am often inspired by what other people make. Either the pattern, design or the fabric. And I always enjoy seeing what you are creating 🙂

  47. Hate mail?? From whom??!! You have such a wonderful blog…I can’t imagine why anyone would become offended BUT IF THEY DID they should stop visiting the blog. THey should not be sending nasty emails. What is wrong with people these days??!!
    BTW, I color my hair too. The gray looks dull. I’m waiting for my hair to turn all white and then I’m gonna wear it that way! ;0

  48. Hate mail?? From whom??!! You have such a wonderful blog…I can’t imagine why anyone would become offended BUT IF THEY DID they should stop visiting the blog. THey should not be sending nasty emails. What is wrong with people these days??!!
    BTW, I color my hair too. The gray looks dull. I’m waiting for my hair to turn all white and then I’m gonna wear it that way! ;0

  49. What a beautiful quilt 🙂 Some of my favorite quilts are those that I made many years after I saw the pattern for the first time! You have a great blog 🙂

  50. What a beautiful quilt 🙂 Some of my favorite quilts are those that I made many years after I saw the pattern for the first time! You have a great blog 🙂

  51. i hope you don’t get hate mail!! Block those…after all, if they don’t like what you say, don’t read that particular blog!
    I highlight just to perk up the dirty-dishwater (and I mean dirty) blonde. But when I go grey, if it’s not the pretty whitish kind, I will probably color!!
    Love your quilt – but then, what quilt that you’ve posted have I not liked!
    The blue and white tablescape is beautiful…and I love the valentine fabric!

  52. i hope you don’t get hate mail!! Block those…after all, if they don’t like what you say, don’t read that particular blog!
    I highlight just to perk up the dirty-dishwater (and I mean dirty) blonde. But when I go grey, if it’s not the pretty whitish kind, I will probably color!!
    Love your quilt – but then, what quilt that you’ve posted have I not liked!
    The blue and white tablescape is beautiful…and I love the valentine fabric!