My Quilting Adventure Begins!

As some of you know, I have recently gotten my dream job working at a huge quilt store in St. Cloud, MN... Gruber's quilt shop!  I love it and am beginning to learn the fine art of quilting.  

We are beginning a project using a book by Tula Pink... you make 100 different blocks, one a week, from fabrics in your stash... when you are done, you put them together for an amazing quilt!  Check out my friend and I's first attempts at making blocks!  

Here is the book we are following...

This is the first set of blocks we will be working on, all of them have some type of cross in them.

These are the first fabrics I picked for the very first block of this project!  I love being able to pick fun fabrics and colors.

My first piece, cut!  

all the pieces for the first 6 1/2 inch block

Me and my sewing buddy!  We are going to have a blast with this.  :)  

This is my FIRST block ever!!!!!!

And, my SECOND!  Yea!

Here are my friend, Pammy's first blocks!  I love the orange and brown one!  

Well, now that Christmas is over, I can post a few pictures of some of the things that I made for gifts!  

Here is the first gift, It is a messenger bag for my daughter.  I used a basic pattern from Jen Giddons and then added three zippered pockets, an adjustable strap, and hook inside for keys.  She love it!  

Here is the front of the bag... I found a really neat clasp to close it!  

Here is the inside with a look at the zipper pocket and hook.  

This is the back, with the exterior outside pocket for storing more things.  The fabric was bought at Grubers Quilt shop in St. Cloud, MN.  

This is the next gift that was made this holiday season... It was a darling little sun hat for my darling niece.  It turned out cute, but was definitely more challenging than I thought it would be.  Getting the round top part of the hat to line up with the round brim was difficult to say the least.  The pattern looked so simple!  

Here is the next Christmas gift, which I will be quilting this weekend.  This throw quilt is a gift for my mother that matches the table runner I made her a few months ago for her Birthday.  I can't wait to quilt it and see how it turns out.  I am a bit scared to begin the process, though, since it is my first attempt at quilting.  I will post the finished product once I complete it!  

This project is a pillowcase for my son out of minky and flannel.  He loves it and says he sleeps awesome on it!  I think I want a minky pillowcase!  

This is another gift I made for Christmas... a cute little toy bag for my nephew who is 1 year old.  He has been putting things in it and dragging it around the house!  Just what I hoped he would do.