Tuesday, December 31, 2013

For the Boys

Quilt 2 of 6 - Christmas 2013
This was a Scrappy Trip Around the World from instructions written by Bonnie Hunter.

As I was working on this - I really didn't care for how it was turning out.  I had pulled fabrics that were all too busy - and very dark - and there was no sparkle to it.

After seeing my neighbor drying a "sofa quilt" for her 2 Scottie dogs on the clothesline that had seen better days, I decided the boys (my buddies) needed a new quilt, so I added the applique in the corner and had Jill quilt this for me with dog paws all over.

The quilt finished, bound and washed.

The boys!  I did this raw edge applique so they will get "furry"
The label.
The backing - the aqua strip has tiny Westies on it (the Scottie fabric was on pink - so I compromised).  The tiny print on either side is dragonflies, and the dark reddish strip is bricks -which will have meaning to my neighbor)
Puppy Paws!!!
 

Monday, December 30, 2013

Tranquil Garden

Quilt 1 of 6 -Christmas 2013
Tranquil Garden - from the Hugs and Kisses pattern by Jaybird Quilts using the Lazy Angle Ruler by Lazy Girl Designs.  This is a quick and easy pattern to make - with very dramatic results.  I made 2 quilts with this for Christmas - and each turned out very different.  I would definitely make more.

The quilt after washing.
Free motion quilting - with markings from a Frixion pen.
Quilting after washing.
Quilting from the back.
The pieced backing.
The label.
 

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Polska

Quilt 5 of 6 - Christmas 2013
(again -posting order changed after these posts were written as I know this one has been delivered)

This is a One Block Wonder - not following any specific pattern but figuring it out as I go along.
This was for my brother-in-law and his family.

Unfortunately -I forgot to take any post quilting or post washing pictures of this one -and don't have a picture of the back or tag either (I know - bad quilter!!!)- emailing them to see if I can get some to add before this blog post goes live (I am composing this on Christmas day).

post-gifting... being enjoyed

 

Friday, December 27, 2013

The Big B

Quilt 3 of 6 - Christmas 2013
(NOTE -these are being posted non-sequentially. I numbered them when I wrote the posts on Christmas day - when none had been opened yet. Now that some are opened -I am changing the posting schedule)

This was a self designed quilt for my nephew -using some fabrics he had commented on from another project, and some colors he likes added in to round it out.

The big challenge on this one was the quilting - I finally decided on a big letter "B" for his initials, and played with my free motion quilting on this one.  The rest was done in a big spiral out from the "B"

I did have one hiccup with a frayed seam -but luckily discovered it prior to gifting so I was able to get it repaired.
The finished quilt after washing.
The Big B - frixion pen markings still visible.

The Big B - after ironing the frixion markings away, but before washing.
The Big B - after washing and crinkling.
The real label was in focus - it is just my photography that was blurry.
The backing - I got the text fabric from Ikea.
A bit of the B (backwards) and some of the spiral.
My "uh oh" moment (though I was a little more colorful in my dismay).  I soon had this stitched back into submission.
 

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Cranberry Dreams

Quilt 6 of 6 - Christmas 2013
(NOTE:  I wrote these posts in no particular order - but now that I know which quilts have been delivered I am changing the posting order... so the numbering will be non-sequential)

This quilt was done with the Lazy Angle Ruler and a Jaybird Quilts pattern (one of 2 I did using this pattern - it WILL get used again).

I did not have as many fabrics to work with on this - so chose to add borders to make it a nice comfy size.

And again - I forgot to get some "after" pictures on this one.  (as of composing time -this one was still in the wrapping paper -texting a request for photos)

Photo of quilt awaiting quilting.
Photo after gifting - draped over the back of Dad's couch so not super clear.
And the best photo of all - 'cause it's really not the quilt that's the true focus!!! (she was on the phone with me when this photo was taken -so I got to hear her unwrap it)
 

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas

So I know it is a bit early for New Years Resolutions - but looking back and seeing I hadn't blogged since September I think I need to work harder at this!  Facebook is so quick and easy that I do find myself posting quick little blurbs and pictures and projects there - and not here.

I can't post pictures of much of what I have been working on lately - since I don't know who is looking and I know some holiday packages have yet to be opened.

So I will give you this:












And this:












And heartfelt wishes for a Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy 2014
 

Monday, September 02, 2013

Proof of existence

I am here... Though I know it's been a while.  It was a busy busy August.  My garden was neglected, my sewing mostly "crunch time prep" for the quilt show, even my new found running habit took a hit and I only got out a few times this past month.

But I made it through - we had a great Churchville Lions Country Fair, a great visit with my dad (who arrived the day after the fair ended), and then a great 2 days of the Caledonia Quilt Guild show (the 2 days after Dad left) - then a little R-n-R with a visit to Boston, then the wind down to school starting again.

Some pics of what was going on:
Grandpa and Munchkin
Tin punching at the museum.
The entrepreneur at the Guild member's bazaar.
Challenge quilt for the quilt show - all based around the gold fabric in the sunflower.
My Strippy Trip Along... probably one of the "ugliest" quilts I think I have ever created.  A bit more is planned for this one and then I will be gifting it - but it is definitely NOT one of my favorites.
At Old Sturbridge Village
Some of our garden harvest.
Munchkin sporting his orange belt in karate, with his buddy "Todd" from The Monster Factory.
... my 'obsession' when all the rest of this was going on - working on this quilt bit by bit and figuring out how it will all go together.  Setting triangles for bottom and sides are still needed.
Looking forward to a bit quieter September - though with school starting in 2 days, Cub Scouts starting in 2 weeks, and karate throughout, I am not holding my breath.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Fiorire

Fiorire - to flower, to bloom, to blossom, to flourish.

This quilt is a graduation gift for a dear friend who has done - and is doing- exactly that!  It will be sent with wishes for continual blooms in her life!

This was done with the Lazy Angle Ruler by Lazy Girl Designs and a pattern by Jaybird Quilts (links here because I am being too lazy to link them all again) - though I took a few liberties to make it a bit bigger (and added a few different blocks because I messed up the math).  I also added a pieced border to this.  It is a nice generous throw - with a flannel "batting" so it drapes ever so nicely.
The backing is a piece of fabric from Ikea - wide enough for what I needed, but just a smidge too short, so I added in a pieced strip up top.  I didn't pre-wash this and it held up nicely - adding to the overall "crinkle" that I love so much in my quilts.  I loved the birds -and they fit nicely with this quilt - even though they are a bit more "subdued" than what is going on with the front and all the colors.

I did a concentric spiral quilting on this - which is something I have done a few times now.  I like how the gentle curve breaks up the angularity of the blocks.  In the lower corner of this picture, you can see where I added some free motion quilting in the center of the spiral, loosely following one of the flowers on the fabric.
I love how the quilt looks with the flowers in the garden (actually my neighbor's garden) - many of the same colors are blooming in the fabrics and in the flowerbeds.

I am not sure when I will get this delivered - I would rather not ship it and the recipient is not local - but hoping it will be soon.


Monday, July 22, 2013

Design Wall Monday - being 'challenged'

So - this is 'some' of what I have been working on.  I am perpetually challenged by "quilters distraction disorder" and the "I must try this new pattern or technique NOW" syndrome.  Hence the "art quilt" to the left, the "one block wonder" to the right, and the triangle diamond blocks below.

The one I am being "challenged" most by is the art quilt.  This is part of the Caledonia Quilt Guild members challenge - we were each given one piece of the same fabric, and challenged to make something with it - not to exceed 30" square.

I had been playing with these "Lotus" blocks for a while using the Hex-N-More ruler from Jaybird Quilts.  I had made a class sample using the batiks, and then made these blocks using the leftovers - and a smaller scale.  I set them a bit differently - "fussy setting" the challenge fabric into one big "flower" and the blue surrounding it.

I liked the idea of this being a garden -especially since our quilt show is "A Garden of Quilts" but my inspiration after the first layout fizzled for a while.  Then I decided to turn this quilt into Mary Ellen's Garden - inspired by my high school Latin teacher, who is a gardener and quilter.

When Jill was here, I sought out some "tree" like fabrics, and some cobblestones.  After pondering a bit with the idea of adding a stone path, I decided to add a wall, a tree, some branches, and some leaves.  More embellishing will follow with beads, silk embroidery, cording flowers and a jungle vine.

My intent is to put this in the show - and then give it to Mrs. Westlake (Mary Ellen) as a gift.  It pales in comparison to her actual garden - but I know she will appreciate it.
Some free motion quilting of bark on the tree trunk - including a big knot.
"leaf" clusters waiting to be appliqued - there are more and they will fill the top edge and corner of the quilt.
Mrs. Westlake also likes bird watching, so I had to add a bird house.