Friday, March 16, 2012

Keeping it simple

Strip quilt
I won a jelly roll of Alphabet Soup on the Riley Blake blog. In the interest of putting my stash to use, I decided to sew it up into a simple strip quilt. I added a few brown and white strips to made the quilt a little longer.


The larger scale patterns aren't ideal for precuts because they're not the best for fussy cutting, but this happy strip worked out just right!


I quilted it ini an all-over loopy pattern. For the binding, I used the premade AMH bias binding. I've been wanting to try it out. Just one note: If you're using it for quilt binding, you'll want the 1 1/8 inch width. I bought the 2 1/4 inch by mistake, and it's really 5 1/2 inches folded in half (if that makes sense). But no biggie--I just cut it in half and got double the amount of binding.


For the back, I used a flannel from the same line. I'm surprised it didn't shrink up more (I didn't prewash). It's very snuggly!

That's it! Simple and straight-forward--that's kind of where my mind is right now.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

WIP Wednesday

Wednesday kind of snuck up on me this week. Here we go!

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Finished:
Fabricland!
Fabricland! Finished.
Finished. Love it.

In progress

Swoon-along
SMS! (SAVE MY SWOON!)

Strip quilt

Just need to sew on some binding, and this one will be heading to the dunzo list.

Lorax

My sister asked me if I could make a Lorax for my nephew. Here's my prototype. The fur I ordered for the mustache isn't furry enough, and Luke says he needs to be fatter, so I'll make a few adjustments and try again. Luke, of course, has claimed Prototype Lorax as his own.

Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Postage Stamp quilt
Kaleidoscope baby quilt #2

To do:
Half Moon Modern quilt
Block for Megan
do. Good Stitches March block
Blocks for Elizabeth

Head to Lee's to see what everyone else is working on!

Monday, March 12, 2012

For the love of solids!

I received my For the Love of Solids swap package this weekend, and I'm thrilled! I have to say, I was really hoping this messenger bag and zip pouch were heading my way. There are a ton of incredible projects in the Flickr pool, but this package from Sarah/FairyFace Designs was squarely at the top of my wish list.


I need a bag like this, and I fell in love with Sarah's design and craftsmanship. I know I'll be using it all the time!


Mine!
The zip pouch will be put to use holding my cross-stitch and embroidery supplies. I love the hand-stitching around the star. Sarah also sent me some delicious Irish chocolate but, erm, it didn't make it to the photo shoot. (Promise I shared!)

I'm so excited! Thanks again, Sarah.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Fabricland!

Oh, Fabricland. I want to go there.
Fabricland! Finished.
I'm so excited to show you this finish! I sewed up the quilt top several months ago, and then it languished in the dreaded UFO pile. I think I stalled out on piecing the back, but once I decided to splurge on some yardage, things moved along much more quickly. (Moral of the story: Treat Yo Self!)


And...here is a peek at that backing fabric. It's Tarika Gem from Kumari Garden. Lee sent me some of it for our bee's Christmas fat quarter swap, and I fell in love. I think the print complements the colors of the front nicely.


Fabricland is an original design by Elizabeth/Don't Call Me Betsy (you can buy a copy from her pattern shop). Elizabeth made her version with lovely Free Spirit Solids.
I enjoyed the challenge of making mine from small-scale prints from my stash (along with some matching solids).


I bound the quilt in this Running Stitch print from Lush by Patty Young. I wouldn't mind buying up all of the colors of this print and using it to bind all future quilts. Really.

Fabricland
At first, I thought this might be a gift, but the boy and his partner in crime have made it clear that Fabricland is staying put. Luke thinks it makes a fine road for his cars.


This is a big quilt (70x80)! It took me longer than expected to finish, but I enjoyed every minute.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

WIP Wednesday

Back again with another edition of WIP Wednesday...

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Finished:
Gray/green quilt
Gray/green

Gray/green back
Done! I have no plans for this quilt, but it is done.

In progress

Swoon-along
Ack, officially stalled out. Seeking motivation.

Strip quilt

This one is ready to be quilted.

Fabricland!
Binding Fabricland
Just a few more feet of binding to stitch! I should be finished in about one episode of Criminal Minds.

Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Postage Stamp quilt
Kaleidoscope baby quilt #2

To do:
Half Moon Modern quilt
Block for Megan
do. Good Stitches March block
Blocks for Elizabeth

Head to Lee's to see what everyone else is working on!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Gray/green quilt: Part deux.

Thanks so much for your input on my gray/green nine-patch quilt. I neglected to mention in that post that my walking foot is the devil (I must remedy that soon!). I wanted to try some of the cool straight-lines pattern you mentioned, but the foot was giving me fits. So I went with wavy lines!

gray/green quilting
These 9-patches were a happy find during my scrap bin overhaul. I honestly didn't remember having any blocks left over when I made this quilt, but I excavated 6 of them and paired them with some Kona Coal.

Gray/green
I had some major pulling issues in the middle of the quilt, which distorted the middle blocks. Devil walking foot. I'm not sure if I'm going to try to fix it or not. Probably not.

Gray/green back
I used a piece of Kona Cactus I had on hand and added a strip of some black and green scraps.

Gray/green back
I find myself liking the back better than the front. Again.

gray/green folded
The binding is a Full Moon Dot print from Amy Butler. I think I'm finally reaching the end of my Full Moon dot stash!

The quilt measures about 42x44. Another stash quilt, dunzo!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Input.



How would you quilt this?

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

WIP Wednesday--Leap Day edition!

I've hit a productive stage, and I feel like working on 5 projects at once. I hope it lasts!!

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Finished:
Scrappy Tumbler!
Sraptastic tumblers
This one feels like an old friend already.

For the Love of Solids swap

FTLOS Swap package
Done! Just need to get this in the mail.

Bow clutches
I made a yellow chevron bow clutch too.

In progress

Swoon-along
I'm afraid my HST burnout may be a chronic condition! And so my poor Swoon quilt sits untouched.

Strip quilt

In the interest of putting my stash to work, I sewed up a jelly roll of Riley Blake Alphabet Soup into a simple strip quilt top.

Gray/green quilt

I unearthed these forlorn 9 patches when I was going through my stash. I'll be putting them to work soon!


Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Postage Stamp quilt
Kaleidoscope baby quilt #2
Fabricland (I ordered backing fabric for this one, so it will be progressing soon!)

To do:
Something with Gray/Green blocks
Half Moon Modern quilt
Block for Megan
do. Good Stitches March block

Head to Lee's to see what everyone else is working on!

Monday, February 27, 2012

For the Love of Solids/Modern Mini Challenge!

I finished up my For the Love of Solids swap package. Here it is in all its glory!

FTLOS Swap mini
I studied my partner's mosaic and favorites, and she seems to prefer simple to fussy (yay!). I found this mini by Mary on Lake Pulaski and loved the way she used the Wild Things pattern by Camille Roskelley but allowed to whirligigs to float in the background fabric.

FLOTS mini close up
I added a skinny border, binding, and flange, and then finished it off with a little hand quilting. It measures about 18 inches square.

FTLOS Swap package
I'm sending along this little linen/purple bow clutch. I'll get it in the mail as soon as the shipping window opens!


I'm linking up to the Modern Mini Challenge at Ellison Lane Quilts!
Modern Mini Challenge

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Tied with a bow

I saw a tutorial for these bow clutches on Pinterest and knew I wanted to make one for my For the Love of Solids Swap package.

Bow clutches
I figured I should try out the tutorial before making the clutch for my swap partner, so I sewed one up using this slub linen chevron print. Pretty cute, I think!

Bow clutches
I made my partner's using Essex Linen and Kona Crocus. I had a harder time with the second one because I was feeling overconfident and didn't think I needed to read the directions again, which resulted in a bit of unsewing. But it turned out fine!

Tutorial from Elm Street Life.
I finished my mini quilt for the swap too...hopefully I can get some pictures of it tomorrow!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Scraptastic Tumblers

Rachel's Scrap Attack quilt-along came at the perfect time. I had grown concerned that I would get buried alive in my (unorganized, overflowing) scrap bin. Just as importantly, it was totally nonfunctional. I had tons of usable fabric in there, but I could never get to it.

Sraptastic tumblers
So I put my Go Baby tumbler die to work and started cranking out tumblers. Before I knew it, I had enough for a quilt. I threw them all in a bag and sewed them together at random.


As a bonus, sorting through my scraps was like a trip down quilty memory lane. I have bits of almost all of my quilts in here.


I decided to keep the tumbler edges in tact (thanks to Kati's encouragement!). The tumblers have kind of a soft angle, so the binding turned out more curvy than sharp, but I like the effect.


I didn't get a good picture of the back, but I used two prints I had on hand--this jumbo dot and the jacks print.


This quilt begged for some straight-line quilting...but I didn't listen. I enjoy stippling, so I stippled!


This quilt is a true Scrap Attack--I used only leftover materials I had on hand (including leftover binding strips and frankensteined scraps of batting). It's so loud that I know I'd never notice a spill or stain on it, so I'll happily be dragging it to picnics and the t-ball field.

I'm linking up to Kati's Slash the Stash!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

WIP Wednesday

I have a few things to show for my long weekend. Without further ado...

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Finished:
Scrappy Tumbler!
Tumbler binding

Just put this one in the dryer! Pictures soon.

Sew Beautiful Block for Emily
Sew Beautiful block for Emily
Emily entrusted her lovely Heirloom fabric to us for her month in the Sew Beautiful Bee. I added in some Kona Sage and School Bus and attempted to make some improv chevrons (like this). Mine turned out kinda weird...

In progress

Swoon-along
No progress here! The HST burnout persists.

For the Love of Solids swap

FTLOS Mini in progress
I'm planning some hand quilting and maybe a binding with a flange...then it's on to the small project.

Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Postage Stamp quilt
Kaleidoscope baby quilt #2
Fabricland
Scrap Attack tumblers

To do:
Sew Beautiful block for Emily
Drunkard's Path Quilt-Along
Something with Gray/Green blocks
Superhero quilt #2?

Head to Lee's to see what everyone else is working on!

P.S. What is up with the new blogger word verification?? What am I supposed to do with this?
Dear Blogger word verification thingy...