pillows

Sometimes I need a small project. And recently new pillows for the den.

This is all scraps. I love flying geese! FMQ in matchstick lines.

This is 4 paper-piece blocks from an old quilting magazine. I think it was Quilters Newsletter from the 1990s. I made each block to represent the 4 seasons. 

All scraps, improvised piecing. Love the colors, reminds me of a gated flower garden.

 
 
 

a sweet baby quilt

This is for a friend of my son.

A sweet little boy, born early, but doing well.

Fun koalas and dots. The quilting is a loose meander to keep it soft.
 

Pattern is Moondance by Villa Rosa Designs.

February Dragon

My most recent quilt has been in development for several years. I sketched it and hung on to it, then got brave enough to do it!

The background is a patchwork of batiks, the dragon is Moda Cross weave. I added dense matchstick quilting to suggest dragon scales. 

I do like the stencil-look, but there wasn't much contrast between the dragon and the background.

I decided to add some thread work around the dragon in black. This added contrast, and emphasized the dragon more.

 

Much better. Although I can tell you I will revisit the dragon in a different approach again. 

The black thread work helps the contrast.

 
 
 

 
 

January practice

I decided that instead of doing practice pieces that I toss, I would create an entire composition for FMQ practice.

I started with trying a different style of feathers. In a flower shape. With a cross-hatch background.

I added formal feathers in the corners. 

Then I pondered the border. It needed even quilting to balance the intense FMQ in the center. 

I did ruler work to create an architectural border. With loops in the cornerstones.

Finished at 24"square. I used a layer of Quilters Dream mid-loft poly on the bottom under a layer of Quilters Dream Puff. Quilted with Glide thread on top and Aurifil in the bobbin.

Love the texture on the back!
 
 
 
 
 

last one for 2016

So I made another map quilt. This one in batiks. For my brother.

He was very surprised.

This is his happy face!

Straight line quilting all over the states, with various free-motion motifs in the background. 

States are 50 different batik fabrics, background is Moda cross weave. Free motion quilted by me on my Baby Lock Tiara with a variety of threads.

 

 

 

one last Quilt of 2016

I made this quilt top in October-November, quilted it in December and just finished the binding.

Pattern is "Merry-Go-Round" by Missouri Star Quilt Company (again!). Rings are fabrics by Tula Pink. Background is a specked gray I have been hoarding.

I free-motion quilted feathers all over.

Quilted with 40 wt. Signature polyester thread on top and 50 wt. Aurifil in the bobbin. This combination always works for me.

Now to think about what quilts I want to make in 2017!

 
 
 

 

more sneaky sewing

Why does time speed up as we get closer to Christmas? Why does my husband wait to ask me to make gifts?

Anyway, I have been able to sneak in some table toppers this week:

A forest of Christmas trees!

3 toppers, stripped-pieces trees (from a mix of greens and scraps), free-motion-quilted.

The larger 2 are 40" by 15", the smaller is 36" by 14". Raw edge appliqué.

Are you still sewing for this upcoming Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza?

 

2016 Christmas Quilt

Yet another Missouri Star Quilt Company pattern! (Nope, I am not being paid by them but I am available if they happen to read this. Call/email me!)

This was based on the "Sandy Sunrise" Quilt from BLOCK magazine Spring volume 2 issue 2.

I made 8 blocks, the pattern calls for 4. 

I free-motion quilted feathers with looped accents in the center blocks. It finished at 72" square.

a Scrappy finish

Yes, this is from a #MSQC tutorial and pattern, but isn't it cute?

This went together like a dream. I cut 2 1/2 inch strips from my scrap box, and used some cream yardage from my stash.

Kerley likes it too!

He may have tried to claim it. 

But this is a gift!

Free-motion in a soft loop all-over, used Aurifil 50 weight thread and Quilter's Dream puff poly batting.
 

 

 

How the Missouri Star Quilt Company gave me back my mojo

Long title! But a true experience. 4 of the last quilts I have finished came from the MSQC's tutorials. Jenny Doan is so entertaining and breaks the steps down so well. She made quilting fun for me again.

 

After losing my mother-in-law in 2012, then my Dad in 2013, I landed in a very deep and scary depression. I tried to keep moving forward but seemed like everything was too much effort.

After I lost Dad, I bought my Tiara, I found the repetition of FMQ soothing. But my quilts seemed without joy.

We also moved, twice. Selling, renting, buying again. And the stresses that come with these tasks wore me down.

Then, my Mom mentioned that she and a group of her friends had challenged each other to make a quilt out of MSQC's Block magazine. Using only what they had in their stashes.

That was the catalyst for me. Instead of trying to make each Quilt a masterpiece, I just wanted to make a pretty quilt. And I did. 

Just going through the video tutorials was fun. I subscribe to the MSQC "BLOCK" magazine, so I have them to refer to for additional info and inspiration. 

No, this is not a sponsored post, these thoughts are purely my own.   

Stay tuned, another MSQC quilt to come!

Asheville Quilt Show

We drove to Asheville this past Saturday to see the annual Asheville Quilt Show. My first time at this show and I was impressed by the number of quilts as well as the venue!

While hard to do, I do have a few favorites from the show:

Made by my dear friend, Ania Reich, this won 1st in the Special Technique division. Her statement:

Another friend, Gina Boone, won with her amazing whole cloth:

Hard to see all the intricate stitching, her statement:

 

Other favorites, each with the quilters statement:

I love the color in this!

Again, the color drew me in. This one used silks along with cotton, gorgeous.

This quilt was so striking, not another remotely similar. In both color and fabric choices, it was amazing.

This is a great example of a traditional block with a modern fabric where the quilt lets the textile do all the work!

In the modern category, Emily Coffey won with this:

 

The colors and stitching are phenomenal.

The construction methods were of note:

Very inspiring show!
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

for a baby boy

This quilt is made from the Missouri Star Quilt Pattern "Sandy Sunrise ", found in Block magazine Spring vol. 2, Issue 2.

It finished at 50" by 50". The pattern called for 3 matching charm packs, but I cut a layer cake that I had. The nursery colors are blue and gray.

So, I used the Tula Pink backing in gray!

Free-motioned in a graffiti-doodle pattern. Shipping to the recipients this week.
 
 

Been awhile...

But, still here! Working and traveling for the day job. Still settling into the new house. And yes, seeing/quilting when time allows.

Recent projects:

Baby quilt for my son's friends. Yes, that makes me feel old! But the quilt is cute and they love it!

Memory quilt using dog beds for a dear friend. I love how this turned out!

Simple meander to keep it soft and draper , cursive loops for border interest.

Surprise for a dear cousin. My mom helped with the piecing, and suggested the feathers. I love how this turned out!  Even though I don't get to quilt as much as I want, I can still get it done!

More detail.

Border detail.

New wallet for myself. These are fun to make and a very practical design.

Last but not least:

New (to me) BabyLock serger! The old sampling area at work was being cleared out and this was destined for the dumpster. But I rescued it and for the price of servicing I now have an awesome addition to my studio!