Christmas Quilt for my MIL - Done!

All done! Quilted and bound. =)


I used two color threads, navy for the majority of the quilt and a cream that matches the crosses on the front but contrasts and really pops on the back. I quilted it freehand using the "push through" method on my Bernina. It's sloppy. lol. I forgive myself because it's really the first one I've done that wasn't all straight lines. While I loved the idea of freehand, I don't think I'm a "push through" kinda quilter. I'd love a long arm! Maybe next time I'll rent one till I can afford to buy one. Hum...


I got lucky! It goes beautifully with the decor in her living room. Yay!

Done!

Yay finished the binding on my MIL's quilt. I'll try to get pictures up soon!

Round Robin - Border 2

I received Jenny's center block with Cindy's first border on it:


I understood that it would be okay to embellish the center block with embroidery. I don't really know how to embroider and thought better of practicing on someone's quilt! But my applique is getting better so I picked up a little bit of the applique work I did on the outer blocks with the addition of some applique on the center square to help tie it together. If Jenny doesn't want it on her center she can rip the stitches. I didn't cut out the backs like I did on my border so she can easily remove them if she likes, leaving her center intact. If she does like them she can cut out the backs and remove the freezer paper before she quilts it.

I also just went with the pallet that Cindy had chosen for consistency sake. I think overall it came out quite nice. I should be able to get this in the mail tomorrow.

Birthday Blocks

The request for these blocks (both for macbeaner) was to follow a star theme using the colors red, orange and yellow. This is a hard pallet for me as I'm really drawn to cooler colors but I think they came out quite nice. I especially like the Card Basket Block.

CARD BASKET BLOCK


STAR BLOCK

C9 - Jane's Tears

Block: C9 - Jane's Tears
Started Quilt: 07/02/08
Block Completed: 11/30/08
Number of Pieces: 5
Description: Reverse applique by hand

Blocks: 20
Triangles: 3
Kites: 0
Total Pieces: 239

I've had this block half done and sitting around in my sewing room for weeks now. I was working on it and the thread knotted up and snapped. I needed to just pull out a few stitches - delicately - and tie it off. It's amazing how that tiny little set back made me abandon this block for so long. I finally got a chance to work on again last night after finding my seam ripper which was the only thing I could find small enough to pull up the stitch work. Anyway it's done now! I think it came out very nice besides how long it took!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope your holiday is filled with friends, family, good food and warmth of heart and home.

Lured away by Yarn. Uh Oh.

I want to thank everyone for sending along some really beautiful and fun, funky fabrics! It's been so great. =) I'm working on cutting up swatches to send back out. Have patience with me - there's a lot to get though! I'll try to post some pictures as I get my charms cut up.

I've also been a little distracted with a new craft. (Uh oh!) Crochet is really addictive and is a lot more portable when chasing after a toddler. I made my first scarf! Yay. I know - I need to get back to all my quilting projects. 0.o

5" Charm Swap

I'm starting the collection process for a thousand pyramid charm quilt. I'm using any and all fabrics for 1/2 the pyramids but the other 1/2 I want to be mostly black. I have a few of these kinds of fabrics but will need many, many more. So I'm here appealing to you all to help me. If you could find it in your hearts (and stashes) to pull some 5" x 5" swatches of good quality mostly black fabrics (see picture below for samples of what I'm looking for...)

I will happily pull an equal number of whatever I have that you might be looking for and mail some 5" swatches back to you. I have batiks, calicos, kid prints, solids, etc. Just pop a note in your envelope with what you want.
Any takers?! Thanks for all your help!
Cheers~
Jenn

PS: E-mail me for address.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

It's done!

Yay! It's done. I finished my mom's table runner in record time. I'm so glad I'll be able to give it to her on her 40th wedding anniversary party this afternoon.



This is the paper pieced block before quilting. The block is called Night and Day.


...and after quilting


Front


Back

So close to being...

...almost done with my Mom's table runner! Whew~

Stash Story

I was reading a post by Caron Mosey: Michigan Quilts! in which she discusses the state of her stash. So I thought I'd share my stash with ya'll.

This is most of the cotton quilting fabrics* in quarters to full yards...

Yes they are folded neatly and organized by color. Yes it's a pain in the butt to keep it this way but on the other hand I don't want to get sidetracked by looking for fabric when I should be (want to be) quilting it! So I keep it up. It's not too difficult. I wrap the fabric around a long 6" wide quilting ruler and then fold it over. Nice consistently sized squares. Am I perfect? Is it always this way? HECK NO!

There is a pile of "scraps" that lives on the end of my ironing board.

Recently most of this pile (and more!) has moved into a large box so I don't have to look at it. I like things out of sight; I have a hard time working in clutter. I'm trying to keep the "pile" to the size of the box. These are all odd sizes usually ranging from 2" or so up to about a fat quarter but not much larger.

I used to take the time to cut these scraps up into predetermined sizes and put them into baggies: 2" squares, 4" wide strips, etc. for ease of use. This has come in handy but I'm finding it's almost too obsessive. I can just grab the random shaped bits and cut them as needed so I may discontinue this habit.


*Quilting fabrics are the majority of my stash but I also have other types of fabrics that are randomly mashed into large rubber bins that live around my sewing room. I rarely venture into them unless I need something for a Halloween costume or on the rare occasions that I'm making something other then a quilt.

So busy

I've been so busy! I can't believe the month is half over and I have hardly touched my sewing machine. I did get a chance to work a bit on the winding ways quilt but not much else. I'm trying to get set up and going on a Christmas table runner for my Mom. She's had some fabric stashed away in a drawer for a few years now with the intent of making something of it. (Don't we all?) So I took it from her with the promise that I'd have it done by Thanksgiving. I think I'll send her some block choices and let her pick one out. It's in her court now so I just have to wait and see which one she picks. ::grin::

Do you have a favorite?
A.
B.
C.

Round Robin - Border 1

I finished this round up a little early. I figure I have the time now and it's just going to get more crazy with the end of the year holidays coming up plus I have some other obligations to work on . Technically I didn't have to get this out till Nov. 1st. but I'm glad it's done so I can work on those other projects.

This is the center block that "Cinlynn" sent me.


These are the borders I added. It was difficult as her sewing wasn't very precise. I had to skew my allowances and even then it all came out warped. I added the big border around the outside just so that I could cut it down to a perfect 21 1/2" square. At least it should be easier sailing for the next person in my group.

NW Quilting Expo

Lots of quilty goodness from the NW Quilt Expo held in Portland OR. this weekend!

While I really enjoyed a lot of the quilts I think this one was my favorite. There were so many beautiful pieces being shown it was very hard to choose! I also didn't get a chance to go back through all the quilts and take pictures of some of my favorites so I know a few of them are missing. I did get a chance to go back through at least half. Hope you enjoy the show!



This one also really appealed to the realist / portrait artist in me.


Cross stitch quilt and details...




Harry Potter themed quilts...





her hair was all that metallic fuzzy yarn laid out and sewn over to attach it to the fabric. I wish now I'd gotten a closer picture. It was pretty cool.


All 200+ blocks, was made using reverse applique! I wish the lighting had been better - it wasn't quite this yellow...




Such bad lighting - but this was beautiful. There were quilts more technically stunning but the fabrics and colors were so ugly - this! This one I would love to have and hold and use and snuggle under. What you can't see was the variegated "rainbow" thread they used to quilt it. The quilting was impeccable. It really popped off the black fabric and of course I love batiks. I thought about slipping it off the hanger and making a mad crazed dash for the exit with it clutched in my greedy paws. I figured I could fend off any of the off the old ladies who tried to stop me on my way out... if it wasn't for those pesky security guards by the exit doors I would've tried! ;^)


The colors and fabrics on this Hawaiian quilt were subtle and bright and beautiful. Sadly the lighting is crap and I didn't get a good shot of it... but none the less here it is.


Ah, Poison Green.... something or other was the name of this quilt. Fascinating really. I guess in the 1800's fabrics made in this color used a dye that was quite poisonous. Of course the interesting title drew me in but the subtle beauty of the quilt kept me staring for quite a while. All 20 blocks are perfectly placed applique. Sick really. I wish someday to imitate the feel of this little gem.




This one was a bit unusual as it was made of woven wool fabrics.












Pineapple quilt's strips were all about 1/2" and the quilt was at least a full if not a queen!