Sparklettes

I have a finished quilt to show today!! It seemed to take forever to quilt. Granted, there is quite a bit of negative space and I chose a fairly dense background quilting fill. So I'm super happy to have it done and couldn't be more pleased.

The pattern is "Sparklettes", from the book Fat Quarter Style. It's found on the cover, but you may notice that I changed the setting up a bit. I added background strips to the sides of the blocks to square them up and alternated the direction of the elongated star.

My original plan was to make the quilt just like the one in the book, but after I changed my mind I found that I didn't have quite enough backing fabric. Adding a pieced strip stretched it out to fit.

And that's what I've been up to!

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Glamclam Quilt!!!

I had to include those exclamation points in the title of this post. I'm so thrilled with this quilt! I love the modern vibe of this traditional design. I love all the awesome, colorful Cotton + Steel fabrics. I love the backing, which is a Cotton + Steel lawn. I love the quilting and the texture it created on the quilt. And I love the feel - so soft and cuddly.

Yes, I think I like this one...

The Glamclam is an amazing free pattern by Latifah Saafir and available on Craftsy. I used the 8" size.

You may remember I did my super easy, mindless organic quilting in vertical rows...

For the backing I chose a Cotton + Steel lawn that had this great border on one edge. It created a cool stripe on the back and I'll definitely be using lawn or voile again for a backing. A little more expensive, but the drape and feel of the quilt is amazing!

I was a little reluctant to try this one because of all the curves, but it really was very easy. The big curves are gentle and the pattern templates are so perfect, even providing notches for matching up the curve. If you've been on the fence with this one, I say give it a go!

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Juggle

I've become a big fan of fabric design by Bonnie Christine for Art Gallery Fabrics. So when "Winged" came out, I went for the Fat Quarter bundle. I wanted to make something simple. Something that showcased each of the beautiful pieces in the line.

I ended up choosing a Thimbleblossoms pattern (I know - another one!) called Juggle. The nice size hexagons seemed perfect for this fabric.

As always, I added a few stash fabrics, but not too many this time...

The quilting is done with Stitch #4 on my Bernina - the Serpentine. I did adjust the length and width a bit to get the look I wanted. I had forgotten how quickly this quilting design goes!

The backing is a pretty floral from "Winged" and the binding is Art Gallery Squared Elements, which I seem to be using again and again for binding.

It was time to switch out some rolled up quilts in my basket, so here is it's home for now - that is until someone needs a pretty quilt for a nap...

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An Irish Chainish Quilt?

I have a finished quilt to show today! This quilt came about after trying to organize my overflowing Anna Maria Horner stash. I thought it would reduce the volume - but somehow that never seems to happen! I guess when she continues to release these gorgeous, irresistible lines my efforts are futile!

I really love this quilt. It's kind of designed like a simple Single Irish Chain.

It's created with a simple 6" finished square and a simple 6" finished Nine Patch. The only tricky part is that you do have to lay everything out so that your Nine Patch squares match the corresponding print square. I also added a border around the edge that incorporates 2" squares to finish out the pattern.

The background is a light gray {even though it looks kind of beige in these pictures} - Moda Bella Fog. I did some diagonal straight line quilting through the small squares and a simple quilting motif in the 6" squares.

I'm sure there are future AMH fabric quilts in my future!!

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Flowering Snowball Quilt finish!

I finished my Flowering Snowball quilt this week! You may remember that I started hand quilting it and then changed my mind. I'm so glad I did. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

You may also remember that I was struggling with the thread basting stitches getting caught up in the foot. Well, one of you geniuses suggested I remove the basting stitches as I prepared to quilt each section. That helped tremendously! Such a simple solution. Why didn't I think of it?

I really loved the straight lines in the background that I was hand quilting and was able to do it by machine with no problem. I did these straight lines with my free-motion foot (drew them with a disappearing marker first), sneaking along the seam between the lines. They turned out really well. I was worried about how straight they would be - but not too bad. And, really, I don't think my hand quilted lines would have been perfectly straight either.

Here's a full shot in the soft afternoon light. Such a great pattern!

You can learn more about the pattern, the templates and making the quilt in my earlier post!

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Charley Harper Quilt

First up, I really want to thank all of you for your feedback on my blog's future. Your comments really meant a lot. And whether you comment or not, it gives me the assurance that someone's out there!

My Charley Harper Quilt is finished and ready to hang!! I first blogged about the blocks here. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I had attempted a couple of ideas with this line and knew pretty quickly that those first ideas were not my vision for the fabric. One of those ideas was an improvisational pieced block using the fussy cut motifs in the fabric. One block made and I knew the busyness would detract from the beautiful artwork. That's what sparked this idea - artwork. Treat it like art; frame each piece; and hang them similar to a gallery wall.

I got lots of feedback from others who have struggled with what to do with the line. Here's how I did it! Feel free to copy away!

The quilt is made from two simple 13" finished blocks which are mirror images of each other.

For each block you need the above finished size squares and rectangles and the following strips {unfinished size} one 1 1/2" x 13 1/2", one 1 1/2" x 4 1/2", one 1 1/2" x 8 1/2".

I made my squares and rectangles by fussy cutting the motifs in the fabric and adding various size strips until it was a bit oversized. I then trimmed them to the unfinished sizes: 4 1/2" square; 8 1/2" square and 4 1/2" x 8 1/2".

When fussy cutting the rectangles, I tried to keep the proportions even. A 3 1/2" x 7 1/2" center required a border that finished at 1/2" on each side.

A 2 1/2" x 6 1/2" center required a border that finished at 1" on each side.

The blocks are pieced by sewing the squares and rectangles together with the 1 1/2" strips as pictured.

I made 9 blocks and sewed them together with 1 1/2" unfinished strips for sashing, alternating the two mirror image blocks.

I struggled with a quilting design, but ended up doing organic lines with my walking foot horizontally from edge to edge. I'm really happy with the way it turned out!

My quilt was made with 2 fat eighth bundles of Charley Harper fabric {the earlier collection and the newest collection "Nurture} that I got from Westwood Acres Fabrics.

Hope that helps you make your own! Let me know if you have any questions! I have the perfect spot to hang mine!

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2014 in review

I love spending a few hours this time of year looking over the quilts I've made in the past twelve months. Since my life and my sewing are so intermingled, I find it a nice reflection on what was happening in life.

In no particular order, some collages of 2014...

 2014 was definitely the year of the mini for me.

And keeping up with the UFOs.

I did some curved piecing and an appliqué quilt.

I think my favorite one to make was my Sampler Quilt!

So what's up for 2015? Well, that's next!
Happy, Happy, Happy New Year to each one of you! Thank you for spending a fun quilty year with me!!!

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Some year end projects...

It's that time of year when all the normal routines fall away and the busyness of the season takes hold. I have been sewing and finishing up some projects, but haven't taken the time to share here on the blog. Maybe some of us Instagrammers are getting a little lazy on the blog front. And it hasn't helped that there's been so little sun here for picture taking in maybe a month?

So I'm dropping in today to share a few photos of some recent finishes.

Cheerio pattern by Thimbleblossoms, quilted by Crinklelove.

Peppermint Float in Cotton + Steel, quilted by me...

A mini quilt made by me for a Christmas exchange. Tutorial found at Modern Handcraft...

I love the Cotton + Steel Feather print binding on this one...

After you make something for someone else, do you end up making another for yourself? More Hexagons...

And that's a wrap on the sewing for this year!  I'll be back with some year end collages and some thoughts on the future of the blog {and there is a future}.

I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday. Enjoy every single little minute!
Blessings...

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Liberty of London Quilt

I can't remember how long I've been a fan of Liberty of London fabric. I guess just about as long as I've loved fabric, which is a long time!

When Liberty of London contacted me to design a simple quilt using their fabric, I was beyond thrilled! Do you find it fascinating to stare at all the little details of a fabric as I do? If so, the Liberty fabric is so full of gorgeous detail you'll find yourself lost in the beauty of it as you sew.

So here is the quilt I designed for them. Simple, clean and fresh.

You'll find more pictures and full instructions at the Liberty Craft Blog. And be sure to visit the Liberty Fabric Store to see all the Liberty products and Haberdashery {I feel so British using that term!}

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Pow Wow quilt

I've had the pattern, Pow Wow by Cluck Cluck Sew for a while now. When I was looking for inspiration for a quilt for my nephew and his wife, it immediately came to mind after seeing this item on their wedding registry. They asked for blues, purples and red only - so this is what I came up with...

They live in NYC and got engaged on the Brooklyn Bridge. This Gramercy fabric by Leah Duncan is her depiction of the bridge. It became the perfect backing for the quilt.

It was fun to include some NYC themed fabrics purchased at the City Quilter!

And the straight line quilting added some great texture...

Hope they like it!!!

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