Friday, April 29, 2011

Friday Finish -- Quilt of Valor

When I fall in love with a pattern, I make it again and again and again. Obviously, I fell in love with Splash because I just finished another one:



I used a bunch of my blue 2 1/2" scraps, but there are still more! The backing was from a pile of fabric a friend "donated" to me. She shoved over 50 yards of fabric in a bag and made me take it home. Fortunately, that was last year and it doesn't count against my stash reducing efforts this year!

I am teaching a class on feathers and am using this as a sample today. Feathers in a block:


Feathers in a border:



I am going to get back at my fabric-donating friend. She doesn't know this yet, but I am going to shove this quilt in a bag and drop it off at her house so she can label it and make a pillowcase and then we can donate it to Quilts of Valor. And since she's a really good friend, I know that she honestly won't mind.

Check out what others have Finished for Friday!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Lucky Charms Quilting -- part 10

It is the last week for my Lucky Charms quilting videos. I had so much fun sharing these with you!

The Thread: Tutti, a 50-weight multi-color cotton from WonderFil, color TU 28 Lime. InvisiFil in the bobbin.

The Needle: size 16.

The circles in the center of the applique block were too large to leave unquilted so I decided to quilt the center ring.



The finished block:



Next week I will show photographs of the whole quilt, including the back. I am thrilled with how the quilting shows on the back of the quilt!

Stop back next week for my last Lucky Charms post.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday Stash Report

fabric purchased this week: 0
fabric purchased this year: 20.75 yards
fabric used this week: 5.75 yards
fabric used this year: 145 yards

Stash reduced by: 124.25 yards
Lucky Charms part 7

Lucky Charms part 8

Lucky Charms part 9

Friday, April 22, 2011

Friday Finish -- sweet baby quilt

Having finished a few boy baby quilts in recent weeks, I needed to give equal time to the girls!

I used scraps from Christine's wedding quilt to make (yet) another Splash quilt. I had enough leftovers to make nine blocks. I always have a few bolts of white and off-white fabric in my studio, so this quilt was made with fabric I had on hand. I love that!



Sometimes my scrap quilts turn out ok, and sometimes I absolutely fall in love with them. This one is going to be hard to give away. I adore the look of feathers on plain white fabric!

A close-up of the block:



And a close-up of the border:




Lucky Charms part 7

Lucky Charms part 8

Lucky Charms part 9

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Lucky Charms Quilting -- part 9

It is week nine of the Lucky Charms quilting videos and I am finally quilting the background of the applique!


I pulled out my roll of Quilter's Preview Paper and drew different backgrounds to see which one would best show off the applique.


I tried pebbles:




and feathers:




and swirls:



and meandering:



Looking at them side-by-side:



I decided that I liked feathers the best!



The thread: InvisiFil in the top and bobbin

The needle: size 14






A view of the finished block:




Next week I am going to add a little bit more quilting to the center, and then this quilt is done!


If you missed the videos from previous weeks, I linked to them below.

Lucky Charms part 1

Lucky Charms part 2

Lucky Charms part 3

Lucky Charms part 4

Lucky Charms part 5

Lucky Charms part 6

Lucky Charms part 7

Lucky Charms part 8

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Sunday Stash Report

fabric purchased this week: 0
fabric purchased this year: 20.75 yards
fabric used this week: 5.5 yards
fabric used this year: 139.25 yards

Stash reduced by: 118.50 yards

Head on over to Judy's blog to see how everyone else is doing.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday Finish -- Isaac's quilt

So about those baby quilts...

I finished another boy baby quilt this week. The recipient of last week's quilt and the recipient of this week's quilt were both born on the same day last November. NOVEMBER!!! That's how far behind I am on baby quilts!

I pulled out my Dream a Little Dream pattern for Isaac's quilt. The quilt is written for Layer Cakes, fat quarters or yardage. I used yardage for this quilt:



And a close-up of the quilting:



I adore this quilt and hope Isaac has many happy snuggles with it!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Lucky Charms Quilting -- part 8

Week eight of the Lucky Charms quilting videos features the gray triangles.



I pulled out my roll of Quilter's Preview Paper and drew some chevrons in the gray triangles and feathers in the black triangles. I quilted the feathers last week.



The design shows up better when I remove the Quilter's Preview Paper from the quilt.



I am ready to quilt!

The thread: Tutti (50 weight multi-color cotton) from WonderFil color TU-40 Slate
InvisiFil in the bobbin

The needle: size 16

Next week I will quilt the background of the applique block. Please come back and check it out!



Monday, April 11, 2011

Design Wall Monday

I am making no progress on my Meadow Breeze applique quilt. My one-inch nine-patch quilt is coming along a bit.



Head on over to Judy's blog to see how everyone else is doing.

If you have some time, check out my quilting videos:

Lucky Charms part 1

Lucky Charms part 2

Lucky Charms part 3

Lucky Charms part 4

Lucky Charms part 5

Lucky Charms part 6

Lucky Charms part 7

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sunday Stash Report

fabric purchased this week: 0
fabric purchased this year: 20.75 yards
fabric used this week: 5.75 yards
fabric used this year: 133.75 yards

Stash reduced by: 113 yards

Friday, April 08, 2011

Friday Finish* -- Colin's quilt

Some things we just know are true.

April showers bring May flowers.
Mayflowers bring Pilgrims.
Last year's weddings bring this year's babies.

I am as behind on baby quilts as I am on wedding quilts, and that is not good!

I am almost finished with Colin's baby quilt (as noted by the *). I am showing it here with the pinky-swear promise that I will finish the binding tonight. No, really I will.




A close-up view of the quilting. I was apparently digging straight lines while I quilted this.



The pattern is Splash by Fourth and Sixth Designs. I've probably made 15 of these quilts by now and see no reason to stop. They are easy and fun and always look great!

While I bind this quilt, check out what others have Finished for Friday!

Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Lucky Charms Quilting -- part 7

Week seven of the Lucky Charms quilting videos features the black triangles.

I pulled out my roll of Quilter's Preview Paper and drew some chevrons in the gray triangles and feathers in the black triangles.



It is easier to see the designs when the Quilter's Preview Paper is removed from the quilt top:



I like both designs, but this week I am only going to stitch the feathers.

The quilting:

The thread: Hologram from WonderFil, Navy 8158. This thread is actually a flat ribbon and it reflects the light beautifully!
InvisiFil from WonderFil in the bobbin

The needle: number 16

The tool: HandiQuilter Circle Template, four-inch circle




The shiny thread looks great on the black fabric:


Only three weeks to go! Next week, I will show how I quilted the chevrons in the gray triangles.


If you have not seen the earlier videos, find them here:

Lucky Charms part 1

Lucky Charms part 2

Lucky Charms part 3

Lucky Charms part 4

Lucky Charms part 5

Lucky Charms part 6

Monday, April 04, 2011

Design Wall Monday

Finally, something new on my design wall!



I am working on a new quilt pattern and on the left are some of the pieces that will go in it. All from stash -- yay!

Head on over to Judy's blog to see how everyone else is doing.

If you have some time, check out my quilting videos:

Lucky Charms part 1

Lucky Charms part 2

Lucky Charms part 3

Lucky Charms part 4

Lucky Charms part 5

Lucky Charms part 6

Sunday, April 03, 2011

Sunday Stash Report

fabric purchased this week: 8.5 yards (it was for a backing)
fabric purchased this year: 20.75 yards
fabric used this week: 14.25 yards
fabric used this year: 128 yards

Stash reduced by: 107.25 yards


Head on over to Judy's blog to see how everyone else is doing.

Check out my quilt videos:

Lucky Charms part 1

Lucky Charms part 2

Lucky Charms part 3

Lucky Charms part 4

Lucky Charms part 5


Lucky Charms part 6

Friday, April 01, 2011

Friday Finish -- wedding quilt

On the Chinese calendar, I believe that this is the year of the rabbit. I am trying to figure which calendar decided that this is the year of the wedding. I am taking part in fourteen wedding celebrations this year. It is only April and that number could always increase.

I bought the kit for this quilt several years ago. I matched the quilt to the proper bride (this is absolutely perfect for the recipient!). I pieced it in my hotel room while working at NJ Quilt Fest in March and finished a binding it this week. Several of the brides and brides families read my blog, so I will not disclose which bride shall receive this quilt.