Friday, December 31, 2010

Goodbye 2010 (and a quilty finish)

What a year!   I think I quadrupled the amount of quilts I made this year.  I learned how to free motion quilt and got an awesome new machine.  I’m sad to say goodbye, but I can’t help but feel like 2011 is going to be A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.

I didn’t do so well updating the blog and my stash is WAY out of control.  2011 is gonna see some changes coming, but we’ll save that for the new year.

I’m so excited I can finally post pictures of this quilt.  I feel like I’ve been working on it forever and didn’t want to ruin the surprise for the recipient!

fig tree HST front

I started this quilt sometime in August…I think…for a Christmas gift for my mother in law.  Fabric is Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Fig Tree for Moda and Moda Bella solids.  It’s constructed entirely of half square triangles and is a 64 inch-ish square.  I saw the arrangement of half square triangles online…somewhere… and really loved it.  I love half square triangles but I think I’ll be taking a small break from them for just a bit :). 

fig tree backing

Backing is Kona solids and a few blocks that didn’t work out so well in the front.  This was the only quilt I made as a Christmas gift this year and the timing worked out perfectly.  It was pieced, quilted, and washed with out any stressing over getting it done on time.  As for my mother in law….I think she liked it :)

I also made a gathered clutch ala Noodlehead.  It was my first time using the tutorial and I LOVED it.  I had to re-read one step a couple of times….but eventually it made perfect sense.

Bliss Gathered Clutch

Fabric is Bliss by Bonnie and Camille for Moda (Love this line!).  I made it for my god daughter for Christmas after going into every store in the mall searching for a wristlet.  Nothing was age appropriate (she’s 11 and all the wristlets said let’s go clubbin’!) so I made my own.  She loves it and so does her mom; so I’ll be making another one this weekend. 

Monday, December 6, 2010

Pretty Patchwork

Hoot

I started this during the Philly Modern Quilt Guild's November Sewing night at the Little Shop in Haddonfield.  This pattern is from the book Jellyroll Quilts.  It’s coming together pretty quickly and is actually alot of fun to make. 

The pattern comes with 2 size options.  The larger size quilt (the one I’m making) uses 1.5 jellyrolls.  There is also a smaller size which uses less than 1 jellyroll.  The fabric is It’s a Hoot by Momo (LOVE it!) for Moda.  The blocks are almost done.

I did have one dilemma before the project even began.  I was planning on using white as my background fabric and thankfully Julie suggested maybe white was not the best idea.  I normally use white in everything and am starting to learn it doesn’t go with everything.  Since we were sewing in a fabric shop the problem was quickly resolved when I found a nice dark brown solid to use instead.  It gives the quilt a totally different look and I’m loving it. 

I finally did find a use for some of the white Kona cotton I’ve been hoarding….more on that later!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Just in time for fall…errrrr

When I first saw the Poppy line by Laura Gunn I knew I had to buy it to make an Amy Butler birdie sling with it…unfortunately that was months ago.   I was hoping to finish it in time for the fall, but honestly as  I started cutting the fabric and miles of interfacing I just lost interest.  Then all of a sudden, it was fall (now winterish)!  I pulled the pattern and fabric back out of my stash and was determined to finish that darn bag…a little cutting here and there and I was finally finished. 

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Construction of the actual bag was pretty simple…but some how I screwed it up.  I sewed the gussets in the wrong direction so my bag is more box shaped at the bottom.  I was mildly distracted while sewing with Julie and Candi (but this is in no way blame!!) and didn’t really realize it until Candi very gently pointed out my error….We all had a good laugh and I finished the bag, errors included since I had already cut the fabric at that point. 

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I seriously have to say the cutting took me longer than sewing the actual bag.  I’m so sure, next time I’m going to time myself! 

Oh, and here’s the fabric for the next birdie sling since I’m so determined to construct this bag correctly. 

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Welcome, December…

Where did November go? 

Been crazy busy here…sewing a ton and doing some renovations on the house.  Since my last post….sooo long ago….I finished this quilt.

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Project time:  Hmmm… mid July 2010 – Nov 20, 2010.

Designed by Julie and published in the Summer 2010 Quilts & More magazine. 

Pieced and quilted by me.

Fabric (including backing and binding) is Frolic by Sandy Gervais for Moda.  White solid is Robert Kaufman kona.

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I had started this quilt with a recipient in mind but then realized how wonderful it would look on the bed in my guest room. (Don’t worry, the intended recipient will receive an equally awesome quilt….someday!)  This quilt is currently on the guest bed….and I may or may not have slept under it last night because someone was snoring…..shhhh!

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Part of my lack of posting is the state of my house.  We tore our living room and dining room apart during November, pulled up the old carpet….a layer of tile and ply wood, sanded the floors, and stained them.  We had lots of help from family but it was exhausting.  The floors are {finally} done and look great. 

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Isn’t it pretty?!

Next up:  an apron pattern review, finishing the blocks from my latest jelly roll quilt, and my solids challenge for the Philly Modern Quilt Guild.