June Bee Block

Happy Summer Solstice!!!

I can’t believe it’s officially summer…we’ve had hot & humid weather for the past few weeks.  I’m sure it’s a sign of what we’re in for the rest of the summer.

June is Jenniffier’s month for the Scrap Bee on Flickr.  She requested blocks using this modified bento box tutorial in aqua and tangerine.  I used my Central Park scraps (the only orange in my stash!) & a little Bliss fabric.  Block size ~ 16 inches.

I can’t wait to see Jenniffier’s quilt all put together.  It’s the perfect summer quilt!

Also, I’ve received the majority of my spiderweb blocks for May in the Scrap Bee.  Sneak peek of the progress on that coming soon!

PMQG Kona Charm Pack Challenge

For the Philly Modern Quilt Guild’s May meeting, we were issued a challenge.  Take one charm pack of Robert Kaufman Kona solids (the Brights variety) and make something adding only prints. 

I knew right away what the perfect project was for this – Off The Rail by Jaybirdqults.  I even happened to have some of my fav fabric “It’s a Hoot” from Miss Julie herself all cut and ready to go. 

Julie’s pattern uses partial seams ::::gasp!:::::  Super scary, right?!  Wrong!  Easy as pie, really!!!

These blocks went together super quick and before I knew it, I had a quilt top.

For the back, I ran to JoAnn’s and picked up some Kona cotton in Coal(?) and pieced in my left over charm squares (plus a few extra) to make a pretty rainbow.  I LOVE the back. 

I went back and forth debating how to quilt it.  In the end, I went with straight line quilting vertically.  I  really like the way the back looks with the vertical lines.

And scrappy binding made from left over jellyroll strips from another It’s a Hoot quilt.

It’s a decent sized quilt….approximately 54x54”.  It will be living with me and is the first of many quilts I’ll be making for our new baby …coming October  2011.  Officially halfway there and so excited!

Wednesday Work in Progress

I love this quilt…I seriously can’t stop staring at it.  Isn’t she gorgeous?

The pattern is Jaybirdquilt’s Quarter Log Cabin as published on the Fon's and Porter website.  The blocks came together super easy.  I loved Julie’s original version of the quilt (especially after seeing it in person) that I knew I had to make it.  It took a little work to track down the Martinique (Moda) fabric but it was totally worth it.  This quilt is currently waiting for the rows to be sewn together and then it’s on to the borders. 

Do you like my design floor? I never know where to lay out my quilts, especially for basting.  Usually I’m dealing with 2 dogs and 2 cats.  I’ve even tried laying out quilts on my design…..grass??? (on a very windy day when the lawn was overdue for mowing!).

Jaybirdquilt’s Off the Rail pattern in It’s a Hoot by Momo for Moda.  Quilt is done and should be posted very shortly!

And no I would not baste a quilt on the grass…I’m not that silly!

Playing Catch-Up

So I guess it’s not surprising my bee block for March was late too…after the whole Doll Quilt swap debacle.  I really have done zero sewing over the past few months…up until recently that is.

For March, Kristy asked for wonky stars.  I have such a tough time with all things wonky, but I gave it my best shot.  I used Just Wing It by Momo and I think I like it. 

Sarah’s bee block for the Scrap Bee for April.  Sarah asked for string blocks….pretty easy, except I made the wrong size.  Thankfully bigger so I trimmed it down and off it went. I dug into my scrap basket for this one (some Momo, Amy Butler, and Tula Pink among others).

I’ve really enjoyed the bee so far.  I’ve made 4 blocks that I’ve never made before….I definitely like making string blocks and am going to add a string quilt to my to do list.

May is my month in the bee!  I’m pretty sure I’m going to ask for spiderweb blocks.  Can’t wait!

DQS Complete

Round 10 of the Doll Quilt Swap on flickr is winding down.  Here is the quilt I sent to my partner.  It was sent a week late, but she should receive it any day now if she hasn’t already.  I was able to finish it thanks to the latest Philly Modern Quilt Guild sewing day.  It was just the motivation I needed to get it together.

Quilt made using Central Park by Kate Spain for Moda. 

Pieced quilt back.

Close up of the quilt detail.

I received a beautiful quilt from Leah.  She made me a string quilt in my favorite color!

Isn’t it gorgeous?!? 

 

Leah added cute pink buttons.

 

And she sent me a really fantastic package.  Everything was wrapped so beautifully!  Thanks Leah!

WIP Wednesday

I finally made some progress on my doll quilt for DQS 10.  I really wanted to try something out of my comfort zone for the swap so I chose applique. 

I cut the tree shape a few weeks ago using my Cricut and finished cutting the leaves this weekend.  The Cricut worked well for cutting through the fabric…any issues I had were purely due to operator error!  

I have lots of leaves left over so I’m debating adding more.  What do you think? 

For right now I’m going to leave it as is, and add the borders – green patchwork along the bottom and blue patchwork around the sides and top.  I plan on mostly using Central Park by Kate Spain for Moda but might supplement in some additional fabric as I go.

Central Park Charming Stars

I love this quilt!  I love the fabric….I love the stars….I love the size…..and the straight line quilting.  I just love it!  What I don’t love are these pictures…..too cold and windy outside for outdoor pictures. 

I tried out the embroidery functions on my machine a little more.  Very convenient for labels….and of all the quilts I’ve made this is the first one with a label (bad Tricia!).

The date is significant…it marks my mom’s 50th birthday.  Happy 50th Mom!  Sorry it took a few weeks extra to get the binding on this.

Quilt pattern: Charming Stars from the Moda Bake Shop

Pieced and Quilted by me.

Fabric:  Central Park by Kate Spain for Moda (LOVE!)

Size:  68” square

Started on January 12th and finished on February 20th

Trying New Things

This month our guild challenge was to make a mug rug for a swap while trying a new technique.

My plan was to try applique…at the last minute.  I had the design in my head for days, so it was just a matter of execution really.  As it turns out, I have no idea how to do applique, so I winged it!

Luckily I have the best husband who let me make my rug on Valentine’s day….while he made me a fancy dinner of steak and lobster.  It was delicious!  After dinner, we cleaned up and I sewed a little more.  Couldn’t ask for a better Valentine’s day (except I could have done without the cat knocking an entire vase of water onto the floor at 9pm!).

Here it is…..I kinda really like it.  Any guesses to what the animal is?

Other new things I tried on the mug rug…decorative stitches on my machine.  There are soo many and I’ve never used them.  Also, I tried expanding my free motion quilting to include swirls.  That did not go so well, but it’s something I’d like to try again.

Thank you Angie for inspiring us to try something new! 

And here’s my new mug rug I received in the swap from Cindy!  Thanks, I love it!