Dabbling

Stop the press!  There is some crazy-shocking news afoot this morning.  I have actually made a quilt that I did NOT stipple.  That hasn't happened in like...forever.  Well, it hasn't happened since I got hooked on free motion quilting anyway.  And maybe even more surprising (for me), is that I loved the process just as much!

This quilt has been an adventure in discomfort for me.  Everything from the minimal design to the swirly quilting was a creative stretch, and I'm pretty pleased with the result.  Because of this, I decided to name this quilt Dabbling.  

The rainbow of solids just glow against that gray background.  Amazingly, when I edited these photos, I did not saturate the colors in these photographs at all.  The hues are just this vibrant.  I also love how the gray shot cotton adds some dimension to the quilt, but is still solid.  This is a Cloud 9 fabric from their Cirrus line called Shadow.  It is woven with two shades of gray, so the "shimmery" quality that shot cotton usually gives is very subtle.  It is a really soft fabric, and I found it easy to work with, though it does ravel a little more than others.

I did a good bit of sketching and practice quilting on those swirls before finally getting up enough nerve to put them on the quilt, but no matter how much you practice, creating the design on a quilt always feels a little different because of the weight involved.  Once I put that quilt under the needle, I had to fight my stippling autopilot the entire time.  Muscle memory really is an amazing thing.  When I started, I knew that there was NO way that I would be able to keep the swirls the same size throughout the quilt, so I purposely varied the sizes from the get-go.  These swirls are far from perfect, but overall, I'm happy with them for a first attempt.  (ps- that is not a pucker on the gray fabric in the upper right;  it is a wrinkle that will wash right out;  the sunshine is just throwing it into great relief).  

So, my reasoning for branching out from a simple stipple is because, with all of that negative space,  I wanted to call a little more attention to the quilting.  Though I always love the texture and dimension that quilting creates, in general, I tend to focus more on color, fabric, and the pattern design.  That being said, this is definitely not the last time that swirls will be appearing on one of my quilts.

You wouldn't know this from looking at my quilts, but I kind of have a thing for birds.  I have a couple of pieces of art in my home that have songbirds in them, and when I decorate my Christmas trees, I clip blown-glass birds with feather tails all over them.  Anything can be overdone, so although I am drawn to things with birds on them, my home does not have birds everywhere.  I just think they look delicate and pretty.

When I was searching for a backing fabric, I knew I wanted a fantastically busy print with a rainbow of colors, since the front was so minimal.  I found this Michael Miller print and fell in love.  The folk drawn birds are the perfect foil to the front of the quilt, and the dark navy background balances the expanse of lighter gray perfectly.  I don't usually gravitate toward fabrics with animals in them (not even Cotton and Steel or Tula Pink), but I cannot tell you how much I love this print.

I simply can't make a backing without piecing a little bit, so I added a wide stripe of the turquoise solid.  Also, since this fabric is directional, the solid stripe also allowed me to avoid having any seams in the birds.  Each bird is about 3-4 inches tall.  Aren't they just SO much fun?

I chose to put a rainbow binding on this quilt, using each of the solids, and it really pops against both the front and back of the quilt.  Two binding joins fell in the corners though.  grrr....

In case you missed my last post, this quilt is made using my Girl's Best Friend pattern, but I just made ten blocks.  Since a few have asked, I won't be writing a separate pattern for this minimal layout, so if you want the specific details on modifying the pattern, just shoot me an email, and I'm happy to help!  This quilt is 60" square.  

So here's the honest to goodness truth.  Do I love this quilt as much as other quilts that are much more "me," like Stems and Stones, or  Seeing Double?  Nope, but I've learned that's okay.  I had fun pushing the boundaries of my creativity on this quilt, and doing that has inspired me to dabble in a little design discomfort in the future (like maybe other FMQ designs- gasp!).  After all, the process and journey are just as valuable as the end product.

Minimalism, and NTT

Those of you who follow me on Instagram (myquiltinfatuation) know that these past few days have been a bit of an ordeal for me.  While cooking dinner on Saturday night, I completely sliced off the end of one of my fingers (shocking that it wasn't with the rotary cutter, I know).  In true quilter fashion, I managed to take off a clean quarter of an inch, but thankfully, I missed the nail bed and bone entirely.  I have never been so happy to be a nail-biter.  Unfortunately, although the piece was large enough that the ER offered to try to reattach it, it wasn't big enough that the doctor actually thought it would be successful.  I am so thankful that it wasn't more serious, as there are many worse things in life than a misshapen fingertip.  It is still painful (seriously, how can something so small hurt SO much??), but it is manageable;  so now, the biggest annoyance is that my quilting speed has been throttled drastically.

It has taken me several days to put together this quilt top (ps- I promise that it's square, but the ripples from the wind makes it seem otherwise).

This quilt is an exercise in minimalism for me.  Even though most of us can appreciate the design of certain elements of modern quilting, we all have our own style, and minimalism in design has just never been something that I naturally choose to execute in my own quilts.  Another first for me, is the use of all solids.  Can you believe that I've never made a quilt entirely from solid fabrics?  I always love the look of all solid quilts, but when I start to pull fabrics for a new project, all of the delectable prints just call my name.

I used ten different shades of Kona to create a rainbow.  The pattern is my own Girl's Best Friend pattern, and I just made ten blocks.  The background gray is a Cloud 9 shot cotton called Shadow, and I love how it adds just a little bit of dimension against all of those solid fabrics (I still count it as solid though!).

Branching out on this quilt has really been a lot of fun.  The task of basting is before me today, and I must admit that I'm a little apprehensive about having pointy things near the tip of my finger.  We'll see how it goes...

So, last week's party had some amazing linkups, and believe me, I was grateful for the distraction while sitting in the ER on Saturday night.  Here are some of the ones that really caught my eye!

Seriously, I Think It Needs Stitches linked up this gorgeous Jane's Cross quilt.

This Modern Plus quilt from Beech Tree Lane is super cool!

and Oh. My. Goodness.  This scrappy hexie quilt, by Maryse Makes Things is a masterpiece.
(ps Maryse- I just knew this one was yours as soon as I saw the thumbnail!)

Okay, friends!  It's time to link up your latest bits of awesomeness this week!

1.  You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Happy NTT!

Welcome to Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  Things have been Crazy (with a capital C) around here lately!  In addition to the finishing the Strawberry Fields Revisited quilt I showed last week, and a duplicate of my Gemstones quilt for a friend, I am so delighted to report that my Stems and Stones pattern is available in my Craftsy and Etsy shops!  This is a really fun pattern (no curves), and great for showing off your favorite focus prints.  Check it out!

Lest you think I am some sort of quilty version of The Flash, I'll let you in on the reason this week has been extra productive.  It is a bit of a cautionary tale for all of us who do lots and lots of ironing (ahem- ALL quilters).  So here's the deal.  When I'm in a hurry, or just not paying attention in general, I tend to push down on my iron when pressing fabric, blocks, etc.  I don't move it back and forth because I don't want to distort my fabric; but when I put the iron down, without thinking, I push instead of letting the weight of the iron do the work.  Unfortunately, this has led to a nasty case of ironing elbow, known to the rest of the world as tennis elbow (which is a much less embarrassing cause of injury, I might add.)   Anyway, the pain has caused some sleeplessness, and I can think of no better way to fight the boredom of infomercials during the wee hours, than sewing to my heart's content.

What?  I should take a break from sewing and ironing, you say?  Nonsense!  I am nothing, if not adaptable.  I learned how to hold my iron with my arm in a certain position so that it doesn't hurt, and I do have a brace that helps, too.  All things being equal, of course I would rather have slept a little more, but I'm certainly not going to be sad about finishing two quilts this week.  Silver linings, y'all!  Just something to keep in mind.

Since ironing is such a dangerous activity, you should do what I do, and limit that task to quilts and blocks only- zero clothing.  And now that I have effectively warned you, check out some of the fantastic projects that were shared at last week's party!

Em's Scrapbag showed off this Scrappy Trip Around the World quilt.  I love the explosion of color!

This lovely, scrappy quilt is from Pink Doxies.

and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework showed off this improv wonky star- made from scraps!  Apparently scrappy masterpieces were the name of the game this week!

Before we move on to the party, I have one more little reminder.  If you aren't aware, I have FOUR awesome giveaways going on right now- three great bundles, and a $100 gift certificate.  All four giveaways end on Saturday morning, so be sure you hop over and enter HERE.  Just one comment enters you in all four, so it's super easy!

Alrighty then, y'all!  Let's get down to partying!

1.  You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Seeing Double

As I mentioned in my last post, when I finished my Gemstones quilt a few weeks ago, my friend saw it and wanted it for her daughter.  Since that one was already promised to someone, she asked if I would make another one- same pattern and fabrics, but with one difference.  My friend wanted this one to be bigger- 70 inches square, instead of 60 inches, and with an 18 inch pillow to match.

I don't usually like to make exact duplicates of quilts, especially not so close together, but with fabrics this gorgeous, I zoomed right through it.  The biggest difference that you may notice, is that the Baubles in this quilt are arranged horizontally, rather than the vertical ones in the Gemstones quilt.  This quilt is bigger, so I didn't have as much wiggle room in my fabric cutting, and since some of these Flora prints are directional (see those two-toned, graphic flowers), that pretty much decided the layout for me.  Vertical or horizontal, I still really love the curvy (but not actually curve-pieced) Baubles shape.

The added throw pillow, and increased size yielded fewer scraps, but I managed to put together a nice strip that is just enough to break up the navy and gray on the back.  And, I know you've already noticed- why yes!  that IS a berry binding on this quilt!  

What does it say for me that, after my binding conundrum on the Gemstones quilt, that I looked forward to the binding on this one the whole time I was making it?  I know, I know.  It says I am way to neurotic for my own good.  (I was right though.  That sketch berry really looks awesome on there!)

The quilt is going to be folded along the foot of a twin size bed, with a solid coverlet underneath, so the 70 inch size will be perfect.  With a quilt this colorful, I wanted to be sure that the pillow wasn't too overwhelming, so the scraps are bordered by a creamy white.  The white in the Flora line isn't actually bright white, and as luck would have it, the creamy solid fabric that I pulled out of the Strawberry Fields collection when I made my mother in law's quilt was just perfect.  

I used every bit of my berry fabric in binding the quilt, so I decided to bind the pillow in navy, which ties in with the accent color on the quilt backing really well.

This golden yellow fabric on the back of the pillow is a perfect match for the warm yellow in the quilt.  I just realized that you can barely see some yellow in the quilt on the bottom of the picture.  Unfortunately, I bought this yellow fabric awhile ago, and I've already used some of it, so the selvage was already cut off and I have no idea what it is (if you know, please tell me!).  I had a little strip of the Camelot orange scallop leftover from binding the Gemstones quilt, and it was just begging to be added to this pillow!  I just have to get the pillow form, and then these will be off to their new home!  

I have to smile when I think about the 7 year old girl who will be receiving this quilt.  Last summer, her mother actually fell in love with the Pop Star quilt, and bought it for herself since she is so cold-natured.  She told me that her younger daughter has been sneaking past her every single night to "steal" that quilt (or tries to) right when she knows she is about to go to bed.  According to my friend, when found out, her daughter begs to keep it, and says that she loves it so much, "because it just feeeels sooooo good, Mom!"  Hopefully now, they'll both get to be warm and snuggly!

Strawberry Season

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!  The hubs and I did our date night last night while our wild thing was at a karate party, so we've all just been taking it easy today.  I finished up the quilt for my mother in law, and as a nod to the cute little strawberries in the fabric, I'm calling this one Strawberry Season.  It measures 60" square, and will look great on her sofa.

The pattern in this one is so simple, just a nine patch variation, but really fits the feel of the fabrics.  I used almost all of the prints in the Strawberry Fields line, and because I got a full FQ bundle, there was enough to make this quilt completely reversible.

My MIL and I talked about it, and we both liked the variation of color in the full collection, rather than just choosing a couple of color ways.  For this throw sized quilt, I planned to only order a fat eighth bundle because there are so many prints.  As I was shopping though, I ended up finding a full fat quarter bundle for only $10 more.  At that price, it would have just been silly to only buy fat eighths (that's my story, anyway)!  I ended up using 36 out of the 40 prints in the line, opting to pull out the solid ivory fabric, as well as a few pinks.  Pulling out the pinks kept the quilt from being too soft, which is a good thing since it will be used a living room.

One of my favorite things about this quilt is the sketchy red binding, mostly because of my success with finding just the right red.  The shade of red in this collection is pretty unique.  The color is not very saturated, almost a pink-ish, coral-ish red, which gives it a little bit of a vintage quality.  As it turns out, I had this fabric in my cabinet, and it is just perfect!

I actually finished this one on Friday, but since I posted my February Fabric Deals on Friday, I didn't want to over-post.  By the way, if you missed that post, it has FOUR amazing giveaways (three awesome fabric bundles, and a $100 gift certificate!), so definitely hop over and enter if you haven't already.

Since finishing Strawberry Season, I've been experiencing a little bit of deja vu.  A few weeks ago, when I posted my finished Gemstones quilt on my personal Facebook page, my friend saw it and immediately wanted it for her daughter.  As that quilt was already spoken for, I told her I would make another one with the same pattern and fabrics.  So right now, I'm in the middle of getting that one done with a pillow to match.  And without a doubt, this one WILL have a berry binding!

Strawberry Fields, a Question, and NTT

Hello, all!  I hope you're having a fantastic week.  Since finishing Stems and Stones, I've been working on a quilt for my mother in law using a bundle of Fig Tree's Strawberry Fields Revisited.  She and I spoke last summer about a quilt that would match the more muted tones in her living room, and this collection is just perfect.

The warm red and brown, sage and apple green, and buttery yellow are muted shades, but not sugary sweet pastels.  Even though there is a tiny bit of soft pink, overall the fabrics are more grown up.  Because the prints and colors are smaller in scale and a little more traditional,  I decided on a pattern that I thought fit them best.  Also, since this quilt will be on the sofa and used practically every night, my mother in law specifically asked that the quilt not have a lot of white, which helped with my decision on the pattern as well.  I think it's going to be perfect for the room!

So, my question-  I don't know if there are many happier sights for a quilter than a brand new, giant roll of high quality batting.  I admit, a giant pile of gorgeous of fabric is definitely high on the list, too.  I know that's not really a question, but I'm getting there, I promise.

I love Warm Company batting, and I always buy my batting in queen sized, 40 yard rolls.  The batting is thick and warm, and quilts beautifully.  I am equally fond of Warm and Natural and Warm and White, and I just buy whichever variety I can find at the best price (this time, it happens to be White).  So my question is, have any of you ever used Warm and Plush?  I have seen it, and I'm tempted to try it out, but I have a hard time straying from tried and true.  I've thought about buying a single package to see how I like it, and I may do that, but again- habit just takes over.  If you have tried it, and can offer any opinions, I would love to hear them.

Okay then!  Time to check out a few of the amazing links from last week's party.  Mary from Quilting Through Rose-Colored Trifocals shared TWO gorgeous finishes.  I had such a hard time choosing which one to use in the feature, so I chose the quilt that Mary DIDN'T use for the thumbnail.  You really need to hop over and see both, though!

Ida Rather Be Quilting showed off her beautiful Cartwheels quilt.  Love the pop of color against the dark gray background!

and Oh. My. Goodness.  This Garden Party diamond quilt from Lori at Sewfrench is just stunning!

I am always amazed at the creativity that abounds week after week, but seriously.  Some weeks, it is darn near impossible to narrow the features down to only three.  This was definitely one of those weeks.  So much amazing all in one place; y'all really know how to keep a girl inspired.

So, time to show me what you've got going on this week!  Party on, friends!

1.  You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)

Stems and Stones

This is one of those fabric and pattern combinations that I love so much that I have been working nonstop, absolutely obsessed with finishing it.  I had been thinking that I needed to find a new quilt photo setting, and yesterday after church, as I passed our little prayer garden, I realized that it would be perfect!   I love, love, LOVE this quilt.  The vivid colors in the fabrics against the crisp Kona white make me so happy.  Let me go ahead and apologize for the picture heavy post.  I just couldn't stop photographing it!

In my last post, I mentioned my personal weakness for Amy Butler fabrics, and recalled the 40-yard(!!) Amy Butler stash that I powered through almost two years ago.  I don't know that there will ever be a time when I'm not mesmerized by her fabrics, but I have learned to not let them accumulate so much before using them up.

Not every print in this quilt is AB, but many of the others are fabrics that I have purchased and just couldn't fit them into another quilt.  I was happy to find a home for them in this one.  Sometimes, bold colors and prints only work well with other bold colors and prints.

I used all of my extra fabric on the backing, and I decided to improv piece it to keep the leftovers intact as much as possible.  I didn't want to waste any fabric at all trying to cut them to a uniform size.  Although I always use up my scraps on the backing, I haven't done an improv pieced backing in awhile.  I really love the way this one turned out.

I stippled this (of course-it's my favorite) with the tightest quilting I have ever done.  I'm not a lover of super-dense quilting, so you'll probably never see matchstick quilting or micro-stippling on my quilts.  The spaces between my quilting lines on this one are 1/2 to 3/4 inch apart, and as much as I like the result, it's probably the smallest I'll ever go for a couple of reasons.

First and foremost, I like the drape of quilts that have quilting that is a little bit wider.  For minis and wall hangings, or quilts for display only, stiffer quilting is really stunning (and I can totally appreciate the artistry and skill involved in creating such intricate motifs), but for sheer snuggle-factor, I like the softness that wider quilting gives.  My second reason is purely selfish.  When I get into the rhythm of stippling smooth curves, it is a very relaxing process (unless I'm quilting a huge quilt).  The tighter quilting definitely required movement that was much less natural for me, so quilting this one was not very relaxing.  As a result, even though I'm still really pleased with it, I don't think my curves are quite as fluid as usual.

I chose an orchid fabric for the binding that was actually intended for my Interference quilt, but it turned out to be too purple.  I think it creates a perfect frame for this one though!

Formal gardens are simply gorgeous, with their lovely pathways of stones and tiles meandering through perfectly shaped flower beds and topiaries.  The tile shape in this pattern, paired with the flowers created in the negative space, immediately made me think of a walk through a beautifully manicured formal garden; so I'm calling this one Stems and Stones.

  The pattern is already in the works, and it's easier than you might think!

My Kryptonite

No, your eyes do not deceive you.  This new quilt is filled with lots and lots of Amy Butler fabrics (plus a few Art Gallery, Dear Stella, and Anna Maria Horner prints for good measure); and yes, I am completely in love with it.

In case you don't remember, about 1.5 years ago, I had accumulated an AB stash containing 30 different prints, totaling almost 40 (gasp!) yards- you can see that whole glorious stash in the post HERE, and I couldn't help but make a little collage of some of the quilts I made with all of those delicious prints-

It took awhile, but I used every bit of those 40 yards.  Well, Amy Butler fabrics are my kryptonite.  I am powerless against their vibrant colors and bold prints, and so, as the opportunities presented themselves in the form of swaps, sales, and indulgences here and there, I have slowly but surely amassed a new (considerably smaller) hoard.  There are prints from Soul Blossoms, Lark, Love, Hapi, Lotus, and Cameo collections in this quilt, and they all play so well together, (and with the AMH and Art Gallery fabrics too).  I think that's one reason why I love her fabrics so much.  The beauty in putting them all together is that they don't match, but have unity in their color saturation and print scale.

So, back to the new quilt at hand- this pattern is one that I am SO excited about.  I sketch new designs all the time, and many of the patterns I sketch never make it out of my book.  As soon as I sketched a few blocks of this one though, I knew I had to make it, and I knew exactly which fabrics I needed to pull to show it off.

I am calling this pattern Stems and Stones, because it reminds me of a stroll through a formal garden with defined flower beds, surrounded by beautiful hardscape.  The design is a different take on an interlocking tile print, and I think the flowers created in the negative space interlocked with the tiles, gives the pattern a little extra dimension.  I absolutely cannot wait to finish it!

Speaking of patterns, I am also thrilled to let you know that my Interference pattern is all finished, and is now available in my Craftsy and Etsy shops.  This pattern is simple, but all together, the blocks have such great movement.  It's perfect for a beginner, or even for an experienced quilter looking for some stress-free sewing.  Check it out!

Themed But Not Themed, and NTT

I'm guilty of a blogging no-no this week.  That is, I finished this entire little baby quilt without taking a single process photo, or even mentioning it in a post at all.  I didn't mean for it to happen that way; it's just that after finishing my huge Interference quilt, I was ready to work on something small, and I jumped right into this one.  It went together so quickly, I didn't even think about the fact that I had not shared it until I was already halfway through the quilting.  Oops!

My aunt is hosting a shower for a friend's daughter, and the nursery is decorated with a nautical theme.  My aunt asked for a quilt that had the soothing colors of the sea, with a few nautical fabrics thrown in; but she did not want a quilt that was overly themed- which was totally fine with me.  I'm just not a theme-quilt person (with a few exceptions).  I prefer to make baby quilts that will grow with the child and be useful for many years, rather than quilts that are so babyish and kitschy that they may not get used after a year or two.

The only overtly nautical fabric in the quilt is the little whale print.  The whales really are adorable, and add the perfect touch of whimsy.  There is also a tiny, very soft blue and gray print that looks a little like waves (top middle-ish), one of the navy prints gives the impression of a chain or a fishing net (on the right side of the backing), and a darker tonal blue that looks like bubbles (top left corner).  Even the two chevron fabrics look like a choppy sea.  

I chose a very modern pattern to give a little bit of balance to the cutesy.  I made quarter log cabin blocks, and varied the width of the strips, so the asymmetry would add a lot of cool movement.

Aside from the whale print, I would use any one of these fabrics in a non-themed quilt (and I have used several of them in the past).  So, even though I didn't fill the quilt with lots of novelty fabrics, I was intentional in choosing fabrics that were not only the right colors, but would add to the overall feel I was trying to achieve, and together, I think they really get the job done.

I know that some quilters love using novelty fabrics, and I have definitely seen some super adorable quilts made with them.  A themed quilt that is a bit more subtle fits my personal style a little better though, and I'm so pleased with the way it turned out.

I'm not going to make the same mistake twice, so before we party, here's a peek at the bundle that I'm about to cut into.  These fabrics are so delectable, and I am SO excited about the quilt I'm making next!

 Okay then, let's check out the highlights from last week's party, and boy, there were lots of beauties shared!  Like this sweet Star Cakes quilt from That Crafty Cara-

This bright bear paw quilt from Empress Charlotte looks awesome against that dark background!

and this On the Bright Side quilt is from Made by Chrissie D, and it is so much fun!

I've noticed that there have been several new friends sharing at NTT lately, and I am so thrilled to welcome you to the party!

1.  You can link finished projects or WIP's , but just keep it about quilting and sewing!

2. Link to your specific post (not to your home page!) to make it easier for others.

3. Please remember to spread the word and post my button or a text link.  

4. Spread the comment love far and wide!

5. Following me is not a requirement to link, but is so very appreciated!

*If you're new to the party, here's a helpful tip for linking up- select "Auto Crop"  when selecting your thumbnail photo.  For some reason, trying to crop your own image results in the dreaded "white question mark box," and we definitely want to see your awesome work!  :)