Blue Challenge

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends.  I know I've mentioned that my first goal of 2019 is to empty my scrap jars.  It will take awhile, but I'm well on my way.  My Woodwork quilt completely cleared out my grays and greens, and now it's time to move onto other colors.  This week, I pulled out some blues for a specific purpose.  A local arts group is hosting a specially curated quilt show this spring called BLUE.  The show guidelines simply state that the piece should measure exactly 24" x 24", have three stitched layers, and showcase the color blue.  You knew I had to use my scraps and improv for this, right?  Of course I did.  It's kind of my thing.

Though I had the option of adding an accent color, I decided against it.  I played with color gradient to create depth in the center of the piece, which really draws the eye in.  I think that adding another color would have taken away from the effect.  I'm calling this one Abyss, which fits it well, I think.  The spiral quilting is fun, and I swooped each end of the spiral outward to add a little extra swirly texture.

I really didn't want to frame this quilt too much with the binding, so it is pieced with light blue and white solids to carry the improv look all the way to the edge.  It really just disappears, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

It's difficult to see in the photo (though a little easier on the back side), but I actually used three different shades of Aurifil 50 wt. thread, #2783 (Medium Delft Blue), #2815 (Teal), and #2710 (Light Robin's Egg) to quilt it, going from the center of the quilt outward, from darkest to lightest thread color.

The deadline for the show isn't until April 1st, but I figured that I should go ahead and get this done before I use my blues in a bigger project.  And, it's always nice to be ahead of the curve.

So many amazing projects were shared at last week's NTT.  Check out these amazing rubies by LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color.  I love these and I can't wait to see what they become.

Melanie at A Bit of Scrap Stuff showed off this super adorable quilt.  I love those sweet woodland prints!

And I love the simplicity of this quilt by Leanne at Devoted Quilter.

Y'all, it gets more and more difficult to choose the highlights every week.  Y'all just rock!  So, let's go ahead and get our party on.

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!  :)

Woodwork

Well friends, the sun finally came out and though the temps were frigid (for Tennessee anyway), I managed to get some photos of my latest quilt finish.

I love everything about this quilt.  The gray and green scraps play so nicely together, and the simple pattern allows them to really shine without the quilt becoming too busy.  Even though the greens are more prominent in the photos, in person, this quilt has an equal amount of gray that really soften it.  The solid strips are Kona Bone, and the creamy color keeps the quilt feeling more natural than a stark white.

I gave a sneak peek of the wood grain quilting at last week's NTT, and I am so excited to really show it off today.  This is only the second time I've done wood grain quilting, and I am so pleased with the way it turned out.  I love that the wood grain follows the vertical design of the pattern, and the soft wavy lines of the motif move so gracefully down the quilt.  Best of all, it adds such fantastic texture.  I quilted it with Aurifil 40 wt. #2311 (Muslin).  I usually use 50 wt. for quilting, but the slightly thicker thread shows up really well.

Even after finishing the top, I had plenty of green and gray scraps left, so I decided to go for the gusto and sew the rest of them up for the backing.  I am happy to report that my green and gray jars are now completely empty.  Woohoo!

I widened out the improv strip on the back with a gray near-solid, and I love the way the scraps (and quilting!) really pop against it.  Before I sewed up all of my greens, I pulled out just enough strips for a scrappy binding.

With shades of green and gray along with the wood grain quilting, this quilt feels a little outdoorsy, so I've decided to call it Woodwork.

If you've vowed to empty your own scrap jars this year, structured improvisation is an easy and fun way to do it!  Afraid of improv?  My book, Stash Statement, gives three different methods for sewing your scraps together, along with twelve full quilt patterns that take the guesswork out for you.  Once you learn the technique, you can apply it to any quilt pattern.  It's easy peasy, and so versatile!

You can get a signed copy in my Etsy shop HERE, or find it on Amazon, Connecting Threads, or ask about it at your local quilt shop.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Happy NTT, friends!  I've finished up my latest quilt, but I love it so much that I can't bear to share it with icky indoor photos.  This quilt deserves some sunshine, and luckily it looks like the weather for the next few days will oblige.  So for now, you just get a little sneak peek!

Why yes, that IS wood grain quilting!  And yes, I absolutely love it.  Be on the lookout for the full reveal very soon.

Before we get to last week's highlights, I owe you two winners from my January sponsor post.  The winner of the cute wool appliqué mug rug kit from Shabby Fabrics is Susan, comment number 31.  The winner of the cute heron scissors from Fort Worth Fabric Studio is Nikki, comment number 33.  Congrats you two.  I'll be emailing you soon so you can get your prizes.

                                    

Last week, y'all partied while I was teaching in Houston, and I loved looking through all of the eye-candy while sitting in the airport.  By the way, I posted a few photos from my class on Instagram and Facebook, so be sure to check them out.  I'm My Quilt Infatuation on both platforms.

Speaking of teaching, I only have ONE open month in 2018, and that's April!  So, if your guild is looking for a fun, unique workshop where you can bust through some serious scraps, contact me ASAP to reserve your spot!

At last week's party, Jayne at Twiggy and Opal shared this fun, scrappy Drunkard's Path scrapbuster.  

Cynthia at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework linked up this rainbow postage stamp beauty.  What a stunner!

Karen at Karen's Quilting shared her finished Good Fortune Quilt top.  I love how the warm and cool colors play in this quilt-

And Alison at Little Bunny Quilts showed off this Blocked Rainbow quilt.  Those colors just sing against that black background!

Okay, y'all!  Time to show me what you've got this week.  Let's link up!

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!  :)

Simplicity With Flair

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  I'm happy to report that after sewing up a mountain of green and gray scraps, I've turned them into this finished quilt top.

One of the things I love best about using the structured improv methods from my book Stash Statement is that even the simplest patterns are given a little extra pop when they're made with lots of scrappy goodness.  My book contains twelve original quilt patterns, but when I wrote it, I definitely wanted to teach a technique that could be applied beyond those twelve.  As far as patterns go, this strip quilt couldn't be any more basic, but when made with scraps, looking at it is like a little treasure hunt.

If stash-busting is one of your resolutions, my book is a great place to start!  Check it out HERE!

I used Kona Bone in the background, and the creamy white keeps the palette very soft and natural, even though some of the greens are very vibrant.  I'm traveling to teach in Houston this week (in fact, as you read this, I'm already there), but when I get back, finishing this one is first on the agenda.

Last week's party was so awesome!  I can't help but share this Classic Meets Modern quilt by Lori at Crossquilt.    It is made with Allison Glass modern batiks and it is just stunning!!!!  She improv pieced the backing, and you definitely need to head to her post to check it out.  

Something Rosemade also linked up her Classic Meets Modern quilt.  It is just amazing how different fabrics give the quilt an entirely different look.  

If you're a regular reader, you know that the CMM quilt along was a block of the month sampler that I hosted last year.  You can find the pattern HERE, and you can see the other finishes HERE (including my second one).

This beauty is by Liz at Savor Every Stitch-

I love the boldness of this minimal quarter log cabin quilt by Indigo Threads-

This modern fans quilt is by Shelley at The Carpenter's Daughter Who Quilts-

And finally, this lovely modern medallion quilt is by Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty-

Okie dokie, friends!  Let's get our party started!

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!  :)

Taming the Beast

Every summer, I usually make it my mission to empty my scrap jars.  Although I did complete a few scrappy projects in the summer of 2018, for a few different reasons, I didn't do the big clear-out as usual.  I've just been sewing with reckless abandon; largely ignoring the fact that the lids on most of my jars are too full to close completely.  Well, 'tis the season to start fresh, so before I make another quilt, the scrap beast must be tamed.

I decided to pull out all of my greens and grays, along with just a little bit of metallic gold sparkle, and sew them together using the improv piecing methods from my book, Stash Statement.  I just need to make one more panel, and then I have a fun plan to cut them up and turn them into something really special.  The cloudy, inside photo isn't showing the color very well, but these greens are so fresh and vibrant, and the gray gives them a little extra modern edge.

It feels so great to finally begin using up the mountain of scraps in my jars.  I can't wait to show you what they'll become!

Last week's party was fantastic!  Clearly, we're all off to a running start in 2019.  This pretty quilt is by Shannon at The Flemings Nine-

Prairie Charm Quilts linked up this cute and cheery triangle quilt, and in her post she shows several other quilt beauties-

And Vasudha at Storied Quilts shared this stunning Spiral Nova quilt.  In her post, you can see the lineup of her best quilts of 2018-

Okay, ya'll!  Let's make the second party of 2019 as great as the first.  Let's 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!  :)

Hello, 2019!

Happy New Year to you!  I hope you all had a fantastic holiday.  Mine was great, and very busy.  My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on December 18th, and decided to take a little trip before Christmas.  Altogether, our anniversary getaway, plus two family Christmas celebrations spanned twelve days.  During that time, we traveled through seven different states, and covered 2,100 miles!  As wonderful as it was, there's no place like home, and after being away for that long it feels soooo good to sleep in your own bed.

Since getting back a few days ago, I've just been catching my breath a little bit while getting my Christmas decorations put away and watching plenty of football.  I've really missed my sewing machine, and now that everything is back to normal (and my neck is feeling better, hooray!), I can start on a new project.  So, no project photos from me today, but plenty of eye candy from last week's party!

Jayne at Twiggy and Opal shared this amazing modern quilt-

Anja Quilts shared this cute baby quilt finish-

And this fun quilt is by Jen's Crafts and Quilts Scrapbook-

I hope you've had a little more sewing time than I have lately.  It's time to link up your latest projects!

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!  :)