Rock Candy Top and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends.  This week, my sewing has definitely taken a bit of a back seat.  We're gearing up to go on vacation and that means lots of extra laundry and housework to take care of before we go.  My wild thing also got his learner's permit this week (which is both scary and exciting), and we've been doing plenty of driving practice.  With all of that going on, I feel like I've been working in slow motion, even though I have managed to get my latest quilt top put together.

I've decided to name this one Rock Candy, and I could stare at these colors and prints all day long (if I had the time, that is).  Though I have made many quilts using Amy Butler's fabrics, it has been awhile since I used them last, and there is no doubt- I still love them just as much.

I have the backing for this quilt all made and I've even basted it, but that's as far as I'll get before we leave for vacation.  That's okay though, she'll be waiting for me when I get back!

Okay friends, check out some of my favorite links from last week!  Maggie at Making A Lather shared her progress on this fantastic string quilt-

chrisknitssews linked up this kaleidoscope beauty!

Sew Preeti Quilts showed several of her quilts at a quilt show, including her Fire Pit quilt made from my book, Stash Statement!

And I LOVE this modern, graphic quilt by Kris at Sew Sunshine.  It's so neat!

Before we party, remember that NTT will be on vacation next week, 6/27, but the party will return the following week on 7/3.  So, you'll just get to link up double the projects then.  Let's 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!  :)

Farewell Amy and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, y'all!  Earlier this year, the quilting community learned that Amy Butler would no longer be designing fabric, and my just heart sank at the news.  If you've been a long time reader, you know that I love the bright, saturated colors and big, opulent prints in her fabrics and have made many quilts using them.  I've been quilting for close to 20 years, but the first quilt I made that I consider to be modern used the Soul Blossoms collection (about six months before I started my blog).  If you know another quilter that loves Amy's fabrics as much as I do, you should send her my way because I'm certain we should be friends.

So, when Free Spirit released a Farewell Amy Butler bundle, I snapped it up without hesitation.  And now that my scrap jars are completely empty, I have loved cutting into them (and adding a few others) for this brand new pattern.  Clearly, I am not one to hoard my precious fabrics.  They energize my creativity and I love them in a quilt much more than I could ever appreciate them on a shelf.  What about you?  Are you a precious fabric hoarder, or do you love to cut and use them up?  What's your special designer/collection?

Last weekend was birthday weekend for my son and me, so I've been working a little less hurriedly on this quilt, but even so, the top is almost done.  The blocks are all finished and I just have to put them together and add the sashing.

Before we get to the party, check out some of my favorite projects from last week, and since I don't have any really pretty outdoor photos of my own project to share yet, I'm including extra eye-candy.  Something Rosemade shared this gorgeous finish-

This finished Trinket quilt is by Lori at Crossquilt.  I had the pleasure of seeing this one in person at our guild meeting Sunday!

I love this one by Michelle at From Bolt to Beauty-

Rebecca Grace at Cheeky Cognoscenti linked up this beautiful finish.  So lovely!

This striking quilt is by Nancy at Grace and Peace Quilting-

Celine at Espritpatch shared this amazing scrappy rainbow quilt.  You know I'm a sucker for a rainbow!

And finally, I looooove this soothing mini by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal.  It makes me want to drop everything and head to the beach!

Wow!  I think I could have easily added several more, but I know you're ready to party.  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!  :)

Gossip Queen Texture and NTT

Happy Needle and Thread Thursday, friends!  I am so excited to share my finished Gossip Queen quilt today, and I am completely smitten with it.  You can read more about the origin of the fun name HERE.

Y'all, it's hard to tell in the photos, but this quilt has texture for daaaays.  I used six different 50 wt. Aurifil threads, blending the thread colors through the quilt.  It is quilted with a dense spiral design with four side swoops as I did on some of my color gradient minis (check out my yellow mini to get a really good look at the overall design on this quilt).  Getting the spiral centered and balanced on the quilt took some planning, but I love how it turned out.

On the back of the quilt, I used my leftover scraps in a mixed-color strip, along with a rich, berry purple tonal main fabric.  You can almost make out the distinct quilting lines in the photo of the backing.  

The whole goal of the photo shoot for this quilt was to show off the color and texture.  Getting the vibrant colors to show well was easy, but really capturing the texture was a little more difficult.  The improv piecing is so busy that although the texture shows up well in person, in a photo it just blends right in.  (ps- that is not a pucker in my backing, just a weird wrinkle where the quilt was folded)

To really show the texture, I had to take a photo indoors.  Those quilting lines are about 1/4" to 1/2" apart throughout the entire quilt.  Since I quilted this one with free-motion, the spacing and curve of the lines is organic, but I think the lack of perfect regularity really adds to the movement and charm of the quilt.

I set aside enough of my yellow scrap strips for a scrappy binding, and it blends right into the quilt without boxing the colors in.  I love that it just disappears!

If you're looking closely, you'll see that this binding is actually finished by hand (gasp!).  Unheard of for me, I know, but I love this quilt so much that I think I might enter it into shows, and I thought it deserved to be as perfect as possible. 

I really do hate hand sewing, so it's a good thing that I have a quilty BFF that doesn't mind it.  Barter is a beautiful thing, y'all.  Since I made the Louisiana and Tennessee home pillows, my friend has been wanting a Texas Home pillow, and she and I agreed to a little deal.  I made a Texas pillow for her in exchange for beautifully hand finishing the binding on my Gossip Queen quilt.  Win, win all around!

This color blending technique is SO much fun, and much easier than you might think.  It takes a little patience and planning, but the result is well worth it.

Since this technique uses the method from my book with just a little different execution, I've decided to add Using Scraps to Explore Color and Texture as a full-day class offering next year, in addition to the other classes from my book Stash Statement.  I've just started booking for 2020, so if your guild is looking for a fun, unique workshop, be sure to contact me soon for more info and reserve a date on my calendar!

Okie dokie!  Before we get our party on, let's check out some highlights from last week, shall we?  Look at this gorgeous plus quilt by Alison at Little Bunny Quilts.  Be sure you go check out all of the yummy quilting on this one.

I am all about scrappy texture (obviously), so I think this beauty by Katie Mae Quilts is just fantastic!

The transparency effect is so cool in this quilt by Anja Quilts-

And finally, this scrappy quilt by Sarah Goer Quilts is hot, hot, HOT!

Alright friends.  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!  :)