t-shirt quilt {finish}

Hooray! It's done and off to it's new owner..
Here are a few pictures to celebrate this finish.

t-shirt quilt

the layout

finished top

college of choice added to backing

The past few weeks I have been working on a t-shirt quilt for a soon to be graduating senior.  I love graduation quilts.  They are filled with such sweet memories of the past and such hope for the future. This quilt is working it's way towards the long-arm machine.  It's battling for my time with the stomach bug I have been trying ever so hard to discard. Sigh.  I had hoped to have it finished today,  so that binding could commence this weekend, but sadly no.  But soon.  I hope.

Sax-a-quilt

Spring Has Sprung! Flowers are blooming, trees have leaves, the birds and the bees are back. And while we are on the topic of Birds and Bees, I'll just say that it seems like babies are being born faster than I can make quilts for them.  The kids have at least 4 teachers who are having babies in the next 3 weeks.  One of those special babies happens to be arriving for Jack's Saxophone teacher and his wife.
I wanted to make him a special quilt because he has really done a wonderful job instructing Jack this year.  However, I was running out of ideas until I ran across this quilt on Pintrist, by Stormy-Day.  I have always had a special fondness for Elephants.  Initially I believe that is why I pinned this quilt.  Well, that and the awesome colors, beautiful placement and the awesome quilting.  It all just screamed at me.

Elephant Quilt by Dana at Stormy-Day

I was inspired to do a similar version, but out of a saxophone.  I found a simplistic version of a saxophone in clip art.  My son Jack, ever the purist, helped me discern what I absolutely needed to include on the quilt to make it look "real".  I took some measurements of the clip art, multiplied all of my measurements by 3 and sketched out an enlarged version of the sax on a larger piece of paper.

If you check out Dana at Stormy-Day talks about how she developed her Elephant quilt.

I had purchased a few selected solids and a purple and polka-dot pattern for the backing at Jo-Anns, I pulled a few scraps from my stash to come up with a slightly more infant color scheme.  I layer the strips out in the shape of my saxophone and sewed them together in a 'rainbow-ish' color pattern.  After I had a very rough version of the saxophone sewn together I traced the inverted drawing on to the back of some Heat and bond. I fused the heat and bond to the back of the saxophone strips and then cut out my Saxophone shape.  following manufacturers directions I fused the Saxophone strips to the white backing.  Using a wide zig-zag stitch I machine appliquéd the saxophone to the white background.   I cut out 3 different sized circles and hand stitched them to the saxophone to look like keys.

Please excuse the wrinkly mess.

I trimmed the background to 36" X44". I cut out 42 assorted 4"x4" squares and bordered the white backing with these.

My original plan was to use the quilting as a tool to emulate "music" coming out of the Saxophone.  I cut out 3 heart sizes and used them as templates to make it look as though hearts not notes were streaming out of the horn.  However in my rush to quilt this beauty I got a little over zealous and quilted the hearts a bit too densely.  You can barely see them.  Sad, I know.  

With the exception of the quilting I really LOVE how this quilt turned out.  I think I may have to make another in Black and White.  I think that the absence of color would be striking. Now this one is all wrapped up and ready for her new home.

American as Apple Pie Quilt top

This quilt has been bouncing around in my head for at least a year.  It changed and morphed itself into this design quite by accident.

Initially, I had more of a 'pie' look in mind for the quilt.  A pie quilt, one with blocks on point, lattice sashing, prairie points around the boarder and a scalloped edge.

 That idea changed around as I started laying the blocks out on my design floor.  The more I mixed them around the more I liked this layout.  And so this quilt was born.

Hopefully a pattern will follow shortly...

To be Continued.

Table Runner with Free-Motion Feathers

I had the privilege to quilt this table runner for My Mom.  She made this beautiful table runner out of several outdoor fabric remnants.  To be honest I wasn't sure how well my long-arm would quilt through the thicker, heavier fabrics.  It did great!  Not one problem.

I started taking the Craftsy class, Free Motion Quilting With Feathers by Angela Walters in January.  I decided to use this quilt to help me practice.  Since the table runner was broken down into small block sections, I used each section to practice my feathers.

Initially, I was really critical of my feathers.  They are uneven, the petals of the feather are misshapen, I didn't fill in the space well enough.   Whatever.  I had to remember that I was learning.  Duh.  Sounds easy enough when you are encouraging someone else, yet when you have to encourage yourself, it can be utterly impossible.   This is the third Craftsy class I have taken of Angela Walters' and the one thing I absolutely LOVE about her classes is how relaxed she is about quilting.  One of my favorite quotes, the thing she says over and over in all of her classes is "There is no such thing as perfection in free motion quilting."  How Great is that!  Not only is she encouraging but she is willing to say, Hey! Mistakes are okay and part of the process.   Awesome.

It wasn't until I was finished quilting and I was able to look at the quilt from the back that I was able to see my progress.  I was improving, slowly, but improving.  The different size blocks allowed me to play with different lengths of feathers, echoing my feathers and on occasion adding a swirl here and there.  It turned out to be the perfect piece for free motion feathers.  Thanks Mom!

A finish -- The Hexie-Flower Quilt

Well, it's done.  (and even before the birth of my new niece)  Starting a baby quilt a week before the baby's due date is a bit like shopping for Christmas on Christmas Eve.  Thankfully babies pretty much come when they want and sometimes are quite late.  It did come down to the midnight hour but this baby is done.  

This quilt was made with pre-cut Moda Honeycombs in Scrumptious color way by Bonnie and Camille.  I love the bright colors, shapes and flowers.  I scattered six of my own Hexie-flowers, hand pieced in Kona Solids throughout the quilt top.  Each Hexie-flower is grouped with patterns and prints that were of the same color.  I couldn't help but quilt this cutie in an all over flower pattern adding a free form daisy in each of the Hexie-flowers.  So, stinking cute!

I wanted the back to be just as bright and colorful as the front so I added multiple prints from the same line. Fortunately Southern Fabric, has scrap bags that are made up from scraps all from the same fabric line. 

I will ship her off today with some goodies for the big brother to-be.  Hopefully for my Sister-in-law, the quilt will arrive after the baby. :)

Hexie-Flowers Quilt

Faithful readers may remember back last summer when I started (obsessively) piecing hexies together.  You can read about it here. At the time I wash't quite sure where I was headed with the project.  Thoughts and possibilities  of what to make with the hexies flew in and out of my mind on a daily basis.  My pintrest board is full to bursting with Hexie ideas.  Somehow none of the ideas that flitted through my mind stuck.  Until now.

I purchased a Moda Honey Comb pack from Craftsy in Scrumptious by Bonnie and Camille. And Scrumptious it is!  All the beautiful pastel florals and prints.  It all called to me to be made into a beautiful baby quilt for my soon to be niece.

I drew up a couple of preliminary sketched prior to starting, so I had an idea of where I was going with it.  Let me say it is turning out so much better than I had envisioned.  Love it when that happens.

I envisioned all of the hexies surrounded by a white back ground with my hand pieced hexie flowers dispersed randomly throughout.  Slowly over the course of the past two weeks, amid my other mommy jobs I have been piecing it together.  I cut out white hexagons 2 inches larger than the Honey comb templet.  I then hand appliquéd the 6 hexie-flowers I planned on using for the quilt.  I bordered each Honey comb with 1 inch strip of the same white fabric.  Then slowly pinned and sewed each set in seam together.  Time consuming yes.  But totally worth it!

I am now down to deciding on the last 2 borders, and then sewing the back together.  I cannot wait to get this onto my Long-arm.  Flower designs here I come!

pleasantly surprised

Yesterday proved to be a very productive day.  Isn't it funny, how some days everything seems to fall into place and gets done and others, umm well it doesn't.

I was able to quilt out this adorable baby quilt for a client.  The green print is the soft flannel and has the cutest little monkeys all over it!  At first when I saw this quilt I focused on the octagons which looked a little like beach balls to me.  (subliminally missing summer, perhaps?)

After I pulled it off the machine I was stunned at what I saw.  A completely different pattern. I love it when I get surprised like that!  My client comes to pick it up tomorrow.  Hope she is as pleasantly surprised as I am.

Off to quilt up some more goodness!

Happy Hexagons

I have been a wee bit preoccupied with hexagons lately.  I am not sure what started this infatuation.  This past weekend I started yet another hexagon project.

  It's not really a project, per se, since I don't really have a direction.  I am just making these tiny little flowers.  No plan, no path,  no pattern just sewing hexagons together.  Just making pretty little flowers and seeing where they lead me.

A New "sewing" Accessory

Today, I took a break from ironing interfacing onto the backs of t-shirts and whipped up this little pin cushion.  .

I have been spending an hour a day working on hand quilting my Medallion quilt.  I am determined to get it finished before the New Year

Every night (or most nights) I sit for an hour watch TV, drink a glass of wine and quilt.  (i know, i know the last two are dangerous when mixed.)  So far, it has been working out.  The problem I seem to run into the most is that I keep loosing my needle.  ("just slip it onto your quilt." you say.  "place it in the needle case you made." you say.  "stab it coldly into the arm of the couch." you say. )  Well, you see, I have tried all of those things and my needles either end up broken or lost. And well, only once embedded into my thigh. (no worries, the wine really helps numb the pain.) I also am unable to keep track of my scissors.  I am not even using the tiny little embroidery scissors.  I have my big honkin' fabric scissors down with the quilt.  I am quite sure they have developed the ability to teleport.

Enter the couch arm pin cushion and scissor holder. I followed this pattern over at Reily Blake Designs.  The tutorial was excellent.  I like the way this pattern works even with my couch's wooden arms.  It stays put and so does my needle.  Amazing.  (I know. Right?)  I must say it is a cute addition to my sewing accessories.  Now, I am all set for a glass of wine.

Slightly distracted

The distractions just keep coming.  I was up in my sewing room putting the finishing touches on the Buttercup Bags when I was struck with idea.  Minecraft.

Let me explain... My kidos were up in the sewing room on the computer playing Minecraft.  Have you heard of it?  If you haven't, I'll give you what I know.  It is an online computer game, although they can play it off line and on their tablets and ipods.  It keeps them busy for HOURS.  That's it.  That's what I know.  Sad really.

The game is set up in a 3D world where the players can build and create out of cubes.  There are people, if you call them that, called creepers, there are zombies, scarecrows and something called a 'Mooshroom?"  Ask a 13 y.o. they'll explain it.

The world of Minecraft is pixalated which makes turning it into a quilted item quite easily.  I know a few boys, and some girls who 'ooh and aah' over anything mindcraft.  So I dreamed up this block.

pick-ax block with top and bottom border

It's a pick-ax.  Exciting.
In the world of Minecraft you  use this handy dandy little tool to break through block, which in turn helps you build things.  Or something to that effect.

my sketches

I drew a tentative sketch on some paper and then transferred the design to graph paper. After that I cut up what seemed like 124 little 1.25 inch squares.  Tedious.  Why yes, it was.

1st half of journal cover.

I sewed them into rows and then into this beautiful block.  In hindsight I think I should have used more contrast between the pick ax block and the background.  C'est la Vie.

journal front cover

After I had the block sewn up I took it to my two youngest and asked, "Do you know what this is?"  Their reply was immediate.  "It's a pick-ax from Minecraft! That is so cool.  Can you make me one?"  Ah, those 5 little words that let mom know that for once you did it right.  Although they would never admit it outright.

journal back cover

I took the block and sewed it into a journal cover.  Sadly the block was a little bigger than the cover, but it works.