Nested Curves: Michael Miller MQG Challenge

   Name: Nested Curves (Ode to the N.F.B.)

Design: My own, nested Drunkard's Path on point

Size: 41" by 41"

Fabric: Michael Miller Petal Pinwheels, Kona white and Kona Medium Grey

Quilted: by me with Aurifil 50 wt in white diagonally on the corners and following the blocks in the centre

I had an idea.  I really wanted to do something with curves.  Probably something with the Drunkard's Path block but I wanted something a little different.  I looked on Pinterest and all over the place at Drunkard's Path variations but I was not seeing what I was thinking.  Then on Saturday morning, Husband was looking at National Film Board of Canada films after downloading the NFB app on his iPad.  Somehow we started looking at the NFB film called Quilts, which I have watched before but... There it was!  Just what I was thinking.  I took my iPad down to the sewing room and played the film again until I could freeze the film right at the point where the Drunkard's Patch block starts dancing away into all sorts of animated variations.  And then I got busy with the MQG Petal Pinwheels.  These are 6.5" Drunkard's Path blocks put together on point (nested together) and then framed up in some Kona medium grey and setting triangles of Kona white.

I didn't use pins.  I used Leanne's method of curves without pins.  Genius!  I am so pleased with how this came together.

The quilting was fun.  I started with outlining the blocks in the centre on either side.  Then I stitched in the ditch around the framing to add definition and then I did the diagonal quilting in the corners.  Then I thought I should try outlining the curves so I did that too.  I had a lot of ends to bury but the quilting in Aurifil 50 wt in white just makes everything pop!  What do you think?  Baby quilt, wall hanging, play mat.  Whatever it is, it made me feel very happy!  I am quite tickled with the curves.  It is was a breeze, people, a breeze!

Random Thrifting Adventures... Looking for Salty

The other day I stopped at a thrift store on my way home from school to deliver a vast quantity of leftover lost and found from the school lost and found.  Kids.  Good grief.  How do they loose their pants?  Anyway... since I was there, I thought why not have a look?  Oh My Goodness!  Am I ever glad I did because I found these three beauties.  Sugar, flour and pepper Jadeite shakers.  Eep!  Squeal!  Now I just need to find the salt!  It reminds of a series of  tv ads from a bit ago where the salt content of some food was reduced and the little animated pepper shaker was crying while looking for his buddy, Salty.  I put a link to one with the sad Salty character.  But I digress.

 And a quick scrounge in the fabric and notions... zippers at 25 cents a pop and some really lovely vintage cotton.  It is a lovely weave and weight.  Happiness in a thrift store.  Linking up with Cindy for Random Thursday...

Rabbits Oh My... a finish

   Name: Rabbits Oh My!

Design: Plus quilt, 4" squares

Size: 35" by 44"

Fabric: Critter Patch by Alysa Thomas for Clothworks, and stash fabrics including Pearl Bracelets by Lizzy House

Quilted: by me with Aurifil 50 wt in grey, #2600, diagonally in each direction

I finished this baby quilt on the weekend.  The fabric is just so lovely and with such a lovely hand to it.  It is an organic cotton with a fabulous sheen to it.  I paired it with some stash fabrics including a Pearl Bracelets print and then on the back I used a fat quarter which I think is also from the same collection along with a great basic white on grey dot.  The binding is a grey with orange stripe from the Critter Patch line but I was short just a wee bit so added in a bit of the bunnies in orange to get enough binding.  I think it looks just perfect with the touch of the bunnies on the binding.  

I had this idea that the quilt could be made quite reversible if I used the fat quarter of the woodland animals as the central panel and then framed it out with prints that were leftovers.  But the dilemma then was how to quilt it so it looked like it was meant to be on either side.  I actually started quilting straight lines.  Did one line and then unpicked it because I was not happy about where the lines were falling on the back. And this is despite very careful pinning and matching of back to front.  I then thought that diagonal lines would work and lo and behold, happy dance... it did.  I used my hera marker to mark the lines.  I actually love the quilting in the most perfect #2600 grey 50 wt Aurifil thread.  Perfect.  Just perfect.  

I made a luggage tag... just a small thing

I made a luggage tag.  Oh my goodness.  I am most delighted with it.  It is far from perfect and I would totally tweak the design should I made another one but there it is!  I used this tutorial...  and a few scraps.   It is all in keeping with getting ready for the Sisters, Oregon trip which is coming up in just a few weeks.  It is going to be a total blast!

Anyway... I could not find the clear vinyl I know I have somewhere so I cut a chunk of vinyl out of a zippered bag that some sheets had come in.  Up cycling at it's finest.


And Husband was out taking pictures early this morning... have a look.  Apple tree in black and white.  He just did the lawns yesterday so you  can see the circles left by the mower around the tree.  Looks rather artsy.  Have a super rest of your day.

Warning: Beautiful fabric alert

I ordered some lovelies from  Fabricspot.  Oh, yes I did.  I have to say that the Anna Maria Horner echinacea print had to be seen to be fully appreciated.  The colours are intense and vibrant.  So gorgeous.  I am going to have to pick up more of this line.  Then there is the low volume text print from the Littlest line called Heartfelt Snow.  And Denyse Schmidt's Chicopee paislye in lime and red.  I think I may have scooped the last of the Chicopee in lime.  Sorry.  I really like it so I don't feel too guilty.

And what about the glasses?  So darn funky.  Fox and Houndstooth glasses and 2 fat quarters of Junk Drawer from Cosmo Cricket.  Classic.

There you have it... my picks from a recent little shopping trip online at Fabricspot.  Check it out.

Things I am making...

I grabbed a bunch of my sewing themed fabrics on the weekend and made your basic quilt as you go 3 binder cover.  This was a first.  I thought it would be a good thing to do.  I have been using this binder for all my quilt guild stuff.  I need to be organized because I am the incoming president of the guild.  Eep!  This is what I have learned when making a 3 ring binder cover.  I made it too small for this binder.  It is just a little too snug so I need to look around for a slightly smaller binder for this cover.  I like the way the binding works.  And another first, I actually machine stitched the binding.  I have n.e.v.e.r. machine stitched binding before.  I was thinking it would potentially be a complete disaster but it actually worked really well.  I don't know that I would machine stitch quilt binding but for something like this.  You betcha.

Then I started a little plus quilt just for fun.  I love making these.  I get such a kick out of the perfectly matched seams.  So there.  My work in progress Wednesday report on a Tuesday.  Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced.  And now I am off to a meeting!

Sunday Stash...

We had our Fraser Valley Modern Quilt Guild meeting last week and Jean opened up a pop up shop for all of us.  Oh my goodness, I went a little dotty.   Bike path, dots and pearl bracelets.

It rained all weekend which meant lots of sewing and of course, Father's Day celebrating.  If it keeps up, I may have to quilt an ark!

A finish... Pinkness and Mint

  Name: Pinkness and Mint

Design: Mine, Wonky Stars, 8.5" blocks

Size: 40" by 48"

Fabric: Warp and Weft assorted pink fat quarters with a touch of mint

Quilted: by me with Aurifil 50 wt in white on either side of each blocks

I finished this one on the weekend.  I used a lovely bundle of fat quarters from Warp and Weft and so have another finished project for the Warp and Weft Sewing Society.  I decided to make the star blocks smaller than I usually do and have the stars be the negative space, allowing the prints to really be the focus.  It worked out just the way I hoped.  It seemed like a whole bunch of pink so I added just a touch of mint with a few other fat quarters also from Warp and Weft.  The stripe from the Petite Street line brought everything together.  Who would have thought? I quilted on either side of the blocks in Aurifil 50 wt in white and used a ribbon stripe print from my stash for the binding.  So there you have it.  A finish.  Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday.

Work in Progress Wednesday...

This just looked so pretty on the ironing board... final pressing before putting it altogether.  I managed to find some fabric that worked for the backing that I think I have had for about 20 years.  It feels good to use something that has been lingering for that long.  

After quilting, I was pinning the binding and I noticed that even the pins I was using coordinated very nicely with the quilt.  And that was a very happy quilting moment. Before you know it, this will be a finished Warp and Weft Sewing Society project!  Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for Work in Progress Wednesday.

Pillowcase!

I made this yesterday.  I used the tutorial from Lovely Little Handmades.  It worked so well!  Did I mention that I am going on a bus full of quilters to the Sisters Quilt Show in July?  Our group has a few challenges and this was one of them.  A pillowcase for the trip.

I used some Happy Mochi Yum Yum, some vintage gingham and some crocheted lace that I think I have had for about 20 years or so. I have a lot of lace and it was nice to use some of it!

Friday Fabric and stuff

 Husband made me these for mother's day.  I have to admit that I was a bit of a nag about it.  But a nice nag.  I had some reject yard and metre sticks hanging about and I showed him a picture and before you knew it, these lovelies showed up on my sewing table. Seriously awesome.

Then I became somewhat obsessed with Yuwa macaron fabric. And then some other fabrics just happened end up in my shopping cart.  Yum.  Happy weekend!

Sneak Peak, a work in progress and a poppy!

I started a new Warp and Weft Sewing Society project... a baby quilt with a stack of fat quarters.  A whole lot of pinkness.  I cut 3" squares and got busy making a whole pile of wonky stars with Kona white as the stars.  The small 8" star block are just so darn cute.  I think it will be just lovely when finished.

And in the spirit of pink, here is a lovely pink poppy in the garden the other day.  Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for Work in Progress Wednesday!  

I am a fabric enabler... fair warning!

1.  I just so happened to be in touch with someone through our quilt guild who wanted to get rid of some Katie Jump Rope... eeek!  So I helped her with that.  Couldn't let her be stuck with these, could I?

2.  At our quilting coffee meet up, I just happened to mention that I had added to my stock of Timeless Treasures black and white striped binding fabric and before anyone could say, "Bob's your uncle."  A group order was being placed for that very thing.

3.  And just in case you need to fix your fabric stash, Fabric Spot has a surprise sale going on from now until midnight Friday, June 6 EST.  20% off the fabric goodness excluding sale items, clearance, pre-cuts and gift cards.  1/2 yard minimums.  Have some fun people!

On the Design Wall...

May was my month for That Stash Bee.  I asked for St. Louis 16 Patch blocks in happy colours with low volume prints.  The blocks have been arriving over the past few weeks and just like that it looks like a quilt.  So wonderful!  These blocks whip up so fast.  Have a look at the tutorial over at Sew with Sass.