preppy the whale

Yay!  Another baby shower!  This one for a family that loves to fish.  

I know, I know, whales are mammals, not fish.   
This irresistible pattern is Preppy the Whale by Elizabeth Hartman.  

I used various solids from my stash and an aqua ombre fabric from  V&Co. for the background.  PSA:  If you are vacationing and forget your cutting mat, the back of a cutting board works great as one!

Not till the top was completely finished did a glaring mistake start shouting at me.  How did I miss that third whale in the middle column?  So...my first time undoing a block on a finished top.  

I quilted this with organic wavy lines, of course!  Aurifil #5006 from my prize box was a perfect match!

The back is a super thick and cozy flannel by Robert Kaufmann.  For this reason I used the thinnest Quilter's Dream Cotton (request loft) batting.  I didn't want the quilt to be too heavy to be dragged around by a little one.

Then came time for binding.  Originally I planned a wide satin binding.  I was going for lots of different textures in this quilt.  The width and the satin became such a struggle that I changed my mind.  My second attempt was the flannel from the back.  Remember how super think and cozy I said it was?  Not great for binding.  So my third and final choice was the ombre fabric from the front.  Just right!

Wrapped, "ribboned" and ready for gifting! 

 Thanks for stopping by.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts Let's Bee Social

alison glass mini swap

I'm playing catch up today.  I should have posted this in June...

I participated in the Alison Glass Mini Swap on Instagram.  My partner was from Australia and a mom of SEVEN children!  The moment I read my partner info I knew I wanted to make her a heptagon.

I found this beautiful bundle at Pink Castle Fabrics but couldn't find a pattern anywhere so I made my own.

I started slowly and learned quickly that when you are paper piecing every thing is backwards and upside down.  I intended for this to look scrappy so ultimately it didn't matter.

When the heptagon was complete I spent an evening removing all the paper.  I should have included my tweezers in this photo!

I appliqued it onto a solid.  This blue is from RJR and called Cove.  I love it!

I quilted in the ditch throughout the shape (never had to lift my needle) then around and around the seven sides.

Because I was sending this to Australia I needed to keep the extras fairly flat and light weight.  I cut some of the leftovers into 2 1/2 inch squares and arranged them in a color "spectrum". (We were on team Spectrum.)

Then I turned the squares into a  One Hour Basket.  This is a free pattern from @kelbysews who I know wishes she had a nickel for each download!

I made a label for the back of the mini and added a few small/flat extras and sent it on it's way.  It was warmly received and I've made a delightful new friend in Australia!

In return I received this beauty from @steffanikburton.

And these amazing extras.  #yayburtongirls!

Another successful swap!!!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and TGIFF.

medallion baby quilt

It has been a busy month and I finally have a finish to share with you.  

This is the Medallion Baby quilt from Angela Pingel's book A Quilter's Mixology.  

I ordered this book when it was first released over a year ago.  It is full of beautiful quilts that use the drunkard's path block in new and exciting ways.  Angela introduces each quilt quite creatively making it a fun read as well as informative.

Each of these fabrics are from the new Curiosities line by Jeni Baker.  How cute are those bunnies?  

I trace and cut my templates the old fashioned way! 

I kept the curvy theme going and quilted this with swirls all over.  There is not one perfect swirl in there but together they work!  I used Quilter's Dream Cotton select loft batting.  Perfect for summer.

The back is also from the Curiosities line with an extra row of bunnies for width. 

I used those sweet bunnies on the binding,too.  I cut them on the bias so they wouldn't look so lined up.  I'm really happy with that decision.

I'm not sure if there is an "official" way to use directional prints here but I decided not to worry about it.  I didn't want a "one way" quilt so I simply made each quadrant read the same way.  So the bottom left is right side up - no matter how you look at it.  It works for my brain!

Hope you are enjoying your summer.  Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday.

sweet and sour

A few weeks ago while scrolling through my blog feed I was stopped in my tracks by this Pickle Dish Variation quilt from Red Pepper Quilts.  Two days later Rita followed up with a tutorial for the two blocks that make up the pattern and I immediately pulled out my “triangle in a square” ruler and some paperboard to make a drunkard’s path template.

I’ve played around with curves before but never with enough success to make an entire quilt.  Rita’s instructions were to make an oversized block then trim it down.  Voilà!  A successful practice block!

Earlier this year I pre-ordered a complete bundle of Denyse Schmidt’s new Franklin collection.  With 24 different prints in 2 color ways I figured I would have enough variation to use this line for a Pickle Dish Variation quilt of my own.  My highly coveted Denyse Schmidt stash is growing and since my practice block turned out well I decided this quilt would be worthy of cutting into the bundle.

My bundle was fat quarters and I had plenty to make all the curved blocks from the warm colors and the spiked blocks with the cool colors.  I divided each set of 12 into 4 lights, 4 mediums, and 4 darks.  Some were borderline but I thought I had enough contrast to create the light/dark variance that Rita described.  I was wrong.

Here is my finished top.  What do you think?  Sweet or sour?

Unfortunately, there was not enough contrast for the pattern to emerge.  Also, I didn’t pay enough (or any) attention to the scale of the different prints. 

On one hand I’m disappointed.  This was a lot of cutting, piecing and trimming and I lost the pattern in the fabric - sour.  On the other hand, this fabric is beautiful and even more so all cut and pieced together - sweet.

This was an excellent lesson for me in color, pattern and scale.  Learning from our mistakes is always a good thing.

Special thanks to Rita Hodge for inspiration and instruction.

Linking this Friday finish up with Crazy Mom Quilts.

mini charming for charity

I've added a new badge to my sidebar.  I've joined Esch House Quilts Charity Challenge and committed myself to make 4 quilts for charity this year.  One each quarter.  I cannot believe that I never got a photo of my first quarter quilt but here's what I made for the second.

 It's a Mini Charming quilt based on Denyse Schmidt's Big Charming.  

My first night at Sewtopia I sewed together the block with a pack of Kona cotton mini charms from sponsor Robert Kaufman Fabrics.  I was getting the feel of the Bernina I would be sewing on for the weekend.

I decided this quilt should be in honor of Sewtopia sponsors so I used Pellon batting and this Michael Miller print on the back. 
I free motion quilted it (Denyse Schmidt style) with Aurifil.  I used a water based marker to draw a 2"x4" graph on the quilt to help keep my loops consistent in size.  
The binding fabric is from JoAnn's.  Not a sponsor, but it was a perfect match for the front and back - and in my stash!

This quilt will go to CS Mott Children's Hospital with others from the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild.  I hope it brings a smile and healing to someone.

4 pies in a swirling sky

I volunteered to patten test for fellow A2MQG member, Hayley Cason.  How cute is this?

The pattern is called Pie in the Sky and is available now on her new website.  
This was my first time using a bias binding.  I was a little nervous at first but Hayley's instructions are thorough and I had no problems at all.  As a matter of fact, that scalloped edge was simple and fun.
I made the mini size.  The pattern also includes directions for making a baby (9 pies) or lap (16 pies) quilt.  

Do you smell cherry, blueberry, and mixed berry pie?  I still haven't decided if the final pie is pumpkin or apple.  They are all favorites in this house.  Ready to dig in!

To see what other pattern testers have made check out the Instagram hashtag #pieintheskyquilt. 

For a limited time use the code GRANDOPENING and save 15% on the pattern at theplumbobbin.com. 

Editing to link up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday. Enjoy your weekend!

a new book and a clutch

When I heard Anna Graham's new book, Handmade Style, had been released I ordered it.  She has been so generous to offer so many outstanding free patterns.  I have made a few including the oh so popular Open Wide Pouch and Cargo Duffel.  The book is full of beautiful photos and patterns for bags, quilts, and even a patchwork bench - for those so inclined.  

I realized I needed to increase my zipper inventory and placed an order with Zipit.  I'm not sure beautiful is the right word to use with zippers but this order came so sweetly wrapped and very quickly.  I highly recommend this Etsy shop.
Now stocked with zippers in various sizes I decided to start with the Rainbow Clutch. 

I used Botanics fabric by Carolyn Friedlander.  I found a triple stitch on my machine to use for topstitching that I really like.  It didn't work around the zippers, though.  Believe me, I tried a few times!

The extra pocket in the back adds so much. I used 40 wt thread to make these stitches look heavier but I don't think I succeeded.  If you have any suggestions for next time I'd love to hear them.

Now I just need to get some leather scraps for the zipper tabs...or not.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it up Friday.  Have a great weekend!