Quilt Pictures

In my last post I told you that I had been busy sewing for other people. Here are a few of the quilt tops I sewed for Myra Barnes of Busy Hands Quilts last couple of months. I always enjoy sewing with Myra's patterns. They are easy to follow and usually have at least four different size options and two fabric examples. 

I made two Cottage Love quilts. This is a perfect example of how the same pattern can look so different just by choosing different fabrics. 

This is Sweetness and the name sure is fitting for this girly fabric. 

This Around the World was fast and easy to construct. I could not get a good picture of it, so you'll just have to trust me when I say it was beautiful. 

I'll share more again soon.  :-) 

Whew! It's Been a Long Time

It sure has been a long time since I've posted. I thought about posting many times over the past two months or so, but I could just never find the time. Well, today's the day that I decided to make some time.

I've been busy creating beautiful quilts (some for myself, but more for designer samples), filling a long-term sub- teaching assignment, and just plain trying to play catch up. Jack and I had a wonderful time last month at the AQS show in Paducah. We traveled with six friends and had a magnificent time with them. This was our first time going to the show and I'm pretty sure that it won't be the last. The quilts were amazing!

As I said earlier, I've been sewing samples for a couple of designers. I'll share a few pictures today and try to share more over the next week or so.

As you probably know, I sew quilt samples and test patterns from Myra Barnes of Busy Hands Quilts.  I enjoy creating with her patterns and was honored to sew to a couple of quilts for her recently. Myra sent these fabrics for Waterfall, which is quite easy to make. (This is the third one I've sewn for her.)  

The resulting quilt was spectacular, even though my picture is not!

While is looks the same, Waterfall II is made using just once color family. These are the fabrics Myra sent for that quilt.

These were all used in the Waterfall quilt shown above; but this time the fabrics are all blue. Again, a stunning quilt resulted.  

I just received fabric from Myra to create another Waterfall II quilt and I can't wait to share that with you. It is going to be gorgeous. 

Besides sewing for Myra, I've been sewing for Tammy Silvers of Tamarinis. Here is her Juxtaposition quilt made using Kaffe Fassett fabrics. 

This is one of my favorite patterns to use when I need a quick and easy-to-make quilt. I've made it twice before and it always looks great, no matter if you choose the three fabric version or the more scrappy one that is made using pre-cuts. Here are a couple of pictures of two quilts made using the three fabric method. These were taken before the quilts were trimmed, quilted, and bound. 

I'll update with more pictures soon. In the meantime, I hope you have the opportunity to take the advice that I found on a candy wrapper. :-)

Skyline Divide - A Quick and Easy Quilt

I enjoy testing patterns and making samples, and this quilt was no different. I have been testing patterns and making samples for Myra at Busy Hands Quilts for over a year now and I always enjoy working with her. This quilt is a quick and easy pattern; and as usual, Myra sent the fabrics for me to use and I enjoyed working with them. As a matter of fact, I used the same fabrics for a couple of other quilts that I will be able to share soon, so be on the lookout for those.

Say hello to Skyline Divide. Myra wanted a new look to this pattern, so she sent me some wonderful fabrics to use. I love how it looks! This is Myra's image of the quilt and it is soooo much better than the ones I took. (I'll reluctantly share my pictures at the end of this post.)

I love how she makes these quilts come alive with her quilting! 

The Skyline Divide pattern includes 5 size options - Baby, Throw, Twin, Queen, and King. I made the Throw version and it measures 50" x 70". Besides all these sizes, there are two piecing options to the pattern as well - planned and scrappy. The planned version uses yardage and the scrappy version uses 2 1/2" strips, fat quarters, or yardage. As you can tell, I made the scrappy version; and I used 2 1/2" strips.  

This really was a fast and easy quilt! If you are planning to make quilts for Christmas and feel like you might run out of time, this would be a great pattern option. Just look at how this looks different, based on your fabric choices.

Below are pictures of the quilt I made. The first one is in progress and I took it so I could use it as a guide while assembling the columns. 

Below is the completed top. As I said before, Myra certainly does make these quilts come alive with her quilting.  

I am considering the idea of making this pattern using a more controlled color palette. I saw a quilt that Myra posted on her blog a while back that was made by one of her customers. It was made using five fabrics, ranging from white, to gray, to black. She added a yellow border, which really makes the quilt amazing. Check out the picture HERE. 

Stay tuned for more of the quilt tops I've recently made for Myra. In the meantime, be sure to visit her website - Busy Hands Quilts. You just might find the pattern for your next quilt! 

Catch Up Post

I've been a slacker when it comes to writing blog posts. It's always on my lists, but doesn't always make it to the top of the list.  I finally sat down at the computer and decided to write a few words and share a few pictures. 

Remember the black and red version of Mapleton Avenue that I shared last month? It has been gifted to Quinn and I even got a few pictures.  Yay!

I finished my two-color plus a background Atlantic Avenue quilt and LOVE it! Jack picked these colors and he is very pleased with results too.  

In case you can't see it in the picture above, I used the same black and white striped binding for this quilt. I think it is perfect for these quilts. I have at least one more project on which I plan to use it, so I guess it really was a good thing that I bought quite a large amount of it.  

I had some "sewing for others" to do and this big beauty is now complete. I did not get a picture of this after borders were added, as it was too big for my design wall. Plus, it was raining and pictures just weren't going to happen before it needed mailed. I'll share some of the pictures that I receive from the person who commissioned it. 

None of these pictures do the quilt justice. The fabrics are beautiful and it was a joy to make. After the borders were added, this beauty measured 93" x 107" The pattern is Sweet Caroline by Myra Barnes of Busy Hands Quilts.  

I have a couple of secret sewing projects on which I'm working and I'm enjoying them very much.  Here are the fabrics for one of the projects.  These just make me smile.  😊

I have a few other projects on which I've been working. I'll get some pictures of those to share too. That may happen this weekend, but I wouldn't hold my breath. 

School Colors - Secret Sewing Reveal

 This isn't on my design wall right now, but it was recently one of my secret sewing projects that is now complete. The timing of the reveal is perfect, as it's that time of year that kids are headed back to the classroom.

Introducing...

School Colors

This pattern is now available in both 

print and pdf version at 
Busy Hands Quilts.

Just like every other quilt I've made using one of Myra's pattern, this was so easy to follow and her illustrations are wonderful. The pattern includes two sizes (throw and twin); and they both perfect for kids going off to college or when you want to show your school spirit and stay warm at the same time. Unlike many patterns that require more blocks to be made to increase the size, the twin size is made using the same number of blocks, just a larger size. How cool is that? 

Here are a few pictures of Myra's completed quilt. 
 

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

Check out that quilting! 

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

As you know, I always like to take pictures of the quilts I make from side angles. 

And a look from the other side...

One of the coolest things about this quilt is that the blue stars are not pieced as star blocks. They are created with some awesome pieced sashing. WooHoo!

You all know that I am a sucker for a good red, white, and blue quilt, so I'll be making my own version of this soon because it will make a great Quilt of Valor. But, I am also thinking that this would be a great quilt to make for a school fundraiser. All you need are the two school colors and a background/accent, and you are good to go. If you are having a difficult time visualizing this, Myra has provided some samples in a variety of colors. Check it out HERE.

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

You can get your own copy of School Colors at Busy Hands Quilts.

While you're there, sign up for her newsletter. 

Check out Myra's Facebook page for more pictures of this beautiful quilt. 

You won't be sorry you did! 

So, what IS on my design wall today?

I finished Peyton's elephant quilt top. I'm got the back ready to sew and then it's time to quilt this puppy elephant. :-)

I've been playing around with a small project that I can use for teaching a very basic paper piecing class, and this is what I've come up with. After I took this picture, I layered it, quilted it, and have the binding sewn on. I'll hand stitch that down later today. 

 

I did finish the Picket Fence quilt top that I showed last week. Since I was using up leftover pieces of a layer cake (10" squares), my quilt is smaller than the pattern size. I was toying with the idea of adding a border, but I opted against that and am happy with my choice. Without thinking, I took it off the wall before I remembered to get a picture.  I hope to get this quilted and bound by mid-week, so I'll get some pictures then.

What are you working on today?

Check out the Quilters Eye Candy at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Love Laugh Quilt

On the Wall Today

I missed posting yesterday, hence the title of this post is "On the Wall Today." I kind of like that and will have to remember to use it more often. It makes it sound like I didn't miss a deadline.  lol

I've got a handful of things on which I'm working that I can't show, but I'm happy to say that I am also working on a few things that can be shared. 

While attempting to clean up the mess in my sewing area, I came across some loose 10" squares that were left over from another project. Rather then put them away, I decided to use them. Yep, I'll do just about anything to put off cleaning. 😅 I pulled one of my "go to" Layer Cake projects, Picket Fence by Busy Hands Quilts and started doing some math. (See, even doing quilting math is better than cleaning!) 

I have an older copy of the pattern, which includes six size options. (The new one has seven!) I had enough to make the baby size (I'd have some squares left over), but not enough to make the lap. Since I want to use all of the squares I have, I decided to make my own size.   

I pulled out my favorite prints because those would not be cut and then found a coordinating fabric that I liked. Of course I had to decide the order that those squares would be used. I'm kind of a control freak like that. 

I started sewing this project as a leader/ender while working on a secret sewing quilt and it's coming together very quickly. 

Here is a perfect example why it is important to take a picture before I start sewing everything together! Do you see my mistake? My bottom two rows are wrong. I laid out the pieced blocks in the wrong orientation. 

This is much better!

When finished, this quilt should measure approximately 48" x 66". I may add a border or two, if I can find something in my stash. If not, it's no big deal. I like it like this.

I need to get back to working, so I'll share pictures of another project tomorrow.

Mandalynn - Pattern by Busy Hands Quilts

Do you remember this post about my secret sewing project for Myra of Busy Hands Quilts? I showed you a package that had arrived and I was getting ready to sew.

I loved these fabrics when I opened the package and that feeling has never waned. 

Let me introduce you to

Mandalynn

 

This pattern is now available in both print and pdf version at Busy Hands Quilts. 

I know that I've said this before, but I LOVE using Myra's patterns! They are so easy to follow and her illustrations are wonderful. This pattern includes four sizes (throw, twin, queen, and king), so you don't have to do any math. She's done it for you!

Here are a few pictures of Myra's completed quilt. 

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts

Check out that quilting! 

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts

Why is it that it always seems to be windy when I try to take quilt pictures?

As you know, I always like to take pictures of the quilts I make from side angles. 

We all know that sometimes our beds to do not get made properly. I just love this picture Myra shared. I can just picture myself waking up and seeing these bright colors. What a wonderful way to start the day.

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts

You can get your own copy of Mandalynn at Busy Hands Quilts.

While you're there, sign up for her newsletter. 

Check out Myra's Facebook page for more pictures of this beautiful quilt. 

You won't be sorry you did! She is offering a special introductory sale for this pattern thru Sunday, so don't wait too long.

I just have to share one more picture...

Mandalynn
Image from Busy Hands Quilts