Design Wall Monday

My goal is to post at least a couple of times this week and since I have something on the wall, I'll start with design wall Monday. Yeah! 

This is one of the 2.5" strip quilts on which I've been working. It's a variation of my Framed Rectangles quilt. I love how versatile this pattern is!

This quilt went together very quickly because I made it using strip sets. The print fabric is Just My Type and I've used that for a few other quilts as well. Remember my version of Sparkling Gemstones? These two quilts have the same print fabrics, but look very different. I like them both!  :-)

The roll on had 25 strips in it, but since the quilt only needed 18 strips, it was perfect. The remaining 7 strips will be my binding. (I love it when the math works out perfectly the first time!)

To get more of a variety, I cut each 2.5" strip in half and then made 6 strip sets that included three print strips and two black strips, and 6 sets that consisted of three print strips and two grey strips. After sub-cutting each strip set into three rectangles that measured 6.5" x 10.5". I then added the corresponding black or grey strips to complete the blocks. Easy Peasy!

There was one extra grey block, but since I wasn't sure how I was going to lay this out, I decided to make equal amounts of the blocks and make my decision after laying them out. As you can see, I opted for the 18 black blocks and 17 grey. I thought it created a better balance to have the four corners be black. I am very please with this so far.

I have the backing ready. I'm using the same backing I did for the Sparkling Gemstones, but since this quilt is larger and I had to piece it, I simply added a black strip of fabric down one side. I forgot to get a picture of the backing, but here is the picture from Sparkling Gemstones. I'll be sure to take a picture of the back when I get the Framed Rectangle Variation Quilt done.

 

 

Although I love the look of the black and white stripe binding on Sparkling Gemstones, I am using the left over strips from the fabric roll for the new quilt, and I'm excited to see how it will looks. I don't often use a scrappy binding (Jack doesn't really like them), I think this one will be perfect.  My goal is to have this one quilted and bound by the end of the week.

What are you working on today?

 

To see what other quilters have on their design walls, go to

 

Judy L's Patchwork Times

 

or

 

Monday Makings

Design Wall Monday

It's been kind of busy around here and I'm chugging away at all the things that need done. I know I said that I would post pictures of some of the finished projects but I just have not had time to get decent pictures. I'll include a couple of them here, but more will follow later this week.

Here is what's on the wall right now.

This is the center of the quit I'm making for the Monroeville Baseball team to raffle. They wanted the Big M logo in the center and of course, be in their school colors. I'm ready to begin the applique and hope to get it done tonight.

Right after I spoke with the coach, I had a lunch period and sketched out this, along with a couple of other ideas. This is what he liked.

I did some quick calculations and added them to the bottom of the sketch, as you can see below. I wanted to give him some options regarding the overall quilt size. Even though he chose the larger size, it is very basic construction so it will go together quickly. I hope it brings in a bunch of money for them! Maybe cold weather while they are selling tickets would help.  :-)

I finally got a picture of Lynn and Ty's Framed Rectangles quilt. Jack and Nikki had to hang this over the balcony and Nikki's kids were funny as they were yelling up to her "Be careful, Mom! Don't fall because we love you! Oh, and you be careful too Grandpa because we love you too!"

Here's a little closer shot of the quilt. It measures 86" x 106." I love these colors. Other versions of this quilt can be found HERE, HERE, and HERE and Here is Jerry's version - in batiks and it is GORGEOUS!

 And here's the carrot table runner I made for the library. I made a few adjustments because I didn't want to have to add a binding. I just did the quilt as you go with batting and then added the backing and used the "birthing method" (sew it right sides together, leave an opening, and then turn right sides out). I then stitched around the outside using a 1/4" seam allowance to look like a binding and stitched in the ditch along the fabric strips. Easy, peasy! 

And speaking of the "birthing method", tomorrow is going to be a big day around here. Not only is it Tip Tuesday! and St. Patrick's Day, it's the day Lynn is having her baby! Of course we've all been thinking it would happen sometime over the last couple of weeks because Lynn's been having serious contractions, but as we all know, baby's have a mind of their own. Her surgery is scheduled for 8:00 am and we are all excited, especially since we don't know the gender. (Although I know many of you can't stand it, I love the excitement and anticipation of not knowing!) 

And, in case you didn't see yesterday's post about the 2015 Hands2Help Challenge, check it out HERE.

So, what are you working on today?

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday and More!

Yes, I do have something up on the wall today and I'm pretty excited about it.

This is the long-overdue quilt for Lynn and Ty - Framed Rectangles.

Right now the quilt measures 76" x 96" but I'll be adding a narrow border of the tan background fabric and then a randomly pieced piano key border.  If you look to the top left corner on the picture below, I've placed some fabric there to show you. When it's done, it will measure approximately 86" x 106".

I know that many of you never make the same quilt twice, but I've made at least four other versions of this quilt. I made one for a Breast Cancer 3-Day Fundraiser Raffle Quilt using reproductions fabrics and I had someone like it so much that she asked me to make one for her. I made another one using reproduction fabrics that does not have the pieced border. For some reason, I don't have a picture of that quilt on this computer and it's hanging at a local shop because I'll be teaching a class on that later this month. I made a smaller version of quilt and used red, white and blue fabrics. It was one of the Honor Flight Quilts that I donated. I also made a small sample of this using Christmas fabrics. So, I guess this is number six. Wow!

Anyway, Lynn and Ty picked the pattern and some of the fabrics. The rest was left up to me and I made the decision over this past holiday break that I just had to buckle down and do it. I've got a pretty good start and since all of the pieced border units are made (in sets of four rectangles), it shouldn't take me long to finish.

This next quilt isn't technically ON the design wall, but it has been recently. (I'm pretty sure you were sick of seeing it posted here - unfinished.) It's quilted and half bound. I had the other quilt on the wall and couldn't put this one up for a picture so I decided to take it outside (before the frigid temperatures arrive), and snap a few shots. Can you see the Wonder Clips along the edges?  I'll work on the hand stitching one evening this week. I love the colors of this quilt and can't wait to show you a full picture.

I love taking pictures of quilts on this wood pile. (I know that's crazy, but I do!) 

Here's my Carolina Crossroads quilt FINALLY done, done and done (pieced, quilted and bound). Click HERE and HERE for some background information about making this Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt.

I love this quilt! I love the colors! I love the pattern! I love the border fabrics and design I used for the borders! And, I love the red binding!

And I love Nikki! She's been waiting a very long time for this quilt. She is one happy daughter right now.  :-)

She sent me this picture within an hour of taking the quilt home. I think Ronan likes it too.

And since I'm showing off finished quilts that I've recently shown "in progress" here...

This John Deere Log Cabin was a commissioned quilt for Christmas. It was BIG (94" x 114"), as you can probably tell from the picture. I had to hang it off of the balcony and weigh it down with jugs. Jack was sick the day I took the picture so he wasn't available to hold it like he has in the past. Click HERE and HERE to see other pictures of large quilts hanging off the balcony. They are kind of funny!

The recipient liked the quilt and I'm really happy about that. I always have this fear that commissioned quilts won't be loved. I'm really excited that Carl liked it and he's sure his uncle will love it. 

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

Found Pictures

I was looking at some pictures and realized that I hadn't posted a picture of Jerry and his finished Framed Rectangles quilt.

 

Jerry first worked on this way back in July while he and Connie were visiting, and he finished it on a subsequent trip, but I didn't have it quilted for quite a while. Of course even after it was quilted I didn't give it to him. Noooooo, instead I put it on one of the guest beds and waited until he came to visit, hoping he would forget it was his and just leave it there.

 

Here's Jerry with the quilt. (I think he did a nice job!)

 

 

I think he likes it.

 

 

As I was putting this on the bed, I found a spot in the quilting that I didn't finish a loop. I ddn't fix it and think an appropriate name for this quilt would be "The Missing Loop."