Design Wall Monday

Here's what's up on the wall today. This is the completed Zen Garden quilt top. I'm playing with ideas on quilting before I take it down. I'm thinking about something girly like flowers or big swirls.

 

 

I really like how this turned out and hope to quilt it soon, especially since I want to offer this as a class in the next series of classes in the Spring. This is coming down from the wall tonight or tomorrow even if I haven't decided on the quilting because I've got all the pieces cut and ready to sew for the same quilt with a dark background. The print fabric is all the same for both quilts. (Ticklish by Me and My Sister Designs for  Moda)

 

 

For most quilts I teach, I like to have one quilt completely done that is full size, as well as at least a few blocks using a very different colorway or style of fabric. Because many of us quilters struggle to visualize projects in any fabric other than the sample, I think it's worth my time and energy to do that. I've had more than one student tell me that they appreciate what I've done so I plan to continue. 

 

Since one of these quilts take 20 strips that measure 2.5" x width of fabric plus background fabric, I'm making two complete quilts. I love that about this pattern and others by Little Louise Designs.  My Gateway to Paradise is by the same designer and uses only 20 strips also.  

 

 

I've been busy the last couple of weeks, but that really isn't an excuse for not posting. Later tonight or early tomorrow, I'll post some pictures from the Old Bags Day Sew-In that my friend Kare and I hosted on January 26th. We had 32 participants and I think they all had as much fun as Kare and I did. There was a lot of productivity that day, including a number of quilt tops being completed.

 

See what other quilters have on their design walls today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times.

 

Pictures

Here are a few pictures of finished quilts that I never posted. DUHHHH

First is Gateway to Paradise by Little Louise Designs

 

This quilt was pretty easy to make and it only takes 20- 2 1/2" strips plus the sashing and borders. That means you can make two of these from one jelly roll or bali pop! WoooHooo!! Sorry, I don't have the pattern in front of me to tell you the yardage,. Besides, I did make my borders different from the pattern - of course.

 

Next up is Fiesta!, which is a really bright and fun quilt!

 

 

I finished piecing this top quite a long time ago (I think in 2009) but just quilted and bound it this summer (July). I don't know why it's taken so long to post this picture! Anyway, it is really a fun quilt and the colors just remind me of a party.  :-)

 

Keep your fingers crossed that I get some quilting done in the next few days. I'd love to be able to post more pictures.

 



Design Wall Monday & More

I haven't posted in a while, but that sure doesn't mean I haven't been busy. I have lots of different things on the design wall today so let's take a look.

Here's the back to a chenille blanket that is ready for cutting the channels. I picked up the fabric for this Saturday afternoon and my plan is to have this in the washer this evening. YEAH!! I think that's a pretty darn good turn-around time for fabric.  :-)

I decided to make the back a bit interesting so I pieced it using a strip of the fabric from the front and the pink fabric that will be used for the binding. I like how it turned out and I know you can't really tell in the picture, but I like what the diagonal quilting lines does to this.

Actually, I'm making a small version of this blanket also, as these are a gift for a very special young girl. She and her baby doll will have matching quilts! Happy birthday Sadie Jane!!  :-)

Here's a close up of the doll chenille. You can probably see the quilting lines better if you click on the picture to enlarge it. I simply used the edge of my walking foot as my guide for keeping the stitching lines straight. It sure does eliminate a lot of time marking lines.  

It's funny but I seem to go in spurts when it comes to making chenille blankets. I hadn't made any for a few years and them I made a couple last year, along with a few chenille rugs; and this is the fourth one I've made already this year. Go figure!

Chenille Update: They are in the dryer as I type this! I also forgot to tell you that the print fabric is a Riley Blake Design - Enchanted Gardent by Samantha Walker. It is so fun!!

I still have the Gateway to Paradise on the wall, but all of the blocks are sewn together and I'm ready for borders. I have the first narrow black border ready to go. See it to the left of the quilt? I hope to get to this yet today, but well see.

I just finished an embroidery order for the Remembrance Center and that is the second one this week. I like to stay near the machine when it's running, so I'm working on the binding for Kare's quilting samples. Don't you love multi-tasking?

This past Friday, Lynn and I spent a little bit of time (less than 2 hours) freezing some crock pot dinners. We put together 9 meals each and now we're ready for some of those busy days ahead when we know we'll be getting home late and just not have enough time (or energy), to fix a decent meal. YUMMY!!

Oh yea, I picked up the fabric I need for my Totally Groovy Quilt Along Saturday and I'm really excited to get working on that! I'll keep you posted on that progress.

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

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

I've had lots of projects up on the design wall lately but not all of them have been mine. Here's what up there now - Gateway to Paradise by Little Louise Designs. I really like this quilt done in batiks, but I also had this 20 strip pack of yellow and grey fabric and I decided that I needed to use it. It was perfect since this quilt calls for jelly rolls, bali pops, or similar pre-cut strips, but it only uses 20 strips. I'll make another quilt, probably using a bali pop, but I'll make it larger.

Here are a few other projects that have made their way on the wall during the last couple of weeks.

Jerry's first quilt before borders.

Auditioning borders

Connie's quilt after learning how to sew on a binding. (Oops, it's sideways.)

Connie and her beautifully pieced quilt. (Click here to see what Kare said about quilting Connie's quilt.)

Here's Claire's quilt.

And Jerry's Framed Rectangles quilt ready to sew into rows.

Also making their way to the wall, but of which I don't have pictures available right now, are Donna's Maple Leaf Log Cabin quilt, Ann's patio cushions, the chenille blanket I made for Lynn and my modified 1600 quilt. Whew.....the sewing room has been a busy place.

I did make some organization changes that I just LOVE. Check out my notions corner. I have to admit, though. This pictures makes me realize just how much of a ruler wh*re I really am.  :-(

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

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times.