More Sample Sewing

The last few months I've been busy with sample making and pattern testing. I shared some pictures of quilts I recently made for Myra Barnes (Busy Hands Quilts) and today I'll share the last two quilts I made for Tammy Silvers (Tamarinis)

I'll tell you right off that these pictures are not good and they do not do these quilts justice.  Sorry Tammy! I actually had them packed and ready to send to her when I realized that I had not taken any pictures. I unpacked the box, threw them up on the design wall, took these two pictures, and got them packed up again just in time for the mail carrier. Whew! It was close, but I made it.

This is Fizz and it is much easier than it looks. Tammy used the Studio 180 Tucker Trimmer, but I did not. Either way, this is a pretty quick quilt to make and I love the modern vibe it gives. This quilt measures 51" x 68".

While trimming the triangle units, you will have what are normally "waste" units. But, in her infinite ability to "waste not, want not," Tammy created a bonus quilt that is just as fun as the "real" quilt. This measures 42" x 48". 

Not bad, huh? One pattern, one set of fabric, and two quilts. 

I'll be back tomorrow with my block for the Monthly Color Challenge hosted by Jen of Patterns by Jen. 

I'll share a secret... I followed Tammy's example and did a little more than the basics. Be sure to come check it out tomorrow. :-)

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 minute...

It has been quite some time since I posted anything, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been busy. 

Besides "life" happening all too often, I've been doing some sewing for myself, but mostly I've been sewing for others - class and shop samples, pattern testing, etc. While I enjoy doing that, I do miss sewing just because I like a pattern and want to make the quilt. 

I don't make resolutions, but I have promised myself that I will make time to sew for fun and not so much for work purposes. I have a lot of UFOs that need completed and I certainly have plenty of patterns waiting to be made. We all know that I also have enough fabric in my stash to sew for quite some time before I would need to buy anything. 

In accordance with that promise to myself, I will also make time to post more frequently, even if it's just to share a picture. I am participating the Jen Shaffer's Monthly Color Challenge again this year, but I am not making blocks every month. Instead, I have picked a limited number and will be making those. I will be making and sharing the February block in a couple of weeks, so be sure to come back and look for that.

In the meantime, I'm going to sit back and enjoy the process.  I'll hope you'll join me.  :-)

Delivered Quilts

In my last post (YIKES - that was over a month ago!), I shared pictures of a quilt I was making and my struggle with determining the borders. The quilt is done and delivered and I figured that I should share pictures. You can read more about this quilt and the smaller version I made HERE. In that post, I described the story behind my fabric choices and why I chose this pattern.

This is the quilt that will be auctioned this weekend, with the proceeds going to Lexi who is struggling with Stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

The quilt measures 70" x 84" and will fit nicely on a twin bed. The pattern is called In a Flash and it's from the Quick as a Wink - 3 yard Quilt booklet. I quilted random loops throughout this quilt and I like how it looks on both the front and back.

I made a lap size version of this quilt because I want Lexi to have a quilt to take with her to treatments and snuggle with while she is at home. If you have not done so already, please take a couple of minutes and read about the making of this quilt HERE and I think you will have a good understanding of why I felt the need to make this quilt. I want Lexi to know and feel how much she is loved by her family and friends. 

Lexi's quilt measures 50" x 68" and I think that is a perfect lap size. 

Please keep Lexi and her family in your thoughts. She can use all the good vibes you can send.

I have been working on other projects and spending time with family. I'll share more on that soon. 

Border Options

Does anyone else start thinking about their borders well before the quilt interior is fully sewn together? The blocks are made, but they are not together and my mind is racing with border ideas. This quilt has moved to the front of the line (over the Granny Square Quilt - whose borders have still not been decided!) because of an urgent need.

The quilt is called In a Flash, and it is from the Quick as a Wink 3-Yard Quilts booklet. I have enlarged the quilt to the Twin size (instructions are included in booklet), but am changing the borders. 

The quilt is needed quickly because it will be part of a fundraiser for a 23 year old friend of Jack's granddaughter who has just been diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I have been asked to use the Hodgkin's color (purple) and Lexi's favorite color (blue). Here are the original three fabrics I chose. 

I chose the pattern, not only because it can be made quickly, but because I see this as a very simplistic symbol of the path Lexi's is on right now. Let me try to explain...

The purple fabric has arcs in it and I have made sure that they are all in the proper orientation in the quilt. The arcs remind me of rainbows, and rainbows remind me of good things - kind of like the calm after a storm.  

This purple fabric is used for the big blocks and are a focal point (as is her disease right now), but they are surrounded by the light fabric. 

To me, the light fabric is her support system - her friends, family, and medical caretakers. We are there to help her and to protect her as much as possible. 

The final fabric includes a variety of shade of Lexi's favorite color - blue; but it also includes purple and a very light color similar to the lightest fabric. 

Can you see the flowers in the fabric? They make me smile! This fabric has it all - her happy color, her disease, and her support system. 

The pattern itself reminds me of a stepping stone or path. The disease is "in your face" right now, just like the big purple blocks. The blue and light fabric chain blocks represent Lexi's path to navigate through this terrible time, but they never stop or give up. They continue upwards and onwards and they include her support group to help her every step of the way. 

I am thinking of adding a fourth fabric - a fabric that will frame the blocks and "stop" the disease. 

The rest of the borders are still in the pondering stage. After the dark frame, I'm thinking of a small border of the purple (the disease), another small border of light (friends, family, etc.), and end with it being all about Lexi - the blue fabric. 

I'll share pictures of what I decide. 

This quilt will be auctioned off, which means that Lexi will not have it. But, I have enough fabric that I am planning to make a duplicate, only smaller to give to Lexi. Hopefully she can take it with her to treatments or just sit with it and know that she is surrounded by love.

A New Project To Share

So much for posting more frequently! :-( 

Honestly, I've not just been sitting around eating bon bons and twiddling my thumbs; but since I haven't been sharing anything here, it certainly feels like that's the case.

In the past two weeks, I have completed a couple of secret sewing project for Tammy Silvers that I can't show yet, but I can show snippets. The first quilt is a Christmas quilt, and it is adorable. 

Take a look at this block The quilt is fun and easy to put together and I think I am going to use the pattern to make a wall hanging and table runner. I may even make a few placemats to go along with it. It really is that adorable!

I completed another secret project for Tammy and it involves a lot (320!) flying geese units. 

Yikes! That was a lot of trimming! I used a Studio 180 Wing Clipper to trim everything, so that made it much easier and faster. 

I've made some samples for upcoming classes, but I haven't taken pictures yet. Maybe this week...

I recently taught a Granny Squares Quilt class that was fun. I made the original sample I use for class back in 2014 and it was made using very traditional/30's reproduction fabrics. (I made a second version of this quilt in late 2014 that is very different, but it was made using a specific fabric that is no longer available. Check that out HERE.) 

While I still like the original quilt (and second version), I decided I wanted an updated and larger version so I headed to my stash and pulled out an older Alison Glass Sun Prints 2.5" strip pack. I found a fabric that I liked for the background and made up some blocks and step-out samples. 

I needed to add a couple of fabrics to end up with the required number of blocks, so I pulled two from my stash that I felt blended well. I am happy with the choice. 

I sewed and trimmed 48 blocks and decided to put them up on the design wall right away, instead of putting them away and work on something "more pressing." That's just one of the many ways I end up with a bunch of UFOs and I was determined that would not happen with this quilt.

Here are the blocks, with no sashing added yet. I wanted to get an idea of the layout and be sure no two adjacent blocks had the same fabric. Until I put this on the wall, I didn't realize how many yellow fabrics I used in making the blocks.  hahaha

I have started to sew in the vertical sashing strips and then sew rows together. After that, I'll add the horizontal sashing and decide about a border. I have a fabric I am considering, but I'm not sure about it and won't be until that top is complete. 

I have projects on which I should be sewing, but I needed a break from "required" work and this is perfect! I am looking forward to seeing this updated version of a very traditional pattern. :-) 

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. :-)