End of May

 Last day of May, so I thought it might be time to catch up with myself. I have been so busy and have not felt like sitting down to write all that I have been doing. It seems that the Tiny House Project worked really well for getting my creativity moving again. I have been piecing and quilting and sewing other things like a crazy woman.

First, I made this little embroidered stitchery piece from Cozy Blue. It is printed on the fabric and you just add the embroidery stitching. I really love the bees.

This was another quilt that I worked on a block at a time, while I was doing the tiny houses. About half way through tiny houses, I thought about maybe making an all pink version of tiny houses. But then I decided not to do that, but to make something using my multitude of pink scraps. So I began paper piecing these string blocks, one each day after I made my tiny house for the day. I made blocks until I filled my design wall, and then I stopped.

While I was quilting it, using a wandering loopy stitch, I doodled a name. I actually added my name and my daughter's and my granddaughter's and then it hit me...this quilt was destined to go to my granddaughter! And so it will.

Here is a shot of the whole thing quilted and bound. It is a nice lap size or small snuggle quilt for a little girl who loves pink.

I decided to use big strips of fabric, pieced for the back. I saw Bonnie Hunter do this on the back of some of her quilts and I loved it. It makes piecing a quilt back so much easier!

And it just crinkled up so nicely after it's trip through the washer and dryer. I can't wait until she sees it and I know she will love it as much as I do. I have lots more to show, but I think I will post things in separate posts. Talk to you soon.

Swoonin Again

Many years ago, when the pattern for the Swoon quilt was released, I jumped in with everyone else and made a swoon quilt. (Pattern by Camille of Thimble Blossoms) A couple of years ago, I bought the Swoon 16 pattern for 16 smaller blocks, and made one for a friend in need. My sister has long loved this quilt pattern and wanted one, so I finally caved and said I would make one for her. The only condition I put on it was that we would have to find a quilter to quilt it. She wanted 16 full size (24") blocks so it would drape all the way down on her bed. It is about 104 inches square.

 She agreed and we set about the project. I had her go on line to find the fabric she wanted. I told her the best way was to choose a fat quarter bundle. That way it would already be fully coordinated. She knows how to choose colors she likes, but having to choose that many fabrics is daunting. This way, there would be enough fabrics for 2 per block, times 16. She knew she wanted a creamy color for the background. That was easy. We used my Kona color card once the fat quarter bundle arrived, and chose the perfect cream color.

Now, if you have never made one of these quilts, there are 81 pieces in each block. It very definitely is a precision piece of work. I would cut the fabrics for 2 blocks on one day. The following two days, I would sew a block each day. I did have to use the seam ripper a couple of times, but over all, it worked out fine. I have my copy of the pattern stapled together so I can just flip the pages as I work through the steps.

This is the finished quilt top. This is a queen size bed. The 24 inch blocks are centered on the bed. You get a sense of just how big this thing is.

The fabric she chose is Mill Creek Garden by Jan Patek. It a a beautiful collection of purples, greens, brown and cream. I had her pair up the fat quarters the way she wanted me to sew them. This way, the designing of the quilt could be hers. It worked beautifully.

It took me several weeks to get all the blocks made. I didn't want to rush it, and it was hard some days to stay on track. I truly think this will be the last quilt of this size I will ever make. I am just getting too old to struggle with that much fabric. It is tough. But I am glad I did this and can't wait to see it quilted.

I sent her to the local quilt shop to get recommendations for long arm quilters. I have found that that is the best way to locate one. They gave her 6 business cards and she sent out emails to 4 of them. She has chosen one and we will go meet with her tomorrow at the quilt shop. I have explained about batting and backing, and this quilter can provide both, which makes my job easier too. The only thing I will still have to do is to bind the quilt when it comes back from the quilter. I am hoping that when it is fully finished, I can get a full photo of the quilt to share here with y'all. Until then, have a lovely day.