Fields

I started this quilt over a year ago as part of a challenge.

I had an assortment of Kona solids, prints, Shot Cottons, linen, and Oakshott cottons

I wanted an improv pieced quilt and I played with my layout for a month

Progress photos 

Improv is not for everyone, some don't like lack of guidelines, planning, or straight seams.  It doesn't have to be that way, you can add your own guidelines - making blocks that are 12 1/2" or keeping all seams going in one direction.  For this quilt I did a lot of sewing, then cutting, then sewing back together to get an effect I was happy with.

Eventually this quilt top began to remind me of the fields we see flying.  While not too high in the  sky, when you look down the land is a pattern of fields and forests.  Until you get to a city - but that will have to be a different quilt.

The forested areas look boxed in by the pattern of fields from the air, and there are a myriad of colors represented in the forest areas as well as the field strips.

After starting the quilting on this top,  I was put off by the tedious quilting pattern I had chosen, I was matchstick quilting before I knew that was what it was called! Other projects and deadlines were calling me, so I put this one away.

Earlier in the week I pulled this out and decided to finish the quilting so I could submit the quilt for consideration in an exhibit.  I had kept all the threads I had pulled for quilting together as well as the extra fabrics.  The miracle was that I knew where the quilt was, I knew where the threads were, and I knew where the fabrics were.

I pulled out new threads to add to the pile, not all threads were used, but some threads matched fabrics perfectly

So I quilted and quilted and quilted (remembering why I had put this away) for 3 days, changing color threads, going back when I came across an area I had missed.  There are a million starts and stops, and a million threads to trim up.  

Binding from left over fabrics

Now it's done and its submitted.  Whether or not it is chosen for the exhibit, I took the step of entering.  It's scary having your work, something you are passionate about, spent time and energy making, judged by others as worthy or not. 

Fields

61" x 40"

Kona Solids, linen, Shot Cottons, Oakshott cottons, cotton prints

Cotton/Wool 50/50 Matilda Batting

Aurifil, Superior, and King Tut threads

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

Herringbone Quilt

I'm not sure when, but somewhere on Instagram or clicking through Flickr I came across a post about Maureen Cracknell and the Herringbone Quilt she made using the quilt as you go (QAYG) method.

I have wanted to give QAYG a try, and this seemed like the perfect pattern

I chose Joel Dewberry Heirloom collection for my quilt

And I added solids, in Kona and Oakshott.  I don't normally cut everything out ahead of time, I'm usually to anxious to see how colors will come together or if what I see in my brain translates to something that looks good in real life.  This was all new to me

All my strips are 2 1/2"

After I cut everything, I remeasured my bed and realized I needed more strips, so some other Joel Dewberry and few more solids went into the strip piles

And then I started sewing strips to pre-cut batting strips

This is for my kind sized bed, and I look forward to one day being able to actually put it on my bed.  I  will work on strips in between other projects, so it's slow going, but it will get there.  I have 7 strips completed so far

I'm very happy how this is turning out!

Linking up to Freshly Pieced for WiP Wednesday

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

Feathers Quilt

It's WIP (Work in Progress) Wednesday!  I could basically show you my entire sewing studio here, because I have so many WIPs going right now.  Bee blocks, divided baskets, quilts, binding, pouches, you name it, it's happening.  

Still working on some 'me' things, I hope to finish more of the 'me' pile and not just get these started.

I went in on the Feathers Quilt along, pattern by Alison Glass.  Alison has written fantastic instructions with this pattern, telling you how many pieces to cut and what size for each block.  This is a paper pieced pattern.  

I started with these fabrics, based on a Design Seeds palette.  I love Design Seeds for color inspiration!

I needed a large print for the background, and I decided on this, which went perfectly with my original colors.  I added a few more solids based on the print.  

I am so excited to use this fabric!  It is Lush Uptown by Erin Michael for Moda, and also solids, mostly Kona but some others in there too.  

Making Feathers:

 I and J were pretty tricky

My blocks so far, not in particular order.  

Of course, I didn't actually 'go along' on the 'quilt along', the schedule was not right for me at the time.  I'm happy to do these at my pace, and I still have blocks to make, but not as many as I have done already.  

I'm loving the colors and can't wait for this to be on my sofa.  Hoping for more time to work on this soon.  

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

WIP Wednesday

After last weekend's marathon of paper piecing (photos below) I spent a day doing some other things.  It really feels good to take care of myself a little (after tackling my stack of paperwork, which somehow has seemed to learn to procreate).  Went to a movie, met up with some girls for bunco (I won a prize, which always makes the night more fun!) Spent some time with the Gran, he's growing and doing new things every day.  

Here is what I have been working on, I had to finish another procrastination project (those require their own list)

involving these paper piece stars from Six White Horses, the star is called Star Seams and you can get the template free on her blog or on Craftsy.  I got mine from Craftsy.  

All 5 I made.  I was attempting a ROYGBIV look to go with the quilt top they are going in.

While I am pleased with the result, these took time and the centers are quite bulky, I steamed and pressed the life out of the centers.  Paper piecing one block is ok, but doing multiples begins to wear on you.  You can pull off all the paper while watching a TV show, but not Game of Thrones, because you can't be distracted by paper while that is on.

The quilt top belongs in the Strip Quilters group.  This is a stunning top, and I wish my photos were better. The rows are not sewn together so the owner can decide the order of the rows.   

Tuesday I accomplished so much on my paperwork pile (both my jobs only involve paperwork) for actual work that I felt compelled to  get some things off my WIP list - starting with another group project

I made postage stamp blocks with colors that complemented some Flea Market Fancy prints.  These blocks were added to star blocks and are now going to the next person in Traveling Quilts

Then I felt the need to check off something else that has been sitting on my WIP list for awhile - a baby quilt for a baby who is now six months old.

I added the first scrappy border which is just left over pieces from the center, and I'm adding the elephants for the second border.  I like using up the scraps on the same quilt so that everything is used up and doesn't have to go in the overflowing scrap bin.  I sure hope I am quilting on this tonight.

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday

Keep Calm and Quilt On!
Mary

WIP Wednesday

I am trying trying trying to get this top done.  It is confounding me.  I had plans to finish this last weekend, but the borders tripped me up.  

I did finally figure out which bee this was from - a bee from long long ago - Threadheads - a bee where I made my first mod mosaic block, first dresden plate block, and first X and plus block.  

My troubles began because this top looked fine just the way it is, without a border.  But I was determined to use this fabric in the borders.  The fabric in the front - Joel Dewberry Aviary2 in the purple color way.  The whole reason I picked this block and wanted to make this quilt.

So I tried just putting the fabric by itself next to the top.  I felt this just framed the center, looked very stark, and I thought I could do better. (bad night photo)

Then I made 12.5" blocks that matched the center blocks.  Luckily, I am a hoarder collector organized individual, and I had all the fabrics and cut strips together from sending out these blocks ever so long ago.  And I had all the blocks together, it amazed me just a little.  

This isn't really talking to me either, except to say 'not quite right'.

Next, I cut those just sewn together strips and blocks in half.  Now, I'm starting to see where I want to go.

I am able to utilize both sides of the cut in half block - thank goodness, was so afraid I was wasting so much - The hardest part is making sure I have the birds in the fabric going in the correct direction.  I could have mixed it up, but i think it will finish better with the birds sitting up instead of going every whichaway.  ( another bad night time photo)

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

WIP Wednesday

Working on a pillow cover to go with the bumper pads I completed on Sew Sunday.  The bumper pads turned out quite good.  I'm impressed with myself.  

This will be an 18" pillow cover to match the bumper pads.

I am exploring decorative stitches on Sully

Don't want to go too crazy with the decorative stitches, there is one more row on the opposite side of the bear, and that will be it.  On to the quilting!

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday.

Those of you stopping by for WIP Wednesday, Thank You!

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary

WIP Wednesday

What am I working on?  Trying to figure out how to navigate Instagram.  I tried to avoid going to this app, it just seemed like one more thing to suck up free time, like Pinterest.   I am finding that some people are moving away from Flickr and using Instagram more often, I felt as if I should make an addition to keep up.  Sometimes it seems I have to spend more time figuring out how to navigate new media sources to get my photos and blog out there, and not enough time creating.  It's a choice, I know.  I have gained so much from Flickr with new quilting buds, new ideas, new ways to look at quilting - I hope Instagram will offer the same.  You can find my link on the right sidebar along with all the other ways to find me (bloglovin!, Flickr, Pinterest, email) I'll have more going on there soon, I promise!  I'm still not going to Twitter, it will be my lone hold out.  

Conversation this morning:

Him:  What are you putting on your feet?

Me:  Shea Butter.

Him:  Butter???? Why are you putting butter on your feet?

Me:  Not butter, Shea Butter?

Him:  And what is Shea Butter?

Me: ....(long pause)...... I have no idea.  

Him:  Well, by all means keep putting it on your feet then, but keep it away from my biscuits.  

Baby bumper pads in progress on commission.  My first time making bumper pads, I'm combining a couple of instructions I found.  I bought the pads on Amazon and the fabric is Sarah Watts Timber & Leaf.  

The patchwork sections will face the interior of the crib.  I have all 6 put together and 2 quilted with fusible fleece as the backing.  The bottom deer fabric will be face out of the crib, and I lined these pieces with a lightweight interfacing.  

Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday

For anyone just stopping by, I hope you will want to visit again.  

I have a Postage Stamp Block Swap on Flickr with a mail date of May 1, check it out!

Keep Calm and Quilt On!

Mary