Quilt Show

Well this year has flown by. Since May, I've had 2 new grandsons and lots of quilts! I've neglected this blog so here are some pictures showing some of the quilts I've worked on. Enjoy.

Retro Butterfly

 

 

 

Here is the "before" of this retro style butterfly quilt. These are old blocks, found , a few finished and then put together. There was some fullness in the muslin of the blocks, but it isn't too bad .

After: We just used a very lightweight thread, Invisifil , in a cream and an orangey brown to outline on the appliques. We kept it to a minimum just doing the butterfly body center and then the accent applique on the wings. The muslin background is done with So Fine in a light ecru color. I tried to keep the fill quilting more open , yet balance the feel across the quilt. Some of the blocks had a lot of background, some had a lot of applique and very little background.

I'm not sure you can see the critters quilted in as it's hard to get a good photo on the light fabric. There are grasshoppers, snails and a hummingbird nestled in the quilting.

 

This was a bit of a challenge to quilt as some of the areas are heavily appliqued and some have just a motif on a large background. Trying to keep the quilting balanced and tied together throughout was always on my mind. But what a happy outcome! this has a playful feel, just like the butterflies!

Client was very happy and said she had no idea it could look so good! Praise I always like to hear!

 

On a personal note: New Grandson George

Born May 2 in Hong Kong. Can't wait to see him when I go in June!

Yes, his quilt is in the works!

Quilting along

It has been hard with all the tragedy in the news from Boston to be cheery and upbeat . Quilting really helps as I find my mind gets absorbed into the quilt and what it needs. So it was  perfect that the three quilts up next were for a client's charity. Giving back to comfort someone in the midst of illness. Perfect use for a quilt. That's what I think quilts do anyway is comfort and cheer. At least I am always happy when I see a new quilt! How great of my client Pat to do this.

Here are two of the three done. Simple , but fun. The blue squares quilt has a simple meander in a light blue on it.

And the reddish orange quilt has sunflowers in the fabric, so I did a easy sunflower quilting design in a orangey-red thread.

Both are pretty and will be very welcomed by their recipients. The third is still on the frame and has a train theme. It is quilted with puffs that mimic steam in a light grey. More texture than design on this one as the train fabric is really the star.

 

 

Bargello ..ta da, Done!

Okay, all done. Tried to give you a good view, but this king size just swamps my little queen bed! But isn't it pretty?

My client , Donna, worked very hard on this and her hard work paid off. All the seams match and it quilted beautifully.

We used So Fine 723 variegated top and bobbin and it took 1 and 1/2 cones of thread!

The swirl design really adds movement to the bargello and it looks awesome.

I'm glad it turned out so well as Donna said it was the first and last bargello she was ever going to do!

Beautiful Bargello

Currently working on this lovely , colorful bargello. Pretty colors bringing spring cheer to my studio.

Going Modern

 

This is called Urban Chain by Jenny Pedigo . Another design that uses her Quick Curve ruler. Check it out here

I assembled this at a quilt retreat and put it in the lineup to quilt. It was the perfect pattern as it used fat quarters . I won all these in a game where the prize was a pile of geometric FG's.  I hadn't found a place to use them when I spied this pattern!! They look so great here with the light grey (Kona Ash) .

 

I thought they needed a more mod/geometric quilting design and love how it turned out. I have another of her patterns in the works. A modern Amish DWR. I think Jenny is working on another Modern Double Wedding Ring, so I'll probably do that too when it's available.

 

Since I only do my quilts on the weekends if I feel like quilting.(and who doesn't). Next on today is a client's huge Bargello. Here's a peek:

 

That's about half the quilt as I couldn't get it all in. Lots of seams but gorgeous. We are going with a variegated thread and an allover design. Will post when loaded and I have quilted a few rows.

Hanging Gardens -Part Deux

This beauty is the second Hanging Garden that my client, Barbara Z. has made. All hand pieced!! 2 of them !! This is a gift for her son and wife so she wanted a swirly pattern, but not too fussy.

The blues and green fabric choices really make this a striking quilt. Very pleasing to the eye. 

We chose Culique in white thread as she wanted the pattern to really show on the pieced squares and on the solid blue back.

 

 Signature cotton thread is a bit heavier , but still the backtracking around the swirls is beautiful .

 

 I like how this design stitched out . I expect this will be a favorite design with my customers. Looks good, adds some movement and fun!

Diva Wallet

I finished my Diva Wallet and it was so easy!

I first saw this on Robin Quilts http://robingallagher.blogspot.com/. I thought it looked so cute and doable. I ordered the pattern from City Quilts and the purse hardware from an Etsy , American Purse. I purchased the instant download pdf pattern for the purse. Printed it out and assembled most of it. The frame is the last thing to go on, so I could get it all ready before the frame arrived in a couple days.

You make it in two segments and then put it together. Not hard.

Super easy zipper insert.

The frame really adds that professional look! The hardest part of the whole thing was those itty bitty screws that hold the frame on. They kept rolling away!
This turned out so nice I may have to make another for my sister. I could really have fun with the fabrics and make each card pocket  different ! Ooooh so many options. This took less than 2 fat quarters and I have plenty of those!!

Speaking of FQ's. I came across some interesting articles on organizing your stash and have started in.

This is the greens folded and sorted. Noooo, this isn't all my greens. It doesn't include batik or the dots& stripes. I will get to them later. You can find the articles here.
Back to folding, sorting & quilting.

Spooky

Starting on this great Halloween Baltimore Album!!

Colorful Rainbow Squares

I fell in love with these colors when I saw them in a jelly roll at the Road to California Quilt Show! These are Ombre Hand Dyes by Marcus . The quilt is designed by Nancy Rink for Marcus and is a free pattern. This roll and pattern is also featured on the back of the current Hancock's of Paducah catalog. There are several ways to set these blocks too.

 

Here is the full quilt. 40 X 60 Fun !!!





Close up of Modern Maze 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quilting design is a more modern feel. Pattern is aptly called Modern Maze (Kristy Withers)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Glide variegated thread, Affinity in the Rainbow color was perfect. It behaved like a dream. I used a grayish magna-glide prewound in the bobbin.

This was my weekend personal project and now I must get back to the client quilt that is on the frame. Fun to sneak in some me t ime!

Honeycomb

Pretty batiks! Quilted with Butterscotch Glide thread. Worked like a dream. Sometimes batiks don't play well, but the quilting fairies watched over me!

 

Pattern used to quilt this is Honeycomb. Really like this panto and will surely be using it again.

I like this type of geometric design. Works well on lots of different fabrics. adds texture but doesn't overpower.

Close up of the back. The thread just blended in beautifully.

This is a small baby quilt. Freehand pebbles and flowery design over the rest.

 

Just catching up on my client quilts! What a great variety  I have come through my studio. The best perk of being a longarm quilter!!!