A Bunch of Crosses

I have been on a roll in the past little while with sewing projects from my books. This time I was feeling a little down and needed a pick me up, a “selfish sewing” project! I decided to make a pillow for our living room with the few Amy Butler Cameo prints that I had. I pulled out Pillow Pop and found Katy’s pattern for “a bunch of crosses” happened to required the exact number of prints that I had. So I went with it. So glad that I did.

I have to say that I haven’t made a 2.5” patchwork project yet. It was a little finicky but completely worth it! I am glad that I had seen and read a lot of tips on matching up seams on such little squares. I really enjoyed making this pillow. I love how green and pretty it is! I quilted in straight lines with a light silver Aurifil thread #2600 which blended perfectly.

That blue print reminds me of my Grandma. She use to live in a house with a sitting room in the front entry. It was called the blue room. She had wall paper with drawings of people in blue, blue carpet, couches with blue flowers…I think you get the idea. I use to have piano lessons in that room. Oh the memories.

This pillow measures at about 20” It is sitting on our loaner couch right now… we really need to go buy a couch! A comfy couch! I do look forward to making a few more Amy Butler pillows with some of my pretty fabric stash. I sure missed out on a few lines though since I have come late to the quilting scene, lol. Oh well.

linking to Needle and Thread Thursday and Finish up Friday

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Fall 2013

I am excited to share my Lilly Belle quilt for this blogger's quilt festival. I started this quilt back in January and finished the top within days then it sat and I struggled with how I was going to quilt it. I finally worked up the courage to free motion quilt it with some encouragement of others. Finishing it in July! I used a pattern designed by Faith at Fresh Lemon Quilts but modified it slightly by switching the directions of the “waves” and making it bigger!

 

I free motion quilted it only on the solid in a back and forth pattern. I was super proud that I struggled through this quilt. It is far from perfect but it is mine.

 

This quilt measures at about 60” by 75”. There are 8 prints from the Lilly Belle collection by Bari J. plus one Tula Pink called Sprout from Parisville and one Amy Butler called Martini in mustard from Midwest Modern. The solid is Kona Bone. It is quilted in Aurifil #2026 which matches perfectly! The binding is Joel Dewberry’s herringbone print. Backing is a Henry Glass quilt backing print.

 

We even took my quilt on our family picture shoot last week. I am so happy that I was able to have a homemade quilt that I made in our pictures! I love my family and I love the fact that I can wrap them in my love. I am so glad that I started quilting almost two years ago. It has been a incredible journey so far!

Linking to the Blogger’s Festival. You should go check it out! Mine is in the home machine quilted category.

Test run

My daughter has asked me to make her a bigger quilt. She fell in love with a Fat quarter bundle I had ordered. I decided to test the On the Whim block (a Thimble and Blossom pattern found here) before cutting into the fat quarters. There was some  leftover fabrics (Beechwood Park) from Miss L’s bird quilt so I decided to use that.

 

The solid is Kona Silver. It is such a nice color!

We even had enough for the back, Yay! I really need to go get the right size of pillow form! At the moment we some pillows in there as a temporary fix. Miss L really wanted to use it while cuddling on the couch. Apparently I have been asked to make more pillows. They are for sure on the list!

This block came together pretty nicely. There were some whether to trim or not to trim the pieces of the blocks but Megan helped me out since she has a lovely finished quilt top! I am hoping that I will be able to meet up some the the seams a little better on Miss L’s big quilt but I think that no one will notice but me I am sure, lol.

Linking to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts

A Sliced Four Patch Quilt

Guess what?! I actually used one of my quilting books again! Some days I am accused of not using them. When I bought  Modern Designs for Classic Quilts I really wanted to try the sliced four patch quilt pattern. So when I found out that a friend was having a baby soon I thought it was a perfect chance to make it!  (Especially since she was so sweet to me when I was having my first baby!)

This quilt reminded me of my very first quilt that I started, a disappearing nine patch. (which sat on the rocking chair and now keeps me warmer on my side of the bed until I get my chopsticks quilt made) Making this baby quilt helped me see how much I have grown and learned since April 2012. That I can actually call myself a quilter, lol. That matching points do get me excited!

Although the book said to square these off at 10.5 inches that was not possible. Perhaps my seams weren’t scant enough. (I do use a 1/4” foot.) I squared them off at 10” instead. Leaving this quilt to measure at an approx. 37.5” square

It is backed in some more dots! I think that this quilt has a dot and transportation theme to it! You will see some more of these fabrics in another quilt soon!

I hope that this quilt sees a lot of tummy time and cuddle time. I am super thrilled with how it turned out. (So is my husband. I love it when he likes what I make!) Plus it was fun to make!

Linking to Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Finish it up Friday at crazy mom quilts.

a rosette needle book

Last year I made my Mom a small needle book and AMH wild flower pincushion for her birthday. This year she “suggested” I make her a large needle book in the same fabrics if I had them. Since her birthday is at the end of November I am totally ahead of schedule!

I made the “Rosette Needle Book” by Tasha Bruecher from her book hexa go-go. I love this book! So inspiring! One day I will start a big quilt but for now I am sticking to smaller projects. I had a hard time deciding on the middle of the rosette but then I found a little scrap with the word “stitch” from Memoir to fussy cut. I thought it was fitting for a needle book.

This needle book can keep quite a few needles. It measures at 5 3/4” by 4 1/2” with four pages within! I love that there is a pocket in here! I keep extra needle packs and my bees wax in mine!

In case you were wondering my Mom’s favourite color is pink, lol.

Linking to Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story