Charmed

I did finish my Charming Squares quilt this week, that's three quilt finishes in the last three weeks. I don't expect I will be able to keep up this pace, but it is nice to get some of these lingering quilts finished. I had a little fun with the photography. There is this great giant turtle (or is it a tortoise) at a playground in Ithaca. It's very cold, maybe it needs a quilt?

Wasn't my husband a good sport for getting up there and holding my quilt? He did it even through he thought I was crazy!

I quilted every other square with a different motif, although there is an echoing theme throughout. The borders were done with feathers, but still, just every other square. I had a great time quilting this quilt.

Charming Squares Quilt Specifications:
Size 92"L x 58"W
Pieced and quilted with lovely Aurifil 50wt (#5004) thread
Unfortunately used cheap high loft poly batting (won't do that again, even if the final quilt looks cool)
Design is my own, but not really original. Used a charm pack of Valerie Wells Wrenly and then cut some miscellaneous solids.


Today, I'm linking up with FMQ Project Friday, TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop and Finish It Up Friday


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

WIP Wednesday: Still Cold, Still Quilting!!!!!

Another week in the arctic blast zone - teens and single digits. I realize that I live in the north and winter should be cold, but by this time of year the temps should start to be above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. How else are we going to get maple syrup?????

The good thing about this weather is that I have been quilting. Oh yes, for the third week in a row, I have finished another quilt on the WIP list, Charming Squares. I will have full pictures on Friday, but here's a sneak peek.

 I've always loved pictures of quilts rolled up, just showing the binding!

I've also gotten a little more done on my Pantone quilt 2014.

 I just have to finish the top two blocks and then carefully sew them all together matching up the stripes. I'm really quite pleased with how graphic this quilt is turning out. I keep thinking about how it would look with other color combinations. Might be fun to play around with some different colors and sizes.

I've also been playing around with how to quilt this thing. 

I'm not sure I like this, I might have to do a little more fiddling around and trying some different options.

Here are this week's stats:
In-process: (5)
Express Your Love
Humphrey's New Bed
Casserole Carrier
Mod Ovals Quilt
Pantone Quilt 2014
 
New projects: (0) 

Finished (1)
Charming Squares Quilt

I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Charming Squares Ready for Binding

Could it be that I might be able to finish a third quilt in a row for Friday? Yesterday, I finished FMQ my Charming Squares quilt. I even got the quilt trimmed and the binding made.

I do have several other projects that need attention this week, so we'll just have to see if I can pull off this hat trick!

Linking up for Anything Goes Monday over at Stitch by Stitch!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Red Window Quilt - Warmth on a Cold February Day

I was able to get outside and take some pictures even though it was a bit overcast and starting to get dark. Humphrey insisted that he should get in on this action. I think he adds something to the quilt, don't you?

Another finish in February, makes up for no finishes in January. I made this quilt to "practice/test" my new Baby Lock Tiara machine - I think Betty-Lou (I name all of my machines) passed.

The quilt turned out very soft and cuddly

FMQ Wiggly Lines

FMQ Paisley

FMQ Swirls

I didn't use any batting, just simple brown fleece for the backing. I think the quilting really shows up well with this combination. I really like how the red binding sets off the whole quilt, even the back.

There were a few thread "burps" on the back, it really helps when you learn to thread your machine correctly. The quilt dimensions are 59"wide  X 71"long, a generous throw. The Red Window quilt is my own design.

 Today, I'm linking up with FMQ Project Friday, TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop and Finish It Up Friday


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

WIPping it Up!

Well last week I finished my Grandma's quilt and this week I finished my Red Window quilt. I like the red binding. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can get some good pictures of it for a Friday finish post.

And since I have taken two quilts off my WIP list in the last two weeks, you know I have to put a new one on. I started a 2014 Pantone quilt challenge quilt in radiant orchid. I'm pretty excited about this quilt so far.

The bottom two blocks are 28" x 28", so I will only need six blocks in total.  It's going pretty quickly, although it would have been quicker if I had used a Jelly Roll. I think before I'm done it will take about 84 - 2 1/2" WOF strips. LOTS of cutting, but a very graphic effect.

Here are this week's stats:
In-process: (5)
Express Your Love
Charming Squares Quilt
Humphrey's New Bed
Casserole Carrier
Mod Ovals Quilt
 
New projects: (1) 
Pantone Quilt 2014

Finished (1)
Red Windows Quilt

I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Radiant Orchid - Pantone Color of the Year Quilt Challenge

The other day I stumbled upon the Pantone Color of the Year Quilt Challenge hosted by On the Windy Side and Play Crafts. This year's color is Radiant Orchid.

Of course, this is the actual Pantone swatch, so it doesn't exactly match my fabric, but I think it's pretty close.

My fabric is a pretty bright purple, hopefully close to the correct color.

 

 

 

Here is the start to my quilt, the first two blocks.

Each block is 28 inches square. I'm planning on six blocks.

Anyway, I'm kind of excited about this quilt - very graphic, I think.

I'm linking up with a Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday and Free-Motion by the River for Linky Tuesday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

You Can't Buy Happiness, But You Can Buy Fabric!

A bit out of the way, but worth the drive. Golden Lane Fabrics, Rt 14A, just south of Penn Yan, NY (This is their new location).

 You can't buy happiness, but you can buy fabric and that's pretty close to nirvana. I was very, very bad this morning. Golden Lane Fabrics was having their annual 15% off everything in the store. The prices are already good, with this sale, the prices are outstanding. They have a lot of Moda fabric and quite a fair few Bella solids. Solids are normally $6.00/yard, $5.10 with 15% off. Tell me you wouldn't stock up. ;)

They also have a few more modern prints.

Needless to say, I bought way too much fabric (if there is such a thing). But it was sew much fun.

Here's my haul, minus some rotary blades that I forgot to put in the picture. The 12 fat quarters in the front are for my friend Kate, hope she likes them.

Linking up for Anything Goes Monday over at Stitch by Stitch!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Wrapped in Grandma's Love

What better than to show the finished pictures of my Grandma's quilt on Valentine's Day. My Gramma Luke was one of the "Craftiest" women I've ever known. She could knit, crochet, tat, sew and do just about any other craft fad of the day. Although, I learned to sew from many in my family, including my mom, it was Gramma Luke who spent the hours helping practice sewing when I was really little - she had endless patience with me.

I found this quilt top folded among my mother's quilt stash. I knew it was my Grandmother's (my mom's mom)work. Originally, I thought it was made in the 1940's or 50's, but it make have been pieced as early as the 1930's. I was sure that my Gramma would love me to finish it.

Although it's hard to see, I used a swirl flower quilt design down each pink row and stitch in the ditch around the little squares.

I used Aurifil 50wt cotton, beige #2000. Love this thread! I used Quilters Dream low-loft cotton batting.

I chose this fabric for the back, somehow it just works. I think I did a pretty good job piecing it (straight up the middle).

It's a bit of an odd size 68" wide X 78" long and it's pink, not really my color, but it does feel like I'm wrapped in love when I cuddle in it.

 Today, I'm linking up with FMQ Project Friday, TGIFF, Link-A-Finish Friday, and Finish It Up Friday

Happy Valentine's Day! Wrap yourself in a little love today!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

WIPping It Into Shape

So close and yet so far. I am making lots of progress on my WIP, just a lot of binding left to do. I did finish binding my Grandma's quilt with the binding all hand stitched down.

I also finished quilting my Express Your Love/Goddess quilt and even washed and blocked it so that it lays flat.

 I really would like to just turn the edge and not put a traditional binding on this quilt. I'm not sure exactly how that will make the back look. Maybe I will add a piece of fabric to cover the back and cover the turned edge. Guess I will have to think about it for a bit.

I have continued FMQ my Charming Squares quilt.  I decided to keep quilting every other block for the border, but quilt an ongoing feather in each block.  I think it works.









Sew all-in-all, a pretty productive week. Hopefully I will be able to get out and take some pictures for some Friday finishes (which isn't going to happen right now, since it's -7 degrees F, BRRRR).


Here are this week's stats:
In-process: (6)
Express Your Love
Charming Squares Quilt
Red Windows Quilt
Humphrey's New Bed
Casserole Carrier
Mod Ovals Quilt
 
New projects: (0) 

Finished (1)
Grandma's Quilt

I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

 

Color Me Quilty!

Pat