Monday, June 30, 2014

Design Wall Monday

Last week had started designing my MQG Michael Miller challenge quilt. Not only did I finish the quilt top, I've gotten quilt a bit of the quilting done.

I think this design could be called a Deconstructed Pinwheel, a modern graphic design (at least that is my intention).
Front - Deconstructed Pinwheel

Back
Now I have a new quilt started up on my design wall, well actually just some pieces of my next project. It too is another baby quilt. The theme is "modern Scottish".

A very simple tonal plaid

A Celtic Thistle "tattoo" The thistle is the Scottish symbol.

 Three soft yellows.

Today I'm linking up with Stitch by Stitch for Anything Goes Monday and Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Friday, June 27, 2014

Quilt Top Finish: MQG Michael Miller Challenge

Funny how a looming deadline gets you moving on a project. It motivated me to get this quilt top finished so that I can get to the fun part, FMQ!!!


The top ended up larger than I thought it would be approximately 41" x 57", a nice sized baby quilt. I used all of the fabric (plus purchasing a little extra) of the challenge fabric and I added the warm dark grey solid. The goal for this weekend is to get is basted and start quilting.

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


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

WIP Wednesday

I feel like I'm finally getting back into the groove of quilting and blogging. I made some progress this week.


First thing, I finished my Tree Quilt. Pretty pleased with the results.

Back of the Tree quilt
I also got started designing my Michael Miller MQG Challenge quilt, which by the way has to be completed by July 25th!



Here are this week's stats:
In-process: (4)
Express Your Love
Humphrey's New Bed
Mod Ovals Quilt
Pantone Quilt 2014
 
New projects: (1) 
Michael Miller MQG Challenge quilt



Finished (1)
Tree Quilt

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


Color Me Quilty!
Pat

Monday, June 23, 2014

Designing My Michael Miller Challenge Quilt

I love to design quilts, it's my absolute favorite part of quilting. I even like it better than free-motion quilting, and that's saying something. The only question is; does it turn out like what I see in my head vs. reality? This is for the Michael Miller quilt challenge through the Modern Quilt Guild.
My sketch of the design, inspired by this graphic design I found on Pinterest


I don't have all the pieces cut yet (many of them are just set in as color blocks at this point) and I had to order some more the coral/clementine color fabric. Each of the members of our modern quilt guild (IMQG), got an eighth of a yard of 6 different fabrics. We could add solids or Michael Miller prints. Needless to say this will be a fairly small baby quilt about 35"x 39". I'm already planning the FMQ.  So I ordered Aurifil thread to match some of the fabrics and I've already decided to use Quilters Dream Wool batting. LOVE both so much.

Today I'm linking up with Stitch by Stitch for Anything Goes Monday and Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Friday, June 20, 2014

A Finished Tree Quilt


Finally, finally!!! I finished my Tree quilt. Pretty happy with the outcome. So what do you think?


 




 I decided on a faux piped binding with three chunks of the dark teal mixed added. I love the fact that the teal ended up going around the bottom corner of the quilt.

 

 This is the trunk of the tree that I see outside my sewing room window. I think I see the inspiration.





I am more than a little pleased with the Quilters Dream Wool batting, I will most definitely be using that again. The quilt is incredibly soft for having this much quilting on it. I really have come to the conclusion that Quilters Dream batting, whether it's their cotton, poly, puff or wool really makes a huge difference when FMQ compared to any other batting. It just quilts sooooo much smoother. Of course it goes without saying that I'm also a huge fan of Aurifil thread. I used about three large spools of Aurifil #5004 50wt. thread on this quilt (large throw sized).


I think the back looks pretty good too. Just don't look too close at the teal areas. The weave of that fabric was a bit loose and just didn't handle the quilting well. Live and learn I guess.

This was quilted on my BabyLock Tiara (a sit down mid-arm machine).


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


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

WIP Wednesday: Almost a Finish!

Woohoo, I finished quilting my Tree quilt last night and got it trimmed. Now I just need to make and add the binding.




I was really disappointed with the teal fabric. I picked it up at Keepsake Quilting last year because it had an interesting texture.
But I had trouble piecing and quilting it. I will not use it again EVER! Look at the back (none of the tucks happened in the regular fabric portions.)



There is nothing like using quality products in your quilt! Love the Aurifil thread and Quilters Dream Wool batting (I will DEFINITELY be using that again)! The quilt is amazingly soft, even with all the quilting. I'm sure I can find someone to love this quilt, even with the tucks in the back!

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

Finished (0)
 
I'm linking up with  Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!



Color Me Quilty!
Pat

Friday, June 6, 2014

Free Motion Friday

Hello, sorry I've been gone so long. I've been working on getting healthy. Walking 30 minutes EVERY morning, walking more throughout the day, lifting some hand weights and stretching. Also, I have been on the Paleo diet, which is the easiest thing in the world to stay on, but there is quite a bit of prep work. It is paying off, I've lost 23 lbs in 8 weeks!  But, I really miss blogging and of course quilting.

So now that this new lifestyle is becoming a little more of a habit, I've had some time to sit down and quilt. I've made some progress on my Tree quilt.

 I like that the "rings" of the quilt, starting with the trees, then the leaves, stacked wood/tree rings, wood grain, radiate out from the center.


 The love the texture of the Quilters Dream Wool batting with my favorite Aurifil 50wt thread!


The back looks kind of cool too, good texture.

I should be back much more regularly now. Today I'm linking up with the lovely Leah at the Free Motion Project for the Free Motion Quilting Project Link Up

Color Me Quilty!

Pat