Trifecta - Three Finishes

I might not have been blogging lately, but that doesn't mean I haven't been quilting. I have three projects that have been hanging around far too long, they are now finished.

The first project is a Leah Day panel I purchased from Spoonflower.

I have finished quilting eons ago, I just needed to finish it with a facing. I read abut how to do it, been told it was easy and still I procrastinated.

 I don't know why I so stubbornly avoided doing a facing, it was easy. I followed the tutorial at Silly BooDilly blog. 

The second project was a guild challenge to take a traditional block and make it modern. I chose an Ohio Star.

The guidelines were to make it 24" wide by any length. So I made the star with an improv method.

 I had to add a few bits of my favorite things; corgis and horses.

 I also used the facing technique on this project also.

My third project was my Lizzy House Meadow Quilt; Galloping through the Meadow.

 Simon really wanted in on the action. He is quite photogenic.

I'm linking up with What a Hoot for Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday (TGIFF)!

Color Me Quilty!

Pat

Sketchy Doodle Potholder

Last week I made a set of potholders, which has inspired me to make a few up for Christmas presents. Oh yeah, it's that time of year again. I talked to my stepdaughter and asked if she wanted to team up. She's a fabulous  baker. I thought that a set of potholders and a loaf of applesauce cake or zucchini bread would make a lovely gift. She can make the sweet treats and I can make the potholders.

I love to doodle, always have, what a perfect way to inspire some new potholders. For the set this week, I thought I would use some of my hand dyed fabric and do a Zentangled inspired FMQ. Are people that do Zentangles all children of the 60's? Sure feels that way to me ;)

 This weeks potholders were stitched with Aurifil 50wt thread. I used a layer of Insul-Bright and Warm & Natural batting.

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


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

FMQ Potholder Set Completed

Front

back

I like to practice free-motion quilting, so I decided to have a little fun and create a set of  potholders. I might as well make something useful while practicing. I used two layers of batting, the bottom layer of Insul-Bright and a top layer of Warm & Natural. The thread was a variegated King-Tut, Aurifil 50wt bobbin and Aurifil Invisible thread for the binding.

The quilted designs were just free-form feathers with a lot of echos. Then I just trimmed each one to 9"x 9". Lucky for me, I had just enough leftover binding from another project to go around each one.

I didn't have enough binding to make traditional potholder loops, so I just stitched on a bit of gold ribbon. I think it works.

I think I might have to make up several sets for Christmas presents.

For today though, 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 

All Buttoned and Zipped Up!

My old purse is looking a little shabby. Not surprising really, I made it a year and a half ago. So I decided it was time to make a new one. I have a pattern by Lazy Girl Designs called the City Bag. I have made it a few time (here, here and here), I really like this pattern.

One of the best parts of this bag are the buttons and zipper pull, aren't they WONDERFUL! They are handmade out of glass. My friend Bonnie Scott of Joyful Adornments makes them. You really should check out her website, she has so much more than just buttons.

A Spool Pull, how great is that!

 The inside of the bag has lots of pockets and there is a covered base (a piece of balsa wood cut to size) and sewn in to the bottom.

I chose this bag because it is quite large, perfect to take to a conference I have coming up in September.

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 

A Modern Scottish Baby Quilt Finish

I did have fun designing and making this quilt for a very special cousin. My family is of Scottish descent and  my cousin's husband is also. As a matter of fact, my cousin's husband and family recently visited Scotland. So my goal in making this quilt was to incorporate a Scottish theme. That is easier said than done with a baby quilt. Thistles and plaid made it to the top of my list to use.

I used three shades of yellow and pieced a gingham top.

I used a tattoo design of a Celtic Thistle and used reverse applique' with dark grey fleece. I thought the fleece would be fun for baby to touch.

I found this yellow and grey fabric in my stash that fit it perfectly in both color and size.

I used Aurifil 50wt to piece it together, then tried some new types of threads for quilting. I used Aurifil invisible thread to stitch in the ditch and to stitch my faux piped binding, that worked wonderfully well. Then I used Aurifil 40wt and 28 wt to create the "plaid" with straight line stitching.

I used Quilters Dream Puff batting so that it would be soft for the baby to play on, but yet fabulously washable.

This is Jess, the mama-to-be, her grandma (my aunt) was looking on from behind.

I even took the time to sign my quilt.

The straight line stitching isn't really straight, but the quilt was made with love. Hopefully, that's what the baby and her mama feels when they touch this quilt.

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 

The Modern Quilt Guild/ Michael Miller Fabric Challenge Finish - YIPPEE!!!

Fastest quilt finish I've had in the longest time. Yippee, I finished my MQG/Michael Miller Fabric Challenge quilt. And I'm pleased with the result - The Deconstructed Pinwheel!

The back

This was a fun quilt to make. The finished size is 40" x 55 1/2". I used Quilters Dream Wool batting and of course yummy three different colors of Aurifil 50wt thread.

That empty spool on my Pfaff is my fav, # 5004. Fortunately, I just order some more of it through Hawthorne Threads.

To all my U.S. peeps, Happy Independence Day! To everyone else, Happy Finished Friday!


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


Color Me Quilty!

Pat 

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 

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