Quilt Folding Contest!

Me thinks it’s time to have some of these students over as exchange students – in exchange for teaching me how to  fold all my quilts!!

[image source:  Daily Mail, UK]

Click here to find out more.

Curious mind wants to know if you need tips folding your quilts.  I know I do – because mine are definitely not folded as neatly as shown in the photo.  Please also share your tips on quilt-folding if you have them.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope to get out there and photographs more recently featured magazine quilts this week — but I heard from a friend it’s supposed to storm tomorrow and the day after.  We will see… but either way, I will lots more to share with you on my blog this week.  Hugs to you all!

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Chevron: Final Sneak Peek

Hello Friends!  It’s been totally crazy at my end.  I am not sure what happened, but by the time I got to the quilting part (finally!), there were less than 24 hours before I had to ship my Chevron quilt.  So you can imagine the frenzy at my end.  Anyway, the quilt is now on its way to the editor.  And here is a final sneak peek for you…

You could empathize (couldn’t you?) with my feather withdrawal after quilting my recent quilts without incorporating any feathers…

There is actually a really sweet twist to the design.  I am having a hard time keeping myself from revealing it to you right now… but I shall keep myself in check.  Stay tuned for details.  And I want to wish you a great week!

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Chevrons: Sneak Peek #1

Happy Friday, Friends!  I hope you have had a good week!  Mine has gone by quickly, as most weeks do at my end.  I started another quilt – a Chevron quilt!  I finally get to work on a Chevron quilt, and I am excited!

And I get to play with these happy and cheerful fabrics to make the quilt.  Most of them are from Riley Blake’s newly released Madhuri fabric collection.  You will have to get these fabrics for yourself QUICK if you like them.  I have a feeling they won’t last long in the market.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a blessed weekend.

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Information: Lynette Anderson’s WOODLAND SECRETS BOM

Hello Friends,

Quite a few of you wrote and asked about information on Lynette Anderson‘s WOODLAND SECRETS Block of the Month Stitchery Quilt, using Lynette’s latest fabric line Wildflower Wood.  Click here to view more pictures of the quilt.

[image source:  Lynette Anderson Designs]

[image source:  Lynette Anderson Designs]

STITCHERY & QUILT PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS: Click here to order from Little Quilt Store.

FABRICS: Click here to order from Fat Quarter Shop.  Fabrics are expected to ship at the end of May 2013.

IF YOU LIVE IN CANADA, Lynette Anderson will be teaching next week at Chicken Feed Quilts (Coaldale, Alberta) and Lori’s Country Cottage (Edmonton, Alberta) — both shops will have the Wildflower Wood yardages then.  Contact the respective shops for further details on Lynette’s appearances.

That’s all for now, Dear Friends!  Stay tuned for more Wildflower Wood awesome-ness!!

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Pattern Play in QUILT (June/July 2013)

Happy Tuesday, Friends!  I am excited to share with you today my Pattern Play quilt that is featured in QUILT‘s latest June/July 2013 issue.

This quilt was a most fun quilt to make.

The fabrics used (Mediterranean Dream by Quilting Treasures) invoke the feel of Mediterranean mosaic tile floors, but with a more contemporary interpretation in the colors.

This is one of my favorite shots because the shade of the new tender spring grass in the background matches the greens in the quilt perfectly.

And of course, none of my designs seem complete unless they have tiny pieces, or in this case, narrow sashings, ha!  I am telling you, I have a disease!!  That green sashing is 1/4″ wide.

Quilting was done with Aurifil Mako 50 Cotton threads, over Hobbs Tuscany Silk batting.  The motif is an allover swirly flower motif that is an embellishment of my swirly vine motif.  I have posted about the schematic of the motif here.

Hopefully, you can sort of see how the motif plays out on the quilt in this next photo.

I also made three accompanying pillows for the photo shoot.  The pattern of that front pillow is available for download on QUILT’s website here.

[Image Source:  QUILT magazine]

Before I forget, kits to make this quilt are available for purchase from Quilting Connection (phone: 540-334-5146).  Click here to order the kits online.

You might recall I had also designed another quilt using the same fabrics for Quilting Treasures where the pattern instructions are available for free download.  Click here for details.

Thanks for stopping by.  Here is to a lovely rest of the week!  Hugs to you all.

***

My 2013 lineup thus far besides “Pattern Play” – click on project names for more information:

Annie’s Love Those Precuts Book (January 2013):  Apple of My Eye

Annie’s Sweet Layer Cakes Book (April 2013): Sunburst Melody

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Spring 2013): Baubles, Baubles

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Curious Cats

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Fabrique Foursome

Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting (March/April 2013):  Now I know my ABC’s

Machine Quilting Unlimited (March/April 2013): Quilting Curvy Feathers

QUILT (June/July 2013): Color Burst

Quilt-it…today (July/August 2013): Yay Day, to be posted

Quilt Trends (Winter 2013, Cover Quilt): Tango

Quilts and More (Spring 2013): 2 Wishes

Quilts and More (Spring 2013):  Watercolor Sketches

Quilter’s World (February 2013): New Life

Quilter’s World (April 2013): Monkey Around

Quilter’s World (Summer 2013): Garden Mist, to be posted

Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): In & Out

Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): Garden Maze

Simple Quilts & Sewing (Spring 2013):  Stained Glass

The Quilter (December 2012/January 2013): Not Too Square

The Quilter (April/May 2013):  In the Meadow

Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Pumpkin Patch/Autumn Fauna

Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Flora Linda/Catalina

Lecien Free Pattern, Lynette Anderson (April 2013):  Forest Floor/Wildflower Wood

Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (January 2013): Mediterranean Dream

Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (February 2013): Butterfly Kisses

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Linkage: Sneak Peek #1

Hello Friends,

I am a little late on my Friday post — that’s because I have been crazy busy working on my Linkage quilt.  Here is a sneak peek for you…

It’s been FUN making this quilt.  Details on the design will be revealed in due time.  Meanwhile, I hope you have a most lovely Mother’s Day weekend!  Hugs to you all!

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FREE PATTERN: Forest Floor

Hello Friends, a couple of months ago I had the privilege to design for Lynette Anderson, using her newly released fabric line Wildflower Wood, produced by Lecien.

And I am happy to share with you the free to use pattern that accompanies these cute fabrics, “Forest Floor” is available for download.

Click here to download the free pattern in pdf format.

Click here to view the fabric swatches – you simply HAVE to take a look at the imagery on these fabrics.

***

Other related Wildflower Wood items include:

1.  Lynette’s book “Stitch it for Spring” that has projects using Wildflower Wood fabrics.  Click here to read more.

[image source:  Lynette Anderson Designs]

2.  Forest Friends Stitchery/Button/Ribbon Project.  Click here to read more.

[image source:  Lynette Anderson Designs]

3.  Woodland Secrets BOM Stitchery Quilt.  Click here to read more.

[image source:  Lynette Anderson Designs]

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you will have fun perusing Lynette’s beautiful work and products!  I will see you again tomorrow.

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Sunburst Melody in SWEET LAYER CAKES by Annie’s

Quick public announcements before I proceed with today’s post…

#1.  Annie’s is having a 50% sale on online classes.  Just thought I would share that with you in case you are thinking about signing up for my “Learn to Machine Quilt” online class.

#2.  A special note to dear reader Kathy Buicks — my emails to you keep bouncing back!!  Do you have a new email address I can use?

***

Hello Friends!  It’s wonderful to have you visit again!  Today I am sharing with you my Sunburst Melody quilt that is featured in Annie’s recently released Sweet Layer Cakes book.  I thought a little bit of sunburst is in order since we have been having rain for the last few days, and we are supposed to have rain the rest of the week.

This is a happy quilt, to be sure!  It was fun making the blocks in different happy colors!  I incorporated a few black/gray blocks as contrast to the other happy colored blocks, and as a reflection of how my life is.  The presence of the occasional dark moments in my life makes me appreciative of the sweeter and happier moments.

More importantly, I know my life is refined by those “sanctioned by God” dark moments mixed in with the happier moments.

This quilt uses Riley Blake’s Shades 10″ Stackers, and Riley Blake yardages from Good Life, and Hello Sunshine collection.  Click on the names to see the full range of fabrics.  Incidentally, Riley Blake’s Shades fabrics are some of my favorite solid/mottled fabrics!

The construction of my sunburst blocks involves paper-piecing (sunburst part) and curve piecing (quarter circle part).  I found that with that many seams on the sunburst part, it was easier to curve piece the quarter circles by hand.  I seem to have more control that way.  Just thought I would throw that in for those who will be attempting the project.

This quilted is pieced and quilted entirely using Aurifil‘s Mako 50 Cotton threads.  The batting I used is Hobbs Tuscany Silk batting.  Quilting was kept to quilting in the ditches because I felt like quilting on the sunbursts would prove to be a little distracting.  I just wanted the sunbursts to pop as they are.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you liked my Sunburst Melody — and here is to sunburst wherever you are!

I will catch up with you later!

***

My 2013 lineup thus far besides “Sunburst Melody” – click on project names for more information:

Annie’s Love Those Precuts Book (January 2013):  Apple of My Eye

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Spring 2013): Baubles, Baubles

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Curious Cats

Fons and Porter Easy Quilts (Summer 2013): Fabrique Foursome

Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting (March/April 2013):  Now I know my ABC’s

Machine Quilting Unlimited (March/April 2013): Quilting Curvy Feathers

QUILT (June/July 2013): Color Burst

QUILT (June/July 2013): Pattern Play, to be posted

Quilt Trends (Winter 2013, Cover Quilt): Tango

Quilts and More (Spring 2013): 2 Wishes

Quilts and More (Spring 2013):  Watercolor Sketches

Quilter’s World (February 2013): New Life

Quilter’s World (April 2013): Monkey Around

Quilter’s World (Summer 2013): Garden Mist, to be posted

Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): In & Out

Quilter’s World QUICK & EASY QUILTS (Spring 2013): Garden Maze

Simple Quilts & Sewing (Spring 2013):  Stained Glass

The Quilter (December 2012/January 2013): Not Too Square

The Quilter (April/May 2013):  In the Meadow

Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Pumpkin Patch/Autumn Fauna

Benartex Free Pattern (March 2013): Flora Linda/Catalina

Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (January 2013): Mediterranean Dream

Quilting Treasures Free Pattern (February 2013): Butterfly Kisses

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Go away, wonkiness!

Scenario: The idea of piecing squares into larger square units oftentimes seem as a no-brainer.  Just how hard is it to just sew a bunch of squares together, say 16-1 1/2″ squares into a larger square unit?

Utter Frustration:  That was usually the state of my mind  quite quickly into the piecing process because the pieced square unit looks NOTHING square-ish!  I ended having to try to trim to square up the block, but then find that there’s really nothing to trim because the whole unit was wonky etc… and then, I have to spend hair-pulling moments trying to think of a way to fudge… and the list goes on.

However, I had a totally different experience this last time because….[assuming your piecing is generally pretty accurate at a scant 1/4"]

and all because, I did not immediately press open my 1 1/2″ strips after piecing them, I think that’s what fixed the wonkiness… read on to see what I mean.

1.  This is what my two 1 1/2″ strips looked like fresh off the sewing machine after being pieced together.  Can you say “wonky”?

2.  I carefully pressed the strips on both sides without pulling on/stretching the strips.  Now you don’t see the waviness anymore.

3.  In the past, I would go ahead and press open the strips.  I didn’t do it this time.  I went and cut out my pieced strips at 1 1/2″ interval as is (because I wanted my squares to finish at 1″), shown in the following picture.

4.  Next I finger pressed the pieced square units open.  I feel the heat from the iron would distort the weave somewhat at this point.  Though that distortion might not be much when we are talking about squares that are 4″, it would make a difference where 1″ finished squares are concerned.

5.  Then, I just pieced as usual.  With a 4 x 4 matrix, I went ahead and made four 2 x2 units, and then sewed the units together.  Below you see a 2 x 2 unit — and you can see that it is quite squared up.  I would go ahead and square the 2 x 2 units at this point, and found that there might just be a thread or so that I have to trim away.

You can also see that my 2×2 unit is centered right where it’s supposed to be, at the 1 1/4″ markings on my ruler.

6.  Here you see I have sewn four 2 x 2 units together to make my 4 x 4 square unit.  I did go ahead and square up the 4 x 4 units after assembly, and found that there was very little to be trimmed off, and the unit centered right where it should.

This is no joke — the below unit, measuring right at 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ for a finished 4″ patch, is what went into a larger pieced block.

I made 25 of these units to go into 25 blocks for my newly finished quilt, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.  No wonkiness, only happiness!

***

NOW, I would like you to try it out to see if my little trick works for you to chase away the wonkiness.  I dearly would like to know.

Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you have had a good week so far.  Hugs to you all.

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Jewels, Jewels: Sneak Peek

Hello Friends,

Happy Monday to you!  You remember me talking about those 400 1″ finished squares that I was making for a new quilt?  Here is a sneak peek for you.

The squares are selected from these stacks of fabrics.  By the time the quilt is finished, I would have about 65 different fabrics incorporated in the quilt.

I am under the gun to get this quilt out the door — so that I can start on a new one, ha!  Come back tomorrow for a little trick I discovered in making those 4 x 4 matrices of 1″ squares nice and squared up, without a hint of wonkiness!  Later…

Do tell me what you are working on this week.

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