Random!

When I first started quilting...I guess it's been around ten years now...I can remember feeling daunted by all the fabric choices out there.  I loved looking at what other quilters were making...and still do...but never really believed I would be able to put random fabric prints together to make the fabulous quilts I would see and love online.  It took a while but I found myself putting together fabric groupings that I was really loving.  I felt like I was finally able to break out of the habit of buying a bundle of fabric from the same line to make quilts...which I still do...but I really started to love the creativity of putting fabric together.  When first buying fabric I would often feel overwhelmed by all the choices...what to buy...what was my personal style...what fabric would work with what I already have at home. In time I realized that if I just bought fabric that I really loved it would all work...and it has (in my opinion)!

Having said all that...I have recently been purchasing fabric here!  This great Canadian online shop has the cutest curated bundles...as well as yardage. 

Here is my latest finish from one of their bundles...

I just love how all these prints work together...the soft salmony  pink and gray, and the pop of orange of navy!

I am also really enjoying not following a pattern...just cutting fabric and putting it back together.

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Another Finish!

I think I'm on a roll here...which is a good thing!  I had finished up this cute little patchwork quilt top ages quite a while ago but was completely stumped as to how to quilt it...

I didn't want to go with my traditional meandering, and straight lines seemed a bit boring.  In the end I came up with a design of slightly wavy lines with leaves interspersed, which I used every second row of quilting with plain wavy lines in between.  Here's a close-up...

I think it turned out pretty good. You can still see all the cute prints without the quilting being too distracting! Coming up with a quilt design was a little challenging with this fabric (Tiger Lily). There are so many directional prints. In the end I decided to do just random patchwork which I really like and I think worked out well. 

How do you quilt your modern quilts? 

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend.

A LOOOOOOOOONG BREAK...BUT A CUTE FINISH JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Okay...seriously...the longest break ever from blogging...and I think my longest title ever!

Anyway...I'm here and I wanted to post about this sweet little quilt I managed to just finish....

I had actually made these blocks ages ago and put them away.  On a recent fabric-buying outing I found this adorable print with tiny hearts and somehow remembered the blocks I had made and thought it would make a perfect backing...

 And it did!  Oh it feels so good to finish up old projects...doesn't it. Especially when they turn out so well!

I was going to list this one in my shop but in the end have decided to donate it to one of the patients at BC Women's Hospital where I volunteer in the high-risk pregnancy ward.  Due to fetal distress, a lot of the patients have been taken to BCW from out of town at a moment's notice without a chance to bring anything with them due.  Most of them are here alone without friends or family.  I like to think I can bring a little comfort to someone who may be lonely and not feeling well and hoping their baby or babies will survive.

Well, my plan is to blog more often this year...but we all know what happens when we make plans!

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!

FABRIC FINDS!

Just what I need...more fabric! I seriously can't help myself. I admit it...I have no control when it comes to fabric. Just when I think I've got things under control, this happens...

I couldn't resist these vintage fabrics...and, of course, I had to throw in a little Cotton and Steel.

If you happen to be in the Penticton area, be sure to drop in to Poppin's Quilt Parlour, one of my favourite quilt shops in BC, and well worth a visit.  They have a wonderful variety of fabric, notions, and patterns, and a great staff, too!

Finally, I couldn't resist this gorgeous Denyse Schmidt  Eastham Jelly Roll. I think Stewart likes it, too!

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. My travels are over for now and it's time for some serious sewing!

Pretty Patchwork!

Oh the joys of simple patchwork! How often I forget the pleasure in putting together patchwork quilts.  I spend so much time looking at patterns, pulling fabrics, making test blocks, studying quilts online, etc., that I miss out on the enjoyment of just sewing and making quilts. To that end, here is a pretty patchwork quilt made with 4 inch squares (cut at 4 1/2 inches)...

I think the backing is the prettiest fabric I have ever found...

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend.

Now...onto those Y-seams!

ANOTHER ONE OFF THE LIST!

Oh it feels good to finish things up, doesn't it?  This cute little quilt had been waiting for it's turn for so long...

 

 

I had a pile of odd-sized pieces of Out to Sea left over from two previous quilts and was determined to eke out another one!  It took a while - lots of moving things around and trimming - but in the end I'm really pleased with the results.  I do love Sarah Jane fabric so!

I'm slowly making my way through my WIPs and it feels sooooo good! This one will be hard to part with but it's headed to the shop!

Linking up with Amanda Jean!

Happy April Fool's Day!



I FINISHED A QUILT!!!

It's been a while...but I actually finished a quilt!  In my own defence, the 440 was in the hospital for an extended stay while having a very expensive part replaced.  She's recuperating at home and we're getting to know each other all over again! (As a side note...don't put off having your machine serviced.  I learned the hard way)! Anyway, here's the finished quilt...

 

I couldn't resist ordering a FQ bundle of Paperie (despite our crashing Canadian dollar). This has got to be some of the sweetest fabric I have ever bought.  This quilt was made with my go-to pattern - what I call a simple 3-patch.  (If you would like the block instructions send me an email!) I had enough bits and pieces left over to cobble together another top which isn't quite done but I will post a picture - promise! It feels great to be back in the saddle again!

 

I will leave you with this adorable picture of my big guy watching me sew...

 

 

The machine you see is my new Janome! While I don't normally name my sewing machines, I'm calling her Janet! I broke down a bought a little machine for the dining room table.  Sometimes I feel isolated in my little sewing room!

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

 





A PRETTY FINISH!

Good morning!  I'm very pleased to say I have a finished quilt to show you today...especially because it is soooo pretty! I fell hard for Milk, Sugar and Flower and bought a complete fat quarter set along with some yardage which I rarely do these days.  I completed three tops in short order and just got around to finishing up one of them...

 

This was the last of the tops and was made with the Crazy Eights pattern which calls for eight fat quarters and finishes at 38 x 45 inches. I think it also lends itself well to scraps. I believe the largest piece is 5 1/2 inches.  Fortunately, I had just enough bits and pieces to squeak out the quilt top and I LOVE the finished product!  I really love all the Penny Rose fabric lines, but this is a particular favourite.

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a spooky weekend!

 

L-O-V-E!!!!

 

That one word pretty much sums up how I feel about this quilt! It was so much fun reaching into my huge scrap bin and pulling out little pieces of fabric at random and trying to remember when I bought the fabric and what I made with it.

 

Of course, this quilt pattern was designed by none other than Amanda Jean, who has been a HUGE inspiration to me since my very early quilting days.  She was the one who made me realize it was okay to just 'go for it' and that I didn't necessarily have to be limited by pattern and colour.

 

It has been an interesting process watching my quilting journey evolve over the years.  For so long, my quilts were inspired by the contrast of colour against white...now, I seem to want colour, colour, colour! Let's see where my journey takes me!

 

If you're interested in whipping up one of these, the pattern can be found here... 



(This is the March/April 2013 issue.)

 



My quilt is a smaller version and measures about 36 x 42 inches. Perhaps it's time for an adult version.

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The First of Many!

I felt it was about time I did a little precision piecing. It seems like most of the quilts I make are fairly simple.  When visiting one of my favourite blogs, I came across a free tutorial for this sweet mini quilt...

 

 

Isn't it adorable?

I have the feeling there are many more of these in my future!

Just when I was feeling all smug about my great piecing skills, I fortunately noticed a little error...

 

 

The free pattern can be found here...one of my favourite blogs.

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Better Late Than Never!

I just realized I completely forgot to post about my May finish!  This is 4/12 in my plan to finish up 12 WIPs this year!

I saw this fabric here, my go-to online Canadian fabric shop and just fell in love with it! I do tend to lean more towards 'girly' fabrics but this one really caught my eye!

 



 

Rocket Age by Riley Blake! I bought a jelly roll and some yardage and put together this cute little rail fence quilt!  I don't know why I took so long to finish it up...I love it!  I've always been drawn to Riley Blake fabrics and this one was no exception. I especially love the back...

 

 

A little vintage-y and great colours for a little boy!

It feels great to finish up some of these projects, and if I can stay on task for the rest of the year, I think most of my UFOs will be done!  What a great feeling!

Have a great weekend!

What I'm Working On!

Or should that be...'what I'm not working on!'

I used to fret about having too many projects on the go. Too many quilt tops, too many partial blocks made, too many stacks of fabric waiting to be cut up, not to mention too many books, patterns, magazines, etc. Fabric to be washed, fabric to be bought, decisions made about what quilt to make with what fabric...anyway, you get the idea...right?!

But slowly I have come to realize...it's not a race.  There is no rush to complete projects other than the simple fact so that I can move on to something else.  And that is precisely why I like having several projects on the go. There is not always time to baste and quilt a project...but there is time to work on blocks, such as these guys...

 



 

Fun to make but a little time-consuming.  When I find myself with a little time to sew, I can sit down at my machine and make a couple of these in half an hour or so!  They are a great way to use up scraps, too! So now, instead of coming into my sewing room and turning around and walking out, I allow myself the simple pleasure of working on whatever project I feel like and whatever time permits!

 

Meow!

Considering my love for cats, I find it strange I have never made a 'cat' quilt and decided it was time to remedy that situation! Using Elizabeth's tutorial, I put together this cute little baby quilt...

 

 

Love it!  I had to use this sweet little mouse print for the centre block...

 



 

And, just because these blocks were so much fun to make, I finished off with this...

 

 

I think I may have to make one of these for myself!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!

 

I'M ON A ROLL (and a long-winded tutorial)!

In keeping with my plan to finish one WIP a month for the next year, here is April's finish...



 

 

A little background about this semi-wholecloth quilt. This started out as an experiment quite a few months ago. I wanted to try making a quilt using the sew and turn method, in other words making a quilt without the need for binding. I was worried about doing FMQ on this type of quilt, but decided to give it a try.  Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures along the way, but let me share with you my method for making this type of quilt! 

I first constructed the top which measures about 34 x 39 inches. I used a cute print for the centre and then simply added a 2 inch strip of solid to the bottom and top and then a coordinating print. 

This is where I got creative. I first sewed the top to the batting.  I cut a piece of batting a little larger than the top. I laid this on top of my ironing board and placed the quilt top on the batting wrong side down. I then pressed the top to the batting one section at a time moving it over the ironing board as I went. I then sewed the quilt top to the batting on my machine about 1/8 inch from the edge all the way around.  This left me with the top and batting as one unit which is much easier to work with than three pieces.

The next step was to sew the quilt top/batting to the backing fabric.  Again, I laid my backing fabric on my ironing board, right side up, and placed the quilt top/batting on top, right sides together, and pressed all three layers together adjusting it on the ironing board as I went. I then sewing them together with a 1/2 inch seem allowance all the way around leaving an opening of about 6 inches.

I turned the quilt inside out, gave it a good press, pin-basted it and did a double row of top stitching around the edge sealing the opening.

The next step was to FMQ it which was the part that made me nervous. With the edges of the quilt sealed I was worried about puckers on the back.  Much to my delight, it turned out perfectly with absolutely no issues.  I even tried a new quilting design, which, although not perfect, I'm pretty pleased with.  Here is a picture so you can see...

 

 

You can even see the little FMQ heart in the corner which I add to all my quilts.

Okay...I think this is my longest post ever. I hope my little tutorial is clear...if not, let me know and I will try to clarify it for you.

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend.

 

March Finish!

Well, I managed to just squeak out my March finish (see previous post)!  I'm determined to keep on track with my plan to finish up one WIP a month for the next year.  It felt great to check this one off my list...

 



 

This is one of my favourite fabric lines!  Good-Natured by Riley Blake! I find myself continually drawn to fabric by this company. This is the second (and last) quilt from the FQ bundle purchased last year.  I had made a larger quilt which I sold at a craft fair and I was left with just enough to put together this little baby quilt and bib! I have a few tiny pieces left which will go into my ever-growing scrap pile bin!

Now...onto April's finish!

 

I'M BACK...WITH A (SELF) CHALLENGE!

Wow!  That was a long unintended break.  I didn't mean to be gone for so long, but sometimes life gets in the way. Anyway, I hope to be here more often from now on!

 

I've decided to start this year off with a challenge to myself. This is something I've done in the past (for example, read the paper every day, give up meat for a year [which led to me becoming a vegetarian]). 

 

This year, my challenge is quilt-related!  Like most quilters, I have a stack of quilts in various stages of completion. Mostly tops...but a few with a little more work to be done.  My challenge is to finish one each month to be either given away or donated. Seems like a realistic goal, doesn't it!  And I will still have lots of time to work on new projects!

 

I didn't manage to get one finished in January (oops) so I will have to make up for that!  Here's my finish for February...

 



 

This sweet little quilt was given to a co-worker. She is thrilled to be expecting a baby girl in a few months and I was happy to pass it on to her!

 

What are your challenges for the year?

 

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend!

 

TWO FINISHES!!!

Just because the blog has been quiet doesn't mean I haven't been sewing up a storm!  Today, I have two finishes to share!

The first is the second quilt made with my leftover bits and pieces of Wee Wander.  This fabric is so adorable and I wish I had bought more. It is so much fun to work with. Here's the finished little quilt...

 

 

I decided to add a little touch of aqua which I think adds some interest to the quilt!  I love how this one turned out!

 

My second finish was made from fabric bought on a whim! I grabbed a pretty charm pack and some yardage with no idea what I was going to do with it. Only after I got it home did I realize the charm pack only contained 30 squares!  What!!!  Uh-oh. After much brainstorming, here's what I came up with...

 

 

Here's another quilt with tons of white!  I actually love how this one turned out!  Sometimes you've got to work with what you've got. Right!

Anyway...these two quilts, along with about 25 others, are headed two a 2-day craft fair I'm doing next weekend!  Like I said above, the blog may be quiet but the Bernina has been busy!

I hope to share more of my finishes over the coming weeks!

For my local readers, I'm doing the Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School Craft Fair November 8-9 in Port Coquitlam. Would love to see you there!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Happy Halloween!

PS. What happened to October (my favourite month)!

 

 

A (FAVOURITE) FINISH!

Firstly, let me say a huge thanks to everyone who commented on my last post!  I'm pretty sure it generated the most comments I have ever received. It made me look at that particular quilt, and all my quilts, actually, in a new light.  Sometimes it's hard to silence that inner critic and listen to my inner creator! 



Anyway, this week I have a finish that I truly love! I've had a stack of Wee Wander marinating on my shelf for quite some time just waiting for the perfect quilt.  These prints lend themselves well to fussy cutting. I have to say, though, I have mixed feelings about fussy cutting.  While I love cutting out the little motifs, I absolutely hate wasting my precious fabrics. In the end, though, it had to be done.  Here is my finished quilt!

 

 

I'm really happy with the way it turned out. This is my own pattern that I created specifically for prints that work well with fussy cutting. This is my second quilt with the pattern (I sold the first one at a craft fair last year)!  I'm not sure I will be able to let this one go. I may have to save it for someone special!  We'll see! 

Have a great weekend everyone.

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish it Up Friday!

 

A QUESTION!

What do you do when you're working on a quilt you absolutely CAN'T STAND?  Do you power through and finish it or add it to your pile of WIPs, perhaps never to be finished or re-visited at a much later date? This has happened a few times to me in the past few months.  One has moved to the bottom of the pile and the other I decided to power through and finish!  I'll start with the back...

 



 

I love this elephant print. I bought quite a large piece of it awhile back and pieced a matching top! I really wanted to make another quilt using this as the back.  I only had a few small pieces of coordinating prints of tiny turquoise and orange elephants.  Here's the finished quilt...

 

 

I'm really not in love with this, but it has grown on me a tiny bit. It's no secret I love using white in my baby quilts, practical or not, but this is too much white even for me! Perhaps I would have liked it more had I used a different colour instead of the white!  Anyway, I would love to know what you do with your not so loved WIPs.  

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

 

ANOTHER FINISH!

Oh it feels good to finish a quilt, doesn't it!  This one has been on my list for a while!  Inspiration struck when I picked up a cute little animal print while on vacation in July. It came from a great quilt shop in Oliver, B.C., a short 15 minute drive from Osoyoos where we spent a week in the sweltering Okanagan heat! Unfortunately, the shop is closing, but fortunately for me everything was on sale!  Anywhere, here is my little finished quilt...

 

This picture shows a little of the back...

 

I decided to quilt it with straight lines about 1.5 inches apart. I really like how this quilt turned out and how the colours pop against the white! It came together really quickly and it was a great way to use up some of my never-ending scraps, too!

Linking up with Amanda Jean for Finish It Up Friday!  Be sure to check out her FABULOUS EPP quilt.  I'm so jealous!