::Binding Line-Up::

Ok, I’m going to go finish sewing the binding down on this quilt,

so I can start sewing the binding down on this one.  I’ve certainly had my fair share of quilt tops in need of quilting, but this is a first when it comes to a line up for binding!

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::Flash Back::

In what seems like a lifetime ago I spent my winters in a not-so-little-now fishing village called Troncones in Guerrero Mexico.  My friend and I would load up the truck with our bikes, my dog Fe and our bikinis to make the three day drive from Flagstaff.

I feel fortunate to have done this, I love the people of Mexico, admire their love of family and of course L-O-V-E their food.  I have loads of the funny kinds of stories one would have when language isn’t always clear.  I however can not top Jefe telling some senoritas that he was pregnant, nor will I forget them bursting into laughter.

The mercados would be full of kitchy folklore influenced goods that I thought of when I spotted this fab Alexander Henry at Quiltsandwich.  I instantly ordered two yards ( Cartas Marcadas).  This morning I made some napkins to replace the tattered.  I’ve been eating up a few of my choice Alexander Henry novelty fabrics  by making napkins, so I’ll likely have some more to show you soon.

I added a few ‘active solids’ I’ve been eyeing.  I’ve had a thing for gray lately because I fell in love with this simple quilt.  The woodgrain is so subtle on the Michael Miller Les Amis Faux Bois and I wanted to nab it before it disappeared.  Never enough of the Pearl Bracelet, only one of the best fabric lines ever produced.

Carolyn Friedlander’s Architextures is another one of those great blender lines.  The hit of navy wavy lines is a perfect addition to the few navy fabrics I have in my collection.  Navy can keep on trending in my opinion.  It’s great to add another dark color to the value mix.

I love the grid on the background of this one here.  The more graphic designs that continue to be pumped out the better.

Thanks Quiltsandwich for the great additions!

Happy Sunday and Happy shopping!

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::Stash Archive Value Quilt::

Another fun sample for the Color Value Workshop tomorrow.  It’s huge!

Hoping to show this one quilted by the end of the week.

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::Fabric Stash Additions::

I can’t help but shop when I have Open Quilting Studio at Drygoods.

I scoped out the new Moda Boho Flower Child and PBJ last week and had to stop myself from purchasing the blue color way too.  Since my stash lacks navy I made an exception with the navy Liberty.

I’m loving the reds thrown a little closer to orange and I can’t seem to say no to any mustard colored fabric as late.

The Flower Child fabrics reminded me of the Orla Keily’s designs I’m in love with.

Look what else has made a return!  Alexander Henry Heath in metal.  This fabric is a must have for any stash.

Today I finish my Value Quilt top.  Off I go!

P.S.  Class this Tuesday and next at Drygoods is open free-motion quilting studio!  Sign up for one or both.  Machines, all the tools and quilt sandwiches provided.  Should be a load of fun.

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::Spring To Seattle::

Niquelle’s Quilt is finished.  My intension now is to make a larger one that her family can lovingly use in her memory.

Since Seattle is in full bloom I detoured through the arboretum on my trip to Columbia City to visit Stash.  I knew the blossoms on the trees would fully compliment the soft colors in this quilt.

This tree and its low branch had photo shoot written all over it.

I love everything about this quilt.  Not only does it have some favorite prints thrown in there, but I included a mix of fabric types as well.

Flannel, double gauze, linen blends and quilting cottons are all present.  So sad to see the Amy Butler Wallflower in mustard and the Heather Ross Moons go, but so happy to see them in a quilt!  The tactile effect is hard to explain.  It is somewhat heavier than most quilts, but also light and soft.

I spent some time with my friend Sandie quilting it on her long arm.  I mentally struggle sometimes with not home machine quilting all my quilts, but quickly got over it on this one!  We quilted it with purple, pink and white variegated thread.

The swirl pattern is perfect and when I finish my mermaid one I will likely do the same.  Then I will do this design again and again and again… The pattern shows well from the back on the solids.

The side triangles that I cut in half (or actually in half plus a quarter-inch to make them an actual half triangle with binding on) to create the edges of the quilt went into the backing.  Some angle piecing went into its construction and some other scraps made their way in to create the panel.  I always seem to go vertical with back panels.

I finished it off with the Erin McMorris Weekends fabric that was included in the front.  Sorry, that’s a load of photos…can you tell I love it?!

Keli at Make*Do*Mend and I just added this class to the calendar.  If you wanna combine some fun fabrics together and learn some mad skills join us on Saturday, May 4th from 10am-4pm at the studio.

We’ve got some space in the value class tonight too.

Psychedelic Baby Block on the schedule for Saturday!

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::Night Owl Quilt::

Oh, “Hi Night Owl!”  Did anyone have a baby that was a night owl?

The blue colorway and theme of Lizzy House’s Constellations line was perfect for a remake of the Supernova quilt from the book.

I searched through the stash for the focus fabric to be placed in the center.

Since I sized down the squares to four and a half inches this fabric needed to be small scale and “Not purple,” Jefe said (I still snuck some in).  I went with this cute owl print that Alexander Henry came up with some years ago.  I thought it fit the night time theme.  From there I started thinking about the color development for the rest of the quilt.

I was inspired by the colorway in this encaustic piece by Christine Terrell of Tincaustics that I picked up while in Austin.  This citron or chartruse color has taken me over.  I certainly need more fabric right?  So I moved onto hunting for some more of this color for the quilt and my stash.  My excuse was that they would help blend the lighter greens.

I did a few block alterations from the original book pattern to make it a little less square and more explosive.  Pulling a multitude of fabrics from the stash for all the different rounds was a fun way to use up a few smaller pieces that have been around.

This pattern is loose, fun and FAST!  I pulled it together in a few days.

I’d love to have this quilted for class tomorrow night in a woodgrain pattern, but need to pack up and get my lecture fine tuned for the Tri-Cities show this weekend.

I hope to meet you Friday or Saturday if you are on the east side of the state!

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::Supernove Workshop::

Tuesdays, March 19th and 26th from 6-9pm at Drygood Designs in Ballard.

This class will be a great opportunity to learn new techniques without intimidation. Play will both the shape and value in this class where you’ll take wonky star blocks to a whole new level with the Supernova Block.  The Supernova Block adds an improvisational triangle onto a traditional square block to create its swirling effect.  Your block design can go Supernova by creating one large block or multiple small blocks can create your quilt.

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::Constellations::

I can’t get enough of this Lizzy House Constellations, so when I walked into The West Seattle Fabric Company and saw it, I knew it was coming home with me.

I truly think Lizzy’s designs are some of my favorite currently on the market.

Her hit of whimsy is just the right amount and her colorways are always dead on in my book.

Behold, purple!  I love purple.

Genies, hedgehogs, cats…it’s all there.  Plus, I certainly can not have enough Pearl Bracelet in my stash.  This active solid makes blending other prints in a dream.

I’ve been itching to make a Supernova Quilt from the book with this line and with a class next week on it I’ve finally stepped into action.

Here’s the starts of my Night Owl quilt.  I’m fond of this owl fabric, especially this little guy.  Thought I would try my hand at some woodgrain quilting when I’ve logged some practice in.

It took great restraint to not add purple.

Quick, make a trip over before I go buy it all up!

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::Finally, a Finish::

It may be small, but it’s grand to finish something.

A little sample for my Psychedelic Baby Block Class at Make*Do*Mend.  I’ve got two other samples up on the design wall surrounded by a million other things that I hope to get to.  This list includes a Supernova quilt for next weeks class that will later be gifted to a new neighbor baby.

My next post should really be a compilation of all the UFOs around here.

Half way through the week!

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::In A Bind::

I honestly thought upon my return from Quiltcon that I would have a hard time sitting down to more traditional quilts, but the reality is that I love improvisational modern quilts AND simple shapes of traditional quilts.

I think I’ve explained this back and forth process before.  Traditional is just easy on the design brain and helps me hone my value and coordination skills, while improvisational does overtime.

As soon as I walked back into the Livudio and laid my eyes on my Mendocino triangle quilt up on the design wall I wanted to set to work, but first needed to push some others to the top of the list.

Nicquelle’s Quilt needed to be quilted.

Now it just needs binding.

I did construct the backing improvisationally.  As usual I went with a vertical design. The little “kites” I cut from the sides of the quilt top were too cute to not be placed somewhere.

I’ve also become pretty set over the years in my mind that I prefer an allover quilting design.  I knew the spirals were it from the beginning and enlisted Sandie’s help for that.

We had an afternoon of free-motion play at her long arm after I finally got over my initial ohhing and awwing at how much I love this little quilt.

Here’s a question for you.  Why is it that I always want to bind a quilt in a fabric that I have extinguished from my stash?  Does that happen to anyone else?

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Wanna double trouble,

or strip tease this weekend?  Classes available.

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::Stash::

Thanks everyone for your input on classes.  Tiffany, if you’re out there,  please send me your address and I’ll send you a copy of Quilting Modern.

Things are returning to their busy/normal around here.  There’s a new baby girl around here and for me that’s a good reason to make a trip to Island Quilter!

I’ve been avoiding these Alexander Henry Fairy Tale prints because I really don’t need to add another novelty print to my collection, but Alexander Henry always gets me.

I collected some active solids without having a quilt plan, but these colors are what is appealing to me right now.  You can’t go wrong with pomegranate and citron.  Lizzy House has become my number one blender woman.  Throw in some Tula, Violet and Denyse for good measure.

Sewing happened this weekend too.

Quilts to come tomorrow!

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Wanna double trouble,

or strip tease this weekend?  Classes available.

Read Full Post »