::Sonstar Quilt::

Roan will be eight this month.  He asked me if he could have the Unknown Direction baby quilt I made when he saw it.

I thought I’d do better and go Roan size.

The rows are nearly sewn, but I’ve been waiting on some more aegean shot cotton to finish it to size.  The Anna Maria Flannel I bought up when it came on sale for the back.  The softness is amazing.

In the weeks since purchasing the flannel I received Denyse Schmidt’s new book and couldn’t stop thinking about the string pieced star quilt in it.  Roan and I both have a lifelong love of singing “You Are My Sunshine,” so I believe there are some words going in here somewhere too.

I constructed the large block in nine-patch style with improvisational points and bypassed Denyse’s muslin foundation triangle blocks with matching points.

Now I’ve got to figure out a design to combine the flannel and the star for the back.  To achieve this I needed to order more shot cotton.  Does anyone else seem to have this problem of constantly ‘needing’ more fabric?

I’ll be quilting it in the same style as Unknown Direction, minus the mess up and more distance between lines.  Unknown Direction has since post quilting disaster been renamed Two Martini.

I doubt I’ll wrap this one up in time for his birthday next week, but I’m aiming for the end of the month.

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::Mom’s Birthday Gift::

So, years ago this quilt showed up on my doorstep from my Mom to me!

I use it daily.  Each butterfly is hand appliqued with hand-stitched antennas.  I love it.

I’ve never made my Mom a quilt and with her on the traditional side with fabrics and design and myself loving modern fabrics I came up with a plan.  Design the same quilt she gifted me with its big blocks and corner stones, except with one of my favorite fabrics as the focus.

There was no way I was going to free-motion this mamma jamma, so when my friend Sandie stepped up with an offer to use her long arm, I quickly stepped right in.  It needed curves and she thought the orange peel quilt design was what we were looking for.  She was right!

Just like little wings.

The quilting doesn’t distract from the butterflies at all and is best seen on the sashing and the back.

Couldn’t help myself with the letters.  The Alexander Heath print was pulled straight from the Whispering Wing Butterfly fabric I swear, so I knew instantly I would use it for the back, what good timing.

And I used it for the binding.  This back design is quickly becoming my go to.

All washed and pufted up, it makes me want to take a big nap.  Mom’s the napper though.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!  (don’t tell her Dad!  It’s in the mail this week).

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Destash continues here.

New Classes here.

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::Blogger’s Pillow Party::

I was late to the party last month, so here I am drink in hand.

There were projects made for the book that simply wouldn’t fit, or the technique wasn’t quite right.  The Opposing Triangle Pillow was one of those.

The colorway took some time, like everything in your closet tried on and thrown on the bed.

I love the quilting, it was like adding makeup and jewelry.

This pillow might be considered a bit of a wallflower compared to the other party dress pillows I’ve seen, but I would notice this one in a room full of pillows for sure.

Daisy Janie was so sweet and sent me the Shades of Grey fabric before it even hit the stores for the companion pillows and I think they dress it up a bit.  Kinda like a good looking date on your arm.

Invisible Zippers in all of them of course!  Consider invisible zippers your go to LBD (little black dress) to wear to the party, no envelope closure flip flops here.  Go dress yourself up for the pillow party with my add zip to your pillow invisible zipper tutorial and check out what all the other pillows are wearing.

A quilt like it is next.

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::Generational Inspiration::

I think I’ve mentioned it before, but my Mom is an incredible quilter.  Two of my favorites she has made me are quilts with butterflies.  Both have an abundance of applique.  This one has been well loved and needs some repair, but quilts aren’t made to live in closets.

It’s a simple design.  Sashing with placed squares and appliqued butterflies within muslin squares across and down.  She stitched the antennas on each butterfly.  She always does a lovely job with her value placement to make the design and fabrics come to life.  I love that her taste is different from mine when it comes to design and fabric.

I fell hard for the Alexander Henry Whispering Wing fabric when I ordered it.  The design isn’t flat in the least and I love the colors.  I bought up what I could when I made this quilt, and apparently after all the inquires of the fabric designer I had, the rest was bought up by you lovely people.  Can’t find it…anywhere.

So I thought I would merge the butterfly fabric with the design of my Mom’s quilt.  The simple blocks and traditional design showcases this delicious fabric perfectly.

I inserted some favorite prints in as the wee squares.

Love Love Love this fabric!

Perhaps some butterfly quilting.  I don’t want to cover the lovely design up.  This one’s getting sent out I believe.  For now I’ll have to save my pennies which I haven’t been the best at with all the lovely fabrics coming out!

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