Summer Dream: A Finished Quilt

I had big dreams for the quilts I was going to finish for my daughter before her arrival. Reality meant that when she did join us I didn't have a single quilt finished for her, never mind the three or four I had in mind. I have been hard at work whenever I get a few moments (and thanks to a husband who "rescues" me and sends me to quilt for a bit) and so I managed to get Colour Collage done for Emma's nursery wall. Not long after, I was able to finish Summer Dream, a rather large (for a baby) quilt using Indian Summer from Art Gallery Fabrics. I used only the turquoise and navy and teal colours from this line and I love it.

I used a free tutorial from Simple Simon and Company. The pattern was fairly straight-forward, but I missed the quality of detail that was in the last two patterns I used, both from Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew.

Here is the finished product, Summer Dream. Considering the very very cold (hello, polar vortex) and very very snowy winter we've been having, this quilt has me dreaming of summer and taking my new little girl out in the sunshine!

I did an organic wavy line quilting throughout. It was fairly easy and I like the texture it adds. I did Aurafil light grey on the back and white on the front. I love this particular print, which I used for the whole back. It is bound in a Bonnie and Camille Happy Go Lucky pattern in turquoise.

The backing, unlike my usual choice, is all one fabric. That was to please the husband who thinks that pieced backings don't look "right." Her next quilt will have a pieced back, I can tell you that!

I hope my baby girl gets lots of use out of this quilt and I can't wait to make her another one! Now just to finish the four quilts on the "to do" list before I tackle another one for her!

Lynn

Classy Baby Quilt?

A work friend is expecting her first baby, a little boy, this coming April. When I asked her for a theme or colour scheme idea for a quilt she said either camouflage or animals (her husband is in the military). I have no camo in my stash (nor do I ever intend to have any) and so I decided on animals.

Initially, I had in mind a quilt I cut and started ages back in August. It features adorable Ann Kelle fabrics. But once I had the first round of blocks made it just didn't seem appropriate for this particular woman. She is a classy sort, and the bright colours and playful fabrics didn't strike me as her style. So I went into my stash, pulled an inspiration fabric (the top left animal print) and then went from there. Here is the pull for this quilt:

All fabrics are from my stash. There is some Bonnie and Camille Happy Go Lucky, two Lotta Jansdotter prints, some AG and some others that I have no idea where they came from. 

The two solids in this quilt (not counting the Kona White that will be the background) are Olive and Cayenne. Classy red and green to go with the inspiration fabrics.

I chose a simple pattern- a Luxe in Bloom free pattern from Quilt Dad- and I already have the squares cut and am working on all the HSTs. I hope this classy quilt is more to her taste. I am loving it already!

Lynn

Kona Solids Catch Up

I certainly fell behind with the pictures of my Sew Sisters Kona Solids deliveries!

January had some BOLD colours. The Wasabi is hard to explain...not quite yellow and not really green and very very loud. I'm not sure if I like it. I  don't like the other colours all that much...even the Turquoise doesn't appeal to me (but I think that is because of what it is paired with).

From left to right: Wasabi, Turquoise, Lipstick, Magenta.

December had some predictable colours in the picture but didn't go with the obvious (thankfully). The colours instead pick up on the more muted reds and greens.

Makes me want cookies...

From left to right: Paprika, Putty, Spice, Avocado

I quite like the Avocado, and the Putty is much more to my taste than I would have expected. In fact, I would probably go with it if I needed an off white since it doesn't have that old fashioned yellow tinge that I find some off whites have. The reds are subdued and quite lovely. A good pick!

I am expecting my February delivery any day now. I was going to cancel all fabric deliveries while on maternity leave, but instead I decided to keep my Sew Sisters solids delivery going because it is very inexpensive and then I still get a fabric high at least once a month. :)

Lynn

Gifts Made With Love

Though I can quilt, I am not a knitter nor can I crochet. I also can't do any garment sewing and have never tried booties. So when my quilty friend A knew I was expecting, she offered to make me something I can't make myself. The gifts are so incredibly beautiful, made with with love and out of my own skill zone that they are even more special.

One gift was an owl hat. I got to choose the main colour (shockingly, I chose turquoise). Here is a picture of Emma in her hat.

Here is Emma in her owl hat, made by my friend A. I got to pick what the main colour of the owl was and, of course, I chose turquoise.

Another thing A made is crib shoes. She makes these so well...they are carefully finished and actually stay on baby's feet! (Moms will know that most baby shoes don't stay on). She made me a 0-3, 3-6 and 6-12 month pair and they are too cute! A is going to open an Etsy store to sell these eventually, and I'll be sure to blog a link to her shop when it opens!

Squirrel crib shoes. I chose this fabric while we were on our last shop hop. I love the fussy cut orange squirrels. These are the 0-3 month size.

These are the 3-6 month size. I also chose this fabric (and even bought a fat quarter of it for myself). Again, the fussy cut bunnies are what make it so awesome!

A picked this fabric for these 6-12 month size. I love it! Foxes? Who couldn't love them?

Here are all three pairs together.

The hat in action on the way to school. She was toasty warm.

Gifts made with love are the best kind of gift, especially when the maker is thoughtful enough to give you colour and fabric choices (and thinks carefully about which fabric to use when she chose). What is super awesome is that A is also knitting a beautiful sweater for Emma for a 12 month size and I went and bought the wool yesterday in a gorgeous deep teal. It is going to be awesome!

Lynn

Colour Collage: A Finished Quilt

This pattern, Color Block, comes from Growing Up Modern by Allison Harris of Cluck Cluck Sew. I wanted a rainbow quilt for my newest daughter's room as my older daughter has a colourful rainbow quilt in her room (also a Cluck Cluck Sew pattern!). I found the instructions very easy to follow and well written, and playing with the fabrics themselves was my favourite part.

Here she is- Colour Collage (named so because it strikes me as a collage of fabrics from my stash).

I straight-line quilted it through the centre of the fabric strips going horizontally. One person (Kymberly, a follower here at my blog) suggested doing a big spiral pattern. That is a GENIUS idea, but having never tried it before and wanting a quick finish, I went for something easier. If I make another one of these, spiral quilting is a MUST. I bound it using leftover binding (how awesome is that?)- half Lizzy House Jewels in turquoise and half Kona Jade. I love the deep teal/turquoise with the rest of the quilt.

The backing is this delightful bear fabric. I love it because it is turquoise, I got it on clearance ages ago on a shop hop, and one of the baby's nicknames is Hungry Bear. Perfect!

I am totally in love with this quilt. I told my husband I might have to leave him for it. There is something so enchanting about colour order quilts, don't you think? I can't wait to hang it in baby's nursery (the ribbons for hanging it are already on, now I just need my hubby to put the screws in the wall since I'm too short!). 

Lynn

Sugar Block Club Catch Up

Last year I joined the Sugar Block Club, hosted by Stitchery Dickory Dock and while I made great progress in the early months, avoiding paper piecing and then an absolutely insane work schedule meant I fell waaaaaay behind. One of my goals for 2014 was to get caught up, and week three home with the baby is when I focused on doing so.

This week I managed to finish three blocks: Lucky Star, First Frost and Camp Out. Here are some pictures to show you my progress!

How cute are these little blocks?

Lucky Star Block

I am not sure how I feel about the finished Lucky Star Block. I think the text print size is too large, so I don't love my choice. I hope it doesn't fade away in the quilt.

These tiny triangles look so cute.

First Frost Block

So many tiny tiny HSTs. They took quite awhile, especially since they were all trimmed down to exactly 2.5"

Camp Out Block. Wow, these HSTs took a long time. And there are so many seams that make this block a pain in terms of pressing. I carefully pressed each seam as per the instructions, and still there are so spots that I think will be trouble come basting/quilting time.

I feel really good about how many I have done. I think I have one more non-paper pieced block to go and then there are three paper pieced blocks that I am AVOIDING  LIKE THE PLAGUE. Seriously, I am going to avoid them for another few months. 

Next quilt? One for a work friend!

Lynn

Baby Quilt Progress (Though Still Not Sure How)

During the second week of being home with my new daughter, I have been sneaking in every bit of sewing I can do. Admittedly there are thousands of other things (hello, cleaning and laundry) that I should be doing, but instead I want to sew for my own sanity. I also want Emma's quilts done ASAP now that she is here!


I made a double-sided flannelette baby blanket for my new cutie.

I originally planned to focus on one baby quilt in January and one in February. I really should have a) remembered what it is like the first week with a newborn and b) recognized that I would avoid the less fun parts of quilting (like basting) as long as possible, meaning I was actually working on both quilts at once.

I basted two baby quilts (Color Block on the left, the Indian Summer quilt on the right)

I quilted the Color Block quilt.

I got the binding done on the Color Block quilt.

I managed to get the FMQing done on the Indian Summer quilt. I went with curvy organic lines and I quite like it. At least it was fast!

I couldn't believe it when I actually got to trim it!

I now have the Color Block quilt done and I am just starting the binding on the Indian Summer quilt (both of which still need names).

Maybe I will get some serious sewing in while home on leave!

Lynn