Twilight and Dawn: Two Finished Quilts

A co-worker is expecting twin girls in early October and I knew just the fabric to pull from my stash- Wee Wander by Sarah Jane for Michael Miller. I scooped up a fat eighth bundle of this precious line when it came out and had it shipped (free!) to an American address where my aunt was staying. It meant a long wait for it to come and then I didn't use for a while...until now.

I wanted the quilts to be an obvious pair but not match. I decided to supplement my Wee Wander with some other prints (some Pearl Bracelets, some Cotton + Steel basics and some other Lizzy House prints that seemed just right) to make a Wonky Star quilt using the free tutorial from Owen's Olivia. The mom said the nursery is mostly white with "pops of colour" so I knew this would work well.

The quilts are named Twilight (for the blue, cool-coloured one) and Dawn (for the pinkish, warm-coloured one). Here they are:

Thank goodness my husband's best friend was staying for the weekend. Nothing says "boys weekend" like being forced to hold up quilts. :)

Twilight is, I think, my favourite of the two. The turquoise, teal, mint green and blue is totally my jam. The supplementary fabrics in the one are a Cotton+Steel with a gold plus in it, an Art Gallery Squared Elements print and a Pearl Bracelets. I think it looks cohesive yet playful.

I tried whenever it made sense to fussy cut the centres. Like this sweet horse, or those children playing in the bottom left of this picture.

Dawn is also bright and playful. Here I added some Lizzy House Jewels I've had forever, as well as a Lizzy House Constellations in Peach from her latest Natural History Line, plus one star from Heather Bailey's True Colours line.

You can see more fussy cutting evident here. Also, this shows the quilting I did. I used straight-line quilting on either side of each seam. Then I quilted an echo pattern around the inside of each star.

The backs are pretty wild. I basically emptied my scraps and stash to find bits to make this wild pieced backing for each one. They are very bright and busy and I have to say I sort of love them! It also allowed me to include the fat eighth of the large border print (in approximately the centre of each back) that wouldn't have worked chopped up into a wonky star.

From the back you can see the outline quilting on the inside border of each star. That took awhile but I like the effect very much.

I ended up binding each quilt in a Kona solid from my stash (Twilight with Pool and Dawn with Bright Pink). I like the calmer binding since the quilts themselves (especially from the back!) are quite visually busy.

I hope the mom loves them. Actually, I hope she cries. :)

And though I thought these were the last baby quilts in my future, I just found out that my husband's sister is expecting in March and (unlike with their first) they are going to find out the baby's sex so I have at least one more baby quilt in my future!

Stone Arrow: A Finished Quilt

There are times when a quilt sticks in your head and you can't get it out of there until you make it. When a dear friend mentioned to me that she wanted to commission me to make quilts for her two little boys' "big beds" and that she wanted the quilts to be dark grey I could not get the idea of a Pow Wow quilt from Cluck Cluck Sew in assorted greys out of my head.

In fact, I started sending her texts with pictures and ideas the day after she mentioned it. I would normally not make a quilt for someone on order. This was different in a few ways:

1. I love her to pieces.

2. She gave me complete creative freedom. She said "I trust you."

3. She was willing to pay for all the materials.

These parameters allowed me to give my time and creativity but still be able to afford to make two double sized quilts!

The first I will show you is Stone Arrow. It is for her elder son (who just turned three). He has an "E" name. I love this quilt so much, I can't even express how thrilled I am with how it turned out.

Front of quilt. It is quite big. The pattern only goes up to a twin size so I had to modify the pattern myself. The background white is Kona White (as always).

Fabrics used include: Denyse Schmidt grey eyelet, Madrona Road by Violet Craft, Juggling Summer by Moda, Ikat in grey by V&Co., Here Fishy Fishy by Heather Mulder Peterson for Henry Glass and Co., Minimalista by AGF, Feather by Alison Glass, Bella by Lotta Jansdotter, Pearl Bracelets by Lizzy House, Dumb Dot by Michael Miller, Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander, X+ by Alison Glass, Bike Path by Alison Glass, Remix Zig Zag in grey by Ann Kelle, Peppered Cotton

The back is an Art Gallery fabric called Pointelle in Shade.

My favourite part is the "E" done in tone-on-tone Pearl Bracelets using a tutorial from the Moda tutorials that went around the blogosphere a while back.

Doesn't it look so awesome bundled up? I used Art Gallery Squared Elements in Carbon for the binding (my go-to print for binding these days). I straight line quilted horizontally along each row and then did double lines down each vertical strip. I then did FMQ squares-in-squares for the white borders. All done with white Aurafil on the top and light grey Aurafil in the bobbin.

I was thrilled to bring this to the mom, R. She absolutely loved it, and the fabric choices. She loves the pattern and after admiring both quilts she cried! Stay tuned for my next post which will be the quilt I made for the younger brother, J. I made sure to take shots of the quilts together since they are meant to be a pair without matching.

The mom did say that she hopes they have their quilts for the rest of their lives and that she can imagine these quilts lasting them into adulthood because they aren't babyish in any way. And the dad gave me a high five for making "boy" quilts (he is generally anti-quilt because in his experience they are always girly and flowery).

It was a bit sad to say goodbye to a quilt that I think turned out so beautifully, but I love this family so much that I was also excited to see it go "home."

Lynn

Well I Don't Want to Run Out of Fabric...

Sometimes even when you're not supposed to be buying fabric, and even when you totally don't need anymore fabric something comes up and you need to buy fabric. You get me, right? 

Case in point: I was talking to my quilty friend C about how much I liked Tula Pink's new line Foxfield. She is a Tula nut. We quickly crafted the brilliant plan to buy a 1/2 yard bundle and then split it. I am madly in love with the bundle, let me tell you. I plan to use it for a Swoon quilt along with friends C, A and K this summer. I am going to use a grey background. This will be awesome.

How could you say no to this beautiful bundle?

And then the same quilty friend (wait, I'm now seeing a pattern) posted some pictures on Instagram of the Lizzy House Tone on Tone Pearl Bracelets she had ordered from Pink Castle Fabrics. I LOVE Pearl Bracelets and already had a fat quarter bundle from her original release. I saw the tone on tones and knew I needed them.

I keep petting these pretties. I can't wait to use them.

And since I was ordering from Pink Castle anyway, I threw in a bundle of these dots from Bonnie and Camille because if I was paying for shipping anyway...

These dots are so amazing.

So, keeping in mind that I had ordered all these fabrics, I also couldn't pass up the spring sale going on at my sort-of-local quilt shop The Hobby Horse. I mean, 30% off all fabrics in the store? I'm in.

This quilt was on display. It is in flannel. SO CUTE. So, of course, I bought the kit.

Flannel sock monkeys? I needed a metre of this. Obviously.

And since fabric was on sale I also bought some other basics. The Hobby Horse has much more old fashioned fabric than I would normally go for, but some classic dots in olive and these Michael Miller rainbow dots were speaking to me. I also got some of this white-on-white as the last bit of white for the white and red quilt I'm making my step-grandmother-in-law for Christmas.

Nice basics.

Quilt kit with backing fabric on the bottom. Super cute.

Of course now Pink Castle fabrics has a HUGE sale on and a bunch more fabric is coming my way, plus I may have preordered the Cotton + Steel basic blenders fat quarter bundle.

My name is Lynn. I have not bought fabric in twenty-four hours. I have a problem.

Lynn

Tumbling Jungle: A Finished Quilt

I have only been quilting about a year and a half- and really I started quilting regularly in July 2012, so not even a year. In the early months of my new obsession (and also when I first got addicted to Pinterest) I came across several examples of tumbler quilts. I knew I HAD to make one. 

Then I found a tool at Missouri Star Quilt Company that is a template for making tumbler blocks on charm packs. It seemed ideal for a newbie like me, so I ordered one immediately! (Well, when they were back in stock because these suckers are popular!).

I finally got to use my template when I started Tumbling Jungle using Bungle Jungle by Tim and Beck to make a baby quilt for our neighbours who are expected their fourth boy any day now.

Here are the pictures of Tumbling Jungle, all finished! (Warning: Despite being the end of April, the wind was cold and strong and there is actual snow on the ground. I am NOT happy with Mother Nature. Or that stupid lying groundhog).

Tumbling Jungle- front

Here you can see the wiggly line quilting through each block.

Tumbling Jungle- back

This Dr. Seuss print is my favourite of the backing fabrics.

A detail of the Michael Miller Dot Duo binding fabric.

Windy day + Quilt Photo Shoot= Annoyed Hubby

All rolled and ready to go when Hunter arrives!

I used an adorable ribbon with cars on it to tie up the quilt.

I love, love, love this tumbler pattern and I will definitely be making more in my future!

Lynn (aka Buttons)

Southern Ontario Shop Hop

This year I am in a new role at work, and it gave me the opportunity to meet and work with two fabulous ladies who turned out to also be young quilters. When we discovered our common link, we decided that a quilt shop hop in the summer was a necessity. I was excited when the plans were made and C's car pulled up in my driveway. Let the fabric shopping begin!

Our first stop was Alice's Quilt Shoppe in Erin, Ontario. C picked up a little kit for some adorable hexagons, but A and I resisted temptation (one of us would manage to maintain this measured approach to fabric shopping).

Next up was Undercover Quilts, in Fergus. Thank goodness C and A had been there before, because we missed a turn (no street signs, plus my poor navigating). I was instantly drawn to some delightful penguin fabric, and if you buy 5 fat quarters you get a sixth free! One of these FQ was not purchased from this store (I didn't like the mottled creamy fabrics available).

So cute, right? But since I could only find five that I thought worked together, I had to pick up another, random fabric for my free sixth FQ. I couldn't resist:

We then went to Greenwood Quiltery in Guelph. I am not kidding you, when I walked through the doors and saw the plethora of modern fabric on display, angels started singing. I may have been the only one to have heard them, but I attribute this to the fact that C and A have both been to the store before. I easily could have bought $1000 worth of fabric, but I held back. I did stroke the fabric lovingly and whispered to some bolts that I would be back for them. I bought:

Just one, lone fat quarter from Lucy's Crabshack. I am in love with this pattern and these colours!

These Michael Miller citron and grey fabrics were calling my name. I kept touching them and looking at them and I knew I was a goner. What a perfect combo for a modern baby quilt, don't you think?

I love these fabrics- Urban Zoologie by Ann Kelle-and caved in, buying a quilt kit so I could get maximum fabric for most immediate results. Not sure who I will make this for, but I love it!

This fat quarter bundle is Outfoxed by Lizzie House. I have eyed these fabrics online countless times, and when I saw this bundle I felt like it had been placed there for me!

And then, drumroll please...

ECHO BY LOTTA JANSDOTTER! I am shouting because I LOVE LOTTA. I have several of her books and I think her fabrics are so distinct and unique. I thought I was being very well-behaved to purchase just 5 fat quarters (I could have walked away with yards and yards, trust me).

At Greenwood Quiltery, A bought one lousy ball of yarn (though it was beautiful and soft). I was starting to think she was going to buy no fabric at all! I was equally concerned that C looked like she was going empty-handed. She did pick up one Amy Butler bag pattern (her ultimate weakness). And then I saw her eyeing some Denise Schimdt remnants. I knew I had her! (I had been eyeing the EXACT same remnants). I also talked her into some crazy purple fabric that she loves and everyone else hates (my theory? Buy it and make yourself happy!). 

We then had a lovely lunch at With the Grain (a local bakery/restaurant), courtesy of A (thanks!).

Next up? A drive to St. Jacob's. On the way, sharp-eyed A spotted Quilter's Nine Patch, an unplanned stop. I picked up a few more fabrics:

There were blue elephants similar to the giraffes in a display quilt, but alas they were all out (I would have bought a metre of it!).

I also grabbed this:

I have seen it other places and knew I needed to add some to my stash.

It is here, at Quilter's Nine Patch, that I convinced C to purchase a TO DIE FOR Amy Butler quilt pattern and kit. It was not cheap, to be sure, but is was like it was MADE for C. She is an Amy Butler addict and this quilt took all those crazy colours and patterns and turned it into the most gorgeous quilt! I definitely used some quilter peer pressure, and she definitely spent more than she planned, but I know she will love the things she bought! (Though she has sworn not to shop hop with me ever again). A bought a Dresden ruler she had been looking for all over.


We next made our way to another small quilt store- can't remember the name at the moment, since I didn't buy anything- where I found a half-price Amy Butler bag pattern that C didn't have. Hooray!


Finally we stopped in Kitchener at Creative Sisters. I tried to convince C to buy some more fabric, but she was determined not to spend another penny. (Such a shame). I bought a little bit more fabric. I really was drawn to these dots:

And then I picked up two more fat quarters in a rainbow scheme that go with a pile I am collecting for some future rainbow baby quilt.

What really makes this so crazy is that I had just been shopping for fabric in the U.S. AND I just used a gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop the week earlier (will post those purchases at a later post).


Do you see what I mean about fabric obsession??


Had a fabulous first-ever quilt hop with two super fun young quilters. I'm already planning a trip back to the Greenwood Quiltery, and A is talking about a fall shop hop. I'm in!


Lynn (aka Buttons)