A Whole Lot of Nothing

By a 'whole lot of nothing' I actually mean I haven't had the desire to dive into anything big lately.  It might be a creative block, or perhaps I just need a break.  I have dabbled in small projects though!  Mainly pot holders.  I want to make something so these small projects itch that scratch for the time being!

HEART OF THE HOME
9" x 9"

I always have fun picking fabrics for my Heart of the Home blocks.  I've had the fabric I used for the house siding for ions and finally broke down and used it.  I makes for a happy set of pot holders I think!

The funnest part is finding just the right window treatments for each house.  This time it was little fairy princesses!  They could be floating around in your home...you just can't see them!

My favorite design to make are waves!  It's a freeing experience to grab the rotary cutter and slice a curve without worrying about being perfect.  Blues and teals/aqua are always worth the cut!

Look at me!  I made a pastel version of waves too!  They might be overshadowed by the scrappy geometric pot holders, but I don't know...there's secret powers in pastels! 

Usually when I dig into pot holders I focus on one color group.  I grab my scrap bins and use as much as I can from it.  It often results in one wave design set and one improv set.  The orange, pink and yellow combination seemed like the right choice and warm me up like the summer heat!  

I'm not sure what or where my adventures will lead me to tomorrow, but I'm anxious to find out!  The ideas are there.  They just aren't nailed down yet!!

LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF ● WHOOP WHOOP FRIDAY

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY

 

Endless Possibilities!

When I started making these blocks I had no idea where I was going with the idea.  Which is the way I like to work for the most part.  The more blocks I made the more excited I got!  In the end I thought the best use of these blocks was to make a table runner.  

My goal at the beginning was to use my scraps and see if I couldn't wrangle them into submission.  Those two things I accomplished.  The size of the blocks ended up being predetermined because of the scrap part.  They would be small and at that time that was perfect!

After seeing how the blocks looked together I started getting that feeling...you know that feeling...the one where something went so well that you want to do it again feeling!  I think larger blocks, maybe some kind of background color around the edges, floating blocks?!  I'm not exactly sure, but it's going to happen!

I thought about how I should quilt this runner and I kept coming back to one idea over and over again, semi-dense organic-ish lines.  Then the thread color.  I would say any color would work well, so I settled on a 40 weight variegated thread.  It's called Baby Blue Eyes (#4663) from Aurifil.  

When I started quilting I thought this is going to be fun, fast and effective!  It was right up until the time I discovered a problem.  Dropped stitches, skipped stitches...a big problem indeed!  I changed my needle and rethreaded over and over only to have the same issue.  It led to having to spend the evening with my seam ripper!  

Fortunately Instagram is a great resource for help, tips and support!  It was suggested that I clean my machine.  I couldn't be that...yet it was!  After a thorough cleaning, the next morning I was able to knock out the quilting and add the binding.  Spending the evening doing what I love, hand stitching the binding on by hand instead of spending the evening with my seam ripper!

I haven't washed this runner yet, but I know it'll end up with some pretty amazing texture in the end!  The backing and binding is Moda Grape.  

When I say I can't wait to start a larger quilt with these blocks, I really mean...one day I'll make a larger quilt with these blocks.  As much as I'd love to drop everything and start there are too many other everyday life things that have to happen first!  Life just gets in the way!!

LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF ● WHOOP WHOOP FRIDAY

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY

'SPARKLE' PDF :: Pattern Release!

It's been a long time in the making, but the day has finally come!  There has been a lot of indecision, rethinking, tweaking going on behind the scenes, but I think...I think I have all the details and kinks worked out!

'SPARKLE' is ready for release and I couldn't be happier for this day to have finally arrived

  SPARKLE PDF PATTERN 

‘SPARKLE’ is 52" x 65" bold, bright and graphic lap quilt that features half-square triangles with a little bit of attitude!  

This design has been floating around in my head and I’ve made numerous variations throughout the years.  I seem to ‘follow the rainbow’ when picking my colors, but there are unlimited options if you choose to change it up.   

When making HST’s I prefer to use the Two-at-a-Time method which allows me to use a variety of colors.  I also make my HST’s larger than required, and trim each one to the size required.  The measurement given in the cutting instructions allows for trimming without being overly wasteful. 

You will also use the Flip & Stitch method and nesting seams for the accent squares.  To add to the pattern, all instructions are illustrated.

Half Square triangle magic, flip and stitch and nested seams are some of the highlights of this design.  Simple techniques that make precision easier to achieve.

I just about exclusively use solids my most of my designs, but there are so many options available!  

Check out what these ladies did with their quilts!  They not only make beautiful versions of my design, but their attention to detail, feedback and suggestions are invaluable.  I couldn't do it without them! 

CASSIE @sewshequilts4love

ELLYN @ellynz

JEANINE @milesoffabric

MONIKA @monikahaefeli

KIM @quirkykim

The pattern is a PDF download, full of color diagrams, step-by-step directions and is now available for purchase through my Etsy shop:

  SPARKLE PDF PATTERN 

LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF ● WHOOP WHOOP FRIDAY

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY

Something From Nothing

It's been a while!  Between the beautiful weather, yard work and helping my daughter make her first quilt in a couple of years and putting the final touches on a PDF quilt pattern...I haven't had much time for blogging or making!

The good news is my 'Sparkle' quilt pattern will be ready to release in a week!  It's amazing how much work goes into writing.  I have been second and third guessing myself for two weeks, but at this point I have to just let it go!

When I say I didn't have much time to quilt, I mean I haven't been able to sit and get serious about it.  I have taken a little time almost every day to make some fun blocks using many of my scraps.  At first it was an experiment that quickly turned into 'this could be something'!

You know I'm a big fan of color, the more the merrier!  These blocks have it all!  They were fun to put together using random color combinations, and of course scraps.  I kept making and making until I had to make a decision.  What am I going to do with the blocks.  The best answer:  a table runner!

This is where it begins.  Color combinations using three colors.  I tried to be as random as possible with the colors, but I there were times when it seemed like I was going back to the same colors over and over.

From the above pieces, comes this lovely group of blocks!  The center of the blocks and the size of the blocks vary in size and shape.  

The blocks are at least 3" wide and 6" long.  You can't tell from this block, but I did try to limit my use with the ruler!  

Just a few of my favorite things...

I'd love to say my scrap heap was depleted...

After making what I thought would be enough blocks for a table runner, I had to figure out how I might puzzle together all the random sizes.  

My first idea of adding a strip on one side or the top or bottom was a failure.  The second idea was to add another color round on the blocks that needed beefing up.  That idea worked very well!

Hopefully in between making a quilt with my daughter I can squeeze in time to quilt this!  I'm not complaining...It's been so much fun making blocks and spending time with Britt!  My quilting can wait because I know she couldn't possibly want to make another quilt...how wrong I was...she has the quilting bug!!

LINKING:

OH SCRAP! ● MAIN CRUSH MONDAY ●  MONDAY MAKING 
MIDWEEK MAKERS ● NEEDLE & THREAD 

PEACOCK PARTY  ● TGIFF ● WHOOP WHOOP FRIDAY

BRAG ABOUT YOUR BEAUTIES ● FINISHED OR NOT FRIDAY