Improv Curves :: Caribbean Waves

In between quilting a couple quilts and writing a new pattern, I was able to make and finish a wall hanging.  I've had the fabric cut and stored away for over a year and finally got around to do what I was suppose to do with it.

CARIBBEAN WAVES
15" x 19"

Small but packed full of color and quilting detail!  Amazingly, once I started it didn't take all that long to have the curves fully sewn.  The warm waters of a Caribbean island was my goal with this one and I think I just may have captured that vibe!

I used 35 colors from top to bottom.  Aqua, teal, white and dark blue all made an appearance in varying degrees.  I like to start by laying out my strips and pieces so I can get just the best flow of the colors.

I found about 6 thread colors that I was able to use for the quilting.  Quilting organic curves or matchstick quilting is always a fun adventure!  There is very little worries when it comes to putting the pedal to the metal!

The most important step to getting this ombre effect is having enough different shades to pull from.  More is better!

I opted for a faced binding for the simple reason that I wanted the 'waves' to go from edge to edge.  Almost like the waves are crashing off the the sides!!

With most improv, curves especially, there is waste!  Over the years I've fine tuned the method that works for me.  And if you know me...I waste nothing!  

A matched set...a wall hanging, pot holders and a mini wave quilt!  Still crazy after all these years!

This mini was made from the excess wave trimmings.  If I thought it was wide enough I set it aside knowing full well I'd be making a mini!  While not 35 colors, this 4" x 5" mini still has 18 different shades...and a faced binding!  

I wonder why I waited so long to use those stored away strips?!  Improv curves are always satisfying!  

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

True Love :: Ombre

Gotta say, I fell off the creating wagon once again!  I had high hopes after finally piecing a quilt top. I thought perhaps it would get me on my crafty way.  It did and it didn't I guess!  I haven't got all creative, but I did make a few fun ombre mini hearts!

OMBRE HEARTS

5" X 5"

While I was anxiously waiting for the 'magic time' of a rescheduled doctor appointment, I decided I might as well sew up a paper pieced ombre heart...or two, three, four to pass the time.

With many projects, they sometimes look complicated or difficult when in reality they are just about as simple as they can be!  Which is why I love making these hearts.  With me it takes longer to pick the fabric than it does to sew them up.

As you can see, the template is quite simple and straight forward.  These are exactly why I save scraps!  You never know when you might need a long skinny piece!  

You know when you get a new box of crayons and you have to see what each color looks like?  It's exciting right?!  I get that same feeling when pulling colors of fabric for each heart.  The magic happens after each strip is sewn together...thats the payoff!

While I was debating how I might quilt each one, I couldn't resist pulling matching thread just in case.  Whatever color you need, Aurifil has it.   

 

I kept the quilting to a bare minimum on the heart.  Sometimes less is more.  I wanted the ombre to speak for itself.  

Mini Mini's are addicting!  I can't stop making them...I love making them...I wanna make more!

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  

Juicy Baby :: Quilt

Juicy.  Ombre.  Lemonade.  Sunset.  This quilt has conjured up all kinds of visions from the colors sprinkled throughout.  It all started with one quilt:  Regatta.  My version of Block M Quilts pattern (this is my version:  Regatta) has been done for a while, but there was some extra 'scraps' that needed my attention.

The scraps left from my quilt were cut from stripes to squares.  I didn't have enough, but it was easy enough to make more for this quilt.  It helped a lot that Jelly Roll strips were used!

34" x 35"

I pieced together a fun binding to flow with the gradient shades of color.  Its never a bad thing!

I fiddled and adjusted until I had the right amount of 'ombre' happening.  I think that was the easy part really.  It wasn't until it was time to quilt that I wondered what to do. 

 

But then again...it was the perfect opportunity to practice with stippling.  Stippling!  I figured this was as good a quilt as any to try Free Motion Quilting.  It is a pretty busy quilt that would lend itself to the all over Stipple effect.  Could I go wrong?!  Would I remember how to do it?  



That is debatable!  I'm not gonna lie...I did not practice before I threw this quilt on the machine.  What could go wrong?!  

It felt quite awkward, yet somehow familiar.  I tried to be fluid with my motion.  Smooth.  Perhaps a glass or two of wine would have helped.  It certainly wouldn't have hurt!



I only crossed over lines a few times!  Hallelujah!  I didn't care, no one was going to notice when it was all said and done.  Fluidity of the lines proved to be much harder than I thought though.  I maybe should have practiced!  There were some not so curvy curves, more like pointy curves!  But, I expected as much!



I knew that it wouldn't much matter after the 'crinkle' effect happened with the wash.  The effect was exactly what I was after and exactly what I got.  I'm not in the least disappointed with my quilting on this.  

What amazed me was just how fast a quilt this size got quilted using Stippling!  Damn!  Seriously!  I would say an hour.  One hour!  I may have to use this more often!

Are you a Stippler?  If you have any tips, I'd love to hear them...just don't say practice!  

This isn't a mind blowing, out of this world quilt to share.  But I did want to share the quilting.  I know just how hard it is to come up with quilting ideas.  I know just how hard it is to Free Motion quilt.  What I mainly want to share is regardless of your abilities, if you don't try you can't learn.  And, sometimes it's okay when things are not perfect.  It doesn't take away from the quilt or your creativity.  

You don't have to be perfect to be amazing!  

LINKING:

Oh Scrap

Main Crush Monday

Let's Bee Social

Needle & Thread

TGIFF

Finished or Not Friday

Crazy Mom Quilts