Cindy at Live A Colorful Life, has a fun series she calls 'The Name Game'. Discover how I (and many others) picked our blog/instagam names!
Thank you Cindy! It's fun to share our madness behind the name!
Monday, April 18, 2016
The Name Game ~ Feature
What's in a name? Have you ever wondered how someone choose a name for their blog? What about Twiggy & Opal? I've had many people ask and if you are interested...you can find out the inside scoop!
Cindy at Live A Colorful Life, has a fun series she calls 'The Name Game'. Discover how I (and many others) picked our blog/instagam names!
Cindy at Live A Colorful Life, has a fun series she calls 'The Name Game'. Discover how I (and many others) picked our blog/instagam names!
Friday, April 15, 2016
Controlled Improv ~ Or Chaos ?
If you think Improv is impossible...think again! I decided to experiment with my Wonky Mini Charm tutorial one more time. This time taking it in the opposite direction. This approach allows a little flexibility without being too overwhelming. A traditional technique used in a unexpected way.
While there are many techniques for improv, this method gives you the control you are comfortable with. Let's face it not everyone is comfortable slicing and dicing trying to achieve a beautiful improv piece. I feel the same way when it comes to making a quilt from a pattern! My brain doesn't think that way!
This mini charm, mini quilt is the result of being in control, going wonky and very little chaos! I used woven stripes for the starting squares (mini charm) and raided my scraps for an assortment of blue, teal and purple. After cutting the strips according to the tutorial, I randomly pulled pieces for each block.
It's important to have variety of colors and to not think about placement. Make a pile, grab randomly and continue on!
Always looking to practice my free motion quilting, this piece was just the right size for it. It's all FMQ! Yay me!! I quilted tiny 'bricks' from the side to the corner, almost like a cobblestone path and finished it off with dense curved lines.
I used a double layer of Warm & Natural batting hoping to get more texture and depth. At first I wasn't too impressed with myself. FMQ isn't easy! Once it was finished, I was really quite happy! Except for a few issues trying to travel over lines, I didn't do too bad!
Another option I tried was using the same Mini Charm block tutorial, but adding an additional strip on two sides.
Much like making a log cabin. This way you get more variety, or more of an improvised feel. It's still controlled.
Just like the previous quilt, I FMQ bricks except on a bigger scale. Gotta go with what works!
I didn't want to beat this method to death, but it appears I may have! Wonky is good. Improv doesn't have to be intimidating. For those of you who can't give up control but want to give improv a try, this may give you the confidence and comfort you need!
While there are many techniques for improv, this method gives you the control you are comfortable with. Let's face it not everyone is comfortable slicing and dicing trying to achieve a beautiful improv piece. I feel the same way when it comes to making a quilt from a pattern! My brain doesn't think that way!
This mini charm, mini quilt is the result of being in control, going wonky and very little chaos! I used woven stripes for the starting squares (mini charm) and raided my scraps for an assortment of blue, teal and purple. After cutting the strips according to the tutorial, I randomly pulled pieces for each block.
It's important to have variety of colors and to not think about placement. Make a pile, grab randomly and continue on!
Always looking to practice my free motion quilting, this piece was just the right size for it. It's all FMQ! Yay me!! I quilted tiny 'bricks' from the side to the corner, almost like a cobblestone path and finished it off with dense curved lines.
I used a double layer of Warm & Natural batting hoping to get more texture and depth. At first I wasn't too impressed with myself. FMQ isn't easy! Once it was finished, I was really quite happy! Except for a few issues trying to travel over lines, I didn't do too bad!
Another option I tried was using the same Mini Charm block tutorial, but adding an additional strip on two sides.
Much like making a log cabin. This way you get more variety, or more of an improvised feel. It's still controlled.
Adding black changed everything!
Just like the previous quilt, I FMQ bricks except on a bigger scale. Gotta go with what works!
I didn't want to beat this method to death, but it appears I may have! Wonky is good. Improv doesn't have to be intimidating. For those of you who can't give up control but want to give improv a try, this may give you the confidence and comfort you need!
LINKING:
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
An Extended Birthday Comes To A Halt
Not everyone wants to celebrate their birthdays for a month. I know I would rather not! But some do, like my daughter. Of course, it is partly my fault.
First, I gave birth to her a full month before her due date thirty years ago! Second, it took me much longer to finish her birthday quilt than expected. Like many children, she took full advantage of the situation!!
I started the milestone '30' row by row quilt in the middle of February ~ Rowing Along ~ playing it all by ear. Working, cutting, figuring everything as I went. I knew I was going Southwestern-ish and using my April Rhodes 'Wanderer' bundle. That was all I knew at the time.
Sometimes it's the hardest thing to do, and multiply that by ten when you are trying to impress your daughter! Who coincidentally, is your number one fan and the one who taught me to quilt! Pressure comes to mind!
I couldn't be happier with the results. All the fretting, fussing, pressure and indecision was worth it in the end.
First of all...she did love it! Whew! I mean, what if she hated it and said so? Or hated it and didn't say so? See what we put ourselves through?!
Once I finished the top, I settled on a backing. I kept in the same style and went with April Rhodes 'Bound'. Like many collections, the colors are carried through to the next. The hardest part was lining up the pattern when I made the backing the right size. I never knew it would be so hard!
When my daughter quilted, she also hoarded quilting related things. Like batting. She happened to have a huge piece of wool batting stored at my house. Being in the mode...use it or lose it...we decided it would be perfect for her quilt. With that decision, I knew I would not be quilting something so lofty as that! Yikes! It would have been a nightmare!
The quilting was done by Vickey @ Studio V Quilting. Who happens to be a member of our guild. The pantograph design I found was exactly what I was looking for and Vickey was more than happy to use it on this quilt.
The texture blew me away! I was so beyond happy with it. I immediately squared it up and attached the binding! Excited...just a bit!
Maybe 8-9 years ago, I made a quilt and had it long arm quilted with wool batting. We use it every single winter. The warmth from the wool is amazing!
No secret, Britt turned 30 February 27th. Monumental, right? I ended up making three X's in roman numerals for a discreet patch on the back. While I want her to remember when and why she received it, I didn't want it to be in your face! Or her face! It also resembles 'X' and 'O'...hugs and kisses! Totally appropriate!
The quilt has a bit of paper piecing, regular piecing and filler piecing. Filler piecing meaning...I gotta add something...it isn't long enough...OMG!
See that texture?! Even though this quilt is far from perfect, the quilting seems to balance it out.
When I showed my son the finished quilt, I said by next winter she will love this! His response was 'she'll get sick three times before winter'! And he was right! She is sick right now! Who doesn't curl up under a snugly, cozy warm quilt when they are sick?! Awww...kids!
Before the sickness we brought her quilt outside for a few photos and far too many laughs! The quilt is long...looong! Add the wind and the Boomerang App and we were rolling on the 'lawn'!
I love, love, love seeing my kids happy. Who wouldn't?! Having them act like a two-year-old on Christmas morning for a simple basic quilt at the age of 30...can you say my heart was over flowing....???
First, I gave birth to her a full month before her due date thirty years ago! Second, it took me much longer to finish her birthday quilt than expected. Like many children, she took full advantage of the situation!!
I started the milestone '30' row by row quilt in the middle of February ~ Rowing Along ~ playing it all by ear. Working, cutting, figuring everything as I went. I knew I was going Southwestern-ish and using my April Rhodes 'Wanderer' bundle. That was all I knew at the time.
Sometimes it's the hardest thing to do, and multiply that by ten when you are trying to impress your daughter! Who coincidentally, is your number one fan and the one who taught me to quilt! Pressure comes to mind!
I couldn't be happier with the results. All the fretting, fussing, pressure and indecision was worth it in the end.
First of all...she did love it! Whew! I mean, what if she hated it and said so? Or hated it and didn't say so? See what we put ourselves through?!
Once I finished the top, I settled on a backing. I kept in the same style and went with April Rhodes 'Bound'. Like many collections, the colors are carried through to the next. The hardest part was lining up the pattern when I made the backing the right size. I never knew it would be so hard!
When my daughter quilted, she also hoarded quilting related things. Like batting. She happened to have a huge piece of wool batting stored at my house. Being in the mode...use it or lose it...we decided it would be perfect for her quilt. With that decision, I knew I would not be quilting something so lofty as that! Yikes! It would have been a nightmare!
The quilting was done by Vickey @ Studio V Quilting. Who happens to be a member of our guild. The pantograph design I found was exactly what I was looking for and Vickey was more than happy to use it on this quilt.
The texture blew me away! I was so beyond happy with it. I immediately squared it up and attached the binding! Excited...just a bit!
Maybe 8-9 years ago, I made a quilt and had it long arm quilted with wool batting. We use it every single winter. The warmth from the wool is amazing!
No secret, Britt turned 30 February 27th. Monumental, right? I ended up making three X's in roman numerals for a discreet patch on the back. While I want her to remember when and why she received it, I didn't want it to be in your face! Or her face! It also resembles 'X' and 'O'...hugs and kisses! Totally appropriate!
The quilt has a bit of paper piecing, regular piecing and filler piecing. Filler piecing meaning...I gotta add something...it isn't long enough...OMG!
See that texture?! Even though this quilt is far from perfect, the quilting seems to balance it out.
When I showed my son the finished quilt, I said by next winter she will love this! His response was 'she'll get sick three times before winter'! And he was right! She is sick right now! Who doesn't curl up under a snugly, cozy warm quilt when they are sick?! Awww...kids!
Before the sickness we brought her quilt outside for a few photos and far too many laughs! The quilt is long...looong! Add the wind and the Boomerang App and we were rolling on the 'lawn'!
I love, love, love seeing my kids happy. Who wouldn't?! Having them act like a two-year-old on Christmas morning for a simple basic quilt at the age of 30...can you say my heart was over flowing....???
LINKING:
Sunday, April 10, 2016
Charm Pack Giveaway Winners!
Thank you all for the wonderful comments and for entering my Charm Pack Giveaway!
The winners are:
Rebecca!
~AND~
Natalie!
Congratulations ladies! As soon as I get your address...I'll pop the prize in the mail!
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