Me & My Arrow

I have been obsessed with feathers.  I know you couldn't tell...as it seems every other post I do is feather this or feather that!  This is the last one.  I'm moving on. Different colors, fabric and designs.  

This table runner was another one of my experiments.  I wanted to put a twist on the feathers and finally try to make arrow.  Testing...testing...   

15" x 45"

Here's the scoop:

Smaller feathers.  Yep!  I used Anna Maria Horner's pattern.  HERE.  I used up some of the left over pieces from the bigger feathers and had to make a few more strips.  There were a few modifications, but all in all it was the same process as the big feathers.  The feather blocks ended up being 7 1/2" x 10 1/2".  

I tried to make my very own version of an arrow, however it strained my brain and didn't turn out as good as I wanted it to.  Luckily there are others who have shared and mastered the arrow technique!  I ended up finding this perfectly great ARROW tutorial at Grace & Favour.

I shortened the arrow to fit a table runner and to have a better fit with my feathers.  This arrow is 3 1/2" x 13"  

It still needed a little extra.  Some filler.  Chevrons seemed like a very good idea.  I tried a different method for the HST's.  Something different, something new for me!  It sometimes is the little things that excite me!  I have a tutorial in the works!

Piecing together all the elements was pretty easy and straight forward.  The backing is an off-white and the binding is Kona Raffia.  

My favorite 1/2" geometric straight line quilting put the final touches this baby needed.

Next time you see feathers ~ I hope it ends up being in a quilt.  I will be making one.  Just not in the near future!

Total Opposite

It was time to shake it up!  Jump off the deep end!  Have you had enough feathers, stripes and khaki? Yep!  Me too!

How many times have you heard: 
I will not buy more fabric until I use what I have?  
I've had this fabric forever and was waiting for just the right project?  
Look what I found...I totally forgot I had that?! Or, I was wondering where that went too!

We may all be a little guilty of one or two of those statements!  Mine would be I was waiting for just the right project (and having the time).

Two birthdays ago, my dear and lovely sister Debbrah sent this gorgeous pack of goodness to me.  I love the colors, but wasn't sure what to do with them.  I hadn't used pre-cut strips before. 

I finally had enough!  I have decorated around this bundle, moved it from place to place, shelf to shelf.  My first real project of the year was going to involve these.  

As soon as I picked the block I wanted to use, I cut each and every strip.  It was so fun, I knew nothing could really go wrong.  I was safe.  I went with a very simple and perfect block for 2 1/2" strips.

12 1/2" x 12 1/2"

This is the block.  See, so simple.  

So fast.  

I pieced together an amazing back for this top!  Once I get it quilted, binding on and washed I will show it all!  Including a quick tutorial for the block!  I promise.  I have it partially finished right now! 

I used this same block when I made my husbands quilt years ago.  He still loves it and has said many times I should make another one.  The gray's, browns and purples worked so well together!  His I didn't have pre-cut strips.....how I love those for this project!

I feel like you either love or hate batiks.  Am I right?  I don't hate batiks, I just don't use them much.  I think they are gorgeous! 

So, thank you Debbrah for the wonderful gift!  You know what I love and it starts with an 'F'! 

Fabric!

LINKING:

LET'S BEE SOCIAL

WIP WEDNESDAY

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

TGIFF 

Final Finishes From 2014

2014 seems like so long ago...just kidding!  I realized I had a couple projects that I wanted to share. If you are sick and tired of Khaki/Raffia and Kaffe Fasset Woven Stripes, just look away!  I was on binge with this combination and to say I won't keep doing it would just be silly!  Especially since I have one more thing I am currently working on!

Back in December I started my marathon of stripes!  Stripes & More Stripes!  Initially it started out with a twin quilt.  I am happy to say it finally was finished the end of December!

57" x 88"

This one was a bit different than what I normally do.  The stripes were randomly place throughout the top ~ instead of half lined up on one side and half on the other side.  This is one of my 'go to' designs with these fabrics.  They work.  

I machine quilted 'controlled organic' horizontal straight lines.  Controlled meaning I wanted them straighter than my usual organic~wonky lines.  

And since I still had the tub of stripes strewn across my table...more pillows!  This time I made two 16" x 16" and two 18" x 18" feather pillow covers.  I loved the first one so much, I had to do it again.  Here is the first test pillow:  Feather Pillow Finish,  

This time I changed a couple things.  I decreased the center so that the feathers were closer together and I increased the sides so the feathers were centered.  I like it much better!

18" x 18"

16" x 16"

And that is it!  I will admit that I have a table runner I hope to quilt today.  It was purely for fun!  It does involve these same fabrics, feathers and an arrow!!  

LINKING:

FABRIC FRENZY FRIDAY

CAN I GET A WHOOP WHOOP

TGIFF 

2014 In Review ~ Partially!

This has to be the most productive, exhausting and exciting year in my quilting journey! All through the year we make, sew, quilt, iron...scream and swear and repeat.  But we make it through each and every project (mostly, right?!).  We learn, we share, we admire.  

By the end of said year, we put together these mosaics to remember our excitement, joy, frustration.  Kind of a tribute to the blood, sweat and tears we put in to our craft.  For me, it's hard to remember each and every project whether it is big, small or in between!  These are all pulled from Flickr, even though Instagram is the hottest thing since sliced bread...I still try an post on Flickr. 

1. Vice Versa BOM Quilt Finish., 2. Kaffe Fasset Woven Stripes, 3. Heart For My Mama!, 4. Placemats ~ Color Block, 5. Improv. Finish, 6. Cluster F*#K Finish., 7. Bed Runner Finish!, 8. Kaleidoscope!, 9. Left Overs., 10. Graphic HST, 11. Shards in Light Gray, 12. Table Runner, 13. Pastel Hand Dyed, 14. Table Runner, 15. 'Michael the Magnificent', 16. Big Reveal!!!

1. Briar Rose, 2. Love and Marriage?!, 3. Baby Quilt Take 2, 4. And This Baby Is In The Bag!, 5. Itajime Shibori Coin Purse, 6. Zipper Pouch, 7. Tidy, Compact and Baby Ready., 8. Yum!, 9. Oh Baby!, 10. Buttercup., 11. So, iPads take crappy pictures! @hagpalace (aka my lovely daughter) took this picture of our latest Shibori / indigo dyeing. So lovely! #shibori #indigo #fabicdyeing @hagpalace, 12. Pillow Cover., 13. = togetherness..., 14. Baby Blanket., 15. Wall Hanging, 16. Hand Dyed & Shot Cotton.

I have yet to figure out a good way to add my work in my yearly quilt tab ~ efficiently and easily, so this will have to do for now!