Busy Summer

 It's been a busy summer around here and I've been in the garage testing sewing machines and servicing them as well!  So I've been away from blogging for a bit.  And because quilting a quilt in the garage is more difficult to do and keep clean, I've been doing a lot of piecing and not finishing anything as yet.  With the cooler weather happening, I will need to set a few days aside to quilt some of my finished tops!

I have been making steady progress on the Positivities Quilt which is a Sew a long with Rachel Hauser of Stitched with Color.  Here are a few photos of some of the parts on my design wall.  Another installment will be sent soon so I can work on the next pieces.

More and more pieces finished and on the wall.  The background is a navy blue, but tends to look black in the photos.

The fabrics in the larger squares might be switched yet if needed when the rest of the pieces are finished

Some fun techniques are used in this quilt.

 

Another Senior's quilt

 I finally got another quilt finished for one of the seniors in our Church.  She loves flowers and her granddaughter said bright would be good ☺.  It was fun cutting out my scraps of Kaffe Fasset fabrics into squares and arranging them.  It's definitely a happy quilt.  We had a lovely visit as well.

Squares were cut 6 1/2" and the smaller squares 3 1/2"

It was quilted by my long arm quilter, Chris Bogart who lives right across the street from me.

The quilting design was a swirly one which worked well for the florals.

 

Finished quilt

Pull up a Chair

I came across a pattern at The Balcony Quilt Sutdio called "Pull up a Chair".  What a fun pattern.  The pattern is available online as an instant download.  I dug through my fabrics and found some fun colours in my Kaffe Fassett stash with a Free Spirit solid.  However, after I cut it out and stood back, there was not enough contrast to see the chair.  (Click on the photo to enlarge.)

 So I found a lighter background, but since I had all the background cut in the dark purple, I picked a lighter purple for a chair and ended up with two blocks!  The pattern is well written. I think I will be making more of these cool chairs.  It's a big block - the finished block reasures 15" x 18". 

 A foretaste of summer nights sitting outside!

Positivities - March block

We received the March block for the Positivities stitch along designed by Rachel Hauser.  It was a fun block to do; the center is paper pieced and the rest is done with templates.  The colour is a little off here as the 'blades' that are in the middle look dark blue, but they are actually dark green (pine).  Now we have to wait almost a month before the next month's pattern.

...and my block measures exactly 18 1/2"

I think the new block will go very nicely into the previous month's sections. 

 

Positivities Stitch along

 Rachel Hauser of Stitched in Colour is hosting another stitch along.  Ever since I did the Pas de Deux Quilt two years ago, I've been hoping she'd do another one.  I had purchased a bundle of Ruby Star Society half yards awhile ago and was saving it for another sew along.  And, in January, Rachel started another Stitch along called "Positivities".  We have received Jan and Feb's instructions.  (click on the photo to enlarge)

 

The center row of fabrics are the pieces from the bundle that I'm using for this quilt.  I found a Maria Horner fabric at my local quilt shop and purchased the rest of the bolt for backing.  Solids are used in the quilt and I matched up my choices to the pattern plan.  You then add scraps from your stash that work with it while doing each month's pattern.

Here is the first month's block.

Second month's section.

All the units together so far.

 Looking forward to March's pattern to add to my quilt!

Another Baby quilt

 I finished and delivered another baby quilt last week for baby Brynlee!  It matched the baby room perfectly.  Don't you love it when that happens? The pattern is "Through the Looking Glass" designed by Sarah Price from ItsSewEmma. 

I had some of this baby forest animals fabric left in my stash and it was perfect for this quilt

Simple straight line quilting suits this pattern and gives it a modern vibe

I found this backing fabric in my stash and it's from a totally different designer but matched perfectly. 

 

Hannah's Baby quilt

We recently held a baby shower for a first baby born to Hannah and Alex and of course I had to make a quilt to welcome the new baby girl, Kinsley.  This is a pattern called, "Through the Looking Glass" and works well for a printed focus fabric with coordinating fabrics. I did a simple straight line quilting which suits this pattern and gives it a bit of a modern vibe. (Click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Finished quilt

Focus fabric

There was enough focus fabric left to do the backing