Monday 18 March 2024

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!

Monday 11 March 2024

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. 

 

Thursday 22 February 2024

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!

Thursday 8 February 2024

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. 

 

Tuesday 9 January 2024

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

 

Tuesday 26 December 2023

Van Gogh's Starry Night

 Seven years ago I started cutting 1 1/2" squares from various Kona cotton fabrics to sew this pixelated version of Van Gogh's Starry Night painting.  The pattern is from Carolina Patchworks by Emily Cier.  The pattern diagram was divided into sections with 10 rows each and one section of 5 rows at the bottom.  I divided each section into four and worked on one section at a time using my Singer 15-88 treadle sewing machine.

I had intended to quilt this wall hanging myself, but at 70" x 55" and just thinking about quilting through all those seams, I finally approached Len Adams at Quilt Mason for some advice.  He has a computerized long arm machine and was very excited about quilting this.  I sent him a picture of the original painting and he used that to plan out the quilting, using Van Gogh's brush strokes, which really brought the quilt to life!  I was so happy with the results.  He did an amazing job.  It was very fun to have the quilt on display at a lovely little quilt show at the historic library theatre building in Aylmer, ON.

When I bought the pattern, I had no idea that it was so big!  The only wall in my house that works to display it, it is in my sewing room. I'm happy that it's finally hanging up!

 (click on the pictures for a larger view)

Beautiful quilting done by Len Adams

The Quilting from the back!


I had a few squares left to make up a matching label

Enjoying my view while sewing on my trusty Singer 15-88 treadle sewing machine.

Starry Night hanging in a show at the Aylmer, ON library Quilt show in September


 

Tuesday 17 October 2023

Stretching....



I took a workshop with my small guild yesterday to do a collage project!  That stretched me somewhat!  Lots of fiddly cutting and messy scraps using steam a seam.  But, I'm happy with the cup and saucer that resulted.  I am going to do some stitching around the rim of the cup and saucer yet and then quilt it. It will likely be the only collage project I complete ☺.