Friday, March 7, 2014

Friday Jelly Roll Finish

If I do say so myself, I think this quilt is stunning!

This is the March Jelly Roll Party project at Ruth's Stitchery. It's been hanging above the register and apparently has received a lot of comments.


I love the look of batiks on black. The pattern is from my new favorite designers, Sassafras Lane Designs. It's called Main Street. Here is the pattern cover photo:


Hard to believe it's the same pattern, isn't it? I used Moda's Xanadu Batiks and Hoffman Bali Batiks #1895. Kristy Wolf of Wolf Creek Quilting (and the pattern designer!) did the gorgeous quilting. I really wish you could see it in person, it is gorgeous!


Linking up to Thank Goodness it's Finished Friday, this week hosted in Perth, Australia by Serena at Sew Giving.

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

And also, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Next week this quilt will go off to Oregon to live with my great-nephew. I'm pretty sure he will like it!



From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Thursdays are for Knitting

Have you had a laugh yet this morning? Maybe this will help.

As I sat in front of the TV watching "Dr. Who" (I know who Riversong is!) last evening, I heard a tremendous crash coming from the sewing room. I got up and investigated but didn't find the ironing board collapsed, or the pizza boxes of quilt projects fallen off the counter. I even looked under the wet bar to see if the empty storage bins were newly un-stacked. Not. So I gave up and went back to knitting.

I finished two cashmere merino hat for my great nieces. This morning I went into the "yarn room" (formerly My Little Sailor's darkroom, you move you lose, Jacob). And this is what I found:


The Devil Cat of Doom, Moussa Koussa, had pushed off the bins of superwash wool. You can see they are full, so they aren't lightweight. I only hope she wasn't searching out that snake that moved into my basement last Fall . . . !

The "My Year in Temperatures" scarf is taking shape! Here is what it looked like at the end of February:


A few "below zero" days resulted in a wide pink and purple swath early in the month. The stripes are starting to migrate into blue and even green now. It's supposed to be near 70 degrees F (that's 21 C) today. the sky is Colorado cerulean blue this morning and Pikes Peak is covered with snow -- that's the reason to live in Colorado! 

I bought a fun new book of quilt blocks yesterday at Ruth's Stitchery. It is a giveaway for someone who suggests a block for the Block a Day challenge on Facebook. Go to this post to comment for a chance to win!  


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

WIP Wednesday: The Big Announcement

I am so excited about this that I keep waking up in the night, thinking "Oh, we could do that."

A quilter and fabric designer whom I have admired for years is "retiring" from the quilting business. If you follow Karen Snyder on Facebook or on her blog, Anna Lena Land, you know she has recently purchased a home in Sweden and wants to spend part of the year there. So she is handing off her "Block a Day" Facebook group -- to me!

Here's what Karen says to introduce the "Block a Day" concept:
Can't find time to make a quilt? How about a block each day! Every season I'll showcase a new block, post a tutorial on my blog (annalenaland.com) and try to give you lots of inspiration.
I've "known" Karen since my boys and I visited her shop in Washington back in the late 1990s. She designs 30s reproduction fabrics (and still has a very few on sale here) and quilts to go with them. I've made several quilts using her "Block a Day" method, such as:


Bowtie. And:


Hourglass. And:


Flying in Squares (Flying Geese). And:


Tesselating Crosses. And:


Streaks of Lightning (60 Degree Triangles). And:


Strings. And lastly:


The next Block a Day challenge will kick off on the Vernal Equinox, March 20 -- First Day of Spring! The tutorial will be here on 52 Quilts beginning March 18, so you'll have time to get your fabrics together before we start sewing. Join the Block a Day group on Facebook here, if you like. If you don't Facebook, no worries. All the details will also be here at 52 Quilts in 52 Weeks.

I'd love to know if you have a favorite block to suggest for a "Block a Day." Comment on this post by Saturday, March 8 for a chance to win a new book of quilt blocks!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

March UFO Parade Addendum

At the very last minute, I got to attend the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild's annual retreat. So a few March "finishes" didn't get into the parade on Saturday. I apologize to those quilters, and here are their wonderful quilts!

First up, wow! look at this beauty:


Debra reports, "While searching for some fabric I came across Windham Fabrics and they had a tab for Free Patterns. I browsed thru them and came across this pattern by Julie Hendricksen entitled "Miniatures". I loved it. I wanted to change it up a bit so I made my own design using Julie's pattern."


Debra B. has a gift for finishing complex, large quilts. I love this one specially, Deb (because it's pink!).

I feel bad that Joy in Nashville stayed up late to finish this quilt in time for the Parade, then I didn't get it posted! Isn't it lovely?


Here's what Joy says about this quilt:
"This is Winter's Story, a quilt I started for Christmas 2012, but didn't get it quilted before gift giving.  I had the best intentions to get it done for 2013, but 2014 will do. It is a combination of patchwork and appliqué.  Thanks for the encouragement to get it finished"
Joy, I hope you'll submit another finish next month and I promise you'll lead the parade!

Becky has been practicing her free-motion quilting this month. And she has three finishes to share!

First is this adorable wall hanging, called  "Be My Valentine" from the free pattern section at www.thewhimsicalworkshop.com so Becky says "I HAD to finish him in February."

 

To sharpen up her free-motion quilting skills, Becky quilted two baby quilts:


Look at the adorable stars she quilted:


Thank you all who submitted "finishes" for this month. I hope I haven't missed anyone, but if I have, please please shoot me an email with the photo of your own "finish" and I'll amend the addendum!

So many great quilts, I'll have to let the Random Number Generator choose a winner for this month's giveaway. I have a wonderful box of goodies from Quiltmaker Magazine's Scrap Squad to share!

Aaaannndd the winner is:


Oh, look, that's Donna for her "Cars" quilt.


Donna, you'll have to tell your grandson his quilt is a winner! And please send me your postal address so I can send you something yummy!

I have a very exciting announcement to make. Go here for a clue. And come back tomorrow to see what it is!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Saturday, March 1, 2014

March 1 UFO Parade

Will Spring ever arrive? We've had wind, wind and more wind this winter. Sir Ernest Shackleton reported that his men on the Endeavor suffered from amenomania, "wind madness." I think many of us in Colorado are experiencing the same thing.

Lucky for quilters, we have fabric to distract us. Considering how many "finishes" were sent in this month, many of you have been "quilting up a storm!"

Before I show them to you, here is the UFO number to work on this month:
#4
If you didn't get started on the 12 in 2014 UFO Challenge in January, not to worry. Jump in anytime! Go here to see how it works.

My #4 UFO is from Strip Club years back. It requires applique, which is probably why it isn't finished! The pattern is from 4 & 6 Designs and is named "Autumn's Arrival."


I have the background pieced, so many I will get it finished this month!

I have to confess I didn't finish my February UFO, so it goes back in the bin for another try next year!

Nancy finished two UFO this month. I have to share what she says about it, because it made me laugh:
The first was supposed to be a throw.  But I can't seem to follow a pattern so I made it bigger.  I had seen the fabric last September and really liked, I have always wanted to do a red, white and black quilt.  At that time I was strong and resisted buying it.  I was at the same shop in November and bought the fabric.  I started sewing sometime in October and got all the blocks made.  Then was not really happy about the size.  So I had to find more fabric.  I was able to got back to the same store and they had got all the fabric from their other stores so they had enough for me to make the quilt a little larger.

She also finished this batik beauty. Excellent use of complimentary colors, Nancy! Visit Nancy's blog here to read the rest of the story.


Irene reports this is a favorite pattern for baby or lap quilts, as it is "quilt as you go." Great idea, Irene! She made this quilt just for herself, and each fabric has a special meaning:

Besides the reading theme [Irene is a retired librarian] I included our beloved St. Louis Cardinals and a tribute to the Beatles - I know exactly where I was when they performed on the Ed Sullivan show 50 years ago! There is also a pattern that has a quilt shop and a book shop pictured.


Sandi finished this adorable baby quilt for her new grand-nephew. As you already may know, Sandi names all her quilts with words beginning in "k." She says, "This one is Kwetzalcoatl.  Zackary (born Thanksgiving Day 2013) may not ever be able to say the name of his quilt, but his Mom Leah my niece will.  Quetzalcoatl is the name of a Mexican Dragon by the way." The pattern is Osais by Sally Frey, and Sandi used mostly scraps for it. Go here to read Sally blog post about Zackary's quilt.



Kerry submits a quilt by one of my favorite teachers, Linda Ballard. Kerry started Harmony Square at Road to Califonia and blogs about it here. Very appropriate for March, Kerry!


Sooli conceived and made this incredible 3-D rainbow quilt. I just love it! She says it looks just  like she imagined it in her head -- don't you love it when things come together that way? Visit Sue's Quilty Bits and Bobs here to read the back story.


One of our newest "finishers," Katie, is going great guns! This adorable baby quilt could have made with fabrics from my own scrap bins:


I have to show you a closeup of the quilting Katie did for her newest grandchild -- who should be with us by now!


And look at the labels she found! She says she may go back and add the labels to quilts she made for her other grandchildren also!


Carol Anne may win the prize for "oldest UFO" this month. She doesn't say exactly when she started this one, but it's from a Debbie Mumm book. I know it's been around for a long time, because I have a UFO just like it!


Donna is another newbie who is tearing through the UFOs! Three this month!

First is "Sunset Over Water." Isn't this a stunner, and what a great way to use up scraps! I hope Donna will comment with the name and issue of the magazine where she saw this, because I want to make one, too.


Donna's two-year-old grandson is a big fan of the Disney movie, "Cars." She made this cutie for him -- destined to be a "dragger," I bet. The ultimate compliment for a quilter!


This is "Streaks of Wnter," based on Bonnie Hunter's free pattern "Streaks of Lightning." It's flannel, so it will be very useful for the cold winter Donna (and many of us in the US!) is enduring.


Diane finished this "oh please let Spring come" quilt. It's a Disappearing 4 Patch using two charm packs. I love that shade of green, Diane. And congratulations on the new baby!


Jackie from Manchester, England reports she recently discovered 52 Quilts and was inspired by the 12 in 2014 Challenge to finish two quilts for her local Project Linus. 

Be sure to click on this first photo to see the cute motifs in her "I Spy" tumbler:


And isn't her pastel Whirligig sweet?


Thanks for playing, Jackie!

Oooh, here's a last-minute entry from Donna (that makes four this month!). I love pink! Donna adds that she stitches 5" in from the edge on these tied fleece throws to add stability in case one of the ties comes undone. Clever idea, Donna!


Hey, ChristyLeigh, remember in this challenge YOU decide what is "finished." I generally consider a completely pieced top "finished" because they are sent out to be quilted. Here is ChristyLeigh's March finish:



I might have to beg a favor from Gill. Look at these darling iPad cases she made:


The DH is having fun buying black and silver Union Jack "extras" for his new Mini Cooper. Which he has named "Black jack," by the way.

That's not all Gill made this month:
I was very pleased when you chose number 6 - it was iPad cases: one for me and one I started last October for my Mum's birthday (in November) and never finished in time! Plus they were smallish projects which was perfect for a short month. I also had to make a Gimli and a Frodo outfit or each of my two son's for their school World Book Day dressing up next week!

Betsy sent in this gorgeous Fall quilt. She says "each 9 patch takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes between cutting, sewing, trimming, pressing...   So it has truly been a labor of love.  I started it about 3 or 4 years ago, and it is a pattern from around 2000-ish."
SO worth it, Betsy!

Squeee! I just moments ago found out that there is space for me in my Guild's weekend retreat -- and I have to leave in one hour! So I'll draw for the March UFO Parade giveaway winner Sunday evening. Come back to see who won!

From the desk of your auntmartisignature