Thursday, July 3, 2014

Jelly Roll Party: One Day Early

Because Friday is Independence Day in the States, we're having the July Jelly Roll Party at Ruth's Stitchery on Thursday this month.

I absolutely, positively love the way this quilt turned out!  The Fabric is Soho Chic by Sandy Gervais for Moda, the pattern is Galaxy by Cozy Quilts.



There was some discussion on Instagram as to whether I should use the brown print or the chartreuse print for the outside border. In the end, I chose the brown, because that's what the DH liked better.



I had lots of the chartreuse print, so I used it for the backing. Not quite enough for the entire back, so I added a strip of Moda "Citroen" at the top and bottom.



I quilted it with a "lazy loopy" design and of course, added a "My Aunt Martha Made It" label!


Happy Independence Day!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

WIP Wednesday: Summer "A Quilt Block a Day"

Summer arrived in Colorado this week, and disappeared today! Highs in the 90s Fahrenheit yesterday and Monday, highs in the low 70s today.

I know Summer is a busy time for many quilters. So for the "Quilt Block a Day" Facebook group, I chose a super easy block, Shoo-Fly. Here is a link to the post with the tutorial, and here is the Facebook link.

The advantage (disadvantage?) to being the group sponsor is, I have to finish my blocks to show you each week! I'm making one quilt from large (15" finished) blocks, using Liberty of London Lifestyle prints in assorted blues.

Here are the first nine blocks:


And here is a close-up, so you can see the prints:


I was lucky enough to find more of this fabric at Trelotta today to stash for the binding. For a full-bed sized quilt, I plan to make 30 blocks. Which means I will have the first Summer BaD quilt completed by the end of July!

http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.ca/p/lets-bee-social.html

Linking up to Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

And WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced Modern Quilts.

Tomorrow is Jelly Roll Party Day at Ruth's Stitchery. Come back to see what we'll be making!

From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

July UFO Parade

Even with the advent of Summer, 52 Quilts "12 in 2014" challengers are continuing to complete UFOs at a record pace!

Before I share the projects finished in June, here is the number for your July UFO challenge:


I confess that my #12 UFO is not going to be a finish! It is a Buck-a-Block project from several years ago. All the Buck-a-Blocks I've done are based on Thangles, a paper-pieced half square triangle method. Although I've made three or four of them, I've decided I hate Thangles. And guess what? I'm not going to finish this one! So this project will be the Sunday "De-Stash" offer on July 6. (Why yes, yes it is the same UFO I thought I would finish in June. Not gonna happen.)

And so, on with the show!

A long-time challenger, Debra B, sent in this lovely finish for June.


Here's a close up, Debra, your piecing is so precise, I love it!



 Here's what she says about it:

My UFO #10 is called Secret Window and it was a Quiltmaker 3-part mystery that started back in May/June 2011. I have had this fabric pulled and in all 3-parts of the Quiltmaker magazines. It was sitting by my sewing room window and, you know what happens to fabric when it sits by a window, that was my cue to add this quilt to this years challenge. The quilt was designed by Debbie Caffrey and Sandi Delman was the "go to" hostess for the online Quilt-Along. Thank you so much for all you do and I am looking forward to next month's challenge.

Mary finished this quilt top for a donation quilt and says, "Obviously it isn't quilted, but I am considering it not just a finish but a victory because those darn HSTs have been sitting around for 2 years since I got them in a swap."



Mary, it's so pretty!  Someone will love receiving this quilt. Check out Mary's blog here

Katie finished a QOV (Quilts of Valor) project this month, and her story made me tear up:
 It is a Quilt of Valor. It measures 90" x 90". I am going to dedicate it to my dad, 2nd Lt Ralph Peters who served in WW11 in the Army Air Corp as a bomber pilot out of Adak, Alaska flying bombing missions over the northern Pacific ocean. I will put all that on a label and then send it of to the QOV org to give to a deserving vet. 

Katie's little sister, Peggy, was one of my closest friends through high school. And I never knew her daddy was a pilot! How I wish I had known him when I was in the Air Force, the stories he could have told!

Irene is making up for lost time by submitting two finishes for June. The first one is part of a series of the four seasons, Winter. She says Summer and Fall are completed, and Spring is in the UFO collection!



I love her second finish. Irene, I should have asked you to include the source! Irene says the book is out of print, but she found a copy on Amazon.


Heather's June finish is close to my heart. Yes, I hate making Flying Geese. But isn't this just the prettiest quilt?


Heather gives the details about "Lockridge Mill," the third project in Prairie Women's Sewing Circle - Journey 3, on her blog, here.  

Betsy "whipped up" this cute quilt for a friend's new baby:


Lucky friend, lucky baby!

Sue also has two finishes this month, after a hiatus for "doggy distractions!" 

First is this incredible trapunto project. I wish I could see it in person (maybe Jacob's ship will visit Australia again and I can come see you, Sue!)


Even in the photo, you can see the shimmer of the organza!  Sue's second finish is one that's on my "Quilter's Bucket List," the "Star Surround" quilt.



Gorgeous, Sue!  Be sure to visit Sue's blog, here, for details on the trapunto -- and scroll back to June to see photos of her new puppy!
   
Kerry has a "big" finish -- one of Bonnie Hunter's scrappy quilts. If you've ever sewn one of Bonnie's patterns, you know they have lots of pieces!


"Crabapple" is from Bonnie's book, "Adventures with Leaders and Enders." Kerry reports this quilt started as a swap with some quilty friends -- full details on her blog, here.

Elisa made this sweet baby quilt with a rainbow batik jelly roll. Her original idea was to make a "learn your colors" quilt for her granddaughters. When the project was relegated to the UFO pile, it re-surfaced as a gift for a friend's first grandchild.


I'm thinking the model is one of Elisa's granddaughter? Details on Elisa's blog, here.

It's always fun to see what "K" kwilt name Sandi comes up with. This one is Kolumbia, named for the first US space shuttle, Columbia.


I'll let Sandi explain:

It was fun sewing red, white, and blue (although I used ivory) fabrics this flag month.  Well, quite frankly I always enjoy a patriotic project.  The fabrics all came from my stash; a wonderful thing.  The challenge was finding a suitable setting triangle fabric, that gold.  I really had to dig deep to locate a piece that would be the right color AND enough yardage.
I'll have to admit that it is getting difficult to come up with "K" names for patriotic projects.  I have made quite a few.  This one comes from one of the NASA space shuttles.  "On April 12, 1981, a bright white Columbia roared into a deep blue sky as the nation's first reusable Space Shuttle. Named after the first American ocean vessel to circle the globe and the command module for the Apollo 11 Moon landing, Columbia continued this heritage of intrepid exploration. "  The design is by Wendy Gilbert of Morning Star Designs (wlgquilt@aol.com) called Scrappy Star Quilt.  I made the miniature wall hanging.  
If you'd like to see more of Sandi's "kwilts," visit her blog, here.

Twelve finishes, even in the midst of Summer!  How about a Parade giveaway?

(Drumroll, please.)

And that would be Elisa. I'm sending you an email, Elisa, asking for your postal address. 

A last minute entry! Becky's email arrived after I had gone to bed last night, but before I had the post set to "publish." It's worth the last-minute add, though!


Perfecto for Independence Day! And Becky's story is charming:

When my sister was in high school she loved all things space so I made her some spaceship pajamas.  There were some good sized scraps leftover and I figured someday they would make a good focus fabric for a quilt.  Last fall I saw a quilt pattern that I thought would be perfect for the spaceship fabric.  So now 15 years later, those scraps finally made it into a quilt for our nephew who is due to arrive in August.


Tomorrow is WIP Wednesday -- and my WIP is the Summer "A Quilt Block a Day" block. Come back to see how I'm doing!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Monday, June 30, 2014

BOM-Day

Wheee! I'm all caught up on my Blocks of the Month. OK, at least the ones that meet this week!

First, I worked on next section of Sample This


I'm making it twice, once in the colorway shown on the pattern cover (above) and once in the same fabric collection, but in the green colorway (below).


This "sampler" takes a long time because of the many fabrics in each section. Plus the fact that each 4.5" square is three different fabrics! It's going to be an incredible quilt when it's finished, but -- boy, howdy!

This is Marti Michell's "5 is Fabulous" block party at Ruth's Stitchery. In Bonnie Hunter's new book, More Adventures with Leaders and Enders, she recommends making the setting blocks as "leaders and enders" while piecing the main blocks on a quilt. Doh! This one is much easier than the Sample This! quilt, but I think it's going to be someone's favorite when it is finished. 


Here are the Quilty Fun rows I finished this week:


That second row from the top is supposed to be autumn leaves. At our Block Party, we decided they look more like fishing bobbers.  Anyway, here are all the rows I have finished:


Yes, the rows are different lengths. I decided not to add the end pieces until I have all the rows finished. That way, I can adjust so the rows are the same length.

I can't believe I sewed 6-8 hours every day last week and that is all I accomplished?  Oh, well, I DID bind and mail the Farmer's Wife quilt, and piece, quilt, and bind the August Jelly Roll Party sample. And make 10 Block a Day Shoo-Fly blocks. And finally get the patio planter boxes planted. And Skype with My Little Sailor from Singapore.

Tomorrow is the July 1st UFO Parade. Come back to see what the 12 in 2014 Challengers finished this month!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Sunday Stash and De-Stash

You won't believe all I got done while "camping" this week! Details tomorrow on BOM-day.

Stash

In the meanwhile, a few new things for the stash!

First up, where did I buy this cute kit and why haven't I broken it open yet?


The pattern is "Hanky Panky" by Abbey Lane Quilts. The fabric is Savanna Bop by Thomas Knauer for Andover Fabrics. I must have been thinking of a baby quilt, because the fabric has darling giraffes and elephants on it. It was buried on the sewing room counter, and I can't remember where or when I bought it! 


Next up, a couple of scores from the Berthoud Outdoor Quilt Show last weekend. Berthoud is also home to one of the most fun quilt shops ever, Laughing Ladies Quilting.  Really, these ladies know how to have a good time. 

{pssst, there was a special exhibit of modern quilts at the show. Photos are available on the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild's website, here.}

Remember my "Crazy for Shelburne" quilt? I started it in April, thinking it would make a good anniversary gift for my brother and his wife's 50 wedding anniversary. That was before I realized the Farmer's Wife quilt would be even more perfect.  

Laughing Ladies had this fabric on sale, part of the Crazy for Shelburne collection. Enough to back my "Friends and Companions" Sew-Along quilt. 


And here are the last three fabrics I needed for that quilt. The Sew-Along begins August 1, details on the Marcus Fabrics website.


Here's some more fabric that has been "aging" on the counter. This is fashion fabric, not quilting fabric. It will make two lovely summer tops. If I can just get in the mood to sew garments, not quilts!



Here's something really exciting! My friend Kari is featured in a new book:


Lucky Spool's Essential Guide to Modern Quilt Making.  Kari wrote the very first chapter, all about color. I bought an extra copy for a future giveaway, so keep your eyes peeled for the giveaway post! 

De-Stash

Here's a real oldie but goodie.  I know I bought this to make my courtesy nephew, Zeb, a "bug quilt." Well, Zeb graduated high school last year. So this kit needs to find a home with someone who either a) really likes bugs or b) has a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew who really likes bugs.



Here's how it works:

If you'd like to give this kit a good home, here's the deal: I'll give away the fabric, free. The recipient just has to pay postage. Anywhere in the world, just pre-pay the postage via PayPal, and the featured quilt kit is yours! Comment with your PayPal address and zip code. I'll respond with an invoice for the postage, and "Bug Jar" will be on its way to you!

Tomorrow is the 10th day of Summer. And yes, I have 10 Shoo Fly blocks sewn. Come back to see how they look!

From the desk of your auntmartisignature