Sunday, July 6, 2014

Sunday De-stash

No new stash photos to share today but I have some stunning "inspiration" shots to show you!

Elder Son and I visited the Denver Botanic Gardens last week to view the Chihuly in Denver exhibit. Chihuly's glass in nature is simply stunning. I'm pleased with my photos; I thought they would be washed-out because the sun was so bright, Just see:


Blue Icicle Towers
  

Summer Sun


Turquoise Reeds and Marlins


Saffron Tower & Cattails


White Tower



Red Reeds


Blue & Purple Boat & Walla Wallas


Monet Pool Fiori

Can't you just see making a modern quilt inspired by some of these incredible works? 

 De-Stash

I'm sorry I can't measure out the fabric in this week's de-stash offer. But I promise there is more than enough to make an entire quilt!


This kit began as a "Buck-a-Block" project back before I realized I hate to sew with Thangles. There are directions for seven blocks, and a packet of Thangles.


It also includes plenty of fabric for background, sashing and borders.

 

And because there are only instructions for seven blocks, I'm including this pattern by Debbie Caffrey, "Garden Party," which uses the same size strips as the Thangles.

Would you like to have it?

Just comment below with your PayPal address and zip code. I'll send you a PayPal invoice for the postage ($12.35 in the US) and when payment is received, the kit will go in the mail to you!

It's been really fun seeing who wanted what from my de-stash. I have two more "kits" to give away, but I may find more!

I have something new on the design wall to show you on Wednesday. Come back and see!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

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