Friday, March 27, 2015

A Fast Friday Finish

The story behind this week's finish is a bit disheartening.

I make a baby quilt for each IBMer on the DH's team when they have a new baby. One quilt I mailed earlier this year went missing in the mail. First time I've ever had that happen! And of course, I had tossed the receipt  so it couldn't be tracked.

I bought a kit for a "Foxy" baby quilt at Nana's Quilt Cottage just before Christmas. It looked to be fast and easy, so I whipped it up to replace the missing quilt.


The pattern is "joy" by Homegrown patterns for Villa Rosa Designs. It only takes one yard each of the main fabric and the background. I used "Good Natured" by Marin Sutton for Riley Blake. The backing is a lovely, grey "Minky."


My Mega Quilter is currently hiding out with the repair dude, so I quilted this on my Juki. Quilting a quilt with Minky backing is hard on the wrists. The Minky tends to "stick" to the machine bed, so it has to be held up with both hands and guided through the machine. 

I always wash baby quilts before I give them away, so the mama knows the quilt is machine washable. The Minky doesn't shrink as much as the cotton top of the quilt, but I think it turned out OK.

I used a new binding method I'm calling "Jean's Genius Binding." Come back Tuesday to learn this clever new binding technique!



From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Monday, March 23, 2015

Design Wall Monday: Downton Abbey Mystery

Spoiler Alert! I'm showing photos of blocks from LoveBug Studios' Downton Abbey Mystery! If you're participating in the QAL, continue at your own risk!

2015 is the second year Ebony has hosted a Downton Abbey QAL. And it's the second year Barb of Around the Block quilt shop in Cheyenne has hosted a Downton Abbey retreat.

This photo shows the blocks I have finished -- not in the design of the finished quilt!

I'm using the "Team Carson" colorway. Can you spot  my mistake?



I've been lucky to attend the DA retreat both years. It's held at the Nagle Warren Mansion in Cheyenne. The Nagle Warren Mansion was built by Erasmus Nagle in 1888.  It is one of the few remaining fine homes built during the 1880s, when Cheyenne was the richest city, of its size, in the world. The mansion is located on Cattle Baron's row, where many large homes were built during the late 19th century.


L Winter Nagle Warren Mansion

Several attendees sewed with Andover's Downton Abbey fabrics. I made a good start on my English Manor Mystery from LoveBug Studios. Thanks you, Nancy and Betty at Ruth's Stitchery for gathering all the fabrics for me.

Come back on Sunday for the stash report from this trip!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature