Blogger's Quilt Festival: Fly Away Home

This is my entry for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  Thank you so much to Amy for creating and hosting this event again and again.  I love participating, seeing quilts posted from all over the world and reading the stories behind them.  The festival has always been full of inspiration and new quilty friends.  Cheers to Amy!!  : )

Name: Fly Away Home

Fabric: Madrona Road by Violet Craft for Michael Miller, Carolina Chambray in black

Original design by: Adrianne Ove

Quilted by: Adrianne Ove

Finished Size: 34" x 47"

Category: Wall Hanging

I made this quilt as part of a challenge through the Modern Quilt Guild.  My local guild was given yardage to share by Michael Miller.  This is my most personal quilt to date.  Yes, Madrona road is a pretty fabric line. Fresh colors, bold florals, herringbone, sketchy tonals and a great text print thrown in for good measure. I love it all, but for me, creating this quilt goes much deeper.

The text print, "memoir", tells a story of living, loving, heartbreak and a longing for home. This resonated so deep in my soul, it gave me goosebumps and tears as I read it the first time. I've been more of a tumbleweed than a gypsy, moving from one place to another for years, and finding myself stuck in a place that I don't want to be. Now that my kids have started school the ache for a home instead of a house, the search for roots and happiness is more urgent than ever. I haven't found my Madrona Road yet, but one day, I will take my family and fly away home.

*You can read "memoir" on Violet's blog, blog.violetcraft.com/2012/04/memoir-of-madrona-road.html

Super Tote Pattern by Noodlehead

I bought this fabric to make a bag to take with me to Quilt Market.  I knew I wanted some as soon as I saw those butterflies and it's even prettier in real life!  The question was, which bag to make?  I decided on trying this pattern after seeing so many cute versions online.  It's a brand new one called Super Tote and it's by Anna of Noodlehead.  It's a .pdf pattern too so no waiting when you want to start sewing after 8pm!  : )

The main fabric is a linen/cotton blend called Ghost Wing by Anna Maria Horner.  The dotty fabric on the side is an oldie but a goodie called County Fair by Denyse Schmidt.  You can still find it around online if you look for it.  I used Pellon SF101 on all of the exterior pieces as suggested in the pattern.

I forgot how long bags can take to make.  For some reason, they feel like a 1-2 hour project.  Not!  This one took me about six hours (with Mama/kid stuff inbetween). Maybe longer?  I started cutting and fusing last night and stitched all day today.  Normally this isn't a problem, but I've got packing to do!

LINKS:

Super Tote Pattern by Noodlehead

Field Study Linen by Anna Maria Horner for Free Spirit

County Fair by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit

Pellon SF101 Shape-Flex

Speaking of Quilt Market, I will be posting pictures onto Instgram and Facebook as I go.  You can find links on the top right hand side of the blog.

Mood Board: After Midnight

There is a garden I know of, filled with posies and fairy rings.  An old bicycle rests against the garden shed.  It's still and quiet after midnight, but the garden does not sleep.  Spider webs are laced with dew.  Snails leave hidden trails along the pathways.  Gossip can be heard amongst the crickets.  Insect wings glimmer in the moonlight and tiny seeds dance in the crisp night air.  Sit and watch long enough and you will see the golden rays of sunlight cut through the ink filled sky.  Dawn is coming and a new day is about to begin.

1. Indie Chic, Woven in Yellow
2. Tsuru, Blossom Festival
3. Tsuru, Old Lace in Cerulean
4. Avingnon, Houndstooth in Orange
5. Ride, Wheels in Teal
6. Glimma, Kulla in Orange Nut
7. Constellations, Stars in Black
8. Pearl Bracelet in Peach
9. Stitch Square in Navvy
10. Glimma, Korkek in Jade
11. Piper, Scallops in Orange
12. Oval Elements, Vintage Blue

Fabric swatches from The Intrepid Thread

To Boston with Love

A teeny-tiny dresden plate block

Sunny scraps

Love from California

When I heard that the Vancouver MQG was collecting flags for Boston I knew I wanted to send one.  There is still time to contribute, the deadline to receive flags is May 21st.  More information including flag measurements and suggested colors are on the Vancouver MQG blog.

"The overall idea is to provide Boston with an uplifting experience from quilters and sewists around the globe. " - Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild

Here is a little something to Boston with love from California.  For the fabric, I choose some sunny scraps and a pretty aqua solid.  I couldn't find a template for the shape and size dresden plate I wanted, so I drafted my own based on a block from EQ. The back is a mix of simple applique and hand embroidery.

Finished Quilt: Sunny Stargazer

Here is my third and final quilt for Jacob's Heart.  I had a few extra blocks from making the Baby Stargazer quilt and it didn't take long to piece a few more.  It only takes 12 blocks to make a small quilt.  Aren't teal and yellow good together?  I don't think I will ever get tired of this color combo.

I have a confession.  The day I went shopping for backing fabric, I was one tired Mama.  I headed over to Julie's shop and I was having the hardest time choosing a fabric.  It was one of those days and as silly as it sounds now, it was almost too much.  Julie rescued me by suggesting this print from Notting Hill by Joel Dewberry and it was so perfect!  I  was so relieved, I think I might have hugged her.  Yep, I'm a hugger.  : )

To keep it crinkly and snuggly, I quilted it with an allover stipple.  I had one last piece of Quilter's Dream batting that was just big enough for this quilt.  It's so wonderful, especially fresh out of the dryer.  Oh man, heaven!!

Name: Sunny Stargazer
Size: 36"x48"
Quilt Pattern: Stargazer by Adrianne Ove
Pieced and Quilted by: Adrianne Ove
May 2013