Fast and Fun Improv

We've been rearranging our house and it's driving me bonkers! My little creative corner has shrunk and I'm in denial about it. Seeking solace, I walked over to my fabric cupboard and pulled out fabrics that felt comforting. This is a hug from my fabric fairy godmother. She whispered, "everything will be ok. Why don't you sit down and make something?"

I followed this great tutorial by Svetlana of S.O.T.A.K handmade. There is no pattern, you make a stack of fabrics and cut them up and then mix up the order of prints. I really liked making intentional, but unmeasured cuts. 

Normally I spend a lot of time placing each color and each print exactly where I want it. I liked the feeling of serendipity when I sewed everything together and it just worked.

I made two stacks and ended up with 12 blocks. Then I added some sashing and borders and the next thing you know I had a quilt top. I adore the look of this type of quilt and Svetlana's tutorial made it so easy.

DETAILS:

Fabric: Mix of prints by Denyse Schmidt, Essex Linen in Linen, Kona Cotton in Ivory and a black or grey crosshatch from Timeless Treasures

Tutorial: Stack and Slash by S.O.T.A.K Handmade

Sparkle Punch, A Quilt Top

My Sparkle Punch quilt top is done!  Hooray!!!

If it feels like this top came out of no where, it kind of did. It's been a steady stream of manic quilting. We are moving this summer, but we don't know where yet. I can feel the start of the school year breathing down my neck and I worry. 

via Instagram

So instead of pacing, or eating sweets, I sit down and sew. Luckily this quilt top is very straight forward to sew (if not a little tedious) and it was just what I needed. 

via Instagram

These fabrics have been excellent companions. They are a cheerful bunch spread out on my worktable. I started with a stack of prints from Field Study by Anna Maria Horner and sprinkled in some of my favorites by Denyse Schmidt and Aneela Hoey.

The Sparkle Punch pattern can be found on Elizabeth Hartman's blog, Oh Fransson.

The Accidental Rainbow

The South Bay Modern Quilt Guild announced a charity quilt drive last week. The goal is to make 31 quilts in 31 days for children with cancer and their families, through Jacob's Heart. I knew instantly I wanted to help.

It was late Thursday night and I started pulling fabric that made me happy right then and there. There were no rules, but I was looking for that gut reaction of, yes-happy. I started with the red polka dot (what's happier than that?) and added the oranges and yellows. Those Mini Muu Bees from Lecien are the sweetest thing ever. Then came the greens. It felt a little too citrusy and lacking in the teal department, my personal favorite. So I added some teal and pinky-purples. I did not set out to create a rainbow at all, but that's just what I did.

And here's the top. Inspired by the happy colors, I made some happy blocks. My husband thinks it looks like Skittles.

I'm going to finish this one too. I had a few Stargazer blocks already cut out, so this top came together quickly.

And you thought it was getting quiet around here! I'll be basting if you need me.

LINKS:

South Bay Modern Quilt Guild

Jacob's Heart

Stargazer Block Tutorial

The Healer, A Quilt Top

Ta-da! I LOVED piecing this top. It still needs a good pressing, but I was too excited to see what it looked like. It's funny when you make a quilt like this that isn't based on repetitive blocks, it's really hard to see what it looks like until you're done. The name came when I started cutting the squares and it stuck, almost as if it named itself.

Introducing, The Healer.

I was originally going to use 2.5" squares and make a baby sized quilt. Just a fun little project I told myself.  Right before I started cutting, I changed my mind and upped the size of the squares to 3.5".  Easy enough to cut, but I forgot that would mean more fabric. I had to place an emergency fabric order for more Kona Bone. Now it's a healthy lap size, 54"x66".

I can't wait to quilt it. The added layer of texture will add so much to it's personality.  

Notes about the fabric are in this previous post.

Stargazer, A Quilt Top

Eeek!  I finshed my Stargazer quit top.  This sewing stuff is fun!!  : )

I stopped by Julie's today to get some more Constellations for the back. My own little stargazer has been excited watching his quilt come together. He has requested matching pillowcases. Awww.

The top measures 48"x 72". There has been a few questions about how to make the stars, so I'm writing up a quick tutorial to share with you.

I've been procrastinating basting and my quilt tops are starting to stack up. You know it's bad when your non-quilting husband comments, "you are the queen of quilt tops!".  Well, at least he's paying attention, right?

FABRIC USED:

• Constellations by Lizzy House for Andover
• Bella in Bleached White by Moda
• Cotton Couture in Grass and Mint by Michael Miller Fabrics
• Kona Coal by Robert Kaufman (I think)

Scrappy Trip Along: A Top!

sizing it up on a twin bed

Frost!

The day started off so cold. There was frost on the car windows when we headed out for school this morning. It was a freezing 35 degrees! I know some of you are shaking your head. What can I say? I'm a wimpy Californian. I couldn't wait to get back home. This is quilting weather!! : )

a closer look

Originally, I was planning on making a lap sized quilt (30 blocks) for the Scrappy Trip Along, but I was short three blocks. When I sat down to sew additional blocks, three turned into six when I wasn't looking. Bonnie Hunter's strip technique is that quick and easy. After recounting the finished blocks I had, I decided to make three more. Might as well, right? Now I have a twin size. Yay! Thirty five blocks sewn up in seven rows of five blocks.  Did you get all that? I know, it makes my head hurt too.

so many great fabrics all in one place

Now to quilt it. All of those squares make for a busy top. I'm thinking an all over pattern might be good. Something crinkly and cozy. Maybe loops, stipple or scribbles. Rita's lines are gorgeous, but I don't know if I have the arm muscles to keep them straight. This is one heavy top. It must be all of those seams.

backing and binding

Choosing a backing was hard. Nothing in my stash felt right and everything at the store seemed so busy and colorful. I felt like Goldilocks: too busy, too bright, too dark, too light! Finally, I saw this Ghastlie print from Alexander Henry and it was perfect. Kona in Jade was a no brainer for my binding. Surprised? I didn't think so. ; )

Daisy Dog

Daisy wants to take another walk. Maybe later pup. After Mama defrosts. Brr!

Spinning Stars, A Quilt Top

I made huge progress on this quilt at my last sew day. In just under eight hours of sewing and chatting, I finished up most of the twelve blocks. Yipee!! Then I slowly worked on piecing the top this last week during the evenings. I'm so happy to finally have the top completed! Now to figure out how to quilt it. Maybe something simple and squishy.

Fabric: Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt (mostly, I added a few others)
Pattern: Spinning Stars by Anna Maria Horner
Previously Blogged: here and here

Candy Corn Quilt

Candy Corn Quilt, Top

My last minute Halloween sewing didn't come in the form of costume, but a quilt instead. I got the top done, but it looks like we won't be snuggling with it until next Halloween. Well, at least I have a whole year to do the quilting.  

Guising by Lizzy House for Andover

It was 100% inspired by the print above from Guising by Lizzy House. More triangles, I know. Maybe I'm in my triangle period? As soon as I saw it, I knew it had to be a quilt. I started with a fat quarter bundle of the collection and then started adding to it. My fellow fabric fiends may recognize some of the prints mixed in the final top from Jenean Morrison, Lotta Jansdotter, Kate Spain, Zoe Pearn, and Sandy Klop (to name a few).

Initial Fabric Pull

My gut was to go with a linen or creamy neutral for the background.  My gut was wrong!  It was so blah!!   Above was a houndstooth print I was trying out.  Then I started adding other Lizzy House prints.  Some of the purples from her other collections.  Then.... I thought why not purple for the background?  Purple and orange?!  I know! Not my normal colors, but I think in this case it really helps all the colors of the triangles pop, the brown, orange, peach, and even the super cute almost gray ghost print.

I'm off to take the munchkins trick or treating.  Happy Halloween everyone!

-A

Charming Sherbet Pips

a finished top

a quilt label

I love Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey and I went a little crazy buying charm packs awhile back.  It took me two days to arrange the squares and one dato sew up the top.  True!  The colors and illustrations of this line make me so happy.  I hope they will make some little kid happy too.  I'm finishing this up as part of 100 Quilts for Kids.  You still have a couple of weeks to finish a quilt and participate.

I'm going to channel my inner Rita (redpepperquilts) and use straight lines all over this top.  Wish me luck!!  : )

-Adrianne

Progress: Modern Crosses

It's the first week of school and Mama finished a quilt top! Yahoooooo!  It's been such a long time.  I'm feeling a little rusty and exhilarated all at once.

This is my version of the Modern Crosses pattern from Susan Beal's book, Modern Log Cabin Quilting.  I first blogged about it here.  I LOVE this pattern.  I will definitely be making it again.  Maybe reverse the colors next time, or scrappy, or maybe monochromatic, or solids.  There are so many possibilities.  Susan just showed a pillow version of this block made with Pendleton wool.  I really love the way that looks too.

The leftovers are being pieced together for the back.  Quilting and binding will follow shortly.  I'm trying to decide between simple straight lines and an all over meander.  I read somewhere that the denser the quilting, the more durable the quilt.  Is there any truth to that?  This one is headed to Japan so I want it to be the best it can be.  What would you do?

One night this week I was feeling adventurous and sewed up a test block for my upcoming Accuquilt tutorial.  Heirloom half square triangles.  What'cha think?

Meanwhile, Mr. L is busy working on his letters, and Miss H is happy as a clam gluing glitter and sparkles to construction paper.  Win-win-win!!!  When I go to pick them up they both get a big huge grin on their faces, run for hugs, and shout, "Mommy!"  Then they start chatting excitedly about their day.  It's the best feeling ever.

Happy weekend everyone.  : )
-A