{Sew} Modern/Design Wall/BOM's Away Monday

A couple of finishes for {Sew} Modern Monday's index.

This is a version of McCall's 2012 Mystery quilt. I used the Terrain, by Kate Spain for MODA, line of fabric.

The quilting is inspired by the motifs in the dark blue and hot pink fabric and was done as a continuous line free motion quilting. I was able to do approximately 2 rows at a time. This makes it easy to use the piecing seam lines as registration lines for the quilt design.

Razzle Dazzle ....check out the backside!

The backside is leftover pieces from this top and another one that I used the same line of fabric. I'll put my label or write in the white square in the lower right. The entire back was quite improvisationally pieced!

Another version of the same quilt --I'm naming Spring Fling.

And its backside too! Was happy with the matching of the motifs on the left side so that it looks like a continuous piece.

My Design Wall and BOM progress:

Click on the links to the right for other indexes in the {Sew} Modern Monday finishes, Design Walls at Patchwork Times and BOM's Away Monday Progress at WhataHootQuilts.

{Sew} Modern / Design Wall / BOM's Away Monday

My finish is a scrappy random strip HST. This was a swap with my small Fearless Design group and two of the members gave me all of their blocks as well. I started making shapes on the design wall and then tried to connect them. I'm calling this "STEP on Life's Journey". Our local STEP women's shelter will be receiving this one. I had some fabric of antique postcards that I used in the binding. The fabric's name was "Life's Journey", so that helped me finalize on the name of this quilt. The backing is mostly a 'meadow' with a bit of a horizon with clouds in the sky and the right is the trunk of a tree --ok, use your imagination a little bit ;-) I quilted this with a squiggly cross-hatch. The grid pattern of the piecing made it very easy to follow freehand and made it very fast. I even did this without my stitch regulator which made it even faster! I used YLI thread, 'parchment' color and wool batting scraps pieced together.

 

My Design Wall is my latest Fall Wallhanging. There is an EQ tutorial with some fun tips as part of SewCalGal's Fall EQ BlogHop that wrapped last week. My giveaway is open through Monday, Oct. 8, 2012 at 9p PST.








My BOM's Away progress includes getting the rivets added to the border of my Skill Builder Sampler. It is now ready to quilt!

More {Sew} Modern Monday finishes at CanoeRidgeCreations

More Design Walls at Patchwork Times

More BOM's Away progress at WhataHoot

BOM's Away / {Sew} Modern Monday

Enjoyed a weekend away with friends, but was allowed to be productive too!

Here is Block #3 - Tulips in my Pam Bono Out of the Darkness quilt.

I also finished this little pot holder made with the Sashiko technique. My first Sashiko project. Actually enjoyed it since the stitching goes so quickly. I started this in a class last weekend from Pepper Cory at EESchenck's Spring Trends event in Portland. Had I realized what we were stenciling was going to turn into a potholder, I might not have chosen a circular design or 3 or 6 sided design, but none the less, I liked the hearts of the stencils available to choose from and ended up creating this.

I even got the sleeve sewn onto my Charmed Network - Eva version which will be in the Tri-City Quilter's "Stitchin' Stars" quilt show March 30 and 31. I'll also have "Spinner" --the EQ BOM layout winner (which still needs to be bound YOWZA! but was left drying in its blocked position on Friday, but I did get the piping made) and "1892 Rondure" --my McCalls Quilt Design Star 2011 round 1 entry.

Check out other BOM's progress at Lyn's What A Hoot linkup and other modern finishes at Canoe Ridge Creations.

The voting is now open for the Golden Quilter awards ...stop by SewCalGal's blogpost and vote!

{Sew} Modern / Design Wall / BOM's Away Monday

My {Sew} Modern finish is another version of Charmed Network. I've written an entire post from this weekend about the quilting on this.This is featuring the fabric line 'Eva' by Basic Grey for MODA. I started teaching this class last week at Stash. I had a lot of fun quilting this. I find myself taking a fair amount of time deciding what to quilt, once I stitch one or two of the repeating designs I'm then kind of bored with it and wish it was done already. At that point, I'm easily distracted by other things going on in my life. Glad to finally get this done. I know my customers will be glad to have their quilts back on my table!

BOM's Away --here is my Alaska 2007 Shop Hop -Mountain Pines from Seward. note: color#7 was not provided with sufficient fabric, so I pulled from my stash a bit. I was in Seward to attend a wedding in 2007 and enjoyed staying at a hotel right in the harbor. The Kenai fjords were beautiful. The quilt shop in town had wonderful regional print fabrics.

I didn't get anything posted last week, so I pressed on and got caught up.



Here is my Pam Bono's 'Out of the Darkness' - Block #2 - Patriotism's Eternal Bloom --now I'm not sure what that flower is, are you? But I love the striking contrast of these colors. I went with the medium/dark green combo in the leaves rather than the light/medium combo called for. I've also changed the fabrics provided in the kit from the shop I purchased this BOM, so that I have all batiks except the background and with a brightness to the fabrics that I prefer. Sorry that the pic is a little blurry. The one I took with flash had a shadow in a weird way.




No Skill Builder's yet, even from last week...we'll see how we go this week. If I get anything done, I'll post on WIP Wednesday.

Design Wall - my Rose of Sharon 'bird' block....how to applique the pieces down and what type of borders/framing shall I give it. The applique pieces are currently fused in place. I am thinking of a 'window' effect for the framing. wdyt? The image on the left is from the original EQ - Rose of Sharon design contest that made it into the Nine Patch Media DVD. On the right is the version I've created enlarging it to a 15" block with batiks from my stash and a sky like background so it looks like it is in flight.














I've mocked up an idea in EQ7. Not sold on it yet...any other ideas? I wanted to create something that would look like you were inside a thick walled structure and looking out through a small window to see the bird flying by.

So.....Ireland?? Are you going??

Check out other Design Walls, BOM's Away progress and {Sew} Modern finishes.

{Sew} Modern / Design Wall / BOM's Away Monday

For my {Sew} Modern Monday - Finish, I did another version of 'Zoe' I'm calling 'Summer School'. I wrote a 'Lessons from Zoe' blog post on Friday that I hope you'll check out if you're interested in learning from some of my own experiences. I've included many other versions of mine as well as clients. It is a fun review!

On my Design Wall is the first row in my Skill Builder Sampler quilt-a-long organized by Leila @ Sewn. More blocks will be revealed in Wednesday's WIP blog entry. About three times a month Leila posts a new block. I didn't start this until very late, so it is a weekly installment quilt for me with several blocks to finish in order to catch up, but I am hopeful that I can with my new plan to get the blocks done even with key assembly points along the way. Excited to see the first row with sashings all put together.

For BOM's Away progress....here is version 1 and 2 of Part 2 of the McCalls Mystery.

Also on my Design Wall.....  I can't show you :-) I'm working on the EQ7 2011 BOM Layout contest....reveal to happen by March 2 weekly blogpost.

Some new pricing options have been posted for the trip to Ireland. Check it out!! Got miles you can use...get there on those, but still be on our tour. It is going to be a great experience!





Check out other {Sew} Modern finishes at Canoe Ridge Creations
Design Walls at PatchworkTimes
BOM's Away progress at WhataHootQuilts

{Sew} Modern / Design Wall / BOM's Away Monday

Whew...lots to share today. So excited to get my latest design, Charmed Network - Terrain version quilted and bound. I had a customized quilting planned out, but the quilt kept sitting there on the machine and distractions kept taking me away from the idea. The more I looked at it and kept seeing how busy the fabrics were, I decided a simple 'bones stipple' all over which is done freehand, would be nice. It would also give me a sample of this quilting design.

A {Sew} Modern Finish - Charmed Network
(v.1-Terrain by Kate Spain for MODA)
This pattern is now available at Craftsy. I will also be teaching it as a class at Stash in Walla Walla, WA starting February 16, 2012. It will be a two session with an optional third session class.

The next sample on the design wall is another 'Zoe' in the punctuation fabric line, focusing on red/blue as the backgroundn colors with black and yellow accents. Once I add the circles, that are all yellow/black, I'm hoping it will give it a bit more pop. None of the circles are cut out yet except that little one in the lower right. I got a circle cutter as part of the McCall's Quilt Design Star 2011 round 1 gifts and want to use that to do the circle cutting. This is using about half of a layer cake, instead of the actual size called for in my pattern. Using the tickets as a border adds a bit of whimsy. There are blue tickets too.



Here is my BOM progress for this week - Pam Bono's Out of the Darkness. I had started this block several years ago, got it all cut out and nicely put back into sandwich baggies, but never sewed it together. I decided it was time to work on this quilt this year. I'm hoping to get one block a month done. This is Block #1 - Morning Glory. Lots of little pieces, but using the Angler2, it goes fairly quickly. It still needs the 1/4" bias stems, but I'll make enough to do them all when I'm done with the blocks.

Contests are in full swing again, and this weekend I participated in the Quilting Gallery 'New Beginnings' themed contest. My 'Your First Journey' quilt was entered and received a 2nd place! I was awarded a $25 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop. THANK YOU!!!!

I'm currently in a contest that lasts through January 25. If you have a Facebook account, become a fan of Aurifil Thread and vote! My '1892 Rondure' is entered. Thanks for checking it out.

While on a self made mini shop hop on Friday, I heard of another person going on the Ireland trip! Don't forget you can still sign up. And that irish welcome hand block....I've got my fabric picked out of my stash and hope to work on that this next week. Let me know when you post yours!

Enjoy the others linked up via

Design Wall Monday @ Patchwork Times

{Sew} Modern Monday @ Canoe Ridge Creations

BOM's Away Monday @ WhataHootQuilts

Design Wall / BOM's Away / {Sew} Modern Monday

On my design wall is the progress on the 'bear' block in my 'Oddie's Wild Nature' quilt. Had a few too many interruptions today to get it done, but progress is happening.

I also finished my one-fabric table topper. Just glad to have it done. This technique is to take a border print, cut it up and re-piece it back together creating the blocks you see in the center and the cornerstones. Some have four triangles, some have 8 triangles to make up the block. Typically you would make a much larger quilt and so the center would be repeated to make a nice effect. These were blocks made to demonstrate the concept at a guild meeting a year or so ago, so just trying to use what I had and make something from it. I think the back side especially will be great for game night and give a little bit of protection to the table. I love the back! :-)

When I saw the Thanksgiving Dinner Challenge, I remembered some unfinished potholders that I could get out and finish! Here are two that I have finished so far. The loop method on these is a new idea that I picked up from Prudent Baby.

I quilted this on my domestic machine and stitched just around each heart. The backing is fabric specially designed for ironing boards or potholders. I used 3 layers of warm & natural cotton batting in the center.

This tree is paper pieced. I created this during a Christmas vacation with my mom and sister to teach them how to paper piece a few years ago. I pulled the block out of my cubbies and all the fabric was with it to finish this up. I stitched in the ditch.

Normally I back potholders with colorful fabric, but I wanted to quilt these in such a way that I thought the silver stuff would highlight the quilting too.

The deadline is Nov. 17--you still have time if you'd like to join in. There is a giveaway drawing. http://www.sewsweetness.com/2011/10/thanksgiving-dinner-challenge.html

Received a couple of boxes of pantographs from another local long-arm quilter today. She does only computerized work now. I haven't even had a chance to look through them yet, but thank you Lynn at Thread & Bolts. She's remodeling the shop and will have a big open house on Thurs. and Fri. this week. If you're in the area, you should stop by and check it out.

More Design Walls indexed at Patchwork Times.
More BOM's Away indexed at What-a-Hoot Quilts.
More {Sew} Modern Monday finishes indexed at Canoe Ridge Creations.

Design Wall / BOM's Away / {Sew} Modern Monday

On my design wall is the finished 'Snag' block. This is part of a quilt that I'm making for me (us--my dear husband and I) taking inspiration from June Jaeger's and McKenna Ryan's designs and making a collection of blocks that represent various scenes as we have seen them in nature.

I also finished up the set of four heart placemats. I used the Go! Baby Accuquilt cutter to cut out the hearts and then raw edge appliqued them onto a piece of white background, cut 10.5" x 15.5". I then added cut 1" red strips and then cut 1.5" black strips to border each piece. Quilted them on the long-arm with Sharon Schamber's inspiration and then bound them with the same black fabric as the outer border. Should I write this into a tutorial or is this good enough for you to follow and make some yourself? This started out as a project in my Fearless Design group. It was suggested we take the Chapter 9 exercise and make placemats with 4 identical blocks and different borders. Well, my EQ7 has all of my border design ideas, but time was not on my side, so I went with different heart fabrics and red and black borders and the rest is all the same. They are intended to be given to our local Senior Center to be sold at their craft fair, but after learning with Sharon Schamber's DVD this morning, I'm not sure if I want to give them away. Perhaps I'll just need to make myself some more! I'm also throwing in another set from my winery themed placemat testing last week.

This is the last week of my 'Year 2' in business. I've got a couple more quilts to hit a goal I've set, so I better get back at it!

Ireland!! Join me on a fabulous adventure in Ireland, June 5-15, 2012. As part of the trip, three days will be at the International Quilt Festival of Ireland. The planning of this spectacular event already is mind boggling. You definitely want to be a part of this totally new style of show. Wouldn't you like to be sure you can see one of your own works of art there? Check out all of the exhibits, including Céad Míle Fáilte, "100,000 welcomes" in Gaelic--send in your own block to be included! There are plenty of activities if you're not interested in quilting during the three days of the festival. Bring your friends and/or loved ones!

McCall's Quilt Design Star FINAL round voting is still happening, vote for your favorite once a day through Nov. 8. Mine, called 'Mi Amore' is to the right and is 1 of 12 that are still in this FINAL round. *****That's only two more days!***** Don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the voting page. Thanks so much!!

Linkups are indexed with more Design Walls @ Patchwork Times.
Linkups are indexed with more BOM's Away @ WhataHootQuilts.
Linkups are indexed with more {Sew} Modern Monday finishes @ CanoeRidgeCreations.

Design Wall / {Sew} Modern Monday

Great to be able to show you my final McCall's challenge. Please vote daily through Nov. 8! I'm still loving the 3-d effect of the background alone and the hearts coming forward.

I have written about my creative process in a separate blog post.

Last week I got to attend a hands-on class by Linda V. Taylor at MQX-West in Portland, OR. Here is what I created based on what we learned. I used it as a real practice piece rather than trying to create something for show, but here it is!

Ireland!! Deadline extended to Nov. 1 for full-payment discount. Join me on a fabulous adventure in Ireland, June 5-15, 2012.

Thanks for stopping by....Thanks for voting!

Linkups are indexed with more Design Walls @ Patchwork Times.
Linkups are indexed for {Sew} Modern @ Canoe Ridge Creations

{Sew} Modern / BOM's Away / Design Wall MONDAY / WIP Wednesday!

These were both finished last week and shipped off for MQX-West in Portland, OR, October 12-16. Excited to have them accepted into the show mostly on their design, since only one was partially quilted when photos had to be submitted. I hope you'll be able to attend the show and find them!

Challenge #1 - 1892 Rondure (front and back -->)

The story of designing 1892 Rondure is here. I used wool batting and a fat back that ended up showing off the quilting in a way I hadn't thought about initially. Lots of pebbles and water like quilting in the diamonds, hoping for a stained glass affect. Motif quilting in the centers and border. Circle in a circle in the purple border. With four curved rulers, I was able to create the curved cross-hatching based on the various dimensions of the blocks in the 'beams'. A Pilot FriXion marking pen, that disappears when you apply heat to it (an iron), helped to insure I was curving the right directions based on my plan. I'd like to thank the rep at Ronda Beyer's Quilter's Rule booth and JoAnn Blade helping at Boersma's for ideas shared with me while at the Tacoma show, including the recommendation to use WonderFil Specialty Thread. I was able to use it in the motif quilting and the beams.

Challenge #2 - Pulsed Illumination

The story of designing Pulsed Illumination is here. Using a low loft polyester scrap of batting, I wanted to maintain the original concepts of each element, so chose to SID the aperture blades and create 'motion' or churned up dust between the blades with feathers and such. In the center I did pebbles for the outer three rings and left the inner two alone hoping they would pop on their own a bit. I stitched around the motif in the border.









For you BOM'ers ....I posted this last week, but since the BOMers link was down...here it is again. My Garden is done!

Check out last week's WIP for my EQ7 BOM progress as well.
As much as I'd like to get another BOM started, I think I'll just focus on the EQ7 BOM for the rest of this year, and get started with at least a new one in 2012, maybe two. I have got to get some customer quilts taken care of and catch-up for time lost while working on McCalls. I do still have the Basket BOM to quilt. Thanks Lyn for hosting the linkup.

My design wall is under secret wraps for a couple more weeks! Mark your calendars to start voting daily Oct. 18 through Nov. 8. Thanks for your support!

So, I now have In Progress: 9

• McCall's Quilt Design Star 2011 - FINAL Challenge
• EQ7 2011 BOM- on track
• Fearless Design Ch. 9 - 4 blocks w/diff. borders/placemats, ultimately for our local senior center craft sale.

Awaiting Attention:

• Lonestar wall hanging - missed the deadline that I was trying to hit....so we'll see when I get back to this idea
• Oddie's Wild Nature
• One-fabric re-pieced table cloth - target October --am wondering if this is ready to quilt. Need to get it out and look at it.

Completed Tops awaiting Quilting

• 2006 Basket BOM
• Tulip wall hanging --this is a redo of the quilting - target November
• Colorwash Heart Duvet Cover -- this is to salvage an old duvet - target December

Completed (TOTAL: 11)

• 1892 Rondure - McCall's Quilt Design Star Challenge #1 - accepted into MQX West, Portland, Oct. 12-16.
• Pulsed Illumination - McCall's Quilt Design Star Challenge #2 - accepted into MQX West, Portland, Oct. 12-16
• My Garden, adapted from Jinny Beyer's 2010 BOM - Jinny's Garden (my mom's version that I quilted won 2nd place, People's Choice, large quilt @ WWVQF 2011
• INMQ Challenge 2011, @ WA State Quilter's - Spokane show, Oct. 14-16
• Starlight-Flutterbright - designed for Highland Quilts, Athena, OR and now on display there
• View from the old cellar - SOLD
• Supernova - on display @ Patit Creek Cellars, Walla Walla, WA
• Psychedelic America - on display @ Patit Creek Cellars, Walla Walla, WA
• WWU baby - star theme - given to Becky St. Clair's daughter
• WWU baby - spring theme - given to Donny Veverka's daughter
• My First Journey - commission for Teacher Tammy's twin granddaughters

The latest Country Register -Washington edition is out. My article "Today's Quilting Bees go Cyber and Globetrot" can be found on p.14.

Ireland!! Deadline extended to Nov. 1 for full-payment discount. Join me on a fabulous adventure in Ireland, June 5-15, 2012.

Want to see more?
{Sew} Modern Monday linkup at Canoe Ridge Creations
Design Wall Monday linkup at Patchwork Times
BOMs Away Monday linkup at WhataHootQuilts
and on Wednesday there will be a WIP linkup at Freshly Pieced!