Big & Low

My biggest finish ever! Actually, it might be a little too big . . .
  

 

 

Name: Big & Low

Design: Sunday Morning by Cheryl Arkison

Size: about 111 inches square (before washing)

Quilted by me  . . . it's a take on Denyse Schmit's loop-de-loops

 

Big & Low is the fourth quilt I have finished from the book Sunday Morning Quilts. I love  scrap projects.

 

This is the first time I have used my own quilt in my own bed. When I wake up and see the lovely fabric I am so happy!

 

I added a little bit of applique to represent my family. A hammer for my husband, a bone for our big dog, two hearts for my little dogs, and a fish for our cat. The chickens are NOT represented.

 

And one last picture of the cutest dog ever: 

Thanks for visiting!

who-lee-uh

 

I will be linking to Finish it Friday and 

i am blue

Another finish! To be enjoyed by the recipient (I hope!) She is an amazing mother of two children with Autism.

I wanted the name of the quilt to reflect that having children with special needs can be a challenge emotionally. It can be really difficult for friends like me to provide the kind of support you need when we really don't know what to say. Because I am a quilter it seems easier to give a hug and a quilt then to find the right words.  Maybe I can work on practicing my words so they match my positive thoughts. This month is also Autism Awareness Month, and many neighbors are changing light bulbs to blue to promote appreciation and acceptance for individuals with Autism.

 

Name: i am blue

Design: Giant Starburst by Megan at Canoe Ridge Creations

Size: about 60 inches square (before washing)

Quilted by me  . . . let's call the pattern space peas ;)

 

 



I really loved working on this quilt, it was fast and fun and bright. What will I change for next time? I will add a few inch boarder of the background color so my points will stay nice and pointy after binding.

Thanks for visiting!

who-lee-uh

 

I will be linking to Finish it Friday and 

Oregon Pillow

My brother recently moved to Houston Texas. Texas is a long way from Oregon. My parents are having a rough time. We are a tight knit bunch.

I imagine this week being a little extra difficult. My brother and his wife will celebrate a five year anniversary on Friday. My parents will celebrate a 33rd year anniversary on the same day.

Plans have been made for a quilt for the new Texas home. Some piles of fabrics exist, but not much more progress has been made. So a smaller gift is needed. Here is how I will send my love:

 Name: Oregon Misses You

Design:  Made up by me!

Quilted:  Me . . .

Size: about 18" x 18" square

 

 

I quilted the Oregon shape with a few straight-ish green lines, using two colors of thread I randomly had at home. The free motion quilted pebbles are a little interesting. It was much harder to see what I was doing on some of the busier fabric.

The backing was made following a tutorial by SVETLANA at sotakhomade. I adjusted the measurements for my 18" pillow case.

 

Look at the pretty corners! Seem to turn out nice when I follow recommendations. . .

 

Best wishes to all celebrating anniversaries this month!

 

 

who-lee-uh 

Mossy Green

I love scraps of fabric. I have a very large collection. My most recent addition was a bundle of solid scraps (scrap bag) from the Fat Quarter Shop. They are lovely! I have plans for many of the colors I love . . . but what about all those 'ugly' browns and muddy greens?

I first thought of camo. You know, like hunting colors? Yes, camouflage. Some friends have treated us to elk a few times so I thought the family's son might enjoy a quilt. Maybe a St. Louis 16 patch?

Name: MAC's CADPAC

Design: St. Louis 16 patch

Quilted:  Me, big waves

Size: about 48"x 64" square

I did not really like the bond contrasts. The pattern was awesome. I am thinking mixing more bold prints together would make me more happy. Next time I will make a king size version for our bed.

Meanwhile I finished another brownish green quilt I have been making for my father in law. It uses a pattern called Buzzing Around.  The pattern was part of a class I took two years ago in Hood River Oregon with my good friend. Her quilt was done a few months later . . .

Name:  Hunter's Paradise

Design: Buzzing Around

Quilted:  Me, long arm, panto pattern with leaves

Size: about 60"x 71"

Doesn't this look similar to a quilt that was at Quilt Market this spring?

So what to do with my plethora of  . . . my not so much favorite color scraps? Make my first charity quilt.  Am I the only one that feels a little guilty about making a donation quilt with colors I do not like? The pattern did not really appeal to me either, but Amanda Jean's positive peer pressure influenced me to use my scraps for the good. Here is the result. And I kind of even like it  :)

Name: Moss & Mud Puddles

Design: Rail Fence tutorial from Crazy Mom Quilts

Quilted:  On my brother, what I call lazy stipple

Size: about  54"x 58"
 

 

This quilt will be donated to Margaret's Hope Chest

 
Thanks for visiting!

little cuties

My machine is still working! It has been a little lonely with my focus  on knitting lately. These two small quilts are for my newest (and littlest) friends.

Name: Jordyn's Quilt

Design: Secret Garden Quilt Designed by Amy Gibson

Size: about 42"x46"

Quilted by Me in an 'organic' spiral pattern

Name: Sam's Triangles

Design: Equilateral triangles

Size: 29"x26"

Quilted by me with straight lines
 

Hope to see you again soon


Who

p.s. Did you see my sweet pajama pants in the above picture? Hehehe

 

Stella thought the quilt was comfy

Being busy

So . . . I have been busy. Mostly working, but also volunteering and gardening and organizing. I wanted to post about a few projects I have finished.
 
The first one is a little zipper pouch from Amy Butler's book about bags (Style Stiches).  I think this is the small size. I've never had a zipper look this good! But don't worry, there is still room for improvement. You can even see part of my messy sewing room behind by machine.

 

 
A bigger finish has been delivered but the recipient has not arrived yet. Here is a little quilt I made for  Baby J.  Be prepared for a few photos!
 

 
I wanted the quilt to be girly, but not TOO pink. This is my first wonky log cabin; I feel like my 'modern quilting' education is progressing. I showed this quilt to a friend and she kindly said "I don't thing the squares are quite right. " Hum, should working on making my wonky blocks a little wonkier.  I free motion quilted swirls in an all over pattern. 

 Another successful quilt back!
 

 A full quilt shot. Honesty, I'm not sure which way is right side up.
 
 

 

Name: Baby J's Quilt

Design: Wonky log cabins

Quilting: FMQ with swirls by me

Size: Um . . . I'll estimate 40" square

 

I have so much more projects to work on! Maybe soon I will have a little sewing time.

 

 

 

Who-lee-uh

 

 

 

let your heart be strong

I made this quilt for someone that had a very tough year. But the sad story in not mine, so you will only hear the quilt’s story.

 

Name: let your heart be strong

Design: Adapted from Reverse Starburst Block from Dairy of a Flutter Kat

Size: 64.5x67 inches (before washing)

Quilted with kind-of straight lines by me

 

I love the blocks made by Kat and decided to make some of my own. I thought simple was better, so I just stayed with three colors.  Here is my original plan in my notebook. I made the back after watching Elizabeth Hartman's craftsy class, Creative Quilt backs (it's free). Turns out you have to use math to get the backs square. Figures.

 

I actually added the grey background as below, then changed my mind and added the white as I had originally planned.  This did require a little time with my seam ripper :(

 

I really wanted to make something colorful and soft that would send with the warmth a little piece of me. Really, I made this quilt for me. Not for me to keep but for me to heal. Like each square made the world okay. I know it’s a little silly but that is how I feel. And did I tell you about how I got some of these beautiful scraps? Thanks to WiseCricket

Some more pictures . . .

 

 

Linking up to Finish it Friday

who-lee-uh

for her and her love

A dear friend of mine was getting married. I had been helping her learn quilt. "I want to make you a wedding quilt! What type of quilt would you like?" I asked. As she looked through my collection of books, we admired colors and patterns and what her love would like. "This one!" she exclaimed. It turns out she really likes unicorns. And she really likes pink. So the quilt was made with love for her. Now she is  a married woman. Even though it's a little girly it should keep them both warm.

 

Name: Cheyanne's Quilt

Design:Daydreams by Cheryl Arkison, from the book Sunday Morning Quilts

Quilted: Me, spray basted and quilted in a loopy design with my Brother

Size: squarish lap size

It was really fun to piece the top of this quilt. I think I really like working with girly colors. The unicorn fabric was the first fabric choice, and it was fun to pick out 1/8th and 1/4 yard fabric for the stripes (my stash does not have much purple or pink).  My least favorite fabric I used was the grey, I'm starting to think that grey can be a tricky color. Does anyone else notice this?

The basting was done with spray; I like it so much better then using pins! My free motion quilting still has room for improvement but I like it. The backing is a light purple print, found at the Fabric Depot outdoor sale. Some of the fabric outside seems to be a little lesser quality, but this fabric is nice and soft. The backing washed well too.

The quilt is bound with a nice purple fabric. I hand stitched the binding to the back, which reminded me how much I LOVE to machine bind my quilts. It's faster and the binding seems so much more secure. Plus my fingers are not so tired when I use my machine.

Besides quilting, I have also experimented with baking. True, I used an at-home kit, but we did a good job shaping the pretzels don't you think? The funny looking ones were made by my husband.

Hope you are keeping busy too

who-lee-uh

ps I am linking up to Finish it Friday

Some Finishes

I think having goals has been helping me get things done! Of course I have been busy . . .

 

January started with a vacation to Newport (and a trip to the Tillamook Cheese factory)

 

 

January has been super busy with service in freezing cold weather (literally)

 

 

And we had an amazing assembly program (with funny photo of me and T)!

 

 

But I digress . . .  Here is finished project number one for 2013!

 

 

Quilted with wavy lines 

 

 

Pretty backing fabric too

 

 

Name: Purple Stars

Design: Martha Washington Stars

Quilting: Me

Size: Large Lap

Completed January 2013

 

I am also making good progress on my other plans . . .

 

 

 

Talk to you soon!

 

Who-lee-uh

 

Preview of 2013

A new year with many new projects to start! It seems like every week I get an inspiration for a new project to start. Before I begin making more messes, I need to finish some of these beauties. Here are some of my works in progress to be finished (early) this year:

1) Modern Leaves: A modern log cabin I am making for my mother dearest. The fall colors are some of her favorites. I can not wait to use the panto I especially ordered for this quilt :) It will be BY FAR the most difficult pattern I have attempted to long arm.

2) Martha Washington Stars: A Sandy (Canby Quilt shop owner) inspired green and purple quilt. I have the recipient picked out but I have not decided on a pattern. This one will also get long armed due to the size and very slight wonkyness of the outer boarder. This was my second quilt class at Let's Quilt

3) Hip to be Square made with Kate Spain fabrics: Made for a very special friend. I love the colors so it was very easy to work with. All of the squares are pieced, but not the top is not completed. This quilt also needs a better name. Hum . . .

4) Buzzn' Around: Sawtooth blade style quilt made for my father in law. It has very masculine colors. Even with the shortcuts in the pattern, these pieces are very small! But I only have a few blocks to go!

5) Amy Butler Cosmo bag: You should know I am not good at things that don't lay flat. That's all I have to say about that.

So here's to a good start to the new year!

who-lee-uh