Monday, September 7, 2015

Precut Primer {Review and Blog Hop}

  Back to school arrived with a bang as soon as we returned from vacation a few weeks ago.  It has been a little more stressful than other years since we just moved to the Salt Lake city area and we also sent of our oldest to college.  


Normally, back to school feels like "back to business" for me.  A time of the year when I hunker down and focus on quilt projects for customers and gifts.  When I was asked to participate in the Precut Primer Blog hop, I knew it would be perfect to kick-start my way back into the studio.  Fat Quarter Shop publishes books that never steer me wrong. 



The book by Me and My Sister Designs is really, really clever.  And I mean. Clever. 
There is a quilt project for each grade. I spent a lot of time flipping through the book saying things like "OOhhhh. I know which jelly roll to use for that one."



Or "Oh!  I've always wondered what to do with that fat quarter bundle that has been collecting dust!" 



Precuts can sometimes be the bane of a quilter's existences. They are hard to resist when they go on sale. We convince ourselves that we can just buy a precut of a new fabric line to appease the need for the pretties without making a huge investment in yardage.  This book hits all the high marks for having options for charm squares, jelly rolls, layer cakes, and fat quarter bundles. 



Just like my academic career, I decided to be an over achiever and start one of the larger quilts, the 8th grade, with a Daysail layer cake by Bonnie & Camille.   I find it fitting since I've just recovered from my second son graduating 8th grade this past spring and now have another 8th grader this year!

Time for my confession.  I just started the project three days ago.  


I am a procrastinator.
 I knew I could do a small project, but I really, really wanted to make the entire quilt.


I am THAT student that burned the midnight oil to get the paper done or study for a test.  The night
before. All night long. 

 I read recently a study that said it is because I'm an eternal optimist.  I don't remember hearing that in my Psych 101 class my freshman year in college, but I'm going to go with it.  Needless to say, I did feel a bit like Button looks up above after I powered through. But I could not have done it without the easy instructions and eager excitement to see the finished project. 


The eight grade quilt top!


 The only reason it isn't quilted yet is that I have another quilt on my longer set of long arm leaders which needs to be completed as soon as possible.  And I would like to really take my time deciding on the pattern I would like to quilt to compliment this beautiful pattern.



But...here comes the over achiever  part.  I did sneak in this other project I have been dying to do.


I call it my Inspiration Board. 

I've been wanting to have a board in my studio other than my design boards to pin up quilting plans for current project or my freehand practice sketches to trigger ideas while I'm in front of the longarm.

The 8th grade quilt doesn't use all the layer cakes in the pack, so I grabbed two to make a block and set it in a blank "canvas".  Made a quilt sandwich.  Quilted.  Then I attached it to an insulation board exactly like my portable design boards.



It turned out exactly the way I wanted it to. I swirled. I pebbled. I feathered.  I bloomed.
 

I went a bit crazy.  I even did a ghost block to mimic the solo block.



The only concern is that I might get sent to detention for breaking the rules and using only one block. 



Maybe if I can convince the principal that I can pin up my inspiration sketches....practice, practice, practice, right??!!!  


I already have the backing and binding fabrics waiting!!!!


If you are just finding about this book, I encourage you to check out the other quilty classmates that have joined in on the fun! Follow the week long blog hop at Fat Quarter Shop to see all of their Precut Primer quilts, and you just might learn a thing or two! 

September 2, 2015
Me and My Sister Designs
Moda Fabrics
Pat Sloan
April Rosenthal

September 3, 2015
Corey Yoder of Little Miss Shabby

September 4, 2015
Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side

September 7, 2015
Jane Davidson of Quilt Jane
Heidi Grohs of Buttons & Butterflies

September 8, 2015
Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life

September 9, 2015
Melissa Corry of Happy Quilting 
Lissa Alexander of Moda Fabrics
 


There is also a giveaway at Jolly Jabber! They are giving away five copies of Precut Primer to five lucky FQS fans. For a chance to win a copy of GET OVER TO THE Fat Quarter Shop blog before the bell rings (September 9th). 


12 comments:

  1. Love the quilt and the design board!

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  2. What beautiful quilts- both of them.

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  3. Your quilt is beautiful! I love your inspiration board as well. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. Reading your process is like reading a repeat of my own methods. I always seem to have too many irons in the fire and not enough time, so I burn the candle at both ends. I don't think there is a single quilt in this book that I don't want to make.

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  5. Such a beautiful quilt and I just LOVE your inspiration board. It's just stunning and has me inspired, that's for sure!

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  6. Oh Golly!! You are Amazing!! What a Beautiful Quilt! LOOOOOVE it!!! & then you even made the Inspiration Board! Soooo Talented you are ...for sure!!

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  7. Beautiful quilt, I think the colors are wonderful and the quilting exquisite.

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  8. Oh my, this is so impressive. It take me forever to make a quilt. Love the fabric choice too. x

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  9. Your two quilts are amazing! Daysail never looked better. I have been loving this blog hop and seeing all the different quilts in the different patterns. Yours are definitely favorites!

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  10. This is beautiful! I'm so glad you made the big quilt and not just a block or two. It's totally worth staying up late to have something so beautiful. ;-)

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  11. They both look great! And your quilting is beautiful!

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I cannot wait to hear what you have to say! Seriously! It makes my day!

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