Blogger Fall Quilt Festival: Artist's Palette

It's time again!

I have mentioned how much I love this GIGANTIC online festival, right?

I will be honest, I was really trying to finish a new quilt for the festival, but the stars did not align.

(pssst.... I promise..I didn't leave you hanging...sneak peaks at the end, my loyal friends)

Sometimes real life takes charge. Without further ado...this fall's submission.

My Artist's Palette Mini Quilt

It was the quilt that made me slow down this summer and enjoy the process of making quilts again.  It was for the Name Game Swap, Round Two on Flickr this past August.

My swap partner is an Art teacher in Florida. She stated that she would like something she could share with her class. She also wanted something incorporated from the area that the quilt came from. I think she was hoping somewhere more exotic than good ole Texas!

I designed a foundation piece to make the flying geese "paint globs". The little bandanna swatch would not have been my first "red" choice, but I really wanted to include a piece of Texas in there like she instructed!

I stepping out of my loops and meandering FMQ box. It was the first time for pebbles and swirls!  I admittedly, know it needs some work, but I love the look it gave. I also think the embroidery thread was the key component to making a rather ordinary quilt a bit more special.

I used black and white binding that seems to be all the rage for mini's. I was actually tempted to do a pieced rainbow colored binding until my Aussie friend Sharon at Lilabelle Lane steered me to the the black and white and I am so glad I did!!!  By the way...I "met" her through the Blogger's Festival.  *insert big cheesy smile*

I attempted a wood-like quilting on the handle of the paintbrush where I also embroidered her name by hand.

A grey stripe for the brush tip. I tried to add quilting to mimic the brush bristles to help the gray fabric stand out on the gray background.

Quilt Stats

Measures:15 x15 in.

Special techniques: Foundation pieced flying geese, 

needle turn applique (center and palette), hand embroidery

Quilted by: Heidi Grohs (myself) on my Babylock Symphony (domestic sewing machine)

Best Category: Doll/Mini Quilt, Home Machine Quilted, Wall Hanging

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Oh...and for my faithful readers that are still here to the end after reading all about my mini again?

A treat!

The do. good stitches bee quilt top I have been working on this week!

The top and border have received Button's full inspection.

Followed by his quick approval!

When he sits back and relaxes on a "kwit" top or a "titched" quilt...you know it is good!

Can't WAIT to get it on Ole Betsy and start quilting this!!!!!

Name Game Swap

A million moons ago...okay three....I signed up for the Name Game Swap Round 2 on Flickr.

It was my first swap, and I was really excited because I had seen amazing mini quilts in the first round.  I was TERRIFIED to join.  Was I good enough?  Could I be creative enough?  Could I make my swap partner happy?  But I wanted my own mini quilt so badly, that I threw caution to the wind and signed up!  I can honestly say, that I was so glad I did!

I know I showed sneak peaks, long ago.  I have had several requests to get it in it's entirety posted.
Well, here it is!

My Artist's Palette Mini Quilt

My partner is an Art teacher in Florida.  She stated that she would like something she could share with her class.  She also wanted something incorporated from the area that the quilt came from.  I think she was hoping somewhere more exotic than good ole Texas!

I am very pleased with MOST things about it.

I am very proud of myself for designing a foundation piece to make the flying geese "paint globs".  The little bandanna swatch would not have been my first "red" choice, but I really wanted to include a piece of Texas in there like she instructed!

I am so proud of myself for stepping out of my loops and meandering FMQ box.  First time for pebbles and swirls.  I admittedly, know it needs some work, but I love the look it gave.  I also stepped out of my white background box!

It was also first time I have used a black and white binding that is all the rage for mini's.  I would not normally choose it.  I was actually tempted to do a pieced rainbow colored binding until my Aussie friend Sharon at Lilabelle Lane steered me to the the black and white and I am so glad I did!!!
Thanks Sharon!!

The one thing I am not happy about? I am not thrilled with my paintbrush. I either over-quilted it or and I am disappointed in my embroidery of her name.  I REALLY wish I had used my embroidery machine to do a nice bold font.

 
The grey stripe for the brush tip?  It blends too much with the gray background?  I tried to add quilting to mimic the brush bristles.

And I made sure I added a quilt label. 

I sometimes forget...Oops!

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So enough about what I did....
LOOK AT WHAT I GOT IN THE MAIL!!

Amazing. 

Right?

Of course, my eye went straight to my logo first.

She even used felt and a button like my logo!?!?!?

Then I was distracted by her double fabric flowers with buttons as centers. 

 Her letters...perfection.
 Her binding? Immaculate.

Oh and more buttons.....

Button with a butterfly on it!

 Even the backside was as neat as the front. 

Where did mine come from?  

Czech Republic.

HOW COOL IS THAT!?!!?

And then as if the quilt wasn't enough, she sent me these two goodies too.

A cool elephant button...I think made of ceramic?  It will have to go on one very special project!

An adorable zipper pouch.  Seriously adorable.  I don't even want to use it and get it dirty!!

Needless to say.  I loved this swap!  It gave me the courage to get out of my box.  It stretched my quilting brain and fingers.  And it broke the ice for me to jump in a new one.

This time Hoops-la-la is on my horizon.

via my Flickr

Hoops that caught my eye?  Also may help my inspiration?
 Anyone I know joining in?