Jolly Bar Bon Bon {Quilt}

"Don't mind me. I'm just sitting here with my feet up, watching soaps, and eating bon bons".

 For long as I can remember, my husband would call home to check on me and always ask "what are you doing right now?"  Naturally, I was doing whatever full-time, part-time, or stay at home moms do when they are home...cleaning something, washing something, changing someone, disciplining someone, feeding someone, or cleaning something. 

However, instead, I ALWAYS went the sarcastic route.

 I would simply respond to that loaded question "What are you doing?" with:  "Oh...just sitting here with my feet up, watching soaps and eating bon bons...."

(and for the record...I have NO idea what bon bons are nor have I ever eaten one...it just sounds fancy!)


See why I had to make this quilt with Fat Quarter Shop? 
 The fact that it is are really cute and adorable certainly helped its case too!

This pattern is super straight forward to make.   Thirty six Jolly Bars (exclusive Fat Quarter Shop precut of Moda Fabrics) and some background fabric and you have simple construction with a great overall impact.

 I used the gorgeous Garden Variety line by Lella Boutique from Moda Fabrics.

For some, HSTs can be tricky to create.  I am going to be COMPLETELY honest.  Whenever there is a suggested start size for HSTs?  I try to see if I can make them just slightly bigger.  I am notorious for making my seam allowances more generous than not. 

For this quilt, it is suggested that you cut 3 7/8" squares for the HSTs, but I found that there was plenty of room to cut 4" squares.   I know there are a lot of confident quilters that don't even trim their HSTs, but I am NOT one of those.  Even after 22 years of quilting, I have not mastered that ability. I think knowing it and owning it are better than pretending I'm perfect.  If you are like me?  I definitely suggest cutting larger squares and using a Bloc Loc ruler for trimming your HST's to size.

Today, I'm also sharing one of my tricks for "marking" my HSTs without using a marker.  

I have a video on my Instagram stories and I've uploaded it to my YouTube channel this week explaining how I use my pattern tracing tool to make a crease on your fabric along with other marks I make with my tracing wheel.

For my backing?  I used my favorite print from the line in my favorite color. I used my Prostitch computer program to make these fun "flying" pumpkin seeds.

  I haven't made a quilt binding that was the same as the backing in a long time, but this quilt really wanted me to do so!

Quilt Stats

Measures: 60" square

Pattern: Jolly Bar Bon Bon by Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Moda Fabrics Garden Variety by Lella Boutique

 and Robert Kaufman Essex Linen

Quilted: Pumpkin Seed on HQ Avante with Prostitcher

I'm so happy with the results of the quilts. I can see a few quilt gifts in the future!!!

Merry Gift Christmas {Quilted Pillows}

"Gifts of time and love are surely the best ingredients of a truly Merry Christmas!"

It seems to be my luck that I can’t seem to find time to work on Christmas projects for our home in time for the big day.  This year, I finally had all my Christmas "to-dos" complete a few days beforehand.  I thought I had a reasonable amount of time to at least finish some pillows for our family room chairs, but our guests arrived while I was still doing the matchstick quilting.

Since I was busy entertaining during their visit, I wasn’t able to see the confines of my studio until Saturday...and finished these pillows right before the New Year.  I don't want to sound like I'm upset.  The gift of time with family is worth more than two cute Christmas pillows on my chair!

I will confess that this pattern is from a book, but I managed to work out the math by looking at others completed blocks, and I was able to adjust it for my own use.  Matchstick quilting is my favorite for where these pillows live for vacuuming/cleaning reasons.  I stuck to a white, green, and red thread.

I used a fun and festive red gingham for the hidden zipper backings.

 I finished the bindings with a red and white stripe.

Quilt Stats:
Measures: 14x26"
Pattern: Adaptation of Merry Gift Pattern
Fabrics: Joanns red dot, red gingham, red stripe and green fat eight bundle
Quilted: Matchstick quilting in Gutermann Red, Green, and White on Babylock Symphony

I’m hoping that I can start earlier this year on Christmas projects for our family this year...but am content to pack these away with the other quilts until next year.

Nativity Wall Hanging {Quilt}

 When I made the Nativity Auction Tree Skirt last November, I had an extra Nativity scene sitting around.  I couldn't very well toss the work of Kindergartners that worked super hard on it, so I came up with the idea to make a "mini" for the teacher.  And the room mom and I must have been on the same page, because she asked me if I minded making one for her as an end of the year teacher gift.

This time, since I knew it wasn't going to be "used" like a tree skirt, I appliqued the figures right on the background without the black felt edge.

 

I meant for it to be a "mini" but it was hard not to crowd all the figures.  I definitely eliminated the "town" a few less palm trees to make room!

 I used all the same fabrics, including backing and binding.  Made a sleeve at the upper back that blended in with the backing in case the teacher decided to use it as a table runner or whatever she desired.

 Quilt Stats:

 Measures:  20"x 52"

Pattern: none

Fabric: Kona Parchment, Kona Brown, Northcott Christmas Reindeer Prance, 

Henry Glass Beige Baroque, Moda Swirl

Thread: Omni Thread Natural Linen by Superior Threads

Quilted: Free motion on HQ Avante

 

 

I think it was very much appreciated.

 I'm so glad to have been able to use more of the kids' artwork!

Blanket of Compassion

This was a commissioned quilt by a friend.  She wanted to give her friend a little comfort during a very trying time healthwise. 

I grabbed my Riley Balke Willow Fat Quarter Bundle I had planned to use on a personal quilt. I figured this was better use for it since it already had sat on my shelves collecting dust.

I settled on a giant pinwheel block plan to use up every bit of the 24 piece FQ bundle.  Each block is about 20" square.  I used the HST method of making four HSTs from one square.

I backed it with a Shannon Fabrics Yellow Minky.

Quilting it with the Daises Galore pantograph on my longarm.  Binding was a gray dot I had in my stash that seemed fitting to frame out the backing and blend in with the top.

Quilt Stats:

Size: 52"x 70"

Fabrics:  Riley Blake Willow, Shannon Fabrics Minky

Quilting: Daisies Galore Panto on Handiquilter Avante 18"

 I was so happy to get it to her quickly before the Christmas.  We started calling it the Blanket of Compassion as we were messaging back and forth, and that is the name I decided to call the quilt.

 I wasn't able to get really fantastic photos because my camera has been acting up as of late.  But it truly is a "soft" quilt, front and back!

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). 

Snowfall Table Runner {Pattern}

Three years ago,  I made a decision to update our Christmas decorations.  I was looking for something more "me" and less "everyone else".  I found it with my Christmas Country .  

One of the key items that caused my desire to change was my Snowfall Table Runner.

I don't like to think that I give "empty" promises to followers... 

I don't break them.  I just deliver them late. 

As promised...I finally finished the Table Runner pattern!

You can find it on my Craftsy Pattern Store HERE for a .pdf download.  

And yes. Its free! I'm just trying to butter y'all up for the ones that won't be in the near future!

P.S.  To those that I promised other patterns/tutorials.  They are coming.  My technical difficulties ended up being a blessing. I was able to organize all of my photos and tutorials better!!  Keep your eyes peeled!!!