Goodbye 2015

I've been staring at my unfinished project and unfinished blogposts list this week while company was still in town. Feeling down that there was so much to do and no way to get started with guests around.

So I decided to focus on what I DID get done this year.

Flipagram video here

-13 fully finished quilts

-5 t-shirt quilts (4 queen size)

-3 quilt tops

-1 quilt restoration

-3 large bean cushions

-1 full tree skirt

 -2 mini swaps

-2 quilted throw pillows

-3 quilted bags/totes

-3 new rosettes for La Passacaglia -1300 hexies basted

The majority resulted from my very own stash. Not too shabby considering we made such a large move and had to do renovate the studio entirely.

I had a long post with my goals in mind but honestly?  It's simple. 

Quilt more

Release more patterns

Sew my stash

Blog more. 

Strake Jesuit Personalized {T-shirt Quilt}

The second commissioned quilt for Christmas was this Strake Jesuit College Preparatory quilt.   My oldest son graduated from there and I had made a smaller lap quilt for a friend whose son graduated (and happened to be the Valedictorian) along with my son.  An acquaintance saw it and had to have it for her son who has graduated there also.

This one was tricky because, again, she wanted a queen size and originally had sent me enough to only get 14 blocks. 

We finally agreed on a Kona Green sashing design with a stripe with his name appliqued on Kona Gray that she liked.  She also sent me some more of his cross country shirts to mix in.

I love working with minky backings for t-shirt quilt.  I feel like it contradicts the scratchy or rubbery screenprintins on the front and make a nice balance.

I also went with simple meandering in gray thread.  And a Kona Gray binding to tie in the gray stripe in the front.

Quilt Stats:

Size: 89" x 92"

Pattern: Custom by myself

Fabric: Kona Solids, Shannon Fabrics Olive Minky

Quilting: Longarm Meander

Notre Dame-Michigan Game Day {T-shirt Quilt}

I was commissioned to make a T-shirt Quilt that include only Notre Dame vs Michigan Game T-shirts.  I have to admit, this Marquette University alum girl twinged just a tad, but I powered through!  She requested a queen and with only about enough t-shirt logos to make 14 blocks, I knew I had to put my thinking cap on.

My original mockup

 I remembered that a friend had asked me to work up an estimate for a simple Notre Dame logo and I worked the math to fit it in the center for this one.
I surrounded it by the t-shirt blocks and then added a gold border to frame it all.  

The fabric choices are very mottled solids gave the quilt some depth.

And, as always, I back my t-shirt quilts with minky, this one was Shannon Fabrics Navy.  Quilted it on Ole Besty Longarm with a large meandering and bound it with the gold fabric by Moda to mimic a second "frame".

It was a big hit for Christmas! 

Quilt Stats:

Size: 89" x 92"

Pattern: Custom by myself

Fabric: Riley Blake Basics Shades, 

Moda Fabrics Collection for a Cause: Love, Shannon Fabrics Navy Minky

Quilting: Longarm Meander