Saturday, July 30, 2016

Baby Rodeo Star {Quilt}


If you have been following me for awhile, you probably have noticed that I've been on a serious mission to sew my stash only. But every once in awhile, I get asked to use a new line and I can't resist saying no when sites like Fat Quarter Shop ask me to use fabric to make one of their patterns. 

Sometimes, the patterns don't use up all the fabric and it just gets tossed on my shelf.
But this year? I've been trying to use leftovers to make something.
Another quilt, a pillow cover. You name it.
But my ultimate goal to use it right away if I can so it doesn't clutter up my shelves.


Enter in, my Baby Star quilt. I had some leftover fabric from the two Rodeo Rider quilts.

A giant star occurred to me. I also found a great tutorial from Amy Smart at Diary of a Quilter if you need one!


If I had my choice I would have it bright, but sometimes the not so bright scraps are all you have to work with.It came together very quickly and I quilted it the same time as the other two.
Since the fabrics weren't very bright, I chose some leftover pale pink minky dot for the back.


For baby quilts, I like to keep the quilting simple.  I just adore the paisley binding.


Quilt Stats: 
Measures: 36" square
Pattern: Adapted from Baby Star by Amy Smart at Diary of A Quilter
Fabrics: Rodeo Rider by Riley Blake, Brown and Pink Dots by Riley Blake, Pink dot cuddle by Shannon Fabrics
Thread: Omnithread White Natural by Superior Threads
Quilted: Freemotion on HQ Avante


The best part is that I had put this away for a few months, maybe hoping to sell it.
But then a special occasion came up and I was able to gift to a friend that was headed from Texas (ahhhh rodeo country!!!!) to the West Coast to see her first grand baby, a girl.


 The only regret I have is that I didn't find the time to embroider her name on it.

Monday, July 18, 2016

Rainbow Remix {Quilt}

This quilt is headed to the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild this week for their #Quilts for Pulse drive.
Excuse the legs...it was impossible to take pics in the wind...they had to stand behind it to keep it sorta flat!!!
I really can't say much more about the Orlando tragedy than has already been said.
 All I can really say is that, for me, it touched me deeply and I was so thankful I could do something, even if it was just a small thing.



 ABOUT THE QUILT ITSELF:

I signed up for Rebecca Bryan's from Bryan House Quilts Rainbow Remix class at Quiltcon 2016 in Pasadena, California.
I was really striving to find a class or two that was going to bring more to my quilting table.  I enjoyed Quiltcon 2015, but I was disappointed that I didn't come away with "More".  

I chose her class because it was about improv.  I need all the help I can get with improv.
 And it was rainbows. What's really not to like about rainbows? 


I waited last minute to pack (seriously. What else is new?) and was grateful that I had this rainbow layer cake stack from a swap I had been in several years ago. I just added some stray fabrics from my stash to have the required amount of fabrics. 
 
I learned A LOT. About myself. My struggles with the perfect shade. My struggles with improv. 

I was also thrilled that I was actually going to come home with finished blocks!!  I had not ever returned from a class with something so close to a finish. 
Not to mention that I left four hours early to pack and catch my flight home!

I was also eager to finish it when I got home. I wanted to remember her thoughts on the layout process. 

The only thing that bothered me was the size. 
I knew I didn't want a small wall hanging and it was an awkward size. 


Instead of making more color blocks, I started making black blocks for a border.
I was definitely pleased with the effect!


The Backing.
I was not happy with it. It felt too "Rainbow Brite" to me and juvenile.
But now that it is going to Quilts for Pulse?  I think it is so fitting. 


I also regretted my quilting choice about halfway through.
I chose a variegated rainbow thread and did giant free motion flowers.

Hindsight, I would have done a more linear quilting pattern with a gray thread.


It's very rare that I capture this guy smiling. He was cracking up because the wind was strongly blowing the quilt when we were taking pictures near our house at what is commonly called "The View" here in town.


Quilt label added and packed up, ready to be shipped ASAP!

 


Saturday, July 9, 2016

Summer Aria I and II {Quilts}

They are finished!!


It is time to share all the quilts from the Little Ruby Quilt Along by Fat Quarter Shop.
I love them so much!


Summer Aria I


Summer Aria II


I call them my fraternal twin quilts.  
Same fabric. Same pattern. Same, yet so different!


Other than the way the blocks are cut, the only difference is their backings.


And bindings.


The butterflies.  The gorgeous Kate Spain butterflies!!!!
I had a completely different quilt plan, making flowers in the hexagon blocks, but then I came across the Glasswings pantograph by Urban Elementz.
 

Hard to photograph...but....perfection!


I also made sure I maximized all the extras.  
An orphan block became a Trivet/potholder!


When I was cutting double strips, I eeked out at least one block from each double strip and had enough mismatched blocks to make a Baby Aria Quilt.  Stay tuned for the finish!



The remaining jelly roll strips, along with some solid strips I cut, were relegated to a new quilt, the 6th grade quilt, from Me & My Sisters Designs, Precut Primer Book.  Can't wait to start piecing it!


Not a single scrap of this fabric is being left behind!!!
If you missed the schedule, it is NEVER too late.


See the other gorgoeus quilts by these talented quilt bloggers!
(note: Monday, July 11th, 2015, I'm posting a wee bit early)

Melissa from Happy Quilting
Angie from Gnome Angel
Erin Cox from Why Not Sew
Andy from A Bright Corner
Pat from Pat Sloan
Peta from She Quilts a Lot
Heather from Quilt Story
Megan from Quilt Story
Amanda from Jedi Craft Girl
Sherri from A Quilting Life
Rebecca from Bryan House Quilts
Jemima from Tied with a Ribbon
Stephanie from Modern Sewciety
Brooke from Silly Mama Quilts
Carrie from Moda's United Notion
 
 

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Star Block Trivet {Quilted Potholder}

 Have orphan blocks? Make a trivet or a potholder!


 After piecing both of my Little Ruby Quilt Along tops, I had a few spare blocks and jelly roll strips.  I was able to find a quilt to use the extra strips on (stay tuned for that) and a construct a baby quilt with the spare blocks. 


 I still ended up with this spare block, AKA an orphan block.
  All I needed was a 2" background strip added around the block. 
Two layers of batting and Insul-Bright.


Backing and binding from my scrap stash.


 Quick outline quilting.


And I had a finished trivet!


What do you do with your orphan blocks?

 



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