Sooner Spirit {Quilt}

" A mile of road will take you a mile; A mile of runway can take you anywhere."

I wish I had the photo of the graduate that this quilt is going to!

  He is a young man headed to the University of Oklahoma, Department of Aviation 

this fall and is also already a REAL pilot. 

(I know that is weird to say, but it just blows my mind that he was flying planes while in high school!)

When he was a little guy, his mom tucked him in with a quilt made by his grandmother.  He would say "airplanes UP!" to her every night.  

She requested I add a bit of that fabric to the back of the quilt headed with him this fall!

 I can't tell you how excited I was to find this fabric for his backing.  

It's called Jetsetter by Tim Holtz.

Unfortunately, I did run into a bit of trouble while piecing the backing.  

When I had originally assessed and purchased the yardage, it appeared quite non-directional at first.

I had intended to have only a single stripe on the back, but when I realized all of the commercial planes appeared to be nose diving, I immediately messaged her to let her know I had to make a change in plans.  I think I said, and I quote, "There is NO way I am giving him any bad ju-ju" 

The last time I did this quilt for my own son, I did a square meandering, but this time I really wanted to do straight line quilting. 

I did a meander around the logo so that the applique would pop, with its blanket stitching, from the background.

I went with the black binding to frame the entire quilt.

I will admit, I struggled to choose the coordinating fabrics.  OU has only two specific colors for their school, Crimson and Cream.  I was so glad the Ash gray and black didn't distract from their colors!

Quilt Stats:

Measures:  71" X 89"

Pattern: Rah Rah Rally by Melissa Corry from the Moda Bakeshop Book, Sweet Celebrations.

Fabric: Kona Black, Ash, Crimson, and Natural

Quilted: Straight lines and meandering on Handiquilter Avante

Today is his graduation and I can't wait to see his reaction to his gift!

Pink and Pink {Quilt}

Shelby: "My colors are blush and bashful".
M'Lynn: "Her colors are pink and pink."
Shelby: "My colors are blush and bashful Momma."
"Pink is my signature color"

-Steel Magnolias

If you have been around here since 2013, you may recognize this quilt.  But you might be confusing it with the original, called Blush and Bashful, I made my aunt in August of that year.  She was diagnosed with cancer and has since passed away.

 My cousin, her son, had returned it to me along with some other items.  I had extra fabric and had told him at the time that I had planned on making his daughter a quilt of her very own with it.

Time went by and he mentioned that he wished he had kept it for his daughter.  He immediately felt terrible for saying it and we further talked about me still making her own.  I started cutting out the block parts knowing I really wanted to work quickly on it.  

But I just couldn't get it out of my head.  I felt guilty keeping a piece of her grandmother for myself.  This past fall I sent her the quilt back with her very own Poppy pillow.

In February, I noticed on my WIP board that it was waiting for the piecing stage and really I didn't have anything pressing to do.  The anniversary of her death had just passed and it just seemed right to start on it.

I have to admit, the first time I made the quilt, it seemed to take forever.

 This time, it flew.

 When I returned from Quiltcon, I loaded it up and decided to go a different path than the original with the quilting.

 I've been intrigued by a fellow longarmer's use of large paisley and swirls

 and thought I would give it a try.

 It certainly isn't perfect, but I had a lot of fun.  I'm ambivalent about the choice of thread I made.  I already had a light grey loaded up from a previous quilt and thought it would be okay. It certainly isn't horrible, but is probably not my first choice.

I finished up quilting, just in time, to take it on the road for Spring Break and finish the binding.

 Instead of hunting down more Moda Blush fabric, which I confess, has never been "me" but my aunt's taste.   I eyed this Raspberry backing by Riley Blake when I was a my friends home shop.  It isn't the exact match, but I liked how it gave it a little punch to suit my love for brighter colors!

 The binding is a sweet bias striped pink fabric from the Olive's Flower Market by Lella Boutique.

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 54" x 70"

Pattern: Poppy Print from Simply Fat Quarters book by Fat Quarter Shop

Fabrics: Top: Moda Blush, Robert Kaufman Pale Flesh, Backing: Riley Blake Raspberry Parlour by Sue Daly, Binding: Moda Olives Flower's Market

Quilted: Free motion paisley and swirls on HQ Avante

 

All finished. 

Just in time for Spring!

Button's Fox {Quilt}

"What does the fox say?"

This quilt is everything to Button right now.  

It all started with a trip to Target for some school supplies in August.  

He spotted this coin purse he HAD to have!

When we got home, he asked me if it was possible to make a Fox quilt.  I instantly thought of Elizabeth Hartman's Fancy Fox pattern and knew he would love it.

As soon as I showed it to him, he went shopping on my pre-cut shelves and pulled out this Fat Quarter Bundle with Moda Bella solids I had bought at Quiltcon 2015.

He then proceeded to follow me around with it.
 Even if he was at school, I would find the bundle sitting in strategic places where I would find it.
He was getting kinda creepy...so I bought the pattern.

 When I finally showed him the pattern instructions?
He started to camp out in my studio to make sure I was working on it.
I was even scolded for texting.

I worked quickly and had almost all the blocks done.  But then he wasn't happy it wasn't a "rainbow".  I would make more blocks.  Then we would go a few weeks without addressing it because he couldn't decide on more colors or less colors or the layout.
 He once told me that he "wasn't in the mood right now" like a fickle artist.

When we both finally agreed on the final layout, I got to work piecing it all together.

And then I ran out of the Essex Linen Background.  I just needed the bottom 2.5" border strip.
We were also at a standstill because he couldn't decide on a backing.  After spotting a backing fabric on Amazon suggestions while I was ordering a client's fabric selection, I made up my mind quickly to get more fabric and choose the binding for him.

Quilting decision? Simple.
He liked the wood grain free motion I had done on a clients Hazel Hedgehog quilt.

The chevron binding ended up looking like a really interesting diagonal stripe.

The Riley Blake orange played really nicely with the Cloud 9 foxes.

 

Button was so thrilled about the finish, that he was in charge of his photo shoot.

His assistant: Holding some of the weight of the camera for him.

Other than the few photos of him and a few sneaky shots of the quilt....

He decided who, what, where he was taking photos of his quilt.

Photo cred to my oldest son since I was working hard as an assistant.

He even had to give some lens time to his pal, Fox.

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 50" x 72"

Pattern: Fancy Foxes by Elizabeth Hartman (O'Fransson)

Fabric: Moda Fabrics Bella Solids, Robert Kaufman Essex Linen Flax, 

Cloud 9 Foxes, Riley Blake Chevrons

Quilted: Free motion wood grain on HQ Avante

It has probably been the most exasperating and, yet, wonderful quilt journey I've been on recently since he was so enthusiastically involved.

I can't wait to see what journeys his fox friends and quilt will be going on with him in the future!

Sweetwater and Linen {Sew Together Bag}

After I made my first Sew Together Bag, I decided right then and there, I would make another one just for my Sewing Circle tote that matched.

I promised myself I would have one by Quiltcon 2016.  And I let that goal slip through my fingers.

This year, I was completely determined, no matter how late I was up.

 

 

Unlike other projects, I did start it two days instead of the night before I had to leave.

I made sure I enjoyed the process instead of just rushing to get a finished project.

My patience definitely paid off!! 

 I also was super happy I attempted one of my weaknesses....machine binding.

And I have to say, it isn't too shabby!!!

I think it looks smashing with my Sewing Circle tote!!

And it was completely functional for my classes at Quiltcon 2017 in Savannah this year!!