Minky Texture {Quilt}

 "May you remember the texture for days..."

When I attended Quiltcon in February 2016 in Pasadena, Shannon Fabrics had a booth and they were allowing attendees a choice between a stack of charms of their cuddle or something else (that I can't remember for the life of me).  I figured I might get a baby quilt or something out of the charm pack.

.Fast forward to September 2016, the charm stack was, in some strange way, leering at me.  They started annoying me enough that I started looking at my stash. 
 

Unfortunately....I didn't have a ton of great cotton fabrics in the colors.  But I did have some seersucker and gingham from the days when I thought I would make Button some more clothes other than the one outfit for Bluebonnets.

I quickly decided on a square in a square design, with a small 1" border around the charm to offset it from the ginghams and seer-suckers. I ended up adding a few of my leftover scraps of minky cuddle (light pink and white dot and rosette pinks) to the mix to make it larger.  

Before I knew it, I had a nice size baby quilt.

I decided to do some free motion on the quilt to define each "square".

I have to say, that I am delighted!

I'm not quite sure how the seersucker is going to feel after washing...it does definitely have some serious texture.

I left the centers untouched and I love how they pop up in the middle.

I didn't have a quilting plan and just plaid around with lines, scallops, loops, and feathers.

 Following my Sew My Stash rules, I found cotton pinks for the backing. 

I contemplated using minky, but I love how the squares puff on the back too!

I chose the same dark pink for the binding.  I'm really using up some old stash!!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 48" Square

Pattern: Square in a square

Fabrics:  Shannon Fabrics Cuddle, Joanns seersucker, gingham, cotton And  Kona Cotton solids

 Quilted: Freemotion on HandiQuilter Avante

I'm not sure where it's final home will be, but for now, I'll just pet it and wait for the right recipient!

Pink Rodeo Rider {Quilt}

Back in January, I made some baby quilts with Rodeo Rider fabric by Riley Blake fabrics.

 For no real good reason other than I wanted an excuse to play with the rodeo fabrics!

I convinced myself that I could give them as gifts or sell them to some Texan friends. 

 I really loved the colors,  and if anyone knows me well, my favorite thing to do when we lived in Houston was to go to the Rodeo!

 I love the gorgeous Shannon Fabrics, Rosette minky backing. It wasn't a perfect match to the front pink, but it was leftover stash and I just love it for baby quilts.

And the paisley binding again.  I still have some of this leftover and am tempted to make myself another Rodeo quilt for myself to have up in the studio!!

I gave the Baby Rodeo Star to a friend in June. 

 And wouldn't you know it?  Just as I was going to post this one for sale, I got a request for a baby quilt commission from another friend. I was happy to make her a new one, but she loved the girl version I had already made and asked that I monogram it. 

I love how the simple monogram made it shine!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 36" square

Pattern: Blooming Bliss by Fat Quarter Shop

Fabric: Rodeo Rider by Riley Blake 

Thread: Omni Thread Natural White by Superior Threads 

Quilted: Freemotion meandering on HQ Avante

Ironically, Button ended up needing a blanket to take to school for "rest time" this year, so the boy Rodeo Rider quilt found an owner too!  He wouldn't take his precious "Buddy" blanket because it had to be left there, so he asked me if I had one or if I could make one.  I forgot to take a picture of the embroidered quilt label I made before he took it in. Next time it comes home for a wash, I will do so!!

Giant Star Quilt

This quilt was a tough one to let go.

My only regret?  

Not getting a better photo of it!! 

 A good friend that I scrapbook with asked me if I would make her coming granddaughter a quilt as a gift.  I have decided that baby quilts are some of my favorites.  There is something very satisfying about making something for someone so tiny. 

My friend sent me this photo of the twin bedset that was going to go in the room with the crib.  

Source: Unknown

I have learned that mommas normally have plans for their nurseries, so I try to get something that matches the set, but the pattern can be a bit different so it can live in the room on a chair or on the floor for tummy time...unless of course, they DO want it in their crib.

 I started with the colors and grabbed up these two fat quarter bundles by Free Spirit.

Free Spirit Bundles:::: Left: Novella by Valori Wells,  Right: The Painted Garden by Dana Designs.

 The Painted Garden by Dana Designs for Free Spirit 

and Novella fat quarter by Valori Wells for Free Spirit

  I then fell in love with this Giant Vintage Star pattern by In Color Order.

 I hope you can tell how amazing the large motifs played out in my rendition!
One important note!  I DID not go with the 18 inch squares that she has in the tutorial.  I went much smaller and used 12 inch squares so my final size was 40 x 40 inches.

Most of the points are made up of fat quarters from The Painted Garden.   I used one Novella fat quarter that had the orange "seeds" because I needed one more softer blue to match the original bedroom set.  

I also went with the Madrona Road Memoirs text fabric instead of the gray fabrics from The Painted Garden.  It wasn't that they would have been awful, but I craved a bit of consistency for the background in order not to distract from the amazing star point prints! 

I mean, seriously?

  How can you resist the words "Sweet Dreams" or "Prince" or "gypsy" that are in it!

Madrona Road Memoirs Text in cream

I don't know if you can tell, but there is a faint beige/off white design in the background of the already amazing text.  It finalized my decision to choose a beige thread for quilting to blend in.

Pantograph Design: Lida on Handiquilter Avante

I'm also extremely happy with the pantograph design called Lida by Golden Threads.  The swirls are just the right density to make a nice overall pattern for a pattern that didn't need "help".

Rosebud Minky

I am in love with this rosebud minky.  It is super soft.  The one drawback is that it actually didn't enhance the quilting on the backside, but rather, hid it.  But, I didn't mind because I really did adore the pattern the swirls make!!

My friend wanted to have her granddaughter's name embroidered somewhere on the quilt.  By choosing the text fabric print for the background, I felt that no matter what font or color I chose, it would compete with the text.

 I admit, I haphazardly made a star block out of white with the remaining scraps from one of the star points from the front. But I am pretty happy with the results

Binding: Tula Pink Lazy Stripe

The binding is again...one of those things meant to be!  I really didn't want to go scrappy with the leftover fat quarters, so I hunted my own shelves for some choices.  This cool orange and pink striped fabric popped out at me and did not want to be ignored.  The oranges and pinks were an exact match and I just couldn't get over it.  

I didn't really realize how fate decided to help me out until I was typing up the post and checking my selvage edges.

  It is designed by none other than Birds and Bees by Tula Pink for Free Spirit.
Yup....Meant to be.

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 40 x 40 inches

Pattern:  Giant Vintage Star by Incoloroder.com

Quilt Top: The Painted Garden by Dana Designs for Free Spirit 

and Novella fat quarter by Valori Wells for Free Spirit
Backing: Rosebud in Pink (Hobby Lobby)
Binding:  Lazy Stripe in Orange and Pink from Birds and Bees by Tula Pink for Free Spirit
Pantograph Pattern: Lida by Golden Threads 
Quilted by: Heidi Grohs (me) on my Handiquilter Longarm Avante

I will miss this quilt dearly.

Butterfly, Bats, and E.T.

I can't think of anything else, other than quilts, where you can talk about butterflies, bats, and E.T. in the same post.  

Luckily, the three are related by my WIPs!!

Finishes:

Lyla's Quilt

One more baby girl quilt kit completed!  I have only one more quilt kit left!  So excited to be clearing out my clearance stash!!

I am still disappointed in my efforts to be random...I am not happy that I got the blocks out of order, but I was too far in to back out of the corner I got myself into! I still adore these prints.  Very girly. 

Flannel backing that is so soft and I actually REALLY like the print!!!  I used my embroidery machine again to make the label.  I can't wait to spend some time making some pretty designs for future quilts.  I went pretty simple with this one and the one I did for the Trick or Treat quilt!

I made up for it with the quilting! Butterflies!!!

Trick or Treat Charm Quilt

Finished!  Details on Trick or Treat were posted yesterday.

In Progress:

ET Dialed It In Quilt

I have few things in progress, but this quilt with all of these beautiful ET Phone home blocks have officially moved to the top of my 'get-er-done' list this week.

The July do. Good stitches blocks have been calling my name.

  I need to make room on my design wall for other projects!

I have decided that option one is the best course of action at this point.  Although, I love option two.  I just can't bring myself to move someone's bee blocks to make room for mine.  It just doesn't feel right.

Sashing fabric

 I have convinced myself that the extra half squares, borders, and sashing will be my contribution at this point. I can't add two blocks without skewing my plans!  I just hope the end product is close, if not better than  my EQ7 "plan".  This one is a tough one to nail down!

Ever have one of those?

Linking up with Lee!!!!!

WIP: Yikes

"Yikes" is all I can say about what I am calling "The Tummy Massacre" that we have had in our home since Sunday. 

Luckily, I was making real progress beforehand so my WIP post doesn't look too pathetic!

Basically, I have THREE finished tops that need to go on Ole Betsy....

Lyla's Quilt

I finished piecing it Thursday!

I think I am going to do this quilting design...

Butterflies!!!

 Spiders and Webs, Part Deaux

All the points are trimmed up and ready to go!

Trick or Treat Charm quilt

It went REALLY quickly Saturday. To read details...I talked about it on my #notgoingtosewingsummit post!

I have definitely decided to meander/loop and just place the bats sporadically...I think a pantograph would be too dense.

And now that I can sit for an extended period of time without wanting to die...I need to finish all of these embroidery projects

Trying to chunk away at My Ridiculously Long To Do List the only way I know how!

I just don't know how else to do it other than quit, do you?

Linking up!

Forget Dipping My Toe...

How do I tackle My Ridicoulously Long List?

I dive right in!  Head first.

I picked out all the stitches on these pants last night.

I am going to try to re-hem these pants for son #2.  Think I can get the creases out?

via Instagram

I also took a bit of time yesterday to piece Lyla's quilt between house chores, doctor appts, and two soccer games.

Had to post the "blowing in the wind shot", right?

I am a bit annoyed that I messed up my block rows....again.  Not only the rows themselves, but within the rows.   It amazes me how I do that all the time!  Good thing it is supposed to be random.

I am on the fence about the applique I designed.  I thought the block was bigger than it was when I designed it...her name is on the edge.  But I think I can make up for it all when I take her out to Ole Betsy.    I already have the binding ready to go!

 I was also able to lay out a Moda Charm Pack I had bought last year, but never used.

I have been meaning to make a Halloween quilt for someone with it.  Now that I have Spiders and Webs and Spiders and Webs, part deux, I think a third halloween quilt would be a bit much for me.

Good thing my little sis is putting on a silent auction for her FRG (Family Readiness Group) up at Fort Lewis, Washington.    I asked if I could donate something.  She pretended to protest profusely.  

She obviously wasn't too convincing....

I need to finish it up cutting and piecing today so I can quilt and take pictures this weekend for her!  I would love to do something REALLY amazing, there are so many charm pack quilts out there, but because of the time constraints, it looks like I need something fast!  I am trying to adapt the Line Dance Baby Quilt over at the Moda Bake Shop to a bit bigger size.

Luckily, I finished the night off with some light reading.  

Via Instagram

I can officially renew my nursing license and not worry about it for another two years.

 I was pretty happy with all my progress.  Not too shabby, is it?