So Charming {Quilt}

 "Your prince charming will come one day.  

He may not ride a white horse or live in a big castle, 

but he will love you and only you!"

 This quilt was a quick start to finish that was solely based on the fact that I needed a break from some other quilts.

 I had pulled out some charm squares from in the Fall to use for a pincushion, but lost somehow lost all desire to make it.  I'm not a big pincushion user and not a collector either.  

 It was actually a half open pack of Pat Sloan's "Eat Your Fruits and Veggies" line for Moda Fabrics, with only 17 charms left, the others used on various swap or bee blocks in the past

.  

When I found it two weeks ago, I really contemplated tossing them in my scrap bins. But, I just really liked the play of the colors together and felt that I had to do something.  

I came up with a quick design.

I took 3 of the charm squares and cut them in four 2.5" squares each.  Then surrounded them with sashing to make 5" blocks to match the 13 blocks.  To make it a baby size quilt, I added really large borders.  I raided my stash for binding and backing.

I miscalculated when I started loading the backing and realized that I needed to add a strip to make it wider.

The borders allowed a lot of fun free motion with very large and exaggerated pebbles with feathers and paisleys sprinkled in.

I then used a ruler to play in the big squares and emphasize the tiny squares.

I loved how the quilting showed up on the back and how the orange dot strip up with one of the rows on the front.  

Completely unintentional!

I had a moment of indecisiveness to change the binding to the orange dot when I finished quilting, but told myself to stay strong.

 Definitely some texture on the front!!!

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 36" square

Pattern: Inspired by box-in-a-box blocks

Fabrics: Moda Fabrics Eat Your Fruits and Veggies (circa 2012) by Pat Sloan, Moda Fabrics Simply Color by VCo, Robert Kaufman Kona White, Dots from Joann Fabrics

Quilted: Freemotion and rulers on HQ Avante longarm

There is still one charm left that I'm saving for the quilt label or it will land in the scrap bin.  

Had to share the photo bomb.

He thinks he's sooooooo charming.

Oh well....what can a mom of boys do other than shrug?

Monster Bash {Quilt}

 My first 2017 finish....a Halloween quilt....am I early or late is the question?

To continue with the 2016 Theme of Sewing my Stash, this past October, I rummaged through my precut bookcase and found one remaining Halloween charm pack.  It was Monster Bash by Moda Fabrics I had bought to use as a backup option for quilt I made a client called Trick or Treat Quilt. However, I eventually found the original charm square pack she had requested like the original I had made.

I also pulled some stash for background, Essex Linen in Natural, and added a few leftover Riley Blake Lost & Found layer cake cuts from my Halloween Checkmate Quilts.

 This block is suuuuper easy to make using Material Girl's tutorial HERE.

Even Button became interested and very involved.  He loved "flipping" the pieces.

And he was so determined that we finish the quilt, he helped me with the piecing on the machine since he was determined to have it finished by the end of the weekend. We both agreed we liked the thin black with wider linen borders to make it larger.

I didn't have a good amount of yardage I liked for the backing, so I did purchase some fabric from Joann's.  We chose this Witches on Brooms on a gray background.

I was skeptical when I brought it home because I realized there weren't any gray blocks on the front, but went with it because I have no plans as of this moment to make another Halloween quilt since we currently have five.  I then changed direction from the original orange/brown dot fabric for the binding and pulled this black and white dot from my stash.

I have to say that I actually liked the gray background now. The white and black spiderweb blocks read that same tone.

I REALLY enjoyed quilting on the linen. In the past, I've been a bit frustrated that my quilting hasn't "shown" up and sorta blends in.  But the Essex linen played nicely.

I origianlly had intended to do spiderweb blocks and only did one small corner and changed direction with the more floral center.  The border is a wavy triangle all around.

I love that it will blend right in our more formal room, we jokingly call The Library.

Halloween 2016

I think it will bring in some color for Halloween?  

Don't you?

Quilt Stats:

Measures: 50" square

Pattern: Disappearing Four Patch (Tutorial at Material Girl's)

Fabrics: Moda Monster Bash, Riley Blake Lost & Found, Robert Kaufman Kona Black, Robert Kaufman Essex linen, Joann Fabrics Witch and Black and White Dot

Quilted: Freemotion on Handiquilter Avante

The best part?  When I finished the binding and presented it to Button? 

His response was "WE made that mom!  Great job team!" with a double high five.

He makes my day in an instant!

Trick or Treat Charm Quilt

Ready to find a home!

I used variageted thread again. 

 I really like the tones of lavender to dark purple.  It makes the purple background a bit more exciting and seems to show off my swirl a bit more.

I love the bat quilting!

  I am so glad I went with FMQ instead of a pantograph.  This quilt really rebelled against dense quilting!

I tried my hand at a spider.  He is solo in this quilt.  I just didn't love him as much as the bats! I left him because I think he is a nice surprise.

I found this cool looking fabric for the backing and binding.  The design reminds me of Jack-o-lantern smiles.  The colors matched the Deb Strain charm squares perfectly.  The googly eye fabric was fun and had all the main colors also.  I love how it pops on the front with the purple.

Why haven't I used my embroidery machine for the quilt label before?  I have NO idea.  I plan to do so in the future.  I am so sick of worrying about labels that I have printed on.  I even was able to digitize my little butterfly logo!!!

Quilt Stats:
Measures 40 x 54"
Charm Squares: Moda Trick or Treat by Deb Strain
Background: Purple Country Classic Cotton (Joann Fabrics)
Backing and Binding: Joann Exclusives
Thread: Coats and Clark: Variegated Purple #9334
Pattern: Moda Bake Shop Tutorial:  Line Baby Dance Quilt.
Adjustments to Pattern:  Added one charm square to each row and vertical rows.

Overall?  I am pretty thrilled with this quick quilt using charm squares! It is off to my sister for her auction!

Have I mentioned that it has gotten me in a WICKED mood!

I will be joining the blog hop on HALLOWEEN DAY...I have a block tutorial in the works that you just might like!  In the meantime....click on the Haunted House image to follow the blog hop.  I hear their might be goodies, not to mention some great block tutorials.

Anyone else getting Halloween quilts done?  If not, I promise...this was a great quick one!