The Paperie Patchwork {Quilt}

I enjoy naming my quilts, and Paperie Patchwork just sounded like a good name for a quilt.  However, the word paperie means nothing, in French. But "papeterie" means 'stationery', and the shop where you can buy it.

  And if you are wondering why I pulled that word out of the sky?  I didn't.  It's the name of the line from Art Gallery Fabrics.  Ironically, when I was trying to find its meaning, I DID find a ton of shops called Paperie.  Who knew?   I figure this is a good story for what is, frankly, a rather simple patchwork quilt?

This quilt became an idea when I ordered the line from Fat Quarter Shop to make the Butterfly and Joy Pillow covers.

I had "over ordered" for the pillows, but knew that the bundle wasn't going to be enough for a full size quilt, so I grabbed a Dear Stella Fat Quarter bundle I’ve had in my stash for quite a long time now.

The squares are a simple 8” square each.  I laid them out on my family room floor while we watched the Houston Astros play in the World Series.  Then I pieced it together on my Featherweight while watching them advance to the next game.

I loaded it up on Ole Betsy and chose the pantograph patttern Bossa Nova by Urban Elementz with Baby Pink Omni Thread by Superior Threads.

The backing was leftover blue and pink backing leftovers with oddball widths and I used a super old wide pieced strip from the Micheal Miller Glitz line.

The binding was a cool crosshatch style blue I found at Joann Fabrics.

The quilt label is an embroidery pattern I have had in my files for several years that is a the breast cancer symbols surrounded by encouraging words to make a butterfly.

Quilt Stats:
Measures: 64" square

Pattern: Simple Patchwork of 8" squares

Fabric: Paperie by Art Gallery Fabrics and Dear Stella Fabrics

Quilted:  Bossa Nova pantograph with Baby Pink OmniThread on Handiquilter Avante

This quilt was sent off to my uncle’s home this Christmas.
I figured his wife could use a quilt hug and love.

Brittany's Butterflies {Quilt}

 This quilt was made for a special young, and I mean YOUNG, lady with cancer.  My friend asked me if I could make one and I knew I had to pull out my new "quick and go" Quake quilt pattern!

I'm embarrassed to say that the photo above is the only one I have of this quilt in "full".  

I've forgotten to take "good" pictures before, but this one takes the cake!

 I was actually a bit concerned about the prints from my stash I had curated from my charity bin of being juvenile for a young adult, but my friend approved it.  I loved the butterflies for her Cancer Walk theme "Brittany's Butterflies" and the angels for everyone praying for her! The purple for the T-shirts they wore!

Again, I might gush, but I love how this pattern goes from Fat Quarters to strips in a blink of an eye and creates a stunning pattern.  I was able to stitch it up quickly, but it got stuck in the queue for the longarm.

Luckily, I had picked up some new pantographs in that time period and this Bossa Nova was fun with some light yellow thread.   

This was the only photo I could find of it complete!  You can see the yellow binding and that's about it.  It actually is a sweet soft butterfly print on yellow, second row from the top of the fabric pull above!  As you can see, I had a lot of deadlines by the end of the summer and these were just the ones that were being mailed out!

All I know is that I hope she enjoys it.  And I hope she knows that there are a lot of people praying or her to win the battle!!

Judge Pride Quilt {School Auction Quilt}

Ever since I made my oldest his Marquette Bound quilt, I knew I wanted to make other patterns in school colors with the logos in the futures. School auctions are the perfect moment for me to do so. Especially if it doesn't have to be a "class participation" like a lot of them I've made in the past. 

Since I have boys, I always try to think in terms of "would a boy want this quilt too?" when I choose a pattern. Missouri Star Quilt Company (MSQC) has a great Houndstooth pattern that seemed to fit the bill. 

I also purchased the four colors I needed from MSQC. 
Kona Tomato, Kona Black, Kona Corn Yellow, and Kona White. 

I had planned out in Photoshop the tartan color pattern I wanted. 

I cut my charms and strips and pieced my blocks like a mad woman. 

And it didn't look awful,

but I just didn't love the way the Houndstooth pattern didn't seem distinct for each block. 

So I reworked the math and made some mixed striped blocks and went to bed. 

The next morning, I realized I let my excitement get away from me the night before because I had cut and pieced the wrong yellow from my stash.

Oopsies.

No worries. I made some more with the correct yellow and I'm saving the oopsies for another fun project. I might even name it "Oopsie".

The extra work paid off and I loved that I made the extra effort to get it "right". 

Once I had it all laid out and pieced, I spent some time working on the logo.

 I would be a liar if I didn't tell you it took me several hours to draw on wonder under, cut and appliqué each layer. 

But it was so worth it. 

I chose the pantograph Quirky pattern

and used my old reliable off white Omni thread by Superior Threads.

I love, love, love a pantograph on Shannon Fabrics minky backing.

and the simple quilting pattern I used on the logo.

A pop of the Kona Black for the binding. 

A printed quilt label on the back.  

I love the stripe that breaks up the two minky pieces that are needed to make it wider.  I couldn't get a 90" backing in time for quilting!
 

And it was all ready for the school auction......early!!!!!

Quilt Stats

Size:  67" x 76" 

Pattern: Modified Houndstooth pattern 

From Missouri Star Quilt Company

Fabrics: Kona Tomato, Corn Yellow, White and Black, Shannon Fabrics Yellow

Batting: Warm & Natural

Quilting: Quirky Pantograph on HQ Avante longarm with Off White Omni By Superior Threads 

Blizzard {Quilt}

"Baby, it's cold outside......."

In December 2011, I started cutting a quilt the week before the "big" holiday in hopes I would finally have a Christmas Quilt.  I found a tutorial at Piece N Quilt called Figgy Christmas and thought it would be simple to do.  I started cutting the blocks and had the lower "layer" cake part finished.  Then the holiday rush came and went and it just didn't seem so urgent in the scheme of things.  And I was okay with that.  I packed it up and put it back on the closet WIP shelves.

Later, the in the new year, some friends and I decided to have a Virtual Sew In on Facebook.  I cranked out a few quilt tops and then I finished the applique and pieced it on August 2012.

And then it sat again.  I pieced the backing sometime in 2013.  I was worried that I had mixed homespun with cotton, so I stalled.  Then decided to wash it before quilting.

Then it took a backseat again.  

Until this summer.  June 2014.

I actually finished quilting it and binding it by the start of the school year.  

And didn't take pictures.  I had visions of having my husband helping me out. We would take it to some amazing location and pose for our family Christmas photos in front of it.   But I didn't.

So this morning.  Yes.  This morning, January 16, 2015.....I dragged it outside.  The pictures are not the best.  However, I'm not going to apologize.  It's done.  It is loved.  That's all that matters.

Details in the trees.

Swirling snow.

Curvy quilting to possibly mimic snow drifts.

Snowflake pantograph on the bottom layer cake portion.

Moda Red Binding.

Homespun backing with leftover block pieces.   I couldn't be happier.

It's keeping me warm on my bed this kinda chilly winter here in Houston!

Quilt Stats:

Pattern: Figgy Christmas by Piece N Quilt

Fabrics: Random Christmas Prints I bought circa 2010-2012

Thread: Pieced with Guttermann, Quilted with Auriful and Superior Threads.

Quilting: Freemotion and Snowflake Pantograph by myself on my Avante 18" longarm

 I can attest...it really is not a difficult quilt to make.

  I just took forever getting it done!