The "Learning to Love Batiks" Quilt

When I attended The Stash Bash in 2013, I thought about purchasing a jelly roll of batiks. I think, at the time, I was trying to challenge myself to come up with a quilt that focused on the batiks (instead of using them as blenders) even though I was less than enthusiastic about them.  Of course, when you are at a  retreat with wonderfully supportive quilters, who also happen to be wonderfully sarcastic and eager to encourage someone to be crazy, that thought developed into an actual purchase.

So, I came home and auditions fabrics to go with the bright, rainbow batiks and I auditioned patterns until I finally came up with what I thought would work. I ended up using this Bold and Beautiful print by Michele D'Amore for Benartex I had in my stash, which was perfect, and the "Sparkler" quilt pattern by Freshly Pieced. 

I really like how the top turned out.  I think the use of a print instead of a solid with the batiks makes it interesting and attractive.

 

I decided the quilting needed to mirror the fabric designs so I created meandering and twining leaves with a loose flower in certain blocks. I felt like it kept the design a little whimsical and feeling like Spring somehow.

In keeping with the "spring" feel, I used one layer of Warm and Natural 80/20 batting and a solid pink fabric as the backing of the quilt and hand sewed a multi-color dot fabric on for the binding. 

Since it measures approximately 56.5" square, it is a nice, light weight quilt that is perfect for draping over your legs when sitting on the porch on a spring or summer evening. I have already washed it (I wanted to be sure there wasn't any color bleed from the batiks) for these pictures and I'm kinda glad I did. The crinkly look suits it.

So, do I now love batiks? No. Do I hate them? No. I think they are like any other fabric. There are good and bad prints that can be used for beautiful or questionable creations. It's all a matter of personal taste.  It is unlikely I will purchase more again anytime soon, though. That's just me.

Oh, and I think I'm renaming this quilt "Spring" and I have decided to sell it. Now to figure out how to do that. :)

Cheers!

Beck

Heart Block Tutorial

Okay, this may be more like a loose guideline rather than a tutorial.  I originally created this block when I was at the Stash Bash last April.  Sharon (A Prairie Sunrise) was unable to come to the retreat due to being late in her pregnancy and so a baby quilt was planned and block contributions made using the Ruby fabric line.  Since there were only scraps to work with but plenty of white, I wanted to figure out a unique block with big impact.  I opted for the slightly off center heart and I love the way it looks.  It’s super sweet to see it in the full quilt sent off to Sharon and her beautiful girl, Ruby Verna.  The ladies who contributed the rest of the blocks knocked it out of the park, too, don’t you think? See the quilt details here from Chris (Freckle Mama).

So, here we go.  Finished block (without borders) comes out to 12.5” (your choice)

Choose your background fabric and the fabric for your heart (2 colors).  Roughly you can an FQ for your background will be more than enough and you can use 2 jelly roll strips for the colors. 

From your background cut:

1, 2” x 13” strip

1, 3 ½” x 13” strip

2, 6 ½” x 1 ½” strip

1, 5 ½” x 1 ½” strip

1, 5” x 1 ½” strip

4, 4 ½” x 1 ½” strip

1, 4” x 1 ½” strip

2, 3” x 1 ½” strip

4, 2 ½” x 1 ½” strip

4, 2” x 1 ½” strip

4, 3 ½” x 1 ½” strip

14, 1 7/8” squares

From EACH color cut:

7, 1 7/8” squares

2, 1 ½” squares

Take 1 white 1 7/8” square and put it right sides together with 1 color 1 7/8”.  On the back of the color square, draw a diagonal line from corner to corner.  Take to the sewing machine and sew 1/4” away from the line on both sides of the line. Cut on the diagonal line. Press open and trim wings. Repeat for all the white and color squares creating 28 half square triangle (HST) blocks. (see all steps here)

Lay out your block in accordance with the diagram below.

You can play with the HST  layouts if you want. The picture above is what I went with but the ones below are alternative ideas.  You can see, in the last photo, an alternating option I used for the original block.

Sew the blocks together, pressing seams open to avoid bulk then sew the rows together.

Trim to 12 ½” or 12 ¼” and voila! Your block is done.

I decided to make this into a pillow cover so I added 2 borders.  At this point, I basted the block to batting using a basting spray and quilted it. Then, I used Sew Mama Sew’s Tutorial to create a cover for an 18” pillow form.

Check out the quilting! Did this on my domestic and it's pretty even for a first time. I've never been able to and always had to put these on the frame but now I feel good about small projects getting done on the domestic, too.  Yay for small accomplishments.

(she really wants to lay on the pillow)


Cheers!
Beck

Another Pinwheel Quilt and more Mug Rugs?

Yes, yes I did. I love the pinwheel block. The many variations, all of it and Rachel Griffith's Pinwheel Sampler pattern just sings to me.

I decided to take a class from Rachel at the Fredricksburg Sewing Expo this past October where she taught how to make this sampler.  Yes, I've made it 3 or 4 times before, but I was using this class as a good cause. I REALLY wanted to make a Christmas quilt with all my holiday fabric and I always put it off. I figured this pattern would be a great way to get that done. Of course, as I pulled the fabrics, I realized that I had plenty of Christmas prints but of two distinct styles. Half were fun and funky and of non-traditional colors. The other half were the traditional prints and colors. After checking, they do not blend well. Well shit.

I thought and thought and then realized that I had plenty of pinks and Oct. was breast cancer awareness month so why not make a pink quilt and donate it?

This one came together pretty quickly because when you love a block like this like I do, you want to see it together ASAP.

I did quilt this baby but do not have photos (I forgot, I'm sorry). I asked my Instagram friends where I could donate it and received a message from someone who had a close relative going through the fight and asked if I would be willing to pass it to her to give.  I immediately agreed, the best use of a quilt is to comfort someone who needs it and let them know they are thought of and loved. The requester offered to bind the quilt and I'm sure it is now providing a good hug for the person who needs it.   Whether you know who is receiving your quilts or not, the feeling of peace for doing something kind lives within you for a long time after the gift has been given.

Speaking of Christmas and gifts, I will leave you with some Christmas mug rug creations.

This first is a very simple but effective little something to add color to the dessert counter.

Next, double sided Mug rugs for niece and nephew who have been all about hot cocoa this year. Mike and I also got them custom mugs and the kids bought them a variety pack of hot cocoas to try.

Another gift to a friend just to send a little Christmas hello.

Cheers!
Beck

Women of Courage Quilt

I saw this quilt hanging in one of my LQS (Crazy Cousin) and the it struck me.  I loved it.  I think, ultimately, it was the border that pulled me in.   (Warning, this post is going to have a lot of pictures!)

This was a block of the month and the fabrics are Wyndham Fabrics.  Please click the link to find more detailed information but in short, there were several notable women who have displayed extraordinary courage in their life and each month provided a summary detail of who these women were and what they did as well as block instructions and fabric.

It's a little bit of a drive for me to this LQS for the monthly meetings so I purchased the kit all at once and started building the quilt on my own schedule.  I posted each block on Instagram as I went along to satisfy my need to shout, "another one complete!"

   

I had two hiccups in the process, I miscut one fabric and had to find something out of my stash to substitute because it was no longer available in the store (& not worth ordering for the small amount I needed) and I miscut the border strips, even tough I read those instructions 80 bazillion times (yes, bazillion).  However, I adjusted in both cases and pressed forward, I think, successfully.  In all honesty, unless you are comparing my top to the pattern picture or you've made one with the provided fabrics, you won't know. lol

Finally, the top was complete and part of me wanted to stop there. The other part had been craving to get to quilting this baby. I wanted to do custom quilting in sections, although I had no idea how yet.

I loaded her up, asked a lot of opinions on Instagram and then, got to it.

Of course there are errors but that makes it real and she came out lovely. I had to find my own courage in trying something different on this Women of Courage quilt and given what these women had done in their lifetimes, what was my piddly little insecurity?  Exactly, it was nothing compared to true adversity.

The moral, I love this lady. She's big, fits over a queen bed with drape and has rich colors. The deep aqua sets off the browns and reds and truly, that border is just stunning in real life.

I made the kids go with me to come up with photos. It was a beautiful day and I took them out to help me with this lady and one other quilt (you can see the story here, Fractured Sunlight, if you haven't seen it & are interested). Below are some sample shots of the kids at work. These were their ideas and styling.  I take no credit except forcing them out of the house, which, I feel I need to do for all the quilt photos now. :)

The helpers.  Thanks kids, I love you.

I hope you are having a lovely day and the next time you are a little reticent or fearful of something, think of those who have come before who haven't let that stop them and then ask yourself, can you do it? Will you?

Cheers!
Beck

A Quilt made with Love

“Want to join us?”  That was the question in late November last year (this day takes place early in Dec.) which started my involvement in a project that warmed my heart.  Amy (Amylouwhosews) and Rachel (PS I Quilt) brainstormed the idea of making a quilt for Kim (My Go-Go Life) because her son had just deployed and because she needed one and because she was making him one of the same pattern (only in blues and white) and because we all understood deployments and because, well, we love her.

You see, Kim and I haven’t known each other long in terms of time but I feel like our souls have known each other through space.  We get together and it’s like yesterday was the last time we spoke. Both of us have been guilty of speaking to the other as if we had already shared details of our lives over the past few days and then realizing maybe we didn’t and had to back track.  Anyway, I digress (which coincidentally also happens a lot when Kim and I chat.)

Her son deployed. Rachel and Amy brainstormed the quilt and invited me for the ride. We are all (including Kim) military spouses who have had loved ones deploy, we understand deployment but can’t quite fathom it from the mom’s perspective. We figured the knee jerk instinct to protect and keep one’s child out of harm’s way must be conflicting with the rational understanding that her boy was an adult and well trained. Using the Look to the Stars pattern out of Rachel’s newly released book “Quilts Made with Love” (which is, of course a fabulous pattern and book!), we all pieced the quilt using scraps from our stash. Once we got it together, I quilted it with a whimsical star and loop pattern. It was pieced and quilted using Auriful. 

The batting was Pellon's Nature's Touch 50/50 Bamboo/Cotton blend.  First time using it and I loved it. Like quilting with butter.  From Pellon's blog, "Bamboo Blend Batting has a soft, silky hand and some naturally anti-microbial properties. It is durable, breathable, and comfortable. This regenerated cellulosic fiber has microscopic pores that allow for excellent wicking which draws moisture away from the body. It is an excellent warm weather option. Bamboo’s inherent properties also make it a natural selection for those who suffer from allergies."

As we built this quilt, Rachel and her hubby Shane, who are in OH, planned a trip to VA for the day we intended to give this to Kim.  You see, we used the guise of a sewing day at my house and Kim was set to come but then her kids had half days at school and that killed that plan. Meanwhile, Rachel was scheduled to arrive and we had no contingency plan. Amy was talking regularly to Kim but Rachel and I were staying mum so as not to draw suspicion. Amy kept trying to figure out a way we could see Kim on that Friday and eventually, when trying to get Kim to make arrangements, had to just stop trying to make arrangements to avoid further suspicion.

Thursday night Rachel arrived and we sat down to finish binding the quilt while Amy worked on the label.  My pups, seeing a quilt so close at hand tried like crazy to lay on it. One made it as far as her nose on Rachel’s leg.  I think this had more to do with Rachel’s appreciation for having the pup nearby it than the pup’s perseverance, however.

The next morning, plans commenced. We piled into the car, in the pouring rain and swung over to pick up Amy. At this point, we thought all we would be able to do is see Kim for about an hour, if we were lucky, at a local Starbuck’s or something. It was clear she didn’t want folks just “showing up” at her house.  It was one of those weeks for her and we were trying to be considerate.  That failed. I called her and told her Amy and I were nearby, could she break and meet us. (Remember, Rachel’s presence was still an unknown to her.) She checked her calendar and just had to decline to clear up some work items.

With our silent apologies to her and her employer (ahem, Alex Veronelli, Auriful – we thank you for your understanding), we just drove to her house and let Rachel go knock on the door. And we wait. And wait.

Are we too late? Did she leave to go get her kids already?  It’s pouring rain. Rachel calls, while at the door. Phew! A moment later, out comes Kim.  LOVED the look of happy surprise on her face! She greeted everyone and then off to the back of the van to see our other surprise (Rachel was the first one). 

Happiness.

Of course, the whole thing was rushed, she had to get her kids but once she realized Rachel was here (we didn’t tell her about the third surprise later, we didn’t want her to feel guilty if she decided to stay home) and that Amy planned to grab her kids from school and come hang at my place with Rachel, Shane and I, Kim decided to do the same and joined us later that afternoon.

We laughed, gabbed, & had to give Kim the details of our escapade. Kim grumbled good naturedly about us being in trouble. Ultimately, though, Rachel and I were completely off the hook for the surprise.  Amy is supposed to be the one who has trouble keeping a secret. She got the brunt of it. LOL We were all complicit but like any good middle child can attest, it’s always best to let someone else take the heat if it’s so conveniently directed.  (-wink- Thanks Amy! You know I love you.)

Shortly after Kim arrived, I had another arrival. You see, there’s this quilter out there, maybe you’ve heard of him, John Q. Adams (Quilt Dad)? The stars aligned & he had some free time that night so he drove up from NC to say hey!  I may have been a little awe struck by the quilting talent in my home because after welcoming John in, I do believe my next words were, “You are really tall!”

Uh, duh. –sigh- Suave, I am not so let’s pretend it makes me cute and move on, shall we?

We all settled back in, gabbed more, ate, gabbed, played a little in my sewing room. Kim has a thing about trying every kind of sewing machine she can and really, who can resist playing on a mid-arm once it is in front of them and the owner has it set up for play time?  Not anyone, that’s who! 

Finally, the night came to an end, people departed and bed time called.  It was such a good day, planned and prepped for or not, I love having people visit, but ultimately, the day was made great by the love we were able to share with one special person. I hope that this fine lady, who would never hesitate to assist another living soul, one I’m blessed to call a friend, now knows how much she means to those around her.

Check out Kim's and Rachel's take on this wonderful experience.  

I love these girls.