Quiet Time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival

Once again this year, it's the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  Amy works so hard to give us a venue to show our quits....so be sure to hop over, view the entries, or add your own.  Here's the link...to Amyscreativeside.

I am sharing a second entry.  If you are a regular reader, you know it has to be a watercolor quilt  :).

  This is called Quiet Time.  Little did I know when I completed it in March that it would give me so much comfort for healing during the summer months.  It reminds me to seek the quiet, to reflect, and take time to heal.
My original post shows this wall hanging  in different lighting conditions.

Entered in the Art Quilt category, the size is 23'' by 30''.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

  It comes around twice a year....the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy at  Amy's Creative Side.   She works hard to give us a showcase for our quilts.....that's my motivation for entering this year.  Please take a few minutes to view and enjoy the entries.  Voting is next week I think.

This is Season's  Glow, my orange peel quilt.  Begin late last fall, it is the last quilt finished in my Year of Floral quilts.  My intention was to explore traditional patterns and translate those patterns into color wash designs  with floral fabrics.

  I have a very large stash of floral fabrics, so no duplicates in fabrics for the orange peels.      The orange peels are machine appliqued.  I shared the technique using fusible interfacing that I used to turn under the edges here.

Quilted by me..free hand all the way.  I did a simple outline on the peels, and small swirls in the border.
The border fabric is a soft mottled grey print that gave this quilt an old fashion look.

  Season's Glow is 55'' by 65'', and entered in the Applique Quilt category.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the festival.......happy stitching.

Blogger's Quilt Festival.....small quilt entry

  I hope you are enjoying the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

I decided to share a second entry this year, as well as the story behind it.

  We have become friends with a young couple at church and often do the Saturday lunch thing with them.  In February we were having a lunch chat and talking about the expected baby soon to arrive.  My plan was already in the works---purple pinwheels accented with yellow.  And then Amber began to talk about butterflies and pink and green, and Chad's comment was, " I am expecting something great.".  Oh boy, time to change the design!  I went from pinwheels to wings and strings.





     I began making  butterfly wings in different color ways with string piecing.  I cut the background squares at 6 1/2" inches and then chopped off one corner.  Each pair was cut differently so there would be a variety of sizes for interest.  And I could avoid the bulk in the corners!

 
   I shaded by value from dark to light, or light to dark to add some dimension to each pair.  Then to the design wall....and I twisted them to fly in different directions.

  Next it was time for the border and quilting.  I used a darker green for the main border fabric and inserted strips of prints along the way.

  The main body of the quilt was quilted with a small meandering stitch.  And a wavy line of feather plumes  all the way around completed the border.

  Dancing Wings quilted and bound in the bright  pink she wanted.
 
   A beautiful baby girl was born and name Gracelyn.  A beautiful gentle name for a little girl who will be soon chasing butterflies.

 On quilt delivery day, Mama Amber grabbed the bag and exclaimed "Let me see!".  And the first thing she did was flip the quilt over to see the label!  Of course, there was one----and I did not take a photo of it :(  .    The father, a man of few words...gave me a hug and said I did good.


Dancing Wings, 46" by 50 "---small quilt category.
   And me....I learned a good lesson.  Make plans, yet be willing to change.  And always take a photo of the label!    Thanks for stopping by.  Enjoy the rest of the festival, too.  Happy stitching.

Blogger's Quilt Festival May 2015

Welcome to the the Blogger's Quilt Festival!



Spring is here.  A time of warmer days that bring a garden filled with delights.   Making this quilt brought memories of wonderful garden tours.

  Visiting the creation of others, seeing their formal gardens of straight paths and fountains, and enjoying the wonders of the informal cottage gardens with twists and turns.   Look closely at this quilt and you will see the influences of both......twisting paths, open spaces --filled with feather quilting, and a shaded border that reminds me of dappled sunlight.


 

 On the tours I often strayed from the paths, bending under a tree limb to see what hidden treasures I could find.   A gardener will often hide a quiet spot just beyond your view.    Please ignore my un-pulled weeds....this bed is a work in progress.

  I began this quilt in January for my Let's Book It project....hosted by Vroomans Quilts.  Pick a book, find a project, make it!

 The pattern is called English Garden from a publication by the Paloose Patchers from many years ago.   I almost followed the directions.....except I used wider 2" strips.  The blocks that make up the center are a modified log cabin, with one dark side and one light side. When viewed from a distance, it has a wonderful twisted ribbon effect.
    And there is a pieced vertical sashing that almost drove me crazy.   It joins two vertical rows....yet has few reference points for piecing.  

   

  It was the border that caught my watercolor eye......hundreds of 2" squares that are blended dark to light frame the entire center.  Just made to order for me, as that is what I love to do.  Before you panic and run, I will say I was prepared for this with a heavy stash of 2" squares already cut and a supply of fusible interfacing. 

  

 I simply worked in sections ---blending, fusing, and joining them as I worked around the quilt.   And no, I did not count the number of squares I used, but I did deplete my stash!

   The wide open spaces were a perfect space to fill with endless feather quilting.  It flattened the "paths" and let the blocks become the feature.  The border was quilted with a medium meandering stitch.

When it came time to name this quilt,  it seemed very natural to call it "Where My Feet May Fall".  I can enjoy a nap under it and view many gardens at the same time.
  Finished size is 64" by 84".....large quilt category.
  Thanks for visiting my garden and enjoy the festival and all it's inspiration.
Happy stitching.

Slow down

   The Blogger's Quilt Festival begins Friday......get your post ready!  We went out early this morning for a few new photos for my entry.  I love the early light to show the stitching and colors.   Follow the link above to read the details.  Early thanks to Amy for all her hard work putting the festival together.

 I have been taking it slower the last few days.....all the weeds and yard work got to me.
   I played around with the border idea on the off set log cabin (faux braid style).  I feel like  I need a narrow strip to frame the over all design before the border comes into play.  The main border is light----a white and tan leaf print.
   I found a few blocks....not 9 patch like I thought, but 16 patch.  By adding a couple of  partial blocks, I can extend the "unfinished point" of the barn raising design.  That's on one side.....the rest is yet to come.

   I am off to bake bread for a luncheon tomorrow......happy stitching.

Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2014

Welcome to the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

I always enjoy this on-line quilt show.  and give big thanks to Amy at Amy's Creative Side for hosting this.





 

   My entry has been sitting around unfinished for a couple of months, so the quilt festival was just the motivation I needed to get it completed.  At the end of August, this is where it was.....did I need more blocks, or borders, or not?   I was so undecided that it got pushed aside as other things in life intervened.




 About 2 weeks ago, I saw that the Blogger's Quilt Festival was quickly approaching......so out it came again.   Decision made----I was keeping this one. A perfect small throw size, just for me.

  

   The pattern is Scrappy Trips from Bonnie Hunter's tutorial.  When 4 blocks are joined, a Trip Around the World style unit appears.  I used 2" strips to make these.
   There are  six floral fabrics in each block, blended by  the value of the fabric  in each block---either light to dark or dark to light.   I can say that each one is different.....repeated fabrics, yes.....but in different combinations.

   What could be better than viewing the last of the garden blooms sitting under a lapful  of favorite floral fabrics!
And a wonderful reminder of a perfect fall day.

   For the quilting,  I used an overall pattern of swirls and a few leaves thrown in.  I kept the quilting open and not too dense.  A softer effect to blend it all together.

     Finished off with a label.

Category is Small Quilt.
Tripping through the Flowers
is 56 " by 56 ".
Machine quilted by me on Tiara.

 Time to grab a cup of coffee, settle in under your favorite throw, and view some quilts in the festival.

 Here is the link to the main festival page.   Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the festival! 

2014 Blogger's Quilt Festival

Welcome to the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I do hope you are enjoying all the blogs and entries.

  This year I want to share The Buzz Saw quilt.  I affectionately refer to this one as The Whopper, just because it is so big.  I don't usually make quilts this large.  It finished at 112" by 94".
   
  In the fall,  I worked on the 80 + blocks needed.  I used the "magic technique" of  Majestic Mountains from Quiltville and Bonnie Hunter and simply added an extra strip to one side for the block construction.  So assembly was simple.  The quilting.....that became a hold up.  I folded the top and put it aside.  I delayed. I hesitated.  I procrastinated.  I fussed that it was so big.....such a whopper!

  Finally, I put it under the needle.  I was asked how I quilted it.....one small bite at a time!  The center plain areas were quilted with lots of swirls....one section at a time.  Some straight line quilting was added through the center of the batik "saw blades" area.
  I quilt on a Tiara table top long arm....and I love the space.  I use side tables for support of large quilts, and do a lot of bunching and scrunching.

  When it came to the borders I knew I wanted to quilt lots of feathers....endless feathers.  So when the snow storm hit us, it was time.  I tackled the borders, again one small section at a time.  And before the snow melted, I was done.

 
  My husband, referred to as Sir Old Man, selected the pattern.  If you have visited here before, you know he is a woodworker, so the buzz saw pattern clicked with him.  My blade is larger, but his has more teeth!

   The rest of the story......I agreed to make this large quilt because Sir Old Man agreed to make a new bed for us.  I even put that on the label.  The quilt is ready and waiting for the bed-to-be.....only the wood has been selected for the legs.  
   As quilters we know the importance of making test pieces.  So to be fair, he has been "practicing" techniques needed by making a side table.  The table is almost complete, and ready to be fumed with ammonia----don't ask, that is another story!  Of course, he now needs to build a tent to do the fuming.

 I just hope that Sir Old Man knows that although the quilt is large enough to cover his saw and table, it belongs on a bed.
  Thanks for visiting and reading about the Buzz Saw quilt.

  Category: Large Quilts

Enjoy the Festival...link here.

Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2013

    Welcome to the Blogger's Quilt Festival!

When I saw that the date for the Festival was so near, I got really motivated to finish this quilt up.

 

    I love simple....easy blocks that let the fabric do the work. And secondly, I love braid patterns.  So  this little design fit the bill on both counts.  The block is a simple quarter log cabin block that creates a faux braid design.    When set side by side, the design emerges as a diagonal braid.
  I first saw this layout at Vrooman's Quilts, and fell in love with it. I have a huge stash of floral fabrics so stash shopping was easy.  I used primarily medium value fabrics  to contrast with all the very light values.

  For a great tutorial on this block, visit Vrooman's Quilt.   Sharon did a super job with the tutorial.  

   

   When choosing the color for the narrow insert border, I  auditioned several colors before selecting the periwinkle color.  I loved how it made the blue colors in the floral prints pop.  

   I filled the light area with free motion feather quilting.  And wavy plumes of feathers were used in the border.  

  

 Once finished, it needed a name.  The first thing that popped into my head was that it reminded me of  scattered potpourri.. 

    So Potpourri  it is!

Potpourri  finished at 45" by 60".

Category is  Throw Quilt.  

  Enjoy the Festival, visit lots of bloggers,  and find tons of inspiration.

   Thanks to Amy and all the sponsors for making this happen.

And thanks for stopping by.

Happy stitching.

Motivation

  I got motivated to finish up the floral quilt of quarter log cabin blocks when I realized that the Bloggers' Quilt Festival  was so close.  The Festival begins tomorrow.....and nominations for favorites in each category begin.
    I jumped on it and got the quilting done.  I  am still taking photos for tomorrow's post.   So come back then to see the full quilt.

  Here's a peek at the border quilting I used.  I borrowed a page from LuAnn's sketchbook of borders for the outer border.  I modified it to fit my style of free motion feathers.  The "waves" of feathers in the border have different numbers of plumes....some 3, or 4, or 5.  And I threw in a few extra curls to fill in things.

   Now if I can just find a shady enough spot to finish up the photos.  We had our first frost last night and lots of trees are leafless already, and it is windy!
Till tomorrow....happy stitching.  

Blogger's Quilt Festival --Part 2

 Welcome to the Blogger's Quilt Festival, and my part 2!

My second entry is Loose Change, a fun scrap quilt that is throw size.  Why did I call it Loose Change.....all the scraps used in this one came from saved 5" squares or nickels.  I rarely buy pre-cut fabrics, but I do clean up my scraps by cutting them into sizes a la Bonnie Hunter.  My 5 " square box was over flowing, so it was time to stitch them into something.  

    This is the block design I developed.  Two 4-patch units and  two HST units equal one block.  The key is to keep the values distinct.....dark verses light.     I work a lot with value, and my scrap quilts are no exception in that.    This block has a lot of possibilities and many layouts are possible.  For this version I chose to use a simple layout of block to block. 

 My thought process for the finish:

    When it came time to quilt this one, I knew I wanted something a little different than my usual swirl.  I loved the diagonal lines I saw with this layout.   That became a clue as to how to quilt it.  I have spent the last year learning to free motion quilt feathers, so that was one option I considered.  Yet  I finally decided it needed a more open style.  Decision made....stitch a long vine with fern shaped leaves and a few curls thrown in...and accentuate the diagonal.

  Loose Change:
      Finished size is 52" by 67".
      Techniques used:  4 patch, HST,   color value
      Machine pieced and quilted by me.
      Category  is Scrap Quilt.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the festival.  Happy stitching.

Blogger's Quilt Festival Part 1

  Welcome to the Blogger's Quilt Festival for Spring 2013.  Big thanks to Amy for her hard work in organizing and hosting this feast for the eyes.

     I have shared this before, but it is one of my favorite creations.  I wake up each morning and delight in the play of colors in this color wash quilt.
I wanted sunrise and sunset, shadows and light, soft grass and falling waters.  Depending on my mood or viewing angle, I see it all in this quilt, which I call Wonder of Color.











   It began with a packet of  200 squares purchased from the queen of color, Exuberant Color.  Her packet gave me a vital starting point.....I ended up adding 240 squares from my own stash.  Amazingly,  I discovered only 4 duplicate fabrics in all of these squares.    I sorted the squares by value, and played for days on the design wall until I got it just right.  

   The design was the work, and the sewing a breeze.  I used fusible interfacing as a base to keep everything in line and in place for sewing the rows.  Here's the post where I shared my technique on this.  

  I spent a few weeks debating on the quilting, and in the end decided simple is best.  Straight vertical lines on each side of the seam  line let the color and fabrics do the work.  

 Wonder of Color finished size is 34" by 46". 

 Category entered in is ROYGBIV--color wheel.  

 Techniques used---color wash and value,  fusible    interfacing
Machine pieced and quilted  by me.

  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy  all the entries in the festival.  Happy stitching.