Friday, October 31, 2014

Trick or Treat, I think Treat!

I arrive at the International Quilt Festival on Halloween. That's a treat in itself, but for an added bit of fun I tackled The Trail Tote (both sizes- one for me  one for a gift) by Noodlehead for Robert Kaufman.

I couldn't resist the fun Halloween fabrics I had to play with. I also modified the interior,
 adding a divider pocket with an additional magnetic clasp so I can stash my iPad separately from my keys and wallet.

Happy Halloween All!
Fabrics: Large tote- (exterior) Spooktacular 100 Maude Ashbury by Blend, (zip pocket) Remix Ann Kelle for Robert Kaufman, (piping) Cotton & Steel Moonlit-picnic-luminescence-starlight-sparkler, (strap) Zen Chic commas by Moda, (interior) Quilt Soup for Henry Glass, (divider pocket) Michael Miller Spa Ikat.

Small tote- (exterior)After Dark De Lion Design Group for Alexander Henry Fabrics, (piping)Heath for Alexander Henry Fabrics, (lining interior)Slime Time by Studio e Fabrics, (strap) nylon webbing in black
Zippers by Zipit (Etsy)

Now all I have to do is fill my bag with more treats from the International Quilt Festival.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Sneak Peek at The Modern Quilt Guild Exhibit at the International Quilt Festival

For those of you who can't go or have yet to board the plane, Christa at Christaquilts.com has provided us all with some awesome eye candy. She has individually photographed each of the quilts hanging in the exhibit.  Thank you Christa!


Friday, October 17, 2014

RJR Fabric Challenge Quilt

My RJR Fabric Challenge Quilt through the Denver Quilt Guild.

1. Pick 12 fat quarters chosen by RJR fabrics.
2. Design and finish a quilt (top) in one month's time (bonus points for finishing the whole quilt).
3. Maker could add one additional "neutral" fabric, BUT you had to notice the RJR fabrics, and not so much the added fabric .
4. Minimum size, 36" square

Ready Set…….. GO!!!!
Front
The details:
"Read Between the Lines"
 57" x  54.5"
Back
Fabrics top: RJR Cotton and Steel line 2 prints and 10 coordinating solids. Prints: Dottie in Fedora, XOXO in Ghost. Solids: Tiffany Box, pink Sapphire, rhododendron, pink orchid, mandarin, on the rock, silver, driftwood, linen white. Additional fabric, Kona 100% cotton in snow.
Fabrics back: Kona cotton in silver and slate, Shimmer Metallic Dash by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kaufman. Additional Stash Fabrics. Small remnant improv piece left-over from front.
detail of back


Thread: Piecing Aurifil 2026; Quilting (bobbin) Aurifil 2600, (top) center metallic: Sulky 7009 Metallic silver, remainder Aurifil 2026.

Quilting: matchstick on Bernina 180 with walking foot
yes, matchstick quilting does take time and uses lots of thread

Batting: Hobbs heirloom cotton
Binding: 2" straight of grain with inset seam detailing
inset seaming continues through binding
Design: original design with couture inset seam detailing. Cool colors used in larger improv pieced square. I also inset rectangles of improv pieced fabric in the warm solid colors. The inset seams were used to add tiny, less than 1/4" color strips. These were added as the top was being pieced. The inset seaming proved difficult in areas in which multiple seams came together because the inset pieces are so tiny and you can really only press other seams to the side so much.  I used the same sewing technique to continue the inset fabric through the binding. I glue basted the inset seams, so laundering was going to be necessary at the completion of the quilt, even before I stained the top (gasp). (see below)
inset seam detail

inset seam detail


Something I've never done before: I was nearly finished the quilt and noticed a black stain on the top. I have no idea how (what looks for all the world like a sharpie mark) the stain got onto the quilt top.  (Insert Boo Hoo face here). Luckily I received all kinds of great stain removal advice and was able to remove the stain after just one washing. (phew).

Things I learned: even though you start with the equivalent of 3 yards of fabric (12 fat quarters) once you start cutting and piecing the amount you end up with is significantly less, especially if your design has lots of seams. Also, I {still} LOVE metallic threads. It's the most I've used in any quilt and it really sparkles against the improv pieced the cool fabrics. My question is- how come Aurifil doesn't make metallics? I'd use them if you had them!! (hint, hint Alex Veronelli)
Metallic thread… it sparkles, it really does.
One final note- often when in the process of creating a quilt design, or at least during the cutting and piecing I have a pretty good idea of what name goes with the quilt. And for sure by the time I'm done quilting I know for sure. Oddly, that didn't happen in this case and I toyed with the idea of calling this "The quilt with no name".  Luckily that didn't happen, and eventually, after all the cutting and sewing and quilting and praying the stain came off after washing, and then even asking some friends for suggestions (none given), something came to me (phew).  I almost wanted to smack a palm to my head and say DUH! There are so many LINES on this quilt I'm astounded it didn't come sooner,  but then again, maybe even I had to "read between the lines…."


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Scraptastic Projects and a Link up

Well, I didn't quite make the Tuesday deadline, but I did finally get this all together. Leanne  at shecanquilt is hosting a fun link up with projects made from scraps. Seems like I've been plowing through my scrap stash lately and here is what I have.
Table runner, string pieced with a scrappy center string
using this pattern from Miss Print

close up, front

fun backing fabric

The quilting lends texture only
Go check out the fun projects and fun prizes!!!