Coming Full Circle, or should I say Square?

As some of you know, I sent my eldest off to college a few weeks ago. He went with 2 quilts, one for himself and one for his roommate.

And as most of you know, the road to college is paved by many people; parents, relatives, teachers and friends, all helping your child. One of those teachers who played a big role in developing Bridger's foreign language skills is having her first child. And so…….

another quilt

"Coming Full Square" A baby's quilt

Front

51" x 41"- original design
Kona snow (solid), various 100% cotton quilting fabrics in gray and vintage 100% cotton kimono fabric. Metro circles: binding
Aurifil thread (piecing and quilting) # 2021, Mako 50 wt.
100% cotton warm and natural batting

Medium detail, front

Fine detail, front
1/4" gray strips surrounded by tiny 1/4" gray squares

Fine detail, front
100% cotton vintage, striped kimono fabric  that mimics the tiny pieced gray squares.

Back

Detail, back
The quilting was done by altering a common machine stitch, making it 3x longer and 2x wider than expected.
The only detail on the back is a small rectangular pieced strip.

I wanted this quilt to be precious without being fussy. I also wanted to convey calmness, hence the lack of busy color and pattern. And I washed the quilt, something I almost never do, since I want the parents to know it's meant to be used.

I know this baby is going to be a girl. I can't wait to meet her.

FMQ teaching at Fabricate

Just a few fun photos of the very enthusiastic and fun group of talented ladies at my first class on Free Motion Quilting at Fabricate, Boulder.

We started out with some of the basic FMQ techniques (stippling/meandering/ circles) them moved to doodle quilting using Pilots' FriXion pens.

Finishing up the class with a pot holder/trivet in their choice of FMQ design!

If you are interested in joining us for a class, here is the link.

Move in day

Move-in day:
It finally happened, packing up the car…...

After unpacking at the dorm room (This is about as neat as you'll ever see it). Both quilts looking good.

 Wiggle and Dash quilt in it's new home

 Trying them out for size…. (I'm just looking at how dirty their feet are…….)

 Smiles all around.

Sleeping already? …….

Taking snap chat photos of his new place for his sister….. Thank you Lisa and Tom for the Colorado flag and Ruchi, Mark and Claire for the wonderful memories of our summer travels.

 Everything in it's place.

Time to go! (sniff, sniff)

Fractured Cosmos- Cameron's Quilt

The story started here and takes a pause here…...

Bridger (l) and Cameron (r)

and here…...

and here…….

and most recently, here…….

So, when 2 quilts were asked for, 2 quilts were happily made….

Fractured Cosmos- Cameron's Quilt

Front 

Back

Cameron's Quilt and the selection of the Caribbean Blue color was totally inspired by the fabric, Robotic by Birch. Cameron aspires to be a Aerospace Engineer and that is his major in college. There is a Kona solid, Caribbean Blue that is the solid match to this print, coincidence? I think not!

I snuck a few pieces of this fabric into the front and featured it prominently on the back. The design needed to have both college colors (black and gold) as well as a "heavenly" vibe. This quilt is my interpretation of 2 fracturing spiral galaxies.

 The Specifics:
 94 x 71 inches ( a little bigger than a standard twin, for those extra long college mattresses).
Design inspired by Jacquie Gering's Swirling Medallion Quilt done with the stitch and flip technique (pieced and quilted by me). Straight line, jagged and meandering FMQ with coordinating colored Aurifil thread.
Materials: 100% Kona cottons, solids in: Charcoal, Iron grey, Curry and Caribbean (front). Addition of Robotic, by Birch and Bella by Lotta Jansdotter for Windham Fabrics (back). Aurifil 100% Mako cotton thread in 50 wt: 2021 (off white), 2630 (dk grey), 2625 (med grey), 2140 (yellow), 2810 (Caribbean blue)
100% organic cotton batting

close-up front

Larger Fracturing Spiral Galaxy

Hanging side-by-side in our home
Same colors used in both quilts, Cameron's (l) has the addition  of Caribbean Blue
and Bridger's (r) has Chinese Red.

Soon to be featured in the same college dorm room.

Quilt designs reflect my take on these outstanding young men's choice of studies and their complimentary yet unique personalities. I hope to get pictures of the quilts in their dorm room. Perhaps between the tears I can snap a photo or two.

Teaching at Fabricate

I'll be teaching several free motion quilting classes at Fabricate, Boulder late this summer and into the fall.

If you are interested in joining me while exploring the art of FMQ (free motion quilting) you can click the link above and then go look at the classes tab. First class is August 30th at 10am.

Wiggle and Dash

I keep telling myself it REALLY was only yesterday. And if that IS the case, time flies when you're having fun. My little boy is going to college and he asked me for a quilt. Actually he asked for 2, one for himself and one for his roommate.

Cameron (l) and  Bridger (r)

Luckily, they have know each other for their entire lives, being only 3 weeks different in age and all.
My son looked through my quilting books and much like me, prefers bold graphic design. I wanted to add a bit of his college colors (black and gold) to the 2 quilts, but also wanted both to have something unique. (I'm not big into "match-matchy").

So, both boys will get their quilts in time for their first day of college. One quilt is done and one is almost done. Both have similar colors, (save one), both are modern and bold.

Wiggle and Dash- Bridger's Quilt

Front

 94 x 71 inches ( a little bigger than a standard twin, for those extra long college mattresses).
Original design (pieces and quilted  by me!). Wavy line FMQ with coordinating colored thread.
Materials: 100% Kona cottons, solids in: Charcoal, Iron grey, Curry and Chinese Red (front). Addition of Metro circles (back). Aurifil 100% Mako cotton thread in 50 wt: 2021 (off white), 2630 (dk grey), 2625 (med grey), 2140 (yellow), 2250 (red)
100% organic bamboo batting

back

Front, medium view (Chinese Red "dash")

Front, medium view (Curry "dashes")

Front, close-up, wavy FMQ

Front, close-up, wavy FMQ

Back, great way to use up those left over scraps

Shhhhh, He likes it!

Keeped tuned for Cameron's Quilt- "Fractured Cosmos", coming soon.

Bento Box a go-go!

Finally another finish from the UFO pile, a wacky bento box swap. I added some Kona solids and a few Go baby! swap fabrics from a FRMQ Guild swap and voila!

Front

Back

The details:
Title: Waiting (and waiting) for Spring
Size: 88" x 70"
Design layout and quilting- Me
Material: Front- various quilting cottons, Kona solids: Charcoal, Coal and Snow
               Back- various quilting cottons, Kona solids: Charcoal and Coal
Batting: 100% cotton warm and natural
Thread: Aurifil, 50 wt Mako cotton, various colors

From the front, you really can't see the FMQ at all

Even in a close up, it's hard to see

But from the back, the FMQ really stands out

Each Bento box section has a different flower

Close up of some of the flowers and the Go Baby! fabrics from the FRMQG

Close up of a stylized bleeding heart

Close-up of dogwood blossoms. It looks like there are 5 flowers, but it's an optical illusion

Kitchen confidential

It never gets old sewing for the kitchen and sewing for friends. So how about mixing those 2 ingredients together and sew kitchen things for friends. Celebrating both food and friendship, there really is nothing better.
The recipes-

Scrappy pieced potholders
1. Take various quilting cottons in blues, greens, yellow, gray and white
2. Mix together and use with abandon

3. Heavily quilt the quilty sandwiches with a pleasing design

4. Bind with love
5. Repeat as necessary

Happy Placemats
1. Using above color scheme, select fabrics
2. Artfully place pieces in a pleasing pattern

3. Piece fabric together to make a top
4. Select backing fabric

5. Quilt placemat with a pleasing design
6. Bind with love
7. Repeat as necessary.