The next hand-quilted project: The Naked Forest

This "Naked Forest" quilt already has a story.

I used a great tutorial from Film in the Fridge. Her work is always fresh & modern - it was a perfect choice for all of the green print fabrics I'd collected.

Once I completed this quilt top, I knew I wanted to hand-quilt it.

I sent it to Melear Fabrics to baste on their longarm quilting machine.

They shipped it back to me, but the address was read incorrectly by the postal service. It ended up three states away, sitting in a holding area. Fortunately, the folks at my local post office were able to track it down.

There were a few very uncertain weeks.... Luckily, it arrived 27 days after it was shipped, unharmed.

Here, you can see the black basting thread up-close.

I started quilting it on Sunday, December 18, 2011. Today, I have 4 of 169 blocks quilted.

Let's see how long it takes for this to finish!

(If anyone wants to help the hand-stitching....)

details: 104x104, backing: Kona Tarragon, expected binding: Kona Basil Green, Batting: White Quilters Dream Request Loft W3K

Waverunner in Red

I saw this tutorial at Bumble Beans and knew I had to make it. This is for a good friend's TV room that is without color - until now.

The top came together pretty easily - in just two afternoons. The quilting and binding took less than a day. Improvisational piecing was more enjoyable than I thought it would be.

Not having straight lines is a little bit daunting.

I put a warm, fuzzy, light blue flannel on the back. You can't see this in the picture, but there's a light design on the binding fabric.

I really enjoyed working with all of the solids in this quilt!

Details: 60x80, flannel backing, 2.25in binding, grey quilting thread

Quilts Squared

I just received my two most recent quilts back from my favorite long-arm quilter: Melear Fabrics. I love their work! The first quilt is made of extra squares from many quilts from the last 8 years. It's backed in maroon. It's warm, cozy, and ready for napping. The second quilt was made with Moda's warm pastel bella solids. I'd wanted to make this pattern for a few years and finally did it. It's backed in charcoal flannel.

It all started with tupperware

Amy, from Amyscreativeside.com, is hosting a Blogger's Quilt Festival to coincide with Quilt Market. To see some amazing quilts by bloggers everywhere, click on the link below:

I'm pretty sure that my love of orange is directly related to my love of all things from the 1970s.

What really epitomizes the color palette for me is, and always has been, my mom's funky set of tupperware:

I've always loved this set!

It's still in pristine condition, too. That handle really keeps the set together.

My name is on the bottom of the yellow bowl, made with a labelmaker much like this one:

I can't think of one thing that wasn't labeled with that label maker.

Coming up with a palette for a quilt for myself wasn't too hard. I usually start with orange.

Above is a shot of all of the blocks together, but not in the final arrangement.

Below, all set together:

The best part of this quilt, tho, isn't the color palette.

(even tho they're all my favorites)

The best part about this quilt is that it is just my second quilt hand-quilted piece.

And, it is the quilt that brought all of these fabulous people together to put it in a frame and help me start hand quilting.

We put it up in the driveway - on my grandmother's frame.

We used the quilt stands my granddad made.

Above, the backing is pinned to the boards first.

Then (below) the batting and top are attached.

And the quilting began.

These two great gals took me into their quilting circle!

Some quilt-enthusiasts showed up to support us:

Here's a great picture of one of my grams' best pals, showing me how it's done:

It was a perfect day to start a fun 70's tupperware-inspired quilt!

Particulars: 42 blocks, log cabiny, cotton batting

Progress to date: 29.5 blocks complete, binding machine-stitched to the backside.

The secret colorwheel project revealed!

My first post on the colorwheel surprise was mentioned here.

I followed this tutorial from Chez Beeper Bebe for colorwheel numbered beanbags.

I think they turned out great!

I made two sets: one for a special cousin and the other for a good friend.

Let's hope they like 'em!

New Project: Pinwheels

I'm using the Moda Botany charm packs I picked up

in Paducah at the Quilt Show this year.

Here's a snapshot of all the fabrics in the Botany line -

This weekend, with the help of the first two seasons of Californication, I sewed 13 complete pinwheels and the other 197 half-way complete.

Here's 6 on my sewing table.

Hourglass Updated: FINISHED!

My hourglass quilt is finally finished!

The reproduction fabrics are so fun!

This is another huge one - the total size is about 100 square inches.

Again, shadowing from the trees hides the sharp & crisp quilt colors.

I used a reproduction light blue fabric for the backside, and a solid red binding.

The patterned white contrast very well to show off these fantastic fabrics!
Light showing thru to the back side:

Stella's none too pleased :(

Around the Purple World! Finished.

This purple "around the world" quilt was made for a pal who loves purple.

Here it's blowing in the wind.

This is a huge monster - over 110 square inches.
A purple print on the backside and purple with polka-dots for binding.

Shadows of trees hide the quilt's real color.
I hope she loves it!

Tinkerbell D9P update - It's finished! and a bonus tutu

Here's another gratuitous shot of the tutu. It's super cute!

I quilted the Tinkerbell quilt myself on the Juki:

Here's the finished project. It's naptakular!

And another close up of Jasmine's name embroidered:
A matching pillowcase:
With French Seams -
My favorite quilt model, Stella, showing off the purple polka-dot flannel on the backside.

I see many naps in Jasmine's future....

Tinkerbell D9P

Here's this weekend's work on a very special quilt for a very special girl who adores Tinkerbell.

In the bright sun, I was not able to capture the vibrant colors of the quilt.

Here's a shot of the sun-lit backside:

And...

Thanks to the handiwork of my Aunt Mary,

We have a personalized touch -

I hope Jasmine loves it!

It's not quite done as of this posting.

Here's the quilt on the table freshly basted:

My nifty new scissors I picked up in Paducah this year, made by Kai, cut thru this big roll of flannel & cotton batting:
Here, you can see the scissors, too:
The binding will match the small green squares!

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