A workroom update

Since I put the first draft of the novel aside to simmer for awhile, I’ve been spending my time catching up on a few quilt projects.

I jumped on The Splendid Sampler quilt-along. The patterns for two 6-inch blocks are posted each week. At the end of the year, I will have 100 of the little buggers and one tremendously splendid quilt top!

I’m using mostly Kaffe Fasset scraps. Aren’t they beautiful? 🙂

6 inch

It’s a fabulous learning experience. Each block is different, and each one seems to challenge me in a different way. The designer of today’s block says: “Try new techniques and crafts without judgement.” Excellent advice! Too often we stop ourselves from trying something new because we make a negative judgement about it…or about ourselves…without thinking it through. So what we’ve never done it before? So what it looks difficult? Why not try anyway? What’s the worst that could happen…it’s only thread and cloth, after.

I’ve also made up this little quilt for a soon-to-be-born baby girl. My god-daughter is having a baby!  It’s all washed and crinkly and ready to snuggle the wee bairn. Lea – if you’re reading this, I just realized I don’t have your mailing address! Aaak! Send ASAP, lol!

flat

30×40″…perfect for the car seat or stroller.

roll

I think I like the back better than the front!

back

And then there’s this mess that I’ve been trying to force through my little machine.  I started doing wavy lines and then changed my mind. I want straight lines instead. Good thing I have a skookum seam ripper!quilt 1So that’s it for me. What’s up in your work room?

Ring Toss: a quilt for Beckham

Last month a young family that I know lost their home to fire.

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Beckham and his big sister lost everything they own.

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So I got busy making quilts.

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This one is for Beckham, who is an energetic toddler. I used Thomas the Tank Engine fabric because what two-year-old boy doesn’t love Thomas? And woah! Thomas the Tank Engine backing, too! What’s not to love?

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The pattern is called Ring Toss, from the book Quilt it with Love: the Project Linus Story. I hand quilted it using the Big Stitch method with yellow-gold Perle cotton. The center of each ring is hand-tied with embroidery floss.

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I’m making a quilt for Beckham’s big sister, too. I’ll post it as soon as it’s finished, so stay tuned!

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Windmill Baby Quilt for Zachary

I made this little crib quilt for my first ever great-nephew, baby Zachary.

015My brother is a grandfather!

017I’m a little jealous.

018I followed the Pinwheel Baby Quilt pattern from the Moda Bakeshop site.

009I’ve never made prairie points before. I think they add a really sweet touch to the quilt, and they were really easy to make. I’ll do them again. I think the baby might like to play with them they way babies do with tags.

011I used my brand new sewing machine to do straight line quilting around the pinwheels, and wavy lines around the border in yellow. Very simple, nothing fancy.

019The fabric is a 4″ charm pack of 1930s reproduction prints. They were a gift from Dar at Dar’s Patchwork Garden. I’ve been saving them for something special. I think the 1930s prints are perfect for a baby quilt.

020The backing is a from my scrap stash. I think it is a Japanese print, but I’m not sure.

012At 31.5 x 38 inches big, it’s the perfect size for Samson.

013Infused with puppy love and great-auntie love.