TGIFF!

I fell in love with the Doe collection from Carolyn Friedlander when it came out and purchased a jelly roll at a fabric shop in Virginia last December.  I've hung onto this jelly roll until recently when I put this baby quilt together using the Jelly Roll Jam pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop.  This quilt is for a little boy that was born today!

I found this fabric at Joann's that coordinated well for the back, and I used scraps from the jelly roll to complete the binding.

This was a quick quilt to put together, and it looks great finished.  I'm so glad I finished the quilt in time for the baby's birth.

Now it's your turn to link up those fabulous finishes here. Don't forget to tour the other finishes and spread the comment love! Please include a link and/or button for TGIFF! so your visitors can see other fabulous finishes.

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday!

An InLinkz Link-up

Cathedral Windows

I have always loved the cathedral windows quilt pattern, but I was never really excited about all the folding and pressing.  I found this Faux Cathedral Window Pattern on the Diary of a Quilt Maven blog for a pin cushion and decided to use it to make a quilt.

The short cuts did cut down on the amount of fabric used and still allowed me to enjoy the cathedral window pattern.  I was able to really enhance the scrappiness throughout the whole quilt and throw in the occasional pink to welcome a baby girl, the intended recipient.

Although I appreciated the shortcuts, I was still dealing with a very thick quilt with some very thick seams to quilt through.  I won't lie and tell you the quilting was a breeze.  I broke 6 needles in the process.  Lets just say I was thankful this was a baby quilt.

I found this confetti print at Bumbletees, a local fabric shop in Germantown, TN.  It really pulled all the colors together along with some fun orange.

This shot really helps to showcase the quilting of the quilt. Again, I focused on building and improving my free motion quilting skills.

I'm glad I finally tackled the cathedral window pattern...sort of.  I think I've fulfilled my desire to make this pattern.  On to the next project...

Quilts for Le Bonheur

The Memphis Area Modern Quilt Guild has made the Le Bonheur infant floor it's primary outreach.  Most people make baby quilts for the NICU babies, but they tend to forget about the ones not in NICU.  We donated quilts last year to this floor and it was just a wonderful experience.  We got to go up to the floor and take a tour.  We got to donate quilts directly to some of the families on the floor.  It touched us so much and decided right then that this was what we wanted to do as a guild each year.

This year, I utilized a quilt I started in my Color Value class at Quiltcon with Cheryl Arkison.  I learned a lot about the value of color and how to really develop a quilt by value and not by the color itself.  It is an amazing skill that I'm glad to have been introduced to.

I've found that yellows are the exception to the value rule.  I think I'll be spending some more time evaluating my yellow selections in the future.

The quilting was a fun Free-Motion Quilting (FMQ) practice.  It has been my goal to get more comfortable with my FMQ this year.  I've found the smaller the quilt the easier, but I'm sure I'll be tackling more difficult FMQ projects in the future.

The back is just some fabric from Joann's that coordinated really well with the assortment of fabrics used on the front. This will be a wonderful little quilt for a special little someone in need and I'm so glad I get to participate.  For those of you in quilt guilds, what type of service projects to you participate in?

Broadway Mini Quilt Swap

I have a love for Broadway musicals.  I've already bought my pass for this season's Broadway series with the Memphis Orpheum.  I can't wait to be able to introduce my children to the wonders of singing and dancing on stage.  It's going to be great!

When I saw the Broadway Mini Quilt Swap on Instagram, I signed up immediately! I couldn't even begin to describe the excitement.  My all-time favorite is Wicked.  When my swap partner also indicated she loved Wicked, I went for it.  I found a paper-piecing pattern of Elphaba online and expanded it a bit.

I then used tracing paper to draw the Wicked musical logo onto the black fabric and stitched it out.  It took a while to complete this, but the texture it brought to the quilt was great.

I struggled with the quilting of this one.  I didn't know quite what to do or how to approach it.  In the end, I'm glad I went with some dense wavy lines.  It adds a fun element without taking away from the piecing.

The back is just a solid piece.  I found this print at Joann's that matched exactly.  I decided to not make things more complicated and finish with a solid piece.  Since this is a wall hanging, the back really doesn't matter too much.

I had so much fun making this mini.  I think I'm done with online swaps for this year, but next year should be lots of fun.

My First Mini Swap

This year I decided to participate in a couple of online mini quilt swaps.  The first one I joined was the Cotton and Steel Mini Quilt Swap.  I just love the Cotton and Steel line and it sounded like loads of fun.  I also fell in love with the tissue box mini pattern by Jeli Quilts.  Combining the two led to this fun creation.

It was a bit of a challenge placing the correct color in the correct spot, but it all worked out well in the end.  This pattern really does a nice job showcasing lots of prints all at once.  The original tissue box mini is absolutely amazing using solids.

The back is just some slicing and dicing.  I knew I needed to utilize the fabrics and wanted a bit more interest than just a solid back.

My first mini quilt swap was a success.  We mailed the mini back in June, so I'm a bit behind on my posts.  I'm trying to catch up I promise!  I currently do not have a computer at home, and my frequency of blog posts has dropped dramatically.  I've really missed the online community, but I hope to have a solution soon.  Stay tuned!

TGIFF!

Welcome to TGIFF!  It's that time of the week to share all our wonderful finishes.  This week I finished a star baby quilt for some dear friends of ours.  Their baby is due next week so I really was cutting it close with this one.

This quilt allowed me to utilize some of my scraps from other projects.  I really love how the colors pop against the dark gray and the text print.

The text print is actual chemical equations.  The dad is Dr. Chemistry himself so this was truly fitting.  I'm sure the baby will be able to understand all those equations by the time he/she starts kindergarten.  

The back ties into the front with the elements in the periodic table.  When I found the Equations and Periodic fabrics at Pink Castle Fabrics, I just couldn't decided which one to go with.  I ordered both and I couldn't be more please with the results.

Now it's your turn to link up those fabulous finishes here. Don't forget to tour the other finishes and spread the comment love! Please include a link and/or button for TGIFF! so your visitors can see other fabulous finishes.

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday!

An InLinkz Link-up

Modern Herringbone

I've been quite busy working on a large queen-size herringbone quilt for a while now, and I've finally finished it.

There are 528 half-square triangles in this quilt. Talk about a lot of trimming!

I ended up using Windham Fabric's wide quilt back writing for the backing. This is the first time I've used wide quilt backing, and I must say it was wonderful. I've always pieced my backs before today, but I might just be looking for more opportunities to use the wide backing in the future. It saved so much time!

I used Kona Royal Blue for the binding.  I really think the blue compliments the quilt nicely and doesn't distract from the pattern.  

Star Cluster Surprise

Back in January the original members of the Memphis Area Modern Quilt Guild started to collaborate and conspire against one of our own. Jenny, one of our members, is expecting her first baby very soon, and we just couldn't let the event pass by without celebrating it. Our February meeting just so happened to be at Jenny's house, and we took the opportunity to ask her all kinds of typical questions. The most important question asked that would interest a quilter in particular is about the nursery colors (navy, white, gray, and pink). Once we had collected our much needed info, we choose our block pattern (a star block), we decided on where to showcase the nursery colors in the quilt, and we had one month to finish two star blocks before the next meeting.

The March meeting was entertaining with all the block hand-offs. We were trying not to bring attention to ourselves, but I'm sure some of our new members could tell something was up.  One of the contributors offered to donate batting for the quilt. We sat outside of a restaurant for two hours after our meeting chatting with Jenny about anything and everything. Little did she know that we were waiting for her to leave so the batting could be handed off. The one person we didn't want to notice seemed to be completely oblivious to our scheming, so we were in good shape.

With all the blocks in hand, I got busy piecing the front, piecing the back, basting, quilting, and binding.  I had 4 weeks to finish this quilt. That's not usually a bit deal for me, but I was also working on a queen size custom order at the same time.  It all worked out in the end and the quilt was completed in time.

The April meeting was a rush. Jenny, who habitually shows up late to our meetings, was actually early! We had to work around it and still act like nothing was going on. We had a cake hidden under pizza boxes. The quilt was finished except for the writing on the quilt label.  Jenny almost walked in on that one. We incorporated her quilt into our show and tell during the meeting. One of our members held it up and Jenny's immediate reaction was, "Awwww!" She still didn't know it was hers. We asked her to go up and stand by the quilt and then it all clicked. It was a successful surprise. We had a lot of fun putting everything together and honoring one of our beloved guild members.

Quilt contributors:  Sarah Terry, Lori Stoll, Jenny Harris (recipient), Janet Middlekauff, Katelyn Vawter, Susan Elliot, Carolyn Bledsoe, and Kelly Young (not pictured)

Jenny and her cake!

Picture by Jenny Harris

Picture by Jenny Harris

Picture by Jenny Harris

TGIFF!

Hello Everyone! It's another wonderful Friday and time to show off what you've finished this week! I finished a quilt called Diamond Pastures. I used a Cotton and Steal layered cake of Melody Miller's Mustang collection. I paired up my HST with one warm fabric and one cool fabric. It really helped this pattern pop!

This was a pretty easy quilt to put together with large HST, but the design really does stand out due to the color pairing.

I straight-lined quilted the quilt using Aurifil 50wt white thread.

The backing is a collection of Cotton and Steal scraps from the mustang collection as well as some other coordinating Cotton and Steal fabrics.

I pulled a solid out of my stash for the binding. It coordinates nicely, but doesn't necessarily match  everything. I think it compliments the quilt nicely, but doesn't really draw attention to itself.

Now it's your turn to link up those fabulous finishes here. Don't forget to tour the other finishes and spread the comment love! Please include a link and/or button for TGIFF! so your visitors can see other fabulous finishes.

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Gift of a Quilt

I've been giving quilts as gifts since the very first quilt I made back in 2011. I find a real joy in using my hands to put together a gift that comes directly from the heart. I know every piece of fabric in a quilt. I know every stitch. I know the joy of overcoming a challenging pattern, and I know the frustration of completely having to redo a section that just didn't come out right. In the end, I always have a quilt that was made with love for the intended recipient(s).

There are always scraps left over when I finish a quilt. I try to be a good steward of the resources in my sewing room and not be wasteful. I save my scraps to be utilized at a later date. This scrappy flying geese quilt is really the culmination of all those gifted quilts made before it. I can look at each fabric and remember the story of its origin. I can see the babies that were born, the children that were adopted, and the couples whose weddings celebrated the beginning of a wonderful journey. I no longer see a simple piece of fabric, but a life story.

I truly love how all these fabrics came together. I couldn't have asked for a better result considering I didn't have a plan when I initially started piecing everything together back in November. It's so bright and cheerful. It's also a simple flying geese pattern that gives off the impression of complexity with the use of all those scraps.

For the back I found this fabric at Joann's that really complimented the front perfectly. I had some help from Kelly (My Quilt Infatuation) and Jenny, two fellow members of the Memphis Area MQG. I picked this sketched-orange fabric for the binding to add a pop to the quilt. It blends in nicely with the front but really pops on the back.

When I started making this quilt, it didn't have a purpose other than to be just another quilt to snuggle under. A few weeks ago, I was approached by my best friend, Camille, to make a quilt to help raise money for an international adoption by a local Memphis-area woman who wants desperately to grow her family and bring her new 9-year-old daughter home from Central America. I knew this quilt, a collection of life celebrations, was perfect in welcoming home a child into a new home.

I have personally seen the wonderful world of adoption through Camille, the aforementioned best friend. She has adopted 5 children into her family, ranging from newborn babies to fully grown teenagers. Her heart is bigger than most, and she doesn't hesitate to reach out and help others in their own adoption journey. The chance to win this quilt requires only a $25 donation. You can read in more detail about the fundraiser on Camille's blog, Embracing the Odyssey. She has links on her page where you can make a donation and also learn more about the family you will be helping. Every little bit helps and brings this family that much closer to being together at last.

How to Give

There are two options for giving. Click this button:



Or visit Kellie’s You Caring page and use your credit card to donate there.

Of course, if you’re feeling exceedingly generous (or just really have a thing for quilts), please feel free to contact Camille at cclebel@gmail.com for details on how to make a larger, tax-deductible donation.

QuiltCon Pin Swap & Mini

Since getting back from Quiltcon, I haven't had a chance to sit down and truly process the entire experience. It's been a bit overwhelming being back home with the daily demands of life along with a few hiccups...namely coughs, congestion, sneezes, fevers, and upset stomachs. I wish my life as a mother didn't always have to take precedence, but it has. Thankfully, I think we are all on the mend.

The first thing I would like to share with you is the QuiltCon Pin Swap. I'm sure most of you on Instagram are very aware of the pin swapping that was going on at QuiltCon. It was an amazing way to be able to introduce yourself to new people and strike up a conversation by simply swapping pins. Of course, while you are swapping pins, your lanyard starts to get a little heavy as you attach each one. By the end of the day on Saturday, my lanyard was becoming a bit cumbersome with several pins in my pockets since I had completely run out of room.

Even the Sewlebrities were joining in on the pins!  I just had to add a picture of my favorite fabric designer, Denyse Schmidt in there!  :)

By Saturday night, I had transferred all my pins to my conference bag to give me some relief.

I ended up collecting different mini-charm packs at QuiltCon through the swag bag, venders, and presenters. I put my Riley Blake solids, American Made Brand solids, and my Alison Glass mini-charms together to form this fun little mini quilt to hold all my QuiltCon pins now that I'm home.

I also built up the courage and did a little FMQ on the mini quilt. I really like the way it turned out.

My pins now have a lovely home on the wall in my sewing room.  I will be able to look upon them with fondness as I remember my first Quiltcon experience.