Saturday, April 30, 2011

You liked it! You really, really liked it!

Goodness! I am going to have a tough time selecting just 1 favorite name for this quilt! I have gotten such great suggestions both here and at the Fat Quarterly blog. I am positively glowing from all the sweet things you all have had to say about my tutorial! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

You have until Friday May 6th to comment with your suggestion here or on my Fat Quarterly blog post. A winner will be announced right here on Friday.

I got several comments on doing a quilt-along and I think it’s a FABULOUS idea! I would love to host one! But there are some things to consider....

My tutorial is for a mini quilt which finishes at about 32"x32". Do you all want to do a quilt-along for a quilt this size? Or modify the pattern to be a larger quilt? Leave it open to interpretation? This is my first quilt-along so I'm just not sure. I'd love it if you could comment and let me know what you think you would like to do to give me an idea of how I should set up the quilt along.

Happy Quilting!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Mini Quilt Tutorial by Threaded Mess

The Fat Quarterly has graciously allowed me to post on their blog today because I've got a simple but fun mini quilt tutorial to share with you AND! one lucky winner not only gets to name this quilt but gets to choose one of the demonstration quilts I made to keep! Exciting right?!

IMG_5874

Remember this little pretty?




NOVA MQG Preemie Quilt


I've created a detail filled tutorial with information on the supplies you'll need, selecting fabric, laying out your quilt, cutting and piecing your quilt top, quilting, and binding.


IMG_5880

Check out the Fat Quarterly blog for all the details!

IMG_5886


If you're not already thinking about it, I'll remind you now that this is not only a tutorial but it's also a giveaway! When it came time to name this quilt my mind drew a blank so I'm leaving it up to you! The person who comes up with the most creative name (my choice) for this quilt will get to pick between the girly version or the boyish version to keep for themselves. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post or the Fat Quarterly blog post I wrote for this tutorial with your idea for a name. A winner will be selected May 6th and announced right here on my blog. I can't wait to hear your ideas!

I would like to give a big thanks to the people of the Fat Quarterly for allowing me to share my creation with their readers. Check out their Issues for sale and other free tutorials on their website.

Show your support for this tutorial by leaving a comment here or on my Fat Quarterly blog post (hopefully with something sweet to say and an idea for a name too), becoming a follower of Threaded Mess, and sharing your creations based on this tutorial on flickr in the Threaded Mess Tutorials group page.

Happy Quilting!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Purple Wonky Star Blocks Update

I got another couple of blocks in the mail today and wanted to share how they are looking on my design wall!

Quilt 1

Purple Wonky Star Quilt 1

This first quilt is shaping up to be wild, fun, and perfect for a vibrant young lady!

Quilt 2

Purple Wonky Star Quilt 2

This second quilt is a little more subdued and sophisticated which I hope will appeal to the silent auction goers!

I'm still playing with the layout as more blocks come in but I am really liking these so far and hope you are too! A BIG thanks again to all the ladies of A Dozen Quilters who are helping me with this project! If you want to join in and make a block or two just contact me by email and I will send you my address.

Happy Quilting!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Wordless Whatever Today Is

It's Thursday right? I have bronchitis and it's been a bit hazy here. Please excuse the lack of words in this post...I'll just let the pictures do the talking...

do. Good Stitches {A Charity Bee} - Hope Circle Blocks

do. Good Stitches {A Charity Bee} - Hope Circle Blocks

do. Good Stitches {A Charity Bee} - Hope Wonky Stars

do. Good Stitches {A Charity Bee} - Hope Wonky Stars

do. Good Stitches {A Charity Bee} - Hope Wonky Stars

A Dozen Quilters - Purple Wonky Stars

birthday surprise - self portrait

birthday surprise - self portrait

birthday surprise - self portrait

Make Mine Modern - Swap Goodies sent

Make Mine Modern - Swap Goodies sent

Make Mine Modern - Swap Goodies sent

Make Mine Modern - Swap Goodies sent

A Dozen Quilters - Purple Wonky Stars

A Dozen Quilters - Purple Wonky Stars

I hope none of you catch what's going around like I did!

Happy Quilting!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

NOVA Modern Quilt Guild Preemie Quilt 1 - Part 2

I finished quilting my first preemie quilt for the RK sponsored preemie quilt challenge. I chose to do a meandering zigzag to play up the angles of the half square triangles and de-emphasize the fact that all of my points don't match up perfectly. I really enjoyed this method of quilting but it was definitely a workout for my arms!

Preemie Quilt 1 all Quilted
I chose to use white thread on the top and bobbin. Normally I would pick a color to use, and I tried to with this quilt too, but white was calling to me and I'm glad I used it. It blends in nicely with the white triangles and is just the right amount of pop on the colored triangles.
Preemie Quilt 1 all Quilted
The pieced backing was a result of not having enough of the bird fabric or the gray fabric. The quilting really stands out on the gray! The squares break up the two larger chunks and gave me the opportunity to add in some turquoise and white which I think helps tie the front and back together really well.
Preemie Quilt 1 all Quilted
I would definitely make this quilt again or something very similar. I think it would make a perfect baby boy quilt! Now I just need to pick a binding fabric...any suggestions?

Happy Quilting!

Log Cabin Blocks for Japan

One of the NOVA Modern Quilt Guild's newest members, Kristy, asked us if we would help her former Minneapolis guild make log cabin blocks which will be made into quilts for families in Japan. Silly me forgot to take pictures but Kristy was able to take some and send them to me so I could post them on flickr and share them with you. All of these blocks were made from strips and squares in my scrap bins.


Log Cabin Blocks for Japan

Log Cabin Blocks for Japan

Log Cabin Blocks for Japan

Log Cabin Blocks for Japan

Finished quilts are being collected by Quilters Newsletter and being shipped to Patchwork Tsushin in Japan for distribution to people in need.

There is still time to make a quick log cabin block or two and send them to Sewtropolis! The deadline is April 8th so you could still send them today or at the latest tomorrow and they should get there in time.

Sewtropolis
Attn: Log Cabins for Japan
5 West Diamond Lake Road
Minneapolis, MN  55419

You can see some of the other blocks headed out to Minneapolis by going to the NOVA Modern Quilt Guild flickr page or the Log Cabins for Japan flickr page.

Happy Quilting!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

A Dozen Quilters April Project - Purple Wonky Star Blocks

I've finished making my first wonky star blocks and wanted to share some pictures with you...

A Dozen Quilters - April Wonky Star blocks

A Dozen Quilters - April Wonky Star blocks

A Dozen Quilters - April Wonky Star blocks

I love the way this last block turned out. It was a happy accident that I had a square of this Heather Ross Mendocino fabric, that it wasn't quite big enough, that I had a complimentary solid purple to frame it but not quite enough for the last side.

Check out all the blocks at ADozenQuilters.com

Happy Quilting!