Newbie Mistake

We have all done it before.  I am just glad it was on a small "disposable" project.

Do you remember the commissioned baby quilt I made for my friends?  Well, I had just enough fabric cut, but left over, to make one more block.  I thought I would stitch it together and make a mini for their nephew's teddy.  It's quick. It's easy. It's rewarding.  I dove in.

It was pieced in no time and was hand quilted while watching movies over Christmas.  The borders and back were even scraps from the baby quilt.  The only thing I had to cut "fresh" was another stirp of binding.  The perfect holiday project.

And then.... I washed it.

I knew the colors in the quilt didn't run so I wasn't all that worried about it.  I tossed it into my normal weekly wash of colored clothes with one color catcher (old habits die hard) and didn't give it a second thought.  

When I pulled the laundry out, though, the color catcher was dark dark grey and my mini was ruined.  Grrr....  I have no idea what ran in my laundry as there are no new clothes in there, but something did.  The two white prints in the star (and the back) are now the color of Kona Ash and the white bubbles in the orange border a light grey.  

What's interesting is that the Kona background didn't pick up the grey like the Mixed Bag Moda prints did.  They must be treated differently in manufacturing.  I did wash it a second time with a light bleaching agent with no luck.  

Live and learn.  I should have known better.  

Mini Star Quilt Finish

A short post to say hello and show you a little mini quilt finish.  I recently dug through my unfinished projects cabinet and found an old test block that I had started to hand quilt.  Are you ready for how long ago I started this?  The text block was in 2012 and I started hand quilting it as part of my 2013 Fat Quarterly Retreat classes.  Goodness how time flies.  Anyway, it was tucked away and I completely forgot about it.  

So I brought it along with me for a weekend of camping.  There I finished hand stitching it and hand stitched the binding onto the back.  I washed it when we got home and it kind of warped a bit (upper left corner).  I think I'll give it a press (can you press out wonkiness?) and will pop it up on the sewing room wall.  Happy happy happy little finish!  

Big Stitch Swap Mini Quilt

Several months ago the Big Stitch Swap, co hosted by myself and Sarah, kicked off with a lovely group of happy stitchers.  The idea was to create something small (think table cover, zippy purse, journal cover) for your partner where hand stitching was a predominant design element.  It was perfect for summer time when everyone was on the go!  

I decided to make a mini quilt for my partner (and friend) Leanne using my recent favorite fabrics by Denyse Schmidt and a pattern from Cut.Press.Sew.Quilt that I have been wanting to try.  It has two perfect opportunities in the body and arm of the machine to personalize the quilt.

Luckily Leanne's blog header and logo are easily converted into cross stitching grids.  I went to my favorite cross stitch designer for help and then ran to the nearest shop for floss.  

I brought these with me to the beach, to music festivals...even to Fat Quarterly!  It was really nice to share my travels with you, Leanne.

The back and binding are coordinating DS prints.  That plaid could be one of my favorite prints of all time!  I'm using it everywhere lately.

And finally, on the back I added two little folds of fabric so that Leanne could easily hang it on her wall with a bamboo post or even a bit of clothes hanger wire.  She has such an amazing wall of minis that are done in her unique modern industrial style, so I hope this doesn't look too out of place.  I had a wonderful time making it, Leanne.  I hope it brightens your sewing room!

Mini Spools Mini Quilt: Finished!

Some time before Christmas I told you about my mini spools mini quilt...but then I forgot to show you the finished quilt!  Silly me.

Here she is in all her glory:

This was made with charms from a Scrumptious charm pack, Kona white and blue Architextures for the spools. The quilting was done in diagonal stripes, about 1/2 inch apart from one another.  Finally, to bind I used lime Bias Stripe from the Scrumptious line.

On the back is the majority of a Sweet Aqua FQ.  I like how the aqua coordinates with the lime binding.

Now, this isn't the mini that I mentioned in my FAL list earlier this week.  That one will be just for me!  This cutie will be heading off to a friend as a thank you gift.  Safe trip, my friend.

FAL 2014: First Quarter Goals

I am thrilled that the opening 2014 FAL linky is up and running over at The Littlest Thistle.  I could use a little help focusing and pressure inspiration to get myself back into the sewing room and creating again.  So, here are my (overly aspirational?) goals for the next 3 months:

1. Swoon 2013
I signed up for Sarah's QAL and was nearly on time getting my blocks finished...but then I lost steam finishing the sashing and getting the borders on.  So, I need to finish the top, quilt and bind this project.  I am excited to dig back in again!

2. Home Sweet Bone Cross Stitch
I have been diligently stitching each and every night.  Recently this is my primary project and I am loving it through and through.  I'd like to finish stitching, tie off the back and have it hanging over my desk before this quarter is finished.

3. Modern Irish Bee Quilt
This quilt was started over a year ago as part of the inaugural Modern Irish Bee.  My bee buddies were wonderful and I did receive each and every one of my blocks.  However, when I tried to make a few additional blocks to enlarge the quilt, I could not (for the life of me) get them to the appropriate final size.  Several I totally unpicked 3-4 times!  Anyway, I lost my love for the process and I put the blocks away.  I would love to pull them out, finish the top (add a border?), hand quilt (ahem!) and bind it.

4. Spools Mini Quilt

I made one of these minis to give away, but I'd love to have one myself to hang in my sewing room.  I have the pieces all cut and laid out, but not stitched together.  I need to piece, quilt and bind this cutie.

5. Donation Quilt

I would like to make a quilt to be sent to Mexico City.  I have a pattern in mind, but instead of using a fresh new charm pack I would like to dive into my stash for this project.  I have so many charms from the gazillion swaps I joined recently.  I have the top nearly done, so I need to quilt and bind this before we'll call it done.

That's my list and I will try my best to stick to it!  Thanks so much, Katy, for keeping us on the straight and narrow!  (HA!  Who would have thought it was you who would herd us in?)

Mini Spools Mini Quilt

I have been struggling with the idea of a spools quilt for a few weeks now.  I'm obsessed with the idea, but want to personalize it a bit.  After a few trial blocks that didn't float my boat, and a super chat with Helen I think I have a plan.  More on that later.

Still, to satisfy this spools itch I picked up one of these

and settled in on Friday night with these

There's enough in one charm pack to make several of these little quilts, so I cut enough to make one for myself and one as a gift for a special lady (to be revealed later).  By Saturday night I had a basted mini quilt.  I can't tell you how satisfying it is to have such rapid satisfaction from a little project.  You know yourself, don't you?

It's not perfect, but I do really like it.  I won't tell you mistakes I see, but I do feel better seeing them in the cover photo of the pattern, too.  Not everything has to be aligned, right?

Any way, by Sunday night I finished quilting and had the binding on.  Brilliant!  There were a few problems along the way, but I'll tell you all about that later.  You'll see the finished mini later this week once I have the binding finished off.

My glamorous assistant was with me on Friday night in the sewing room.  She started off all pert, cute and playful chewing on her bone under my ironing board.  

But quickly deteriorated into a snoozy pup.  She can't take the pace of making a quilt in a day.  Bless.

Modern Quilt Guild Miniquilt Swap

My mini quilt has finally arrived in Atlanta!  I didn't want to post before Pam received it so as not to spoil the surprise but now I'm in the clear!

After signing up for the swap, I was nearly immediately totally overwhelmed and freaked out.  My assigned partner was the fabulous Pam.  She is VP of the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild, author of Hip to Be a A Square blog and host of Hip to Be a Square podcast.  Oh wow I'm in WAY over my head now.  She's an extraordinary quilter and I was really worried that my skills would not compare to hers.  She's a master piecer, fab at appliqué and has been giving classes on FMQ.  What could I make that avoided any of those talents?  I needed to find something unique....

I thought of the Portholes class I took in London at the Fat Quarterly Retreat.  That could be something new for Pam!

What fabric will I use?  Well, Pam is a fan of Star Wars.  What if I used a space theme?  I wanted to make a quilt that was her view out the window of the Millennium Falcon.  I decided to use Ash as a background (isn't the inside of every air plane Ash colored?) with batiks that were vibrant, but looked like the swirling surface of a planet.  Come on...any of these planets or moons could be made of batik fabric.  Of course, I didn't have any brown batiks (!!!) but I had vibrant oranges, yellows, reds, etc.  Now we're onto something...

Borrowed from msnbc.com

And then, of course, I had to add in a few space ships and satellites.  Right?  I found this print from Hoffman.  Brilliant.  What would be better than 3D space ships!?!?

The only problem was that I couldn't get this print anywhere in Ireland or the UK.  It had to come from the US.  But then the shipping over to Ireland was out of this world (har har)!  Enter the fabulous Rhonda.  I emailed Rhonda and asked for her help.  She could get the fabric sent to her house, then send it onto mine for a fraction of the price.  She's the best EVER!  Thank you, Rhonda!

Once the fabric arrived, I started stitching little portholes...  

Until I had a finished little mini quilt.  It is about 16 inches square and much less wonky than it looks in the photos.  Or so I tell myself.

It's backed with the Hoffman 3D print so you can get the full effect of its 3D-ness.

It was packed up and sent onto Pam with two pair of these:

If you haven't already seen the quilt that Pam sent to me, have a look here to meet Moxie!

Meet Moxie

I am not sure I can tell you how much I love her in a blog post, but I will try my best. 

Moxie is a mini quilt created by Pam of Hip To Be A Square blog and podcast fame.  When Sarah and I started the Modern Quilt Guild of Ireland, Pam contacted us asking if we'd be interested in doing a mini quilt swap with the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild.  What a fab opportunity!  Of course we will!

As it turns out I was lucky enough to be "randomly" assigned as Pam's partner.  If you listen to her podcast, her selection wasn't incredibly "random"...  anyway...  I was delighted to be Pam's partner!  We've chatted several times in the past and I'm a huge fan of her podcast and her sense of humor.  I felt like I was connected with an old buddy when partner assignments came in.  

We both agreed to stitch in secret to not spoil the surprise for one another.  Pam has not yet received my quilt (where is it!?!?) so that will have to be another blog post.  Today is all about Miss Moxie.

Moxie is 14 inches by 17 inches and filled with bright oranges, tangerines, lime and a splash of aqua.  It's just delicious!  (Just as I typed that I realized I haven't had lunch yet...must find a bit of food.)  In the center is a hand embroidered scissors and seam ripper with a No Regrets banner. I'm not sure if I've ever gone public about my thoughts RE the shop, but No Regrets summarizes it nicely.  The perfect motto and a little visual reminder at times would not hurt.

The quilting is just amazing.  It's a mix of stippling, pebbles, straight line and hand quilting.  Amazing.  Pam's the queen of FMQ.  I have SO much to learn from her.

Can you see the quilting here?  The seam ripper is even made from sparkly grey embroidery thread so it nearly looks sharp!  

On the back are these delightful hanging corners.  I'm not sure if many of you have been through the pain of stitching on a hanging sleeve.  I've only done it once and have vowed to never do it again.  What a great idea these little hanging corners.  Now that I can easily do!

Moxie is up on my design wall today.  I really want to hang a line in the shop so I could hand the gorgeous creations I've received from so many of you.  Hopefully sooner than later.

Pam, thank you!  Thank you so very much.  I hope you receive the quilt I made soon!