Till Death Star Do We Part

I was so close to being done, actually thought I was done and took this beast off the frame. Then decided the borders needed more quilting to be a bit more even. Definitely have not learned the "less is more" lesson yet....I got this monster loaded back on the frame. I guessed I had 4 more bobbins worth of periwinkle thread left, but really only 1.5.  Ordered more periwinkle bottom line (has anyone ever not had enough periwinkle thread?).  Took it off the frame again while I wait for thread. This quilt is fighting me all the way! Here's some pics, I do like the way it's turning out. I used a 40wt thread, Glide, on top to get some thread play and circular motion around the stars. The thread play helps define that a bit more. The McTavishing in the black areas gives it a cosmic feel. I'm really not sure what type of baking it is, more like velorish  type of fabric. It is super soft to the touch and slightly a bit more plush than minky. So close to having this one done!

Back

added quilting in the rings helps, just need more thread for the bobbin

corner star

I think the McTavishing gives it a big of cosmic feel

I used Glide thread on top so there would be some thread play on the veins fo the feather for a circular motion around the stars

it's getting closer - This is Till Death Star Do We Part aka Moonglow

Lots of texture.  Wool batting gives a log of loft

getting closer

seems a little uneven doesn't it with no quilting in the rings?

I also started a new little project.  Have you ever had one of those quilts that just stay with you once you've seen it and you just know you have to make one.  That's how I was with KatyQuilts Improve Shirting Quilt The minute I saw this I fell in love with it and really was intrigued by the whole improve quilt making.  I"ve thought about this quilt so many times since I first saw it, and nows the time when I'm going to give it a try. I'm a program manager by day, quilter by night and I plan things.  I plan, I replan, I risk mitigate the plan, it's all about the plan.  So making a quilt without a plan was very intriguing to me.  I have to say it is a bit hard.  I pulled out my shirts.  I've got yellow and green shirts for one twin, blue and yellow for the other twin.  I did have to have a bit of control, enough to keep me happy and that was one strip from each shirt in each of the 9 different piles.  I chose to have 9 strips for the quilt.   They will be anywhere from 8 to 2 inches - ok I have planned how wide each strip can be, yikes I can't help myself!  But I did just slice those things up, no rythm or reason, trying to keep each slice of the shirt between 1.5 and 3 inches.  Each of the colored strips I'll keep between 24 and 36 inches.  I'd like to have a 45 in square quilt when I'm done.  I love how Katy did the cross hatching in the shirting material, I'm definitely going to try that.  Then in the white spaces I"m going to give the graffiti quilting a try.  Here's what I have so far, ok so it's not a quilt without a plan, it's got half a plan....but it's a start

Don't forget to check out the link parties.  I also saw that Hands 2 Help 2016 is getting started shortly - so excited.  We have a couple of ladies who help to make quilts.  Last year our little group made 9, wonder if we can do better this year?  I've added the button on the side bar. 

Needles on fire!!!

Holy smokes, my machine has been hmming all weekend.  I did go slow at first because I really didn't want to take this beauty off my frame.  I quilted this for Ann (she sewed the binding on my HUGE  Shining Star quilt).  I LOVE the dark blue with the greens and teals.  There was just something so comforting and soothing when I quilted this.  It's a pretty big quilt so it took me a little while.  This has Hobbs 80/20 batting, glide thread light blue thread on top and light grey magna glide in the bobbin.  Pantograph is Fan Fare by Patricia Ritter, still one of my favorites. I was glad it was nice enough to take pictures outside.  Does her quilt sparkle??  Great job Ann, I'm gonna miss this one.

Ann's Easy Street

Hobb's 80/20 Batting, Glide thread on top, light blue

Pantograph  - Fan Fare by Patricia Ritter

is that backing perfect?  just love everything about this one.

magna glide light grey on the back.

Then a friend of mine posted a story on facebook with some things she found in her yard  after the tornado last week.  This friend lives in Harvard which is over 55 miles from Rochelle.  And another friend in Twin Lakes WI, over 77 miles from Rochelle had debris in her yard.   From the same family, how crazy is that????  Well they decide to try to find these folks and let them know what they found and try to return it.  They found the family in Rochelle lost everything, breaks your heart.  So these two friends decided not only were they going to return what they found, but they were taking donations for this family.  Betty asked, if you lost everything what would you want.  I of course immediately thought, a quilt, I gotta have a blankie!!  Betty also was able to post a picture of the family and two of the girls had purple dresses on.  I knew immediately what quilt top to use.  Lucky for me we had 4 quilts waiting to be quilted for Hands 2 Help (see the side bar, still plenty of time to donate a quilt to one of three great charities).   One of those quilts got diverted.  It's done and ready to be delivered this week when Betty travels to Rochelle.  I've donated the quilt and a gift card.  Details on this quilt - Dew Drops pantograph, Glide thread on top - white, hobbs poly down battng, magna glide in the bobbin, light grey.  I almost like the back more than the front.  The size 54 ish x 64 ish.  Why don't I measure these when I'm done???

H2H 6 now going to Rochelle family

Poly down batting (Hobbs), glide thread on top white

Pantograph - Dew drops by Patricia Ritter

I think I like the back better than the front almost.  

Magna glide in the bobbin, light tan

Of course then I was feeling a bit guilty about not having a finish for H2H, so I got this one on and off the frame in no time.  Poor April needs a break!! Details on this quilt - Ebb and Flow pantograph (seriously quick and easy), glide thread on top, med grey and magna glide in the bobbin, dark grey.  I think it's 64 in square.  The pattern is Graffiti, simple and fun. 

Graffiti number 1 - H2H finish #2 wild and crazy color!

Poly Down (Hobbs) batting, glide thread on top, med grey 

Pantograph Ebb and Flow - Lorien Quilting 

Pattern Graffiti

Magna glide in the bobbin, dark grey - love the lines and curves on the backing

On the design wall, just a few more of this and a few more of that. I think something will need to come down before another block goes up, I really should get serious about finish one of these....

couple more stars, couple more shirting blocks, somethings gonna have to come off before anything else goes on!

Check out all the linky parties on the side bar, so many beauties out there you don't want to miss it!!  Hope everyone has a great week. 

DWM Finally!!!

I can't believe my last post was on 10/23.  My how time flies!  Work has been keeping me plenty busy these days but I've found some time to get some much need quilting therapy.

I've been making baby quilts :)  I LOVE baby quilts.  The husband hasn't been working for a while, and I though hey it doesn't cost me anything to make these as I have it all right there in my sewing room so why not get busy and see if you could see a quilt or two.  I know I'll never get the cost of the materials and the time. But hey, I won't get anything at all if it sits in the closet all nicely organized!  Also thinking about quilting services too.  Quilting is my favorite part of the whole process.

So, here I have 3 finish and 3 tops done.  The first three are Jelly roll quilts.  All there were based on the Strip and Flip Tutorial which can be found here.

This is the left overs from my Budding Nine Patch (seen later in this post).  Simple, quick and fun!

Contempo Pantograph - Urban Elements

Baby Jelly Roll - Rainbow

Baby Jelly Roll Rainbow - back

Next is  little girl quilt, I had a jelly roll and add a couple of solids and was able to get two out of all that.   This one uses one of my favorite pantographs - Splat by Anne Bright.  This Jelly Roll sat in my closet for well over a year and finally put it good use!  Love the colors.

Splay close up

Splat Front

Splat pantograph

Splat Back - cozy flannel

And the second one from the same jelly roll.  I did a free hand  all over swirl on this one.  The quilting goes so fast with free hand.

Free hand Swirls front

Free hand swirls detail

Love the texture of the swirls

Swirls Back

And then there are a few tops together waiting to be quilted - On the frame right now, without a single stitch in is is Budding 9 patch.  I have the eq7 file that I'll post in the next week or two on the tutorials and EQ7 tab

Budding 9 patch.  

And of course there are baby quilts - the first two are from Kate Blakesley and can be found here  Super quick, super fun and looks great!!  A boy and a girl version

Girl Marmalade Squares

Boy Marmalade Squares

And the last one is my favorite :)   I used the left overs from this one for the Boy Marmalade Square.  This is New Port Beach pattern from Judy Martin. I've made this quilt, twice before and I just love. Quick easy and makes such a statement! I LOVE the colors in this one.  I'm actually making two of these.  15 fat quarters, a little background fabric and you get 3 quilts, nice!!

New Port Beach

Well those were a lot of bright and more modern looking fabrics eh? How about this one for some more traditional quilting.  I finally finished the last of the 8 pointed starts !!!  WooHoo!  I honestly don't think I will ever make a 7 inch unfinished 8 pointed starts and put little tiny 4 patches in it!  Nope, not gonna happen with me ever again :)  But I like it so far.  The last border is really suppose to before all those 8 pointed stars, but mine came out a little bit smaller, so swapped the placement of the border and all is good again.

Common Bride

And there we have it, ahhhhh.  Linking up with the usual sources of inspiration and quilty goodness.

Swooning over a finish

I did it!!!  I FINALLY finished the gigantic Swoon Quilt.  I had the rows all sewn together just needed to sew the rows together.  And goodness there are only four.  But I really don't like sewing rows together.  Not sure why, but it's my least favorite thing of all.  Now, these are some long rows mind you, 106 inches long.  But it's done now and I'm going to quilt this baby like crazy!  I'm really trying to decide if I need to add another 2 inch border.  I want this on my bed and I know it's going to lose some in the quilting process.  But how much?   I laid it on the bed and I think I have 2 inches to play with on each side.  I know I should but man, that's like adding another 4 rows.  Look how long it took me to get these four rows together.

Prince Charming Swoon

Swoon - King Size

I made some progress on my budding 9 patch as well. I'm really liking how this is turning out.

Budding Nine Patch

I'm hoping everyone has a quilt picked out for the bloggers quilt festival.  I know I do :)  Amy's doing it again this year, see the button on the side bar.  Linky goes up on 10/25, get your quilts ready!!

Linking up with all the usual sources of inspiration