Planning without looking like you're planning

So last week I tried the whole improve quilting thing, I LOVE the LOOK of the improv. It's the whole no planning part that I have a problem with.  I'm a planner, what can I say, I need a plan, I love plan, I live for a plan.  So I did finish the green shirting improv, which I'm kinda up in the air about it.  We'll see if quilting can save it, that is the best part right.  I learned a lot from this one.  I need to cut blocks, not the wonky strips.  I need uniform.  I love the scrappy and I love the improv look.  So I decide I would try triangles and do in in EQ7 so that I have that improv look and still have a PLAN.  How's that for win-win??  Pretty excite eh?   And here's what I came up with - looks like no plan but don't tell anyone there really is a plan ;) The first one is the pic from eq7, the second from real life.  Nice for the twins right, similar but yet different. This one uses the triangle die from Accuquilt

no plan look but plan is there comfort

A little bit of progress on the twins quilts, here's a view from under the frame.

Not a lot of quilting as we had Birthday Boys this weekend. These cousins are almost exactly 10 years apart.    One is 14 the other 4, their birthdays are two days apart.  Love them both to pieces!!

Birthday Boys

I added a couple new linky parties on the side bar, take a look and go get inspired.  

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. 

Happy New Year!! First Finish 2016

Right, Happy New Year, just a few days late eh?  I can't believe I haven't had a post all year.  Well I've got lots to show you, even though it's been only 10 days in this new year, I've gotten a whole bunch done!!  Including a finish.  Yes I have a my first finish of the year.  This is Sunset.  All the left overs from Sonny's quilt.  Ha, the left over quilt is way bigger than Sonny's quilt.  But I used up every bit of fabric, wasn't putting any away.  Anything that wasn't used was cut up into 2.5 in squares and put in the square tote.  If it's not at least 2.5 in square, I toss it.    I love this one.  Pantograph is Aztec Wave by Patricia Ritter.  Hobbs 80/20 batting, So Fine thread on top.  I even got some snow pictures with this one.

Sunset

Aztec Wave Pantograph - Patricia Ritter

Back

Moon Dust is ready to be quilted.  This is another that I used all the scraps from Moon Glow and this is a really big quilt.  76 x 91 or something, even the black is left over from the kit.  I have enough strips for binding both Moon Dust and Moon Glow.  I think I'm going to try some graffiti quilting on this one.  Or maybe I'll try on a smaller quilt first.  I also tried a doodle for Graffiti quilting, really want to do a couple more than give it a try after finishing Moon Glow.

Moon Dust

But wait, that's not all, I have Till Death Star Do We Part  (Moon Glow) on the frame.  Lots of quilting on this one, SITD on those stars is slow going

Till Death Star Do We Part - the beast is on the frame

I also had  a couple of 1 yd cuts of flannel. I got these from Joanne's over the holidays, just love the three of these together.  I used the super sized nine patch  and quick and easy quilts.  Flannel on both sides so super soft.    I used the Baby Things pantograph, it's a really old one, not sure if they sell it anymore.  I'll have to go check who made it.  It was a big loose pantograph so I had all three done in no time.  And the back's are pieced too.  I actually had 2 yards of each so just had to add a little to the backing both ways and you've got a two fer quilt. I used what every fabric was in the center on the back.  Added some sweet yellow that I had and we were on our way

Super Nine Patch - 3 yards of fabric, 3 quilts, love it.

But I did save the best for last.  The twins will be here in April so I thought I should get busy.  Daughter #2 had already picked out the fox fabric for both quilts.  Had no idea what we going to do with them.  She saw this one on Bunkhouse Quilts  She liked the strips with the circles.  So here's what we have.  The same but different.  Can't wait to meet these little guys.  The fox applique is from Mr Fox's Garden by The Red  Boot Quilting Company.  I just printed the pattern 2 pages per sheet and I had baby foxes.  I love the argyle pants on this little fox, so fun picking out their pants :)  Fusible applique is the only thing I can do and well it'll hold up nicely to many washing and what ever these boys do.  I can't wait to quilt them.

The Twins Quilts

I love his pants!

Hope ever one has a great week. Check out the linky parties on the side bar. 

It is my circus, those are my monkeys

Two finishes squeaking in at the end of the year.  I love panel quilts.  They are quick to put together and so much fun to quilt.  I have two more of these done, just need to add the binding.  I used bottom line thread on top, wanted a thin thread to keep it a bit softer.  Hobbs poly down batting, light and warm.  Flannel back with a strip of fun colorful cotton.  I had three of these on the frame at one time.  Nice to have them done.

I've had this sweet tumbler done for some time now.  Finally got in on the frame.  I watched a Green Fairy Quilts you tube video on feather swirls and just went for it.  So much fun, fast and easy.  I figure with this busy print if it didn't turn out, you wouldn't be able to tell!  I will definitely use that one again.  Hobbs polydown, Glide thread on top, bottom line in the bobbin

I used the left over fabric from the Sonny quilt and made this bright and cheery tumbler.  I'm calling this one Sunset, no more sunny fabrics.  I'm in the "use them up" mode rather than putting them away. LOL the leftover quilt is much bigger than the baby quilt!

Sunset

And speaking of using up, I had so much satisfaction taking all the left over fabric from Moon glow and cutting into very simple 5 in charms, them sewing those together!!  I had so much trouble with moon glow and so little trouble with this one :)  I'm calling this one Moon dust.  It will have a black border, then a partial colorfull border in two corners finishing up with a black border.

Moon Dust

So nice to get some much needed sewing therapy in the end of the year.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season so far!!  Don't forget to check out the linky parties on the side bar and see what everyone is getting done the last few days of 2015

Let the holiday Sewcation festivities begin!!

AHHHH after the last conference call this morning I officially started my sewcation holiday!! I don't know what it was but Santa, his elves or someone, something dropped off some inspiration for me today.  What did I do with all that inspiration??  I finished Moon Glow.  Yes, it's true, it's done, well, the top is done, the quilting is just pure fun!!  I really struggled with this one.  This quilt is going to get a nice fluffy wool batting to help hide some of the mistakes I made.  But its DONE!!!!  I didn't get pictures of the borders it was just too late.  I'll wait for the full reveal after quilting.  Here's the center.  Ok so this is a quilt for my nephew and his bride to be.  I want to give it a star wars related name.  I really think Death star is appropriate for the trouble I had with this one, but perhaps not quite the right name for a wedding quilt.  Any Star Wars fans out there?  Suggestions?

Moonglow by Jinny Beyer

I've had something in on the frame the entire time I've been working on Moon glow, needed something to keep me going and fun.  I've got these three  little cuties to brighten my moon when moon glow cast a shadow in my sewing space.   I love using panel quilts for free motion quilting.  Ok I love any quilt that takes longer to quilt than it does to make :)

Love a full frame

The tumblers are the left overs from my Sonny quilt (a different nephews quilt).  I used this as leader and ender for Moon glow.  I love color just thrown all together.

I've got one more day to sew before the holiday activities take over.  Hope you find some time in your day for a little quilting fun.  Check out the linky parties on the side bar.