Design Wall Monday

I've been working on my Castle Wall blocks...  once I actually got them on the wall where I could step back and take a good look I've decided they are a little dark. So now I'm adding some lighter corners.

On the Wall

This last week I just couldn't find any time to make any more Dresdens for my Wild Flower quilt. Nothing new to show you there...

On Wednesday I meet with several ladies for applique...  At the end of last year they decided they wanted me to teach them my beginning applique hearts class.  For some it's a refresher and for our newest member it's all new. Over 9 weeks we are making applique heart blocks each with a different technique. 

We started with needle turn. I like needle turn because there is no prep work...  You mark your shape. Cut it out and applique. 

Then we did cut away needle turn...  It's basically the same, but you don't cut your whole shape at the beginning. You cut a little as you go.  This is great for Hawaiian type applique.  Sorry not pic... of this block.

The third block is freezer paper on top.  This is fabulous for when you have a busy print and you can't find a pen that will show in the light area or the dark area at the same time.  Every one always gets nervous with this one.  I tell them...  just keep going.  It will turn out!

Looks good ones the paper is off...

The Fourth week was needle turn over freezer paper.  This is also good for fabrics you don't want to mark, but not good for shapes with tight areas.  I like have the edge of the freezer paper to help keep the edge of the shape sharp while turning, but I don't like removing the paper... opps...  no pic of that one either.

Then last week we did starch over Templar and glue baste the shape down.  I like this technique because when you sit down to stitch everything is ready and all you have to do is stitch.  I don't like all the prep work tho!!!

Here's four blocks completed...  not sure where the fifth heart is.

If you have time...  pop on over to Judy's to see what everyone is working on!

On the Wall

Has anyone else signed up for Creativebug???  I think there is a one month free trial. The first class I put in my library was one on Dresden Plates by Kathy Doughty.  Love!!!

So after watching her class I got to thinking about this Jelly Roll Race quilt top I did a few years ago.  I didn't use a store bought Jelly Roll.  I cut up a bunch of 2.5" strips from a box of fall colored fabrics and away I went.  I really, really didn't like the way it turned out so it went into my closet.  Anyway, I thought this quilt top would be perfect to add some Dresden Plates to.  Just for fun...  just to play.  What could it hurt?  I didn't like the top anyway!

So I started making plates...  I now call them flowers!

That was fun...  lets make another!  I really liked this one on it's own but not too sure about it on the quilt top.

So added a third...

The one on the top left corner just bends to much...  I'll make some more!

Still not happy with that one...  but I really, really like this one!

And this!

Let's move them around a bit... and add one more!

And another...

I've decide I like the flowers to be more contrasting to the quilt top.  Lets them pop!  You can also I see that I keep move the big centers around from flower to flower...  I have a few more to make, and what has been fabulous is I'm only using fabrics I already have.  No new fabrics!!!  I can't wait to make more!!!

Sorry that some of the pictures are a bit blurry...  I took the same pic about 5 times and it didn't get better.

What's on your wall????  Check out what everyone is doing over at Judy's!

Oh yeah!  I've named this quilt Wild Flowers!!!  I think I'm starting to like it :-)

Design Wall Monday

Man these Mondays come around fast!!!

Being Christmas last week, I did not do anymore work on my Log Cabin Quilt.  I didn't work on anything to tell the truth, but I thought I would share a hand project that I have going.

A month or so ago I start piecing these Castle Wall blocks.  They are pieced by hand.  Over at MDQuilts you can see a picture of Mickey Depre's quilt top...  Which I fell in love with and just had to do!  She also has templates for sale....  I believe the price is going up January 1st, so you better get then now!  There is also a 3 part tutorial on piecing these fabulous blocks!!!

I have four blocks finished...  Here are the 1st three.

And number four...

I am really loving the process of hand piecing these...

If you have time...  take a look at what everyone else is working on over at Judy's!

Design Wall Monday... Scrappy Log Cabin

I belong to a group of ladies that meet every Wednesday morning....  Kind of a Sit and Stitch. No dues. No rules. Some people bring hand sewing. Some bring knitting or crochet.  Some just come to have coffee and visit, but each of us are quilters at heart.  We have a quilt show once a year...  usually the same time as the big car show in hopes to bring more people in to take a look.

Every year we have a challenge quilt that most of us try to participate in.  The idea is that everyone has a quilt done for the quilt show.  This year everyone is to make a log cabin quilt.  Again, no rules.

I've always wanted to make a scrappy log cabin quilt every since I started making quilts in 1990.  When ever I'm done with a project I cut the left over fabric into 1.5" strips in the hopes to one day make my scrappy log cabin.  I separate these strips into small bins.  One for dark strips and one for light strips.  Well....   these bins were starting to over flow!!!  Annndddd, this challenge is just the push I need to make my quilt!!!  Wooohoooo

I've finished 22 blocks so far.  Here's 20 of them laid out on my bed.  (I should of made my bed before taking the pix!)

I haven't decided yet how I'll lay them out...  this lay out is just to see how they look together.

I don't know why I'm surprised by how many purple scraps I have!!!  Well, actually I'm not!  If you are, then you don't know me as well as you thought you did.  LOL

While sewing my blocks together every so often I come across a light that is really darker than what I want for my light side of the cabin.  Instead of setting it a side...  I turn it over an use the wrong side, or the back side.  Someone once told me that I paid for both sides of the fabric so there is no reason not to use them!!!

See the top light log...   that is the back side of that fabric!

Here's the back side of the block...  see how much darker that fabric is!  Too light to go in the dark bin, but darker than I wanted for my lights.

If you have some time...  go on over to Judy's to see what everyone has on their wall!!!

Design Wall Monday

Besides all the wonderful customers, one of my favorite parts of working at Quilt Harbor is getting to make shop samples.  The owner pretty much lets me play!!!

I started this new project last week...

 

I'm playing with the effects of gradation fabric...  Yes, this is all from one piece of fabric!  Hope to get more done tomorrow :-)

Join the over at Judy's to see what is on the wall....

Design Wall Monday 2/18/13

A bunch of miscellaneous projects....  that's what's on my wall!

Yes, I'm still working on my selvage quilt, but I got distracted.  I've been wanting to make a cowboy boot quilt for a very long time. 

When I first started quilting in the 90's and taking classes at The Quilt Barn in Puyalup they were offering a class to make cowboy blocks.  I had signed up for it....  but life happened and I could go.

Later I found the pattern in a magazine....  and it renewed my interest in this block.  I know I saved it in my inspiration binder, but who knows were that binder is?  Not me!

Then I saw some blocks that Sue Hecker had on her design wall a couple years ago....  Again my interest was renewed!

So the other day while looking for directions for piped binding in stack of my files guess what I found?  Yep, my saved copy of the magazine article....  I couldn't resist but to start making blocks right away!!!

I love these....  They make me giggle!!!

  

My plan is to off set them with applique blocks of brands.  You know like 'Lazy S Ranch'.  I've been serging the meaning of brands and will probably come up with a few of my own...  

So if your so inclined... you can go on over to Judy's and see what others have on their wall.

On the Wall 1/14/13

Or should I say "On the Table"...  since all my wall space is taken with projects that have been up there forever!

Anyway, I've been saving selvages and have had others saving selvages for me...  So last week about this time I went to get something out of one of my closets and 5 (yes!  5) grocery bags full of selvages came tumbling out and spilling all over the floor!!!  You know what that means.  Time to start my selvage quilt!

 

 I am loving this....  so much fun!

 

 

If you want to see what others have on their walls (tables, beds and floors) head on over to Judy's and check it out...  :-)

 

Design Wall Monday 12/3/12

I have all my Granny Square blocks done and ready for sashing.... 

Not sure on sure lay out yet...

You can head on over to Judy's to see what  everyone else is up to.

WIP Wednesday a day late... Mocha Swirl

I had so much FUN with my Stackers quilt I decided to finish up a quilt that I started several years back. (the second quilt in that old post)  I took the triangles of the blocks that I started so that they would create a kaleidoscope where they meet....  while putting the blocks back on the design wall I kept wondering how it would look with a darker brown print...

And of coarse I had to stack the brown print too!!!

I really really like this now... 

I usually have a hard time naming my quilts, but this one called out for one...  Mocha Swirl!

Monday, On the Wall

I think I"ve mentioned a few times that I'm working two job right now...  One at the mall for a big corporate retailer and the other at the local quilt shop, Quilt Harbor, here in Aberdeen.  With the holiday season and between both jobs I haven't had a full day off since Thanksgiving...  No time to sew, no time to quilt :-(

BUT...  and that's a big one, I've been working on a store sample while at Quilt Harbor!  Love!

 

No pattern...  just making it up as I go,