Quilting for pleasure

Quilting for pleasure
Find Joy in the Journey

Saturday, April 15, 2023

NYE Mystery 2022

 New Years Eve Day I joined a mystery quilt along hosted by Stitchin' HeavenCraftsy, and National Quilters Circle.  This was my first mystery quilt that I had no idea what the pattern was until the last minute.  I learned some things about myself.  First, I don't like mystery projects.  I like to know what the pattern is so I can mentally prepare for the construction of said quilt.  Second, I can challenge myself by going outside of the box once in a while.

I enjoyed being a part of the online community, in that we all encouraged each other through the choosing of our fabrics for the project and for cheering each other on when we thought we could not go any further on said project.

The pattern was supplied by Stitchin' Heaven and is called Sparkly New Year's Mystery.  That is why I named my quilt NYE Mystery 2022.

I machine quilted this quilt with an edge to edge pantograph called "Octopus Swirls" from Quilting Pantographs.  I do not have a computerized long arm so I print off the pattern onto regular copy paper to the size I need for my Brother 1500 on a Grace Frame and then make copies of the downloaded pattern and tape them together into a roll to use on the back platform of my frame.  It works well for me.

I hope you are all anticipating Springtime weather (I know I am!) and enjoy this time of year of nature unfolding glorious flowers, plants, baby animals, etc.  The world holds such great beauty if we but take a moment to look around us.  It's there just waiting for us to breath it all in.

Finished Size 51" x 66"

NYE Mystery 2022

Blue thread using the Octopus Swirls pantograph


Sunday, March 19, 2023

Whirligig

 When I first starting putting this quilt together it reminded me of the whirligigs in my Mom's yard &  flower gardens.  This quilt is the third pattern that I have used from the Make It Christmas with 3 Yard Quilts from Fabric Cafe.  I enlarged the pattern to a twin size so I purchased 6 yards of fabric.  I do have leftover fabric to use in another project.  I have really enjoyed using these patterns and will probably make most if not all of the patterns in that book.  I used two pieces from the Flower Pot line from Lella Boutique for Moda.  I would have loved to have purchased the fat quarter bundle but settled for the two taupe pieces from the line.  I am a huge fan of the Grunge line from BasicGrey for Moda.  I used the Vanilla & Mustard colors in this particular quilt.  

I machine quilted an edge to edge pantograph pattern called Sunflowers for Ukraine from Quilting Pantographs.  I have enjoyed the patterns that I have received from them.  I do have to print them out and tape them together in order to use on my quilting set up but I am so thankful that is an option for me.

I named the quilt "Whirligig".  I recently had to say goodbye for now to my sweet little Mom who loved flowers and doodads for her garden.  We will miss her but know that we shall meet again.  She was a talented seamstress, crafter, knitter, and the best Mom.  God Speed little Mama.










Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Movie Night

 I just really really really like the Date Night fabric from Basic Grey for Moda.  I used the Pattern #064 Movie Night, hence the name of the quilt.  The pattern reminds me of the old movie films and I can almost here the flickering sound of the film going through the projector.

I machine quilted a pantograph pattern called Meandering Feather by Linda Taylor.  It is a more dense pattern than I normally would use, however I do really like the result on this quilt.

The quilt is approximately 82.5" x 82.5".  I don't usually make square quilts but again I really like this pattern.  I was able to purchase the fabric and the pattern from The Sunflower Quilt Co. in Axtell UT.



82.5" x 82.5"

Pantograph quilting - Meadering Feather

The label of course!  I love the fabric I
used on the backing.  It is from the same
Basic Grey line called Date Night.




Saturday, February 18, 2023

Machine quilting today

 Today under my needle is my newest quilt. I am using a pantograph from Linda Taylor called Feather Meandering. Life is good!




Saturday, January 28, 2023

Extraordinary Lives

 Whew!  This was a big one to make.  Sweet woman requested a king size quilt.  She didn't give me an idea of color or pattern so I chose the Enchanting pattern from Fabric Cafe's book "The Magic of 3 Yard Quilts".  One of the reasons I enjoy their books is that they include pattern sizes from small to queen/king.  I hope Lavonna enjoys this quilt as much as my hubby does.

For the top of the quilt I used the following fabrics:  Lancaster Light Tan by Jo Morton for Moda; Swiss Dot/Gold Sparkle by Riley Blake Designs; and Quilt Barn Prints Family Words on Black by Painted Sky Studio for Benartex.  All of this fabric was purchased from The Stitching Room.  The backing is 108" wide fabric called Mandala Allover by Kim Diehl for Henry Glass Fabrics.

As the quilt did not fit on my frame I was able to utilize a neighbor's Innova longarm to create an edge to edge design that I call Fractured Palms.  

The quilt turned out to be approximately 93" x 107".  I hope she loves it as much as I do.





Monday, January 9, 2023

Farm Fresh

 The first quilt of 2023 is Farm Fresh.  The pattern is "Oh, My Stars" by Pat Sloan,  The fabric needed was 2 packs of  charms & I chose "Farm Fresh" by Jessica Flick for Benartex.  The grey gingham was purchased at Joann's Fabrics in Cedar City.  My eldest son & his family had given me a gift card for Christmas, thank you kiddos!  The grey inner border fabric & charm squares came from The Sunflower Quilt Co in Axtell UT.  I added an additional 3" outer border as I wanted the quilt to be just a little bit bigger.  The quilt finished at 46" x 55 1/2".  I backed it with a light green Minky fabric that I purchased from The Stitching Room.  

I chose a simple pattern as the first quilt of the year as it kick started the lineup for 2023.  I hope you all take time to think of the blessing that you have in your lives & to always be a blessing to others as well.

God Bless us in this coming year.

Finished size 46" x 55 1/2"

The backing is a light green Minky but I didn't
do a very good job with the lighting.


Friday, December 2, 2022

Tinsel Town

 Received my Make It Christmas with 3 Yard Quilts from Fabric Cafe.  Such fun patterns!  The first one I chose to make was called "Traditions".  I made the Twin size so I needed 2 yards of 3 different fabrics.  I knew I wanted to use some of the Christmas fabric that is called Tinsel Town from the Wishwell Collection from Robert Kaufman that I purchased from The Stitching Room.  Then a shipment of some solid fabrics arrived from Benartex & the Melon color was the perfect one for fabric #2.  If you haven't watched the Fabric Cafe tutorials on YouTube, you may just want to spend a half hour or so and check them out.

This quilt finished at 60" x 84".  It is backed with a white on white cotton fabric & machine quilted with an edge to edge pantograph of Holly & Berries.  I machine bound the quilt as I wanted it done tonight.  Must be the other projects calling out from the sewing room that made me want this one finished.  I have a rule - Cannot start a new project until the last one is completely finished.  So far this works well for me.

Happy Holidays from our home to yours.

60" x 84"

Quilted with Holly & Berries pattern

The label - Tinsel Town


Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Wapiti

 This quilt was from a kit that I purchased from Christensen's Department Store in Richfield Utah.  This was ordered by hubby for one of his DNA distant cousins.  I added an outer border to make the quilt a little bigger and I like borders on my quilts. The backing is a tan grunge fabric.

I machine quilted this one in a free motion stipple with Neutral thread color. 

The quilt finished at approximately 71" x 83".  Just the right size to snuggle in your recliner on a cold winter day.

I will get this one shipped off soon.



I called this one Wapiti (for obvious reasons)


The label


Sunday, October 23, 2022

Oh, The Places You'll Go

 This is the "Book Review" pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Co.  It was a fun one to do as I used a layer cake (10" square pack) called Torrington Place by Michelle Yeo for Penny Rose Fabrics.  The border is  Kassita Medallions from 3 Wishes.  The quilt finishes at 73" x 79" and is backed with Minky from Shannon Fabrics.

I remember once being told that in books you can gain knowledge, appreciation for others, travel to worlds seen and unseen, and grow and learn.  When I thought about making this quilt I had a person in mind who has made a positive impact on me & she also loves to read.  She is one of the smartest & most caring women I have had the honor to meet.  She probably doesn't even know what a true light in this world she is.  I only hope this small offering will let her know that what she does and who she is means something to someone.

I hope we all take a moment to thank someone in our lives who has taken time, shared their knowledge, and even for a small moment in time given us encouragement to move forward even when we may not  understand all of the policies & procedures we would need to learn for the job.


Finished at 73" x 79"

Edge to edge pantograph - "Curlz"

Oh, The Places We'll Go

Minky backing.  The receiver has been
to France!


Saturday, October 1, 2022

For T With Love A

 When hubby came to The Stitching Room last week he found the Grand Circle panel from Riley Blake and asked if I would make him a quilt.  He has never asked me to make him a quilt before.  Yes, he has asked me to make them for other people but not for himself.  He then asked if I could fit him in within the next 6 months!  Well I think 2 weeks from design to construction to quilting to binding is a pretty good time frame.  The quilt turned out to be approximately 70" x 78".  Just the right size for him to wrap himself up like a burrito in his recliner during the cold days ahead.

I machine quilted this one with an edge to edge pantograph called "Curlz" from Linda's Electric Quilters.

I really do enjoy designing quilts.  I may not be able to draw worth a hoot but give me graph paper and I just might surprise you (and myself).

Enjoy this one my love.

***I do take orders for quilts and one similar to this would run about $550.***


I really like the flying geese borders that I designed.

I was lucky enough to find just the right fabrics for hubby.

Of course the label had to be my heart.  Love you T.