Fun Times

One of my neighbors had given my granddaughter some clothes that her daughter had outgrown.  In the bag were a few T shirts.  I decided to save the shirts and make a little throw quilt for her daughter.  The result is "Fun Times".  It measures approximately 41" x 66".  Just the right size to snuggle in while watching a game or sharing a movie at home.  I hope she likes it.  I love the bright green flannel that I used for the border and backing.

Reorganizing the Studio! About time!!

I have been reorganizing my studio into a more usable space.  I have tossed hundreds of magazines and will be tossing a few more.  I have gone through my quilt and craft books and will be getting rid of about half of them.  If anyone wants some, let me know.

I will also be passing along at least 3 sewing machines as well.  I have just so much space and I am not going to stock pile anymore.  Well, that's my plan anyway.

I am waiting on two more pieces to arrive in order to finish the room, so no photos yet.

This was somewhat of my mess that I started out with.  I actually had more, as this photo was taken a couple of years ago.  I see a machine and just want to rescue it!  I am going to change my ways....

I will be posting the machines very soon that I am willing to let go.  I just bought another Featherweight, so I may let 4 machines go as I have allowed myself a limited space for my machines.

Enjoy this wet weather.  We have waited long for moisture this year and are thankful for the amount we have received this past week.

Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

Well, finally finished this project!  I love this quilt.  It is always amazing what you can do with a simple log cabin block that is modified with a four patch block.  The pattern is from American Patchwork & Quilting - October issue - Page 19.  The design is by Char Hopeman.

I had a short jelly roll of the brown & green prints & added a couple of other colors to the brown & green family.  The light strips are white to light tan.  I will definitely use this pattern again!  I will try other block settings.  You can find many log cabin block layouts on the internet or quilt magazines.  It is a versatile block.

I backed the quilt with a cuddle soft flannel and machine quilted it with a stipple free motion pattern.  This is what was used on the sample quilt in the magazine and I liked it, so why not use it myself!

I called the quilt "Sunshine On a Cloudy Day" as it reminds me of walking through the trees and sunshine peaking through to light the path.  I hope you enjoy this quilt pattern as much as I do.

Early morning light is not the best for taking photos

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This is where the 320 four patch units went!

Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

You can see a close up of the stippling on the quilt in this photos

I hope you all have a wonderful Autumn!  The pumpkins are ready to pick, the leaves are turning color, and you can see Heavenly Father's hand in nature all around us.  Just take a moment to take it all in.

Memory Quilt

One of my co-workers father passed away a month or so ago.  She wanted to have a quilt made from some of his T shirts.  Challenging in it's own right was the size of the images on the shirts.  I had to be a little creative in laying the blocks out and making them work together.  But all in all, I am very happy with the results.  Hubby really likes this quilt as well.  Though, admittedly it is my use of the orange flannel that tipped him over.  Orange lover that he is.

The label will catch a little flack from my English major friends, but I am going with artistic license on this one.  It finished at approximately 69" x 81".

I used a large all over stipple for the machine quilting as the designs on the shirts didn't need anything more complex.  The label is computer generated.  I was able to download a photo of him and used a pencil drawing setting on my Picasa program.  I hope she likes the end results.

Finished quilt is approximately 69" x 81"

Called this quilt Tom's T's

I had a piece of fabric that was perfect for the backing.  Used a bit of the orange flannel to make it wide enough for this quilt.  Simple all over stipple quilting.

Nuts & Bolts

Found this cute patter in the Spring 2018 Easy Quilts magazine.  It was designed by Barbara Lockwood.  I kept the name of the quilt as it just fit it so well.  The quilt finishes at 72" x 72".  I machine quilted it with variegated grey to black thread.  I machine quilted with an all over rectangle/square stipple.  I also made a pillowcase to store the quilt in.  I used the old Bernina sewing machine to sew the quilt together.  The quilt is backed with soft flannel polka dot fabric.  I really like the way that it turned out

Sweet Bernina For Ssle

Started a new quilt this week. It is a pattern caked Nuts & Bolts. I am using the 1960's Bernina Record machine today. She is for sale for only $65. Send me a message if you are interested or email me at aebevilockway @yahoo.com.

To Hannah

My granddaughter fell in love with a quilt that I had made for a friend/customer.  Well, I had 6 orphan pinwheel blocks left so I put them to use in a little quilt just for her.

She loves purple so I used a soft flannel backing in her favorite color.  I know she will use this quilt and know that it was made with love by Grandma B.

A Stroke of Blush

Finished another quilt order.  The request was for the granddaughter's favorite colors, red & light pink.  Well, this is the quilt that came to my mind.  It is a pattern from the Missouri Star Quilt Company called "4 x 4".  I love the way it turned out.  I used a bright pink polka dot flannel for the backing.  Soft and cuddly!

The quilt measures at about 72" x 80".  I used a pantograph pattern for edge to edge quilting.  It's called "Curl" from LEQ.  It worked well on this quilt.

I hope the little gal enjoys this quilt for many years to come.

Quilt finished at 72" x 80"

Edge to edge quilting with a pantograph called "Curl" by LEQ

The name of the quilt is "A Stroke of Blush"

Maddie, I Hope You Dance

Finished a special quilt order today.  When the order was placed for the granddaughter I was told that she was passionate about ballet.  Well, there is a song sung by LeeAnn Womack called "I Hope You Dance".  The words have great meaning to me.  I knew the quilt had to be named "Maddie, I Hope You Dance".  I used one verse from the song on the label.

The pattern is the Disappearing Pinwheel Basket by Missouri Star Quilt Co.  When I first saw the tutorial given by Jenny Doan the center of the blocks reminded me of dancers twirling around, arms spread out, and skirts in full twirl.  This had to be the pattern for this quilt.

The fabric is Artisan Batiks - Aqua Spa, Moda solid white, and Cobblestone by Connecting Threads in lavender.

I love this quilt,  My granddaughter loves this quilt.  I hope Maddie loves this quilt too.

I Hope You Dance
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hellbent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out, reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance 

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance 

Apple Time Quilt

My daughter in law, Trista, wanted to make a quilt for one of my grandson's teachers.  Apparently, she is an exceptional teacher.  Well, Trista is a busy mother of 4 & attending college as well.  I ended up making the quilt after finding a pattern called "Bushel of Apples" by  Penny Rose Fabrics.  It measures about 68" x 68".  I really like the bright colors.  Trista had purchased several fat quarters & I added some pink, yellow, white print, and the yellow & red border fabric.  I have given information on the apple appliques in a previous blog.

I machine quilted a very simple all over loop pattern with a custard colored thread.

I usually make a matching pillowcase to gift the quilt in.  However, this time I used the left over 9 patch squares and the one apple applique block and made a tote bag.  I am very happy with the results.

The sun finally shining through the front windows.  We had a storm blow through last night so it was too wet to take pictures outside.

I love all of the colors.

Had to make the label on my Babylock as my embroidery machine needs some work.  But it will do for this quilt.  I named the quilt "Apple Time".

Made a matching tote bag with the leftover 9 patch blocks & the one left over applique block.

Easy Strip Set Cuts

I like to find multiple uses for my die cutters. Just marked a horizontal line across the 2 1/2" strip die. Cuts the sets in  no time & they are ready to sew into 9 patch squares.

Cutting begins

I cut 10  1/2" pieces from the fat quarters then ran those through my Accucut die cutter using the 2 1/2" die. Seconds later I have all of my strips cut to make strip sets to make the 9 square blocks.  I can cut 10 layers of cotton fabric at one time!

Teacher's Quilt Started

My daughter-in-law requested a quilt for one of my grandsons teachers. Found the pattern by Penny Rose Fabrics called Bushel of Apples. It has 41 appliqué blocks. Well, you know how I like to simplify. Got out my Accuquilt dies and found three that would help me on this project. The 4" circle worked for the apple. I just had to draw the apple on the iron on transfer & cut out a small portion of the cut circle. Then I used the bottom of one of the cedar tree dies for the apple stem and used one of the leaf dies to ginish the apple appliqué. Started sewing them today. I rwally have enjoyed my die cutter!

New Year Brings New Projects

Well, I started a design in my head one night just after New Year's.  It is a simple block using all kinds of left over fabric.  The 2 1/2" squares have been utilized over the past 2 years and the box just doesn't seem to empty!  The 2 1/2" strips were from projects over the past year including kids PJs.  The 5" squares were leftover from prior projects.  It amazes me just how many quilts you can make from a little bag/box of scraps.  I have an idea to use some of the remaining scraps too.  I haven't even touched my scrap bins!

This quilt finished at approximately 78" x 87".  I backed it with some awesome flannel fabric.  I have used this flannel for PJs a few years ago and bought another piece of it a couple of years ago at Joann's Fabric.  What can I say, other than I love flannel backed quilts.  They were my most requested backings on the baby/kids quilts.

I used the one remaining block for the label.  Don't know why I named the quilt "Pieces of Time" other than the pieces used were from projects over the past couple of years or so.

Good way to use my not so favorite color (orange)

You can see the fun fabrics here: Dinosaurs, Monkey, Paisley, etc.

You can see that I tried to use up more of the 2 1/2 squares in the border!

This quilt was made using this one block.  It is how you set them in the rows that changes the look of the quilt.  I liked this setting the best.

Oh yes, This is what I still have left of the box & bag.  What's a girl to do?

Hope this year is fabulous for you and that you enjoy every single minute of it.