Holly's Quilt

I have an exceptional friend who is expecting a baby in October. She has two little boys and is expecting her first GIRL!! When I found out what she was expecting, I got straight to work on a baby quilt. When I attended Quilt Market Meetup, in my goody bag I got a sample pack of reproduction Micheal Miller fabrics. I thought they colors and fabrics were perfect match for my friend. I recently finished the top and can't wait to quilt it, bind it and present it to my dear friend. Stay tuned on the progress!

Propeller Quilt Finished

Over the weekend, I finished the border (machine quilting) and the binding on my propeller quilt. I choose three straight lines for the borders. I didn't feel anything specific calling out to me and since my machine quilting skills are below minimal I decided for Safe and Simple.

I choose a checked yellow binding. I thought it brought out the yellow in the border and since yellow is never my first choice...I went out on a limb. Don't get my wrong, I love yellow. I adore yellow: sun + bananas + flowers + hair color + yield signs. You name it yellow and I love it. But when I look through my closet or my stash yellow is hardly seen. Maybe I need to make an all yellow quilt just to prove to yellow that I like her. Brilliant!!

FYI ~ these pictures do not do this quilt justice. My camera was really acting up.

Machine Quilting

Over the long holiday weekend I attempted my first machine quilting. I had done little things here and there, but nothing bigger than about 24" by 24". I knew with my husband home to watch the kids and my baby on his nap schedule I felt pretty confident I could get it done.

Five years ago I bought my Bernina and I told myself... "now you can learn to machine quilt!!" I was so excited.... free-motion quilting was something I was eager to learn. Well, over the last five years I've done absolutely nothing. Nadda! To be completely honest, I was scared of screwing up and by the time I got the top finished I just wanted to send it off to Ella and have her do all the dirty work. Not this time, I gave myself a good lil' pep talk and I couldn't be more proud!

Before getting started I consulted a few friends, watched a few youtube videos and read online about tips and tricks.

Realizing I was a newbie to machine quilting, I chose a QUILT top I felt confident with. It took me a couple days to iron, smooth, smooth again and pin. This was the scary part: what if the back is just a hot mess?!? with puckers and folds and whatnots? Luckily the quilt is just under twin size and easy enough to manage. Besides, I don't know if I would conceivably ever try and machine quilt a Queen or King myself.

In my kitchen, trying to keep things relaxed and easy going.

Because of the size of my borders and blocks I didn't have to mark the quilt. I just made sure my walking foot was in between the white fabric!

I am so excited! The quilting looks beautiful. I feel like I've crossed an invisible hurdle and can now use my machine for small simple quilts. Straight line machine quilting was perfect for this quilt. I wasn't sure how I wanted to quilt the borders so I'm taking a few days to contemplate my next stitch.

Quilt Market Fun-0-Rama and more!!

I recently got a smart phone and have a fun little app called Instagram! It alters your photos in fun little ways and I love it!! (high pitched at the end) I used my phone to take all my pictures of Quilt Market. So take a peek and enjoy.

 The owner of Pine Needles here in Ut, had a booth with her ah-mazing quilts.

 Moda Booth(s) was ginormous! It was set up like a county fair. I love it!!

 New line of paper doll fabric!!

 Pam Kitty Morning booth ~ strawberry a-go-go!!

 Crabapple Hill Studios ~ there booth was breathtaking. My favorite!!

 The famous Fabric Tree.

Sarah Jane Studios ~ another Utah designer.

Quilt Market is creatively overwhelming. You just fall in love and think things can be any better and then you turn the corner and your blown away all over again. Thank goodness Quilt Market will be back again in Salt Lake City. I heard again in 4 years, hopefully sooner.

Quilt Market Fun-0-Rama!!

Quilt Market came to Salt Lake City last month and I was lucky enough to be able to attend. Four years ago, it came for the first time to Salt Lake and I had an amazing experience. This year I knew what I was in for and Quilt Market did not disappoint!! I took lots of pictures, bought home lots of loot and got inspired for months worth of quilting and creativity.

Here are some of the lucky take-homes I snagged. The ewww-ing and ahhh-ing that must begin. I love little take-homes!!! Magazines, fabric collections, buttons, fabric, little patterns, inspiration and more.

Cute, cute, cross stitch from The Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery!

 Sarah Jane Studios New Fabric Collections ~ she's from right here in Utah!!

Photos and more to come all about Quilt Market!

Quilt Market Meet-up

Quilt Market this year is in Salt Lake City. The last time it was in Salt Lake I had the opportunity with a friend to gawk, squeal, crush and more while visiting all the vendors booths. My favorite was Anna Griffith, they were giving away lovely souvenir bags and American Jane which was all decked out like a little house!


This year during Quilt Market some great quilt bloggers, Amy and Calli are hosting a Quilt Market Meetup!!
I think it is such a fabulous idea and going to be so much fun. They sold out of tickets in no time, but I will take pictures and fill you in on all the details.

Quincy Quilt ~ Finished

I finished the binding on the Quincy Quilt I am giving my friend, who is on baby girl #4. I used the doggie fabric that I used on the inner border...it turned out splendid. I wrapped it up with a pretty bow and off it will go today. I hope she likes it, when you make something personal, like a quilt, with colors and fabrics you always take a bit of a risk...is it their style, do they like the colors? I'll keep you posted.

I also made her three burb cloths from the border fabrics. So easy and quick. Tutorial here.

I added a little baggie of dried lavender (my fav!) and a sweet gift tag from Vintage Fern.

Quincy Quilt Quilted

Over the weekend, I had the Quincy Quilt Quilted (try and say that 3 x fast). I had a soft butterfly swirl quilted in white thread. I think it turned out great and doesn't take away from the propellers and embroidery. I can't wait to sew on the binding, wrap it up and give it to my sweet friend, she only has 6 weeks to go. Doesn't every pregnant Mom need a 6 week pick me up?

Quilted Butterfly.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day. I hope everyone is feeling as lucky as I feel today....three wonderful little boys, an amazing husband, health, happiness. I wish all of you the same.

Yesterday was the anniversary of my Mother-in-law's death 4 years ago. Although she is missed, we believe she is in a much better place. I wanted to share a quilt I inherited from her when she passed. Bonnie loved quilts, loved to collect antique quilts and was also a huge supporter of the quilts I made.

I call this her St. Patrick's Day quilt. The greens are beautiful in this quilt, and the hand stitching on the white blocks is very intricate. I don't know how old the quilt is, but it doesn't have any batting, so I guess it is called a "summer quilt". I am not sure if the stars are Bethlehem or Lonestar, any opinions?

Have a great St. Patrick's Day everyone, and no pinching!!

Quincy Quilt ~ Embroidery

In my free-time this weekend I worked on the embroidery for the Quincy Quilt. I wanted to add a few  flower accents to the baby quilt I am making for a friend.

I based the flowers loosely on the border fabric (see below). I used three different shades of lavender to give the petals dimension. I add a little yellow center and a few simple stems and leaves.

Four sweet flowers in each of the corners.

Each flower is unique and different....no two were embroidered the same. The leaves and stems as well.  Because this is her fifth baby and fourth girl, I wanted to make the four flowers represent the new baby with her three big sisters.

Quincy Quilt

A dear friend of mine is having her fifth baby (fourth girl) and I wanted to make her something special. I had nine extra purple propellers, from this quilt, and decided to make her a baby quilt. This little gal will arrive with tons of raven black hair just like her siblings and I think she'll look so cute wrapped up in this new baby quilt. I love the little 30's minty green jack russell inner border from Aunt Grace (Marcus Brothers) I think it is the perfect match.

She isn't due for a few more months, so I want to add a few embroidered embellishments in the white borders, just to make it special. I've heard a few friends joke, because she this will be their fifth baby, they should name her Quincy! I think that is a cute idea.

Vintage Propeller Quilt Top

My First Quilt of 2011 finished, we'll the top at least! Vintage Propellers by Connecting Threads. All in good part to most of my blocks being completed by my quilt group.

I love how simple mistakes will change the course of a quilt. After mis-measuring my border fabric: Maywood Studios "Just Makin' Conversation" (see below) I was left wanting about 12" of fabric. I was so mad at myself!  As I was going thru my stash and thinking up every conceiveable option, I decided to add propellers to the 4 corners to complete my border. I had just enough "Maywood" fabric to make my propellers, {fhew!} and I think it turned out better than I had originally imagined.

Even though I initially wanted my borders to be yellow or purple, I decided on blue because of the little cats in their red and yellow clothes. I like how all three colors tied the whole quilt together. Plus, I must have baby blue on the brain, because I generally don't decide on blue when pinks, reds and greens are options.

Vintage Propeller Quilt

It has been beautiful the last several days and I am taking full advantage, by taking my photos out of doors. I have been hard at work and finished sewing all my blocks together on my Vintage Propeller Quilt. Picking a border is tricky with so many great colors....I can't just pick one!

Quilt Love

I've had the itch to start quilting again {post baby} but finding the time has been harder than I anticipated. It seems like every time I sit down to start quilting the baby decides his nap is over or when I have a few  minutes a million other things need to get done {shower, laundry, dinner, homework}.

Since it is February, I decided to show some LOVE to a few of my "old-half finished" projects before I tackled anything new. Not only would it bring a huge since of satisfaction to finish something in my TO-DO pile, but being half way complete would get me that much closer to finishing before February is over.

I immediately decided to work on my Vinatage Propeller Blocks from {gasp} September 09!! I had nearly all the blocks given to me by my Loch Lommond Quilt Group. I just needed to make a few more in a couple colors {red and blue} and then I was ready to start piecing the blocks together. I am really happy with the progress from about last Wednesday. I am making the quilt 6 across by 8 down, once I put the borders on it should be about twin size. I haven't determined the borders size yet, put I am leaning towards a yellow or purple fabric choice.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Presidents Day and the long weekend!!!

Henry's Quilt

About 2 weeks before I had Henry I finished this quilt top for him. I love the main fabric. I searched high and low for the perfect fabric in every quilt store along the Wasatch Front. I wanted something that said "little" but not "baby". I adapted the quilt top from a few quilt ideas off Red Pepper Quilts.

I finally decided how I wanted Henry's Quilt quilted.

I had my quilt buddy Ella do a checkerboard pattern.

I love how it turned out....looks very boy-ish.

 The quilt measures 50" by 50".

I love the stripe I picked out for the binding. It is so playful and fun.

Japanese Strawberry Fabric

If you follow my blog you know I am obsessed with Strawberries. I love them. Everyone who knows me -- knows I love strawberries. My Sister-in-Law recently moved back from Japan and brought me the most wonderful of presents: Japanese Strawberry fabrics. For the last couple years I have been planning to make a strawberry quilt; theses amazing prints will only add to my growing collection!!! thanks Erika.