ALYoF April and Origami pouches

Done - Complete - Finished 

Amy Loves Kisses, delivered

There's nothing like the feeling of a finish, on time and delivered. I took it back to my sister and she loved it.  Linking up to ALYoF April goal party with a reference back to my goal setting post here. 

Amy's Backside 

One less WIP for her and a finished goal for me. That's a win win.  This is also the first of four 2015 FAL Q2 projects and a happy Finish It Up Friday too.

Charity Pouches for Pooches 

Origami Pouch - pieced version 

Last week I got together with my small quilt group the Fabric Hounds.  In the past we've donated quilts for a local auction event.  This year instead of one big collaborative item, they decided to make up several smaller things.  I volunteered to make all of the coordinating pouches to go along with the animal shaped coin purses they are sewing.  Yes I'm making more things but it still feels like the long end of the stick because these are a breeze. 

Finished Sides

We picked out fabrics for me to take home but the pretty V and Co Simply Color scraps weren't big enough.  I pieced them into an 18" square, problem solved.  Stitching along the sides make the inside seams are a little bulky with the extra layers but it looks nicely finished.   It really is a clever way to avoid raw edges.

Puppy Pouch 

Because I left the pattern on the counter when I walked out the door I referred to the YouTube video by Debbie Shore. I've got a couple more "modification" ideas bouncing around to try out.

Amy Loves Kisses, I love Retreats

I had commented that the colors in my sisters quilt were sweet as candy but I had to laugh at how true it was when I set down a handful on the table next to it.  The fabric line is "Love" is by Amy Butler so when I posted this photo on IG, the very clever Eileen @Luckycharm93635 commented "Amy Loves Kisses", ha ha.  This is my April ALoF 2015 linky goal. 

Building the Backing

Here's the pieced back - I sized the left over bars and alternated them with chunks of floral.   The front has a lot going on and adorable polkadots (see last post) were just too busy so the pink that reads as a solid won out along with the wavy stripe that will be the binding.

trim time - or not

An interested conversation on IG with Linda @flourishingpalms reminded me that when I first started quilting I use to attach my binding and then trim after.  There is more stability to it and an accurate trim from the stitch line but I've become impatient and like the feel of a "haircut" at this stage.  

View through the open door

We had gorgeous, gorgeous weather and such a pretty view out of the workroom door.  Both front and back were propped open until the sunset which comes much later than it does during our Fall Retreats.

Me & Anne

It seems as though I hardly ever get to hang out with Anne @playcrafts anymore so the extended four day weekend to sew, laugh, eat and chat was especially fun.  When I read the list of attendees I though I only knew a few but it turns out I'm just terrible at matching name with faces and recognized plenty.  My SIL came too and is joining our MQG, yeah.

Tassles, my bunk quilt

Packing which quilt gets to come along and adorn the cabin is kind of fun.  Last time it was Goats Askew, the time before my girly plus quilt.  On my first retreat it didn't occur to me until after to bring one.

Parts and Progress

Finally - the long awaited quilt for my son is more than just a stack of fabric.  I'll have to collect more light fabrics but I'm thrilled with the results so far.  At first I wasn't sure if the directional was going to bother me but I like it up and down and side to side just fine.

 Block Mock up

Also contemplating if I'll mix other than Parson Gray into it or not. Either way, it's a WIP Wednesday!

Sandwiched

Plans were for a FMQ marathon to take advantage of the massive space to spread out- that didn't happen.  It wasn't until towards the end but I did manage to sandwich what I came with and we're having a Sew Day soon.

Workspace

There are a lot of foodies who are also quilters and love to cook.  I however fall on the polar opposite of that stereotype which is one of the reasons all-inclusive is so appealing.  Three meals a day and snacks in between are my kind of arrangments.

Fresh Guacamole 

Happy Valley Conference Center does a wonderful job with local growers and with making things from scratch.  The only thing wrong with the sorbet was that it melted in the sun the day we ate on the patio and that I couldn't take a gallon of it home with me.

Cinnamon Rolls

The fresh cinnamon rolls were available for order the last day- to entice your family to let you come back again and again when you return with a tray of them in your hands.

The next Quilt Retreat for me will be in six months at our 4th Annual MQG private event held here but if you're local and interested in attending a Craft Retreat, check out Jen's dates for the rest of 2015.

Redwood Grove quilt

Redwood Grove Wedding Quilt

With the help of late night marathon sewing at our recent SBAMQG Quilt Retreat and a bit luck, my FAL Q4 project Redwood Grove has been gifted.   I'd hoped to complete it there but instead brought it home with about 1/3 FMQ done and kept going.

I managed to enlarge and finish the wedding quilt for my niece and her husband and deliver it in person at Thanksgiving - well before their first anniversary and in time for Finish it Up Friday and Whoop Whoop linky parties the aLYOF November goal and 2014 FALQ4 deadlines.   

For the binding, I used two similar fabrics (the green and the blue/green) that were in the quilt and included a pop out of the dark bamboo fabric in just one spot.  Also tossed here and there in the quilt you'll find some brighter rust because as much as I tried to narrow the palette to a cool calm one they had requested, I couldn't help myself.  

Basting at 3am on the floor of the workroom while most of the other attendees at the retreat were fast asleep.  Fortunately there were a couple of other hard core worker bees still at it and they were nice enough to help me manage this beast.   After adding two rows to the side and spicing in another 12" to the bottom the final size is 91"x 87" to give a better drape on their queen bed. 

Detail of Erik's Quilt

Working from stash felt good and I have quite a large batik collection that I still like despite not having added to it in awhile.  To give their quilt a touch of sentiment and cousins loving, I incorporated the fabrics that I used for the two quilts that I had previously made for my sons.    

Kyle's Quilt

My Q4 FAL 2014 goals are now at 2/7 with the finish of my IGmini swap quilt.  It'll be mailed off in a few days and I had better remember to take a photo of it bound.  This shot is from the retreat (matchstick at midnight) as well and I just love the lashes of Aurifil that were created.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Modern

Capitola Crossing

I really appreciate Amy's definition of Modern for the Festival - she says ' modern to you, is modern to me"  With that non-judgey spirit in mind I'm entering Capitola Crossing to the linky party.  In all honesty, I think it's pretty special that it was inspired by the Amish Railroad Crossing quilt from 1930

Triangle on a roll - the closest that I get to paper piecing!

Mock up color placement on the design board was a fun step.

The bright colors were chosen to represent the Begonia Festival and the one block mini reflects the small 2 square mile size of town and the railroad that runs through it.

My newish ruler came in so handy trimming up.   Although not a perfectionist (sort of an anti-perfectionist truth be told)  I didn't want to cut too many tips.  

I rarely (read: almost never) mark anything.  The color change is subtle but there are two different threads used inside and out of the chalk line. 

This is as close to matchstick as I've come with a wider spacing for the pink.  Linking up to Blogger's Quilt Festival - Modern category and to ALYOF October Finish Party.

Specs:
Started September 28, 2014
Finished October 4, 2014
Size: 28"x28"
Kona and Cotton Couture Solids
Bamboo Batting
Aurifil 50wt piecing 40wt quilting

Previous Blogger's Quilt Festival Entries: 

Spring 2014

Giant X-Plus  - Scrappy

Rip Tide - ROYGBIV

Fall 2013

Tassels - Group/Bee

Ring Around the Briar Rosies - Baby Quilt

Fall 2012

Old Italian Block - Scrap/ROYGBIV/Bed

Spring 2012

Catalyst (aka Mod Mosaic) - my first time to participate 

a SOLID plan

I've never made a quilt with only solids before and it's about time.  There have been blocks for bees and swap placemats, but not a quilt.  Here's my October aLYOF goal, a mini.  

HST all sewn and the rest is a mock up

It had better get done this month because I hit submit on the entry form to hopefully have it at the Community Exhibition Amish: A Modern Muse.  Titled "Capitola Crossing" instead of my catch-all Amish-ish I'm super excited about paying tribute to the little town I'm lucky to live in.

The original inspiration, a quilt from 1930 has a four block layout which I set out to duplicate and went into major mass production of HST to get the parts made. But in the end, the single RR was more fitting to represent the tiny 2 mile radius and the trestle that runs through.

62nd annual Begonia Festival August 2014

The upside is that I'm all set to make something amazing for my IGminiswap partner with the extras and I've got my heart set on a new Travel Handmade to take to Houston later this month - or at least to QuiltCon in February. 

Bling Solid

If you look closely at the last two ribbons you'll see that I added a bit of Cotton & Steel basics for a subtle bit of sparkle.  Here's a shot of one version of where I was headed earlier in the auditioning phase:

So many choices - I love that step

I also narrowed the with of the crosses for a more delicate girly look than the original Amish inspiration quilt.   My extra parts seen to the left are much fewer. 

Linking up to Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts after a much too long of a break (April, yikes).   I may try and recreate the missing mosaics for my flickr album to fill the gap.  

Don't you love how the King Clam looks the same size as my new mini?

Here's the proof that I've been working with solids.  I toss all my bits to the floor as I'm working and "combed" them up before vacuuming resulting in this heap.  Pretty sure my Dyson was not designed for this kind of mess.

Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced - check out the Round Up beauty she's been creating, gasp!

a WIP and a HOP

MQG Fabric Challenge Top

MQG Michael Miller Fabric Challenge Top Complete

With an extended deadline for the MQG Michael Miller Fabric challenge, I'll have no excuse for finishing this one up on time.  Now that members are uploading their entries on the MQG Community Forum I am very motivated.   It was important to me that I created an original design and to incorporate a bit of machine appliqué which I don't do often.

Machine Applique Close Up

 Actually - there are two quilts that I'm working on because I just couldn't seem to get my "parts" to play nicely together.   The far right has progressed into a more improv design and isn't quite there yet.Here's my design wall at one point.  The initial idea was to have different lengths of hooks stair stepping in  the quilt.  The colors are much softer in petal pinwheel than my usual palette.  

The parts on the far left didn't make the cut at all although I do like the question-mark-ish shape that was happening and may revisit that concept later.  Linking up to WIP Wednesday with Lee at Freshly Pieced and as my June Goal for ALYoF. 

Are you ready to HOP?

I'm excited to be part of the New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop this year.  Plum and June hosts this wonderful series and I've learned so much already.  Notice how my header is new and my sidebar is cleaned up?! 

The Blog Hop is in a few phases to give you a chance to check out as many of the 80+ participants that you can manage.    I'll be on the July link up list so be sure to visit again then.

Also, don't miss out on the Advice for New Bloggers at Plum and June.  She has a convenient page listing participants from not only this year but from previous ones too.  Even if you don't blog yourself, it'll lead you to some really great people!!

iPhone App

Lately it seems like there are more pictures of my granddaughter than of my sewing but at least many of them are ON my quilts! I'm lucky enough to spend time with her and we get to not only play dress up and photo shoot but I have fun matching up her outfit with the quilt.

I'm still getting to know my iPhone and try not to get distracted by too many apps.  One that I just love is PhotoGrid.  Rather than spamming my Facebook and Instagram feed with a zillion pictures, I make a mosaic with a few quick clicks. 

Super handy for posting the Show and Tell photos that I take each month at our SBAMQG meetings. It use to take me much more time using BigHuge Labs Mosaic Maker along with editing in Avery on flickr.  Now it's uploaded to our album before some members even get home. 

What's your favorite app?

Yes, I know I'm spoiled

I unpacked my suitcase after returning from a wonderful vacation being pampered at my sisters and immediately repacked it for a 4 day Quilt Retreat.  I'll share a picture of the finished quilt we made together from my last post, but first let me show you the progress I made on my niece's wedding quilt.

The pattern is Chain+Link from Quilty Magazine by Elizabeth (don't call me betsy)  It is available on Craftsy and on her blog.  The blocks are large so I took advantage of the nice big design wall to get this shot.  Notice the bald spot on the top row?  Oops, mis-cut.

Thank goodness we were a short drive to Hart's because I packed all the teal, aqua and yellow fabric and completely spaced out on bringing the background yardage.  Kona Snow to the rescue. The wedding isn't until June but I'm on a roll so I'll call this my April ALYoF goal. 

There wasn't much sleep to be had, yet I brought my Kaffe cross because it seemed only right to come with a quilt to the retreat.   I also dusted off my umbrella but we really only had one full day of rain on Saturday.

The dining hall was a short walk across the bridge and I took this picture on my way to dinner - I love the inviting glow of the workroom nestled cozy in the redwoods.

Sunny skies when it was time to pack up on Sunday so no worries about how to keep my machine dry and get it safely to my car. 

Usually I bring a billion options but this time it was just TWO projects: the wedding quilt to start and this Houndstooth to finish (my March ALYoF goal).  

I managed to piece the back and baste it Thursday morning before leaving for the retreat and did all the quilting and trimming before going to bed at 2am that night.  The binding was attached the next morning so I thought it was a slam dunk but as you can see from the clips still on when I showed it at our guild meeting, I'm still hand-stitching.

Not only that, but my 2014 FAL Q1 Goal yielded one finish out of four.   Linking up to the Finish Party with my pillow. I've been busy and I've been productive - just not on the projects I thought.

Allowing an impromptu project to detour goals is just fine with me.  Especially when the result is a great collaborative time and beautiful gift.  My sister's friend really loved it.  

Rainbow Twist

We were inspired by this quilt made by Sanda at the 2013 SBAMQG Retreat.  Working from several bundles of FQs and using the extra blocks the back was quite the time consuming challenge.  

One of my favorite design elements of the quilt is the binding where I paired the block fabrics along the edges to emphasize the rainbow layout.  Totally doing that again :) 

I know the calendar says a March recap mosaic is in order as well as a 2014 FAL Q2 mosaic, but for now - I need a nap. Linking up Rainbow Twist to Amanda Jean at Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday. 

Really Random Rainbow

Double Rainbow

On the topic of Rainbows - I was driving to my small group when I spotted a double rainbow in the sky.  Finding parking in Capitola Village isn't always easy and I was hoping it wouldn't disappear before I could pull over.  You would have thought it was a UFO in the sky the way we all scrambled.  Linking up to Really Random Thursday at Live a Colorful Life.