Quilting Happiness~Finding my quilting style

What is your quilting style? How do you define your style? 

I have always loved collage and am very excited and inspired to be included in Christina Lane and Diane Gilleland's blog hop for the upcoming release of Quilting Happiness

It has been years since I have done a collage and until now had not realized how similar it actually is to quilting. Selecting pictures from magazines is much like choosing fabrics for a new quilt. We are all drawn to certain colors, shapes and moods. One of the exercises in this book helps you to explore your style by creating a collage and answering questions based on the collage you create.

I found that my selections are very color driven. Many of the images I selected feature colors that have been popping up in my fabric pulls and drawings for new quilt projects.

As I was ripping out pictures from magazines I had no idea how closely they would relate to my recent fabric choices and quilting projects, but when I uploaded the pictures it was pretty undeniable.

This exercise was both relaxing and informative, I am looking forward the collection of quilt projects and other exercises, tools and quizzes that will be found in Quilting Happiness.

I also found that I have an over abundance of food magazines. As it turns out I like to EAT,  QUILT, and BUY FABRIC. Maybe next time I go to eat something I shouldn't I will rationalize it by saying I am eating it for quilt inspiration. This quilting happiness may lead me to something creative and tasty....homemade ice cream perhaps?

I am also seeing a trailer vacation with rainbows and a Tilamook bus in my future, hopefully filled with beautiful pillows, quilts and lots of cheddar.


Please hop over to the other fabulous bloggers who also took part in this fun exercise.
15.Jul : Diane Gilleland @ CraftyPod
  & Christina Lane @ The Sometimes Crafter
16.Jul : Jennifer Casa @ JCasa
17.Jul : Krista Withers @ Krista Withers Quilting
18.Jul : Amber Carrillo @ One Shabby Chick
19.Jul : Karyn Valina @ Make Something

Mermaids, Unicorns and other mythical excuses for hoarding fabric.

If you are like me, you have been hanging onto mermaid and unicorn fabric and you know that the longer you have it the harder it becomes to use, the more difficult it becomes to find, thus the more it hurts to cut. It's actually quite a brilliant excuse for hoarding fabric but it's time has finally come.
After seeing Katie's triangle quilt it became very clear to me that I needed to make a triangle quilt for Lucy. I backed it with lavender minky rosebud swirls because yes, I love her that much.

Snuggling up beneath it with her made me realize that I had to have my own version, so the pulling began. Lucy's quilt has a palette of pink, purple lavender, yellow and orange. I am making my version with blues, greens, cerise, lavender and orange. It feels very ice sherbet,  it IS summer here so,
 tis the season!

As is the case with most anything I piece, a bit of Frankenquilt works its way into my work. I can't let these precious bits go unused.

On the design wall just needs a few more triangles!

 Already thinking about the backing fabric. This green Kaffe paperweight is a front runner. Have you felt the hand on the newly released Westminister fabrics? HOLY SOFT!

Because I can't stop I have pulled for yet a third mermaid quilt:
 

Happy Hoarding.

Maze and Swirls

For some longarm quilters our tendency is to quilt the heck out of it. Yet often all that a quilt really needs is a flowing design to add texture and movement without overwhelming the quilt. This quilt was made by Amanda in Katie's value class. I was instantly in love with the quilt and knew that to make this quilt shine without overwhelming the stunning overall design that a simple swirls pattern would be perfect.

Amanda's Value Quilt

I have quilted this digital swirls pattern on many quilts now and it always seems to work, the quilt stays soft and cozy and is never stiff. Baptist fans have the same overall effect but with a slightly more traditional twist.

Now it would be silly for me to say that I don't like a lot of quilting because obviously I do and when Michelle sent me this beauty with her only instructions being, I want it custom and do "whatever", I couldn't resist. I love the traditional look of the orange peel design which is perfect for a quilt with a lot of squares.I added some very big swirls some maze here and there and I even squeezed a moon in there.

Michelle's scrappytripalong

Speaking of Moons, when Cindy brought me her peace quilt I immediately thought I needed to add a moon. I am a bit crescent moon obsessed.

Cindy's Peace Sign Quilt

What about the Maze I was talking about? Well, I have another digital pattern that I have grown to know and love, it is an on point maze and like the swirls it looks good on anything. It adds the same texture and movement yet the quilt retains the supple soft quality. We chose it for Penny's drop dead gorgeous snowball quilt.

Penny's Snowball Quilt

Penny's snowball Quilt

Thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Happy Sunday!

We have a winner!

Hi everyone! 

Leanne you won!!! I hope you love it!

Thank you everyone for all of your comments and love on this purse. This purse is NOT that hard to make! Hell, I made it using Vinyl! The pattern is from Alexia's book Liberty Love   ALL ZIPPED UP BAG of awesomeness..

Thanks for stopping by for the Micro Mod Sew ALong!!

xoxo

 

Micro Mod

Happy Sunday and Welcome to my stop on the Micro Mod Sew Along!

I had the pleasure of meeting Alexia at Quilt Con and was thrilled to find out she would be teaching a class from her book Liberty Love at Drygoods Design here in Seattle. In her class we whipped up some Around town Tote bags and I got to see her All Zipped Up bag in class as well as the ever popular Marcelle Medallion Quilt. When Alexia invited me to be a part of this sew along I was thrilled.

Putting on my thinking cap I quickly resolved to making yet another (yes this is my third) All Zipped Up Bag from Liberty Love. I think that it's a perfect merge of this amazing husband/wife team. Alexia's pattern, Rob's fabric...a match made in Heaven? Well.....yes!
 

I just returned from a family road trip to California where I picked up some metallic vinyl. Not your typical quilting cotton mind you, a bit different, maybe even a bit odd (think your favorite diners seat cover).  More than either of those two adjectives a  bit delicious and retro especially paired with Rob's awesomely retro and funky line!
It all started with the triangles, I mixed the micro mod with what I believe I have identified as a green essex linen (not 100% sure on this) I added in some field study, a bit of Echino and the marvelous Melody Miller Telephone.

 I added a front panel with a zipped pocket because I love a front zipper on a purse.

 This is the bag almost done just waiting for a handle and some hardware. I lined the purse with what might be my favorite from the Micro mod line: Tick Tock in white!

And Voila!

 The All Zipped Up bag all done!All metallic, all funky all Micro Mod fun!

All Zipped Up is right and ready to go!!!

WIN THIS BAG!!!
If you would love this bag I would love to give it to you.
 I ask three simple things of you: do something kind for yourself, do something kind for someone else and comment here with any reason you would love this bag. I will choose a winner on Tuesday evening. 

I hope you have enjoyed this stop, and be sure to follow along with the rest of  the His and Hers microMod sew along! If you make a project from the sew along be sure to tag it on Instagram with #microMod , and add itto the microMod flickr group.

There will be prizes at each stop, and at the end of the month you can enter to win an amazing grand prize: A fat quarter stack of microMod by Rob Bancroft from Cloud9 fabrics, the entire Green Bee Patterns collection, a microMod sewing bag, and a Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine! (Open to contiguous US residents only.)

April 2 - Alexia & Rob Green Bee
April 3 - Kelly at Kelbysews
April 5 - Amanda at the Craft Junky
April 6 - Rachael at Imagine Gnats
April 8 - Heather at alamode
April 10 - Holly at Bijou lovely
April 13 - Alexia, Michelle & Rob Green Bee  
April 17 - Faith at Fresh Lemons
April 18 - Katie at Swim Bike Quilt
April 19 - Deborah at Whipstitch
April 20 - Jacey at Jaceycraft
April 24 - Jenny at the Southern Institute
April 25 - Amy from sukie don't ya know
April 26 - Jen from Betty Crocker Ass
April 27 - Sara from Sew Sweetness
April 22 - Krista at Krista Withers Quilting
April 29 - Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey
April 30 - Amber from One Shabby Chick
May 1 - Alexia & Rob Green Bee GRAND PRIZE

Modern Maze

 I love spiral quilting,  I mean REALLY love it. Love to do it, love to draw it, love to look at it. Mixed with a maze, some pebbles and it may be my favorite quilting design. The following quilts are customer quilts that I have freehand quilted this modern maze on and I am super proud to share that Modern Maze is available for computerized quilting systems,  paper patterns are available as well.
I work with Jessica from digitech designs, her patterns are fabulous and her digitizing is amazing. One of my favorite patterns is her baptist fan pattern which is one of my go to digital patterns for any quilt from modern to traditional.
I hope to be coming out with many more allover designs for modern quilts to share with you. Modern Maze will be on sale for half off until Jan. 31st!! Hope you are all enjoying the start of 2013!

 Thanks for stopping by!!

Customer Quilt

Quilt by Suzie

Quilt by Melody Crust

Digi-Tech