Sunny's Table Runner

While my blog and IG have been pretty quiet, I have gotten a bit of sewing done. Not a lot, but a bit. I've been wrapping up loose ends that have been started at various stages, and have even done a few more Sampler Shuffle blocks. But today, I'm going to share this table runner I just finished for my friend Sunny. I made her a table runner two years ago for her birthday, and she just loves it, which makes me so happy! There's nothing like having your handmade gifts appreciated and valued. But, she moved. Boo! She still uses the table runner, but not on her main dining table like she did when she lived here. She requested another one, and I can't say no to a friend like Sunny, so I set about choosing fabrics.

Her new house is in a snowbird town, and for years, that's how they treated it. They would winter there and summer here. But it got to be too much for them and they decided to permanently relocate. So, I've visited their house, but couldn't compare colors quite as easily...so I took over a stack of fabric in the colors she requested (lipstick red, black, and cream) to let her pick and all my reds were way wrong. So when I visited her new home a couple months later, I took my color card with me and she picked Kona Crimson. Not exactly lipstick red, but that's okay. ;-) She picked out a fabric I had that had black and gold, and since I didn't have enough of anything for the designs I was considering, I picked up a black and a cream that had gold in them.

I chose a drunkard's path design, and I think she'll really like it! When it came to quilting, I was lost. So I did some simple echo quilting in the crimson section. I kept it nice and simple. 

What's great about this layout is that precision isn't super important in the curved piecing--there aren't  any points to line up. And since it's a table runner, I only needed 24 blocks, so it went together pretty fast! I used templates in the size I needed from Angela Pingel's A Quilter's Mixology.

This is way not my style, the colors definitely aren't what I would pick, but I really hope she loves it. Sometimes, making a quilt for someone else means working with things you wouldn't ever pick for yourself.

Sunny's Runner
pieced and quilted by me
Completed July 2016

Christmas in July

Last year, I started a Christmas quilt and I used a bunch of fabrics from my stash, including several lines from Kate Spain. I picked the Seaside quilt pattern from Vintage Quilt Revival. Have I mentioned how much I loved that book?

When I finished it, I started trying to figure out a backing. I had some Christmas flannel I'd purchased years ago, but it wasn't enough, and honestly, none of the larger cuts I had were enough. So, I needed to figure out a pieced back or buy a bunch of yardage...I'd spent a lot on fabric around that time and decided I'd better just use what I had. And then I realized that I could make another quilt top to use as the back...and I picked another one from Vintage Quilt Revival. The Star Bright quilt finished up at the same size, so I just needed to add two extra blocks and extend the side panels. It was a great way to use up more yardage I'd purchased, including a couple of yards of a Kate Spain print.

Of course, I started the first top back in August, but I didn't get around to starting the backing until October...and with Christmas gift sewing, there was no way I was going to get it done in time for Christmas. I finally got it to Abby Latimer for quilting in January.

And then when I got it back, I was in my first trimester so it sat...and sat...and is finally bound now in July. I probably shouldn't have recounted that long history...it makes me sound so pathetic! But, it's more a matter of priorities, right? I've been sewing, but Christmas sewing wasn't my top priority in May, if you can believe it. But now that I'm trying to clear out my WIPs before the babies arrive, it finally made it back to the top of my list.

Anyway, a huge goal in making this quilt was to use up a bunch of my Christmas stash, and I was semi-successful...I still have a bunch, but I've gotten it a bit more under control. :-) Really, I've been trying to sew from my stash, not just use it up. I don't have a HUGE stash, but when I look at it, and see how many quilts I could make completely from my stash without buying more fabric, I feel like I really should use what I have before shopping when possible. After all, I bought it originally because I loved it! Of course, then I went out and bought a bunch of yardage of The Cookie Exchange by Sweetwater...I'm a sucker for Sweetwater Christmas fabric.

I love how this turned out. It's really different than my other two Christmas quilts, and I love it. I have plans to get a Sweetwater Christmas quilt made eventually...we'll see. Now that we'll have 4 kids instead of just 2, I'll need another Christmas quilt. :-)

Modern Christmas
completed July 2016
quilted by Abby Latimer

Starting the Sampler Shuffle

I got a funny hankering a couple weeks ago to make a sampler quilt. I know, weird, right? But, I guess I was feeling like I was missing the Saturday Sampler at my local shop (it's been several years since I've done it and sign ups for the next year just recently closed) and a part of me felt like it would be a good way to do some quilting while I'm so pregnant. I don't always have energy to do a whole lot, and a big quilt seems daunting (though I for sure have some on my list, even with fabrics picked out!). Plus...I was browsing through Camille Roskelley's blog and found her Farmer's Wife posts, and her blocks are just too dang cute! It makes me want to make one. Except, I've seen the Farmer's Wife book, and there are way too many templates for my taste. I'm a rotary gal. So I hemmed, and hawed...I have Elizabeth Hartman's sampler book, and I have Vintage Quilt Revival as well, both of which have sampler patterns. But, Elizabeth Hartman's is largely template based too, and I wasn't sure I was ready to jump into learning her method, and I just wasn't feeling the Vintage Quilt Revival one. I'm not sure why...I just wasn't. Then I remembered Moda's Sampler Shuffle from last year, and while I did download most of the patterns as they went live, Fat Quarter Shop still has their page up with all the downloads. Score! And aside from the two appliqué blocks, it was exactly what I wanted. Simple, traditional blocks. I'll replace the appliqué blocks with something else--maybe second blocks of a couple of the patterns or something, with the colors changed up.

Of course, I'm all optimistic about making myself a cute sampler from my scrap boxes, but let's be honest...I'll probably fizzle out before finishing...

But, I have gotten a few blocks made! I started with Block #1 because it's one of my favorite traditional blocks anyway, and number 1 seemed like a great place to start. It was designed by Pat Sloan, and I just love how the design works. 

Block 1

For my fabrics for this, I've got a whole bin full of scraps pulled, so hopefully that will be sufficient. I pulled scraps in magenta, navy blue, aqua, yellow, and gray.  I would love to not have to cut into any yardage until it's time to set the blocks! We'll see. Again, I'm getting a little ahead of myself, aren't I? After all, I don't even know how many more weeks I'll be able to sit behind the machine!

Block 2

I've made a total of 5 blocks so far, and I've gone in order. Not that it's necessary, since all the patterns have been published, but it does make it easier to decide which blocks to do!

Block 3

I'm pretty pleased with all of them so far except for block 4, which I might redo. I thought my idea was kinda cool, but it didn't turn out like I expected. Which is fine--you don't really know until you try, right?

Block 4

Block 5

Anyway, we'll see how this goes. I'm enjoying seeing them come together, but we'll have to see how many I get done! 

Rainbow Dash Mini Quilt

Last year, I signed up for the Rainbow Mini Quilt Swap Round 2 run by Kate Basti. She runs a tight ship and I remembered seeing so many beautiful minis during the first round, so I was thrilled to be able to participate! I got a really lovely mini from Leah.

And for my partner, I made a rainbow churn dash mini. I wanted to use different fabrics for every patch, and that meant that, because of how I would sew the half square triangles, that I would have twice as many as I needed for her mini. I decided to use extra long pieces and make double the other blocks as well so I could have a mini of my own.

And then I got pregnant. I hurried and finished up the mini for my partner and sent it off, but the other blocks waited and waited until I felt up to sewing again.

I finished it a week ago or so. I did have to cut new center squares because apparently, I neglected to do that. Instead of fishing out the same fabrics and cutting new squares, I used some extra mini charm squares from V&Co's two lines Simply Colorful and Simply Colorful 2 I had in my bin. They were just the size I needed and the colors were spot on for the blocks. Yay! The only other difference between my new mini and the original for the swap is the binding; I bound the original in white and bound mine is gray. I think they're both good binding colors for this.

I love it. I don't know if my partner loves hers, I hope she does, but I love it and I'm looking forward to getting it up on my wall.

Baby Sewing

When I found out I was pregnant, I started casually thinking about making a baby quilt, and maybe a couple of things. I never got around to making a diaper clutch with my other babies, and I thought that would be nice, and maybe some extra receiving blankets. I wasn't stressed, because we had most of the things we needed.

Then I found out I was expecting TWINS (yep, still saying it in all caps in my head). And I started getting a bit more stressed. Not only did I need TWO baby quilts (every baby should get a handmade quilt, preferably from her mother, in my opinion...) but I also needed a second car seat cover, and a diaper clutch wasn't just a nice thing, but something I'd probably really need, and extra swaddling blankets...and I was exhausted because my body was growing two babies. And, to add insult to injury, the very thought of sewing made my stomach churn. Groan. I didn't know you could have nausea about activities, but apparently, you can. And I did. Yes, it was heartbreaking.

Luckily, it didn't last long, and I was able to get my short list of baby things done. I had a Terrazzo quilt by Freshly Pieced already cut out and the colors worked for a girl, so that one became a baby quilt, and I whipped up a quick, modern quilt from Vintage Quilt Revival with a single, off-center large block. I hurried them up to my quilter so I could get them back and bound before I didn't fit behind the machine any more...no pictures of those because they're not here right now.

I also whipped up 4 swaddling blankets out of double gauze. I hesitated about this one, because the uber popular Aden and Anais ones are expensive, but so is double gauze fabric!

I did the math and it was honestly probably a wash, but I went for it anyway because I ordered some Cotton and Steel Bespoke double gauze from Fabric.com for only $11.50/yd and some Michael Miller double gauze that was extra wide for only $9.50/yd. I knew the C&S double gauze was far softer than anything else and I was just dying to make a couple out of the super soft double gauze, and so I went for it. Hemming isn't too hard.

I did make myself a diaper clutch and I made one for a friend who is due only 3 weeks before me, which probably means we'll end up delivering close together. It's her first, and she's having a boy. These go together so fast!

I made one for a good friend when she had her first baby a couple of years ago and she has mentioned how much she loves it and has even made it for gifts for other new moms because she loves it so much. The tutorial is from Cluck Cluck Sew. I altered it and fused fusible fleece to one fabric and then used quilting cotton for both sides instead of minky or chenille. I don't like stretchy fabric... 

And I managed to get in a second car seat cover, also from a Cluck Cluck Sew tutorial. This was a must-do for me; I love how it keeps sun, lots of germs, and strangers out of my baby's space, and doesn't fall to the ground like a regular receiving blanket. These are wonderful. Two was a necessity for sure.
 

I even managed to use fabric from my stash for the car seat cover, the diaper clutches, and the quilts (I had to order fabric for the back of one, but used leftover flannel for the other--score!). I always feel good about myself when I manage to use my fabric stash! :-)

So, baby sewing is all but done. I need to figure out bindings for the baby quilts and get those on when I get them back. Now, that doesn't mean I don't have a sewing to do list, and a few more things I'd like to wrap up before babies' arrival, but at least I've got those things done! 

Siena quilt

I have been AWOL for a very good reason. I've been in bed. Resting. Because I'm pregnant with TWINS. Yes, I have to type it in all caps because even still, that's how I say it in my head. I've known since early March, at 8 weeks, and the shock has only sort of worn off. Every time I think to myself that I've adjusted to the fact that there are TWO, I realize something else that's going to be difficult. Oh yeah--I need to buy not one new carseat because my infant carseat has expired, but TWO. And TWO cribs (because my youngest jumped in our old hand-me-down crib sufficiently to completely break it), and a DOUBLE stroller. And...and...and... *sigh* So many things. Also--maternity clothes. Because I have borrowed in the past and have exactly 3 shirts, 2 pairs of pants (not capris or shorts, mind, and I will endure the bulk of my pregnancy in summer), and 2 dresses. Most of which I will probably grow out of this time because, oh yeah, TWINS.

I'm overwhelmed, obviously. And exhausted. But, luckily, I'm not spending my days over the toilet. I've been very fortunate with all my pregnancies in that way--definite nausea, but rare vomiting. TMI? Sorry. I'll stop now. Oh, and my due date based on dates is October 9th, but twins will most likely appear earlier, so probably sometime in September.

Anyway...even though I've been staying in bed ALL the time, I still have some things to share. For one, I have a quilt appearing in a publication! I submitted my first quilt submission to Modern Patchwork last year and it was accepted! I'm so thrilled to finally be able to share--it's finally on news stands (April 19th was the official release date!) and I'm not going to lie--seeing my quilt professionally photographed was such an amazing experience. You can order it online here (it's available in print and digital)



I designed this quilt after my husband and I traveled to Italy to celebrate our tenth anniversary. We saw some amazing mosaics and frescoes all over Italy, but one that really struck me was in the Crypt at the Duomo in Siena. I drew out the design (no photography there, boo) and when I got home, I worked for a few weeks on transferring the idea into a workable patchwork and sewed it up. I gifted it to my husband as a late anniversary gift and also submitted it to the magazine. Because it was a gift for my tactile-oriented husband, I chose to back it with minky. And while I really wanted to do it in a variety of navys and gray, I really wanted to incorporate aqua into it because it's his favorite color, so I added just a pop and used aqua for the binding. And I love it.

When I submitted it, I submitted a photo of the finished quilt, but I also submitted a mock up of a version in solids with a focal block and after drawing it up, I think I might have liked it better! I was willing to sew it up for the publication, but so grateful that they wanted the one already sewn--I don't know if I would have had time to finish it up!

Anyway, I'm so excited and proud to see this quilt in publication! You can find the Spring 2016 issue of Modern Patchwork on news stands now--I've seen them at Joann's and sometimes at Barnes and Noble. Or, you can order a copy at their website. Also--make sure to check out your local quilt shop! Mine don't typically carry Modern Patchwork (boo) but yours might. And I love supporting local. :-)

When there just aren't words

About a month ago, a family in our neighborhood lost their two-year-old son. He had a tumor in and around his spine, and after the few months it took to find it, they lost him during treatment. The grief has filled our neighborhood, where we have seen too much loss (two families lost their newborns only hours after birth last summer), and many people have reached out to this poor family. Someone decorated the neighborhood with orange ribbons, a dozen women helped make small orange bows to pin on at the funeral, and many more have contributed meals and other meaningful offerings.



Please excuse the awful picture...I had the quilt for only 2 days between the binding and delivery, and we had horrible, dark weather both days...

Before he died, I began to plan a neighborhood quilt with a friend, but the boy died before most of us had started sewing. I was saddened that the quilt was now going to be a memorial quilt, but we pressed on and had almost 20 women help in some way on the quilt, whether it was donating money to help pay for the long arm quilting and backing, or contributing blocks, or offering help in laying out the final quilt.

I was overwhelmed by the number of people who offered to help, especially since many didn't know the family well. I think everyone really felt absolute sadness at the loss of a toddler. Whenever I think about it, I can't help but think of my own three-year-old and I just weep at what the mother must be going through. Did I mention she has a six-year-old and another on the way? Yep. Following his treatments, she couldn't even comfort him because the radiation could cause pregnancy complications.


Adorable quilted airplanes on a minky back.

Because I don't know her that well, and wanted to respect her space, I asked another friend who also helped with the quilt to deliver the quilt to her. I didn't get to see her reaction, but that's not really the point, is it? I truly hope that this quilt can offer comfort to them during this heartbreaking time. And it's been a huge reminder to me that quilts bring people together and can sometimes say things better than we ever could with words. Which is saying a lot, considering I was an English major. :-)