SNOW DAY IN MAY

Quite some time ago, like a year and a half, I was asked by a friend to piece this quilt. I'm not sure why I took so long to do it. I think I was afraid to fussy cut those large snowflakes. There was no room for error. Once I got going, it went really well.

The piecing was easy and the Batiks were nice to work with.

It measures 66 x 81

I'm happy it's done, and I hope she likes it        : )

W.I.P. WEDNESDAY

Too many Works in Progress, too little time. Over the past few weeks I've almost forgotten about my hexi-bets.  I finished S

and T

They are just hanging out at Katja's waiting for me to do something with them.

Must. Keep. Going.

linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced

MID CENTURY BLOCK UPDATE

In a previous post I mentioned that I am involved in a block exchange with a group of lovely women. The quilt I am making a version of is called Green Tea and Sweet Beans. It is a combination of pieced blocks and appliqué. Well, all my blocks have arrived !

Just a few more blocks to make and a few holes to fill in and I know exactly how I'm going to do it.

Last week I was wandering around Quilt Market when, what to my wondering eyes did appear ??

THE  quilt

I'm quite sure I let out a little squeal ! I had no idea I would ever see the original Green Tea quilt in person. It was made by Jen Kingwell and her daughter Lucy said I could take a picture and post it here.
Just look at all that scrappy goodness.

Another quilt I was in awe of was this one. It's called 'Gypsy Wife'

Perhaps the next swap........

Well, those blocks aren't going to sew themselves so I am off to do just that  : )

QUILT MARKET 2013

Every once in a while, Hubby and I do a road trip. My hobby is quilting and his is driving. Last week he mapped out our route as we headed down to Portland for my first International Quilt Market. There were lots of stops along the way at different Quilt Shops. My favourite one was The Stitchin Post in Sisters, Oregon.

The shop is bright and very Modern. I had to restrain myself !

We stayed at the Best Western in town and it was a lovely room. There were Llamas in the field beside us.

It was so quiet and peaceful.

Then came the big city. The view from the hotel overlooking the Convention Centre.

The first night I had the pleasure of meeting Cindy from "Live a Colorful Life" . We only had time for a quick visit and a photo. Another fellow redhead. Yay!

Once inside, there was just SO much to see and take in. I'll show you a few pics and then show more in future posts.

'Finnelopy' by Valori Wells

A quilt by "Adorn It".  I bought a bundle of their fabrics

This quilt is made from 2 1/2" squares ( i think ) It's by Bonnie and Camille

Ohhhhhh the quilting on this.........

'birch' organic fabrics had beautiful quilts displayed and kids clothes too

I wish I could remember who's booth these next two were from. I could have stayed there all day!

Cute pillow from Riley Blake

 Most of the loot.   Hubby says I'm spoiled       : )

Two projects I am going to start --- today!

That's it for now. I'm off to make room for all my goodies and then sew, sew, sew.

LOW VOLUME LOVE

Each year during Quilt Market, Amy hosts a Bloggers Quilt Festival. This is a chance for you to have a virtual quilt show  : ) The button is on the side bar to the right. It will be updated on the 17th to allow you to see all the entries.


This time around I made a baby quilt. The fabrics used are from the Noteworthy line by Sweetwater. Perfect for the low volume quilts that are popular right now. The letters were pieced improv style and the churn dash blocks were pieced using this tutorial from Lollyquilts.

For the quilting, I knew I wanted pebbles. Lots of pebbles.

Then came that empty area in the middle. I took inspiration from Angela Walters book, Free Motion Quilting.  Page 51 to be exact. It combines wavy lines and pebbles which happen to be the two free motion patterns I can do   : )

One night, I got myself all cranked up on coffee and just went for it.

The back shows it much better. Also, the wishbone quilting around the border was a design in the book too. I found that very fun !

This picture is a bit shaded but you can see all the quilting better.

I think I'll tuck this quilt away and save it for a special little someone.
Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the Festival

The quilt measures 39 x 47
pieced by me
quilted by me

LILLYBELLE

Almost a year ago, I started piecing hexagons for this quilt. It was a quilt along hosted by Katy of
I'm a Ginger Monkey. The big hexagons really appealed to me so I took the plunge.
For the most part I worked on this in fits and jerks and before I knew it, my centre was together and it was time to applique it down to the background.

I just love these bright colours   : )

The sun was out in full force so I had to wait until evening to get some pictures. I am hoping for some better ones after I quilt it.

I'm thinking sort of an orange peel design for the quilting if I can get my walking foot to cooperate.

Next week I am going to my first ever Quilt Market in Portland. I've heard about it for years, seen pictures and blog posts, and now I get to go !

Also, next week is another Bloggers Quilt Festival. I've been working on a baby quilt trying to get it finished for the link up on the 17th. Stay tuned for that.

Have a great week-end.

BEE KEEPING

This month I am Queen Bee for the Heal@do.good stitches group. I have asked my partners for this block using Linda's tutorial. I really like this colour way. After I receive all the blocks, I will put the quilt together and it will go to a Hospice house.

Next up I made a feather block for Susan for the Mid Century Modern Bee

I have slowed down on my hexi-bets. Better get going on these. This is the half way point of the alphabet and numbers 0-9

I saw a block something like this on Flickr a while back so I made one for my quilt.

Last year I participated in a low volume swap with charm squares. I dug them out and started making some plus blocks after seeing a quilt by wooden spoon on Flickr.

The blocks are easy and I like the way the colours pop against the background.

Speaking of Queen Bee, little miss J had a birthday. I don't usually post a lot of personal photos, but this is just too cute not to share

She had chocolate cake, chocolate whip cream, and raspberries in a jar. She was very dainty at first,

but then..........            : )

Happy Monday.

I GET BY.........

with a little help from my friends  : )

The blocks from my 'Mid Century Modern' partners have started to arrive. It's so fun getting these blocks in the mail. I asked them for brights with text prints for backgrounds if they had them, because I want to make my own version of this quilt.   Here's what arrived so far-

 from Susan

and Mary

and Carla

from Debbie

and Linda

Here they all are playing nicely together along with some blocks I have made.

I love it so far!  I still have seven more blocks to come.

Can't wait.
Enjoy your day and as always, thanks for stopping by.