Sewn Studio Summer Swap

It's been a while since I participated in an online swap, but this one did not disappoint. My buddy Heidi organized it for Sewn Studio, where I used to work part time before moving from Cincinnati. Oh man, do I miss that place! So even though it was online and anyone could participate, a lot of the swappers were Sewn customers. 

When I got my partner's info, all she specified was that she liked both modern and traditional stuff, and she didn't like girly purples and pinks. But she also said she really likes baking and canning, so I decided to make her a table runner. It's shown here as a wall-hanging, which it could easily be used as, if she's not into table runners.

My mom and I have been working on a quilt together of all the Anna Maria Horner fabrics my mom bought at her studio when we went to the MQG Sewdown together in April. (I neglected to blog about that, but it was amazing- workshops with Carolyn Friedlander, Victoria Findlay Wolfe, Angel Walters, and AMH, plus dinner music and studio tour at Anna Maria's home here in Nashville. So wonderful!) Anyway, there were a bunch of tiny scraps from that project that I just started sewing together into improv-y little patchwork panels. Then I decided to add Essex linen in steel (I think?) to make them into modern crosses with slight variations on size and positioning.

It's one of those projects that just grew organically without a clear plan and I absolutely love the end result. Every time I sew that way, I enjoy it so so much. I don't know why I don't do things like that more often. Sometimes it feels easier to just reach for a pattern and follow it without having to think too much, but really, when I take more control of it myself and put more thought into the design, it's that much more pleasing at the end and all though the process.

The back is just the leftover patchwork bits along with bigger pieces of True Colors. The quilting is wavy organic lines with my walking foot, and the binding is a Julianna Horner print from Joann. I love how well the mother/ daughter fabrics go together! This one was a little difficult to send away, but at the same time it always feels good to send your best out for a swap partner.

I also whipped up a quick Heather Ross zipper pouch and stuffed it with scraps to send along. (Cutting measurements: 12"x5.5" and 12"x4.5 contrast for the outers, 12"x9" for the lining and interfacing, and a 3" wide boxed corner.)  This is my go-to pouch size for gifts.

The day after I finished up my swap items, I got my amazing package in the mail from Amanda. I could not believe all the work she put into my gift, and she picked the perfect fabrics for me from the Indelible collection. Plus I was so happy to receive from Amanda, a friend I know from Sewn. The bag is the Senna Tote by LBG Studio, and it's a GREAT tote. So roomy with convenient outside pockets- this one will get a lot of use Amanda, so thank you!

Scrappy Star Mini Quilt and Portland Weekend

Hi! It's been a while, huh?

I took an extended summer break while we were lucky enough to take several little vacations over the past couple months. Plus, it's been a beautiful summer here. Who can sit behind the computer and blog when it's 75 in July?

But I have been sewing a lot, and I think I'm finally ready to get back into the blogging habit. Because I like sharing with you guys here. Or maybe I just like being able to blather on about the gritty details of sewing that no one else really cares about. Either way, we have a lot to catch up on.

So one trip I took since you've seen me last was a weekend in Portland. I went by myself to meet and hang out with Kristin! Yup, me and my long-time bloggy partner in crime, together in the flesh- FINALLY!

I decided to bring Kristin a handmade gift to show her how grateful I was for putting me up all weekend and dragging me all over Portland. Seriously, she was the best tour guide. I don't think we could have packed any more good Portland food and fabric into the two full days I was there.

This mini quilt began as just the center star block, which was actually made for another scrappy quilt I'm working on. But Kristin expressed affection for this star on Instagram, so I decided to swipe it from that quilt. I added three more borders to it, one of which is scrappy half-square triangles made with dark and light fabrics picked to coordinate with the feel of the colors in the star. I'm not sure what to call the color story in this mini... Warm cosmos? Earthy deep space? I don't know, but I like it. 

The quilting might be my favorite part of this. I don't know why I've never tried this spiral/ concentric circles style. I just started in the center and used the width of my walking foot as a guide. It was pretty easy on a quilt this size and I love the effect.  Totally hypnotic. 

On the back, I had to sneak in a little piece of Film Petit memorabilia. The ferris wheel is fabric leftover from the lining of Elsie's coat in the Hitchcock edition. I was happy that I  remembered to add little hanging pockets in the corners, I never remember that for wall hangings. I bound it by machine with the same fabric as the final border on the front, from Lizzy House's Constellations, from Sewn Studio.

I think the quilt ended up about 24" square, and now it's hanging in Kristin's sewing room. Which I've been to!

(picture swiped from Kristin of course. I was too busy laughing with a gaping mouth to take any pictures.)

It was sooooooo good to finally get some time with this girl. She inspires me in a lot of ways. And maybe my friends and family won't think it's so weird any more that I'm constantly texting my internet girlfriend, because now we've met in real life :)

Mini Quilt Challenge- My Fall Colors

I originally began this mini quilt as a table runner/ square for a swap in the Cincy MQG. It didn't make it to that swap because my kid took some scissors to it. FANtastic. Well, I repaired the damage this week and finished it up just in time for the Mini Quilt Challenge at AmyLouWho.

The design is inspired by this quilt, just miniaturized. If you are interested in the dimensions, I cut the main squares to 3 inches. Then I sewed a strip of the linen 1.5 inches by 3 to one side, then another strip of linen 1.5 inch by 4 on the next side. Arrange them like so, 6 rows of 6 blocks makes a 21" square mini.

The main part of the back is a Joel Dewberry print I've had forever that I absolutely hated until I used it here. Love it when that happens. 

The solids are mostly from my swap package from Anna, and I added my linen and the pink Echino print.  I had the Celebrate Color contest in my mind all along with this one too. The yellow is really the only conventional fall color here, but all of it together looks very fallish to me and I love the scheme. 

Go check out a whole lot of other lovely minis here. And if you are visiting from the mini party, you can see another mini I've made here. 

A Mini-Quilt for Your Monday

I had a small finish over the weekend! But any size quilt finish always feels good...

I made this mini for a swap in the Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild, which I seem to have unwittingly joined :) I hope my partner doesn't read the blog, but if she sees it, oh well. She didn't give me any parameters for what she likes, so I just cut into some of my new fabric and had fun with it. I hope she likes it because I really do.

Here is the back. (I totally forgot to add anything in the binding to make it a wall-hanging. Whoops.) This being my second ever finished quilt, it also has a lot of firsts. First time using mostly prints, first flying geese, and first time trying the dreaded free-motion quilting.

Which really wasn't that bad. A little practice on some scrap batting and a little vodka-infused watermelon seemed to help. I think. I like how it came out overall, but here you can see how crazy long some of my stitches are. Stitch length definitely needs some work. It's honestly not my favorite style of quilting. I still much prefer straight line, but I want to become good at this too.

My favorite part has got to be that binding. I'm so glad I have more of it because it will definitely become binding again sometime. It's Ann Kelle's Remix zi-zag. I also really loved making those geese! I must make more soon. 

And did you notice that white isn't really white? It's Seed Catalogue from Annie's Farm Stand. I got a fat quarter bundle which included the white on white, but I had no idea how I would use that color. When I saw it in person, it turned out to be my favorite of the bundle. It's really gorgeous. 

I'm joining in Faith's mini-quilt Mondays. Faith visited our shop when she was in town once and she was the nicest ever. Her kids were also adorable (and very well behaved), even when her 4yo daughter announced loudly before they left that she had to poop. Faith just rolled her eyes and laughed. Everybody poops sweetheart, even quilters.