Calling Marla...

I have been busy at both my day job and trying to finish up quilt tops in my spare time so I can get on with some fun new projects. About three months ago I started a kaleidoscope quilt for my little man. I wanted him to have something sweet that he could grow with and that was pretty, but not too pretty. I mentioned in an earlier post that I LOVE SARAH JANE'S lines of fabrics.  I just love everything about them.  They give me such inspiration and are created in a way that captures the essence of innocence. So I started with the fabrics of Children at Play and added coordinates from there.

So, I saw a quilt some time ago that I Pinned and I just had to replicate.  And while it is not exactly the same, it became my own version.  I started with making the kaleidoscope out of 12 different patterns.  I just loved the way it turned out.  I planned with great detail to make sure that there weren't any blades that touched that were the same pattern. This proved to be rather difficult.

Then I moved onto flying geese. I admit I had NEVER done them and they didn't turn out as crisp as I might have liked them to, but they were okay. Next I added pennants. Those were made from smaller blades like the ones I used in the center.

Finally each corner was finished with a detailed block in each corner.

Next I had a scrappy quilt from a project last year that I had not completed yet.  One day that I was playing hooky and wandering the aisles of JoAnn's alone I found the original paisley.  I screamed out at me from across the store "Hey over here! I'm here for you!" I could hardly ignore the plea to go home with me.

So,  framed it with the paisley and it turned out pretty good.  I am actually trying to decide where it will find its home. I just made it with no real purpose other than I just wanted to use these scraps up.

Now they are both neatly folded and stacked with their backings awaiting Marla.  Marla is my long arm of the quilts. I am so anxious for her return because it puts these quilts a little closer to completion! I can't wait to see them and bind them and then of course gift them. That is the best part of all! "Tis better to give than to receive," someone once told me...

It's in the bag

About a year ago I saw a pattern for a fun tote bag at my local quilt shop. It looked simple enough, but in actuality it was written in a way that was so difficult to understand. It could have been the wine, the lack of sleep or the many distractions at the quilt retreat, but it seemed to have taken me like 12 hours to complete (and that is NO exaggeration).

Regardless, once I made it, I made it again and again and again. I made that pattern my own.  I added pockets and adjusted the size to accommodate different uses and adjusted the straps. So, now I have my own directions for this simple bag.

I made several of this particular size for gift this year.  As I made them I became in love with the petite size.  I wanted one for me. Isn't it ironic that I "happened" to be in the quilt shop and found this wonderful fabric? It was kismet! The fabric was speaking to me and do you know what it was saying? It was saying, "Make me into one of those cute bags for your lunch." So I did.

The fabric I used is Little Azalea by Dena - Freespirit. I then found the perfect accompanying fabrics for the interior and straps. I added my monogram. And of course no bag is complete without of course my sweet tag.

But the real find was my Dollar Spot - Hello Kitty lunch box. I have no idea what goodies I will pack in it, but I HAD to have it.

Stay tuned! I have a tutorial coming soon.

Everyday should be filled with scrumptious colors

So, it is 2014 and more than a year has passed us by since I last posted a blog. But, I have completed a number of projects and I am leading off the New Year with an entry featuring a completed gift for my sister and law.

It was love at first sight when I saw the oh so beautiful Scrumptious by Bonnie and Camille. I loved the paisley patterns featured in the collection, I loved the hues of aqua and the floral patterns were as pretty as a spring bouquet sitting on my kitchen table. I just had to create something equally as pretty.

So, I snatched up four charm packs and began my brainstorm of what to do with it. I scoured Pintrest and perused my quilt books for some inspiration. But, it was an image I had pinned just a few months earlier that I drew my inspiration from. I decided on a faux cathedral window pattern.  I had to lay it out perfectly to highlight the patterns and create a sweet, eye popping and "scrumptious" design. I think what I wound up with was the perfect pattern to do just that.

Once I completed the top, I sent it off to my amazing quilter. We selected two different designs to fill the two areas within the main part of the quilt. I selected a feather pattern for the border which framed it perfectly.

I completed the quilt with the stripped aqua from the collection. I just fell in love with all the stripped fabrics in this collection, it reminded me of one of my favorite things when I was a child - Fruit Stripe gum. I loved the colors I would find in each package and the perfect stripes on each of the individual pieces made me love the contrast of aquas, corals, pinks and reds with white.  It was scrumptious in your mouth.

 I was so excited to give it to my sister and law, I wrapped it perfectly with a pretty tulle bow. She love it! A couple of nights later she sent me a picture of herself cuddled up on her couch with it. Merry Christmas Anna! May your days be warm, bright and scrumptious.