Tammy's Quilt

I have managed to complete another unfinished project.  Last year two of my close friends were hinting that they would like quilts for Christmas or birthday's - Thankfully it was close to the holidays and I let them know that I was not very fast and it would take me months. - Not because I don't sew enough....  I just get very distracted and take on too many projects.  It would be helpful if the designers did not come out with a different fabric line that I "have to have".

I took my sewing machine with me to Hawaii this summer.  It was my hope that I would get a lot of sewing done in the evening and in the afternoon when I was not supposed to be in the sun.  Of course it was a dream to sit on the lanai and sew in the shade while watching my kids argue in the pool...  well not the arguing part but my sewing view improved greatly.

 

Tutorial is from Leslie Unfinished

Finished Top

Quilted

 

Close up of the quilting- I need to learn another quilting pattern.  I think fear of ruining the quilt is holding me back.

Since I have completed one friends quilt - I am committed to finishing the other quilt prior to Christmas.... I made a list to see how many things I needed to complete prior to Christmas this year.  The list has me somewhat paralyzed. (How did it get so big?  How did I take on so much....) I need to stop thinking about it and just finish it.  I am hopping I am not shopping on line in a major panic on the 20th but it appears I do have a plan B.

This week I am linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts  for Finish it up Friday.   I hope to have several more finishes next week. 

 

 

My Goal for November....

Is to finish this quilt.  It is a birthday gift that must be delivered before this month is over..... especially since they were expecting it last November.  I am linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes  The quilt pattern can be found here - Lotus Pattern

What are your goals for November?

Bloggers Quilt Festival ~ A Quilt for my Mom

 

 

 

I am excited to be participating in Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I am entering a quilt I recently made for my mother in the Quilt Photographer category.  This is my second entry for the Fall Festival.

 

I have been slowing working on finishing several projects that have been put aside.  I am not sure if I should be proud or embarrassed that this quilt has taken me almost a year to complete (10 months).  I am not much of a yellow or orange person so the fabric colors did not really hold my attention.  I don't know why I did not like the quilt when I was making it or even when it was complete.  Once it was quilted I was awestruck and trying to comprehend what I had not liked.  I love it.  I was so shocked and happy when I picked it up from the woman who quilted it. 

Before binding - my assistant kept burrowing under the quilt making photography difficult.

Since binding is not my favorite activity - it took me another month or so to get that completed.  This quilt reminds me of fall so I wanted to get some pictures with fall leaves.  I told my son we were going for a hike and after he helped me with quilt pictures he could have some Cold Stone.

It was quite windy that day - My son wanted to know why "I wasn't a normal mom" - "none of my friends mom's make them climb a tree in the wind trying to get a good picture of a quilt"

A break in the wind.

Close up of the quilting.

 

 My son had more fun than he will admit on his hike with me and he was rewarded with Cold Stone as promised. 

 

Quilt Pattern:  Hopscotch by V and Co.

I did make a few changes.

Fabric:  Riley Blake

Pieced by:  Me

Size: 100X100

Category:  Quilt Photographer

Quilted by:  Loretta Tibor

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by.  Be sure to check out Amy's Blog to see all of the other talented blogger's/quilters.

 

 

 

Bloggers Quilt Festival - Fall 2013

Hello!  Thanks for stopping by for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  This year I am entering a quilt that I made for a friend recovering from knee surgery.  She had no idea that I was going to do anything for her.  I had asked her a few questions about colors (pink, purple and really girly) I was hoping to do an abstract quilt - After talking with her I knew that she would not like that.  She loves symmetry.

She also loves really bold designs and flowers.  Since I had a large scale print I wanted to find a way to showcase the fabric.  I found a pattern free quilt pattern by Nancy Mahoney that I thought would work well.  I made my first test block on my design wall.  I did not like it. 

Test Block

I went back into my stash and I was able to come up with fabric that I liked a little better.  I was determined to work with what I had in my stash and I am pleased to say this entire quilt came from my fabric stash.  Of course I forgot to take a picture of the next block I made.

 

Here is the completed quilt top.  I spent a few weeks debating on how to quilt it.  I finally got up the nerve to begin a new swirly pattern on my machine doing free motion quilting - I did not care for it.  A friend came over and looked at and encouraged me to keep going - I did for a bit.  I decided I hated it and then spent the next week unpicking the quit.  It is amazing how fast the stitches go in and how slow they come out!!!

 

While I was at my local quilt store debating how to quilt I overheard someone talking about a person who rented out a long arm.  I got a name and number and away I went.  I was able to get an appointment for the same week.  I did not take any pictures of this one on the rack - I was too excited/stress to remember much.  Ironically I ended up quilting it with the same type of meandering loops I had just ripped out.  It was much easier on a long arm and I am quite pleased with my first attempt.  It was scary using my first long arm lesson to quilt on something that I was planning on gifting.  - I did have a back up quilt in mind to make if I really messed this one up. 

 

Close up of Quilting

 

 

Heida's Quilt

 

 

When I gave it to my girlfriend she was so happy she started crying.  I am glad that she is going to enjoy it.  Of course as you can see from the pictures that this did take me more than one season to complete - If I could only focus on one project at a time.......

 

About the Quilt:

Fabric:  Kona white, Riley Blake, Tina Givens, Art Gallery Fabrics, and a few others.

Pattern by:  Nancy Mahoney

Pieced and Quilted by:  Me

Size:  48X60

Category:  Throw quilts

 

I am off to look at other entries and become more inspired by all of the creativity I find on line.  

 

 

A Quilt for Erika

I have been steadily working on using up some of my fabric stash - I have challenged myself to finish all of my projects that are in various stages of completion and to not take on any new "projects" or engage in fabric acquisitions until the WIPs are done.  I have made some headway.  I have gone on a few vacations with the family.  The most recent one resulted in fun in the sun and the completion of 4 quilt tops without a trip to the fabric store!!!  The vacation prior involved a new project and several fabric stores - but I will save that for a different post. 

Here is the front of a quilt I made for my long time friend Erika.  I  used the Chopsticks pattern by Jaybird Quilts.  It went to together pretty fast.  I took several pictures of the quilt, I wanted to capture how the quilt changed by the quilting lines added. 

Quilt after stitching in the ditch.

I then stitched curves from each end of the triangle.

View after quilting in the white sashing.

Close up of quilting.

I am pleased to say I finished binding this last night, got it washed and delivered it to the post office this afternoon.

 

 

Trial fabrics for the next quilt from my stash - I have a tight timeline for this one.  The request was for something with lots of pink and purple.  I am hoping she does not mind that I am throwing in some yellow.

 

I hope to get the binding on another quilt this weekend and another quilt basted.  Hopefully I will have progress to show you next week.  I hope you are enjoying your summer.

It's been quiet here

I have been really busy.  I am hoping to catch up and post some of my projects for you to see.  Here is a baby quilt I recently finished for a friend.  She had wanted something fairly neutral for her grandson and I have been using a lot of grey in my projects lately.  I think the fox print is adorable.  I don't care for the lighting in this picture but I gave the quilt away before looking at my pictures.

 

The quilt pattern is from Elizabeth Hartman's Craftsy Class - Inspired Modern Quilts   It was a lot of fun to make and went together very quickly.

 

Back

 

Close up of the front

 

Close up of the back

 

 

 

 fabric pull for my next project.