Happy 2wenty Thr3e...

I knew I wanted to make a quilt for my dear friend, Kelsey. Back in June, I found this fabric on Etsy—antique cameras—one of the things she collects. I started with this as my base and found more fabric from the moda line 2wenty Thr3e and added some Comma and Fandango. I loved the bright and cheerful colors and prints. They so reflect Kelsey's beautiful personality.

A couple of weeks before, Wanda gave me a couple Villa Rosa Designs cards, and one of them (Intrigue) seemed perfect for this project. The pattern for our Oklahoma City Modern Quilt Guild's raffle quilts for Oklahoma tornado relief was graciously donated by Villa Rosa Designs (Tulsa Town). 

I got the whole thing put together and tried doing a little something different with the backing. I'd already bought the yardage so was a bit limited in options. I finally got around to asking Kelsey how old she was going to be this year. TWENTY-THREE! Well, it was all meant to be and I played it up to the hilt.

Again, Wanda quilted this for me. I loved the vines of hearts. Finally, I had lots of fun with the label on the back and the tiny piece of printed selvage appliqued to the front. I had so much fun making this quilt for an absolutely wonderful person! I love you Kelsey!

In the works...

This is the Photoshop layout of the quilt I'm working on right now. The pattern is Shortcake and it's made for jelly rolls. I am using the Zen Chic Juggling Summer jelly roll I bought about five weeks ago. I discovered/fell in love with the fabric line just before this past Christmas and used it it two of my favorite pieces.

Quiltworks offered a class in this quilt pattern but I decided to download the pattern online and set out on my own. I wanted a 'modern' vibe, so opted for using a medium gray as my neutral—new concept for me. This is the second quilt top in a row in which I've used significant areas of solid color(s).

Although I've managed to streamline the process a little, it's a bit more tedious than quick-go strip piecing. Yesterday, when Savage Quilter (moved two doors north into far more spacious and better lit space) had its 5th Birthday sale, I bought the fabric for the binding. I haven't really thought about the backing yet. I've only done a dozen blocks so far. I'll keep you posted as it comes together.

<— Oh, and here is the original pattern. It's a much different and daintier look.

3-3 Playoffs...

Coinciding with the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team being in the playoffs, I happened to be working on a simple quilt for my wonderful son, Matt. Several weeks ago, I asked him what theme of quilt I could make for him, more or less for his 26th birthday. He said OKC Thunder. Really? Really. Hmm. Okay. I think this happened around the time I received an email from Savage Quilter mentioning they just received some Thunder fabric. Ahh...an idea and a resource. Tah dah!

The Thunder fabric print is overwhelmingly busy. I first considered cutting out squares or panels or strips and combining that with other fabrics. I decided it wasn't going to help the design that much and might delay delivery. After some guidance on the backing color (chose a wavy gradient in shades of blue [moda's Puzzle Pieces]), and finding a remnant of basketball fabric, I was set. Because the remnant was pretty small, it wound up determining the size and proportions. I inserted strips of the blue diamond print to 'stretch' the border.

I wound up doing more hand sewing on this than I'd intended, but, as I discovered with my recently finished two-sided quilt, stitching in the ditch and having it line up on both sides is tricky. I machine quilted it together in a stair-step pattern. Then the bias binding didn't go on the first time as I'd hoped. Rip it out, reattach, hand-stitch the back. Done!

I'll give it to Matt this weekend, hopefully in time for the Thunder to go ahead and win that fourth of seven games. If so, then another playoff series. Basketball season last forever.

Next...my third BOM block, or that pink or blue Baby Polk quilt, or...who knows?

Another finished quilt...

I've been working on this quilt for some time. Once I got the top done, with all its subtle progressions of color, I decided I wanted to do a patchwork back to it.  I started with the same grid as the top then began plotting out a new and simpler design for the back. One thing I especially liked about the backing was there were no corners or points to align. I basted the top and back together, in hopes the machine quilting would align and look 'good' on both sides.

I first stitched within the nine colored squares, one 'row' in. It was kind of hit and miss on seams lining up*. Sigh. Then I did three rows of decorative stitching each way from edge to edge. Good. Everything's joined together, but a little puckered on one side. Time for binding. My miters didn't work out just right the first time so I ripped off the binding and took a bigger seam allowance and finally tried out my 'walking foot' on my machine.

I'd never used one before and now see it would have helped me from * the beginning. Double sigh, but I know better now. Because this quilt has been bangin' around the house for a couple of months, picking up lint and critter fur, I washed it when I was done. Not only did it clean it up, all the puckering seemed to even out. Kinda looks like it was done that way on purpose—"oh, yes, I meant to do that." Yuppers! Made of 45 different batiks, this 50" x 50" quilt is my 'watching TV quilt.'

I am very happy to have this done since buying the Bali Pop pack in mid-January from Quiltworks. The purple and gold backing fabrics and binding came from Savage Quilter. The next one on deck is an Oklahoma City Thunder themed one for my son, Matt. They're still in the playoffs. Thunder Up…whatever.

Another fabric store...

Eight new Fat Quarters: roses, ferns, flowers, batiks, and turnips!

It's often said we least appreciate that which is in our own back yard. Fair enough. But what if we don't know it's in our backyard—or down the street just one mile away? I had the extreme pleasure of discovering Savage Quilter, 6815 North May Avenue, 840-1466. They have no Web presence to speak of. My intention was to stop in at the Bernina store and laugh at their prices. I saw SQ next door and decided to pop my head in. Oh, my stars and garters! I literally stood there agape for at least 15 seconds. I love Quiltworks, but sometimes it's just fun seeing all that fiber love someplace else! The prices were comparable. One group of fabric that I especially loved was the food prints—bananas, leafy greens, pomegranates, potatoes, etc. I got the turnips fat quarter because of the purple and green together. My friend Naomi mentioned something I probably noticed but couldn't put my finger on—they could use better lighting.

That said, I'll be off to Quiltworks tomorrow! They're having a 25% off bolt prices all day. National Quilting Day is 19 March, so I suppose they're celebrating a couple of days early.

Anyway, I am excited to find a new source for fabric!