My hand-quilted star is done!

I just love this simple quilt.  It started as a way to use up a treasured charm pack of Gypsy Girl that I really wanted to use.  I had held onto it for a long time because I didn't know what I could do with a single charm pack since I tend to like my quilts big.  And I didn't want to waste it because I just loved all the colors and prints in this line.  Then, I found this quilt on Pinterest and knew it was perfect!

I made just a few changes.

First, I pulled out the really low volume prints, because I really wanted the vibrant colors to stand out. And I knew that since I would be adding a border I would be pulling extra fabrics from my stash anyway.

Second, instead of making the half square triangles the way that Julie suggested, I cut a patterned square and white square 5 1/2 inches, drew a line from corner to corner on the white fabric, and sewed them together 1/4 inch on either side of my drawn line.  Then I cut them apart on the line and pressed them open, making 2 half square triangle pieces. I used pieces from my stash for all of the points.

Finally, I added the borders to frame the star and make the quilt larger.

This quilt needed to be hand quilted. It was quilted 1/4 inch inside of each square.  And then I marked out the rest of the echoing lines with a Frixion pen.  I am still nervous when I draw on a quilt with those pens, but they always come right out with my iron.

 This quilted up pretty quickly.  I took it with me to visit my family down in southern Mississippi.  My aunt put it on her frame and my grandmother, mom and aunts and I started to quilt the center while I was there.  By the time I got home I had just some white and the two outer borders to go. All those straight lines went quick!

The quilt is backed and bound with a perfect pink and aqua print.

I enjoyed this quilt so much that I am already working on another one made with the Fresh Cut fabric line.  This one will be for a sweet family that will be hosting us this summer on our travels.

And wouldn't this pattern be great in all red and white scraps....

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

Applique Blocks

Irish Chain Twist applique blocks have been appliqued!

I used a zig zag stitch with matching pink thread.  I started and stopped in the center so you can't even see where it begins and ends.

Getting closer to seeing it all put together...

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

WIP Wednesday

This quilt has been on my mind for a while.  I'm so glad to be starting it!  I've been waiting for just the right inspiration and this feather fabric was it!

I pulled fabric from my stash and of course picked up a few new fabulous additions.

I am 3 blocks in.

More fabrics paired up and ready to go.

I'm not really sure how big this will be yet.  We will see where the fabric takes me...

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

Progress...

Next 11 blocks of the Irish Chain Twist QAL done!!

Loving the colors!!
We're getting close to putting it all together - I can't wait to see how it all comes together.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

Avant Garden part 1

I finished my Avant Garden quilt!  It finished at about 60 x 72.

  AND I have enough fabric left from those fat quarters to make another top.  I plan to use this pattern from Camillle Roskelley's book Simply Retro.

I also made some more progress on my Go Four It! Quilt. 

Lots and lots of tiny squares...

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

Cade's quilt top finished!

I finished piecing Cade's quilt to this morning - woo hoo!  It finished at about 68 inches wide and 96 inches long.  I am thinking about adding a little strip of grey to each side to make it a little wider.  What do you think?  Leave it or widen it?

Now to decide what to back it in.

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy

Avant Garden

A very sweet friend af mine gifted my an entire fat quarter bundle of Avant Garden for Christmas.  Yay! I have had the pattern picked out for a while now, and even had the fabrics paired together already.  I was just waiting for a few free moments to get started.  This newest group of snow days was just what I needed.

My first pair of fabrics turned out great!!!  I LOVE how they turned out.

I couldn't wait to get the next group done.

Not as awesome. I think the colors were too similar and although I thought there was enough difference in the size of the prints.  Not so much.  

So, I did some rearranging with my fabrics to make sure there was enough contrast.

 

Better!

 

I also took out some of the biggest prints and replaced them with a few solids.  Ahh.  So much better.

 

Here are a few of the bigger prints that I love that did not make the cut.  They will be on the back where I can enjoy them in their full glory.  :)

Thanks for stopping by.

Tracy

Linking up to Freshly Pieced

Snow Days = Sewing Days

The kiddos were out of school again yesterday and today.  This means we all got to sleep in and I got to stay in my jammies and sew.  Yay!  I took advantage and got a lot done.

First, I got started on Cade's quilt.  He has requested blue and grey.  Together we decided on the Greek Cross.  I ordered some linen for the background and I am LOVING how it looks!  I was able to get 12 blocks made in one day.  Woo Hoo!

I was able to complete the next step in my Irish Chain Twist Quilt Along.
30 blocks, took longer than I anticipated, but love how they turned out. This shade of green makes me smile.

And finally, I got lots of cute little dresses sewn up for the shop. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Tracy