Friday Finish: Layover Quilt

My Layover quilt is back from the quilter, bound and ready for gifting!

 As I mentioned in this post, the quilt design is based on a window in an airport lounge.

I made this version with all Carolyn Friedlander fabrics and measures 56" x 84".

This is one of three quilts that Frank quilted for me before Thanksgiving.  I am so appreciative that he fit me in his crazy busy schedule.

Pattern is being tested and will be available soon.  

I can't wait to share other quilts made with this pattern!

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

What's Up Wednesday: New Projects

Oh the wonderful possibilities of an empty design wall!

Still waiting on a few more of these Sew Sisters Bee blocks (and I need to make more myself) which leaves plenty of room to contemplate other quilt projects.

I scored some of Luke Haynes new Dapper fabric line for Moda, and I am cutting up several of the fat quarters for a toddler quilt...

I also "pulled fabrics" for these tiny Christmas hexie ornaments.  It sure doesn't take much!....

I have a basket of purple and low value fabrics ready to make HSTs as well as some already made but needing to be pressed and trimmed.

I received this badge from Chris (creator of '52 Quilters) which is awesome and reminds me I need to get my block done for that project.  There is a survey regarding next year's 52Quilters if you would like to add your input.  Can't wait to see what quilters are featured in 2016.  Such a cool concept.

So what are you up to this Wednesday?

Thanks for stopping by,

Blocks for do. Good Stitches

Our Wish Circle merged with the Peace Circle of do.Good Stitches and the first block was a doozy.

September block for Paula

I am not comfortable piecing curves yet, so was happy we only had to make one block this time ;-)  If you enjoy working with curves, then the Breeze Blossoms quilt pattern is lovely so check it out!

October block for Kristin

I was much more comfortable with this block of flying geese and squares requested in fall colors!  The tutorial can be found here if you are interested in making this block. 

November block for Katherin

November's blocks are based on the string blocks from Block Party book .  I love string blocks.  Each time I make one for others, I am reminded of my desire to make an entire string block quilt.

There are no Peace blocks due for December, so Yay I am all caught up with this bee too!

How are you doing with your bee blocks and other deadline sewing?

MCM Bee Blocks

Finishing and mailing bee blocks within the first week of the month is a great feeling!

It's also a feeling I haven't felt much this year ;-))  I pledge to do much better in 2016!

December MCM Bee blocks for Elizabeth

Solid HSTs were requested for Elizabeth....

November MCM Bee block for Michelle

Michelle asked for house blocks...

Past MCM Bee blocks that haven't been posted on the blog...

October block for Anne

Stripes for Anne...

August block for Mary

Starry Sky  block for Mary...

So now I am all caught up with my Mid Century Modern Bee!  I am excited to see what 2016 (our fourth year) brings.  We will welcome some new members which (sadly) means a few will leave the group.  Yay for social media though for keeping up with quilty friends.

Friday Finish: Not One but Two Bee Quilts

I am SO excited to share two Mid Century Modern Bee quilts completely finished!  The binding was finished up over the Thanksgiving break and photographs taken with family help.

First up is my Dresden quilt (which has shown itself to be extremely difficult to photograph!) made with blocks requested in December, 2014 from Anne, Carla, Carla, Cindy, Debbie, Elizabeth, Linda, Mary, Mary, Susan and myself.

I requested fabrics using this color palette as a guide and suggested this tutorial for making the dresden plate blocks.  After mulling over many layout ideas in my head, I got tired of waiting for some brilliant plan to emerge ended up stitching the dresdens in a random placement onto a wideback Carolyn Friedlander print.

I handed over my quilt top and Tula Pink wideback yardage to Frank and told him to work his quilting magic.....which he did!!!

Like the quilt top, it was difficult to photograph the quilting properly.  Frank used green thread on the top but not the bottom.  This closeup of the backing gives you an idea of how wonderful the quilting is.  The binding is a Carolyn Friedlander botanics print.  Finished quilt size is 72 x 90.

My Bubble Bee quilt is also finished making me all caught up with my MCM Bee!!!

These blocks (pattern by Aylin and used with permission for bee purposes) were requested in June, 2015 and made by Anne, Carla, Carla, Cindy, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Mary, Mary, Michelle, myself, Stephanie and Susan.

The paper pieced pattern has templates for multiple size bubbles, but I sent each member the same 12.5" finished instructions and asked them to select a color and use fabrics in that color for the bubble shape and low value for the outer section.  When the blocks were returned, I enlarged the blocks to finish at 18" by adding low value strips in a log cabin fashion.

My original plan was to make additional blocks in various sizes more in keeping with the pattern sample.  In the end, I chose to stay with the twelve blocks and a three block across and four block down layout.

I am so glad because I love it!  With both these quilts, I can look at each block and remember which friend made them for me!

Again, I gave the quilt top and back to Frank, and again I am not disappointed.  He has some mad quilting skills!!!

I love that the backing fabric is my friend Amanda's.  It is the wideback print from her Good Neighbors fabric line for Connecting Threads.  I don't think I could have chosen a better print for the back.  Can you see the gorgeous quilting!  The binding is a Carolyn Friedlander crosshatch print.  Finished quilt size is 54 x 72.

This morning I attempted to get a photo of the Bubble Bee quilt by the pool with bubbles from my grandson's bubble maker.  It was not a huge success ;-)

Thought I would share them anyway (along with the bubble maker).  You have to look really hard to see any bubbles.

Thank you SO MUCH Mid Century Modern Bee friends!!!  I love and treasure you and my quilts!  Y'all are the best!!!

Festival of Trees

I am going to brag on the Orlando MQG some more.  For the second year in a row, our group donated a quilt to the Orlando Museum of Art's Festival of Trees which raises money for the Council of 101.

This beautiful wreath quilt was designed by our VP Debra.  Here it is hanging in the festival.  OrlandoMQG members designed and made the individual blocks that make up the wreath design.  Alissa assembled the quilt top, Frank did the quilting and Mary W. finished up with the binding.  

These blocks make up my contribution.  I love collaborative projects!

 Sadly I was not the lucky winner of this gorgeous quilt.  I even answered calls from unrecognized numbers on the day of the drawing hoping it was the museum calling with good news!  But...I can go here and see a video of the quilt on display when I want to get in the holiday spirit.

I do have a couple of Christmas quilts on display (i.e. draped over a couch or bed) in my home, but at the moment that is all the decorations I have out.  I guess I better get busy.  How about you?  Do you have any holiday quilts and/or decorations up already?

What's Up Wednesday: Guild Day

Today was our December Orlando Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  Always a fun time.  Our membership has grown so much since 2010, and our meeting space is pretty much packed!    We are so fortunate to have The Sewing Studio host our meetings.

Today was a special treat as Juki educator Karen was demonstrating the Juki longarm machine.  She even brought goodies for all of us!  After the meeting, members had an opportunity to use the machine.  I must admit this was the first time I had ever touched a longarm quilting machine.  I must say I liked it!

Do any of you have a Periscope account?  The Orlando MQG does and is now broadcasting portions of their events.  Check it out!  After 24 hours, the broadcasts are stored on their Katch.me page.  If you go to this link, you will find the quilts that I shared today for Show and Tell.

The guild is in a friendly "race" with a nearby quilt group to see who can make the most pillowcases for our local National Guard troops about to be deployed.  I am pretty sure we are well on our way to winning the Pillowcase Challenge of 2015!

Our group also receives 15% off purchases on meeting days.   Gabriela was sweet to let me take her picture while she was working the register.

As you can see, I exercised restraint in my purchases.  I had to take advantage of The Sewing Studio's 33% off precuts sale though.  I may have purchased more of the fabric lollipops than is shown here...they make cute "happies" for quilty friends  ;-))

Do you belong to a local quilt guild?  I hope you so.  It's nice to find "your tribe"!
Thanks for stopping by,

Spiraling Butterflies

Spiraling Butterflies is my finish for the QuiltCon Michael Miller Glitz Fabric Challenge.

The butterfly blocks were made using Little Bluebell's paper pieced Modern Butterfly pattern.  I just love this pattern and have so many other butterfly quilt plans!

The background fabric is Michael Miller Cotton Couture in Blush and also in Love.  The color variation is quite subtle, but I like the depth using two different colors provides.

I finished making the blocks and determined the layout while at our Orlando MQG retreat (still need to post about that!).  Having creative input from others was awesome!  After that, the top came together quickly.

I used my walking foot to quilt spirals (THANK YOU Jacquie and Craftsy for the refresher) starting a little offset from the center.  Aurifil 2410 in 40wt was the thread I used.  I had just enough left over from this quilt and the color matched perfectly.

Twice before, I quilted spirals, but one was a mini quilt and the other was just on a portion of the quilt.  I said I would never do it again, but this time I found the process quite therapeutic.  Crazy, right?!

The Cotton Couture solids are SUPER soft, so possibly that made a difference in the quilting?  All I  know is, the {continuous} turning of the quilt through my Juki didn't seem as difficult as I remembered.

 
The backing fabric is Michael Miller What's Your Angle? and the binding is the pink pearlized dot from the Glitz line.

 The binding was hand stitched to the back while on Thanksgiving break.  I finished just in time to photograph and upload before the deadline.  This is my first time entering a quilt into a show.  I must admit, it was quite exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.

I saw on Instagram this morning that a record breaking number (1,810) of quilts were entered in QuiltCon 2016 and approximately 300-350 will be accepted!  What an incredible show it will be!

To me, it's a win-win.  If my quilt gets in...Cool!!!  If it doesn't....I don't have to make a hanging sleeve and ship it have to part with it!  Good luck to all who entered!