Quilt Contest

I entered a contest at quiltinggallery.com.  Go over, see all the quilts in the contest, and please vote for my quilt - it is the one called Watermelon.  You will find the quilts on "display" here.



I'll be back this weekend with the grand finale of Christmas in July.

Christmas Fabrics/Christmas Quilts

Can  you ever have too many Christmas quilts?  Well, probably, but I'm not there yet.  It seems like there is a new collection (or two, or three) every year that are "must haves" for me. For several years, it was the Robyn Pandolph designs and then the 3 Sisters collections from Moda.  This year, I'm smitten with Moda's Woodland Holiday.

 
I bought some so you will be seeing it in a project soon, though not this month. 

I like the fresh, bright colors in 12 Days of Christmas by Kate Spain.

And my LQS has a very cute line called Be Merry, in both cotton and flannel.  I think it would make cute pajama pants for the winter months.

Of course, Christmas quilts don't have to be made out of a Christmas line of fabrics.  I made this very scrappy Christmas Stars quilt, using lots of general reds and greens.  The off-white I used for the stars is a snowflake print. 

And this log cabin was not based on any particular fabric collection, though many of the fabrics I used do have a Christmas motif, such as holly.

Are you working on any Christmas projects yet?

Making Geese

I've been working on my second Christmas in July project this weekend, making flying geese units for the border.  I like to make my flying geese a little big then trim them to size.  So, break out the tools!

I use the Fit to be Geese ruler from Open Gate, along with Deb Tucker's Wing Clipper ruler.  The Fit to be Geese ruler is shown in the photo above.  These flying geese blocks finish at 2" by 4" so are trimmed to 2.5" by 4.5" - easy with the special rulers.  I cut my fabric and constuct the block using the directions for Fit to be Geese.  I also use this ruler for the first cuts to the top and bottom of the block.  Then I trim the sides using the Wing Clipper ruler.  Over time, I've found this method works best for me and I have both rulers.  But if you want just one ruler, I recommend the Wing Clipper.  Use is more intuitive and it works for a broader range of sizes than the Fit to be Geese ruler.

Either way, you end up with nice even flying geese, ready for the next step in quilt making.

I'm ready for some easy chain piecing that can be done in stolen minutes during the evenings this coming week.  But tonight, Mad Men is on my agenda!

Patchwork Fabric Headboard

I saw this idea in Better Homes & Gardens emailed newsletter and thought it was pretty cool.

Directions for making the headboard are here.  It seems pretty easy, and a relatively inexpensive way to change the look of a bedroom.  I'd be interested except I already have a headboard...and a footboard.  But I'm filing this away for possible future use.

Snowballs

I've got a second project going here for Christmas in July.  This one is more of a winter theme than strictly Christmas and is going to become a wall hanging to use in January, after the strictly-Christmas decorations have been put away. 

I just finished 12 snowball blocks.  My Angler tool got another workout, as the corners are formed using squares instead of triangles and the sew-diagonally-and-flip method.  Next up are 64 flying geese blocks but I am not satisfied with the fabric I was planning to use for the "sky" and can't find anything in my stash that will work well.  Oh no, does this mean I have to make a trip to the local quilt shop?

Decisions, Decisions

With some help from Lynne, I chose one of the dark green floral prints for both the unpieced blocks and the setting triangles.  The main body of the quilt is finished and I am really liking it.  I especially like the star blocks, which are a variation on Ohio star.  Now it needs both borders.  I did some more auditioning on the design bed and made another decision.  But cutting and sewing the borders will have to wait until the coming weekend.  That job is too big for my short evenings after work.

What is amazing is how much of the Aubrey Rose and Folk Art Christmas fabric I still have!  More than enough to make another quilt (maybe not the back) and I already have an IDEA!  But it will probably have to wait until next year's Christmas in July.

So much fabric, so little time to quilt!

Friday Find - Christmas Fabric on Sale!

Have I inspired you to start a Christmas or winter project yet?  If so, and you need quilting fabric, check out what's available at Shabby Fabrics.  They are having a Christmas in July sale, with 20% off Christmas fabric and 15% off kits.  They have Glace, 12 Days of Christmas, plus the collection that I think is my new favorite, Woodland Holiday.  Plus many more! 

I could be so tempted by this table runner or this cute snowman advent calendar if I did not already have so many projects "in the works."  I'm looking forward to lots of time in the studio this weekend.