granny square

I first saw this quilt here, and LOVED it.  Some quilts I like and some I love and this one I really, really loved.  I had to make one too.  

I made a few blocks and got pretty frustrated.  I don't know if I have terrible piecing skills or what, but I couldn't get the edges to work.  (I should've taken a picture, but I'll try to explain it, and my solution). I basically didn't have enough fabric to trim the block decently.  When I trimmed, I was cutting into the point of my square.  It bugged me so bad, I put it away for a long time. 

But after seeing so many really cool quilts, I pulled it back out and came up with a solution.  It does cause extra waste, but I don't care, it was worth it to make it work.  The colorful squares are all 2.5in squares, but the white/low volume squares I cut to 2.5x3inches.  This gave me enough room to trim without messing with the block.  Once I figured that out, I became a granny square quilt block making machine.  They are fun.

in progress

My machine has been in the shop for the past 2 weeks, and will probably still be there for 2 more weeks...I started having some issues with my pedal-it was being really sporadic-sometimes it wouldn't stop, so my husband took it apart and we found a piece of paper in it, but when we put it back together it didn't work at all.  So I took it into the repair guy and figured if I was taking my pedal in, I might as well take my whole machine in for a tune up...

 I couldn't stay away from quilting completely and decided to cut up some triangles.  I just love green and navy together, this should go together quickly once I have my machine back.  I can't wait.

 Linking up with freshly pieced.

out to sea zigzag II

I've had this quilt in my mind since I made a similar one for my daughter here, but I am just now getting it finished, can I just say I LOVE this quilt.  I don't know if I'll ever get sick of the zigzags, and the colors are so pretty and bold.

Fabrics are Out to Sea by Sarah Jane, and they are pretty! and the fabric is soft.  Perfect for a little one.

I quilted it on either side of the zigzag...not a lot of quilting, which keeps the quilt really soft. 

Mermaids on the back

and pink stripes for the binding

As much as I want to keep this one, I don't really need it, so I've listed it in my shop, 

I've also listed some kits if you want to make your own.

vanilla ice cream

I have been in love with Rita's low volume quilts for years, and lately  I've seen others all over blogland, so I decided to give it a go--and settled on the churn dash block.

I admit, I go back and forth on this quilt.  Sometimes I LOVE it!  Like, really love it! and other times I think it was kind of silly to do such a 'vanilla' color pallet.  Even as I just typed that, I thought to myself, that the monotony is what I really like about it, even with all that light, there is soooo much variety to it all. 

I did throw in a few bold churn dashes, just to mix it up a bit, and I like them.

Since the top reminded me a bit of vanilla ice cream, I used this fun ice cream print on the back. 

and bound it in a pretty mint stripe.

my kids love this quilt and call it the ice cream quilt.

I'm excited to visit these low volume prints again.

baby pow wow

my sister had a baby several weeks ago (a new nephew for me) and I finally got his quilt mailed, so I can show it off here.  

I used Allison's, of Cluck Cluck Sew, Pow Wow pattern, and it was awesome, easy to follow and came together perfectly. 

 I used some of my low volume scraps for the background and I like how it turned out.  I kinda vacillate between loving it and thinking it's too busy.  But I love using what I have, and I have a TON of design-on-light fabrics that just need to be used!

When I made this quilt, my sister was pregnant with this baby and immediately told me she wanted to have his name on the back.  I love how personal it makes the quilt. 

I quilted it in a spiral, which (I have to remind myself) seems like it will be really easy, but is in fact a LOT of shifting fabric, around and around.  Especially in the beginning.  I do love the result though.  I thought it looked like a target to go with the arrows.

I bound it (again) in a grey stripe. 

scrappy trip finished!

I love this quilt.  

I've already said a lot about it here, but I have to say it again--this quilt was so fun to make and I really mean that.  I enjoyed every minute of the piecing process.

 I decided on a zigzag layout because I love zigzags, and it was different from the traditional diamond layouts.  But I don't think you can go wrong on this one.  I want to make another one now and make diamonds.

I ended up going with the plummy architextures print for the binding

and I quilted in a dogwood pattern, which was my first time, and I love it.  It's definitely not perfect, but you really cannot tell.  I'll be visiting that quilting pattern again soon.  

 I used a Kaffe paperweight on the back, my very favorite kaffe fassett fabric.  It's such a forgiving print to use as a backing...

WIP wednesday

Finished quilting my scrappytrip quilt, and am not sure what to use for binding.  I'm leaning toward the plummy print...but still not for sure.   And I kinda want to start another one of these...it was so fun!

linking up