My New Bundle

I've been getting lots of fabric time in.  Over the holiday weekend I finished binding a quilt (photos yet to come), and planned out my next quilt with these lovelies:

There are some of my favorites in here like Anna Maria Horner's Field Study, Denyse Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope, Hope Valley, Chicopea, and Flea Market Fancy.  Also some Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, Martha Negley, and Jay McCarroll.  I'm sure you can see Aqua is the main stream color, accented with deeper blues, cranberries, browns and golds.  I'm Swooning again. It's gonna be awesome!  

Speaking of favorites, cuddling my boy on the beach is one of them.

He didn't want his picture taken, again... But too bad.  I love him so.  Sadly he split his lip open today, not too bad, but water play is currently postponed for a couple days.  What to do with him now?  

 Oo ooo, I almost forgot!  I also picked up my tickets to the Long Beach Quilt Festival Aug. 2-4.  I can't wait.  I've wanted to go the last few years but we are usually on holiday.  Bummed we aren't going on holiday this summer, but happy to be attending the Quilt show.  When I picked up my tickets I was informed it was the last one (at Long Beach).  Anyone know why?  More info here if you want to attend:  http://www.quilts.com/home/shows/viewer.php?page=SummerFestival

Aviary 2, A Finished Quilt

This is a little late. I planned on photographing this quilt a month ago, before giving it to my sister, but I kept on forgetting. Anyways, here it is:

This is by far the largest quilt I've made yet.  We were going for a twin sized, its close to it.    Although I don't know how much smaller it is all washed up...

Since I'm not very savvy with the free motion, I decided to quilt this one using "somewhat" straight lines 2 inches apart.  It was a little tricky wrestling the bulk of the quilt while stitching.  Perhaps, next time I do a large quilt, I'll have it long armed.  The quilting was slow and steady once I had a few marked lines to follow.  I'm quite happy with the way it turned out.   

The 5 & Dime by All Washed Up quilt pattern was my visual inspiration...however my quilt is a little more narrow than their pattern and much shorter since I had directional prints.  My sister really wanted the length, so I added a top & bottom border.  You can purchase the pattern here.  

Finished Quilt size: 64" x 90"

Farbic:  Aviary 2 in Saffron by Joel Dewberry for Westminster Fibers

 

My sister is in heaven...she loves the fabrics and that she has her very own handmade quilt.  It was such a fun project to make her.  Now, what to make my other sister?

Lindsay

Finished Top

I've all but finished but one gift on my Christmas shopping list.  Man, that time really flies by after Thanksgiving, doesn't it?  

I did however finish my sister Monika's quilt top today.  As I shared in a previous post, I picked the Aviary 2 in Safron by Joel Dewberry for my sister's Spanish style home.  My favorite print is the Wood Grain.  Most love the Sparrows.  They are cute too, but I'm partial to real modern prints.  I may just have to order me some more, maybe in Yellow.  My sister chose the quilt pattern, which is called 5 & Dime by All Washed Up, available here.  

To be totally honest, I didn't follow the pattern to a "t".  Sadly it didn't allow for directional fabrics, which I feel a little lame in admitting, but I didn't catch it sooner.  So, I had to add a top and bottom border to get the same size quilt.  Now my sister will probably never notice the faux pas one bit.  But between you and me, I'm slightly annoyed.  Shall I list them, or just let your eye catch them?  Hmm, we're all friends here, so I trust your sensitivity to a beginner quilter such as me.

1. The Damask in Saffron is going the wrong direction (hence the "not catching it sooner" part)

2. The top and bottom borders are pieced.  I did do the best I could here with what little fabric I had left.  If I'd planned this out better and not cut the focus vertical strips earlier on, I would have avoided this issue all along.  I had read some tutorials in piecing a border with short strips by adding corner blocks etc., but nothing looked right with this pattern.  So I did the best I could in lining up the twigs.  

3.  Color matching, as stated in this post.  I really need to get over it.  I know it looks fine.

Hope I can move on and not let all these bug me every time I see this quilt at my sister's house.   

Sorry, again for the poor photo quality.  A new camera is on my Christmas Wish List and my birthday list in February.  Here's hoping.  

On a happier note:  my next post will include...A GIVE AWAY!!!  

XO,

Lindsay