Congrats to My Sis!

Just a quick moment of total bragging here.

My sister just got the notice that she passed the Oregon Bar!!!  She'll be sworn in as a licensed attorney for Oregon on her birthday--May 10th.  (She is also licensed in Montana were she lived for a few years.)

Anyway, I'm just so proud---that's a lot of work (and memorizing and stress).

Way to go Sis!  Watch out world you just got one heck of an attorney!

Rapid And Tiny Zakka Swap--RATZ

A fun new swap group is starting--come join me in the fun!  It's the Rapid and Tiny Zakka Swap or as we like to call it the RATZ Swap!  RATZ

Some of us from the Doll Quilt Swap wanted some quick, easy swaps between rounds, so this new group was born.  We'll be making and swapping small usable items like grocery bags, cup cozies, zip bags, luggage tags, inches, etc.  Our first round is key fobs--how fun is that!  There are so many cool tutorials and patterns out there that I've always wanted to try, now I have the perfect excuse.  This is an international, no extras included, swap--keeping it simple--you just create the item, stick it in an envelope and mail it off.  Everything is fairly small and light weight keeping postage down--and everything is quick and easy to make, keeping time involved down!  Join in on the rounds you want and watch on the ones you don't--but always have fun in the commentary!

For those who are wondering what exactly a zakka item is, here's Wikipedia's definition:

Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and appearance. It is often based on household items from the West that are regarded as kitsch in their countries of origin, but it can also be Japanese goods, mainly from the fifties, sixties, and seventies. In Japan there are also so-called Asian zakka stores; that usually refers to Southeast Asia. The interest in Nordic design or Scandinavian design, both contemporary and past, is also part of this zakka movement. Zakka can also be contemporary handicraft.
Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". The zakka boom could be recognized as merely another in a series of consumer fads, but it also touches issues of self-expression and spirituality. "Cute, corny and kitschy is not enough. To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext."

I hope you all join in the fun!


Oh and here's a bit of fun now--a discount code for Fabric.com.  It expires 4/30/12 at midnight, but you can use it as many times as you want.  For 20% off a purchase of $40 or more, just use code FB412.  Have fun shopping!

DQS 12 Sent - Wildflower Wonky

Busy, rainy Spring Break; four days of school and then a four day weekend with absolutely beautiful weather!  And was I ever busy.  But...the taxes are done and ready for the preparer, snuggle blanket of minky sewn and given, sewing area sort of cleaned up, lots of walks in the sunshine, bird feeders refilled (how is it that such tiny creatures eat so much?), and oh, yeah, my doll quilt got finished and mailed.  I'm kind of tired, but I've got one last thing to do--show it off to all of you!

Before I forget, here's some fun goodies I sent along--2 fat quarters (who doesn't like more fabric--ha ha, I sound like that commerical "who doesn't want more cash"), some of my favorite chocolates, and the book Zakka Style which is full of lovely projects.

Okay, back to the quilt.  I decided, after much debating on patterns to go with a wonky or liberated log cabin style.  (We were to incorporate one of the following blocks into the design: flying geese, log cabin, churn dash, drunkard's path and New York Beauty; and have a total of six blocks minimum, plus not use any white/cream solids.)  My partner loves contemporary quilts, so I thought she'd like that.  There are a total of 20 blocks ranging between 3.5 inches and around 5 inches long (all are 4 inches wide).  I used a no-show mesh stabilizer as a foundation to sew the fabric to--an idea I got from the book String Quilt Revival.  I found the stabilizer both on the authors' website and at Nancy's Notions.

I really wanted to try an all solids quilt after reading through City Quilts by Cherri House.  After some thorough "stalking", I was inspired by images of the area where my partner lives.  The landscape is stunning when all the wildflowers come out!  So, I selected some colors from the multitude of wildflowers, keeping with the warm, yellow-based tones that my partner seems to prefer.

Here are the blocks arranged but not sewn together yet.  You can see bits of the white foundation mesh where the fabric is floating up.

I made a pieced label incorporating the fabrics from the front.

That's right--no peeking!  It's a secret swap until it arrives!

I debated back and forth about piecing the back or even using a print, but in the end, I went with my gut and stuck to a solid.  I think it was the right choice--the quilting looks better on the solid than I think it would have looked otherwise.

The back is quilted with a 100% cotton multi-color Coats & Clark machine quilting thread that blends from red to orange to green.  It is a 50 weight thread.  It gave me no trouble in the bobbin.

The quilting is a continuous rectangle spiraling outward.  With different threads for the front and back.

For the front I used a size 30 trilobal polyester from Japan.  It is labeled Signature, A&E Inc., Pixelles and is called Sunrise.  This multicolored thread blends from deep red to orange to yellow and has a slight silky sheen to it.  Very easy to quilt with.

The binding is done in the same fabric as the back (although I did consider using some Pure Organics Steel).  I think this helped to add a finished line to the quilt without detracting from the design with something too stark like black.  I'll be doing a tutorial later on the way I did the mitered corner binding (hint:  its not the typical method, but it is easy).

I love how this turned out!  Creating this quilt was a lot like using crayons--there were no prints to distract the eye or hide in.  The design, while simple in idea, actually took a bit of thought and planning so that the colors and shapes all played nicely together.  The quilting was kept simple so as not to compete with all the lines of color, but add its own dimension too.  Contemporary quilts always look so simple to me, but having finished this little one, I can honestly say there's a whole lot more that goes into their design.  I think there might just be a few more contemporary quilts in my future!

Doll Quilt Swap 12 Received!

All the way from Cary, North Carolina, comes a little doll quilt to my door...or post office box as the case may be.  The lovely Nichole Partridge (partridgepeartree) made me this adorable mini quilt and sent along a few goodies to boot!

Do you see that Kaffe Fassett fat quarter?  Nichole really did her homework--I love Kaffe!

Nichole sent along a cute little journal (I'm thinking of using it as my quilt ideas book) and some extra fabric including some fabulous houndstooth print and some Kaffe Fassett.  I already know what I want to do with each (which, believe me is rare, I'm someone who debates a million ideas usually).

But, of course, the best part is the doll quilt!  My partner must have spent quite some time "stalking" me because she really nailed it with this one.  I love all the scrappy bits this little quilt has--something new to discover each time I look at it.  I also have a fondness for all those lovely red and aqua/turquoise quilts out there so I am happy to finally have one of my very own.  And, well, I just can't help liking these wonky (or liberated) churn dash blocks.  You might remember that last year I had a bee block done with large liberated churn dash blocks in black and white fabrics.  Let me just say these little guys are way cuter!  The combination of prints and wonky is just right for lending the quilt a bit of quirky happiness that makes me smile when I look at it.

I love that the border is made up of uneven blocks which fits the style of the blocks so much better than if they were all the same size/shape.

Here's the back of the quilt--again, gorgeous, cheerful fabric.  Judging from this quilt, Nichole has great taste in fabrics--her stash must be fabulous to stare at!  :)

When this quilt arrived, I told Stars--"here's our new wall quiltie" and he looked up at the blank spot on the wall and then back at the envelope in my hand and smiled his big border collie smile.  Then when I took out the quilt and held it up for him to see he got up and came over to sniff and look (he's a good boy and doesn't rub his nose on the quilts) and then flopped over and started his snortle noises which he normally only makes after eating something beyond delicious or has the best time playing. 

Then tonight when I was hanging it on the wall, I put it where I thought and asked, "what do you think about here?" and all of sudden he made his whine squeak which is his not happy noise.  So I moved it over to another spot and asked about that spot and he stopped and smiled.  So that is where I left it.  (I guess he's getting particular about where I hang the art.  It was his 11th birthday yesterday, so I'll let him have his way this time, lol.)

He's never reacted this strongly to a quilt before--he must really LOVE it!  Which is good--because so do I!

I told my sister that the gang in the center is Stars as the bunny, me with the hat and my younger sister trying to peek in, lol!

 Now aren't you all just a bit jealous?

Super Swap--Table Runner Received

I waited for a sunny day to photograph the table runner I received from Jan Roberts for the Super Swap so you could see how cheery it is.  When I received it, it was one of those rare Spring days in Oregon that has sunshine and opening the box and seeing the table runner with the light hitting it was just beautiful.

Isn't that just lovely?  It is a pieced, quilted runner.  I love how each of the flowers and birds is different--I do love scrappiness!  The fabrics all coordinate so well together too.

Even the back is pretty--guess I could always flip it over for Summer, lol. 

Okay, before it goes back to its place as Easter/Spring decor, here's a close up on the blocks so you can see Jan's superb work of art.

Have a great Easter!

Super Swap--Table Runner

Okay, my partner received her table runner, so I can show it off now.  (Oh, and I apologize in advance for the horrid photos taken in bad lighting at night.)  The runner is around22-23 inches wide and 68 inches long (I measured, just can't find the paper I wrote it on) and traveled all the way to Pell City, Alabama.  My partner, Wendy (stitchduchess2), loves peacocks, batiks, scrappy, colorful, modern, shades of gray, crazy quilting and has some really big tables at her house--so this is kind of a combination of all that. 

The light gray is Kona Ash, the dark gray is Kona Medium Gray, and the binding is Kona Black.

 I debated between binding in black and turquoise, but decided the black framed the table runner best.  Each peacock block is 16" square (I think that's around 22 inches wide on point) and made up of four 8 inch blocks--three tail feather blocks and one body (I based the body block on a vintage quilt I saw).  I used the same fabrics for the body blocks but each tail feather is from a different fabric (yeah, I've got a lot of fabric in these tones...and this is only a fraction of it).  I love the mix of various prints and batiks.  Here's one block:

The peacocks actually face in opposite directions when looking at the table runner, but, I took their pictures so that they'd be heads up for you.  Here's the second peacock:

Here's a view of the quilting on each end.  The parallel lines intersect in the half-circle ends to form a cross hatching.  I did not mark out the lines but rather used the sewing machine foot as a general guide.  I didn't want perfectly straight lines, but rather was going for a bit of an organic feel to imitate the lines on a feather.  I thought this would contrast nicely with the paper-pieced points and lines of the peacock tails.  Normally, I probably wouldn't worry about washing something like a table runner before sending it out, but with that cross-hatching, I wanted more texture and unwashed left it kind of flat.  It puffed just the right amount with one handwash cycle! 

Batting used was Warm and White.

Each peacock was quilted with a turquoise thread which is mostly visible from the back side, but I think stays nicely unobtrusive on the front.

You can see some of the knots from the French knots on the back as I didn't add these until after I had quilted and bound the table runner.  BTW, I used Sulky rayon threads in Turquoise and Light Silver for this project which gives it a bit of sheen when the light hits it just right

 Here's how the quilting goes for the inset half square triangles on the sides between peacock blocks.  I kept the lines parallel to the peacocks, meeting in the middle to form points.

The French knots and head feathers are embroidered using DMC perle cotton floss (size 5).  I used a couple of blenders, one with blues and the other with greens, to coordinate with the fabrics.  Each block has slightly different placements for the knots.  You can also see how I outline or stitched-in-the-ditch quilted in the turquoise and then a bit further out outlined in the light silver.

Here's the other block--you can see how the knots are similar but different.  Isn't that feather fabric gorgeous?  I just love the gold shimmering on it!

A final look at the peacock table runner.  Whew, that was a whole lot of quilting, but I really was pleased with how it came out.  Even better was receiving the thank you from my partner (here's part of it):

I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for my stunning peacock table runner! When I opened the package and saw the peacock block I was so happy and overwhelmed with your design for me! I had happy tears as I just sat and looked at my stunning runner! I will always treasure this runner and it will have a prominent place in my home. My 20yr old son came in and said "wow mom that is beautiful!" He really liked the colors you chose and so do I. He never comments on my swaps, but on this one he did, it is that beautiful!

 I know those of you who quilt, sew or make handicrafts know how great that made me feel after all the planning and work that went into this project--because in the end, you know what you made might not be perfect, but you sure hope the recipient loves it like it was. 

So, there you have it--one peacock table runner!  I plan on putting the block pattern online in April for download so stay tuned for an update.  (It's really not that hard to make!)  I plan on making this block again and I'd love to see your versions too.  I can't wait to show you the lovely table runner I received for the swap, let's hope the light is better tomorrow!

Fabric for DQS12

This week a few packages showed up for some of my swaps, including the solids I plan on using for my DQS 12 quilt.  Although it was cloudy the day I took these pictures, you can still see how lovely the range is.  The first three bundles came from Pink Chalk Fabrics.  I do love their quick service, nice packaging and mixed bundles.

From left to right:  Moda Bella Solids American Blue, Kona Cotton Dusty Blue, Robert Kaufman Quilters Linen Taupe, Essex Linen Dusty Blue, Pure Organics Steel, Kona Cotton Sage, Kona Cotton Herb, Essex Linen Jungle, Moda Bella Solids Etchings Charcoal.  These are from the Parson Gray Curious Nature Coordinates Collection.

From the Apple Cider Bundle (left to right):  Kona Cotton Paprika, Kona Cotton Curry, Moda Bella Solids Ochre, Kona Cotton Raisin, Kona Cotton Butterscotch, Kona Cotton Moss, Kona Cotton Amber, Kona Cotton Brown.

From left to right (August-Hot Summer Nights Bundle):  Kona Cotton Dark Violet, Kona Cotton Coral, Kona Cotton Violet, Kona Cotton School Bus, Kona Cotton Cerise, Robert Kaufman Pure Organic Cherry, Kona Cotton Chocolate, Robert Kaufman Pure Organic Orange.

This last bundle set I bought from Sew Fresh Fabrics on Etsy.  I needed a few more greens and yellows.  I love how each had a label on it (easily peeled off), so I could remember the colors.  This was the bundle inspired by Outfoxed Outwitted.

Left to right (all Kona):  Natural, Medium Gray, Herb, Zucchini, Olive, Basil, Banana, Corn Yellow.

How did I choose all these colors?  Well, my secret partner loves modern, contemporary styles and leans towards warm earthy tones (both of which, I admit are not my norms--but, I love being pushed in my creativity and while I don't normally get to work with all solids or these tones, I do like them).  I did a little checking on Google images and after seeing photos of the beautiful area that my partner lives in, I choose colors from the surrounding landscape (sky, mountains, trees, wild flowers, earth, etc.) and then found mixed fabric bundles containing the colors I was going for.  I'm looking forward to mixing in the textures of the linens with the cottons.  Hopefully, these will all translate well into the design I've got floating in my head--guess we'll see!