Pictures from HMQS 2015

Earlier in the month I had the wonderful opportunity to attend HMQS in Sandy, Utah.  My sister and I attended classes on 3 days, and wandered the vendor's mall and exhibit on 2 1/2 days.  It was exhausting, but I saw some great quilts.

This first one was on display from Dusty Farrell.

The flying geese are dimensional.  And the center circles of each kaleidoscope has a special addition.

Isn't the quilting fabulous?!!

There was a special exhibit using Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  I really like how the dark background sets off the bright fun fabrics.

I took a class from this quilter...  I think it's Karen Sievert.  Just fabulous quilting.

And here is a close-up shot of the quilting.

This quilt I really liked...because of the border treatment.  A good example of how the quilting can change the look of the quilt.

And another close-up.

That's all for now.  Enjoy the eye candy!

And Keep Sewing!

My last Mini Quilt for Now

Here is the last mini quilt made for the Sew Small Guild.   I used flying geese to make the stars.

I had members of the guild sign squares for the centers of the stars.

I used Kim Diehl fabric, and made the sashing from the same fabrics as the stars.  The cornerstones are the same as the outer border.

Here you can see the quilting.  I used rulers for the stars, and ditch quilting.

The outer border was done free motion.

I wanted to make a mini version of this quilt, since the original is about 42" square.   I just ran out of steam to do it.  I have so many other things I have been working on.

Earlier this year, I made a store sample for Christmas:

It used a charm pack and some yardage.  I chose the pink colorway (also available in red), because I didn't think it would sell as well as the red.  People like to see them done before they buy.

I used a stencil for the feathered wreath, free motion for the sashing, and rulers for the ditch work.

I also put Cuddle fabric on the back...this will be a baby quilt someday.

Then, I wanted to play with some moda mini charms.  You know...the 2 1/2 inch squares that come with a line.  I used 2 packs from the Daysail line by Moda, with 3/4 yard of background fabric.  I laid them out in rows...on the diagonal.

It was still a little small, so I added borders, after gluing the fabric down.  I took it to my Fusion, and used a ruler to keep my lines straight.  I stitched them all down, and this is how it turned out.

I really like how the back looks!  I used a soft flannel the same color as the border, just a little paler.

Then a free-motion flower and swirl in the border.

Another baby quilt to set aside for someday.  This kind of quilting...just playing with an idea...makes me happy.  I saw something similar at my training for Handi Quilter reps.  Works great!

Next time I'll share some photos from HMQS 2015.  I saw some great quilts, and took some fun classes.  After that, maybe some customer quilts.  Until then...


Keep Sewing!

Another Mini Quilt....Just a little late

March's mini quilt is a tiny Dresden plate.  I used a template just for this size.  It required more handwork again.  It did work up pretty fast.  This first picture shows how I first finished it.

I added a border, then the binding in the same color.  I didn't like how it turned out.  So, I then took off the binding and border, and put the binding back on again.  This created it's own border with the binding.

Much better!

The meetings for this guild have been amazing this year.  We've done the mini of the month, a row robin and Dear Jane blocks.  I took some pictures of the row robin and will share them with you.

 Everyone who participated (14 or 16?), provided their own fabric and theme.  Then each month, each participant took somebody else's fabric home to make a row.

There has been excitement each month to see the next row, and quality work shown each time.

I took more pictures, but this group doesn't hold still very well, and many pictures were too blurry to share.

All participants will be getting their rows back this month.  I'm sure everyone is so excited for this!

Then, the mini challenge was applique, hexagons, or English paper piecing.  I gave Kim small (1/4") hexagon papers, and she was very brave to use them and put them with her Carpenter's Wheel.

This ball had a very long mathematical name.  I would trip over my fingers if I tried to type it!

Then these hexagon type blocks.

Annette is working on a tessalation using birds with paper piecing.  She calls it her forever project.

Kris participates in a hexagon swap, and is going to piece hers together to make a shower curtain. Pretty fun idea!

I've been trying to get caught up on customer quilts, but they come in as fast as they go out.  I made a tote bag this week, but it is a little bigger than I expected.  I may make another just a bit smaller.

I am working on the next mini quilt, but I won't be making two of them before next Thursday.  I may make the smaller one before the May meeting, because I really like how the small one is turning out. It will probably finish around 42 inches square.  Not as small as the others, but small enough this time.

Until then...

Keep Sewing!

Small Hexagon Flower

My latest small quilt is a hexagon flower quilt.  This is accomplished through English Paper Piecing, and applique.  Mostly hand work.  Which I rarely do.  However, I challenged myself to do it anyway, and here it is!

I challenged our guild to do English paper piecing, applique or hexagons in a quilt, block or project this month.  I hope they participate.  We had 4 participants in the Carpenter's Wheel, so January must have been a busy month for the group.

While I had time between customer quilts, I quilted three small ones of my own.  First, this blue and white one of my own design.

This next one is a baby quilt (for a future grandchild...if ever I get one).  I made it from pieces left over from doing a store sample quilt.  I have another top almost made that is very similar to this one.

You may have noticed the cuddle fabric on the back.  I love how soft it is.

Next, is a quilt of spinning wheels and bicycle fabric.  I purchased the kit from a store on a shop hop last summer.  It is finished, (Hurrah!), and I'll hang it up in the summer time.

And here is the fabulously fun fabric I used on the back.  Even though I just stippled on most of this quilt, I love the motion of the spirals on the spinning wheels.  I also love the texture the quilting gives it.

What will next month's challenge be?  I'm not sure yet, I have two different ideas, and can't wait to find out which one I do!

Until then,
Keep Sewing!

Small and Smaller and Smallest?

This month's mini for our Sew Small Guild is the Carpenter's Wheel.  I've been planning on making this one for a few months.  I sat and sewed these the week after New Year's, and loved making them.

First, all three together:

I just wanted to give perspective of the different sizes, before showing each one individually.   The small one is 16 inches.

 The smaller one is 8 inches.

 The smallest one is 4 inches.

The fun part is that I used my own hand-dyed fabrics for the two colors in each quilt.  The background fabric is a batik left over from another project.

I can't wait to see what the members of the guild come up with.  Annette came up with this Feathered Star for her half-square triangle project.  I absolutely love, love, love this!  She is blogging about it here.  Go to the bottom of the page to see her updates about the mini guild.  I think the quilting first caught my eye, but I also love blue and the fabrics tell a winter story don't they?

I recently attended Handi Quilter shop owner training.  I don't own a shop, but I train new owners of Handi Quilter longarm machines.  I learned so much, and it has revived my excitement for longarm quilting.  There is so much to be done on these machines.  I hope to share more over time. Thanks for joining me on my journey today.

Keep on Sewing!