Paducah 2 Finished!

I recently completed my second Paducah Log Cabin quilt, but the tight schedule didn't leave me any time to think of a new name or make a label before attaching the binding. This was because I needed to send it off with my husband, who was heading out to visit his elderly mother for the holiday.

I must say, I'm quite smitten with the final result. For this piece, I used another chunk of my William Morris earthtone fabrics designed by Barbara Brackman, from around 2012. Back then, my grasp on fabric quantities for a quilt was a little hazy, leading me to buy way too much. I'm grateful I found someone who appreciated them as they are beautiful fabrics, the colors just aren't in style. (Though, I am seeing a lot more browns lately so maybe I'm at the front of the trend this time.)

This quilt design was created by Judy Martin and is available in her Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts book. I've really become an admirer of her incredible designs.

In the rush, I managed to snap a quick photo before my husband's departure, but alas, the lighting wasn't ideal—too shadowy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed he'll capture a better shot for me upon delivery.

For a change, I also took a photo of the backside. =) I thought it looked interesting.

For the quilting, I chose the Buffalo pantograph from Quilter's Niche, primarily because it was my brother's favorite. (Though I suspect it’s more bison than buffalo in shape.) The pantograph stitched out smoothly, but if I were to nitpick, I'd say I wished for a tad more detail in the bison, especially to fill the large unquilted space inside the body. Should I use this pantograph again, I'd opt for a smaller overall size.

I used Quilter's Dream Green batting, as usual, and stitched it out with soldier green Glide thread. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good photos of the quilting. That's one of the problems with rush jobs.

With this quilt off to its new home, my gaze turns to the rest of the year. I might just be dedicated to taming the chaos of my sewing room and tackling the mountain of scraps that's reached knee-high proportions. I'm contemplating participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge next year, and Bonnie Hunter's scrap saving system seems like an efficient approach. Pre-cutting my scraps into uniform strips will surely make my next scrappy quilt project smoother. Here's to orderly chaos and colorful creations! 🌈🪡

Linking up with 

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
Friday Foto Fun
Peacock Party
TGI Finished Friday

Chocolates and Roses

Like a nice date with Chocolate and Roses, I spent my Friday Night finishing up my squirrel from a couple weeks ago! I have no more flimsies left to finish! It's taken me more than a year, but my closet is now bare. =)

Inspired by the name of the pattern, Chocolate Dip, I named mine Chocolates and Roses. I used the last of my Quilter's Dream Green batting for this quilt and I used inexpensive MaxiLock thread in a dusty rose color for the quilting. 

I chose Donna Kleinke's Carmen's Roses 3A pantograph because that curly tail reminded me of the knots in my quilt. Once I'd started, though, I'd rather wished I scaled it a little smaller. (To be honest, that's my one gripe about Donna Kleinke's pantographs, they are sized so huge that it's hard to know how much to reduce them to make them look good.)

Originally this pantograph had another row on the bottom, but when I realized it was exactly the right size without it, I edited it out with my ProStitcher Design software.

Linking up with:

Brag About Your Beauties

Friday Foto Fun

Off the Wall Friday

Peacock Party

TGI Finished Friday
Whoop Whoop

Morris Garden Quilted!

Hip-hip-hooray! 🎉 I managed to get this beauty quilted just in the nick of time—right before the month's close. Binding, however, will wait until after I do my next round of quilt labels. 

It's another really big quilt so it's hard to hold it up to get a good photo.

The quilting shows up better in dim light

This project pushed me into uncharted waters, throwing me design and alignment curveballs. It was a fantastic practice session, letting me flex and explore the alignment tools of my ProStitch long arm computer. What a relief it is to wrap up this quilt—it's been patiently waiting, making it the last 'flimsy' in my pile, urging me to summon the courage to quilt it.

Flapper's Fancy Finished!

Flapper's Fancy is Finished! I actually finished it a couple of weeks ago, but I've been too lazy/distracted to finish my blog post.

I originally designed and pieced this quilt in April 2021. I tried to find blocks in Electric Quilt/Blockbase that aligned along the edges and I think I was pretty successful. I'm quite happy with how it turned out. 

As I previously reported, all the quilt pantographs I used were from Donna Kleinke's Genevieve line. For the extra large blocks, I stitched them out in two pieces, as shown in this Handiquilter video on how to stitch Oversize Blocks. For the sashing, I was fortunate it fit (just barely) in my quilting space and I was able to do the sashing strips without rotating the quilt on-point, so this project actually ended up being easier than anticipated. It really did help that I selected pantographs which came in smaller pieces.

This is basically what I stitched out, though the outer flower border sashing is better aligned on the actual quilt.

This quilt has already been gifted; my brother visited last week, and I sent it off with him to deliver.

But its departure is a little bittersweet because I do really like it so I may dig through and see if I have enough of the Deco Elegance border/medallion fabrics left to make another for myself.

Linking up with:

Finished (or Not) Friday

Friday Foto Fun

Off the Wall Friday

Peacock Party

TGI Finished Friday

Whoop Whoop

Rose Lane Quilted

Just as June is coming to an end, I've managed to wrap up my One Monthly Goal! Taking inspiration from the floral theme and the original pattern name, I've decided to name this creation "Rose Lane". The pattern, Diamond Lane, was a free one from Wilmington. Although I made adjustments to the size of the blocks and the border, the final quilt still holds true to the spirit of the original pattern. This was my focus for June's One Monthly Goal.

I used a variety of rose and garden theme pantographs to quilt it. I'll go ahead and list them here for reference.

Donna Kleinke, One Song Needle Arts

Carmen's Roses Block
Carmen's Roses Border
Carmen's Roses Frame 2-Quarter
Carmen's Roses Motif (with an edit to add extra leaves)
Wind Dance Sash

Darlene Epp

Chloe's Garden Frame 5

Patricia Ritter

Rosebud Border (free right now)
Rosebud Border Corner (free right now)

The batting was the last bit of Hobbs Heirloom 80-20 batting. And I used Madeira Aeroquilt Red #8380 thread.

All in all, I'm thrilled to have reached my goal for the month, and I'm even more thrilled with the final outcome of Rose Lane. The floral patterns truly bring it to life, and I'm eager to start on my next project!

Linking up with:

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished Or Not Friday
Friday Foto Fun
Off the Wall Friday
One Monthly Goal Finish
Peacock Party
TGI Finished Friday

Comet's Revival Quilted!

Get ready for a comeback story – the tale of my second finish from the Comet blocks of my May UFO goal! It had a rough start; a quilt flimsy riddled with pleats and puckers that was far from perfect. I can't even imagine what possessed me to finish it in such a state (though, honestly, I probably just couldn't wait to be done...LOL).

Now aptly named Comet's Revival, this quilt breathes new life into the purple Comet blocks with fresh sashing and corner blocks. I'm thrilled that I didn't purchase a single new fabric for this revival! Instead, I used only fabrics I had on hand and I recovered the purple paisley fabric from a square dance skirt I made years ago for the sashing corner blocks. It was a small sacrifice to make, considering the skirt was gathering dust in my closet. For the backing, I unearthed a hefty piece of green marble-look fabric, a relic from the early 2000s.

For the quilting, I experimented with various feather blocks. Admittedly, I'm not completely in love with the result, but the idea of disassembling the whole thing never really took a serious hold. After spending an abundance of hours earlier this month unraveling the quilt stitch by stitch, I simply didn't have the heart for another round! The main culprit of my dissatisfaction is the large square feather block – it lacked symmetry, and with a nine-patch design, it's all the more noticeable. Nevertheless, I decided to stick with it.

But it's not all bittersweet! I adore the outer border feather from mycreativestitches; her Midsummer Dream Simple Border and Corner worked wonders. For the sashing, I went with a pantograph called Flipped on Feathers that came with my long arm. And the adorable corner blocks are the Funky Feather block by Anita Shackleford, another that came with my ProStitcher software.

The batting is my go-to – Quilters Dream Green 100% recycled batting. I paired it with another MaxiLock serger thread, this time in a Churchill green shade. For these low-stakes leftover block quilts, I see no need to splurge on pricey threads.

What a relief it is to have completed my May UFO before the month's end! There were moments of doubt, but I pulled through. And now, with a quartet of quilts piled up, I'm considering dedicating a few days to creating quilt labels and binding them all. A perfectly productive way to celebrate the completion!

Linking up with:

Midweek Makers
Needle & Thread Thursday
Brag About Your Beauties
Friday Foto Fun
Off the Wall Friday
TGI Finished Friday

Cosmic Cabin Quilted!

I was on a real roll from Sunday afternoon straight through to Monday evening, only pausing for a well-deserved sleep break! I've been absolutely set on completing these two quilts by month's end, and that resolve has turned me into a quilting powerhouse. It's been all about stitches, patterns, and fabric - until these quilts are done, my world revolves around them!

It's 92x92 so a little large for one person to hold it up

Here's a glimpse into my quilting strategy...

I employed Donna Kleinke's Spiral Pantograph (slightly tweaked to make it a block design) on the Comet blocks, while her Simone's Gems Corner block brought the log cabin blocks to life. The border was adorned with her Simone Feathers Border and Corner Set, and oh boy, did it turn out beautiful! It was rather thread-hungry, practically devouring a whole 3000-yard spool, but it was worth every inch.

The backing of the quilt sports the 108" Dream Cotton Solid in a rich Hunter Green from Marshall Dry Goods. The quality-to-price ratio is just stellar, and I'll likely incorporate more of their fabric into future projects.

As for the batting, I opted for Hobbs Heirloom 80-20 Premium Cotton Batting. It was the perfect width, so no piecing necessary! I bought a 15-yard bolt several years ago and I've been slowly using it up. After this quilt, there is just a remnant left, freeing up some much-needed space in my long arm room.

And let's not forget the stitching! I used a budget-friendly MaxiLock serger thread in a delightful Tea Rose shade. It was conveniently on hand, and this year, I've been on a mission to finish projects without splurging on extra supplies.

So there you have it, the cosmic journey of my Cosmic Cabin quilt. I should have just enough time left to finish quilting my Comet's Revival before the end of the month!

Linking up with:
Wednesday Wait Loss
Brag about Your Beauties
Friday Foto Fun
Finished (or Not) Fridays
TGI Finished Friday
Off the Wall
Peacock Party

Midnight Mosaic Quilted

I just realized I finished another quilt a few weeks ago and totally forgot to post about it. It's another scrap quilt in the Broken Bricks/Zipper pattern. If you remember, I kind of went bonkers for that pattern last year - it's like my comfort food, but for quilting. 

I started with the border print which was a remnant leftover from my Queen's Jewel quilt and then I dove headfirst into my scrap bin and emerged with a colorful medley that came together beautifully in this quilt. This time, it's donned a racy solid black background, sprinkled with a mélange of purples, blues, and greens. It's a kaleidoscope of color in the night sky, hence the name - Midnight Mosaic.

The backing is a black broadcloth fabric I scored from Marshall Dry Goods. It's 60"-wide Prime plus and delightfully meant no piecing. It’s almost like the fabric knew I dislike that part of quilting. Guess who's going on a shopping spree soon!

I've filled it with my trusty Quilter's Dream Green batting, made from 100% recycled bottles. Not only does it make my quilts wonderfully cozy, it also makes me feel a little bit better about my environmental footprint. I also used an inexpensive MaxiLock serger thread in their mint green color to quilt it because I thought it would show up well while still having a green-tone, but it looks almost white on top of the black.

For the edge-to-edge pantograph, I used the Diana pattern from MyCreativeStitches. It stitched out like wonderfully, giving the quilt that perfect finishing touch.

Once I get the label on and finish up the binding, this quilt will join my growing pile of ready-to-gift creations. Who knows which lucky family member or friend will be the recipient of this Midnight Mosaic beauty? The anticipation is half the fun! 

So there you have it! A finished quilt that almost slipped under the radar. It's a good thing I have you all to share my victories with, otherwise, I might forget they even happened! Happy quilting, everyone!

Linking up with:

Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
Friday Foto Fun
Off the Wall Friday
Patchwork & Quilts
Peacock Party
Put Your Foot Down
Whoop Whoop

Flower Paths Finished (Nearly)!

As usual, it still needs a label and to be bound, but the quilting has been finished and I've trimmed off the excess. I tend to let a few quilts pile up because it is more efficient to make multiple quilt labels at once. I'm happy to get this one done before the end of the month, as this was my one monthly goal.

I initially played with an intricate design where I quilted all the blocks individually, but I struggled to come up with a good design for the borders so I decided done was better and settled for an edge-to-edge design. I used Christy Dillon's Garden Fairies pantograph that I purchased during their last sale. (I bought so many great patterns from them recently, it was difficult to choose which one to use.)

 

I used Quilter's Dream Green batting for this quilt; it is my batting of choice because it is made from 100% recycled bottles. And I used inexpensive Maxi-Lock serger thread in dark purple because I've had good success with it. 

I designed this pattern in Electric Quilt and I used fabrics already in my stash. I'm really trying not to buy any more fabric this year. I'm quite happy with how well this project turned out.

I'm linking up with 

One Monthly Goal Finish
Brag About Your Beauties
Finished (or Not) Friday
Friday Foto Fun
Off the Wall
Peacock Party
TGI Finished Friday
Whoop Whoop!

Finger Lakes Log Cabin Finished!

This is Judy Martin's Finger Lakes log cabin pattern, but I don't really like that name so I decided to call mine Bordeaux Violette. (That's basically burgundy purple in French. I like how it sounded.) The pattern is available in Judy Martin's Log Cabin Quilt Book. I've become a big fan of her patterns and this is the third of her quilts I've finished.

It's a generous queen size and really too big for one person to hold but my husband did the best he could. This quilt was made with a set of fabrics I'd been hauling around for years. I did find a label on one of the edges of one of the set fabrics and it said Fabric Traditions 2001, so I guess this set of fabric is over 20 years old.

I quilted it primarily with the Trellis set of pantographs by Karen Thompson. I chose this plan because I thought I could do a good job stitching it on there. It was time-consuming cropping all those edge pieces, but the project was a pretty straightforward block-by-block job. This is basically the plan I used, but I filled in all those empty triangle spots with cropped edge pieces.

I used Quilter's Dream Green batting for this quilt. It's my go-to batting because it's made from 100% recycled bottles. And I used Glide thread in their Raisin color, though I wish I'd also purchased a creamy yellow color to use in the dark areas so the pretty quilting would have shown up better. 

Since I'm quite sure this will be one of my favorite quilts, I also made a couple matching pillowcases and a matching dress for Louisa, our stuffed dog. LOL

I'm linking up with

Brag About Your Beauties

Finished (or Not) Friday

Friday Foto Fun

Off the Wall

Peacock Party

Whoop Whoop!

Two More Small Finishes

Now that I've finally finished making the quilt labels, I'll probably finish binding my stack of quilts fairly quickly. Today I finished two more.

First up, I finished the Lake Cabin quilt I made from my scrap bin. I started this one last fall as a leader-ender project but a few weeks ago I decided to spend an evening working on it and that was enough to nearly finish it.

This was quilted with the Crystal Gem motif
available from Quilting Daily.

This one is likely to get donated to Comfort Quilts, but I haven't decided yet.

Next up, I also finished binding the crib quilt I made from the Aged Elegance fabric leftovers. I blogged about the quilting in early February so I won't repeat all the information here.

This was quilted with the Sharron edge-to-edge
pantograph from MyCreativeStitches.

This one is only crib size so it will likely be gifted as a baby gift someday. Or I may just donate it to Comfort Quilts later this year. I have a goal to donate 12 quilts this year.

Linking up with

Peacock Party

Off the Wall Friday

Pieces of My Heart Finished

I've finished it! This is the Pieces of my Heart quilt I designed and finished for the Tickled Pink blog hop last year. I still need to make a label and bind it, but I did finish the quilting, which was my one monthly goal.

I spent way too long obsessing about the quilting pattern to use on this quilt, but finally I just stitched out the design my husband liked best.

For the batting, I used Quilter's Dream Green (again); this is my go-to batting because it is made from 100% recycled bottles. I didn't use fancy threads on this project, just some dark purple MaxiLock serger thread and red Madiera AeroQuilt thread.

This is the quilt design I ended up using.

I actually created a number of these pieces from purchased pantographs. I started with the Ironworks Border 3 by Celine Spader and I took a portion of it and created the octagon, the square corner block and the diamond shape. (Have I mentioned how much I love my ProStitcher Studio software?)

And I used the Sweet to the Core melon block from Quiltable and took off the rounded outline border and used it for the diamonds and then created a four-pointed piece for the Amethyst block.

Finally, I used the Welcome Spring sashing by Darlene Epp, with a small edit, to fill the space between the blocks and border.

Considering how wonky this quilt was, I am quite happy with how it turned out. I did learn some good lessons which I hope to remember for next time, like I wish I had basted down some of the seams because it created some extra fullness having them flipping back and forth under the seams. 

Update a couple days later: It's finished!!

I'm linking up with 

One Monthly Goal Finish

Design Wall Monday
Monday Musings

Brag About Your Beauties
Peacock Party

Snake River Finished!

FINALLY!, my Snake River Log Cabin is finished. As I mentioned before, this pattern was designed by Judy Martin and is available in Judy Martin's Log Cabin book.

I started making this quilt in Dec 2020 and actually got the flimsy finished in January 2021. But then it just sat; I couldn't bring myself to hire someone to do an edge-to-edge quilting job on it because it was too nice. Nor could I justify the expense of a custom job. So I just hung the flimsy in my closet and moved on to my next project.

Obviously, once I got the long arm I was eager to quilt it, but I felt like I needed to practice with easier projects before I had the confidence to even attempt it. I hadn't actually been planning to quilt this quilt yet, but then I noticed a pantograph in my collection that sprung to my mind as being perfect, for this quilt.

Donna Kleinke's Aspen Border & Corner Set #8904

The shape struck me as being perfect for the Snake River block so I started trying to make a plan.

When I bought my Handiquilter, I also bought the ProStitcher computer and the software is great for playing with different layouts. I spent a lot of hours trying to come up with my plan.

This is the plan I eventually went with.

I will admit I did not stitch it up perfectly. I still have a lot to learn about alignment, but overall I am satisfied with how it turned out.

Linking up with

• Brag About Your Beauties,
• Finished (or Not) Friday
• Peacock Party
• TGI Finished Friday