Still Hooked on Bliss

Recently I decided to overcome my fear of applique and so I grabbed a handful of left- over Bliss. I figured if anything could help me through this daunting task, Bliss would help. My latest quilting magazine fed my courage with a number of tips from the pros, step by step instructions, and even a pattern. I gathered myself and started my first ever attempt at applique and come up with this:

So much fun that I made a few more.

Why stop when there is plenty of Bliss left-overs and free scrap to work with?

Now it was back to the magazine--what should I do with this little bouquet? The original pattern was a little different, but I am all about making it "my way". So after a few pages of graph paper figuring, I determined a way I could make a variation on the original pattern with the samples I was working with. However, I was not ready to stop appliqueing, so I changed the pattern adaptation a bit more to allow for more applique.

These will be the centers of the "alternating" square, which was originally to be completely pieced. Probably when I complete this "pattern" it will not resemble the original inspiration. But I already love it!

Maybe next time I will follow directions.

...or maybe not.

Bliss-ful Progress

This lovely little handful, is the beginnings of some great fun. First off, I am partial to red, so this collection caught my eye and second, I am really partial to red and white polka-dots (see upper left of picture), and what happens when you put that together with a little Christmas money...

What you get is Jam and Jellies (Fig Tree Quilts Pattern). Eye candy! Sigh! This one square is almost enough for me, but why stop when you have a good thing going...

Do you want to know what happens when you put all of these parts together? What you get is a quilting girl who can hardly wait to show her momma this pretty quilt. I had to text her practically in the middle of the night (hmmmmm...I'm not telling why it was in the middle of the night...but it might of had to do with my recently reactivated night owl skills). My momma is off playing in Mexico, but she assured me she is eager to see my newest creation, and that she would love it. O.K. So I know I am a big girl now, but I still want to show my momma my creations (at least the ones I am proud of). And this one, I am proud of... drum roll please....

Not the greatest of pictures, we had a beautiful sunny day, but the quilt top was not finished in time to see the sun. I quickly snapped a couple pictures so I could post tonight. I will try to get some better pictures tomorrow if the weather cooperates.

So after I snapped those pictures and took a little break from smiling at that pretty top, I felt like doing a little star gazing. That is Bliss-ful isn't it? Well it was for me...

I am not sure how many stars I will be able to make with my scraps, but it seemed like a nice way to use up the leftovers and make something else beautiful.

I hope you have a Bliss-ful week!

Quilting Bliss

Fig Tree Quilts has published the cutest pattern called Jelly and Jam, I have had my eye on it for some time now. Last time I was in LA, I picked up the pattern and planned to make the quilt with Breakfast at Tiffany's, but I purchased charm packs instead of Jelly Rolls, so that put a large kink in my plans. Do not despair--I came up with plan B for my Breakfast at Tiffany's:

So back to the Jelly and Jam, in November of 2010 I discovered Bliss, literally the fabric collection called "Bliss". It is Bliss-ful! I went a little crazy and had a Merry Bliss-Mass. I made myself a new Bliss-mass Stocking---finally a stocking for me which I LOVE! For a good friend and hostess with the most-ess, I made a Bliss Table Runner. And finally I settled into the Jams and Jelly quilt pattern in the Bliss collection.

The colors range from these cool browns and sage-like greens, all highlighted with ice blue and red or pink.

So far I have these blocks going, they will all be sashed with a Bliss custard cream polka dot and posted with some of the red. Since I think it is time to put away the Christmas Fruitcake Quilt, I am planning on Bliss taking its place in the front room--which means I probably had better use flannel on the back (which IS available in Bliss as well).

These colors are so great together. Although I do enjoy mixing and matching my own fabric combinations, it can sure be fun to use a coordinated set. I can't wait to see this quilt come together. Stay tuned!

A Big 21 Gun Salute For 2010

I have not been completely ignoring my quilting life (just the blogging part). I think the extra work hours in front of a computer make me less likely to come home and get in front of a computer again. Not that surprising. But I still managed to make time for some sewing therapy and finished the year off with a big bang!

A big job for two KING size quilts came in as Christmas drew near, but I was pretty motivated and excited, so they were done in plenty of time for wrapping. This is the Lemley 1 & 2, both are double Irish Chains and backed in their own mustard yellow prints. I thought they turned out great, and I hear they were well received.

My Mom came over for Christmas and we put her big machine to work finishing one of her 2 year projects----I wish I had a picture, she hand sewed hexies til her fingers bled (there was actually quite a bit of blood on that quilt), then we framed it and she quilted like mad for a very satisfying gift under the tree.

I had to sneak the machine when Mom was out to finish quilting and bind a secret gift for her. I think this is my LAST Embroidered Bird quilt. A perfect gift for my mom.

For the first time ever I used Fleece for a backing. My wonderful husband loves snuggley things so I wanted to try the fleece as a backing. It quilted nice and looks good, but it feels wonderful. I am not sure if I will use fleece again (so bulky), however I also tried a flannel backing for the Christmas Fruitcake quilt and really like that. My kids are not willing to put that quilt away now that Christmas is over. So I will definitely do the flannel back again.

Cindy requested something Hot Pink from the Sewing Santa, I am not sure if I actually hit Hot pink, but it is rich looking and comes pretty close.

And finally Dad was surprised with a quilt made from the fabric findings he has brought to me over the last year. He picks up different fabrics when he can for next to nothing, so I put together a nice neutral scheme with coral splashed. He was sure surprised. I tried my best to use all reclaimed materials for his quilt--I know he likes that sort of thing. Plus, it was a new type of challenge for me.

As is our tradition, Mom and I created something while we were together....this time a French Roses quilt for Aunt Laura. It turned out so fresh and bright. Laura's favorite color is red, so we dug through all my fabrics and pulled every red I had and set to work in a quilt as you go fashion (also new to me). We used my very favorite ever green for the leaves (kind of a fresh green apple tone on tone) (p.s. Mom, I know you have more of that fabric stashed away somewhere.......), Mom picked a luscious crisp white for the background and back, and of course I requested we use my favorite red polka dot fabric to border. It was almost finished when Mom left and I know she was working hard to finish it--and I just got a call tonight from Aunt Laura: guess what? She loves it!

So, a BIG finish for me in 2010 : 21 quilts completed. I can hardly believe it! But is sure does feel good.

Quilts Numbered 30 & 31

I am especially pleased with the quilting on this "Stack of Coins" quilt. When I first completed this top I knew it would need something extra in the big wide gaps. I think the free hand quilting is a nice fill for the gaps. Also on this quilt I made a variegated binding to match the coin stacks. it was a bit narrow and difficult to work with but I like the effect.

The "Feathered Friends - Love Birds" is my 30th anniversary quilt. (Thirtieth quilt, not thirtieth year.) I fell pretty hard for the fabric and so the quilt cam together quickly. That is something I am discovering in my quilting: If I really like the fabric, I tend to work more on a quilt (mostly). Of course, as soon as I type that I can think of several exceptions to this "rule", but mostly I would say it is true.

For the Love Birds, it is definitely true, I really like the color combinations and the bird fabric is SO cute. The blue trim coordinating fabric is another favorite. I did a border of free-hand quilting to echo the floral pattern in the quilt which turned out pleasing. (Funny Side Note: I labored and labored on the border quilting of this quilt and when my arms were about to fall off and my fingers were crying for mercy, I showed my husband the work and he said it looked nice. My husband is really awesome, but I realized that I was going to have to wait for my Mom to arrive for someone to FULLY appreciate all of the hours of labor intensive work that it really was.)

Soothing Squares

I am pretty sure that this is one of my favorite quilts so far. I cannot decide if it is because of the colors and simplicity or if it is mainly the stipple quilting. The colors are captured very poorly in these pictures, but you get the idea. I repeated some of the pattern on the back--which turned out really well. I think it is my best "patterned" back so far.
Here is a little side note: if you look at the photo above which shows the back, at the top you can see two paving bricks which are holding the quilt for the photo. Actually you will see them in many of my pictures like this. The crazy part is this: I don't think it is ever the same bricks. I always leave them neatly on top of the block wall for the next time I photo and then when I come back---they are GONE. It has got to be my kids---why in the world would they feel continually compelled to move those bricks (which they have seen me use numerous times)?!? My other thought is that it could be my husband. He probably has no idea how those bricks keeping moving up to that same spot. I can hear him thinking..."those darn kids, why do they keep leaving bricks over here?" For now, it is a mystery and there is a brick bandit on the loose.

A Burst of Activity

I have been working away on a number of quilts, just a little bit here and a bit there, depending on what moves me. Then I got motivated and put together three quilts in the last few days. They are so pretty. This first one is an old pattern called crossroads. It is basically two different blocks (one is a 16 patch and the other is an x-block) Together they look wonderful. I am really beginning to appreciate the way two different blocks can play off of each other. I am working on a couple of more quilts with this two block play, I will show them later.

This quilt is a Full size (70 x 88).

The second quilt I finished is the one I copied from a local fabric store sample. There are no unique additions, I liked the original so much that I really just made it the same. Or at least the same as I remember it being. I backed it with a nice solid yellow. I would have loved to use one of the front fabrics but I do live on a budget! :)

Completed it is smaller than I would usually make only 64x76inches. A twin or large throw size I guess. I just followed the pattern and purchased only the fabric the pattern called for. But I am really pleased with the final result!

I haven't had a chance to photo the third I finished--my favorite--because we spent all of our daylight (and beyond) up at the river. Yeah for family fun!