Log Cabin Quilt

Hello out there! It is still snowing and we are still shoveling. This has been a whopper of a winter so far and I am starting to look forward to Spring. I figured I would write a post about my very first Log Cabin Quilt while I warm up and dry off.

 In my quest to be a better quilter I pulled out a treasure I found at the thrift store many years ago. It is a Better Homes and Garden book titled American Heritage Quilts. I sat down in front of the fire with my coffee and read it cover to cover learning so much about quilts through out history. All of the patterns are included as well so I decided to start with the iconic Log Cabin Quilt.

 My fabric stash is chock full of modern prints so of course that is what I used, and the only new fabric purchased was the grey and black dotted binding. In the future I would like to make this quilt again with vintage reproduction prints so I have one that is old fashioned.

 Traditionally the blocks start with a red square representing a home's hearth. A yellow square in the center symbolizes a candle in the window and a black center square in a Log Cabin Quilt hanging out on the clothes line would be a subtle signal that the home was a station of the Underground Railroad.

 I decided to use all three. Each block has a dark side and a light side and they can create several different patterns depending on how you place them. I chose the "Straight Furrows" pattern which symbolizes a plowed field. "Courthouse Steps" and "Barn Raising" are a couple more pattern options I think I will try soon.

I am so pleased with the way this fun quilt turned out. The backing is a gingham cherry print with some black sashing. Each piece of fabric is quilted by "Stitching in the Ditch" creating a super cozy, nubby, quilty texture.

I had two extra blocks left over in the end so I whipped up a trivet/pot holder using a off kilter quilting pattern. I was pondering the idea of using this twisty stitch pattern on the whole quilt but after finishing the trivet I felt it would be a bit dizzying because it has so much going on already.

Well I have stalled long enough, my feet are warm. Time to head out and get to shoveling but I'll be thinking of my next project the entire time. 

Crazy Hexies part 1

I have been wanting to make a crazy quilt for forever and the only thing holding me back was a surplus of broadcloth and an incredible lack of velvets and satins. This Christmas I was gifted a box full of velours and velvets in burgundy, royal blue, forest green, teal and best of all black.

So I went to my go to site Pinterest and found several great patterns. In the end I settled on this one.

I need a nice mess going on to help the creative juices flow.

I forgot to take a photo but I have drawn a hexagon on the white piece of sheeting.

The first two before binding.

I have been trying my hand at free motion quilting and I have found it is not for the easily frustrated. The example above is my first half way decent attempt. Yipeee!

 A little more free motion. Only two in the end because I am already irked.

 Then I used nearly every decorative stitch my machine has in her.

I love the little ladies in the piece of pink trim below. Aren't they cute?

Mmm...black velvet and little typist.

The floral print below have been in my life forever.

 Tulips and little dogs in these stitches.

 Funny candy corduroy and blue velour.

corduroy from the 80's, vintage lace and ric rac.

So I ended up making ten crazy hexies before I ran out of black fabric. Here they all are. Drum roll please... 

 Now they need major embellishing. Hand embroidery and beads are in order now.
Then I must make more!

Buggy Mushroom Quilt

Half way through the first month of 2017 and I am just now writing my first post of the new year. Not at all surprising though, not for me.

I have been embroidering, crocheting and quilting like a fiend and have knocked back my Un Finished Object (UFO) pile quite a bit.

One such UFO is this groovy little beauty.

Please excuse my goofy wire and hook system there, still a work in progress.

I happened to have all of these gorgeously wild fabrics in my stash therefor making this project another stash buster. Yay! The mod pink and orange fabric is vintage and I love it.

The backing is a piece I have had for many years but I could never bring myself to cut it. It was just too awesome. Now I know why, I hadn't found the right project for it yet! It is called "Lava Lamp".

It just belongs with this fun Buggy Mushroom scene.

I embroidered this so long ago I can't remember when. I thought I would make it into a pillow but the last thing I need is another throw pillow. I have a throw pillow problem. It's pretty serious.

So a wall hanging quilt it became.

The whole reason I had to embroider this block is this cute little ladybug and this snail.

. I needed to deck them out with the, oh so tedious but worth it, Satin stitch.

Not a bad project to work on during the incredible snow storms we've been having, it is so cheery and bright and Groovy!

Sunbonnet Sue Christmas

I have been working on this hand embroidered quilt for so long I can't remember when I started. It all began with these sweet Sunbonnet Sue Christmas Iron on patterns many, many moons ago. I took my time embroidering these as I tend to get sloppy if I work on the same project for very long. I need to change it up to keep it fun.

 Once I had finished the embroidered blocks it was time to delve into the fabric stashes and I just happened to have everything I needed. Stash Buster!

 This block above is my favorite. I just love it so much.

That is why I placed it in the middle of the quilt.

 Did you notice that dirt ring around the wreath? I had that one in my hoop for so long it got scuzzy.

 This incredible 12 Days of Christmas fabric has been hanging around waiting for just the right project.

 Swoon. I love this one below. The bonnet, the nightgown, the candle. Love it!

 Whee!

 Here is the back. A soft flannel. So cozy.

I think I will add a bit more quilting on the tan sashing and I need to find the perfect binding fabric. Then I can wash it up and hang it on a wall.

Hope you have a Happy December 1st.

Things I have been working on...

Hello all!
Chimney Season has started again for us so I am busy during most week days but I have been able to get quite a bit done in the project department anyway. I have finished two more Hallowistmas Houses for Tonya.

In usual "Me" fashion I started yet another new project even though I have a box full of Unfinished projects. Actually it all started because I decided to go through my scrap tub. You see it was overfull, flowing out onto the floor. The best thing to do was sew a few of them together for something...maybe a pillow. I do love to make pillows. A crazy quilt type pillow with random embroidery scattered about.Yeah!

I am loving it already.

I quickly put together a couple new pillows...me with the pillows again...I know but these two are going to be out on the "back patio pew" once it stops snowing. Yes...we are still getting snow.

I hand dyed the mottled solid fabrics myself!

here are the backs...oh so bright.

and this hideously ugly frame, which I got for free because it was partially burned in a house fire, is going to be transformed into something incredible...

The plants behind the frame are our tomatoes patiently waiting to go back outside when the sun comes out. My tiny house becomes a nursery in the spring. I have a few more things to show you but I need to take some photos first.

Have a great day...I am quite sure we will have many more! ;0)

Pinwheel Decisions

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, I did. We are still eating the leftovers here. Turkey pot pie last night, made by my husband. I am not sure what kind of Turkey combo we will come up with tonight. :O)
I have been working on Christmas presents the last few weeks and I can't post about those projects just yet. I do have a quilt top in the works but I think I will be putting it aside for a day so I can come back to it fresh. I am stumped. You see it all started with the idea to make Christmas pinwheel blocks out of solid red and white.

Then I decided to add solid green. Which led to this...

I love how the triangles create several different patterns. I can see diamonds, bow ties and pinwheels. The idea crossed my mind that maybe it was getting too busy. Maybe it was my eyes crossing after staring at it too long? So... I cut these...
which became these.

Now... My problem is what comes next. Do I butt the red and green blocks up to the white, red and green ones, like so...

and put a pine cone sashing around the pinwheels?Perhaps I should break it up with a green dotted sashing.

The pine cone fabric might be nice there.

Here is a closer look. Hmmm.... Maybe I need more pinwheels, pine cone and green ones.

Help me!