Death Star Mini in Progress

Six days and counting until Christmas!  Woohoo!  Many of my long arm quilting pals have already finished their final quilts for the year.  I have another Border Creek mystery identical to the one Jane sent me a few months ago loaded up and will be working on that over the next week or so, likely into the new year.

As for personal projects, I still have a half dozen or so in progress.  My red and tan quilt hasn't been touched as I have just been too busy with other projects.  I did start a death star mini in honor of the new Star Wars movie though!

I found the pattern and printed it from quirkygranolagirl.blogspot.com...just in case you'd like to make your own.  :)

I didn't follow her directions but instead opted to print out a main pattern, and a second on Stable Stuff stabilizer.  This stuff is pretty cool as it's actually made to stay in your quilt.  I cut each piece individually using my paper printed pattern as a guide for the colors (I wrote on each piece what I planned to use - dark, medium, or light fabric) and turned each piece using a glue stick.  I have already begun hand stitching the tiny pieces together in rows using black and white Invisifil.  I haven't chosen a background yet but I'm thinking solid black as I chose all calico prints for the blacks in the death star itself...so I think there will be enough contrast.

When I'm finished I will just wet the project and leave the stabilizer inside.  Water is supposed to dissolve whatever it is that makes this stabilizer stiff...and leaves a thin polyester fiber behind.  Kind of cool!  I will share a little more of how this process goes later on.  I have heard it is also wonderful used as a stabilizer for paper piecing!  I particularly like how it has the potential to leave fullness in applique that you might not get otherwise...or without adding some kind of trapunto.  Oh how we quilters love possibilities!

In other news that I am super excited to share...I finally got a Gravity Quilt to work on!  Woohoo!!!!  I'm so excited about this one.  It belongs to a semi-local gal who discovered me through my neighbor.  Well my oh my she's a modern quilter who has an affinity for Jaybird Quilts patterns so I'm pretty excited to see what more she has to send my way.  I get a lot of traditional quilts...which I absolutely love...but it's always fun to play around with something different too!

If I don't get a chance to before the holiday - have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Lots of exciting things to share with you in the next year...and I cannot wait!

Until then...may the force be with you on your quilting journey!  :)

Modern Dear Jane in Progress

Today I'm finishing up chores around the house and spending the day working on Rusty's Dear Jane...it is so very modern and bright!

I am using one layer of batt provided by Rusty - I believe it's Hobbs 80/20 - Glide thread for quilting.  I thought about using monopoly in all of the color patches but I'm not a fan of the shine it creates.

After working on these blocks (I believe there are more than a 100 of them) - I think I'll be able to get away with solid black only.  I am loving this quilt...I have never wanted to make a Dear Jane so badly as I do now after seeing it in this rainbow colorway!

*cough cough*  Just a reminder that I may have something to help you make your own rainbow quilt...

Kona Solids Skinny Roll - $24 ($4 shipping anywhere in the US)

Psssst...also if you follow me (pumpkinpatchquilter) on Instagram - you'll find a code for free shipping!

First Project of 2015!

Happy New Year!  Our little family rang in 2015 the best way it could - all cuddled in bed watching the ball drop.  :)  The littlest, as expected, didn't make it until midnight...but she held on strong conking out about 9:30-10pm.  The older two for the fist time stayed up...as Daddy laid next to us sawing zzz's!

I did manage to sneak in some sewing time for me.  It's been slow going over the holidays with machine break downs, Christmas/New Year celebrations, and the awesome influenza that has hit everyone in the house in a matter of two weeks.  It really had us down and out too - I don't think I was able to do much more than a few small chores for 3 or 4 days when it hit me.  Finally we are starting to feel better and things are falling back into some semblance of a regular quiet life.  I love Christmastime - but I also love normalcy and ROUTINE!  :)

Here was my big project of 2014/2015!  You know that I am in love with my Accuquilt Go! because I detest cutting fabric for quilts.  D-E-T-E-S-T.  This is probably the biggest thing that prevents me from finishing quilts...I love to dream up fantastic quilts to make...but cutting and piecing them often becomes a tedious endless chore.  I like to QUILT the quilt.  :)  Anyhow - I'm going off a bit here...

My rainbow palette finally came out to play as I cut a few hundred hexagons in to various sizes.  The larger hexies I have plans for but the smaller are just extra I figured I'd cut and start adding to precut hexie piles.  Who isn't totally inspired but a stack of pretty precuts?  I am!

The smallest and medium hexies were set aside and the largest were cut from corner to corner to create six 60 degree triangles for arrangement play.  I have been piecing quilts for ten years and I cannot believe I haven't attempted a quilt like this yet!

I also discovered if I do not make one of the corner to corner cuts I could get two 60 degree triangles PLUS two diamonds!  Woohoo for lazy quilters!

I had fun arranging and playing with colors and values.  This is some arrangement play from cutting up only 18 of the 100 or so big hexie's I cut.  I wanted to get an idea for how big of a quilt I would end up with...I am going to lose a lot in seam allowances, but still, this covered a lot more space than I thought it might!  I'm going to make some room on the design wall for this today and see what happens.

My biggest goal for 2015?  Well I'm pretty confident that I am who I am and probably won't make any huge personality changes over the next year.  I'm a bit all over the place - I change my mind at the drop of a hat...I generally have more ideas and plans than I will ever accomplish in one life time...and I usually take off more than I can chew!  But that is me - chatty, wordy, scattered - but I'd like to think I'm also pretty fun and a decent human being for the most part!  So in 2015 I plan to continue on being ME!  ...and taking a little more time to smell the roses and enjoy the sewing that I love so much!

Halloween Wall Hanging and Modern Pinwheels in Houston

It is hard to believe it is the day before Halloween already!  Where has the time gone?  Well - at least I was able to finish this wall hanging of Monica's before Halloween...so technically it's right on time!

I think that since it's been a few weeks since I have touched my long arm I really got into this one!  There were so many neat little shapes and spaces to play in so I had fun.  Monica is always really fun to quilt for because not only does she send me really cute quilts, she gives me a lot of design freedom and that is the BEST!

I don't know why that shirt screamed pinstripes to me!  I thought all of the different textures really bring this witchy gal to life.

I wanted to do something in the face that gave the idea of a wrinkled face...but nothing too scary because this witch is cute!  I think the kind of cheek/chin swirls really worked well.

This triangular border was my favorite to work on!  The quilting design is very geometric and Judy Madsen/Green Fairy inspired!  She does wonderful things with filling negative space with simple lines and fills.  What an inspiration to the quilting world she is.

I was going for sort of Victorian witch shoes with those swirls in the top of the shoe!

Even the back turned out pretty neat!

I took this off the frame to photograph but will load it back up as the same hunk of backing will be used for the Christmas wall hanging - up next!

I also wanted to quickly share a photo that my friend Mabel from Connected Threadz shared with me!  She is meeting with a group of the gals from CT in Houston and was kind enough to think of me and take a photograph of my quilt Modern Pinwheels hanging in the Meander Publishing booth!  That just meant the world to me and she took such a fantastic photo to boot!  It is SUCH a huge honor that my quilt was chosen to decorate the booth - some of my most admired quilting idols are there and to have just a small representation of my work a part of such a huge event...and for one of my favorite quilting magazines!  It's a big deal!  Woohoo!

Thank you again Mabel!  If you are in Houston this week for Quilt Festival you can view the quilt in booth 202 OR in the latest issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited along with instructions!

Hey, my quilt is going to Houston!

LOL!  Ok ok, it's going to Houston, but not in the show!  LOL!  I still dream of having a quilt accepted to the Houston International Quilt Festival...and in my really wild dreams winning a ribbon there...but I have equally fantastic news to share!  I was just given the all clear to share that a quilt of mine called Modern Pinwheels  will be hanging in the Meander Publishing booth at Houston!  The quilt design will be in the upcoming issue of Modern Quilting Unlimited out on store shelves the end of the month.  Yay!!!  Here is a photo I was forwarded to share:

Modern Quilts Unlimited is put out by Meander Publishing - also responsible for the amazing publication that is Machine Quilting Unlimited!  Visit http://machinequilting.mqumag.com for magazine and subscription in formation.  :)

Modern Quilt for Pat - Lines and Geometric Shapes

I have finally finished my quilting friend Pat's quilt for her son Chris.  I cannot even begin to tell you how "full circle" quilting this was for me.  Chris was a close friend of mine who I spent quite a lot of time with in the years right after highschool graduation.  As life does with so many, we were pulled in different directions as he focused on schooling and a career while I was newly married and beginning a family and a new life with my Husband.  I have always been the type to hold on to those old feelings of friendship and when I see an old friend after many years, I still feel I know them as well as I did the last time we spoke!  So, I remember to this day the wonderful times Chris and I and our group of friends spent together, and what a great person he was when we were young.

I never in a million years would have guessed 15 years ago that I would be passionate about quilting let alone running a long arm quilting business!  These days I see Pat monthly at the local quilt guild we both belong to - and it just seems to me to be such a funny twist of life - I never would have guessed!  :)  In any case, Pat is a fantastic quilter and I really felt special to be given the opportunity to quilt this very cool, very special modern quilt for her...and I suppose I'll stop gushing and mushing all over the place and share the pictures!

 

This is one layer of Hobbs 80/20 - Glide Thread in a deep chocolate brown color and yellow.

I think it just turned out really cool and textural!  I tend to be a traditional quilter who dabbles in modern quilting and art quilting...so this was just a ton of fun!  I think my eyes did start to go a little funny about 2/3 of the way through however...but I really do think the straight lines compliment the design.

I hope you are all getting some quilting done this weekend in blogland!  It is starting to warm up and behave like spring a little more in my neck of the woods - though I have been reading that some of you have been epxeriencing severe weather - so many prayers and be safe!

Happy Quilting!

- Valerie :)

Pat's Quilt in Progress and Juki TL 2010Q Overview Video

Good morning!

It is April 2nd and I can hardly believe it!  Spring has creeped up in Northeast Ohio and while this time last week we had several inches of snow on the ground, I woke up this morning to the sounds of birds chirping and sunshine.  Finally!  It is supposed to reach 60 degrees today - so long as the rain says away I might make time to work out in the garden.  Fingers crossed!

 

If you follow me on Facebook you have likely seen a few shots of this quilt - it was made by the mother of my highschool friend Chris for a Christmas gift this past year - he is an artist these days and works with fine art as well as collects it - so can you tell I might feel a little pressure to meet his super high and knowledgeable standards?!  LOL  Not to mention you always want to ooh and ahh your friends.  :)

The quilt is ultra modern but not so modern that it couldn't be appreciated by a traditional quilter.  I am actually really in love with it!  He liked the idea of straight line quilting with the lines going in different directions creating a lot of movement and textural interest.  So this is what we have come up with so far - I got to working late into the night last night, or I should probably say early into this morning!  I will spend the majority of today and tomorrow finishing it up and then it is on to Lara's quilt.  :)

I also wanted to toss in another quick video here today!  I took this video yesterday but didn't get around to finishing up the editing until this morning.  I receive a lot of questions about my Juki TL 2010Q - so here is a brief overview of the machine and its functions!  :)  I hope this is helpful to those of you out there who are curious about my domestic machine.  I do have several machines - but I did not want a full on sit down long arm so this was my choice.  I can use it for piecing, free motion quilting, garment sewing, or I can frame it and use it as a stand up machine.

Keep watch as next week I will be announcing a GIVE AWAY!  :)

Happy Quilting!

- Valerie :)

Kitty Quilt - Finished! :) Prepare for a Photopaluza!

I have to say I'm thrilled with how this turned out!  It is hard to part with!!  Here is a little photo-paluza of Pamelas Kitty Quilt...

 

I hope you are all getting lots done out there in quilting blogland!  Up next is a quick project and then Pats/Chris quilt!

Linking up with Nina!  :)

Just a note, due to a customer who had to reschedule for another month I do have an opening for a light custom/edge to edge for the dates of February 11th through 15th!!  Leave a comment or send me an email if you'd like me to put you in!  :)  FILLED - THANK YOU!  :)

Pamelas Kitty Quilt - In Progress

Just a few photos of Pamela's kitty quilt!  I am loving all of those little patches to play in.  I am looking forward to see how this triangle/striped border looks when finished.  I think when the binding is applied it will almost be like a prairie point border...but with texture!

This block isn't finished but I think it is turning out cute...

Alright, off to make dinner then back to work!  I'm really loving thow this is coming out...Pamela was sweet enough to let me do what I please with this quilt so I'm just going to town and having a good time!  :)

**Linking up at Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday!