Pastiche Elegance

 I am finally working on reducing some bolts of fabric from my stash.  Yes, it may only be two down but that's just fine.  The focus fabric in this quilt is Pastiche by Jason Yenter for In The Beginning Fabrics.  The apricot fabric is is Apricot Linen from Hoffman fabrics and the turquoise fabric is Aunt Grace from Marcus Fabrics.  The quilt pattern is called Elegance from the Big Block 3-Yard Quilts by Fabric Cafe.

I really like the way the pattern comes together and creates the secondary pattern at the corners of the blocks.  I made the queen size which ended up being 87" x 96".  I did not have enough of the Aunt Grace fabric to make a larger outer border.  As I wanted this quilt to have a similar look to older quilts (where the quilter would fold over the backing as a binding) I matched the binding to the outer border using the turquoise fabric.  The binding is machine bound.

I machine quilted this quilt with an edge to edge pantograph called Fern from Urban Elementz.  I used Glide thread in the color Cool Grey.

This quilt does not quite fit our king size bed so it will be up for sale at a sale price of $350 as I had purchased the fabric on sale.  

I have 3 baskets of quilts ready in the wings to be made.  As I am now doing long arm quilting for The Quilt Shop at Christensens in Richfield UT my quilting time at home may be trimmed down.  

I hope you are all enjoying this autumn weather (in the USA).

By the way did you know that the word Pastiche means: an artistic work in a style that imitates that of another work, artist or period?  I did not so I had to look it up.  I learned something new today! 

May your lives be filled with blessings through out the coming months.

Approximately 87" x 96"

Cool pattern emerges!

The label was created with a matching

embroidery thread so it didn't overtake

the backing.  I named the quilt Pastiche 

Elegance.

BOOdles of Fun

 When you have some leftover pieces from your last quilt and you don't want to put them in the "scrap drawer" you use your GO me cutter from Accuquilt.  I do have the full size Studio cutter but the little one sits by my sewing area so I can easily cut fabric remnants into usable pieces and put them into a container to use when the mood hits me.  I had enough pieces cut using the Home Sweet Haunt by Stacey Iest Hau for Moda Fabrics to make this 51" x 58" quilt.  I had a bolt of Halloween fabric that worked very well for the backing.  I used some of my black grunge fabric stash for the inner border.

I also decided to make a fun label for this one.  A simple ghost outline cut around the embroidered information and voi​là!

I quilted this one with the edge to edge pantograph called Twisted Spiderwebs from Quilting Pantographs using Glide thread in the color Linen.

Next - cutting out more quilts including one for a class I will be taking at the Quilter's Heritage Festival in October.

51" x 58"

BOOdles of Fun

Go me cutter and die used for the pieces

in this quilt.

Home Sweet Haunt

 When I saw the new Halloween line called "Home Sweet Haunt" at Sunflower Quilt Shop in Axtell UT,  I had a design in mind that this would be perfect for.  This line was designed by Stacey Iest Hsu for Moda Fabrics and included two panels with dolls & accessories.  Yes, I made the dolls as well.  As we all know fabric prices have been on the rise since 2019 so I have to really like the fabric line or know others who might be interested in a finished quilt using the line.

I knew I wanted to use the doll panels in blocks on this quilt so that determined the finished block size.  It is a nice 18" block using 9 of the fabric pieces from the line for the main blocks together with a background fabric from the line. I designed the 6 x 6 blocks which the doll pieces ended up on using the remaining fabric from those 9 pieces used in the star block.  The star block was an adaption from one in a It's Sew Emma pattern book called "Simply Half Yards Quilt Book" and just happened to be the right size for the alternate block.  

I added a small black inner border and a nice 5 1/2" outer border to finish the quilt at approximately 69" x 87".  I knew I had to use the back pieces of the dolls somewhere so they are residing on the backing of this quilt.  Sometimes it's just fun to do something outside the box.  The backing fabric is also from the same line of fabric.  I made a label for the quilt and named it after the fabric line "Home Sweet Haunt".

I machine quilted this quilt with a pattern called Tangled Spiderwebs from Quilting Pantographs using Glide Thread in the color Linen.

This quilt is for sale and I will be making a matching pillowcase. You all may now be aware that I do not like wrapping items, especially if they will fit in a pillowcase 😀

Here is the breakdown on the costs for those that have asked.

Home Sweet Haunt 69” x 87”

Quilting: 6,003 sq in x $0.03

Miscellaneous: binding 26 ft x $3.00 ; cutting/construction 6 hrs x $150

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Costs: Construction: $150.00

Fabric: $ 200.64

Batting: $ 30.00

Binding: $ 78.00

Thread: $ 5.00

Machine Quilting: : $ 180.09

Subtotal: $ 643.73

Flag Day

 I really liked the quilt that I made using a pattern called Fly The Flag by Amy Smart.  I wanted to use up some of the red/white/blue fabrics so I used my Go Baby die cutter from Accuquilt to cut out the star block pieces.  I do have the Studio cutter but the little cutter is handy to have by my sewing machine to cut up small pieces of leftover fabrics.  

Once I had the star blocks completed I needed to redesign the original pattern to work with these larger stars.  Some math was involved!  Anyway, I ended up with a quilt that finished at approximately 89" x 97".  I backed it with a fabric from the Autumn Grove collection by Bob Fair for Wilmington.  I machine bound the binding.

The pantograph quilting is called Heatwave from Urban Elementz.  I used Glide thread in the color Cardinal.  I do like the way it turned out.

I made a matching pillowcase to store it in until I decided to sell the quilt.

Here's wishing you all a peaceful summer.

My volunteer quilt holder is not tall

enough for this one!

89" x 97"

Label: Flag Day

Montoya 18

 Dear Nick:  I had purchased the licensed Dallas Cowboy fabric about a year and a half ago as they were your favorite team.  I know you wanted me to make a quilt for you and time got away from me.  When we heard of your accident and subsequent death I had a lump in my chest.  If only I had taken time to get this quilt done - If only you were still here with us - If only If only If only.  If only is not a good mind set.  So I did what I do and hunkered down to make the quilt that I had said I would make for you.  Though you won't be here to wrap yourself up in it I hope your sweet wife, our beautiful Jessica, will hold it close on occasion and know that you are still watching over her.

Love,

Aunt Amy

This quilt was made using modified version of the Town Square pattern from Easy Peasy 3 Yard Quilts by Fabric Cafe.  I added some photos to the center of the quilt hoping that my niece can feel the love that we have for her and her kiddos.  I made her daughter a pillow using a photo of her in her prom dress with her step-dad who thought of her as his princess.  Thank you for that Nick.

The quilt finished at 65" x 94 1/2" and I machine quilted it with a pantograph called Stars of Honor from Quilting Pantographs. I used Glide thread in the color Cool Grey.

I hope you all hug your loved ones and let them know that you will be there for them through Hell or High Water.

Finished at 65" x 94 1/2"

I borrowed some photos from your FB Jessica.

Hope you don't mind.

Those who could wore their Dallas Cowboy clothing

to your Honor Walk.  I noticed they had the

#18 on the shirts.

Dear Kaleigh with step-dad.  Pillow

to hug when those moments of missing

him hit you.

May Our Flag Forever Wave

 I enjoyed making this quilt using Amy Smart's pattern called Fly The Flag.  I made one of the blocks using only white strips but decided that I wanted to use a variety of cream colors instead.  So the white stripe block now resides in the top right hand corner of the quilt (left side if you are looking at it from the front).  I also pieced the backing as I didn't quite have enough left of some 108" backing that I had used on another quilt.  However, as I don't allow the Quilt Police to bother me.  I am perfectly fine with the pieced backing.  I also made a scrappy binding (wahoooooo!).

The quilt ended p being 68" x 82".  I machine quilted it with a pantograph called Scrollwork from Urban Elementz.  I used Glide Thread in the color White on the top & Blueberry in the bobbin.  Love the way it stitched out.

All the fabrics came from my stash.  I had quite a bit of red/white/blue fabrics with the intention of making patriotic quilts.  Good thing I have an assortment to choose from.  LOL  The red & blue & cream fabrics were actually Fat Quarters.  Don't ever discount those wonderful precuts as they almost always fit into a pieced block somehow.

I am currently adapting Amy Smart's pattern to make larger blocks and see where that leads me.

68" x 82"

I called this one "May Our Flag Forever Wave"

Even a scrappy backing can be appreciated!

RBD BOM 2025

 Completed the Riley Blake Designs 2025 Block of the Month.  I really like the colors now that it's all put together.  The fabrics came from my stash so no new fabric was purchased for this quilt YAY!!  My favorite top three blocks in this quilt are (which may be included in future projects):

1.  The center block designed by RBD.  I really like the 9 square center of this block (center block)

2.  Around the Corner by Beverly McCullough (2nd block from the right on the bottom row)

3.  Irish Spring by Vicki McCarty (center block on the bottom row)

This is the second RBD BOM that I have done.  I enjoyed making almost all of the blocks.  There is always that one that you probably won't make again.

I backed & bound the quilt with a teal fabric from the Zen line by Sue Zipkin for Clothworks.  I had purchased 7 yards of 4 or 5 of the fabrics from this line a couple of years ago.  I love how it worked so well for the backing.

I machine quilted the quilt with a pantograph from Urban Elementz called Fishtail Palm.  I am very pleased with how it worked out.  I used Glide thread 40w in White on the top & Grotto Blue on the bobbin.  

I hope all of you that did this challenge enjoyed it as much as I did.

Find Joy in YOUR journey.

66" x 66"

Wonky Strippy Stars - Once Upon A Time......

 Once upon a time there was a seasoned quilter who decided to use the bag of 2 1/2" strips of fabric (Jelly Rolls) that were purchased in a mystery bag.  Deciding at last that she would make the "Jelly Roll Race Quilt" designed by Donna Jordan of Jordan's Fabrics to honor her (she passed away a few months ago).  Well, the quilter laid the strips out in the order that she thought would look appealing and set to work at one of her trusty vintage Singer sewing machines.  She sewed and trimmed according to the well written pattern knowing this would be a great quilt.  Well, time passed and the top was completed.  However, much to the quilter's chagrin she had trimmed the strips, NOT at the appropriate length, but somehow trimmed the sections at different lengths.  UGH!  Total operator error on this one.

She stared at the wonky top and finally sucked it up - got out her well used 12 1/2" square up ruler and went to work cutting squares on the diagonal.  

Yes, 12 blocks later she decided to utilize the smaller left over sections of the wonky top by cutting them into 4 1/2" squares.  Then to honor the wonky top she proceeded to use those smaller squares to make wonky star blocks.

As you should always have a touch of black (for mourning or classiness - is that a word?) she bordered each of the blocks with 1 1/2" strips of black fabric.  Thus she now had 20 blocks to make a new design out of the debacle that was the Jelly Roll Race top.

Thus, the Wonky Strippy Star block was born.  The quilt finished at 65" x 78".  It is machine quilted with a pantograph called Fern from Urban Elementz using a Glide 40wt thread in the color Khaki.

If you haven't guessed already, I am that quilter.  Yes, at times I do fail at my attempts but the important thing to me is to remember that every quilt deserves to have a life of giving comfort.  Does that quilt need to be perfect, No.  Does it need to win a ribbon, No.  Does it need to find a home with someone to love it, Yes!

So, if you too have those moments of disappointment with your project, fear not.  There is always a light to shine on you.  It may not be the spotlight that you may have wanted, but you will definitely brighten someone else's world with your finished project.

Find Joy in YOUR journey.

Memory Bear

 A friend's mother passed away in February of this year. She asked me if I would make a memory bear with some of her mother's fabric. Of course! It's always an honor to do this service. My friend also gifted me alot of her mother's fabrics. What joy that will be to make quilts to donate.

Three Amigos

 I made these quilts for a neighbor's grandsons.  She said all of the boys are crazy about construction vehicles.  Found some fun fabrics and a pattern called Lightning from Fabric Cafe.  The pattern reminded me of roads and I though the kiddos could "drive" their vehicles on the quilts as well as snuggle in them.

The quilts finished at approximately 52" x 66".  I quilted them with a pantograph called Nutz & Boltz (one of my go to patterns for quilts for boys) from Urban Elementz.  I used Glide thread in the color Baby Blue on each quilt.  I also made them each their own pillowcase to go with their quilt.

Hope the kiddos have fun with these ones.

Next project: a memory bear for another neighbor who lost her Mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms, Aunties, Grandmas, Friends, and lover of kiddos.  Enjoy your day and remember, you are so special in someone's life.

Enjoy your journey.