Aurifil Designer BOM, RSC Blocks, and a Spring Quilt Along!

This year my aim is to focus on UFO's, but today I am sharing blocks I've created over the past few months. I hope you will enjoy a bit of catch-uP!

Without an actual plan for layout, I decided I need more blocks to finish my Aurifil Designer blocks for 2014. Last month, I added the New Directions Arrow blocks designed by Sue Marsh:

My 2014 blocks are various sizes, so these arrows I left separate - they may be handy for fitting things together!

Today I finished the newest block; Faux Weave by Mister Domestic:

I did not stray from directions this time, well, other than making mine scrappy! I made eight stripsets 14" long, then sub-cut what was needed for each row. I also trimmed allowances to 1/8" so that I could press toward the red.
Find Matt Boudreaux's interview and pattern HERE.
I'll be linking this block up over at Pat Sloan's Blog for a chance to win my favorite thread!

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Are you tempted by Lori Kennedy's SPRING QUILT ALONG?
I easily justified my latest impulse since I really need some FMQ practice, and it happened that all the HST's required were waiting in my scrap bin. They're leftovers from both my Summer and Winter Gathering Quilts.

The little sandwich was completed in a jiffy, and Ba-da-bing, I am on-board with the Spring Quilt Along hosted by Lori Kennedy of The Inbox Jaunt!

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I have lots of new RSC Blocks! In the spirit of limiting any new projects, my plan for Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017 is simply to continue adding Baby Courthouse blocks from 2016. I've been making 4 or 5 blocks each month:

FEBRUARY:

MARCH:

MAY:

Completing this post feels like such an astronomical accomplishment after procrastinating for so long. I am recovering well following girlie surgery one week ago, somehow scheduled during peak snowbird season. Ty has been great and I have managed to really take things easy. We are expecting my DMIL tomorrow and I will not be required any hostess duties.

May your weekend be filled with Love and Laughter -- Thank you for visiting!

Le Challenge de Tradition

The theme for March Le Challenge is TRADITION.

Patchwork and quilting are steeped with it, making the challenge pretty open-ended!

I began with a chunk of Las Golondrinas (Alexander Henry) as my theme-fabric. It is filled with lovely Mexican tradition, and named for the Swallows.

 All the patchwork fabrics were selected from the theme fabric.

 I couldn't quite cut into the it though, and it ended up on the back!

 

Here is the finish - I love all the pretty bits!

Quite traditional, those HSTs. The pattern is designed by Kimberly Jolly, the Aurifil Designer of the Month. I linked this up for their monthly thread giveaway (at Flickr). No dice, but perhaps one of these month's my name will be drawn!

I decided to break tradition a bit with some unconventional free-motion quilting.
Every mini is an opportunity for growth!

I experimented with some FMQ, Angela Walters style.

This was my first time using wool batting, Quilter's Dream. (machine washable!). I wanted to play with it before going with a full size quilt.

It feels like a poly, and interestingly, when I read the fine print, it actually has some poly in it. It quilted well and has great texture for enhancing quilting.

I like this style of quilting a lot, and I improved as I went along (wish I hadn't started in the center!), but I still prefer less density - parallel lines versus all the points. Especially on the back, it just seems a bit dense to be cuddly.  

The binding is machine-stitched, and I tried invisible thread in the bobbin to hide the stitching on the front.
Hardly noticeably, and it stitched without incident!

 

Thank you for visiting!

Finish #1 Q2 FAL!

Check out Le Challenge!

The April Challenge is 'WOOD' !

Did I mention my Giveaway ends today?

Leave a comment on my recent KitchAid Cozy post, before midnight tonight, and you will be included in the drawing to win a 5" charm pack of Just My Type!

This weekend, I have been working on the Aurifil Monthly Mini by Designer of the Month, Kimberly Jolly. I cut into my wool batting so I could sample it, but I still haven't decided how I will quilt it.

And it will have to wait while the machine is tied up with another quilty finish..

Quick collage for end-of-the-month reflection today, before I consider what my priority projects will be for April.
March brought small, fun finishes.
Only one UFO finish though.
And one WIP: Sew Sweetness is progressing with setting blocks now..
The other four are NewFO's, evidence that I am still too easily distracted..

Favorite Fabric - Challenge 5 - Project Quilting!

I recently began following Persimon Dreams and have enjoyed watching Kim's Challenges this past few weeks. This week I decided to participate, and, in the nick of time, I have a finish to enter!

"Swimming Through Life"

The theme fabric I selected is definitely a favorite fabric of mine! It is actually a Men's nightshirt from Nordstrom that I have been hoarding for years now.

Since I favor scrappy quilts, I threw in many more favorites. Several fabrics are from Return to Atlantis by Jason Yenter, & I love the new line with 'geese' fabric from the Reclaimed West Collection by Judy Niemeyer. The teals are oldies from my stash; Blooming Glory is an awesome print & also a Benartex print that I believe is by Paula Nadlestern.
I chose the pattern when I saw the Chubby Churn Dash Mini Quilt Kim Lapacek made this week, and I fell in love with her version.  If ya'll missed it, you can check it out here! Chubby Churn Dash is a free pattern from Aurifil's Designer of the Month (February): Joanna Figueroa from Fig Tree Quilts.

As a bonus, I get to post it at the Aurifil Flickr Board:-)

With a few moments to spare before the linkup closes, I will share this photo I snapped this morning while on the photo shoot. I am still learning the Southwest flora since moving to Nevada, but I think this is Texas Mountain Laurel. I have noticed the odd pea-pods it has in the fall, and this is the first time I have noticed it's blooms. Spring is here!

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day (WEEK!)

It is Giveaway Day over at SewMamaSew!
Giveaway is closed and winners will be announced shortly! OMGosh, I am so happy with all the traffic and nice comments left this week. I started the week intent to reply to each and every one and was not able to keep up!
I have truly enjoyed each and every one, thank you so much for visiting!

Thank you so much for visiting! I enjoy blogging as a hobby and write posts once or twice a week. I love sharing current projects and swapping advice with other quilters and artisans. Lately time has limited my projects to a few blocks and quiltalongs I find irresistible. I just finished the final Aurifil Block for 2014, 'Not Afraid of Flying' by Designer of the Month, Carrie Nelson.
Find Carrie's interview with Pat Sloan, and block pattern here.

Each month, participants who link their block to the Aurifil Flickr Group are eligible to win a large pack of Aurifil Thread. That is all the incentive I needed and I did not miss a month! My blocks are pictured in an album at my Flickr site. Hopefully I will be able to design a setting soon!

Business has picked up lately in my Etsy shop, Red Letter Fabrics! I'll be posting some recently acquired fabrics over the next couple weeks that I am pretty excited about. I try to post a good mix of modern fabrics as well as unique vintage fabrics, novelty prints, and many popular OOP Cottons. Currently, blogger's receive a 10% discount with the code BLOGGERDISCOUNT.

I have put together winning bundles for two lucky reader's!
The first winner will receive a remnant bundle of five prints from the Figgy Pudding line by BasicGray for Moda. These are approx. 16" x 21" each.

The first quilt I sold was made with this line!

Finished in 2012, I named it Figgy Swirl. I had a lot of this fabric and cut into it without any plans. I began by fussy cutting the border fabric for the center hexagons and played with the 60 degree triangles from there. After the six big hexies were complete, I played with setting ideas and the diamonds just evolved. I have never patterned a quilt, but I love this setting and I wish I had more of a pattern than the tissue paper templates I used at the time (!). 

Perhaps I will do this design again in the future..

Yep, Figgy and I had a good thing going on,

I miss him more than I thought I would. sigh.

The next lucky winner will receive a bundle with more out-of-print fabrics.

This bundle includes 1/2 yard each of Button Dots and Sewing Stuff by Loralie Harris.

 

If you are willing to leave me a comment prior to midnight on Friday, December 12th, and you have an email address to reply with, you are eligible!  The drawing will be held by my husband, The Randomizer, and winners notified by email on Saturday the 13th.

 

One more big share for you! 

Just look at this lovely floral clip I received as a Thank You from an Etsy customer!

 I am still quite stunned and genuinely impressed with the quality of work she does.

Her new Etsy Shop just opened this week, FlapperFancies.

This is heirloom work folks, and it is stunning! Only the finest materials are used and the use of antique lace is prevalent in her work. In fact, her favorite charge is using the client's own ribbon or lace to create lasting keepsakes. Hairpieces, pins, hats and custom trims seem to be her focus, and she is offering free shipping with the coupon code 'grandopening'.

 

 The clip slides out of it's own velvet pocket for versatility. Genius!

I know that there is no time to waste online during Giveaway Week!

I appreciate this opportunity to share with reader's and to explore blogs that are new to me as well!

THANK YOU!

 

Tossed Salad, Cascadia, and Sew Simplicity Blocks

Even though I have too many flimsy's in queue and ought to be quilting, I spent some time over the weekend piecing a few blocks.
First up, I had a lot of fun choosing fabrics for the November Aurifil BOM, Tossed Salad:

Visit Pat Sloan's Blog to read her interview with Scott Hansen, Aurifil's November Designer of the Month, and to download the pattern.

It was through Scott's blog, Blue Nickel Studios , that I first learned of the Aurifil BOM. Scott has an interesting and artsy aesthetic, which first attracted me to follow his blog. He embraces color, and has that genuine, down-to-earth quality I gravitate toward. Even though I follow Blue Nickel, I had not realized Scott & his wife live in the Pacific Northwest, near the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. At this point, it would be easy for me to start drawling out the homesick blues, so I will move on...

Then, last week I happened upon the Cascadia Quiltalong Mystery, led by Lori of Humble Quilts. Impulsively, I dove in and finished two of the four strips needed for this week's assignment and have the others queued up to piece as leaders and enders. Pieced with 1.5" squares, this will be a doll-size quilt. I just happened to have a lot of squares this size, so it is a win-win and I could not resist!

Last up, I finished the first block for the Sew Sweet Simplicity QAL.

I knew right away I wanted to used this hand-dyed blue from my stash. The other fabrics took me awhile to select. I am trying to cut down my decision making time lately, but it is soo hard!

I must begin FMQing again! Such a procrastinator! I rented Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett) Audio book from the library to entertain me when I sit back down with Mr. Juki. At 31 disks, it ought to help me persevere!

Linking up with BOM's Away, Building Blocks Tuesday, and Monday Makers

Aurifil Designer of the Month

Aurifil's October Designer of the Month is Natalia Bonner! Natalia blogs at Piece N Quilt, a site filled with modern inspiration and admirable quilting. In fact, she will be quilting the final Aurifil quilt top for their gallery!

Natalia's block is Circle of Love.
My version started with a little log cabin apple.

Read Natalia's interview and download the free pattern here. If you do stitch this up, be sure and post it to the Aurifil Flickr Group for your chance to win the monthly thread drawing!

Stars of My Life

This month's Aurifil designer of the month is Pat Wys.
I have such admiration for Pat! She named her beautiful (4Star Friendship) block 'Stars of My Life'.
Here's the pattern and her interview with Pat Sloan! She describes four of the women who have been inspirational to her, and thus, to this block design. It is one of my favorites of the year, sooo..

 I enlarged it to 18", making it the largest block in the group so far!

Should be fun to fit these all together. Only a few more month's now..

More and more blocks are showing up in various color ways on the Aurifil Flickr site. If you make Stars of My Life, be sure and link it up for a chance to win a generous thread bundle!

Linking up with Lyn for BOM's Away! and with Jen at Building Blocks Tuesday.

Starting the week with BOM's Away!

Our weekend was spent catching up on household stuff.
Finally, it looks like a normal week ahead!

A quick share to start the week, here is my August BOM for the Aurifil Designer Series.

 Button Block is designed by Michele Foster - Link to Aurifil to check out Michele's interview and the free pattern link! I will share it with their Flickr Group and cross my fingers I win a thread bundle this month ;-D

Although it has been a challenge finding time for sewing this month, I have managed to complete my two main goals. I look forward to posting my Sister Swap project soon, and here is a preview of Time Flies, my finish for 100 Quilts for Kids.

Need to get this photographed for a post this week!

Linking up today with Lyn at What a Hoot, for BOM's Away!

Red, White, & Blue Weekend Blocks

'On the Plus Side' is the first of two blocks I finished this weekend. I have already linked it with the Aurifil Block of the Month Flickr group. Designed by Camille Roskelley, she posted her original block, a tutorial to make it, and plenty of great eye candy too. (including her new line Miss Kate :-)

I have been adding miscellaneous blocks to the Aurifil monthly ones, and this week I made a 'Converging Corners' block. Inspired by Jenn at A Quarter Inch From the Edge - she chose it as her Global Scap Bee block. Jenn's version is in the same colorway and seemed meant to be! Following her link, I found the tutorial, by Ashley at Film in the Fridge.  A new blog to me, I really enjoyed my visit, spent a lot of time there and signed up to follow right away! My version is not quite as scrappy, but I like it a lot. I added the little apple on a whim this morning..

On with Monday! Shopping is an absolute must today - the cupboards and fridge are about bare. I do tend to put this off just as long as possible! Thankfully, my husband is patient about it - I was very creative with meals this weekend!

Linking up with BOM's Away!, a Monday Block linkup with Lynn at What a Hoot :-)

A Scrappy Star is added to my Aurifil Quilt Blocks !

Although I was too late to participate in the bee that led me to make this first block, I really love following the monthly blocks that are presented for the Global Scrap Bee. I was inspired to make this month's block with scraps that go with my Aurifil BOM collection.

The tutorial is by Jennie, found at here at Clover & Violet. (I especially love her Strippy-Figgy version at the bottom of the tutorial!) 

 

My next block is from the June Designer for Aurifil's Block of the Month, Heidi Pridemore. Her block is titled Chain Links. She provided a tutorial AND a pattern to complete a Chain Link Quilt:-) It is neat to see how the block looks repeated in a quilt! Both links can be found here, in her interview with Pat Sloan. Heidi said she designed the block with her two sisters' in mind, which I found endearing since I also have two sister's :-)

She seems quite bubbly and happy, and of course I like her name, so I made a visit to her blog and found Heidi lives not all that far from me, in Chandler, AZ.

I made an 8" version of Chain Link, and I added some hand-stitching to help incorporate it in with the Bear Paw Block from a couple month's ago.
This morning I pulled them all out and snapped a photo of progress to date:

I wanted various different sizes because.

Yep, just because.

I add whatever strikes my fancy to this block pile !

Thank you for reading today - hope you are having a happy and quilty week ;-)

Linking up with Lyn at What a Hoot, for BOMs Away, and with Jen at Quilter in the Closet for Building Blocks Tuesday.

Time Flies when you are having fun!

Springtime brings friends and family visiting the Vegas area, and we are lucky to spend time with people we love, one after another, and often overlapping so that we are able to meet and introduce friends with friends and family, etcc ...
Spare moments in April were divided between sewing, preparing and listing fabric on my Etsy site, and launching a new "department" for patterns!

I took some time this weekend to complete the new Aurifil Designer Block of the Month:

I am linking this to Lyn's BOM's Away, my favorite Monday linkup!
The designer for the May block is The Amazing and Talented, Amy Smart, and the pattern link can be found at the end of her interview. I found it ironic that it is so similar to the blocks I have been using for my baby quilts. It is like a combination of Railway Baby and Scrambled Nines.

My official goal for AYOLF is to complete Scrambled Nines. This quilt is under a sheet, and still looks just like this:

So, these are busy days and I missed the NewFO linkup at CatPatches. I intended to update progress on my design wall, with my New FO from March, Flight Plan. I have the blocks done and it is looking so bright and gorgeous!

Hopefully I will get it together to post some pics this week, but a girl must have priorities and I am looking forward to a bit more resort-time!!

Happy Cinco De Mayo!!