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Fun, easy patterns for all seasons!
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Friday, December 17, 2010
Happy Holidays!

I made this tree quilt early in 2010. It is made in a quilt-as-you-go method using various selvage edges - you know, those yards and yards of fabrics that you've tossed in the trash? Yep, I've saved 'em for a couple of years now, and this is the first project that I created using them.

I was inspired by Kay Rindal, a wonderful friend of mine, who is also a member of our quilt guild. She began collecting selvages and sorting them by various categories: color, with and without words, those that have fun phrases and with interesting symbols on them instead of just numbered circles, etc. She created some great blocks and shared them with us at our meeting. Right then and there, I knew I wanted to do this.

Not wanting to take her idea, I just happened
to think of lines of varying length, and VOILA!
A tree appeared in my mind's eye. 

I hope you will enjoy this little project and that you'll
send new ideas about selvage edge creations of your own!
Have a great weekend!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Straight No Chaser: The 12 Days of Christmas (2008 Version)


Check out this version of the 12 days of Christmas! I think you will be surprised and amused! I love it! I have this on my playlist when I am sewing away in the craft room this time of year. Enjoy!
Monday, December 6, 2010

Carol's Challenge

This is the quilt! I'm excited to tell you that I won Third Place!!!

It is a super easy pattern that goes together quickly and since the blocks are made of squares and rectangles, there are no points to match. Do you like the color gradation? That is my favorite part. I think it looks like my imagination of the rain forest. Not a bad feeling on this cold December day in Wisconsin.



You may notice the shiny fabrics in the center and corner squares. Those are cut from a set of fat quarters that I won at a quilt shop years ago. Finally, I found a project that was the right fit.

I machine quilted loops around each center square and along the block edges using free motion quilting on my standard size Bernina. I have yet to add the green binding.



I used a lap quilting method or a quilt as you go method. I pieced the blocks and then sewed them into rows of six. For each row I layered the top, batting and a pieced backing strip from almost all of my leftover challenge fabric. I quilted each section, trimmed it to make it true or "Square", added folded 2" strips to the edges of the back, and sewed the quilted rows together. You then fold the strips over and stitch them down to cover the seam allowances. It's easy! 


Thursday, December 2, 2010
So what did I decide to add to all that free fabric? I went a little wild, with a crazy jungle print from my stash. The print is called Everglades and I got it in a kit that I purchased simply because I wanted a piece of fabric that was included.

I loved the multiple shades of blues and greens, added a few of my own and then put in those warm sunset colors to really take it to another level. This quilt was super fun to plan and more fun to watch it come alive!