Vintage Sassy Baby

Vintage Sassy Baby

I went back to the remnant box for this adorable baby quilt. I like this simple vintage block called Periwinkle from Blue Wren. It's quick, easy and fun to sew.

The medium sized floral border fabric provided color choices for the 10” blocks. Pink, yellow, melon, green, blue and aqua prints stand out nicely against white on cream fabric. I used EQ8 for layout and color placement.

Vintage Sassy Baby's final size of 38” x 48” is just right for a little one. Backing and binding is a yellow linen look print. Using light creamy thread, I quilted free motion in a stipple pattern.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6077 Periwinkle 10” block
Accuquilt 55017 2½” strip

Thankful for the joy

that quilting brings

Thankful Anyway

Well, 2020 hasn't given us much to be thankful for. Between the election, hurricanes, and COVID-19, most of this year has seemed frantic and unsettling. It has definitely been a time for vision.

With my ever positive attitude, I am still thankful for a lot. My husband and I are both healthy. We have a roof over our heads, food, water, and paper products. We are retired, so we don't have to go out except for necessities. We can stay in and stay safe, wearing masks when we leave the house. I do miss eating out, but to me it isn't worth the risk.

I'm grateful that I truly enjoy being at home. I've taken advantage of extra time here to make a few small improvements. I've cleared out and reorganized cabinets, closets and drawers. Home to us is sanctuary; a cozy, peaceful place to relax and enjoy life.

Going through quarantines and shortages made me pause to think about what's really important. The extra solitude gave me the opportunity to reconsider what I want my life to be like. Simplicity and comfort are key ingredients; saying no to people and things I don't want is another.

I've turned off the news, listened to more music, read more books, explored new ideas, taken long walks, and had great conversations with my husband. I found that I don't need so many clothes, shoes, and accessories. My hair has grown out to a pretty silvery color and I just trimmed off the last of the blonde ends. I'm officially an old gal now, but still a feisty one!

Last of all, I appreciate having a lovely craft room with enough fabric and supplies to keep me sewing for at least another year or two. My sweetie has the full basement for his toys and projects.

So, we're good here. And thankful.

Wishing you all

a peaceful Thanksgiving

Crimson Crossing

I've gone off the reservation again, experimenting with quilt blocks. I clearly don't always follow the rules. This time I added a few elements to the Crossed Canoe die to create a double canoe pattern.

Four blocks together make an eight pointed star. There's a bonus secondary canoe design where the small triangles meet. I used EQ8 software to draw a new block and preview color placement. 

Here's how I laid them out. I pressed the center seams open to reduce bulk, then pressed toward the corner triangles.

I chose fabric in shades of red to contrast with neutral cream and stone prints. So many little pieces to make those 64 small blocks. I did a lot of moving around on my design wall before finalizing the layout. 

Crimson Crossing is 48” square and features double picot stitch in tan thread, quilting in a 3” grid with a walking foot. The backing is a dark red print, binding is red and cream stripe.

Crimson Crossing

Sewing this took up most of my week, but I loved every minute. Yesterday I took a break and cleaned the sewing room.  Neat space is all ready for my next creation.  

Accuquilt Dies used:
55181 Crossed Canoes
55009 Half Square Triangles 3” finished
55017 2½” strip

Doing

what you like

is freedom.

Liking

what you do

is happiness.

 

Wind Spinners

Shades of blue, coral, and gray prints combine beautifully in today's nice little wall hanging. This charming quilt creates motion with curved shapes that remind me of spinning pinwheels or windmills.

I pulled fabric from my scrap boxes and fat quarters to cut with the Windspinner die from Blue Wren.  I laid all material right side up, no fan folding on this one.  The curves are accurate and easy to sew; I didn't even use pins after the first few. I added a 3” border of gray with thin black lines. Final size of Wind Spinners is 45” square.

With light gray thread and a walking foot, I quilted flowing lines back and forth across the blocks to mimic wind. I love the effect! In the border I added a straight stitch 1” away from the inner seams.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6289 Windspinner 8” block
Accuquilt 55017 2½” strip and 55032 3½” strip

Sometimes

in the winds of change

we find

our greatest direction 

Baby Buggy Wheels

Baby Buggy Wheels

As promised, here's my latest quilt, made using the new Wheels die from Blue Wren.

I stitched up one from remnants to test the die and decided to use it in this baby quilt. The hot pink with black and white fabric is a striking contrast and creates a pinwheel secondary design.

You do have to pay attention to which way the fabric for the outer frame is laid on the die. The sections sew together very easily. I hand stitched the center octagon after the block was finished, although you could glue it and then topstitch. Baby Buggy Wheels is 36” square.

Quilting was done in dark gray thread with the Squiggy ruler across the centers and between each block. Then I added a small serpentine stitch with a walking foot to fill in.

What a cute little quilt this makes! I have several more ideas for this block, so stay tuned.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6297 Wheels 12” block
Accuquilt 55017 2½” strip

November = crisp frosty mornings