Friends Down Under

We had just over four inches of snow last week, so after eating several batches of snow cream, I happily stayed inside to finish up this delightful scrappy quilt.

I combined two Blue Wren dies in this pattern, designing the layout in EQ8. I dived into my scrap bins to pick out pieces to cut. These pretty colorful prints and solids look especially bright on a black weave background.

I quilted horizontally using white thread and my Squiggy ruler by Angela Walters. Final size is 51” x 61” after binding.

I decided to name this one Friends Down Under as a nod to A1 Craft and Quilting in Australia. Blue Wren dies are a quality product; Norma always provides great customer service with quick order processing. I love that mats are included with each die, and clear covers come with 6x12 dies.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6077 Periwinkle 10” finished
6562 Glorious 9 Patch 10” finished
Accuquilt
55017 Strip 2 ½”

Friends are the sunshine of life

Flight Patterns

I had a great time stitching these flying geese blocks. Scrumptious colors of melon and pear from my stash contrast well with natural muslin.

I arranged the layout using EQ8 and cut the fabric with Accuquilt GO. Flight Patterns makes me think of spring even though it's a snowy winter day. It's 54” square and I'm snuggled up in it right now.

Quilting was done with cream thread, using Creative Grids Elvira ruler by Angela Walters. I really like stitching with this handy tool. The curvy lines give additional motion to the design.

Accuquilt dies used:
55456 Flying Geese 3 ½” x 6 ½”
55055 Rectangle 3 ½” x 6 ½”
55000 Square 6 ½”
55017 Strip 2 ½”

Geese have sense enough
to fly south for the winter...

 

Life's A Trip

This cute luggage fabric has been my closet for over 15 years. It was intended to become a shirt back when I worked in the tourism industry, but I never got around to sewing it.

Now it's a travel quilt! I found several red, blue, and gray fabrics to coordinate with the busy pattern. I designed the square in a snowball block in EQ8, with different dies in mind (listed below) to cut all the pieces and sashing.

Life's A Trip is 41” x 52” in size. I quilted in 1” vertical rows with dark gray thread. I used the luggage fabric for backing.

Life's A Trip

We didn't take any trips in 2020 and I do miss camping. When I feel safe enough to get on the road again, this quilt will make a nice addition to our gear in our truck/fifth wheel.

Accuquilt dies used:
55000 6 ½” square
55180 Spool 6” finished (trapezoid shape)
55006 3 ½” half square triangle
55017 Strip 2 ½”
55059 2 ½” multiples

“On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again”

Willie Nelson

Keys To Imagination

Keys To Imagination

Another week, another quilt! This beauty is a medallion quilt made with the Morning Star die, one of my Christmas gifts. I love that the block can look completely different depending on color choices and placement.

Keys To Imagination seemed a fitting name for this design. I worked it out in EQ8 software before cutting.  Lots of pieces in this project, so I kept a color printout by my Janome while I sewed to keep everything in order.

Fabric in my favorite purple and lilac hues contrasts perfectly with the sweet print, stripe, and creamy tan.

This 36” square is hanging in my sewing room. I quilted with light tan thread around the curvy areas, then added straight lines both ways across each block center.

Accuquilt dies used:
55556 Morning Star 12”
55017 Strip 2 ½”

Estate Sale Update: It took two days to measure and inventory my unbelievable $80 acquisition from last week. A total of 161 pieces of fabric added 333 yards to my ever-growing stash. I now have over 1400 yards of quilting cotton. 

Yes, I am an addict. And, before you ask, my sweet husband is an enabler. He knows the total, and still always encourages me to grab up these bargains.  I'm a lucky woman and I love him dearly.