Glorious Day

Aqua, lime and hot pink combined with white and gray make me think of blue skied summer days. For this beauty, I dipped into my scrap baskets and cut with the Glorious Nine Patch die from Blue Wren.

Sixteen blocks, bordered by 3½” strips make a 46” square quilt called Glorious Day. I quilted with light gray thread around the circles, across the centers, and over the block seams. The backing is a gray and white medium floral print.

Glorious Day

On a side note, even though some businesses in Tennessee are reopening, we are still taking precautions and isolating at home. The only exception was Saturday, when we picked up an order of fresh strawberries and bedding plants from a local farm.

The upside to staying home is taking time to enjoy being here, relaxing and just living. I did get a bit too close to nature on my walk the other day, though. I stepped on a big ole snake that was snoozing in a pile of leaves! Scared me to death, but it wasn't poisonous and didn't bite me. I'll stick to walking in the driveway for a while.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6562 Glorious 9 Patch

Accuquilt 55032 3 ½” strip

Wake up in the morning

with a positive mindset

and a joyful heart.

Be determined

that it will be

a glorious day. 

Curiosity

I selected most of my black and white fabrics for this beauty, then added a few grays for good measure. I stitched it the last week of 2019. Each 11” block is made with four diamond in square blocks. The design is perfect for using up remnants.

I cut 2 ½” x 4 ½” rectangles for the centers and 3 ½” half square triangles to set them into squares. Narrow sashing of 1 ½” strips in a white on white print frames them up nicely.

The backing/binding is a delightful print called Cat Happy from Windham Fabrics. If you look closely, you'll find a few more kitties peeking out in the front triangles. I quilted with a walking foot in white thread, using straight stitch in long wavy lines 5/8” apart.

Curiosity finished at 52” square, a nice size for cat napping.

Curiosity

Accuquilt dies used:

55159 2 ½” x 4 ½” rectangle

55009 3 ½” half square triangles

Once we believe in ourselves, we can experience curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit. 

 ~ e.e. Cummings

Peaceful Stacks

Last week vintage, this week modern! 

I like to switch between styles because it keeps my ideas fresh. Variety stimulates and challenges my creative brain.  At least, that's my best theory...could be that I'm just spastic and can't stay focused.  

Half hexagons fit together easily with two triangles to form rows. Quick to cut and sew, Peaceful Stacks is 34” x 39” finished size. Cool ocean colors of blue-gray batiks and dots are combined with an aqua chambray background.  I quilted with aqua thread in a decorative stitch across the horizontal seams, adding a straight stitch between rows.  

Accuquilt dies used: 55437 half hexagon and 55429 equilateral triangle

Dream

in colors

borrowed

from the sea

Spirit of Liberty

I'm celebrating the USA with this week's design, in honor of Independence Day. Made with Accuquilt Parallelogram (55004), it features red and navy prints with white 3 ½” half square triangles on each end to make a rectangle.

I grouped six of each color to form blocks and alternated them to make a strip. Sashing between rows is 3 ½” wide red and navy diamond print on white background. I quilted with white thread in a free motion looping pattern. 

Spirit of Liberty

Binding is a red and white stripe. For backing I used the diamond print but didn't have quite enough left for the length, so I added a row of red and blue 6½” AQ tumbler blocks about a third of the way down.  

Spirit of Liberty is 42” x 48”, but you could make it any size you like by changing the number of blocks or rows. I used EQ8 to play with other layouts before finalizing this version. A table runner using only one strip of blocks or cheerful place mats might be nice.

Celebrate the holiday and be safe!

Seaside Cobblestones

Nature's muted colors combined beautifully with large hexagons in this throw sized quilt. Light aqua, soft brown and cream prints made me think of a cozy beach cottage.  

Measuring 42" x 53", Seaside Cobblestones is currently draped across the back of my bedroom chair.

The AccuQuilt half hexagon die made sewing this one quick and easy with all straight seams. The backing and binding is a tan and white crosshatch pattern.

Free motion quilting was done on my Flynn Frame. I stitched large swirls with medium tan thread in each hexagon first, then removed the frame to decorate the borders. Small swirls and applique stitching finished it off with flair.

Until I can get a beach trip scheduled, I'll just retreat to our bedroom and dream of the ocean.

“For her 

the ocean was 

more than a dream, 

it was a place she needed 

to visit to find herself.

And when she returned 

to the city, 

you could see 

the sun in her eyes, 

the wind in her hair, 

and the taste of 

the infinite salt 

on her lips.” 

 ~Jose Chaves

Sassy Baby

Baby quilts are fun, quick and so cute! When I got my new Accuquilt Winding Ways die for Christmas, I just had to try it right away. To the scrap bin I went for contrasting fabrics to showcase the design.

Sassy Baby features pink, lime and cream prints and solids. These curves would have taken forever to cut out with scissors, but I was done in no time at all. The curved seams match precisely, creating lovely flowers and circles. The backing is a pink herringbone. I outline quilted with bright pink thread. Final size is 32” square.

Sassy Baby

I was quilting another project on the Flynn Frame yesterday afternoon. Turned away for a moment and Callie cat made herself right at home in the middle of my work. Does she think this is a kitty hammock or what?  😼  😸  😻

                    

Dreamcatcher

I quilt for enjoyment and relaxation. I love the entire process from design to the last stitch. The whisper of an idea can be transformed into a beautiful item. Dreams to reality.

I finished Dreamcatcher a few weeks ago. It is an adaptation of a quilt photo found on Pinterest. The combination of a shoo fly block with 9-patch star block isn't new, but the color placement gives it a modern look.

I combined scrappy bright prints and solid light gray on this 42” square quilt. I used Accuquilt dies: 3” finished triangle in square, half square triangle and square. I laid out the colors in EQ8 software before fine tuning on my design wall. Backing and binding is a gray and white triangle print. Stitching with gray thread in large overlapping circles across the blocks creates the dreamcatcher effect.

Sewing and cutting can be quite messy, because I pull out lots of fabrics to audition for a spot in the quilt. I try to put everything away after I finish, clean off my tables, sweep up bits and threads. A clean space gives ideas room to grow. But not always. That next quilt is waiting to be stitched.

Sometimes magic hides behind chaos.

Corners

Today's quilt is another great way to repurpose scraps, or useful remnants, from other projects. I cut 3½” squares of cream homespun cotton, then bordered it on two sides with 2½” strips of mixed bright colors. Old fashioned cream and black print 5” squares were cut to alternate with those blocks.

Corners is a fresh vintage style version of the attic window pattern. At 41” square, it could be used for a baby quilt, table mat, or wall hanging. Backing is a tan and cream stripe with scattered navy and dark red triangles. Quilting in a light tan thread follows the angles across the quilt. I used Nature's Touch 80/20 cotton batting for a slight loft. Stitching on it was smooth and easy with a walking foot.

So many projects planned, and it seems like so little time! Yeah, I know I'm retired but we always have things to do and places to go. No boredom around here! There's something new around every corner.  I always try to enjoy the journey, whether I'm mowing grass, cleaning house, or sewing a quilt.

Life is short.

Time is fast.

No replay.

No rewind.

So enjoy

every moment

as it comes.

Free Spirit

Batik fabrics are high on my favorites list, so I tend to use them often. For this project, I chose coral, purple, navy, and turquoise, then added in small coordinating prints. Kite blocks, cut easily with an Accuquilt die, are fun and quick to sew. The light tan background is also used for sashing, giving the kites prime focus, with a few watermelon squares to tie them together. Borders are a neutral beige with a navy/coral pattern, also used on the back.

Free Spirit

It's a happy, free spirited quilt, measuring 48” square. The back features three flying geese blocks I had in my sampler box, set in a long center strip. I quilted with natural beige thread in a small serpentine stitch, 2” apart.

Those kites look ready for March winds and prettier days than today's rainy forecast. Our 5” of snow from last week is finally gone, along with those frigid temperatures. I did enjoy a couple of batches of snow cream but I do not like single digit temps. However, it is Tennessee; the weather turns on a dime.

“Imagination is the highest kite one can fly.”

~Lauren Bacall