Quilt of Valor wrap-up

Yesterday was the last day of the Quilts of Valor blog hop hosted by Jennifer of Dizzy Quilter and sponsored by Island Batik featuring their Freedom fabrics.  Jennifer has a great wrap-up post that features pictures of all 14 quilts and there is still some time left in the fabric give-away on her blog.

I loved making my Mega Carpenter's Star.  I took it with me to a cabin in the mountains that my family rents every year and spent some time on the front porch, stitching the binding.  Talk about happy place!  Doing one of my favorite things in one of my favorite places.  Here's a bonus picture of me on the porch, quilt in hand.

Here's the full list of everyone on the hop in case you missed one:

July 1
Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty Piney
Denise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail
July 2
Pamela Boatright — Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens — Sweetgrass Designs
July 3
Bea Lee —Bea Quilter
Carla Henton — Creatin’ In the Sticks 
July 4
Emily Leachman — The Darling Dogwood That's me!
Joan Kawano — MooseStash Quilting
Jennifer Strauser – Dizzy Quilter
July 5
Steph Jacobson — Steph Jacobsen Designs
Leah Malasky — Quilted Delights
Anja Clyke — Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe — Mary Mack Made Mine

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  Happy Birthday, USA!  I'm so excited for it to be my turn on the Quilts of Valor blog hop hosted by Jennifer of Dizzy Quilter and sponsored by Island Batik.  When Jennifer asked who would be interested in a Quilts of Valor blog hop, I jumped at the chance.  I've had making a Quilt of Valor on my quilty bucket list for several years.  Island Batik generously sent me a stack (10" squares) plus yardage of their new Freedom collection.  I chose a mega-sized Carpenter's Star.

A carpenter's star has been my favorite block since I made one for on online quilting bee last year.  It's clearly a popular choice, because so far three of us on the Quilts of Valor blog hop made Carpenter's Star quilts!  There is just something about that lovely, large star and red, white, and blue fabrics.

Here is the center of my star.  I pulled out the two lighter blues for the center.  You can also see my quilting in this picture--I did a large spiral with a 2 inch interval.  I mark the center for the start of the spiral with a Clover water soluble pen and the nearest circle in my sewing space--my bobin keeper!  It's a great size for a center circle!

 

Island Batik's Freedom collection is absolutely perfect for Quits of Valor or other patriotic projects.  Here is the fabric Island Batik sent me to work with:

Freedom Stack and yardage

You can find out more about the Quilts of Valor Foundation on their website, which includes quilt requirements, patterns, how to request a quilt for a veteran, and more.  There is a Carpenter's Star pattern on their site but I used the block I made last year as my guide and just made HSTs with my 10" squares.  This pattern was my original inspiration, though I changed the outside corners to background fabric.  Mine finishes at 72" square.

Be sure to check out everyone on the Quilts of Valor blog hop!  And our hostess, Jennifer, has a giveaway for a stack of Freedom fabric 10" squares!

July 1
Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty Piney
Denise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail
July 2
Pamela Boatright — Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens — Sweetgrass Designs
July 3
Bea Lee —Bea Quilter
Carla Henton — Creatin’ In the Sticks 
July 4
Emily Leachman — The Darling Dogwood You are here!
Joan Kawano — MooseStash Quilting
Jennifer Strauser – Dizzy Quilter
July 5
Steph Jacobson — Steph Jacobsen Designs
Leah Malasky — Quilted Delights
Anja Clyke — Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe — Mary Mack Made Mine

July OMG

How is half the year over already?!  I have so many more quilts I want to finish in 2019!  I have been pretty good about not starting a lot of new projects this year, aside from the Island Batik Ambassador challenges, but I am joining in the disappearing 9-patch Quilt Along hosted by Julie of the Crafty Quilter. 

9-patch blocks before being cut up

This QAL seemed perfect for an old charm pack I had of Island Batik Wind and Sea collection.  This is from several years ago, not sure where it came from.  There are a few much darker fabrics, so I pulled those out to use as the centers.  I still needed a few more dark squares, so I went to my local quilt shop, Quilt Patch Fabrics, and found some Seaweed from the Seashore collection--same colors as my Wind and Sea fabrics!  In retrospect, I should have bought a little more so I can use it for binding.  I also bought a background fabric, mini springs in oatmeal from the Lavendula line.  I was then about 14 squares short for the rest of the fabrics, so I cut some squares from scraps and stash builder rolls from my ambassador box.  I love that Island Batiks go together so well even if the collections are several years apart.

I only need to finish the top for the QAL but I am making it my OMG, One Monthly Goal, to complete the quilt.  I'm linking up with Patty of Elm Street Quilts.

Quilts of Valor Blog Hop

Today is the kick-off for the Quilts of Valor blog hop featuring Island Batik's new Freedom collection.

Check out these red, white, and blue beauties!

I've had making a Quilt of Valor on my quilty bucket list for several years.  Before my son was born, Husband and I would watch Fons & Porter For the Love of Quilting and Marianne Fons was frequently featured her Quilts of Valor project.

My day is Thursday, so come back for a 4th of July reveal! In the meantime, check out the fabulous quilts made with this collection.


July 1
Becca Fenstermaker — Pretty Piney
Denise Looney — For the Love of Geese
Gail Sheppard — Quilting Gail
July 2
Pamela Boatright — Pamela Quilts
Anne Wiens — Sweetgrass Designs
July 3
Bea Lee —Bea Quilter
Carla Henton — Creatin’ In the Sticks 
July 4
Emily Leachman — The Darling Dogwood That's me!
Joan Kawano — MooseStash Quilting
Jen Strauser – Dizzy Quilter
July 5
Steph Jacobson — Steph Jacobsen Designs
Leah Malasky — Quilted Delights
Anja Clyke — Anja Quilts
Maryellen McAuliffe — Mary Mack Made Mine

Postage Plus

Last year, I was part of the book tour blog hop for the book Modern Plus Signs by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs and Paige of Quilted Blooms.  I made two versions of Message in a Bottle for the hop but knew I would use several other patterns from the book.  Postage Plus calls for lots of 2 1/2" squares and I grabbed my drawer of I Spy 2 1/2" squares and started one as my leader and enders project.  And now it's finished!

This was a fantastic project for scrap squares and I'll make it again.  Mine is slightly shorter than the original pattern; I cut out one repeat of solid stripes.   The greens are Kona Emerald and Kona Lime. I used anything and everything that was in the I Spy scrap pile. 

 

Finishing Postage Plus was my one monthly goal for the motivational link-up with Patty of Elm Street Quilts.  It was also on my list of projects needed for my PhD (Projects Half Done) with Quilting Gail and was #13 on my list of Q2 finish along goals.

This will be a donation quilt.  I have not yet decided where I will start taking kids quilts now that my Project Linus chapter has shut down, but I'll want to gather several before I make a delivery anyway, and this is the first finish since my chapter closed.  I think it just screams "cuddle with me!"

And, since it's Cheryl's pattern, I'll link up with her favorite finish linky party.

I made a dress!

While I know a lot of quilters first learned to sew by making clothing, I was not one of them.  I had a friend in college who figured that since I could make quilts, it would be a cinch to help me make a dress.  Nope.  It was not a good experience for either one of us and since then I avoid making clothing.

Except there was this lovely 2-yard cut of rayon in a pattern called Coral Blush in my Island Batik Ambassadors box that I really wanted to turn into something I could wear.  And then a coworker wore this great dress that had a stretch top and long, flowy skirt.  And I wondered if I could make something similar and use a t-shirt for the top and the rayon for the flowy skirt.  And I made a dress!

I did a google search for making a dress out of a t-shirt and found a few that were what I meant--adding a skirt to an existing t-shirt.  Most were for little girls.  Well, no problem, same concept.  I read several and mostly followed this one for the "Best Dress Ever."  I bought a t-shirt that complimented the Coral Blush fabric and used a strip of Pellon Fusible Featherweight interfacing where I would attach the skirt.  After fusing, I cut off the t-shirt below the interfacing strip.

I followed the tutorials guide for pining pleats and started in the middle, then pinned out to each side.

pleats to the left

I don't have a serger but my machine does have some overlock stitches.  This was my first time using them.  I carefully sewed the pleated skirt fabric to the t-shirt.  Aurifil color 2530 was a great match to my bright pink t-shirt. Then, following the advice of the tutorial, I stitched again adding elastic--I used Dritz 1/4 elastic (not pictured). 

Overlock stitches

Then I just needed to try it on and mark to hem!  I'm not great at keeping a hem straight by this is the kind of loose garment where I figured no one would notice if it's not perfectly straight.  I used Aurifil 2000 for the hem, my favorite neutral thread.

Now, I am not a skinny woman and I'm super chesty so clothes aren't particularly flattering on me.  But I wore my new dress the day I made it to dinner at a friend's house and she was willing to do a photo shoot withe me.  And she handed me the wine to use as a prop!

photo by K Mellnik

I just love the multi-colored fabric in the skirt!  This is not my official June challenge to try something new, but there were a lot of new things for me here: clothes, overlock stitches, and sewing with rayon.  For sewing with rayon, tips I read online included using a brand-new needle and pinning a lot. 

photo by K Mellnik

 Isn't it pretty?! If I ever do it again, I'm going try to add pockets!

Doggone Cute

Back in August of 2017, Ann of Brown Paws Quilting was Queen of Bee Inspired and picked the Doggone Cute block by Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts.  Ann asked us to pick a dog who is important to us and choose the doggone cute block closest to that dog.  I made a block representing my dog, Ivy.  I liked it so much that I made a second identical block to keep, planning to make more dogs and put them all together.

Now, nearly two years later, it's finally done!  I made three other dogs shortly after making the Ivy block and had always planned to make at least two more.  But since I hadn't made the other dogs yet, I decided finished was better than bigger and put it together.  These are the large size blocks and each finishes at 12 x 18, so together they make a perfectly acceptable size for a small child. 

And here's Ivy with the finished quilt!  I think she approves.  I picked the color palette of yellow, orange, and red tones so it would be gender neutral--my Project Linus chapter frequently needs quilts that aren't too girly and I try to keep that in mind when I'm making something that I know will go to them. The binding is a mottled fabric with shades of yellow, orange, and rust that fit the colors.  The original block was orange because Ivy is kind of orange.  See the likeness?

The timing of finishing my Doggone Cute was actually great, because Ann recently submitted her finished dog quilt to the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta in the group category.  And she won second place!

photo and quilt by Ann of Brown Paws Quilting

I took Doggone Cute to my local Project Linus chapter at our June meeting.  It was bittersweet because it was our last meeting; my local chapter is closing.  Doggone Cute is my last finish to be donated to Project Linus.  I've been a regular member since 2015 and by my records have donated 63 quilts.  I'll continue to make and donate quilts for kids who need a quilty smile, probably directly to one of the dozens of organizations my Project Linus chapter supported.

An unsuccessful attempt at getting Ivy to pose with the quilt

This had been a UFO for almost two years, so it's fitting to my project for the UFO & WIP challenge hosted by Julie of The Crafty Quilter.  I'll also link with Tish of Tish in Wonderland for her next UFO party.  Doggone Cute is on my list of projects needed for my PhD (Projects Half Done) with Quilting Gail and was #11 on my list of Q2 finish along goals.