Bloggers Quilt Festival

Hi, have you been over to Amy's Creative Side and seen the amazing display of inspiration and talent by all the wonderful quilters/bloggers?

 

If not be sure and stop by-- you will probably need more than one trip -- as there are hundreds of quilts to see. There are many prizes to win, just by leaving a comment or if you enter and win in your category there are great prizes for that too! Readers will be nominating their favorites in each category, so go and have fun! (after you finish reading my post about my entry of course! :)

I am pleased to be able to finally show you my finished Retro Flowers quilt!

I am so happy with how this turned out! There were times when I wondered if I would ever get all the flowers together! For all of you that were following my progress - Thank you! Your encouragement was so important and helpful in motivating me to continue and finish.

This quilt started with the Retro Flowers QAL earlier this year in April. It was my first Quilt A Long. I loved "meeting" other quilters that were particpating through the Flickr group. And I loved seeing everyones fabric picks and progress. There are some fabulous quilts and quilters in that group!

I love this pattern and look with the crisp white sashing and couldn't wait to start. I took a bit of a "modern" approach, even though the name is Retro Flowers. I chose Art Gallery's Modernology line of fabric  which included some small-medium prints but also some very beautiful large prints. I was a bit concerned how the larger prints would work with this pattern as each petal of each flower is made up of 3 curved pieces and one square. So there would not be much of a chance to match those large prints up at the seams. I instead used them to balance out the flower by making sure they were scattered in each petal equally so the eye would move around the whole flower.

 

I also used the Curve Master foot to help with the curves. This special foot helps guide the two pieces of fabric together while sewing the concave and convex curve. This  seems very unnatural when actually sewing them together, but so worth it! Once you get the hang of it, it goes much more quickly and I liked this method as I did not have to pin the seam!

 

For the backing I chose a grey Modernology print that reminded me of  the Retro Flower itself. I love the colors and repetitive simplicity of the pattern.

 

 

The binding I chose is navy blue with an aqua print from the Modernology line. I really like the way the navy contrasts against the white sashing and coordinates with all the navy and aqua in the quilt while contrasting with the corals, pinks, and reds.

The quilt was quilted by Kathy Holman, Fort Wayne, Indiana. She did a wonderful job! I  requested  a "swirling pattern"  and not only did she find it but she was able to enlarge the pattern so that it was proportinate to the quilt/flowers. I love the all over pattern and the way it really shows up on the front. Once washed the quilt sqrunched up so beautifully! You can see this so well in the first and second pic above! This quilt is now ready to be hung in my guest bedroom and is one I will always cherish.

Quilt Stats:

Size 57x58 inches
Special tool: Curve Master foot
Fabric: Art Gallery Modernology and Kona White
Quilted By: Kathy Holman
Best Categories:  Favorite Wall Hanging, Best Professional Quilting, Favorite Throw

Running crazy with hair on fire!!

Ok, that is an exaggeration but I am sure you have all been there! 

October has just flown by--since vacation and now next week is Halloween!  Let's see, work, birthdays, work, family obligations, work, fundraisers, work....uh, yea, you get the picture. And it has all been good, just not enough time in the day. I have sewn a bit and have stashed alot-- pics coming Sunday!  And yes, I had cake yesterday as it was my birthday! Another year of wisdom gained (at least I like to think so, lol!)
Well maybe, I was stopped for speeding yesterday---my birthday! --- seems I need to lose a couple pounds from my foot or ALWAYS use cruise control! The cute young police office was very nice--a warning was given along with a sincere "I hope you have a Happy Birthday"  Uh...yea...I need to learn to slow down!

So two things today: There is a huge color wheel swap going on and there are still 15 spots left if you are interested!  Great way to build your stash for all those winter sewing projects coming up! Check it out!

Color Wheel Charm Swap

Open for 56 Participants, each one will order 5 yards of fabric (1yd per print) in their assigned color group. Each yard will be cut into 56 5"x5" charms and then sent to the swap leader. Once I have received all of them you will be returned 1 charm of each print equaling 280 charms!

www.flickr.com/groups/colorwheelswap/

Also the Fall edition of the Bloggers Quilt Festival over at AmysCreativeSide starts tomorrow!!



Are you ready with your entry? I will be entering for the first time. Check it out here! Entry's will be nominated by readers and prizes will be awarded. Plus it is just so awesome to see so many talented quilters showing their work! Get ready for inspiration and awesomeness!

And don't forget the U R Priceless Blog Hop coming up! My day is Nov. 8th. So many cute frame coin purses! These will make awesome Christmas Gifts--I know a few are on my list of gifts to make!

Have a great day!
Ginny

A Little Bit of Lime with your Latte?

Hello all! It's WIP Wednesday, and it has been awhile since I linked up!

I have been gone a bit on a vacation --Las Vegas :) --And no, I did not win-- I lost   errr.. made a donation to the economy of Nevada....lol!  Really, I am not much of  a gambler but I was with my kid's celebrating a one of their birthdays and we had FUN! Then it was back to work and catching up. October is normally a very busy month here with many family/friends birthdays and a heavy workload at the job. More (or less) about that later! ;)

So what do you think?

As you know, I really had a hard time with these colors, but I am liking it better, now that the blocks are coming together! They come together very fast, I have been chain piecing them like crazy and hope to have the top completed by the weekend! 

Not much progress on the other items on my list (100 Day Hustle list)---here they are +1!!


1. Finish up my Flickr fabric swaps by cutting and mailing off the fabric
        a. Send Me a Text Swap--all fabric bought--just need to cut and send
        b. Almost Neutral Swap---ditto a.

2. My coin purse for the U R Priceless Blog Hop coming up in Nov-- My day is Nov 8th!!
    I have all my fabric and my frame -- ready to start! I can't wait, I just love these and hope to make a few
    for Christmas gifts

3. A lap quilt for a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer and is now facing chemo, life is short my friends you never know what the next day will bring..... Yea!! Progress here--see blocks above!


4. At least cut and hopefully piece my orange inspired Flying Free quilt, it is to be a child's quilt for donation.
    Fabric pulled and laying on the cutting table

5. My gift for my swap partner for the  Modern She Made Swap 2 ---still stalking my partner... purchased
    some fabric... and now trying to decide between two very different projects! So hard keeping  a secret
    when you want to make sure they are going to like  love it!

5. A set of hot pads for my son's girlfriend who loves a scrappy look!  No progress here....

6. I want to cut and piece the Vintage Holiday Quilt. I have all the fabric, stacked on my cutting table, but
    that is it!

7. And last but not least I want to get caught up on my Craftsy BOM'S! Poor things are sitting on my sewing table just screaming for attention!!  No more screaming at me.....just staring back at me, making me feel guilty :(

8. New Project: commissioned baby quilt for January! She is picking out her fabric now... So glad it is for January and not in 2012! Can you believe that---we are talking 2013 already!

Hope you are having a stitchy week! I will be back this weekend with an update on Little Bit of Lime with Latte quilt!  Oh! and guess who came home yesterday? Great Granny and Retro Flowers!! Yes, they are back from the longarm quilter and looking good! I am sooo happy with how Retro Flowers turned out!

Linking up with Lee over at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

Happy Stitching!
Ginny