Leftover Improv - Part Two and Final - Landscape Improv

This is a continuation of a previous post about the making of the leftover improv piece.

I kept adding hand embroidery to this piece in colored thread and in simple embroidery stitches.  They added texture and interest to this piece.  And then, I decided to do some big stitch hand quilting.  This takes so much longer than machine quilting (which can be done in a few hours).  I chose a variety of threads and after doing a few lines with pearl cotton, size 8 and very large needles, I ditched using them for quilting.  They were fine on the hand embroidery, but pulled the batting through to the front while quilting.  I liked the WonderFil spaghetti thread, size 12.  And pearl cotton, size 8 as well.

Here is a look at the work in progress.  For some reason, my camera picks up pink, but it is really black and white.

I worked on this when I needed handwork with my small quilt group, and occasionally worked on it while watching TV at night.  I wasn't in a hurry to get this piece done.  It was more about the slow stitching.  So, after many months,  it was finally done.  It was faced and left wonky.  It measures 30" W x 40" H.  I'm calling it "Landscape Improv".

I hope you like it.  It's going to be auctioned off in November at the Clark County Quilters guild meeting.

Summer Break

It's that time of the year again when I want to be outside most of the time.  I don't have any works in progress and nothing is on my design wall.  The gardening season, going for walks, appreciating nature, and taking short trips is more appealing to me than being in my studio.

Don't get me wrong.  I am passionate about quilting and I have a glorious studio.  But, I also have other passions and the summer season is calling my name.

So, I'm taking my annual summer break and will post if I start another project or have something amusing to report.

Bags - Hello Pouches - by Kaitlyn Howell

I purchased a pattern called "Hello Pouches" that was designed by Kaitlyn Howell of Knot and Thread Design.  There are 4 bag sizes in the pattern that have fabric bottoms and clear tops.  I thought that they were very cute!

There are several sources for bag supplies in the Portland area and I found just what I needed at Sharon's Attic in Hillsboro, OR.  The list included Soft and Stable by Annie, 16 gauge vinyl, and a couple of double slide zippers.  I decided to make all 4 sizes to match the colors of the zippers that I purchased.

If you've ever sewn bags like these that might be Bags by Annie, you'll know that they are not the easiest things to make and there is a LOT OF BULK.  I broke a few sewing machine needles while sewing through some of the bulkier seams, and then had to hand turn the sewing machine wheel over those areas so that I would jam up the machine and break more needles.

Anyway, they are very cute and here they are all done.

The smallest one measures5" high x 6" wide at the top, and 4-1/2" wide at the bottom

The medium size measures 7" high x 8" wide at the top, and 5-1/2" wide at the bottom

The large size measures 8" high x 10" wide at the top, and 6-1/2" wide at the bottom

And the extra-large size measures 10" high x 12-1/2" wide at the top, and 7" wide at the bottom

I hope you like them!

Here is the link to the pattern: hello-pouches

Graduation Quilt

My granddaughter graduated from High School in June and I presented her with her graduation quilt.

Oh, how amazing it is to gift a quilt to a young person full of energy and plans for her future!

Luau Torches - Part Two

This is the second post about the making of Luau Torches.  I pieced it all together and used my new roll of 80/20 batting.  It was quilted on my sit-down longarm machine.  And, instead of donating it to our charity group, as I had originally intended, I gave it straight to one of my friends who is going through chemo treatments.

It is shown unquilted in this picture.  And I hope you like seeing it anyway!

Huge print fabric and 2 charity quilts - part One

I got a large amount of a huge print fabric from a member in our Clark County Quilters group.  It's kind of nice how other members think of me when they are donating fabric, or just looking at what is already on the free table.  I've made all kinds of things over the years and just love how kind other quilters are.  

I sketched up a couple of ideas and discovered that I could make 2 quilt tops for charity with the fabric that I had.  One of the quilts will be the large squares offset with blue and yellow strips.  The other will have red and light blue strips with the large colorful squares.   

And here they are all finished and ready to donate.  They're 50" W x 60" L.

 I hope you like them!

Batting by the bolt

I used to purchase batting on the bolt at JoAnn's Fabrics when they had it on discount, or when I had a 50% off coupon.  Well, as mot of you know, JoAnn's went out of business.  So, I asked around with my friends, and it seems we are all in that space of not having local retail to source supplies.  The days of getting batting locally are over, unless you want to buy it in pre-sized packages.  

One internet site is doing a ton of advertising and I decided to give them a try.  It's Linda's Electric Quilters.  They are in Texas and ship very quickly.  Of course, there are shipping charges and taxes to pay.  Anyway, I had previously ordered Thermore batting and was pleased with how quickly it was delivered.  The roll of Hobbs 80/20 batting shipped the day after I placed the order.  Here is how it showed up at my doorstep:

It came in a big cardboard box and was wrapped in a sturdy plastic bag.

I took it out of the box and dragged it upstairs to my quilting studio, leaving it in the plastic bag.  Yes, it was heavy with 30 yards of batting on it, but I was able to carry it myself (well, dragging the lower half).   Frankly, it was easier than carrying it to my car, loading and unloading it in the garage, and then dragging it upstairs.  Not that it is an option anymore.

I can't wait to start using it... it should last a long time.