Blogger's Quilt Festival, 2nd entry

If you don't know all about the Blogger's Quilt festival you can see my first post about it here. I mentioned that each person can enter two categories. So for my second quilt, I chose the HOME MACHINE QUILTED category.

I machine quilt all my own quilts (and rarely hand quilt them!) so I thought I should enter this category. But that left about 90% of my quilts to choose from. So I decided to choose my quilt called Memory Lane.

It is king size and is on my bed right now. We love sleeping under it because it is heavy! All those seams and quilting will do that. The block are five inches, and the red squares are one inch finished. I started this quilt in hopes of cleaning out my scrap bin, but I had to use a honey bun and cut into some of my fat quarters, and yardage. That's what happens when you make a king size quilt. But I truly enjoyed every step of it.

I chose to machine quilt it with red thread outlining each red square, and then put freehand feathers in the "rows" of lights and darks. I had never quilted feathers before and thought it was time to learn! So what better way to learn than to do an entire k i n g  s i z e  q u i l t. I would not actually recommend this approach, but I will say, I learned a lot and my feathers are pretty stinking good now. I mean they better be after that much practice! lol

I will say that having the straight line areas to work in was very helpful and by using a curved line (stem) to begin with, I was able to fill in one side of the feathers, then go back and fill in the other side of the feathers. So each feather is actually three separate rows of quilting. Don't even ask how many bobbins it took. I do know that I used almost two whole spools of Auriful thread.

I am so happy with the results, and I honestly enjoyed making it (for the most part) but I'm enjoying sleeping under it even more!

Now go check out the other quilts at the Blogger's Quilt Festival and be sure to vote for your favorite!
Have fun!
Diane

Blogger's Quilt Festival

It's that time again to celebrate with the rest of the blogging/quilting world...the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy. She does a wonderful job getting this BIG event coordinated and even has some seriously awesome sponsors and prizes. I know there is no chance of me winning, but I just have to play along because it's fun! I've met some super cool quilting bloggers through this event and hope that there are more friends out there that I just haven't met yet!

Each person is allowed to enter two categories. I thought long and hard about which quilts to enter and which categories to choose. It was a hard choice! Or maybe I just have trouble committing to a decisions (don't ask my friends what shopping like with me, yikes!)

I chose the TWO COLOR quilts for this entry:

I made this quilt to be a companion to my quilt Dreaming in Black and White. It's one of my best selling patterns but it is KING SIZE. Dragging it around to trunk shows and work shops is a bit cumbersome. So I though I would make the same quilt in a smaller size (the pattern includes 5 sizes) and it would be easier to tote around. It was also fun to make and I may have been collecting red and white fabrics for *ahem* quite some time...

I machine quilted it on my Janome Horizon. I do quilt all my own quilting, and I actually like the process and the choosing of the patterns, etc. I prefer to do free motion quilting as I find following markings a bit frustrating. I think it's because I like to doodle, and this is just like doodling with thread.

I decided to use flowers and swirls because, well, because I hadn't done flowers like these before. It was fun to make some large, some medium, and some itty bitty. I also thought it would be quick. But after putting in my 7th bobbin, I realized this was none of those. I do like the results and I did like the process even if it did take quite a while.

(view of the back)

If you feel so inclined, you can certainly vote for it, but honestly, just pop over to Blogger's Quilt Festival, look around, and vote for the quilt that makes you say *ooohhh*

Now go on...
Diane

2 More Nearly Insane

Nearly Insane block #19

 

Nearly Insane block #16

 

I made these two blocks this weekend. I am also working on block number 18 but the outside row of blocks has me stumped! I can't say these blocks were super difficult, but they do take time. Luckily it rained all day on Sunday, so it was perfect sewing weather!

If you would like to order the book, it can be found HERE

Enjoy every stitch!

Diane

Community Quilt

Someone who knows someone in one of my guilds likes to piece bow ties. Really likes to piece them! So this friend of hers brought dozens of them to guild meeting. The only request for those taking them was to please piece them into donation quilts. I picked up several bundles of the blocks that looked like they would play nicely together. I pieced them into this top and quilted it the other night. I had some fun variegated thread that worked perfectly! I also got lots of help from her...

 

I hope that the person who receives this quilt enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it!

Enjoy every stitch!

Diane

The Winners Are...

The winners of the give away were chosen randomly. I used a highly scientific method...my kids. I let them each choose a number!

Kelly chose # 21

LouMay 11, 2013 at 9:38 AM

I am following a few of your boards...mainly the quilt ones and the food:)

David chose #2

Crickets CornerMay 10, 2013 at 9:42 PM

Happy to share your adventures in quilting and looking forward to sharing more. My favorite pattern is a toss up between Kelly Michelle and Dreaming in Black and White. I would be happy with either of them. Thanks for the chance at such a great prize package.

Danny chose # 39

Happy Cottage QuilterMay 12, 2013 at 1:24 PM

Being that I like house patterns, I really like Mr. Knotts Neighborhood. Thanks for the giveaway. And congrats on your blogiversary!

So each of you lucky ladies can send your mailing address to me at

butterflythreadsquilting@gmail.com

As soon as I hear from you, I will send your patterns (including your favorites!) and fabrics and a little surprise as well. Thanks for being good sports and playing along! If I don't hear from you by Friday, I'll get the kitty to choose another number :).

Enjoy every stitch!
Diane

Shop Hop Report

Don't forget to scroll down to enter the give away below!!

Last Saturday, my friend Martha and I, did our own little version of the North Georgia shop hop. We only went  to three stores, but had lots of fun and found a few things worth buying...

I picked up some cute Riley Blake chevrons and a new spool of black perle cotton (which I needed thanks to Luna!)

At the next stop I limited myself to the fat quarter specials...$1.50 a piece. Might as well stock up at that price!

At our last shop, I found more fat quarters and a few pieces of wool. I always pick up shades of green wool when I see it, because you can't have enough variety for leaves.

Then we stopped in an antique mall, where I found this book that I told you all about on Monday. Still getting oodles of inspiration from it! But I also spied this sweet child's quilt...

It wasn't expensive, but it was really warn in places. I loved the sweet colors and the combination of blocks. Look what the quilter did here, when she ran out of blocks...

She just added some half square triangles and odd bits.  And the corners were tiny bear paws with silk pieces and rounded corners. This little quilt was so special. I wish it had been in better condition, it would have come home with me for sure!

I'm so glad I spent the day "hopping" even if we didn't get to all the shops. It sure was fun to see the ones we did. Thanks for keeping me company and navigating Martha!

Diane

10 Minute Tip

Sign up for a Class! That's right...just do it! You will be so glad you did. Even if you think you know all you care to about quilting, classes are the best place to pick up helpful hints and tips. And even better than that...they are the perfect place to make a new friend. And we could all use more friends that understand the fabric issues we have, couldn't we? So sign up at your local shop, or guild, or even online...you will be so glad you did, and you deserve it!

Enjoy every stitch!
Diane