Bird Tree Hop

Time to dust off the blog with a fun blog hop celebrating my favorite animal! 

I planned on making something with the selected fabric  by Tracey Lizotte for Elizabeth Studio, and she’s got other lines featuring hummingbirds and owls that are just gorgeous too, but it didn’t happen with being sick with one thing after another since Christmas and pregnant with baby #4.  Someday I will cut into those beautiful panels and make a quilt my kids will fight over!  But until then, I want to share with you a few “bird” themed projects I’ve finished or have in the hopper.

Has your winter been as brutal and cold as mine?  Earlier this month we had a “warm” spell of 50 degree days and I made this table topper to celebrate.  My kids love to set the table with linens and various “treasures” they’ve collected at thrift stores, so this topper has been in heavy rotation lately.

The bird fabric is a new line called Milk Sugar Flower by Elea Lutz for Penny Rose Fabrics.  As soon as I saw those cute little retro inspired birds, I knew I had to make something from them! 

Paired with linen, these fabrics look perfect for heralding in spring.  (Is it coming anytime soon???)

The back has the same bird print in cream.

Once I finished up that project, it was time to make a spring-themed mug rug for a swap.

This wonky star features retro bluebirds that I picked up from my friend’s online shop Donna’s Lavender Nest.   Donna stocks some really cute 30’s inspired retro fabrics and a whole bunch of pretty florals.

And I’m a staunch believer that no mug rug swap would be complete without coordinating mug, so this sweet pink mug with owls galore accompanied the mug rug to its destination out west.

That’s it for finished projects…I still have two bird themed quilts in various stages of completion.

This large purple owl is part of an improv quilt that will be for my 4 year old daughter, Veronica.  She wanted a quilt that would “talk” to her at night since her sister Esther has the Mooshka quilt that talks, so we picked Cori Dantini’s Good Company fabric.

There are plenty of little birds and woodland creatures (foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels) to keep her company at night once this baby arrives and she has to sleep in her own bed.  This quilt will take a few days to quilt up because it’s quite large and I’m trying every kind of fmq design I feel brave enough to attempt.  It’s a quilt that will be loved no matter now it looks, and the improv sections provide the perfect backdrop for practicing different stitch designs.

The last project I’ve got going is this Charley Harper quilt for my cousin’s baby, due to arrive March 17 but he has not made his grand entrance yet.  I finished quilting it up today and it’s ready for binding.  I don’t want to show too much of the quilt because I plan to give it to her this weekend and want it to be a little bit of a surprise!

Thanks for visiting my stop on the hop and make sure you visit all the other hoppers and see their creative bird-themed projects!  I’ve been so inspired and amazed by the creativity and productivity of the participants of this hop!

Freemotion By The River

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Tea Time Creations

Baa's Amazing Adventures!

Selina Quilts

Ramblings of a Quilter

Busy Bee Quilts

Quilted Delights

Grandmamas Stories

Super Mom - No Cape!

A huge thank you to Mdm Samm for making this hop possible and Lana Dunkerley, our super, wonderful, invaluable cheerleader for this hop!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Say It With Flowers

Welcome to my stop on the hop!  I was inspired to finish up a quilt top from the Starburst Quilt Along earlier this year.  The top was completed in February, so it didn’t sit around for too, too long before quilting…

This is the second time I’ve tried other free motion quilting designs besides stippling.  I used wonky diamonds along the outer border & stippling in the negative white space.  Inside each star I quilted a swirl and then rays emanating out toward the points of the stars. 

I used Angela Walter’s Free Motion Quilting book for design inspiration.

And where are the flowers?  On the back!

Normally I like to take photos before washing the quilt, but this time I washed and dried it because I am donating this quilt.  I wanted to make sure all the seams went through the washer and dryer with no problems. 

I also used a flower print for binding—House and Home by Bernatex.  I love these happy little flowers!

This quilt is going to a group who provides quilts for breast cancer patients.  I didn’t have any specific person in mind when I started the quilt along, so hopefully it will provide comfort to someone who needs it.

Make sure you check out all the other stops on the hop today!

May 31^st

Squawk That

How Art You?

A Little Bit of Lorene

Handmade By Mama

Blooming Where I Am Planted

Jane’s Quilting

Just Quilt It

busybeequilts

Lisa In Port Hope

Les Quilts

Quilts My way

Thanks so much, Carol & Madame Samm, for organizing this hop and cheering everyone on!

Dots on Dots Blog Hop and Giveaway

Hourglass Star Block, finished size 11 x 11 inches.  I made my block from fat quarters picked by Maureen Cracknell for The Intrepid Thread that came in this bundle (photo from Maureen Cracknell Handmade).  The dots are called oval elements.

I started by separating the 10 fat quarters into 5 sets of dots/solid combos.

From the dots I cut two 5 x 5 squares and from the solids I cut five 4 x4 squares and two 5x5 squares.

Mark 1/4 lines on either side of the diagonal.

Pair up the dot/solid 5 x 5 squares and pin.  Sew along each line.

Cut right down the middle into two halves.

Then subcut the triangles into two by making a right angle.

You will end up with a little pile of triangles.  Press them all before opening up to set the seams.

Now, this is the most important part.  Finger press the seam open before pressing flat.  Finger pressing will keep your seams from getting wonky or distorted.  Pressing the seams open also makes the finished block flatter.

After pressing flat, I like to give it a little spray of starch and set everything one more time with a hot iron.  I don’t use steam.

Now, match up two triangles to make a square.

I pin the triangles together since the seams don’t nest.

Chain sew all your pieces.

Finger press again and flip over. 

Voila!  A pretty hourglass block.

Line up the diagonal on a square ruler with the seam line.  Trim to 4 inches square.

Very pretty!

Now lay out all your hourglass blocks with the solid 4 x 4 squares.

Press the seams toward the solid squares and you will end up with this hourglass star block.

Now, onto the important part!   I am giving away a $25 gift certificate to Quilt Taffy.  I’ve ordered from Corrie’s shop tons of times and she has sweet fabric and great customer service!  To enter, you must be a follower and leave a comment telling me your favorite fabric.  If you are a no-reply blogger please leave your email address in the comment.  Open to international entries and the winner will be announced next Monday, September 17th.  Have a great week and don’t forget to check out the other stops on the blog hop today:

Cat Patches

Busy Bee Quilts

Stitch by Stitch

Mary on Lake Pulaski

Just Let Me Quilt

[Amy's] Crafty Shenanigans

PolkaDotClassic

AnnieOak Designs

Blueberry Moon

You can find the entire schedule on Corrie’s blog here:

http://quilttaffy.blogspot.com/2012/08/dots-on-dots-blog-hop-schedule.html

Summerlove Update

I have finished up the first four rows of my Summerlove Hourglass quilt. 

Love, love, love!  The sashing is Essex linen, which I have never used before, but I find it soft and easy to sew with.  I may never buy Kona white again…just kidding!

I also joined A Bee in My Bonnet’s Row-Along.  I happen to have quite a stash of Lori Holt fabric, so I thought I’d give it a whirl.  The first “filler” row is done, but I’m not loving my fabric choices.  I just kind of hurriedly picked them out while the kids were with me one afternoon.  It didn’t help that I didn’t understand the directions and picked out twice as many fabrics as needed—my error, not the direction’s.  Luckily it’s just a filler row, so hopefully I can refine my choices as the qal progresses since it’s mystery-ish and I’m not really sure exactly how prominent the focus fabrics will be.

I will be participating in the Dots on Dots blog hop coming up September 10-21 and giving away a $25 gift certificate to Quilt Taffy, where you can find lots of sweet fabric treats!  See you September 10th!