Thursday, June 30, 2016

Mini Quilt Swap

I don't often do swaps, but when I do...
I throw in paper-piecing, curves, and dense free-motion just for good measure. Just kidding. Maybe...
Renee, Yvonne, Sara and I decided to do a mini quilt swap using Moda Ombre Basics by V & Co. I chose a Nancy Cabot throw-back to 1935 quilt block called Cocklebur. I mean, how can you go wrong with something named after a weed? I wanted to the colors to transition diagonally. Except, the reversing phenomenon of paper-piecing made things go a bit awry given that I had labeled my color plan on the paper-side, resulting in the need to build the top face-down.
The arcs were paper-pieced; then I assembled the curved seams traditionally.
I made the bold decision not to use blending thread colors. Instead I pulled colors from the piecing to select thread hues for the gray background. I echoes 1/4" around the piecing and then did whatever fills struck my fancy at the time.
I used Aurifil 1148, 2810, 2783, 1147, 4020, 2588, 4030, 2615.
In retrospect, I should have started by stitching in the ditch around the pieced shapes because my crisp points got a bit lost in the puffiness of the less-densely quilted areas. 
I would have also selected only free-motion designs that did not require any back-tracking, as this drew unwarranted attention to  certain areas of the quilting.
For the binding, I used a Benartex ombre that I had in my stash to emphasized the raimbowy goodness. 
I chose a neutral gray thread for the bobbin, so that I wouldn't have to keep changing it, and it would go unnoticed from the front side. The backing was so busy that you would really have to work to see the quilting.
In return, Renee made me this star-struck beauty, which I love everything about.
See the other posts here: 
I'm linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts.
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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Stash Builder Box Review and Discount Code

Have you heard of Stash Builder Box? Company owner Amanda contacted me earlier this month to see if I'd be willing to review their subscription box for July, and I enthusiastically agreed. Shortly thereafter, my box full of quilting-related fun and surprises arrived!
Want to see what's inside? First, let me mention how nicely everything was packaged, making this a nice option for gift-giving. The box was lined with pretty pink crinkly paper, and the smallest items were bundled in a drawstring bag. The patterns and fabrics were carefully wrapped in black tissue paper. And let's not forget about the sturdy cardboard box that the hoarder in me can't bear to part with. If you have a subscription, the white boxes would be great to label and use for storing quilt blocks or sewing notions.
July's box contained three fat quarters from Dana Willard's  Boardwalk collection for Art Gallery fabrics, a vintage McCalls pattern notebook, a 5 ml sample of Soak laundry care, a small spool of Aurifil thread in a green shade, a "You Can Never Have Too Much Fabric" pencil, a Snowball block pattern and a pattern for the Fly By quilt by Initial K Studio printed on thick, glossy paper.  A card detailing each of the products was also included. 
While happy mail is fun on its own, another asset of the Stash Builder Box is that 20% of the proceeds from the sale of each box goes toward making quilts for needy children.
Admittedly, I was having heart palpitations when I saw the notebook, until I realized, with a great sense of relief, that it wasn't an actual clothing pattern. I couldn't have been more pleased with the fabric selection, as I love the quality of Art Gallery fabrics and had every intention of stashing some of the Boardwalk collection. The Soak sample was welcome, but I wish it had been travel size instead. Another consideration worth mentioning, is that additional fabrics are necessary to create the Fly Away quilt top; though the included fabrics would be sufficient to make a Snowball block. While I'm being particular, coordinating the fabric and thread would have been nice, as I can't see using Juniper thread with the ice-cream hues of Boardwalk.  (Sorry the spool slipped off to join my rainbow-y rack of Aurifil threads before the photography shoot.)
The Stash Builder Box is one of the most affordable quilting subscription boxes I have seen at $23.99 plus $6 shipping each month. There's no membership fee, and your subscription can last any duration. To get your very own July box, make sure to order before the cut off on the 14th of July. Orders ship the following day. Use the code IHEARTSBB for $3 off your first box.
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Saturday, June 25, 2016

Quilt Market: Moda

My tour of Quilt Market would not be complete without Moda. 
Bonnie and Camille's collection, Little Ruby, comes out in May. 
Stacie Bloomfield, from Gingiber is a brand new Moda designer. Her black and white collection, Thicket, comes out in May.
Sherri and Chelsi of A Quilting Life showed off Desert Bloom, coming in November. This line resonated with me, as I'm living here in Albuquerque (aka the middle of the desert).
Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree & Co.'s new line is Chestnut Street.

I know I shouldn't play favorites, but the quilts and projects in Franny and Jane's booth left me awestruck. 
First, there was the Baltimore by the Sea quilt featuring their debut collection, Manderly.
Here are some close-ups. Wowsers!
Then these pillows captivated me. The crane pattern on the right is by Juliet of Tartan Kiwi.
And if that wasn't enough, there was the Lotus quilt.
1Canoe2 presented Hazelwood, which is set to hit stores this October.
Here's April Rosenthal of Prairie Grass Pattern's booth.
For the ultimate in nursery cuteness, might I suggest Darling Little Dickens by Lydia Nelson? I really love the low volume carrot print, given the generous amount of rabbit fabrics this season. I'd recommend some form machine that scans patterns and cuts fabric if you intend to make the quilt at right.
Then, there's the ever-popular Jen Kingwell. Check out Lawn Star. I don't mean the college guy you hire to mow the yard; I mean the spectacularly scrappy eight-pointed eye-catcher over Jen's head build from her Lollies and Moving On Lawns.
Moda also had a Grunge bar to celebrate their 30 new color releases of this cherished basic. What do you think of Grunge. Are you a die-hard for this blender, or does another line float your boat?
Which Moda lines strike your fancy?
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Sunday, June 19, 2016

Quilt Market: Cotton + Steel

The ladies of Cotton + Steel are definitely the cool kids on campus...ahem...at Quilt Market. They even had the Premiere Schoolhouse before Market officially offered. I'm going to plod ahead because I know you are dying in suspense, waiting to see their upcoming lines.
I'll let you hear an explanation of the collections from those who know best. 

How about I follow that up with some eye candy from the Market booth?.
Print Shop by Alexia Marcelle Abegg
Trinket by Melody Miller
Les Fleurs by Rifle Paper Co.
Lawn Diamonds Quilt by Sarah Schraw #Lawnquilt
Checkers Woven Basics
Raindrop by Rashida Coleman-Hale
Rotary Club by Kimberly Knight
From Porto with Love by Sarah Watts
Do you have a favorite? 
Also, Cotton+Steel is making all kinds of substrates now: rayon, double-gauze, canvas, lawn, etc. What do you recommend making with these? Any advice for getting them to behave in a quilt? Which would you consider to be strictly for clothing?
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