Quilters Meet & Greet

Welcome to the 2018 Online Quilters Meet & Greet! Check out the source of all the fun at Benita Skinner's Creative Space. Then hop on over to the participating blogs for inspiration and to get to know all the participating quilters. What's more, there a wonderful Grand Prize that you can earn a chance to win from each blog you visit. The winner will be selected October 1.

I suppose it's proper that I introduce myself. This is what my family and I look like when we're all cleaned up and coordinated. I'm a stay at home of this crew (Bryce-8, Linnea-5, Cade-2, Declan-1). My primary responsibility is to make sure that I have four kiddos intact at the start and end of each day. It's harder than it sounds! Before that, I was a first and second grade teacher. Now I have redirected my teaching prowess toward adults with whom I share my passion for quilting.

While I focus mainly on the modern aesthetic here, I love all forms of quilting. I'm an avid fabric collector and project starter. I adore quilting as a creative and social outlet, and much appreciate a brief distraction from diapers and dishes. I've been quilting for over a decade and have the honor of being an Aurifil Artisan and Quilt Photography Company Brand Ambassador.

Around here, I've gathered up some fun opportunities for you. If you're like me, and always in the mood for a fresh project and opportunity for show and tell, peruse my Linky Party Listing and directory of free Quilt Alongs. Speaking of Quilt Alongs, I'm hosting the Wonderland Quilt Along at this very blog. It's not to late to check out the tutorial posts, join the Facebook group, download the patterns, and finish your quilt in time to win some sweet prizes including a large spool collection of Aurifil thread.

I'm so happy you've stopped by and hope you'll do it again. An easy way to do that is to follow me on Bloglovin' or via e-mail using the sidebar.

I also hang out on Instagram and Facebook, if that's more your speed.

Don't forget to snatch your change at the big haul:

Wonderland Quilt Along Block #12: The Roses

Welcome to this month's installment of the Wonderland Quilt Along. See all the fun we've been having in the Facebook group, where some folks are even working ahead of schedule. Share on IG with #WonderlandQuiltAlong.

But first, pick up instructions for this improv block. If improv is too much for your meticulous inclinations, you can always swap out with a paper-pieced version. I love this one by Jitka. Just remember to add sashing or increase the size of the block to result in three 8 1/2" blocks unfinished or a unit to substitute for the three flowers that measures 8 1/2" x 24 1/2" unfinished. If you are confident in your unconventional grid design skills, designing your own layout is an option.

I began with five sided pieces roughly 2 1/2" wide and strips longer than one side of the hexagons and about 1 1/2" wide.

Then I sewed the strip along one side using a 1/4" seam.

I cut the strip even with the neighboring sides.

I worked around the shape, adding a second strip.

I sliced each strip at an angle to make the overall shape appear rounder.

I continued adding strips and trimming, until all sides were enclosed.

Then I trimmed in preparation for the next round of strips, which will be slightly darker and wider.

This is how they appeared after the second round.

A third round began following the second.

Then a third round commenced. I added a few non-adjacent strips at a time and then pressed them all all once.

Trimming occurred after pressing each addition.

By this point, the blooms would fit inside a 8" square will room to spare, so I added another layer of petals.

I tested a couple ways to add leaves. The first was created by adding a chunk of green fabric to one side and then trimming it by following the sides next to it. The other was created by adding a set of rectangles, and then trimming using the adjacent sides as a guide.

I filled in with generous chunks of fabric and then laid an 8 1/2" ruler over the block to square it up.