Craftsman Quilt and Garden Projects

A quilt for my DIY guy is in the works. My husband, wno loves to tinker in his building, has built birdhouses, a variety of boxes and a ruler organizer for my sewing room, our deck railing, shelves for our pantry and bathroom, and a ton of other treasures for me and our family. Now he is building me an arbor for the garden he just plowed! So I want to make something just for him. I found a really cute collection from Dan Morris Design “Craftsman” for Quilting Treasures and ordered yardage. It is even more colorful in person.

I think the Craftsman pattern by Pine Tree Country Quilts will be the perfect choice.

“In other news . . .” the garden is nearly ready for planting. My husband rented a tiller for the tractor and plowed about a 40 by 50 foot space over the weekend. It is the biggest garden we’ve ever had with lots of space to make pathways and have room for watermelons and pumpkins.

Before planting can begin, the arbor will be built. I’ve always wanted a rose and flowering vine arbor next to my vegetable garden! We set the posts yesterday and will start putting up boards tomorrow. (I say “we” meaning I will be the holder of screws and drills and help level the boards!) I ordered two climbing roses and wisteria, and I purchased a couple flowering vines at Lowe’s. I can’t wait!

Toddler Apron and Good-Bye 2017

As one last finish for 2017 I made my 20-month old granddaughter an apron for Christmas. I found a pattern but pretty much cut it “my own way” as I texted my daughter to measure certain widths and lengths on Delaney. So it was guesswork that turned out well! Delaney would not be still for a photo – lol! The few pictures I did take of the apron did not turn out well because we have had cloudy weather for sooooo long.

I used a “Darling Little Dickens” mini-charm pack and loved the soft pastel greens, peaches, aquas, and taupes.

The binding/tie was a bright green print from the Gooseberry line.

And the back was a cute little Japanese print by Megumi Sakakibara that coordinated nicely.

Here is Delaney’s initial “D” on the pocket. My Janome does not have embroidery capabilities, but it has a cross-stitch that I used to outline the D. (2018 goal: new sewing machine!)

We had a wonderful Christmas filled with food, fun, and laughter. Here is a Christmas day photo of our “original four. It is rare to get a picture of just the four of us!

As 2017 draws to a close, with several quilting and sewing projects in various stages of (un)completion, as well as many plans – quilting, gardening, bread-baking, house projects, etc – for 2018, I find myself more and more unmotivated to blog. I’m not quite ready to give up blogging, but if you don’t see anything here, look for me on Instagram.

Happy New Year!

Quilted Scrappy Tote Bag

This scrappy tote bag is now my go-to shopping bag! I found the tutorial on the blog of Jedi Craft Girl.

I got the idea for scrappy panels from Andy at A Bright Corner. I love this version!

Since this was my first time making a bag I had to go slow and re-read instructions. That being said I had trouble understanding how everything went together and sewed the handles in wrong. Then I got to rip stitches – lol!

I had a piece of Echino Buck with Glasses by Etsuko Furuya for Kokka in canvas that I had been saving for a long time, and I pulled fabrics from my stash to coordinate – teal grunge, purple-pink batik prints, and a long-hoarded piece of yellow print Japanese fabric I purchased in 2014 (which I love and cannot find now!) The inside fabric is Urban Garden by Alexander Henry. I love the funky vibe of the fabrics.

Inside are custom-sized pockets for my glasses, pen, keys, and iPhone. I put them a little too low and will make them closer to the top next time.

The bag is wider at the top and finished at 13 inches tall by 18 inches wide at the top and 13 inches wide at the bottom. I purchased a magnetic snap closure for it but decided against using it for this bag.

I already have plans for another bag and although I love this one, I might make a few alterations and add interfacing to help hold the shape.

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #6 – The Seasons

It is already week #6 of the Sewcial Bee Sampler Sew-Along, sponsored by Sharon Holland or Maureen Cracknell. I am enjoying this sew-along more than any other in which I have participated and look forward each Wednesday to seeing the pattern for the new block. The blocks have been simple to sew, and I usually spend more time choosing fabric than sewing.

I am getting a real work-out in HSTs (half-square triangles) and even with careful cutting and sewing there are still a few mis-matched points. I am trying to have a more relaxed attitude about that, but if it bothers me too much, I will take out stitches and redo until I get it right.

I still haven’t decided on a fabric for framing each block, and I keep going back to this Kona. There are going to be a lot of bright colors in this quilt, and the gray might be a nice neutral contrast. I would like to make a final decision soon so I don’t have to “catch up” on framing each block. The sashing will be a light cream.

Download instructions for this block as well as for all the blocks is here. If you are on Instagram, search for #sewcialbeesampler for an amazing display of all the blocks.

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #5 – July Fourth

Week #5 of the Sewcial Bee Sampler is titled July Fourth. Although it looks complicated, it was a fun block to sew and a new-to-me way to make four Flying Geese units with no waste.

Again I used fabrics from Maureen Cracknell’s gorgeous Garden Dreamer line – Twinklestar Berry and Bumble Beez. I pulled the sage-y gray fabric from my stash and don’t remember what it is, but I wish I did because I want more of it.

You can find more information on the blogs of Sharon Holland or Maureen Cracknell, download instructions for this block here, and for all the blocks here. If you are on Instagram, search for #sewcialbeesampler to see how many variations there are for these blocks!

I am almost done with Hello, Bear quilt for my great-niece’s little boy. The quilting is done, and today I am finishing it with a scrappy binding.

BUT I’m not sure Jack wants to give it up!

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #4 – Crow’s Nest

The Sewcial Bee Sampler SAL is flying along. Lots of Instagram photos and so much fun to see how everyone else has done their blocks. I have to say, this is the most fun I’ve had doing a sew-along – maybe because Instagram is so “instant”! For this block I used a Kona solid (I think it’s Tangerine!) and Bird Dot in cream by Windham.

Block #4 is Crow’s Nest, a variation of one of my favorite classic blocks, the Churn Dash. The first time I made a Churn Dash was for a sampler block in my beginning quilting class at OK Quiltworks in Oklahoma City, where we lived at the time. Although my teacher was a “points policewoman”, I will be forever grateful to her for teaching me the basics of quilting.

I redid my first three blocks. I wasn’t loving my fabric choices, but now I am happy with the way the sampler is headed. I haven’t added frames to any of my blocks, but I am considering the gray I have the block displayed on in the first photo.

It’s never to late to join in the fun! Head to the blogs of Sharon Holland or Maureen Cracknell to download instruction for the blocks. Sharon and Maureen are designer for Art Gallery fabrics, and although I should have pulled from my stash for this sampler quilt, I have fallen in love with Maureen’s Garden Dreamer line and will be incorporating some of those fabrics in my quilt.

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #3 – Flock

UPDATE: I have changed the original block, and the photo reflects the changes!

It is week #3 of the Sewcial Bee Sampler Sew-Along hosted by Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell, who happen to be designers for my favorite fabric line – Art Gallery Fabrics! Although I am not a huge fan of HSTs, this sew-along is forcing me to perfect my skills, and I have a new appreciation for how pretty they are in a block.

I still haven’t decided on a frame for the blocks, but I’m hoping to find inspiration as I go.

This is the original block, and the final block is the first photo.

You can find downloads for all the blocks here and here. There are also giveaways as the sew-along progresses, so don’t miss out on the fun!

Sewcial Bee Sampler Block #2 – A Dandy

The Sewcial Bee Sampler Sew-Along is enjoying great success on Instagram and beautiful blocks with hashtag #sewcialbeesampler are posted almost daily. It is fun to see the variations! The sew-along is hosted by Sharon Holland and Maureen Cracknell, who happen to be designers for my favorite fabric line – Art Gallery Fabrics.

This week’s block is assembled with HSTs and quick corner triangle units. Sharon has an excellent tutorial and beautiful results for these on her blog. I used Bird Dot in cream (Windham) and two Garden Dreamer fabrics (Art Gallery).

I ordered some fabrics from my friend Bernie’s Etsy shop, including a fat quarter bundle of Maureen’s “Garden Dreamer” fabrics. Bernie blogs at Needle and Foot. If you haven’t visited Bernie’s shop, you must! She recently started carrying an extensive line of fabrics along with vintage patterns and many custom goodies such as Chemex covers, key fobs, and pet place mats.

I love the Garden Dreamer line so much that I also ordered another bundle from Lady Belle Fabrics (becasue I don’t expect to win it!) and plan to incorporate many of these patterns in the sampler. I posted about Block #1 last week, and already I have plans to redo part of that block. I tend to choose a few fabrics to start and then change them as I go. I simply don’t have the eye for color or forethought to pull all my fabrics at the beginning of a project!

You may find downloads for the blocks here.

First Finish of 2017 – A Baby Quilt

I made this for a friend’s baby, who was born on December 27. I finished it last night, so I’m only a little bit late!

I only had this photo of their nursery to go by, so I pulled prints and auditioned them on my design board with my iPhone held next to them. I was able to find everything I needed in my stash.

I decided I wanted a truly improvisational quilt, so I simply started cutting blocks and fitting them together like a puzzle. It was not as easy as I thought it would be, but I enjoyed the process. To give it a little bit of uniformity I added a row of blocks in the middle.

I utilized some fabrics I’ve hoarded for ages – Patio Lights from Flight Patterns Collection by Tamara Kate for Michael Miller and part of a panel of I Heart You by Moon Cookie Gallery for In The Beginning

I had enough of Patio Lights for the backing.

Last night I added a low-volume border of black dots on white, an aqua binding, and a label.

I’m very happy that I now have a fence and pretty scenery for photos!

QUILT STATS:
Size:
42 x 32

Fabrics used:
Patio Lights from Flight Patterns Collection by Tamara Kate for Michael Miller
I Heart You by Moon Cookie Gallery for In The Beginning
Kona Solids
Gooseberry by Lella Boutique for Moda
Downton Abbey Lady Rose Collection for Andover
Ebony Pinhead by Michael Miller

Thread:
So Fine by Superior Threads #50 Genoa Gray
Purple embroidery thread

Things I Learned:
Improvisational piecing

Debbie’s Prayer Quilt

The prayer quilt for my niece is finally finished! My niece is a strong Christian, and I positioned the three magenta and violet crosses to serve as a remembrance of the three crosses of Calvary – I think she will like the significance.

Pattern illustration

As I mentioned when I blogged about it (almost 3 weeks ago!) I used Plus Quilt pattern by Jeliquilts.

I pieced the back with some leftover cuts from the fabrics (listed below)

I particularly love this bird fabric and the bit of whimsy it adds. And it was very gratifying to audition it and see it contained the colors from the other fabrics.

I made a few errors and had to rip seams a few times, even with the binding! The Kona magenta fabric I originally intended for the binding raveled too much after all the chaos, so I looked to my purple stash to find something that would work. Lo and behold I had a 1/2 yard print that was perfect!

I stitched crosses in each corner

The quilting was mostly straight line, with some wavy lines on the border.

Last time I talked to my niece, she was feeling stressed about her upcoming treatments following her mastectomy, so my wish is that this prayer quilt will give her some comfort.

Quilt Details:
Finished size: 45″x45″

Quilt Front:
Collage Bird Dot Cream by Carrie Bloomston for Windham
Bohemia Teal Dots by Julie Paschkis for In The Beginning
Kona: Snow, Ash, Violet, and Magenta
On a String in Lime by Valentina Ramos for Robert Kaufman
Unknown dark eggplant fabric Made in Japan

Binding: Mosaic Purple by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery
Backing: Collage Bird Dot Cream by Carrie Bloomston for Windham, Kona Ash

Thread used:
Superior Threads So Fine Genoa Gray