Outfoxed Forest

Outfoxed Forest was started while on retreat with KMQG in October 2014.  Just started with some fun paper pieced wonky triangles from Nancy Purvis.  Pattern here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclingjanes/16489693233/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclingjanes/16922281610/in/dateposted-public/

Started: October 2014
Finished: April 2015
Fabrics: Lizzy House, Outfoxed, Pearl Bracelets Coordinating prints from Tula Pink, Denyse Schmidt, Carolyn Friedlander, Sarah Watson, solid scraps
Batting: Pellon, Nature's Touch, 100% cotton with scrim, white
Binding: Sunburst stripe, wheat, Dear Stella
Quilted: by me, dense alternating zigzag
Thread: Aurifil 50, 4653, Spring Prairie, variegated

This quilt was a fun exploration of improv.  I wanted to highlight the foxes and hedgehogs from Lizzy House's fabric line, Outfoxed.  I had a lot of fun making this quilt and moving it around on my design wall before piecing the low volume background around it.  This quilt hung in the 2015 Smoky Mountain Quilter's Quilt Show and won Honorable Mention in the Modern Category.  The part I love most about this quilt is how vintage it feels and soft.  It is for sale in my etsy shop.

Rainbow Sawtooth Star and Greek Plus

I just finished reading the article from the MQG about derivative quilts and I'm perplexed and discouraged and I'm sure many others of you are too.  I just think this is too far.  --- but that's a whole other blog entry.

I really wanted to share with you this Lizzy House Rainbow quilt I finished early this year!

Started:  February 2016

Finished:  March 2016

Fabrics:  80 Lizzy House charms from our guild swap, plus a couple other prints to round out the rainbow, cotton couture soft white.
Batting: Pellon, Nature's Touch, 100% cotton with scrim, white

Backing: Lizzy House tonal Pearl bracelet
Binding: scrappy Lizzy house remnants

Thread: aurifil 50, 2021

FMQ meander pattern

I started this quilt making HST out of my 5" charms from a guild swap.  I wasn't really paying any attention to colors or values just started piecing them together so I could play with the HST shape.  I decided on sawtooth stars in color groupings.  While I was piecing these, I decided I didn't like the empty space between the stars so I added 4.5" sawtooth stars.

Then, I wanted it to be a little bigger, and the plus shape created by sawtooth star caught my eye... I wanted to repeat that shape.  So then I took the rest of my charms and made 4.5" pluses!

I pieces those as a border in rainbow order and also thinking about the values of the prints.  

There's a 2.5" strip between the stars and pluses and then, the pluses and binding.  This quilt is for sale in my etsy shop!

One more blogged another bazillion to go.  JK 

Transparency Quilt 1

I wish I could keep better records of my quilts, so I'm going to try and get some details down before I forget!  

Started: January 2016

Finished:  March 2016

Fabrics: Kona oyster (background), assorted solids from my stash, freespirit, Bella, modern solids from Alissa H. Carlton, moda crossweaves, cotton couture.  I don't discriminate. Wink wink.

Backing: Amy Butler, Meadow Bloom in Minty and Lizzy House Tonal Pearl Bracelet

Binding: Kona Oyster

Batting: Pellon natures touch, white, 100% cotton with scrim (my favorite, very low loft, love the drape)

Thread: Aurifil 50, 2000, light sand

Pieced and quilted by myself.

(Photo below by Alison McQuain Photography, quilt hanging in KMQG Show at Striped Light)

I made this quilt based on a design from my friend, Ashley Pace's Color Theory class.  She teaches classes at the University of Tennessee, College of Art and Design.  I love the designs that come from her classes.  She uses Color Aid papers to create color illusions.  (I hope to make more transparency quilts!-- but, I'm getting ahead of myself.)

I decided on four colors and used the shape from her class as my jump off point.

I also decided, I wanted it to be very organic and free, so I went ruler free for cutting.  This included trimming around the edge before binding.  For each color block, I started by drawing on paper the overlapping rectangles.  This helped me to visualize the end result.  After I made the four color blocks, I had thought I'd over lap those four again.  See below:

But I wasn't sold on it.  I struggled and just waited a bit.  During February, Season Evans, had a challenge with the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club.  She spoke about subtraction and minimalism.  I knew at that moment, the middle had to come out.  Stephanie Ruyle (spontaneousthreads) suggested I off center the colored blocks within the background, of course I listened!  So, I subtracted the middle and cut more Kona oyster and repieced the top.  I've never regretted it.

Then, it came down to the quilting...  I looked into other Josef Albers works (thanks Michelle Bolt!) to help with inspiration for the free motion quilting design.  I found several that led me to my final design:

I love this quilt.  I'm hoping to enter it in the 2017 QuiltCon show.  Fingers crossed.

Eli's January Quilt

I started this quilt early in 2015 using Liz Havartine's pattern for LAMQG block of the month, January.  I put in a lot of hours on this bad boy: starting with cutting the crazy templates to piecing LOTS of curves.  

I made 42 blocks and added a border to make sure it was a good FULL sized quilt to fit his bed.  I went with something super scrappy but with limited colors in orange, teal, lime, brown, black, navy.

I sent the quilt to Christina Lane, sometimescrafter for custom quilting.

It turned out so perfect!  It's bound and washed an was on his bed by the end of December. -- More of a Christmas present to myself than my 4 year old. 

2015 (Very Belated) Round Up

Towards the end of 2015, I wrapped up several projects and it felt great getting them finished and several gifted for Christmas.  

I made two Diamond Pane quilts using the pattern from the book, Vintage Quilt Revival.  One for my moms best friend and another commissioned by a friend from high school.  They turned out so great in Amy Butler fabrics. 

Then, I finished up a quilt made from receiving blankets for my friend Sara.  I added in one fun print to add some extra color.  I used receiving blankets on the back as well.  It turned out pretty heavy but extra soft.

This scrappy vortex (tutorial by crazymomquilts) was made up of all scraps, unfortunately, it barely made a dent.  It was posted on Instagram and my pottery teacher from many years ago snatched it up!  She plays 'I spy' with her grandchildren using it. 

Then, I finished two for Christmas gifts, one for my parents and one for Eli's big boy bed.  

My mom's was a long time WIP.  I used Anna Maria Horner's free Mother Goose pattern in Flea Market Fancy and Charley Harper fabrics.  I free motion quilted a sharp jagged meander this time and really like how it turned out.  Then, bound it in a cotton and steel crosshatch cut on the bias, it makes cool x's on the binding.

I'll post more on Eli's full January Quilt next!  

Secret Garden Posy Patrol Quilt

Finished October 2015

I started this quilt at a workshop with the pattern writer, Dana Bolyard.  KMQG had her in to teach us more about curves.  I was pregnant with Cole and not planning on going to the workshop bc I had been so sick and tired.  But I'm so glad I jones in the fun.  Dana was a lot of fun and even brought home baked goods for us to snack on!  (Perfect for the pregnant lady!) 

I used lots of greens from my stash and then used lots of leftover greens for the backing.

I'm glad I was able to use up some pieces of extra I had... No need to purchase backing fabric for this one!  Yay!

I quilted with a FMQ swirl that turned out really nice.  I love the quilting on this one. I was making this to sell at an upcoming event at The Hive but I think I've decided to sell the Vertebrae quilt.  Always a difficult decision.  But I think this one fits into our home a little better!  And I love it.

I used pellon cotton batting and aurifil thread, and bound with some leftover raindrops and flowers from the lighter prints I used.

My Whimsical, Vertebrae Quilt

I love following Nancy Purvis, owensolivia's work on Instagram.  When she announced she wanted ppl to make projects from her book, I was really excited!  She asked me to make the Vertebrae quilt.  (I love her version!  She makes solids so exciting!)

I started with a fabric pull, and I'm really enjoying Lizzy House right now, so the choice was obvious.  

I also love adding in solids to help highlight the colors in the prints or to make a more distinct color palette.  PS these butterflies are so perfect... And I don't usually like butterflies. 

I wanted to make my version scrappy, with very few repeats.  I used up some of my favorite Lizzy House prints/scraps.  I had just enough of those favorites to make it happen.  I had to use the design wall to make the placement and piecing easier.  

Little by little it came together pretty quickly.  I loved putting the strips together --the colors just popped!  

The quilting, well, I tried to do two designs (I also used two color threads) and wish I would have just stuck with one quilting design and one color thread.  I'm definitely not comfortable mixing up FMQ designs, and the dark gray thread bugs me.  But every quilt I learn something.  So, I'll take this as a lesson, and remember for the next one.  Maybe another note for myself, SLOW DOWN!

I'll see if I can figure out how to get my final photos on here!  I went to my best friend's inlaws and took pictures in their gardens, with a camera, not my phone!  (their 'Southern Living' gardens)

Oh and see that scrappy binding!!?  Crazy heart eyes about the scrappy binding.  

I can't wait to get my hands on. Copy of the book, Quilting From Every Angle!  I have loved what I've seen so far.  Congrats and thanks, Nancy!

Sam's Classics Quilt

Started:  August 24, 2015

Completed:  August 31, 2015

I love making quilts for friends!  And every once and a while I get an order on etsy.  I've been hesitant to take on too much with Cole and Eli running around but several of these commissions came without a deadline.  It's exciting to know ppl are enjoying my crazy quilting obsession.  

Next up is a quilt for baby Sam.  I've just recently gotten the privilege to meet and enjoy the Eaton family.  They are very into DIY!  And Lesley makes amazing beautiful paper artwork.  (3 of which hang in Cole's room!).  This quilt is for her sister and she wanted something happy, and colorful.  I knew Lesley liked scrappy from previous convos and she'd probably be totally fine with some improv... Which makes me so excited these days!!  So I suggested a design like something I had seen in Quilt Now (mag) this month by Nick Ball.  And she went for it!  I'm so glad she did and I'm so excited to say, I've made this one completely from my stash, and even one step further, the front is made completely from scraps from my scrap bins.

Mint and Coral Triangles

My mom needed a baby quilt for her best friend's daughter, and asked for mint and coral.  She didn't really care about anything else but keep it simple, since Cole just arrived.  So, in my searching for small cuts of fabric, I found Lark Cottons.  And they cut FQs for a great price!  I settled on several prints from Hello Bear, Bonnie Christine, along with some other brighter and girly prints.

I love the combo of colors and fabrics.  I'd love to make a bigger one.  It's so pretty.  Backed with fabric from Hawthorne threads--not impressed-- but the dear are adorable, texture not so much.  Quilted with aurifil, pellon natures touch batting, started July 2015 and finished.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclingjanes/20238470178/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclingjanes/19803826864/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cyclingjanes/20417829892/in/dateposted-public/

And I've already deleted all the photos from my phone...

Tinsel + Score No. 7

Is it too early for a Christmas quilt on my couch?!  Cause I'm in love with this guy.  I purchased Sherry Lynn Wood's new book, the improv handbook for modern quilters and have been dying to jump in!  (I really, really enjoyed hearing her speak at QuiltCon and would love to take a class with her!  Anyone else in Knoxville wanna have her here for a class?!  Maybe 2016!). But anyway-- my Tinsel by cotton and steel was begging to be cut into.  I wanted to pair it with some solids I had on hand so that I could make a lap quilt and get the curves to pop out.

Unfortunately, like Score 7 calls for 'getting lost', I played it safe and used the same cuts and layout as a quilt in the book.  My life with a newborn is crazy, lost enough so I just wanted to SEW!  And the quilt in the book is SO good!

I started by cutting 17" squares of 20 fabrics, 9 prints, 11 solids.  I wanted one more solid but ran out of solid navy so grabbed a FQ from another C&S line, matched perfectly!  Then, I paired up the 20 squares into five piles of 4 fabrics each, mixing and matching values and no more than two prints in each stack then started cutting! I'd say my favorite blocks turned out to be the two that were all solids.  Go figure.  (Keep buying prints Melissa, keep buying prints!). 

I thought piecing the odd shaped wonky blocks together would be really challenging.  I decided to piece 4 together at a time (like I did with my meadow blocks which lizzy house showed us at QuiltCon!) in a large square, two up, two down and it worked pretty well!  I wanted it to be off, just as the blocks are off, so I didn't trim, I laid the two blocks on top of each other, right sides together, making sure there was good overlap everywhere, pinned, maybe even draw a pencil line to help you with your seam line... Perfect!  Then, lined up the seam line on my mat and trimmed after two were together, so I had a straight top and bottom.  It worked well for me!  

I love the results!!  And deciding on quilting came pretty quickly -- overlapping arches!  A little late I decided to add in some other quilting patterns, which I adore, but wish I had done a couple more near the top.  I can't wait to make another improv quilt.  It was a very rewarding quilt and I started and finished in a week. I'd reccommend this book to anyone interested in improv!

Backing: 4 left over FQs from my bundle with 2 yards green star print from Juliana Horner's collection at Joann.

Batting: Pellon Nature's Choice, Cotton Batting with Scrim, Natural Color
Thread: Aurifil 2830 50 weight

Finished Size (before washing): 62 in x 73 in

Trying to Keep Up

Recently, I had my second child and we've been adjusting slowly but things are going really well.  The baby is a great eater and hopefully will be sleeping longer stretches soon!  But I've decided-- I'd really like to keep up with my quilts a little better than I have been.  So, I'm hoping I can use my blog as a way to just keep track of my completions.  Currently, I've completed over 55 quilts, some mini quilts in there and lots of baby quilts.  I'll just list these in order and then, from now forward, I write dwn a little more info!

2012
1. Eli's Bizzy Kid Quilt (Cluck Cluck Sew)
2. Harper Smith's Quilt drunkards path flowers appliqued
3. Blue and Green HST for Caroline
4. Jaxson Weaver's Quilt green and yellow
5. Coin Quilt gifted to Lauren and Rob Davis for Liam

2013
6. Phillip Diaz memory quilt
7. Jennifer Diaz memory quilt
8. Lemonade Quilt - donated
9. peacock patchwork scrap quilt - donated
10. Ryan Mack's Quilt Wonky 9 patch
11. Night Sky Plus Quilt - 1st Show Quilt, given to my brother
12. pastel pink and green star for a baby gift for central teachers 38x38
13. Posy Quilt for Mark and Samantha 38x38
14. Crabtastic Beach Quilt 69x84
15. Caesar Stair's Delectable Mtns. Chicopee
16. Cool River Improv Mini (sold)
17. Festive Forest Plus Baby Quilt (sold)
18. Floressence Celeste gift
19. Monsterz Patchwork (sold)
20. Posy Herringbone (1st quilt sold on etsy)
21. Eli's Circus Economy Square
22. Wiley Way out to sea (sold)
23. Crown of Thorns for Grandpa Noland

2014
24. Yellow and Blue Raccoon Baby Quilt (sold via Facebook)
25. Emery Morrell's Baby Quilt Hour Glass
26. Quilted/Finished Laurie Ball's Antique Top
27. Maya Triangle-Twin- gifted to Elsie Stair
28. Spinning Stars in Simpatico- gifted to Megan Noland
29. Quilted/Finished Laurie Ball's second antique quilt top
30. Scrappy Bear Paw - Queen (sold on Etsy)
31. Boone Luff's Sawtooth Stripe in solids
32. Field Study Starburst Cross (sold at Retropolitan)
33. Nerdy Nine Patch (sold at Retropolitan)
34. Josephine's Knot baby quilt Commissioned for Central Teachers
35. California Dreaming Paper Pieces Twin in PB&J for Julia Johnson (Caroline's mom)
36. Baby Vivenne Smith's chevron
37. Aqua Star Quilt for Spring and Steve
38. Sock Monkey Commissioned Quilt for Central Teachers
39. Rainbow Brick Scrap Quilt twin (sold on etsy)
40. Round and Round baby quilt commissioned for Megan Stair
41. Ginny Ann Reyes' Baby Quilt
42. Improv Simpatico commissioned for Amy Luff
43-44. Memory Quilts for Anna Bess Williams' children
45. Gray and Yellow Chevron commission
46. Greek Plus Puss (Rossie Pattern) in Zaza Zoo Twin gift for Jessi Edwards
47. Winged simple 5" patchwork (sold)
Hexy flowers mini

Diamond Up, Up and Away Tablerunner (Emily Doane Swap)
Coin Table runner in same fabrics sold via facebook
Feathers Mini Quilt for Eileen
Blue and Yellow Mini Quilt Arkansas Traveler
48. Modern Pinwheels in Velocity (in my shop)
49. Log Cabin Log Jam commissioned for my brother
50. Mickey Mouse Stars for the Blackburns
51. Scrappy Trip in Hadley and C&S basics commissioned for Eric Patzke

2015
52. Scrappy Elephant Train for Jensen Long
53. Octopus Garden Asterisk Quilt for Kat and Brian Wedding Gift
54. Pacific Crest in JD Birch Farm for James' Parents
55. Mini Wonky Stars quilt for Eli and Polka

56. Megan Stair's 40th Bday Quilt

57. Mercer 9 Patch commission for Amy Luff

58. Scrappy Jewels for Cole (won 2nd in kids category at Smoky Mtn Quilters Quilt Show)

59. AMH Herringbone QAYG commissioned Julie Soward

60. Birch Organics Patchwork commissioned Julie Soward

61. Outfoxed Forest (won honorable mention in same show, for sale on etsy)

62. Giant Grandmothers Garden Hexy Queen (for sale on etsy)

63. Flying Geese Airplanes commissioned for Katherine and Brian

Mini Quilt for Lizzy House Swap-Christine Smartt

64. Where we are now!!  Let's see if I can keep them documented!

Nerdy Nine Patch Tutorial

Well, I just completed a quilt in under a week's time!  It was a simple one but great for using up some FQs of your favorite prints that are just sitting on your shelf waiting for you to cut into.  I purchased a Geekly Chic Bundle from Stash Fabrics a while ago and then Geekly Chic Returns just came out with some new prints, so I added in some high tops, cameras and swatch watches (my fave) to round out the assortment.  In a last minute decision to create one more quilt before the upcoming craft fair this Saturday, I knew it had to be a quick, simple design.  And that is how Nerdy Nine Patch came to be.

Here's what you need to make a nice lap size quilt:  (after washing mine measures at 63inx63in)

11 Print  FQs
5 Coordinating Solid FQs

Cut each FQ into 9-6" squares

For each nine patch block you will need 5 of the same fabric and 4 of the same fabric, therefore cutting 9 of each FQ will yield each fabric to be in two blocks.  You need 16 total blocks, for a 4x4 layout.  (Of course I cut too many solids and had extra to play around with)

Next, lay out your 9 patch blocks with high contrasting fabrics to create each block.  Think about the values when making your blocks especially the ones that don't have a solid.  Only 10 of the 16 nine patch blocks will have a solid.

Sew your 6" squares into 9 patch blocks together.  Press.  The blocks should measure at 17" unfinished.  Press, then rearrange until you are happy with your layout.  Mine changed from the beginning layout to the final.

Lastly, sew all your 9 patch blocks together. Press, baste, quilt, bind, wash!

I just thought I'd share an easy one with very little waste!  

Happy SPRING sewing!  

(Follow me on Instagram as cyclingjanes)

Melissa