Use the Force

Excited to share with you dear readers my finished mini quilt for the #maythe4thmqs swap on instagram. After the initial inspiration mosaic was posted, my partner also expressed a love of bright fabrics and inspiration struck! My thoughts went right to Andy Warhol style pop art so that's what I tried to capture in the quilt. 

I drew the outlines/faces on paper first, then copied them onto fusible web before ironing the fusible to the fabrics. It was fun choosing color combos and prints to use for each square. I zig-zag stitched around each element in a matching thread to make sure they stayed in place before free motion quilting different designs in each background.

I also made a triangular zipper pouch & the photo shows both sides, since I used a different fabric for each side- one rebel, one empire. 

My quilt went winging off to Australia and was happily received by my swap partner. Phew! It was hard to part with but I'm eagerly stalking my mailbox to see what shows up for me. 

Linking up at RedLetterQuilts for my April OMG finish too. 
Linking over at Crazymomquilts for Finish it up Friday as well.
Linking at SloStudio for Quarter2 finishes - original Q2 list found here.

OMG April is here!

OMG is right! 

This is one of the busiest months at work due to preparing for the influx of quilters for Quilt Week Paducah. So I have a whole week blacked out and with that in mind my goal for April is a quick one (I hope). I'm participating in the #maythe4thmqs Instagram swap which is all about Star Wars! :D  

Am super pumped about my idea which got a huge dose of inspiration-Andy Warhol-style. I've got my mini quilt started and my OMG is to finish it before Quilt Week this month.

 
Here's a peek at where it is currently - fusing the outlines, will need to outline stitch the edges and then plan to FMQ quilt in each background.

Friday Finish :: Spring emerges

Whew, this week has been fairly long due to a week of overcast skies and rain rain rain. In the midst of all the rain, Spring is popping up more and more and it feels like greeting an old friend when you notice trees starting to bud, or more sunny daffodils on the road home. Yesterday I walked out of my house to see the pear trees on the street have a lot of green to them; even a couple tiny white flowers defying the rain on some of them.

Consequently, all the rain motivates me to stay inside and quilt and who am I to argue with that?! I've been working on my Science Fair quilt and put the last stitches into the binding last night. I love how it turned out and snapped some pictures this morning (inside due to the rain & muck outside). I went back to see which year of Retreat I made the quilt top and it's been patiently chilling since 2013!

I had fun with the quilting, using both 40 & 50wt. Aurifil threads to put wiggle stitches in the grey background and then FMQ fun designs in coordinating colors for the hexies. Binding fabric is the Newsprint print from the Collage line and adds just enough pop to the edges.  Backing fabric, I don't recall the line, but it was found (on sale!) at Hancock's of Paducah. I'm still working on a name for this one - so far I've thought of Effervescent - so once I decide for sure I'll write that on my label. 

Linking up:
Crazymomquilts for Finish It Up Friday
Red Letter Quilts for my March OMG goal finish - goal setting post
2016 Finish Along, Quarter 1 finishes linked up at Slo Studio - Q1 original list

March Goal

I'm really excited for this binding choice- it's got some pow! to it that will be fun with my science fair quilt. Fabric is Newspaper Stripe from the Collage line by Carrie Bloomston. 

While you can see that I've started stitching the binding on, my goal for the month is to have it completely finished.  This is the first time I'm binding 120 degree angles so it will be fun to learn how to do it right.  

Linking up at Red Letter Quilts for the OMG! 

WIP Wednesday:: 2/3/16

Had a great time at Quilt Retreat last weekend!  It's always fun to spend a whole weekend sewing with Momm! Not to mention seeing quilty friends, a stellar view of the beach and not having to stop sewing except for sleep & food.  :) Of course, I brought a whole suitcase full of fabric (no joke!) with a bunch of projects to work on during retreat. 

I managed to get three quilt tops together and will share more on them soon. Here's a sneaky peek at one in progress!

Today I want to highlight this block I made on retreat.  It's from Jaybird Quilts Park Bench book and will be a topper for my hexagonal end table. I'll be choosing backing fabric next so stay tuned!  Linking up at the final (for now) WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.  Choosing this as my OMG goal for February - getting it finished and on the end table! Linking up with Red Letter Quilts for the month.