Piece and Quilt with Precuts Blog Hop

I am delighted to share Christa's newest book with you!  It was hard to decide which of the eleven delightful quilts I wanted to make for this blog hop...I really love all of them.  So, I decided on Squiggles, and imagine my delight to find a Sunday Drive layer cake on the shelf in my fabric closet...that clenched it for me as that is what Christa used in her book.

Love Sunday Drive by Pat Sloan!  I had been saving this to use and this was the perfect quilt for the layer cake.  What is your favorite pre-cut?  I think mine are layer cakes and fat quarters.

I believe that wavy line quilting is my new favorite "get it done" quilting that I have been using on charity quilts and grand-kid quilts, etc.  Not every quilt needs a lot of quilting, sometimes time is just not on my side!  This is a great walking foot design to add to your quilting skills. 

Squiggles

Here is my finished quilt....I love it!  Not giving it away....unless someone thinks they need to take it home.  You know...my daughter, my sister, or a grand kid...they have a way of absconding with a quilt quite often!  I'm happy that they love and cherish them!

If you want a signed copy of Christa's book, click here on this link.  I have all of Christa's books and I like her teaching style.  Also, check out her Craftsy class, she is a thorough and easy to follow teacher.   It is worth every minute and no matter where you are on your quilting journey, you will learn something new and helpful.  I have been doing this for many years, and always learn something new in a class or in a book.  In Piece and Quilt with Precuts, you will find eleven quilts to choose from, as well as eighteen machine quilting designs using free motion quilting, walking foot, and a combination of the two.  You can easily build your machine quilting skills on your domestic machine using Christa's easy to follow directions and inspiration.  

And...one more thing!  I am giving away an e-book of one of Christa's books, Ultimate Guide to Machine Quilting.  Please leave a comment to be entered. You can also go to my Instagram account and follow me and leave a comment for another chance to win. 

For more inspiration, please check out the rest of the bloggers on this blog hop!

BLOG HOP SCHEDULE

Here’s the schedule of bloggers to follow with their names, links to their blogs, plus their Instagram handles so you can follow them there. After all, this is a talented bunch who you will want to get to know better!

FRIDAY AUGUST 18 – SQUIGGLES

Kathy Bruckman Blog: Kathy’s Kwilts and More IG: @kathyskwiltsandmore
Kate Colleran Blog: Seams Like a Dream IG: @seamslikeadreamquilts
Sharon Parcel Blog: Yellow Cat Quilt Designs IG: @punkydoodle53

SATURDAY AUGUST 19 – GRIDWORK

Sandy Maxfield Blog: Sandy Star Designs IG: @sandystardesigns
Joanne Harris Blog: Quilts by Joanne IG: @turtlequilterjo
Teresa Mairal-Barreu Blog Sewn Up: IG: @teresadownunder

MONDAY AUGUST 21 – FREQUENCY

Nancy Scott Blog: Masterpiece Quilting IG: @masterpiecequilting
Jenny Wilding Cardon Blog: Stitch This! IG: @martingaletpp
Lorinda Davis Blog: Laurel Poppy & Pine IG: @laurelpoppyandpine

TUESDAY AUGUST 22 – S.W.A.K.

Sherry Shish Blog: Powered by Quilting IG: @poweredbyquilting
Michelle Bartholomew Blog: Michelle Bartholomew IG: @michellebartholomew
Allison Dutton Blog: Allison Sews IG: @allisonsews

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23 – STARSTRUCK

Lissa LaGreca Blog: Lovingly Lissa IG: @lovinglylissa
Sherri Noel Blog: Rebecca Mae Designs  IG: @rebeccamaedesigns
Sandra Healy Blog: Sandra Healy Designs IG: @sandrahealydesigns

THURSDAY AUGUST 24 – DOT’N’DASH

Laura Piland Blog: Slice of Pi Quilts IG: @sliceofpiquilts
Cheryl Brickey Blog: Meadow Mist Designs IG: @meadowmistdesigns
Jen Frost Blog: Faith and Fabric IG: @faithandfabric

FRIDAY AUGUST 25 – TWINKLING DIAMONDS

Jessee Maloney Blog: Art School Dropout IG: @jessee_artschooldropout
Jessica Caldwell Blog: Desert Bloom Quilting IG: @desertbloomquilting
Anjeanette Klinder Blog: Anjeanette Klinder IG: @anjeanetteklinder

SATURDAY AUGUST 26 – WINDOWS

Terri Vanden Bosch Blog: Meanderings Along Lizard Creek IG: @lizardcreekquilter
Suzy Webster Blog: Webster Quilt IG: @websterquilt
Katie Joy Church Blog: Wild Prairie Studio IG: @katie_joyquilts

MONDAY AUGUST 28 – KITES

Pam Cobb Blog: The Stitch TV Show IG: @thestitchtvshow
Jen Rosin Blog: A Dream and a Stitch: IG: @adreamandastitch
Rashida Khanbhai Blog:  No. 3 Quilt Studio IG: @no3quiltstudio

TUESDAY AUGUST 29 – ARROWS

Lynn Kline Blog: Monkey Needle IG: @monkeyneedle
Kathy Bruckman Blog: Kathy’s Kwilts and More IG: @kathyskwiltsandmore

WEDNESDAY AUG 30 – SPOOLS

Jen Shaffer Blog: Patterns by Jen IG: @patternsbyjen
Sandra Starley Blog: Textile Time Travels IG: @textiletimetravels

Linking up with:  Needle and Thread Thursday

                                    Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!
                                   
                                   

When it's done it's done!

I have not done the quilt as you go method since the 80's when I taught the lap quilting method pioneered by Georgia Bonesteel.  So it was fun to try a different method of this technique, and I found that there are many out there.  First I made 12 blocks using scraps from my Island Batik stash.  This can be a quick and easy stash buster quilt of any size you wish.  

You need:Four 4.5" squares for each 12" block.
                Four  4.5" x 2.5" rectangles for each 12" block.
                Four  6.5" x 2" rectangles for each 12" block.  

Then I layered each block with batting and a backing piece that were at least and inch larger all around.  I did not pin or spray baste and it was ready to begin quilting.  This was a perfect opportunity to practice some walking foot quilting using Superior Threads variegated...love it!

Once I had all of my blocks quilted, it was time to trim and sew all of them together.  My top connectors are 1.25" wide by 12".  My bottom connector strips are cut 1.75" wide by 12" and are pressed wrong sides together.

Layer the pieces as shown and sew with a 1/4" seam through all layers.  Flip and press, add another block to the top piece only...in this case the purple 1.25" strip.  Keep the folded piece free for now.

Once you have sewn your blocks together, you are ready to stitch the back strips down.  I chose to hand stitch just like a binding, but you can also stitch down with your machine.  
Now sew the rows together using the same steps as above.  
And Bind it!  When you are done you are done!  Now how easy was that??? Hope you try it soon and please share it with me on Instagram @punkydoodle53

 Another finished quilt for Project Linus!

And of course, Bella must add her seal of approval!

Linking up with:  Midweek Makers
                         Freemotion by the River
                         Let's BEE Social

Be sure to come back on Friday for a very fun blog hop and prizes!

Making Cat Faces

Last Friday, our Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild had a great time in class with Melissa Alverino making cat faces.  It was such a relaxing, freeing process for me.  Just needed a glue stick, a pair of scissors and scraps of fabric, with a bit of imagination.  Here is what I came up with.....

In the planning and playing process with scissors, glue stick and fabric...Island Batik to be exact!

And I finished one of my cats into a 16" pillow...Meet Bailey.  After designing and glueing down the fabric pieces, I layered the piece with a backing and batting, dropped the feed dog and did free motion quilting to stitch the pieces down.  My grand daughter is here at Camp Gramma...I think we will give it a try tomorrow and see what she comes up with!

And I am participating in Angel Gnome's Gypsy Wife Sew Along, I have long admired this quilt, so thought I needed to join!  I doubt that I keep up...too many things going on, but I will try!

 I really do not have a plan for the fabrics I will use...is that a bad thing?  I have put several of my favorites in a box and just go with it...hope that works out!

Hope your week is amazing and filled with grace and doing what makes you happy!
grace and peace....Sharon

Linking up to:  Needle and Thread Thursday

                               Lets Be Social

Oh Baby!

Our project for July was to create a baby quilt out of Island Batik fabric.  I chose to use a package of pre-cut 2 1/2" strips of Drizzle for this sweet little quilt.  The package came with 42 strips and I only had to use 21, so another little baby quilt is in the making.

Here is the link to the tutorial to make this quilt by Amy Gibson....To The Point.
It's a pretty easy quilt to make.  I picked out 21 strips of fabric and sewed them into strips of three.

I measured the width of this strip and came up with 6 1/4", it's best to use your own personal measurement.  Then I cut the strips into 6 1/4" squares and I cut my background white fabric into 6 1/4" squares.  Mark a diagonal line on the white square and lay it on top of the pieced square, sew 1/4" on each side of the drawn line. 

 Cut on the drawn line, open and press.  I like to square up my blocks so that they are all the same.  

I wish I had a baby to put in the middle of this quilt!  I plan on giving it to Project Linus, I know some little one will love to snuggle up in it.  

As you know, with half square blocks like this, there are a multitude of ways to set them into a quilt.

To quilt this, I used my favorite quick and easy method...my walking foot and wavy quilting.  In August I will be reviewing Christa Watson's new book, and this is one of the techniques she will teach you.  You can also go to Craftsy and take her class, which is full of both walking foot and free motion quilting lessons.  Would you like to take it for half price???  I thought so!  Use this link and you will be able to get the class for 50% off.  The class is The Quilters Path with Christa Watkins.  Here is the code which expires on October 5. http://craftsy.me/2oRmZ4P   Enjoy!  and stay tuned for more about this fun class as I explore more techniques with Christa in the coming days.

Here in Kansas City we are having excessive heat...actually ludicrous heat, so I plan to stay in my sewing room after I run a few errands.  Thank goodness for the nice breeze coming off the lake during my morning walk!  Hope you are planning on some sewing today!

grace and peace....Sharon

Linking to: Needle and Thread Thursday
                 
                   Let's Bee Social  Wait until you see her adorable monkey quilt!!!

                 Free Motion on the River  and Midweek Makers

               

Curves Ahead!

Curves are not my thing!  Not sure why...guess I have not tried to sew a curved seam that much.  So....this month our Island Batiks challenge was to use curves in our project.  Fortunately, I had just taken a class from Sue Cleveland....Piping Hot Macaroni quilt block.  It was a blast taking a class with Sue, she is full of information, and just plain fun!  Let's face it...anyone that can make curves fun is awesome!  If you ever have the chance to take a class from Sue, take one and you won't regret it!

I dug through my Island Batik Stash builder bundles and came up with these yummy pinks to make the macaroni block.  The piping was easy to make and added just the right contrast.  The machine quilting was done using Superior Fantastico 40 weight thread.  I also tried out a Superior Titanium Coated #14 Topstitching needle in my machine...loved it!  I think this will be my first choice of needle for my machine quilting on my Janome 7700.

Do you have a favorite curved piecing method?  I see rulers out there on the market...what do you think?

grace and peace....Sharon

linking to: Midweek Makers
                 Let's Bee Social

Celestial Voyager ... my modern batik challenge

This month the Island Batik Ambassadors were challenged to make a Modern Quilt.  What is a modern quilt?  For me it has a lot of negative space and uses a traditional block in a less traditional setting.  Looking at the definition from the modern quilt guild, I looked at my quilt to see if it fits.

• Minimalism and negative space-yes
• High contrast-yes
• Graphic areas of solid color- batiks can read solid in my opinion
• Use of bold colors and prints-Not so much
• Improvisational piecing-nope
• Modern traditionalism - yes.  The block I used is a Classic Priscilla block called Hummingbird.  
• Alternate grid work-yes

What do you think?

It is easy to paper piece with two different sized blocks. I went through my lovely Island Batik fabrics and put together this colorway of blues, aqua, teal, and purple.  The background is Island Batik Frost, a beautiful fabric that worked so well with the colorway I chose.
After I finished piecing the blocks, I discovered the Tucker Corner Beam ruler and decided I could easily cut and sew this block with this cool ruler! Then it was time to quilt it on my Janome 7700, which I LOVE! I did ruler quilting in the blocks then a free motion filler in the background. I think this would make a darling baby quilt with fewer blocks to make it smaller....actually I have one started!

Thank you for stopping by today!  Hope you are finding time to stitch today, even if it is just for 30 minutes.

grace and peace....Sharon

p.s.  be sure to visit the other Island Batik Ambassadors for some wonderful modern quilts!

Nan from Purrfect Spots Designs

Turid from Den Syende Himmel

Stephanie from Quilt’n Party

Pamela from Pamela Quilts

Anna from Ark Angel Creations

Kathy from Kathy’s Kwilts and More

Jessica from Desert Bloom Quilting

Connie from Freemotion by the River

Kate from Seams Like a Dream

Sharon from Yellow Cat Quilt Designs

Tina from Quilting Affection Designs

Jennifer from The Inquiring Quilter

Barb from Bejeweled Quilts

Sally from Sally’s Quilting Corner

Jeanette from Inch Worm Fabrics

Connie from Kauffman Designs

Joan from Moosestash Quilting

Bernadine from Needle and Foot

Bea from Beaquilter

Cheryl from Cheryl Lynch Quilts

Maryellen from Mary Mack’s Blog

Joyce from Hearts Creations

Marlene from Kissed Quilts

Karen from The Quilt Rambler

Marian from Seam to be Sew

Laura from Slice of Pi Quilts

Linda from Inspired Layers

Vicki from Vicki’s Crafts and Quilting

Nancy from Masterpiece Quilting

Carol from FunThreads Designs

Terri from Meanderings Along Lizard Creek

Alison from Little Bunny Quilts

Suzy from Adventurous Applique and Quilting

Jean-Sophie from Sophie Junction

Janet from Whispers of Yore

Memorial Day Sale!

In honor of the Memorial Day weekend coming up, all of my patterns in my Craftsy shop are on sale for $5 until Monday.  Hope you see something you want to sew up this weekend!

Gypsy Solstice

Island Hopping

Last Saturday, my husband helped me award Quilts of Valor to six World War II veterans.  It was a wonderful ceremony complete with the Honor Guard from Lees Summit West Air Force ROTC.  The quilts were much appreciated, and it such an honor to be able to present the quilts that have been made by our quilt guild QOV quilting bee.  Our group is part of the Greater Kansas City Area QOV.

I wanted to share this link to Quilt Inspirations blog, she has provided links to lots of wonderful patriotic quilt patterns that are free.   It's a wonderful resource and I found a few I want to make!

Wishing all of you a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend with friends and family, as we remember those who have served our country as well as those who have passed on in our lives.  I remember taking mason canning jars and picking iris and peonies with my grandma so that we could visit the cemetery.  Do you have a special memory?

grace and peace....Sharon

I think I can guess what Bella plans on doing all weekend!

Linking up to:  Lets BEE Social     Needle and Thread Thursday  Can I get a Whoop Whoop