Effervescence

Started back in January of this year, my Effervescence quilt is done! 

Following along with Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl and the Effervescence Quilt Along, I found it easy to keep up, and once my quilt top was done, I was anxious to jump right in on making a pieced quilt back.

Honestly, I put more into it than I originally expected, but I'm totally fine with that. Besides the scraps I started with, I kept making more scraps while piecing the back, so I tried really hard to incorporate those too. In fact, when I first thought I was done with the back, I noticed two HSTs hanging out on the design wall that I'd forgotten about, and yes I took the time (just 20 minutes!) to get my seam ripper out and get those final HSTs pieced in. Just that bit gave me the energy I needed to trim threads, repress the back and front, and get that thing basted! 

As for a quilting design, I settled on using  Jacquie Gering's "Fancy Straight Line" from her WALK book, which I've used many times with great result. With so many vertical lines, as well as angles in Effervescence, I thought they would look good together. Thread was a little more difficult choice. I knew I didn't want to color-match throughout the quilt, so I finally was inspired by the lime-ish Kona Sprout used through the middle of quilt, and chose Aurifil 50wt 7001 [Neon Yellow].

For binding, I chose four Kona solids - Pickle, Sprout, Caribbean, and Tangerine.

Finished, the quilt measured 56" x 72" and I feel such a sense of accomplishment having it finally done. Plus I just really really like it!

Many thanks to Yvonne for her terrific pattern inspired by her improv design, a fun quiltalong, and her inspiring palette. I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

Linking up with Quilting Jetgirl's Effervescence QAL {Final Linkup}.

Trying Out Embroidered Handwriting

Recently, I purchased Laura Hartrich's @laurahartrich on-demand class, Embroidered Handwriting, with a bit of an idea of how I'd be using what I learned. First off, though, I needed to do a little sample or test of the different style options, and see which I wanted to move forward with.

After trying all three styles - block text, backstitch text, and cursive text - I decided I was most comfortable with the backstitch method. (Pretty obvious, right?) So stay tuned, and we'll see if my idea pans out....

Improv for Everyone :: The Scrapbuster Edition

Last Saturday, I was able to join the Improv for Everyone workshop with Maria Shell @mariashellquilts, The Scrapbuster Edition. 

This was the third Improv for Everyone (AKA budget-priced) workshop I've taken with Maria - the others being On the Grid and Perfectly Pointless. One of the first methods of using scraps mentioned in this workshop was that of the repeated unit or block inspired by a traditional block design. 

This caught my imagination and when I thought of combining my teal solids scraps with my basket of low-volume scraps to make improv plus blocks, I was off and going.

Seriously, I love these so much. I could have kept going and going.

I had to leave the workshop early, so there may be more scrappy ideas that I add to this bunch, but right now, I'm totally invested in making more of these plus blocks and using them together. I've been mulling over what scrappy quilt to make next, and this just might be it.

So for now, I'm just noting the start of this exploration. Time will tell where it takes me - and how long the teal scraps hold out. So no specific plan at this point. Just enjoying the improv and the scraps until I don't.

You Me We

Our July Bee Sewcial @beesewcial prompt is from Jen @jen.broemel, YOU ME WE. Using a palette primarily of bright reds, pinks, and oranges, Jen asked us to "make two 13” x 13” blocks in your signature style or how you most enjoy making." Fun, right? 

Then we're to cut our 13" x 13” blocks into quarters so that Jen will have 8 square(ish) blocks from each of us that she can quilt and embroider upon (her signature style). Here's my first block, 13" square, and then cut into 6.5" blocks.

For my second block, I started with all of the scraps from making me first - something I love to do after any project.

So that was a very fun prompt! I just know that Jen's quilting and embroidery on all of our blocks will take them to the next level!

16 Patch Progress

Honestly, I'm not that good with sewing along with the schedule of a sewalong. More often than not, I'm steaming ahead, and it's true once again with the Summer Scrap Bash hosted by Brittany @loandbeholdstitchery. Our first week's assignment was to choose, organize, and press fabrics, saving cutting (and labeling) fabrics for weeks two and three, and making blocks beginning in week four. Yeah, well that's not happening. As part of my choosing and organizing fabric tasks, I've dug into my original Cotton+Steel stash for fabrics to cut and add to the initial jelly roll I started with. Though the jelly roll will provide over half of the fabric I need for a lap-size quilt, it won't quite be enough. I've always kept my C+S fabrics in their own bin, and I have plenty of smaller pieces (scraps?) that are perfect to add in. So I've been cutting those, and will continue to do so until I have as many strips as I need.

As little rewards for progress on other projects (the finishing of the Ode to Joy quilt top! the beginning of a backing for Effervescence!) I've allowed myself to make another block. They are quick and fun and are making me very happy, so why not? Plus, we have a vacation week planned smack dab in the middle of the weeks for creating blocks, and I don't want to fall behind.

Truth is, between the start of drafting this post and today, I've got quite a little stack of blocks made. They are just too fun not to sneak one in now and then.

I can tell already that this quilt will be eclectic! And that's ok. I'm using bits of delicious fabrics that I don't have much of, and that was the goal from the start. Schedule or no, I'm going to enjoy them until they're gone.

June Fabric Usage

Well..... we had a little fabric brought in this month, most of which is already made into something or at least has an intended use. First up was a selection of prints for a baby quilt for my goddaughter. I couldn't resist going to our one local quilt shop and choose something in person. Plus time was of the essence. Between the quilt top, back, and binding, most of the bundle has been used up. Perfect, right?

I also needed some solids for the Ode to Joy quilt top, so while I was at it, I ordered just a few stash replacement solids. I have a lot more on my list to get, but went with just a few extras this time.

And then - I admit, a totally impulsive purchase - just a bit of the new RSS Strawberries by Kimberly Kight @kmelkight; and two cuts of Groove by Emily Van Hoff @emilyvanhoff. I have in mind to make one of her Quilted Thread Cases with the Groove, just because it looks so fun. And the strawberries were purchased with my granddaughter in my mind....

So yikes. Maybe? Or maybe not. Meanwhile, I have a couple of quilt finishes to show for myself this month, so I don't feel too bad. Onward!

June Fabric Usage

Used up: 18.18 yards [11.7 projects + 4.55 recycled + 1.93 donated]
Brought in: 14.5 yards
Net: -3.68 yards