Askew

When mom came home from a visit to Alaska a few months ago, she had a beautiful gift of fabric tucked away for me. She had visited The Material Girls quilt shop in Fairbanks, leaving with several yards of Moda Calypso Sunrise batiks - blue, green, and teal - some of my favorite colors.

I definitely wanted to do something kinda modern with them, maybe even improv. I had the idea of a low-volume background so the batiks would really pop against it. In my very own stash I found a perfect choice - the "Cuneiform Script Aged" from Katarina Roccella's REcollection for Art Gallery Fabrics.

So I went with wonky crosses, one of my best-loved blocks. This time, though, there were no consistent block sizes and no even rows, which made for alot of fun on the design wall, a little less when it came time to piece the blocks together. In fact it took some minor surgery with a seam ripper once the top was complete to get it back together and laying flat.

The back, on the other hand, went flawlessly, and I love the supersized crosses that echo the front.

For quilting, nothing too complicated was necessary, so I went with organic straight-line with Aurifil 50wt #2024 (white). This is really a method of quilting that I enjoy. No matter what size of quilt, I mark it in half using my hera marker, then again several inches apart on both sides of center. On this quilt (45"x48"), I marked every 6", then quilted down those lines. From there, no marking! I just quilted down the center between two quilted lines, wobbling along with purpose. Continue and repeat, over and over again. I wanted plenty of texture on this quilt, so my lines of quilting are roughly 3/8" apart.

 

Unfortunately it doesn't show well in any of my photos, but the binding consists of all 3 cross fabrics, and I think it sets them off well.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable sew, and I'm glad. Because now it's time to face some deadline sewing . . . oh joy.

Linking up with Finish It Up Friday.

Tuesday at the Table

Surprise, surprise. No recipes today. Really no food talk at all. But I do have one of my current projects to show, table-related and all . . . the first in a set of wonky cross placemats.

I'm expecting each to be just a tad different in their block arrangement, though all with the same number of 3 1/2", 6 1/2", and 9 1/2" blocks. I'm using my favorite emerald, black, and white geometric prints, along with a variety of solids, which I'll describe better farther down the line.

Quilting design is still TBD, so feel free to share your thoughts. And as I continue piecing, if you have something to link up, you can do it here!

W.i.P. Wednesday

Thanks to a fun-filled, sew-till-you-fall-asleep quilting retreat last weekend, I have plenty to show for myself, which actually feels very very good. Mostly littles, but still . . .

Completed projects
Merry - Hubby's Christmas stocking may be late in coming, but worth the wait. I posted it here.

Sweet Heart purses - This project was timely and fun, a quick tutorial by Simple Things. So fun in fact, I made a second.

Open Wide Zippered Pouch - Again, after making my first . . .

I couldn't resist making another. Very fun indeed.

Mod Angles cushion - If this looks kind of familiar, it's because I made it with my Chicopee practice blocks from the tutorial I wrote back in October. The hst blocks were inspired by don't call me betsy's Double Flip HSTs tutorial.

Ongoing projects

Scrappy Trip Along - I'm SO excited I got my blocks all pieced into a top. The backing should arrive any day, so I hope to get quilting on this shortly.

Emerald mini/placemats - These two projects may have merged and become one. TBD. Meanwhile, I'm piecing blocks - 3 1/2", 6 1/2" and 9 1/2".

x and + blocks {#xplusalong} - I managed to get 12 blocks done and have 12 more ready to stitch up.

Woodland cross-stitch sampler and Modern Crosses quilt - no progress.

Upcoming projects
* flannel pillow for grandgirl
* table topper for mom
* scrappy Metrolink
* Polaroid block projects

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

Heigh Ho!

Over the years I've worked as a computer programmer in an open bay of a large building . . . in front of a picture window during my stint as a pastry chef, where my sweet treats and I were always on display . . . and at church office reception desks, the last 13 years the hub of a large staff and congregation. I feel like I've always worked in the middle of the action. Until today.

After nearly three decades(!) in the work-force, this morning I will go to my own office . . . down a long hall . . . away from the center of activity. It will be a major transition for me and for my co-workers, as well as for the people we serve. It kind of takes my breath away.

To mark the occasion (and calm me somewhat), I stitched up a wonky cross quilt to hang in my new workspace.

I used this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew, creating both 6" and 12" (finished) blocks.  I've loved working with these fabrics and colors! You may notice a strong resemblance to another recent finish {here}, as far as palette and quilting go. 

I used light gray thread to quilt organic wavy lines vertically across the blocks, then went back and added some random dark gray lines. I really like the interest that added.

And so, with a new quilt to add that personal touch . . . well, it's off to work I go!

Linking up with {sew} Modern Monday, Quilt Tuesday, and Slash the Stash.

W.i.P. Wednesday

I always look forward to W.i.P. Wednesday - I really enjoy our checking in on each other, while at the same time keeping track of progress. So here's what's been going on in my sewing room this week . . .

Completed projects

A QWERTY quilt - This was my entry in the Modern Mini Challenge.  I really had fun on this mini - you can read all about it here.

More blog goodness - a Tuesday at the Table button - always available in my sidebar.

Ongoing projects
Scrappy Depression Blocks - two more done, 11 to go.

4x5 modern Quilt Bee blocks - I've made "Three Wishes" blocks for two of my bee members, three to go. (Pattern by Jamie Moilanen from "99 Modern Blocks".)

Modern Crosses mini quilt - A new project, and I am loving putting this one together! I was debating leaving it at this (24" inches square), but decided to keep going. At this point, I'm planning on another couple large blocks and 24 small ones. (I used this tutorial from Sew, Mama, Sew to get started.)

Upcoming projects  
* scrappy Metrolink
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too
* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt

* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin

* Pattern for Mango 

* A light box
* Quilts for siblings #2 and #3

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .