WIP Wednesday...

I know it's Thursday, but never too late for a WIP Wednesday! It's been a busy week here so far. I've presented two guild programs - carrying over 40 of my modern quilts along. It's a lot of hauling, especially in 95 degree weather, but so much fun to hang out with great people who like to talk about patterns and fabrics!

So here's my progress in the sewing room...

I finished my "Fresh" quilt from Camille's book Simply Retro. And one of our local long-arm quilters has agreed to custom quilt it for me!

I've got a good portion of my St Louis Modern Quilt Guild Ohio Star challenge machine quilted. I'm doing straight lines to keep it super modern and moving right along...

Our guild also has a sew-in this Saturday. I've been wanting to make "On a Whim" and I was reminded of it when so many started popping up on Instagram (#onawhimquilt). On a whim I bought a fat quarter pack of Florence, Denyse Schmidt's new line, and decided it was meant to be.

I'm using a solid gray-green for the corners...

And finally, many hours were spent cutting the pieces for "Bangles" from Hand Quilted with Love by Sarah Fielke. This is going to be a slow project with lots and lots of Y seams. I hope I'm up for the challenge!

You have to start by laying all your pieces out on a design board. If you like puzzles, you might like this one!!

So I plan to take some of this with me to the sew-in on Saturday - if I can keep it in one piece. Please don't anyone sneeze near my piecing!!

Looks like I was too late to link up to Lee this week, but be sure to check out all the great stuff over there!

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How I chose fabrics for a quilt...

Today I'm guest posting over at Stitch This, the Martingale blog. I'm often asked about how I select fabrics for my quilts. I rarely use an collection exclusively and love mixing in some stash fabric. I'm sharing my process over there!

I've been pulling some fabric for my next project using this piece as my inspiration...

And came up with this...

Having "basics" in your stash is really helpful. I like to go through new fabric lines and buy the basics in my favorite colors. Here are some of my recent additions...

Domino Dots from Waterfront Park by Violet Craft.

Sun Print Feathers by Alison Glass.

Dots, Numbers and Sparkle from Gracie Girl by Lori Holt.

Read more and comment at Stitch This for a chance to win my new book, Simply Modern Christmas!!

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Using a focus fabric...

If you're like me and love beautiful fabric, you probably are drawn to those pieces that seem just too pretty to cut up. I'm always on the lookout for patterns that really show off a great print.

Three of the projects in my new book, Simply Modern Christmas, do just that!

"Seeing Stars" is the perfect example. I specifically designed it so that you can feature a favorite print in the center square and accent it with some fun patchwork. This one features a line by Laurie Wisbrun called "Brrr!" and I'll bet you can find many beautiful fabrics that would be perfect for this small quilt.

My "Simply Simple" table runner also uses a feature fabric in the center strip. It's accented with some scraps and voila! Super easy and can definitely be adjusted in the length.

And finally one of my favorites from the book and the cover-girl, "Snowball Games". It actually gives you an opportunity to feature several focus fabrics!

I couldn't resist making another one up for my new grandson using a fun animal print.

This quilt is one that goes together really quickly. In fact, a friend of mine bought the book on Thursday and had a top made in a couple of days (great job, Sandy!).

So there you go, a little more info about some of the quilts in the book. I would love to see what you make from the book (and so would everyone else!), so I've started a Flickr group for you to add your photos. Please, please, please - share! {I've added a link on the right under the social media icons}

You can also share photos on Instagram - #simplymodernchristmas

Thanks!!

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Block Making...

It's been a week of making blocks for me. Well, actually this one was made a week or so ago. I could't show it until the recipient had it in her little hands. I made this mug rug using scraps from my Marcelle Medallion quilt for a very generous and ridiculously funny quilter. Just a little thank you for Carrie who blogs here: La Vie En Rosie. The block is one of the Lucky Stars paper-pieced blocks.

And speaking of Lucky Stars, I'm caught up and August is complete...

I'm up to nine blocks and it's not looking like I originally envisioned it, but I'm totally lovin' how the blocks look together. So typical of me with long-term projects; they evolve!

I also made a couple of bee blocks this week...

House blocks in Kaffe Fassett fabric for my Girls Group...

And a solids block called Lucky Pieces by Faith from Fresh Lemons Quilts for Carolyn in the Redbird Bee...

And finally, I finished up by blocks for "Fresh" from Simply Retro...

For the first time in a while we have a free weekend, with no plans except for a dinner date. Maybe I'll get these set together.

Have a great weekend!!

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Lone Starburst finish...

Seems I've been making my Lone Starburst blocks for quilt a while! In fact, I think I made the first one last Summer when Anna Maria Horner's Field Study line was released.

After that first one, I decided to go a bit simpler and use 2 prints for the inner star and a coordinating solid for the outline of the star.

The blocks are paper pieced and as paper piecing tends to be - some slow sewing.
And on the very last block and last few pieces, I found myself short by about an inch with no solid fabric left. That required and online order and more waiting for fabric to arrive...

When the time came to put the blocks together, I tried several scenarios, unhappy with anything I came up with. An internet search of the block found only a couple of finished quilts - lots of pillows, but few quilts.

It took a few weeks of mulling before this setting came to mind. And the slow process paid off - I couldn't be happier with the quilt!

There was no way I was going to get rid of that original block, so it's pieced into the backing.

My final dilemma was how to bind it. I wanted to use a Field Study print, but didn't have enough of any one of them to work. More mulling and a scrappy Field Study binding was the answer.

Thanks so much to Anna from Six White Horses for the fantastic block pattern. You can find it for free here: Lone Starburst.

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Inspiration from my new book!

My books arrived on my doorstep last week! You should start seeing them in your shops soon!

I've always wanted my blog to be a space of inspiration. I'm excited to show you many of the quilts made in alternate colors and fabrics. Hope you enjoy seeing them all up close! I've asked a few of my favorite bloggers to review the book and we'll be sharing that too.

And of course, I'm always working on something new - so expect some new show-and-tells between book posts!

No Christmas book would be complete without a tree skirt and some Christmas stockings. So let's start with those...

The stockings are super simple. The book has 4 different patchwork options for the cuff and each stocking is fully lined.

The tree skirt was inspired by a traditional star block - known as both Rising Sun and Christmas Star. The good news is that there are no set-in pieces!

Last Christmas I made one for my daughter using solids and a bright holiday print...

This is one of my favorite projects. A simple wreath design that can be hung on the wall or used as a table topper...

I want to make this again! Can you see it in Fall colors or solids?

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Steam Punk Quilt

My Steam Punk quilt is finished! It's a beautiful Summer evening here and I thought I'd take it out for a little photo shoot.

The combination of machine and hand quilting gave this quilt a wonderful drape. The hand-quilting is limited to 2 concentric circles on each block.

The pattern is by Jen Kingwell Designs.

It's been a wonderful Summer project!

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