Sewing for others...

My string quilt blocks for Val at Pink Please! She's collecting blocks to be made into a quilt for Heroes Helping Heroes, which serves the cancer community in her home town.
I couldn't help but join in as I've lost both my parents and 2 sisters to cancer. These blocks were fun to make and going to a great cause!
Practicing for the cover of Vogue, is Elyse modeling the jumper I made using Amy Butler's corduroy and oliver + s pattern Music Box jumper. The fabric is yummy soft! And o + s patterns are awesome!
And I just had to show the final pic of Maddy's quilt in it's home. I'm hoping the stitching is tough because there seems to be a lot of monkeys jumping on this bed!
This skirt is super easy using the tutorial from Make It and Love It. I used knit yardage, but the tut shows how to make this cute skirt using a store-bought T shirt.
So easy, I made 2!
Also made a little something for myself this week. Easy robe using Simplicity pattern 9330 and Loulouthi flannel.
I wish you could feel how soft this flannel is! In the Winter, I've been known to stay in my robe much of the day, sewing. This will get some use!

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x.o.

This quilt has a story. The short version is that when my granddaughter was visiting last month she climbed out of the portable crib in a few seconds flat. This required us to move everything out of her room, put the mattress on the floor and a gate on the door. With the room emptied, I decided last week to paint it and of course it required a quilt!

I decided to use my Pop Garden ~ love, love, love this line ~ and I've been saving it for something special. Inspired by the Farmer's Wife quilt along, I thought I'd make some sampler blocks and include some plain blocks of the glorious prints. After making the "x" block, I was reminded of Elizabeth's X and O quilt. Loving my "x" block, I thought why not make an "o"? And a new quilt was born.
I added some stash basics to the line including a bit of gray.
"x"
"o"
Oh and one big "X"
The paint color "Robin's Nest" by Benjamin Moore matched perfectly. BTW ~ I found the color on this fabulous blog: Favorite Paint Colors.
I couldn't be happier with my x and o :)

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Bloggers' Quilt Festival

It's my first time linking up to the Bloggers' Quilt Festival. If you haven't visited ~ head on over for a fabulous virtual quilt show!

I didn't have anything new to share, but I thought I'd post again about my favorite quilt this year. It's my Dresden Plate made with primarily Soul Blossoms. Several readers have asked for the setting dimensions and I thought it might be a good time to look those up! You can find the block construction here.

I trimmed my blocks down to 13", so they finish at 12 1/2".
For Cornerstones, you need 20 Nine-Patches, each made from 5 squares of print fabric cut 2" and 4 squares of white cut 2".

You need 31 sashing units, made from 1 print strip and 2 white strips cut 2" x 13".

I also added a white border cut from 2" strips.
I love how this setting really frames the Dresdens nicely. You can see why it's my favorite!

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Building a Fabric Stash

Just as a painter needs a palette of paint colors, every quilter needs a palette of fabric to work with. I have a pretty large stash, but just like most everyone I can't buy every piece of fabric I'd like. So I thought I'd share how I keep my stash supplied.

It's very rare that I buy a complete line. When a see a multi-colored focus print that may be the basis for a quilt - yes, I buy it. But most of the time I pick and choose from the lines I like and buy "the basics".
The basics are fabrics that have one or two colors in them plus a neutral (white, black, cream, etc.). Here are some green and blue basics along with a green/blue print. I have that in my stash because I use green and blue together a lot.
The question always comes up ~ how much to buy? I usually but 1/2 yards, but you have to consider your individual needs. In addition to budget and storage inquiries, do you make large or small quilts? Do you like to make quilts with lots and lots of fabric? Or just a few different fabrics?

My stash has a really good supply of blues, simply because I use blue a lot!
In addition to color, consider the scale and type of print you're buying, so that you have a nice variety. Here are three blue prints in a small, medium and large scale.
Your stash should consist of florals, geometrics. dots. stripes, leaves, solids, etc.
Then when you go to pull a quilt, you can use pieces from a collection and add your own individual touch with the gems from your stash!
How about you? Any tips on building a stash??

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"Is this why we sew?"

If you have a moment, read this post written by a friend of my daughter.

Wish Upon A Star

it's why I sew...

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Sliced Coin Quilt

Madelyn's big girl bed quilt is done! The pressure was on because this girl loves her blankies! In addition to a quilt for herself, we have to cover every stuffed animal with a quilt. She may not be a quilt maker in the future, but I'm sure she'll be a quilt user!The pattern is Sliced Coins from Don't Call Me Betsy. The fabric Kumari Garden.
I had it long-arm quilted ~ I love this spirally flower design.
The back is a strip of leftover "coins", more Kumari Garden and a white print I had in my stash.
The binding is a stripe from the line. I have a feeling this quilt will get lots of use whether it's covering a little 2-year-old or a stuffed bear!

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Chevrons

I've been seeing chevrons everywhere lately! Is it because I love the design and I'm noticing them all of a sudden? Or are they the latest fad? No matter what I can think of umpteen ideas for them.

I started with some purple, gray and light orange strips and sewed them into strip sets with a 1/2" strip of white between each one.
Cut them on a 45 degree angle and cut rows 4 1/2" wide.
Two rows made a chevron and I added 1/2" strips between each chevron.
I think it was a successful experiment! I couldn't resist taking a photo in the beautiful Fall sun!

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