Saddness today...

Kathreen you will be dearly missed!!

The crafting community is saddened today by the tragic loss of Kathreen Ricketson, craft book author and founder of Whipup.net, and her partner Rob Shugg. Our hearts go out to their children, family, and friends.

For information on an education fund is being set up for their two children at Whipup.net.

For her bio http://kathreenricketson.com/

Herb Garden Quilt

Draped over the scuppernong vine arbor

I made this quilt top last year, and at the time was not sure that I liked it and had no idea how I would quilt it, so I put it away in the closet and forgot about it.

Herb Garden Container 

Then this spring my husband build me an herb garden container using an idea from pinterest - Stacked Herb Garden by the Taste of Oregon. I normally grow my herbs at the front of our house in a little area, but he wanted me to be-able to enjoy the view of the herb garden from my kitchen window and when we sit outside. He went one step further and made it with 4 tiers instead of 3 and used decking composite lumber so that it will last us many years. It has a footprint of 4 x 4 feet, with 13 planting areas and is 24 inches tall.

Herb Garden Quilt Front 62" x 82"

That got me to thinking about this quilt top and that the fabric is Kona cotton in Tarragon - an HERB!

So I dug through my marinating box of misfit quilt tops and blocks and found it. Also with my recent adoption of a Voyager 17 long arm quilt machine and frame I knew this was going to the first quilt I would quilt on it!! (I will post soon about my new machine :)

Herb Garden Quilt Back

The fabrics are 'Origins' by Basic Grey and Kona Cotton in Tarragon, quilting thread cotton in the color Kiwi 50wt from Connecting Threads (which is a perfect match to the Kona Tarragon).

Herb Garden Quilt Close Up

I quilted it using a free-motion loopy pattern not sure what it's called. My quilting is not perfect by any means but I really love the look of the quilting because it looks like little buds sprouting all over the quilt.

The pattern is from the book Simply Charming Collection by Moose on the Porch Quilts (I think I picked up the book at JoAnn's with a coupon) the pattern is called 'Charming Old Maid'.

Which I think is the quilt block called 'Old Maids Puzzle' or a variation of. It is a basic HST block and when 4 are sewn together it creates a secondary pattern. This was an easy quilt as you are making 2 HST blocks at once and then cutting them apart just like the Quilted Valkyrie does here.

Herb Garden

Our herb garden is full of delicious herbs and a few little flowers and the solar lights are so pretty at night. BUT- don't look to close at the weeds as I am to busy having fun quilting to have noticed ;)

To Boston with Love - Block Pattern

There are no words to describe what tragic events have unfolded in Boston. Our quilting community wants to send love and hope to the people of Boston and The Vancouver MQG initiated a project to do just that - To Boston With Love.

Our local guild Emerald Coast Modern Quilt Guild is also participating, I wanted to draft a block to share that said 'Love', 'Hope' and 'Strength'; also I wanted to combine the American spirit in some way.

Heart for Boston is a 5x5 inch paper pieced block

The pattern is here Heart for Boston, designed on 8.5" by 11" paper - when printing make sure to uncheck the 'fit to page' box. (this is a PDF file that you may use - but not for profit)

I also ask if you share please be courteous and link back to this post, thanks!

For more information on paper piecing see this tutorial by Fresh Lemons

with boarders added to make 6"x 8" for the banner

So grab your scraps and have fun and share the love!!!

Swoon-y Floor Pillow and Basket

Swoon-y Floor Pillow

I finished the items for Modernista Homemade Swap, a floor pillow cover and basket. My partner requested  a floor pillow in navy and dark browns, which I didn't have much of in my stash. So this was an excuse to shop, but the ideas just were not coming and I had a hard time wrapping my brain around the color scheme. Then I saw Kirsten's 'Love of Solids' pillow she made for a swap - is it not amazing!!
Check out her blog Gemini Stitches, she is sooooo talanted!!!

Swoon-y Floor Pillow another pic

I started pulling what Kona solids I did have and added a few more to include the light turquoise blue, khaki and even a rich reddish brown ***need to add names of the kona colors***

Draft in EQ7

I used Electric Quilt 7 and changed all the colored areas to gray - this way I could calculate the colored shapes and the background shapes without being influenced by the colors as I wanted a scrappy yet planned block. I love the whole design process and I have to admit that its my favorite part of quilting! Sometimes I purposely start from scratch and draft designs that may have already been created. I know - just a little bit weird I am. Now I know I could have purchased the pattern, and in no way do I want to offend the pattern designers out there and I am not selling or distributing this block in any way and will not do any tutorials on it either.

Back of Swoon-y Floor Pillow

The back is done envelope style using two different fabrics. I love the navy text with the brown print.

Fabric Basket

For the basket I used Domestic Groove's "Basket Tutorial" and have to say her tutorial was well written and a breeze to sew! It's a great size, much larger than I expected. I will definitely be making more of these!!

Glamour Shot of Swoon-y Pillow and Basket

The pillow cover size is 26 1/2", just the right size for the 27" pillow form (this way its a fluffy pillow) they sell at JoAnn's. I sure hope my partner likes it!!

I gott'a secret

I am working on a rather large swoon block that in the end should finish at around 26 inches.

I was inspired by Kirsten's 'Love of Solids' pillow she made for a swap - is it not amazing!!
Check out her blog Gemini Stitches, she is sooooo talanted!!!

Photo belongs to Kirsten

I used Electric Quilt 7 to draft and figure the rotary cutting measurements. Also used this HST method and this flying geese method.

Do you see my beautiful assistant, Tessa in the photo. Her real name is Madame Quintessa Imadeapoo but we just call her Tessa as to not let it go to her head, you know the whole 'Madame' thing and all  ;)

She has approved it and now its spray-basted and has been quilted. What will I do with this block you ask?

The block is for the Modernista Homemade {a sewing swap}, and the rest is a secret just for now - sorry!