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!!!

If you make a heart block please show it off on the LaBellaColori flickr group, I would love to see them.

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!

Star light, star bright

First star I see tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight.

 **I am going to use the abbreviated form of improvisational = improv, in this post and I hope it's ok? yea - spell check is a screamin"

Finally finished the ECMQG's Madrona Road Challenge (our guild received the fabrics late and therefore did not participate in the world wide challenge), but we are having fun with our own challenge and we all reveal our quilts at the March 9th meeting.

I used Silly BooDilly's Wonky Star Tutorial to create the two stars and with the scraps I created a mismatched border.

Front of quilt

Quilt size is 37 x 37 inches, fabrics are Madrona Road boy color way and Kona white for the background.

There are a lot of firsts on this mini for me. I like plans and drafts and designs to follow, it's a control thing but I have been trying to challenge myself when doing a "challenge quilt' (ha ha sorry I'm goofy).

I ran out of white fabric twice - yes twice! You would have thought when I ran out the first time I would have gotten enough to finish it, but I didn't have a coupon for Joann's Fabrics at the time so I only bought 2 yards thinking that when I do get a coupon I'll get over there and buy a ton.

back

The first improv pieced backing I have ever made - now I've done backings with blocks but it's usually pre-planned. This was very challenging because you see the white 'was' to be the backing, just plain fabric. After piecing the front borders I realized I didn't have enough for the back so I thought why not use the scraps and try to improv piece a backing (and the fact that a quilt buddy has been telling to try improv-piecing). Using the scraps of Madrona road and kona white I made the biggest block I could and then pulled out of my stash the blue madrona road fabric to make it large enough to cover the back.

A different angle

corner

A first for improv borders - I had planned on placing the strips evenly around the quilt, but after making the strips of the scraps my husbands was like 'Hey, what if you make it wonky like the stars". 

I did miter the corners, so this was the planned part that helped me cope (you know the recovering perfectionist).  It turned out to be a great idea. I am definitely doing this again!

A first try at improv quilting - really I had no plan (it was quite scary). All I kept thinking was "it's going to pleat or pucker I just know it" - but it didn't or at least I can't see any after washing it.

The first time ever finishing the binding 100% by machine and using on grain bias, I had always hand stitched the binding down and used bias binding. I used the blanket stitch and Pat Sloan's tutorial.. For this quilt you can't even see the stitching, and thank goodness I had a horrible time as the thread kept breaking and knotting on the back and I never found out why. I would only use decorative stitches on the binding when there is contrast because my thread disappeared into the text print, and decorative stitches take way more time to stitch out.

The quilt is a little wavy but it's cute, and I am sure once well loved the waviness will disappear. 

And a first of taking photos at work in the office. It's Friday and my brain is fried, but I did this on my lunch hour so if my boss reads this no worries I wasn't goofing off today - I promise :)

Is it improvisational, improvisation or improvising and can I say improv??

I did find this at Merriam-Webster on improv.

oh well, I was never known for good spelling and grammar in school, or math either come to think of it - was I doomed.

I'm linking to Quilt Story, see my sidebar for their button :)

http://quiltstory.blogspot.com/2013/03/fabric-tuesday.html

Sneak peek: what I'm working on

Quilting the Madrona Road Wonky Stars Mini

I hope to have the quilting finished tonight after work and then bind it tomorrow night.