Blocks for Amy

Here are the blocks for Amy. It is such a fun design and I love the colour scheme! The blue looking fabric in the photo is purple, don't worry!
Claire

Jennifer's Blocks for Claire

Claire, I am assuming you are going to make this into a Christmas quilt? How big will it be? How many more blocks do you have to make on your own? So many questions!
 Whatever time of year, it is going to be a stunning quilt! I enjoyed using scraps to put these  together. The directions were concise and easy to follow and I was glad to have all of the pictures to guide me. Thank you Claire!

Jennifer's Block for Rochelle

Hi Everyone!

Rochelle, I put your block in the mail earlier this week:

I enjoyed making it so much that I have decided to make a small quilt for my niece using the same pattern. She likes pinks and purples so I will focus on these two colors with some of every other color thrown in. I also plan to make all the center sections purple. I will post a photo when I am done.

Looking forward to getting started on Claire's block next.

xoJennifer

July / August Block

Here is my block for July / August.

I would like in total two blocks, both made with fresh green pattered and red patterned fabric, one with a red centre and green points, and one with a green centre and red points.

* Each block should have 4 different patterns of red and 4 different patterns of green.

* The centre and corner squares and remaining triangles I would like in a white on white pattern.

As in the instructions, each fabric for the points starts as a square and is then cut into 2 triangles, each triangle opposite each other in the block

The instructions for the block can be found here:

http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/solstice-stars-series-another-star/

Here are the blocks I have done as an example:




Please let me know if you have any questions or if the link doesn't work. Happy Sewing!

Claire

Under the wire!!!

Here is my square for Rochelle. I love how it turned out! I love the bright geo prints. It is so cheery. I, too, found the backing fabric necessary. It will be a sturdy quilt, that is for sure. Perfect for the beach! Hope you like it, Ro!!

May/June block

Here is my May /June block for Rochelle. It will be hard to part with as it is the perfect size and design for a cushion cover! I used a fabric behind as suggested to keep the stripes in order. I don't think I could have made this block using a different method. 

 

And, here at last is the quilt from my quilt block 2 years ago - my first quilt! There are still a few loose ends to finish but I am thrilled with it (though now hidden on top of my daughter's bunk bed). Linsay helped to show me how to set everything up ready to quilt and I borrowed her old quilting machine. Et voila!

 

 

Claire

Four Quilts Finished!

All of these quilts are from our group!

The first two are the January/February 2016 quilts for the two little girls whose mom died of cancer in December 2015. I took the blocks home to New Mexico with me in April. My mom and her quilt group helped me all of one day to finish making all of the blocks (each quilt needed 36 blocks!!). I spent another two days sewing the tops together. Finally, one of the quilters from my mom's group (Dotty Bell) used her long arm quilting machine to stitch them together. These quilts were definitely a collaborative effort, and they are beautiful and perfect for little girls!! I would still be making blocks if it wasn't for all of the help. The girls have them now and were thrilled to receive them. We have had a lot of cold rainy weather this spring in Switzerland so they are getting used. Thank you all!

 

This is the January 2014 quilt. It was long arm quilted by our lovely International Stashes member, Amy (in Iowa). I haven't decided if I am going to keep this one or give it to a friend for Christmas. I have some time to decide.

 

And finally, our January 2013 quilt. This was also quilted on a long arm machine by our lovely Amy from Iowa. This one is definitely a keeper for ME! So much time and effort from our group went into the making of this quilt.

 

Ladies! I also have to share with you that I have an art quilt that is currently on exhibition at a textile museum in Germany.

Color Improvisations 2

 I have been taking courses with Nancy Crow for the past 8 years. She curated this show and I was invited to participate. I made five large tops over the course of a year and a half. She chose this one:

 

 A detail...

 

I have absolutely nothing else in the works right now, so I will be able to get Rochelle's beautiful block finished and in the mail soon!

Hope all of you are doing well!

Jennifer

Sailing boats

Here are my sailing boats, I hope they are ok. March and April seemed to go by very fast and I left making them a bit late!

Rochelle, looking forward to starting yours next, they're so pretty.

Claire

May/June Blocks

Hi Ladies,
As a relatively new quilter, I am learning as I go and enjoying the process.  So far, I've had the opportunity to gift away each quilt that I have made so for this time around, I have decided to make one that my family and I will enjoy using together as a beach quilt.  I realize that I am jumping the gun a bit on getting my idea out there for the May/June blocks.  Please don't feel rushed, I am simply trying to cross one more thing of the 'to-do' list by posting this now.

So . . . my idea comes from this block

I found the instructions using this link.

http://www.aquiltinglife.com/2013/10/string-quilt-blocks-tutorial.html

I am looking for bright, bold colours and bright, bold, geometric patterns too.  My plan is to be able to put them together to make nice big blocks with navy sashing.  If you have any fabric that also has a nice navy accent, that would help to ground it, too.  In this particular link, she uses a white fabric in behind the strips to help to attach them.  I'm ok if you choose not to use this as well.

If you follow the directions, and make 4 smaller squares that are 8 1/2 inches each and attach them,  it will make one final block that it 16 inches square.

I hope I've given enough info for everyone to get started!

Thanks so much!
Rochelle

Easter sewing...

Four day weekends...something special about that extra time at home, when there are no visitors or things we need to do. So I've reconnected with my sewing machine this week and it feels really good...

A little snapshot update of what I've been up to lately...

My blocks for Micaela's Boxed In December request...

and Jennifer's Jan/Feb blocks, that are now on their way to New Mexico for her visit with her mom...I love that she shares this tradition with her mom and can't wait to see how the two quilts come together. I loved loved loved this block! What a fun and creative design. Now with my 'new' machine, lining up those HSTs isn't nearly as daunting as it used to be with my 70s era Kenmore!!!

And for our International Stashes members from 2014, I am admittedly waay behind in finishing our Charity Quilt (Rocky Mountain Puzzle), but it's finally coming together. I couldn't salvage one of the blocks that was sent but wasn't the right size, so I made three new ones and have just sewn the top together, have picked the backing fabric, and have the batting ready...I'm hoping I can polish it off this week. It will end up being a twin size and I think I'm going to top-stitch it rather than pay someone to long arm quilt it... and then I'll be giving it to "Quilts for Kids" on behalf of all of us...it feels good to finish this beauty. It's so cheerful. Shall we do another charity quilt for 2016? I'm happy to lead unless someone else would like to...let me know.

Happy Easter to all of you...I'm going to finish those potatoes and go for a run in this gorgeous sunshine, now that all our ice has melted and the sidewalks are dry! xxo Katy

Little boat blocks...WITH INSTRUCTIONS!! March/April here we come

I love spring...and this weekend it feels like spring is almost here. Even though Ottawa is blanketed in snow, the sun is shining and the air smells different...

So for March/April, to celebrate spring and all things bright, I'm asking my quilting bee to help me finish the sailboat quilt I have been planning to make as a baby gift for my brother's baby James...he'll be one year old in June and I've since re-drafted my plan and am going to make it a double quilt rather than a crib quilt. It will have more staying power.

Here's what we've made so far...

So, two more of the same as last year, please and thanks!


Instructions (thanks Jennifer for finding them!!):

Pure white (no prints, my fave is Kona White) for the background
Blue prints (no batik or mottled, fresh solids are great, fun little prints to make the boat part) in every shade of blue from navy to aquamarine... last year, you guys were so inventive and found lovely nautical prints and fun japanese fabrics that make me smile.

The instructions:
http://lovelylittlehandmades.blogspot.ca/2014/06/sailaway-sailaway-sailaway.html

Please use her modification - so the 2.5" x 4.5" print on the bottom of the sailboat is replaced with 4 of the 2.5"  squares to keep with the scrappy look...as you'll see from last year's blocks, the visual effect is so lovely.

blocks from Claire

Here are my blocks for Jennifer, I hope you like them. It's such a pretty pattern, the girls will be lucky to get these quilts.
Claire

Squares from Rochelle and Amy

Hello!

Rochelle and I got together a couple of weeks ago to share fabrics. 

I found this square challenging. All of the hsts allowed for some variability... Hope they are okay. This is such a bright sweet square. I am happy it is going to two very deserving special ladies.

Happy New Year!

Jennifer's Block for January/February

Hello Everyone! I'm excited to get started on another year. Here we go!

In the next two months I am going to be working on two quits...with your help. They are for two wonderful little girls in my life whose mother died of cancer just a few weeks ago at the age of 45. The girls are 9 and 11. One quilt is going to be in blues and greens, the other quilt will be in pinks and purples. Please make two blocks (or more!) for either quilt. The finished size of each block is 9 1/2." I got the idea for this block here: http://www.purlsoho.com/create/2006/10/11/joelles-triangle-quilt/
But here are the condensed instructions:

To Make 2 Blocks Cut the Following:

16 of  3" squares using a variety of prints (modern florals/ geometrics in lights, mediums, darks)
16 of  3" square in solid white

1 of  6" square using a variety of prints (modern florals/geometrics a light, medium, or dark)
1 of  6" square in solid white

3 of 4" squares using a variety of prints(modern florals/geometrics in lights, mediums, darks) 
3 of 4" squares in solid white

Pair a white and a print of each size and make a line down the middle. Chain stitch 1/4" on either side of the middle line:

 

After all pieces have been stitched on both sides of the line, cut down the middle line and trim to the following sizes:

3" pieces trim to 2"

6" pieces trim to 5"

4" pieces trim to 3 1/2 

 

Lay out your two blocks, paying attention to placement of lights, mediums, and darks and making sure not to place two of the same fabric side by side:

 

Sew together in sections:

 

And here you are, a 9 1/2" block for the pink and purple quilt:

 

Both quilts have the same block, only the colors change. Here are the fabrics I'll be using for the blue and green quilt:

 

Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for helping me with this project!

xoJennifer

 

 

 

Back to the Blog!

I'm so glad we have decided to continue for another year. I'm also glad that we have agreed to start the blog up again. It is such a nice reminder (all in one place) of what we have created.  I think I have most of my photos from this past year so I will post them now. Also, if there is not a schedule made yet for 2016, let me know. If it is OK, I have an idea to get us started in January/February. I could make a post for the first block in the next few days.

So a year in review...I will start with the blocks that I just made today for Michaela. I have so much fabric in my stash and have not bought any new fabric in a year or so. I feel, however, like my stash is getting bit stale. You ladies who have been with the group since the beginning will certainly recognize some of these fabrics! I did have fun making these and I hope that you like the color green Micaela!

And here are the rest of the blocks I made this year, starting with mine from Last January/February. I am very motivated to put these all together in January. 

 

I am also excited to say that Amy in Ohio has just finished long arm quilting two of my bee quilts from a year or two ago. As soon as I receive tham and get bindings put on I will be sure to post for everyone to see!

Happy Holidays everyone! I look forward to seeing your work on our blog very soon. 

Love,

Jennifer

PS: I am also going to update my profile on the "Who We Are" page of this blog. I hope you all will join me!

 

Katy Catching Up 2.0

I am slowly ticking off every line on my sewing to-do list!!

First, I finished Claire's framed pinwheel block, which I am delighted with. My new machine seems to be better at keeping things in line, so my points are FINALLY lining up... I put the extra HSTs in the card and will mail it this aft!

Then I tackled Donna Jo's flying geese. The turquoise solid is quite bright in real life but appears more navy blue in the picture (I'm just using my phone camera...) I love love love the floral print fabric, which is a Liberty of London print that my mom bought in London back when she was doing a sabbatical at Oxford with my dad and was pregnant with me (that was in 1974!)... it is beautiful...I'd like to make a blouse with it for this upcoming summer....

Then I started to go through my other piles to find out what else I need to do to complete the 2014 projects!

I need to make 2 more of my own stacked book block and will piece this together for a baby quilt for my brother and his wife who are due in June!

I also need to finish 2 more blocks for our 2014 Charity Quilt...I think I will end up top-stitching it with my own machine...hoping to get that done before spring is here... I am not sure who sent me the block with the little Holly Hobby girl, but the size is a bit off...I think I can salvage it by undoing the seams on the edges...we'll see! I ADORE how this pattern looks in bright colours of various shades with the fussy cut centres! I can't choose a favourite!

And finally...my quilt from 2013...it is Almost finished. I just need to finish the top stitching and sew up the edges. I think I'm going to use the 'fold over' method with the backing material.... I have promised this quilt to my mom for her birthday (in 2013...) so I'm way late. She bought me my new sewing machine for my birthday/Christmas and said very sweetly 'maybe now you can finish my quilt?!' soooo...this is first on the to-do list after I polish off Jennifer's January block!

smooches...it's cold and sunny here with a new blanket of snow on the ground, just the way I like a winter weekend. I'm off to cross-country ski with some girlfriends for a day/night away, and boy do I need it. I started a new job in January and it is leaving me a little bit fried by the weekend...

love to you all,
Katy