Zig Zag - Scarlet Birds

I think I caught the HST bug. Been wanting to make more and more of half square triangles. I had a few fabrics left from the last Zig Zag quilt so I decided to make this :)

The front is has two different color prints of pinks and oranges:

I was a little hesitant at first to stick with just 2 colors pallets for this quilt, but I glad I tried it for one of these zig zags quilts. I love the way it keeps the quilt design simple and puts the focus on the zig zags and rather than the different colors.

Of course there's the back of the quilt... AKA my FAVORITE part :)

I was super anxious to use this fabric (Nest - Bird Paisley in Scarlet by Valori Wells for Free Spirit). I LOVE the way it turned out. It's one of the few quilts that I think the back outshines the front...though I am super happy about the front too! And don't forget the golden colored polka dot fabric. It keeps the Bird Paisley fabric more playful and less serious and the colors compliment each other perfectly.

Oh I wish I had two of these quilts - I absolutely love seeing front with the back. The colors are so light and playful. The quilting is straight lined zig-zags about 1.5 inches apart along the seams. I also added a stitch along each of the seams to make sure it stays nicely sewn down for durability.

I don't recall the name of the binding fabric :(. But I like to call it stripes and swirls:

Like every other quilt I make - I want to keep it for myself. But (as my husband keeps reminding me) my quilt closet is super full and this will need to find itself a new home. So I will be listing it on my JAQS Studio Etsy site.

I will also be sharing this project at these lovely linking parties.

Quilt Information:
Zig Zag Quilt - Bird Paisley Scarlet
Front: 100% Cotton Prints and Solids
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Backing: 100% Cotton Solids (Featured: Bird Paiseley from Free Spirit and Deck the Hall Dots from Henry)
Completed Dimension: 48" x 48"
Quilting Method: Zig Zag straight line quilting about 1.5" apart with the seams
Binding: Machine Stitch for extra durability

Where to Buy?
Zig Zag Quilt - Bird Paisley Scarlet
Fabrics Used for this quilt

Fabric Love #20: Farm Fresh

Have you seen these Farm Fresh fabrics from Riley Blake?

They are designed by October Afternoon and I am loving them.  

Fun farm animals print is simply CUTE.  The light teal color in the background is the perfect shade and the farm animals?  CUTE!

Farm Fresh (C9001) Farm Animals - Teal

Do you know how much I like the Heath fabrics from Alexander Henry?  Well this pink one from Riley Blake is so similar to them...but in PINK.  How great is that???

Farm Fresh Pink (C9007)

My absolute favorite fabric - this week ;) - is this little beauty. From the fabulous light teal background to the greatest little blooms. L-O-V-E.

Farm Fresh (C9003) Flowers - Teal

So many projects running through my mind right now - a super soft and cute little girl quilts (chenille would be awesome to use with these!), pillow shams, cute little kid napkins, little girl's purse or bag, notebook covers... etc etc.  Think I'll be adding some super soft chenille fabrics to my stash to use with these :).

As usual all of Fabric Love fabrics are available at JAQS Fabrics.

Fabric Love Giveway Winner!

A huge thank you for everyone who joined in the 12 FAT Quarter Giveaway. It was awesome reading why FATS are so loved in the crafting community. I personally can't have enough of them and it's great to hear that most of you can't either :). But there can only be one winner and that winner is...

Congratulations R Carter :)! I've just emailed you and will work out the logistics of getting those 12 FAT quarters to you.

Thanks again for everyone's great comments and let's celebrates FATS!

Come back soon for another Fabric Love :).

Mystery FAT Quarter Bundles are always available at JAQS Fabrics. Great price, great fabrics, great selection ... and all for the love of fabrics :).

Weekend Wrapup (Belated and Productive)

You know you have got a lot done with you see this:

And a pile of fabric tags that is no longer tagging fabrics :)

How about a messy fabric closet?

Good times :)

Have a great and happy ... and productive week everyone!

Little Man's Best Friend Quilt x 2

Seeing double?  I finished up 2 little boy quilts recently.  Same fabrics, same backing, same size.  Could you spot what the differences are?



I couldn't decide on two areas on the simple little baby boy quilt I was working on...so I made two (well I'm making 3 but two are complete :)).  Difference #1 - how to quilt it?  Since the design was simple squares: should I use simple straight line quilting or something a little more complex to add more texture and detail?

Simple and straight on the left. Textured and more detailed on the right.

Personally I like the look of the simple straight lines on the left. It leaves the fabrics unobstructed and gives the quilt a nice clean look. On the other hand I absolutely love the feel and texture of the quilting on the right. Though the one on the left has quite enough texture for a quilt, I really enjoy the (more) texture on the right :).

Difference #2 - binding. Again I couldn't decide. I have a little bit of the Summertime Gray - dots from Barbara Jones for Henry Glass and Co left so I wanted to use it for this quilt - plus I think it's a great match with the swirls on the quilt.

I love gray fabrics :)

For the straight line quilting blanket I went with Heath Metal from Alexander Henry. I like how the straight lines went with the straight line quilting.

Does Heath make everything look good???  I love how the Heath fabric matches perfectly with the patterns on the dotted print on the quilt.  It's amazing how much they look alike but from different designers/manufacturers.

I had a blast making these two quilts. I think for the third - and final one - I will mix it up a little - maybe straight line quilting with dot binding?



Quilt Information:
Little Man's Best Friend 1
Front: 100% Cotton Prints and Solids.
    Showcase fabrics: 
           -Boys Will be Boys: Dog Big Small from Free Spirit
           -Organic Cotton Print Shipyard from Timeless Treasures
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Backing:  100% Cotton Natural Flannel
Completed Dimension: 30" x 36"
Quilting Method: Double Straight line quilting along each seam
Binding: Machine Stitch for extra durability (Heath Metal from Alexander Henry)

Little Man's Best Friend 2

Front: 100% Cotton Prints and Solids.
    Showcase fabrics: 
           -Boys Will be Boys: Dog Big Small from Free Spirit
           -Organic Cotton Print Shipyard from Timeless Treasures
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Backing:  100% Cotton Natural Flannel
Completed Dimension: 30" x 36"
Quilting Method: Free-Style Meandering Swirls
Binding: Machine Stitch for extra durability (Gray - dots from Barbara Jones
for Henry Glass and Co)

Where to Buy?
Little Man's Best Friend #1
Little Man's Best Friend #2
Fabrics Used for this quilt

Thank you for reading and I am sharing these lovely quilts and these wonderful Linking Parties :).

Fabric Love #19: FATS and Fabric GIVEAWAY!

Seems like it's been a while since I've done a fabric giveaway... Well here's one (finally) :) I have a ton of FATS ready to for my JAQS Fabrics store with great bundle prices. As a tribute to FATS and the great stuff you could make with I am dedicating this week's Fabric Love to FAT quarters AND a GIVEAWAY.

Yep - I am giving away to 1 lucky reader 12 FATS from the mystery grab bag.  That's 3 YARDS of combined fabric for FREE.  Just leave a comment on this post, be a follower or subscribe to JAQS and let me know why you love FATS.  A lucky winner will be randomly chosen by next Wednesday (7/27/11) at 9pm PST. 

These great FATS packages are also available at JAQS Fabrics for great prices.

• 8 FATs bundle for $15.20 (Great deal at $1.90/FAT)
• 12 FATs bundle for $21 (Amazing deal at $1.75/FAT)
• 20 FATs bundle for $33 (Unbelieving deal at $1.65/FAT)

Pillow Making and Girly Mood

I don't know why but I totally got in the mood to make more pillows today. So I got got a few fabrics and started to cut away:



I was just about to start assembling the quilt sandwich for the pillow tops - and yes I really like my pillow tops quilted because it adds a nice texture and feel :) - but then I got a little distracted. I didn't leave my studio but I did end up cutting other fabrics that caught my attention.



Pretty huh? Yeah that's what I thought and I had the sudden desire to put together some girly quilts. Ha!

I think I have the attention span of a small child sometimes ;). Hopefully I have time to finish up these projects before something else distracts me...arg!

Weekend Wrapup

This past weekend I did some rearranging around my cutting table. No more taping designs to the wall - now I have a fancy new cork board ;). (Notice a few pieces of paper is still taped to the wall on the far right ride!) Hopefully this will clear up some table space and help me to stay better organized...hopefully...

I just noticed from this picture that all my designs are along the bottom of the board...then I realize that I will not be tall enough to ever reach the top.  Ha!  I'll need to move this board a tad lower...

I am also in the little-quilt-mood.  After some big quilt finishes I am needing to work on some smaller projects.  So with a few simple designs in mind and some fabrics I've been dying to use I am on a quest for little (re: baby) quilt fun.  First on the line up is a simple little quilt I call "Little Man's Best Friend"

All pieced and quilted :) - I am loving these smaller quilts!

On a slightly larger scale I am making color #2 of the Modded: Animals quilt. Remember the first one had the orange polka dots? The second one will have green:



Have a great and productive week everyone!

Sharing at:

Earthy Quilt - With Child's Play Pattern

I like to introduce you to the newest quilt from my studio - I call it Earthy.



Does she look familiar? She's made from the same pattern that made these two quilts:

Kohana

and Hot Air Balloon

They all use the Child's Play Pattern :). I love how different fabrics could transfer the same pattern into such different quilts. From the soft 'girly' Kohana quilt to the playful Hot Air and now to Earthy.

Child's Play: Earthy Quilt top:

Coordinating Earthy tones.  I love how the colors play together on this quilt top.

A view of the back:

Repeat of some of the the colors from the quilt top.  Simple and elegant :).

I love how all the colors worked together to create a very tranquil feeling. Reminds me of a peaceful garden with an oriental feel :).  Here's a closer look at some of the colors.  I love how the colors are so perfectly matched.



Here are some quick stats about the quilt and how you could purchase it or create one for yourself:



Quilt Information:
Child's Play: Earthy
Front: 100% Cotton Prints and Solids.  Showcase fabric: Magnolia Branch from Michael Miller
Batting: Warm & Natural 100% cotton
Backing:  100% Cotton Prints
Completed Dimension: 52" x 63"
Quilting Method: Double Straight line quilting along each seam
Binding: Machine Stitch for extra durability

Where to Buy?
Child's Play: Earthy Handmade Quilt
Child's Play Quilt Pattern
Fabrics Used for this quilt

I will also be joining these beautiful Linking Parties :).

Fabric Love #18: Love My Boys

Due to the summer schedule I have had a chance to spend more times with my little boys - Asher (4.5) and Silas (2.5).  And it is wonderful :)  So this weeks' Fabric Love is dedicated to my little boys.

Sometimes they are silly and sometimes they are accident prone.  But always my Little Men.

Little Men

In the summer my little guys love the outdoors.  Helping with the garden (and eating straight from the garden :)), playing with their toy tractors and trucks.  Good times!

Little Farm from Alexander Henry

Little boys best friend - need I say more?

Boys Will Be Boys

As I look at my little ones I am constantly reminded of how fast they are growing up.  Soon Asher will be starting kindergarten.  Silas is loosing the last of his baby chubs.  They are starting to look like little boys instead of toddlers. :(

I'm Your Hero

But to me they will always be my little babies :)...always.

2-D Zoo from Alexander Henry

Treasure every moment - the good and the bad.  In the whole scheme of things, they are only this little for a short moment in time.  Love them, cherish them and hold them tight for as long as you can :). 

Fabric Love fabrics always available @ JAQS Fabrics.

How Do You Organize Your Binding/Tape?

I'm always seeking ways to my (tiny) sewing room more efficient and organized. One of the things I'm dealing with is organizing binding. I usually make enough binding tape for my quilts in advance and have about enough for a dozen quilts at any given time.

One of the ways I've been organizing the binding is by rolling it up and pinning it so it doesn't unravel:



A major plus for this method is the prettiness ;). I love rolling a few up and stacking them on my shelf. They look absolutely beautiful in my opinion. In addition to being a great decor piece, it is quite mobile and easy to keep organized.



Unfortunately the major flaw is that is takes a while to roll them up. After rolling up a few I usually quit and the rest end up in little stacks like this around the sewing room:



NOT good! Besides from looking messy and losing binding, it makes the binding wrinkly and unworkable. This results in re-pressing or having to make new binding...again NOT good.

So I have recently found the perfection solution ... at least for now ... at least for me ;)



Wrap it around an empty bolt board. It's super easy - takes less than a minute to roll up and tape the ends up, keeps all your binding organized and completely visible. I found this method very helpful and started to wrap all my binding up this way - a world of difference. Give it a try :).

Gearing Up For a New Quilt

So after seeing all the circles in the Circle My Way Quilt I needed something different. Let's see...how about some squares :).


Of course I haven't abandon the circles - I am finishing up #3 of 3. I love the way these are turning out. Finished photos to come soon.


Have a great and productive week everyone!