Fourth Block in Modern HST Sampler

This the fourth block in the Modern HST Sampler, Stepping Stones by Keera Job of Live.Love.Sew

I like to have good contrast between the background and the focal fabric of these blocks, amplifying the design. Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts has made a great fabric line for this purpose; Good Neighbors. The polka dot fabric in the middle brightens up the design.

Looking forward to the next block!

Keep on quilting!

Beautiful Quilty Stitches!

Almost one year ago I posted here about a project that was finished, well, almost. The stitch-along started early 2014 with Corey Yoder from Coriander Quilts  as the driving force. I joined sometime during spring 2014, and got hooked right away.

Who would have known that cross stitching tiny quilt blocks could be so addictive? The time in between posting of new blocks were often way too long!

Corey did a great job in transforming the well known quilt blocks into miniatures measuring approx. 2" square, each.

In March last year I had finished stitching all the 16 mini blocks, and not to mention filled in the background with white DMC. Then the piece was just lying around, waiting to be put into a frame and hung up on my wall.

Finally, early this year I handed in the embroidery to be professionally framed. It is a piece of art, and deserves to be treated as such!

My Quilty Stitches, framed in all its glory! I really enjoyed the relaxing process of cross stitching, and it was so much fun going through my drawers picking out embroidery floss for the different blocks. Basically, all the embroidery floss came from my stash. The only thing I needed more of, was the white background filler.

I am very pleased with the result of the framing. The Quilty Stitches is brightening up my wall, and will be cherished for many years to come!

Keep on stitching!

One Beehive and Two Splendid Sampler Blocks

This is my second BeeHive block, 12 1/2" square. This month's Queen Bee, Maja has received it and I can show it off in all its glory. I showed you the backside of a quarter of the block in this post, and above you can see the complete one. Maja was pleased, and I am looking forward to seeing her complete quilt with time.

I have also completed two more Splendid Sampler blocks, the first one is Wings by Jane Davidson. Remember that these blocks are only 6 1/2" square, so that's a lot of tiny pieces!

The other Splendid Sampler block is Lots of Love by Melissa Corry. This one took quite a long time to make, but the heart block ended up looking good!

All my Splendid Sampler blocks are made from scraps, that's a very good thing!

Enough blocks today, now I have to get back to hand quilting!

Keep on quilting!

2016 Aurifil February Block

This is my version of the 2016 Aurifil February Block, designed by Kari Carr. All those tiny 1 1/2" HSTs, but I think I nailed all the points even though I didn't use the special ruler Clearly Perfect Angles that Kari recommended.

The whole block is 12 1/2" square, and it was a lot of work! I used three fabrics in blue tones from the line Birchtree Lane by Connecting Threads. Now I am glad I can "rest" another three weeks before March's block comes out. (Just kidding; I have lots of things to make...)

Keep on quilting!

The Splendid Sampler

I couldn't resist this "TBEW" (Two Blocks Every Week) either,  The Splendid Sampler hosted by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. 83 designers will give away 100 free block designs in a year. All the blocks will be 6" finished.

I made the first block today, Hearts Aflutter by Pat Sloan.

All in a Row

A couple of weeks ago I was so lucky to win the book "Moda All-Stars - All in a Row" 24 Row-by-Row Quilt Designs. I won the book in a blog hop hosted by Moda, and the actual day it was Barbara Brackman who gave away a copy of the book.

I spent quite some time going through the book deciding on which row to make. I finally ended up with the classic pattern Double Stars that Barbara made a version of in traditional pinks and brown repro fabrics.

I decided to go a different way: I have  an almost complete collection of 'Birchtree Lane' by Connecting Threads, and  with some additional neutrals from the same manufacturer, I knew this would look great.

After having made 2 of Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilts (Easy Street and Celtic Solstice) I have learned to appreciate cutting the pieces with the Easy Angle and Companion Angle rulers. This means no waste! Here are all the pieces for the row.

Here is my complete pieced row caught in the low sun rays of February. The row is actually pressed quite well, but the light shows off all the bumps and folds in the skinny. I like to photograph quilts this way, you really catch the topography of the quilt top, it is not a flat structure.

A close-up shows the little blue star inside the bigger green and brown one. (Yes, I should have cleaned off some lint before I took the picture, but I was in in a hurry due to the fading light).

The skinny is 8" x 48", and I haven't really decided whether I will quilt and complete it as it is, or make additional rows from the book and make a wall hanging out of the assembly.

I also took a picture away from direct sunlight and with the lint removed. Here it is easier to see the design. This was a fun weekend project!

Keep on sewing and quilting!

It's all about Blocks

2016 seems to be a block-making year. I have joined: one Quilting Bee with participants from 4 different continents, 3 (maybe 4) QALs, and I am also going to make a row or two from the Moda All-Stars All in a Row book.

This is the third block in the Modern HST Sampler hosted by Blossom Heart Quilts. The block is called Lantern, and with the fabric I chose, it makes me long for spring!

For the quilting bee I made a Wanta Fanta block for Maja, this month's Queen Bee. The above picture shows the backside of my very first foundation paper pieced block! The technique is so fun, and I want to do it more often!

Maja wanted blocks in pink print with a greyish background. Being the mother of two boys,  I don't have a very big selection of pink prints, but I did my best.  I can not show the front of the complete block, yet, since it has to be a surprise until she receives it.

Keep on quilting!

Sugar Block Club

I couldn't resist myelf, I have joined another BOM... This time it is the Sugar Block Club by Amy Gibson. This is a free BOM, and these 12" blocks will turn out to be a very nice modern quilt by the end of the year.

My favorite block of the two is the Churn Dash block for January. I can easily imagine a complete quilt made out of scrappy Churn Dash blocks!

Here is the Log Cabin block for February.

With these two block done, I can now concentrate on the Bee Hive block for the Queen Bee of the month, Maja; the HST Sampler block that was published a few days back; a row or two for the All in a Row QAL, etc.

As you can see: I will not be out of work for the next few days, maybe I can even put in some hand quilting time?!