Modern Art Quilt - Red, White and Pointy

My eight year old daughter recently picked this quilt out of some inspiration photos I had saved over the years as her big girl quilt. I wish I could find where I got the photo so I could attribute the praise properly, if anyone recognizes it, I'd love to give proper credit!

First, I took the photo and reverse engineered some measurements, based on how big I wanted the quilt to be.

Next I cut strips and started sewing and laying them out on the design wall.

 And voila, a top was born. I just eyeballed the measurements of the component pieces of each strip, I didn't end up using exact measurements.

For the back I just sewed together a mish mosh of leftover reds, it actually looks pretty cool that way.

The girl loves it! Thanks for looking. She took it to Girl Scout sleep away camp here (right).

Modern Circles and Squares Quilt

 

It's finished! This queen sized modern circles in squares quilt is done. It may be my favorite quilt so far. I based it off of this baby quilt I made last year and made it bigger and better. You can't see the quilting in this far view, but the quilting is the best part.

 



I thought I'd take you through the process, in case you'd like to make one for yourself!

 

First, decide on how many blocks and what sizes of circles you'd like. For the baby quilt my circles were smaller, but for this one I made 5, 7 and 9 inch cardboard circles.

Next, put the circles on fabric squares and rough cut about 3/4 inch around the whole circle. Cut slits around the circle so the edges will bend nicely, but not very deeply. Then get a piece of tinfoil and layer it like this: tinfoil, then fabric, then cardboard circle. Quickly fold the tinfoil over all the way around and press it flat. Iron well.

And when you unfold the tinfoil, voila! A perfect circle to applique. Continue until all circles are ready.

Applique all of your circles to blocks in random places until all blocks are ready. Then sew together in rows, as desired.

You're ready to start quilting. I didn't mark any circles to quilt, I just eyed it and made as many circles around each as I felt like. I tried to go slowly and treat each block as its own mini-quilt. I did mark straight lines by rubbing a ruler back and forth to make an indent to follow.

 

I added a heart to this one (above). For fun. I used embroidery floss when I quilted inside the circles.
 
This one I quilted as a guitar. Five string. See it?






 The back was red, so it made it's own reverse image and was just as cool as the front!



And so it begins!

Starting a new quilt today! It will be a queen size version of this quilt, but kicked up a notch. 

Here's a hint of inspiration as to how I'm going to kick up the design. Like it?

Inspiration quilt in photo is by Namoo.

In other news, it's beautiful hiking weather for a trip to the state park. Enjoy!

Modern Baby Quilt Finished!

It's done! Click here to see the beginnings of it and the directions on how to make the applique circles. I'm very proud of this quilt, because it's the first time I've made the quilting part of the design. I used to dislike the quilting, but I'm liking it more with every quilt. As an all-by-hand quilt maker I am usually in a hurry to finish. But not anymore!


Wolf is enjoying it for now, until it goes to my dear friend Sarah.



Here are closeups of the four quadrants of the quilt. I love how the quilting on some of them "breaks the plane" of the square it belongs to and draws the eye away from the block divisions.

I didn't mark any of the quilting. The circles naturally turned out at 1/4" intervals, I think because I'm used to "eyeing" quarter inch seams. For the straight lines I just took a plastic quilting ruler and ran it back and forth on the fabric, pressing down, so I could see the line.


Frog prince!


The owl and the pussycat!


Dandelion moon!


Hope you enjoyed seeing it as much as I enjoyed making it. Cheers!

Erin's Baby Hearts Quilt

Hello All,

Today i'm featuring another heart quilt! Yes, I realize I do a LOT of heart quilts, but when people commission one from me, they tend to pick that pattern! This one was commissioned by my friend Erin for her friend Erin's baby. The heart pattern is very subtle in the fabric Erin picked out, but I think it turned out beautiful. Click on the photos to see them large to really appreciate the fabric. Take care!

Wendy

Amy Butler Fabric Giant Heart Quilt

Here is a quilt I just completed for my sister heidi to give to her highschool friend Dale as a wedding present. Heidi bought all the fabric and I hand pieced it. All the fabric is Midwest Modern by Amy Butler. In the photos i've got it all pinned to send to her so she can hand quilt it! Don't judge it by the wrinkliness, it's a monster of a quilt, probably a king size, and I've had to do a lot of work with it on the floor!

I love the words on the 108" wide backing! So appropriate for a new marriage. Click on thumbnails to see all full size.

Enjoy!

Wendy

Quilt Block Potholders

Here's a cute idea, make your friends quilt block potholders! I just bought heat proof batting at Hobby Lobby for like $2 a yard, made a few blocks and voila, easy presents. I included the front and back of each one because I like the backs kind of more than the fronts!

I used fabric by Amy Butler on all three (see if you can find them!), fabric by Jennifer Paganelli on the cake and the heart, fabric by Robert Kaufmann on the cake, and fabric by Heather Ross on the star.

Love, Wendy

Adrianna's Hearts

Hello All,
Today i'm featuring a quilt I made for my friend Sarah of prettybirdpress to give a friend of hers! I made these hearts for baby Adrianna, backing it with the snuggliest, softest flannel I could find. Enjoy!