African Fabric

My sister and brother-in-law took a trip to Africa this summer and brought me back almost 30 yards of fabric. My sister said they got it in Zimbabwe. This fabric is printed using some kind of wax technique.  It was super stiff when I got it.  I've spent the afternoon washing it, and now it is very silky with almost no wrinkles.  It doesn't feel like 100% cotton to me, but I will probably make at least one quilt with it anyway.

I've been trying to decide what pattern to use for this.  I want to have big pieces to show off the prints.  Other than that, I'm open to suggestions. Let me know if you are familiar with this kind of fabric.

My brother-in-law is a photographer, and he took some amazing pictures of animals while they were in Africa.  Here's a link to his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DwoodPhotography/  Scroll down to see the lion with the missing tooth and the silhouette of the leopard.  He also got good shots of rhinos and elephants, but you have to keep scrolling past the waterfalls and landscapes to see it all. 

WIPs

Last week I finished the top of Tree Farm and sent it to the longarmer.

I also started cutting up this Marcia Derse fabric called Treasure Hunt.  I admit that I think this fabric is ugly, and I don't know what most people would do with it but maybe use it as the center of a quilt with some kind of interesting borders.  To me it looks dirty, like someone dragged it behind a bike.  The colors don't really appeal to me either, but that didn't stop me from buying 7  yards of it!   It will be a great one block wonder challenge fabric.  I got it cut into triangles and have about 1/2 of them sewn together.

I have also been working on Dawn's Early Light.  This is a block by Bonnie Hunter that was in Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks in 2016.  I believe this quilt will be in her new string piecing book.  I started the blocks a couple of years ago.  The red friendship star units measure 3" in the quilt.  I have a stack of string blocks finished and a lot of friendship stars already made.  I have just started making the blue HSTs.  Wouldn't it be great if I could finish this top before the mystery comes out in November?  Not sure I'll make it, but it is a goal.

Linking up: http://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/2018/10/design-wall-monday-october-15-2018.html

Stash Report:
Used this week: 2.25 yards  (Tree Farm top)
Used year to date: 154.75 yards
 Added this week:  0 yards  
Added year to date:166.75 yards
Net Added: 12.0 yards

Tree Farm Progress

I have been working on Keera Job's Tree Farm on and off for the past couple of weeks.  I saw this pattern in a sample book when the fabric rep came to our store, but my boss didn't order it.  She can usually get things by special order, but her suppliers didn't have this pattern.  They had other 'Tree Farm' patterns, but I liked the way the trees were staggered in this layout.  I ended up ordering a kit, something I rarely do. I have four more long seams to sew plus the borders.

If I hadn't gotten a kit, I would have probably chosen different fabrics.  I don't like the way the white trees disappear into the background.  I could have changed them, but it felt like too much work at the time.  This is going to be a small lap quilt 45" x 57", and I have no plans for it right now.  I may not even get it finished for Christmas, and that will be ok too.

Linking up:  http://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/2018/10/desgn-wall-monday-october-8-2018.html

https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2018/10/lets-bee-social-245.html

Stash Report:
Used this week: 8.0 yards ( given to Alison)
Used year to date: 152.5 yards
 Added this week:  0 yards  
Added year to date:166.75 yards
Net Added: 14.25 yards

Focus Quilted and Bound

I finished binding Purple Pineapple's Focus today.  This is a quick, easy pattern.  The hardest part is choosing 3 fabrics that will be both interesting and will give good contrast so that the HSTs show up well.  I think I should have used the light green on the ends and the crazy floral in the middle.  Other than that I'm happy with this quilt. It is 78" x 62".

I used a Tula Pink wide back.  This is a polished cotton that is super soft.  The binding is also very soft as it is a shot cotton. 

Denise Zapf did the longarming on this one, and I love the pattern she chose.  It looks like a baptist fan to me.

 This wide back print is one of my absolute favorites. I have already used it once in a different colorway on my niece's quilt.

Stash Report:
Used this week: 4.0 yards (Focus back)
Used year to date: 144.5 yards
 Added this week:  0 yards  
Added year to date:166.75 yards
Net Added: 22.25 yards

Flower One Block Wonder

Sometimes I get to the point where it will only take a couple of hours to finish a quilt, and I pack it up and put it away for months.  I think it is because in my mind, this quilt is already done.  I know what it is going to look like, and I have already made all the finishing decisions. The fun is over. I usually stop when I have all the rows put together or when it is time for borders.   This quilt has been packed away 3 times, and it has taken me a whole year to get it all put together,

Here is Flower One Block Wonder:

This quilt is 60"x70".

I used a type of fabric I usually wouldn't pick, but it was only $4 a yard, and the colors were great.  I also used a bigger triangle than I usually use: 5 " vs 3 1/2".  You would think a bigger triangle would make the quilt come together faster, right?  

Some of the octagons remind me of fruit sections.

A few look like snowflakes.

Yesterday, I finally got it all together and made a pieced back, something I rarely do.  I think I like the back as much as the front.

I fought the impulse to make this quilt bigger. I know that not every quilt needs to be queen sized, but I like big quilts.  I am not sure who is getting this one.

Linking up: https://conniekresin.com/2018/09/linky-tuesday-september-18th.html

Stash Report:
Used this week: 7.0 yards (flower OBW front and back)
Used year to date: 140.5 yards
 Added this week: 12.5 (Labyrinth Walk, missed this earlier)  
Added year to date:166.75 yards
Net Added: 26.5 yards

Labyrinth Walk Top Done

Several weeks ago, I realized that I had made a tuffet for my oldest child for Christmas:

And  a quilt for my youngest son's girlfriend:

But I hadn't made anything for my youngest.  If both his brother and girlfriend were getting handmade gifts, he might feel left out.  Or he might not really care.  Who knows?  To be safe I'm making him a quilt.  He is a big fan of M.C. Escher, so I wanted to make an optical illusion quilt.  I chose Labyrinth Walk by The Guilty Quilter.  Here's my version:

It is 84"x84".

  

I used Stonehenge Gradations, which I would have loved to buy at a local shop, but there was none to be found.  Contrast is very important in this quilt.  I had to order my fabric online, and I got lucky that it all worked.  

This was a great pattern with many illustrations.  You have to be very careful to use a 1/4 inch seam, so everything will line up correctly.  I made several errors because I didn't read the pattern closely, but those mistakes were all user error.  Even with ripping out many seams, this quilt only took about 2 1/2 weeks to put together, and I didn't sew every day.

Linking up:  https://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com/2018/09/lets-bee-social-242.html

Stash Report:
Used this week: 7.5 yards ( Labyrinth top,  scraps given to Brenda)
Used year to date: 133.5 yards
 Added this week:  0.25 yards (sale FQ)
Added year to date 154.25 yards
Net Added: 20.75 yards

A Quilt for Claire

I used to have a hard and fast rule:  boyfriends and girlfriends are not quilt-worthy.  This girlfriend of my youngest son has changed my mind.  She is smart, hardworking and brings out the best in my child.  She is a peacemaker.  Our boys don't argue when she is around.  I am so happy she is in our lives right now, even if their relationship doesn't become permanent.  I was originally going to give her this for graduation, but she is getting it for Christmas.

This quilt is a Swirly Girls pattern called Perfect Ten.  It calls for ten fat quarters plus border and accent fabric.  I used a Riley Blake line called Our World.  I changed the borders a little, adding an inner border and cornerstones, but the body of the quilt is straight from Perfect Ten.  This pattern is super easy with big pieces, no triangles, and clear directions.  Perfect Ten is a perfect beginner pattern.  This quilt measures 61"x74".

Debbie Cooper of Finish My Quilt did the longarming.  She used a simple loopy swirl.

The back of the quilt is dark blue minky.  I know that a lot of people use minky on baby quilts, but I also know that it makes a super cuddly quilt for anyone.  

Most of the time, I print quilt labels using the computer, but for special quilts, I cross stitch them.

Linking up: http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/2018/09/jelly-roll-railway-twin-quilt-finished.html?utm_source=bloglovin.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BusyHandsQuilts+%28Busy+Hands+Quilts%29