Flight!

As the end of the year approaches, I have my last finish of the year to share!

 I call this quilt Flight....

 The grey is a new fabric from Studio E....it is a Peppered Cotton in a dark charcoal color.

The Geese are paper foundation pieced.  Two Geese per block with a finished block size of 6 inches square.

   

I felt the design of this quilt lent itself to machine quilting rather than pick stitch.

So I went with a large loopy motif....easy to do and not at all perfect in appearance.  Call me crazy, but I prefer my quilts to look less than perfect...more homemade and lived-in.

I used Aurifil thread for the piecing and the quilting.

     

The backing is this fabulous fabric from Anna Maria Horner's Dowry Collection...AMAZING!!!

 

This quilt is about 42" X 54"....perfect for a lap or a baby....

You can see this one at Sew To Speak....

it will be a class in the New Year!

  Happy Thursday!

mary 

First Finish of 2013.....Flowering Vine

The Flowering Vine....

Flowering Vine is an applique pattern from Denyse Schmidt.  A great pattern for those new to hand applique.  Simple shapes, plus the bonus of learning to make bias strips for the vine.  I have mentioned before that I prefer to use bias bars rather than the bias tape maker...for stems at least {more on that later}.

    

I used a Moda Crossweave as the background fabric.  This is actually a deep denim color.  I find the crossweaves a bit tricky to photograph...they are very rich and I love the texture.

If I have any complaint about the crossweaves...they do tend to stretch a bit.  But it is manageable.

The flowers and leaves are from Denyse Schmidt's, soon to be released line...Shelburne Falls.  LOVE. IT.

   

For the backing fabric, I borrowed a favorite choice from my friend- Heather Graham {not the actress ;)

I used a Melody Miller fabric...nice and wide so I didn't need to piece....

Flowering Vine is completely hand quilted with #8 perle cotton...Valdani Thread {my favorite}....

This quilt will be hanging in the shoppe {Sew To Speak} and will be a new class this winter {YAY}

happy thursday!

mary :)

Ahoy Matey!

I can't believe it has been a week since I last posted! But I do have a good excuse....wedding stuff {cake tasting :), bridesmaid's dresses}

But....

To be completely honest, most of my week has been spent drifting Out To Sea....

 

 

well....

drifting in a sea of cuteness, that is!

Sarah Jane Studio's new fabric line...Out To Sea has just landed on our shores....or should I say store....

 

    To help introduce it to our customers, I made a baby quilt using Amy Smart's free download.....

 

 

This is a fabulous line {sorry for the photos...it is a bit cloudy today}

 

 

the line includes a couple of large panel prints....ships and a map panel. And lots of great coordinating prints...including Pirates!!!!

 

I made a couple of minor changes to the free pattern....

instead of white at the top and bottom, I used this watery chevron print....

 

   

and,of course, I had to add a bit of pick stitching...

 

 

it is bound in this fantastic bold red stripe...gotta love a good stripe!

 

 

and the back is a fun pirate print!

 

 

It is a great line...that Sarah Jane...such a talented girl!

Have a wonderful weekend...

hugs

mary

Pretty Finds

Just some lovely fabric finds to share....

How stinkin' cute is that Nursery-Versery from Heather Ross!

 

seriously???

Anna Maria Horner's Field Study....

a precious dot and deer print from MoMo...

and some darling trims!

All from my little slice of heaven on earth....

Sew To Speak!

Happy Sunday!

mary

The Charm of Cherry Christmas....

When it comes to shoppe sewing, I try to think a few months ahead....try....

but when I saw Aneela Hoey's new line of Christmas fabrics...

I didn't have to think at all...it is just adorable!!!  So several cuts came home with me :)

I mixed in a little Essex linen and some perle cotton....

spiced it up with some rik-rak and ball fringe....

 but I couldn't stop with just a stocking....this is too darn cute!

so a little patchwork fun...

and some petite dresdens are occupying my machine right now!

Dresdens are so yummy!

Happy Tuesday!

mary

Jack of a different stripe....

Recently {in the shoppe} we received a very cute selection of London fabrics from Dear Stella...

So I had to use them in a new Union Jack sample....

Perfect fabric for....

A raw edge Union Jack Pillow!

Cheers!

mary

Working Wednesday....

We have had a few computer problems here....grrr!

But it gave me time to do a little cutting and stitching....

actually lots of cutting, stitching and pressing....

And on Monday we finished a class....so I am excited to be able to share more fantastic finishes with you!!!

Susan made a GIANT coin quilt!  It is just marvelous!  I love the dark chocolate brown with those pops of teal and red!  And check out her pick stitching....

Susan used a variegated thread for the straight line quilting...I love the texture the variegated thread adds :)

And then we have Helen's baby quilt!  Helen is expecting her second little girl very soon....this is a perfect girly girl quilt....

Helen machine quilted with organic straight line stitching.  She always chooses such fantastic fabrics!

So sweet!

And speaking of sweet....Katie made a baby quilt as well :)  Katie will be welcoming her first baby girl VERY, VERY soon!

This is such a fresh, lovely quilt....perfectly suited for the new baby!

I love the fabrics in this quilt!  And she positioned the borders so cleverly....giving the top and bottom border a scallop effect!

  

What a great class this was!  Three mom's-to-be and an OB nurse!  LOL!  They were a fun group.  Best of luck to each with their new little ones :)

Happy Wednesday!

mary 

Not so long ago I was sent a selection of fabric swatches.....

how exciting!!!

This is Cosmic Burst by Mark Cesarik....for Freespirit.....

This line is full of saturated color and movement!  I can just imagine these fabrics in a New York Beauty or even strategically cut for English Paper Piecing!
Mark's Cosmic Burst will be available in April!  Woot!

A couple of weeks ago I finished a class at Sew To Speak....I love all the folks I am so fortunate to sew with...and this class was no exception.  They made me soooo happy when they all decided to hand quilt their quilts.
Just check these out!

I **heart** Jennifer's log cabin variation.....she is an amazing quilter!

  
Then we have Jenny!  With an adorable bow tie quilt....Jenny has been bitten by the quilting bug!!!  Yay!

I love the stitching around the squares....so sweet!

Felisha is a new quilter!  Never quilted before and had in mind a quilt for her daughter....
a wonky log cabin with lots of white to keep it fresh!

Felisha used lots of vintage fabrics, including vintage sheets!  I just love it!

 

 

Rita used some wonderful Penguin and Fish fabric as a jumping off point.....and then placed her blocks on point to create a fun little girl quilt!

 

 

The colors in this quilt are fantastic...and the violet polka dot setting triangles are perfect!

 

 

And Peggy did this fun Star and Diamond quilt in fabulous vibrant colors!

 

 

Peggy used red cordorouy for the borders!  So yummy! 

Then hand quilted with a wonderful bold red....

 

 

I am hoping things will settle a bit in my life and I can actually accomplish a few things....I thought I had a block {Rose and Star} all finished and ready to show....but **sniff, sniff** when I pulled it out this morning I realized I don't have it finished at all.  Oy! 

As Spring is springing here in Ohio....

I am ready for the blooms about to pop up for a show....

 

My sweet friend April gave me a couple of blossoms that will keep me thinking of Spring all year long...

 

 

And - this little birdie told me that the re-released line of Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt will be in the shoppe {Sew To Speak} very soon.....YAY!

 

  

Isn't this the best?  Thank you so much Susan {Patchwork N Play} - you have helped me more than you know :)

 

Happy Sunday!

mary