Spring Fever!

Some time ago, I purchased Jen Kingwell's book, Quilt Lovely.

What a fitting title!

Everything in the book is LOVELY! I couldn't decide what to start first...until I saw Spring Fever at Minneapolis Quilt Market.

 

I saw Spring Fever in person and fell in love with the butterflies and flowers...and that scalloped border!

 

 

In between a gazillion other projects and family obligations - did I mention we have a newly engaged daughter - I have been plugging away at the blocks...

 

I enjoy working on it because it is a combination of machine piecing and hand applique. That works so well for me right now. I can piece with the machine and take the hand stitching with me as I go! Perfect!

 

 

I decided the new Heather Ross line Tiger Lily would be perfect for this quilt pattern. We received our selection of Tiger Lily in the shop - and if you are itching to pick some up...we have it at a great price! Personally, I would love to stash tons of this line, but as of now, it is not being reprinted...and there are only a couple of prints available from the manufacturer.... **insert sad face**

 

     

 

 

 But since I can't just work on one project at a time....I picked up the Farmer's Wife 1930's Sampler Quilt....oh my! What a lovely book!

More on that next time! 

xo mary

 

Time for Some Hand Stitching....

Life gets so busy at times and summer time always seems to be one of the busiest...

with sewing happening in just small bursts, it seems quite logical that hand stitching is my choice in busy times. 

I don't have a dedicated sewing space....still sew in the kitchen. So it is a chore to pull out or search out the fabrics I want. And now that we have a four legged eating machine....all of my fabrics are hidden in plastic containers that serve as a deterrent to jumping on the living room furniture! 

 Spring Fever by Jen Kingwell, has really tugged at my heart strings. I have completed about 4 butterfly blocks (8 more to go), but I decided to work on a couple of the flower basket blocks.

  

Nice easy shapes...

A fun busy summer time project...

The fabulous string art spool is from my dear friend Rachel at Family Ever After! The string art was made by Samantha at Strings By Samantha! Isn't is great?

I also decided to join in on the Sweetly Stitched Sew Along....It is a Sew Along organized by @ohhowsweetco and @sameliasmum on IG. The sew along is devoted to Amy Sinibaldi's book Sweetly Stitched Handmades.

     For the first round I made the Mouse House Doll Quilt...

It was a fun and fast make! I hand quilted it with Valdani Perle Cotton and used wool batting and nani Iro double gauze for the backing. Yummy!

This was gifted to the sweet little girl who lives next door to me.

 

Behind the house doors are fabrics with pictures....Amy's uses mouse fabrics. I used dogs, cats, etc.

If you haven't tried double gauze as a backing...you need to give it a shot. It is amazing and amazing to hand quilt. I love the double gauze paired with wool batting.

Now to choose a project for the next round! Yay!

Happy Thursday!

mary

Happy Friday!

I have been working up a couple of tutorials to share, but I wanted you to see the Mid Century Modern Bee block I finished for Stephanie!

 

I love Flying Geese and every time I work with them it makes me want to do more! But due to my sleepy Benadryl brain, I had to use the seam ripper a couple of times.

  

See that lower right hand corner there...yup...that one I did a couple of times and I still need to fix it. It should be within the seam allowance, but I will fix it before I send it off!

Also,I have been working on a couple of Gardenvale Stars blocks. Occasionally, I sew with a group of friends and some have expressed an interest in working on a Jen Kingwell quilt. 

    

So I thought I would make a few blocks and figure out a schedule...super bright, right? The block that is...

Too much? I kind of like it busy and bright.

I need to make a few more...

Have a great weekend! Yay Weekend!

 We finally have Spring in Ohio! It will probably last about 5 minutes and then we will be into the heat of Summer...ugh! Can you tell how excited I am for Summer? I really need to live where it is about 65 degrees for the better part of the year. Any ideas?        

Cheers!

mary