Curve It Up – Block #12 - Spools

Here is the last block in the Curve It Up Quilt Along!!  You can find the instructions for Block #12 – Spools Block here.   I approached this block differently and wanted the 4 batiks that I used in the quilt to be the focus.  One spool in each pair highlights one of the fabrics and the second spool has all 4 fabrics pieced together.  I’m very happy with how it turned out.   I now have to patiently wait for Jenny and Helen to post some layout ideas as I think these blocks need some sashing to make it bigger and frame each block.

I was hoping this project would put a dent into my hand dyed fabrics but it didn’t!   It was fun to try though :)

Mod Pop Quilted

 
My Mod Pop quilt is almost finished, I have the binding to still put on.  I decided to quilt it very traditionally with feathers and echo lines.I wanted the background quilted heavier than the darker curved designs so they stand out.   I really enjoy piecing these modern quilt patterns but prefer how they look with traditional quilting.

I recently came across a quote by Pablo Picasso that I think is brilliant.

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”

I think this is so true of quilting.  It is important to learn the foundation for good piecing and quilting before you start experimenting.  I just wanted to share that thought as it is stuck in my head!

The fabrics are all batiks that I collected over a few months, they are not a particular collection. I enjoy the challenge of picking my own fabrics to create the look that I’m hoping to achieve.    I hand dyed the backing a light blue-gray, used Quilters Dream Deluxe Cotton for the batting and So Fine thread.

 

The feathers are all free hand and I made them quite large.  The only marking I had to do was a circle for the wreath so I had a guide to follow.

Terrain Hugs and Kisses

 

I was thinking the other day that I haven’t quilted ANY quilts for myself yet this year, so I have to fix that.   Yesterday our guild had a UFO day and I brought the blocks above, they are to make a Hugs and Kisses quilt by Jaybird.   I used one of the fabric fat quarter collections I won at our guild’s xmas party last year, Terrain.  Very modern colors, not my normal taste but I really enjoy working with different fabrics and colors, it’s good to get out of your box once in awhile.

I was able to put the top together at the UFO day and when I got home and started to search for a backing I remembered I had the perfect fabric. 

Can you believe this bright orange flannel was in my small stash and I had the right amount!  It was going to be a backing for a  Wheel of Mystery quilt that I did in bright colors but I changed on my mind and didn’t use it on that quilt.  I knew it would come in handy one day and 5 years later it did!  Good thing fabric doesn’t go bad :)

No time to quilt this one now BUT I do have my Mod Pop quilt in my machine so I will get one of my own quilts quilted this month.   I have the background quilted just not sure how to handled the darker curved designs…hope to figure it out later today so I can share that one with you.

Urban Nine Patch

 

This is Sandra’s Urban Nine Patch quilt and you can find the pattern designed by Jenny Pedigo here.   It is made using the Quick Curve Ruler and if you have followed my blog for awhile you know I love this ruler and have made quite a few quilts with it including this pattern.   Sandra asked that I quilt it exactly like Jenny did on her pattern as that is what drew her to this pattern and to purchasing the ruler.   So here is a link to Jenny’s post where she shows how she quilted it as that is exactly what I did.   The only difference is that Sandra added a 3” outer border so I just extended and recreated the designs with the quilting to pretended it didn’t have a border. 

When I started quilting this one I was a bit overwhelmed by all the ruler work as I don’t usually quilt this heavily and was thinking Jenny was a bit crazy!  ;)   But as I kept going and saw the results it made me want to work on it more and more as I loved how it was turning out!  I always had an appreciation for quilters that can do such detailed work but now I have an every better appreciation for the work they do as this took me three full days to complete.

Sandra asked me to dye her a backing and we decided on yellow.   I used Aqua So Fine thread on top and a light Aqua Bottom Line on the back.  The batting is Quilter’s Dream Blend.

 

Love how the quilting looks on the back!

Those little petals in the nine patch were a lot of fun to do!  Thanks for the inspiration Jenny!

Island Sunrise #6

 

This is Alex’s Island Sunrise quilt and she choose bright bold batiks for this project. I had a lot of fun quilting it as she said she wanted bright coloured threads and lots of quilting.  I used a variegated Lava thread in bold colors on the top and a purple So Fine for the back.

All the designs are free hand and I didn’t have to stitch in the ditch.  I did a leafy feather in the outer border and three wavy lines in the inner border.   Loops and curls fill the background and a leafy design in the spikes to make them look more like a tropical flower.

Alex brought me a beige tone and tone backing and I asked if she wanted me to dye it darker to blend more with the top.  She liked that idea and said purple was her favourite colour!

We finally had above freezing temperatures and it got up to +8’c a few days ago but that meant so long clear ice rink!  It started to melt and as you can see in the next few pictures the melting snow is taking over.   It is only-3’c today so it is frozen and dry but I won’t have too many more days to use the ice as it will be a big wet puddle soon.  :(

So long ice rink, you served me well this year but I’m ready for spring!

Curve it Up Block 11 – Drunkards Path

Here is the latest Curve it Up block, the Drunkards Path.   I am now out of background fabric so will have to try to dye some more fabric to go with what I originally dyed, good thing I wrote down the recipe.  Hope I can recreate this color!

Box Step

 
This is Sheri’s cute gray and pink quilt and the pattern is called Box Step .  This quilt is the same as the last one I posted and it is amazing how different they look done in different fabrics.  I quilting free hand feather swirls and it shows up nicely on the gray Minkee backing.  Light pink So Fine thread on top and gray Bottom Line on the back.

   

Dazzle

Robin brought me this fun Black, Yellow and White quilt top to finish for her and the pattern is called Box Step by Cozy Quilt Designs.  The blocks are quite large so I used a new panto called Dazzle by Hermoine Agee which is a larger scale design.  I've been waiting for just the right quilt to use this panto on as purchased it about 6 months ago.   The Dazzle design is similar to the Spiral Squares panto but has more of a curved diamond shape to it.  I added a soft curved texture to the quilt.

The quilting shows up great on the light backing.  I used a medium grey So Fine thread on top and a off white Bottom Line on the back.

I know I've been quiet on my blog this week but I had finished a quilt for our guild that will be entered in the Northern Juried Art Show so we do not what to show that until it has been judged. I’ll be able to share that one in mid May.  I have also finished all my March quilts early as next week is Spring Break for the boys and didn't know how much time I would have for quilting.  So it might be another quiet week on my blog but once April hits I’ll be back at it! :)

Wild Rose Cottage Quilt

This is Lynette’s Wild Rose Cottage quilt and it was a Block of the Month project.    Lynette asked for moderately spaced quilting and I think I achieved that balance with just enough detail to give the quilt texture with some interesting elements.   She was very kind and said I didn’t have to SID around the fence but could do a meandering vine design so I did loops and a tiny flower which matches the print on the green fabric.   I did the bead board design in the outer border in a medium green thread.  I use to believe that you had to match the thread color to the background color when quilting on large print  fabrics but the green looked so much better than black. So that was a good reminder that there are really no hard fast rules when it comes to quilting  just guide lines and its best to go with your gut instinct!

I used Quilters Dream Blend batting,  four different colors of So Fine on the top and off white Bottom Line on the backing.

Lynette said I could play in the center block and I liked the idea of swirls in the sky but I tried not to repeat the same style of swirl to make it more random.   I kept wanting to do my 3’s and E’s but was able to get out of the habit and change up the direction.  I was also asked if I could quilt a dog in the grass, I love added personal touches like that to a quilt and think that turned out well.