A Quilt With a View

I have been waiting a *long* time to share this quilt top, so warning– there are a lot of pictures in this post!

I started the Single Girl quilt (pattern by Denyse Schmidt) with the Single Girl Quilt Along, which started quite a bit ago– as I look back at the group, it looks as though it’s been 20(!) months. This is definitely the longest it’s taken me to finish a quilt top! I don’t think I really knew what I was getting myself into when I decided to make this as a queen sized quilt for our bed. Now that the quilt top is done, I’m soooo glad I did it, but I likely won’t make another, at least not this size!

After finishing the quilt top, I knew I wanted to take it somewhere special to take some photos, and the perfect opportunity presented itself shortly after our move to Boston. We headed out one evening to climb Mount Wachusett, and since finishing this quilt top felt a bit like climbing a mountain, I thought I’d schlep it up there with me.

The light was perfect, and the top of the mountain gave us the most amazing views. It was a bit windy, and I think I put my quilt holders to the test, especially as I kept directing them to “just ONE MORE spot” for photos. Thanks so much to my mom, Justin, and Liv for putting up with me!

At the top of the mountain there are 360 degree views, and an industrial looking tower that was just gorgeous, and provided a nice platform for holding the quilt.

There were also a bunch of grasshoppers hanging around, and we spotted a frog lounging in the pond on top of the mountain.

Simon loves hiking and climbing, and he stayed a few steps ahead of us all on the way up and down.

As you can see, he’s a very fashionable dog, with cans of dog food on his collar. He loves his wet food!

I just couldn’t help myself, and took about a million pictures. There was something so ethereal about a night like this, with the light just right, hanging out on top of a mountain with family and a new favorite quilt.

Call me crazy, but I’m planning to hand quilt this beast over the winter. I’m almost done hand quilting my lap quilt, and I am loving how slow and deliberate it is to quilt by hand. Plus, I think I will back this one in voile, which I have found makes for VERY pleasant hand quilting. I managed to snag some from Pink Castle Fabric for a great price before it sold out, and I’m so glad I did– if you ever have a chance to hand quilt with voile, do it!!

I’m sure I’ll be sharing some process pics as I work on this over the next few months. I’m so glad it’s finally ready to quilt!! It took more patience than any other project I’ve attempted, but it was well worth it, and I can’t wait to put this on our bed in the spring!

Read Full Post »

Things I’ve Learned: Lesson 2

This one is pretty simple– I recently learned HOW EASY it is to use adhesive spray to baste a quilt!! For some reason, I’ve always been a little resistant to this, and I previously used safety pins (the ones with a slight bend in them, made specially for basting). However, this took a long time, and always hurt my fingers! After reading a review of basing spray over on Rachel’s blog, I thought I’d give it a try. I used it for the last few baby quilts I’ve made, and I love how much easier it has made the basting and quilting process! I know it’s not for everyone, and also not for every quilt, but for now I’m really happy with the results.
Also, I should note, I used the Dritz spray, which washes out when the quilt is laundered. I always wash quilts before I deliver them to their recipients, so all traces of the spray are gone when the quilt is washed.
I finished up this baby quilt recently that featured prints from Joel Dewberry’s modern meadow line, as well as some hope valley, innocent crush, and a hint of Amy Butler. I really liked the combination of colors and prints. Plus, basting the quilt didn’t give me blisters. Success!

Here’s the back of the quilt, which features trees from the modern meadow line.

Read Full Post »

Fresh Fabrics

It has been way too long since I’ve written a post! Sorry for the silence around here– I had a crazy busy week of work, and then seriously needed a break from everything, so I went to visit my parents for a bit! Now I’m back, well rested, and ready to catch up on everything.

I’m feeling inspired by the fabric mail I’ve received in the last week. First up, I ordered a few basics from Hawthorne Threads. I was really excited to pick up one of the prints from Tula Pink’s Parisville line. I also stocked up on a few more of my faves from Modern Meadow and Innocent Crush.

I was talking to my sister today, and I was asking her what she’d like for her birthday, which is coming up in a few weeks. I was (of course) thrilled when she requested that I sew her something new! This is my favorite way to go for gifts for my friends and family, but I don’t want for it to wear out its welcome. I’ve been brainstorming some ideas about what might be useful for her, and I think I might have to cut into some of this pile of fabric for her gift.

I was also SO lucky to win a fabric giveaway over at Kristie’s blog a little while ago!

The fabric arrived last week, and is just gorgeous. I was excited to see I had a few coordinating prints in my stash, so I’m already brainstorming ideas for this stack. Thanks so much, Kristie!

I have a few more posts already planned for this week to make up for lost time! Also, I’m quickly coming up on my 100th post, for which I have something special planned– so stay tuned!

Read Full Post »

As promised…

Finally, some pictures of my first finished single girl ring! 1 down, 15 more to go (I’m aiming for the queen sized quilt). Luckily, I don’t think it will be too bad– I’ve been systematically sewing together all my curved pieces for a while, so I really have more than just one ring done– just not fully assembled yet. I’m a little behind the quilt along, but I’m hoping to make up some ground this weekend.

I used a mix of fabric from modern meadow, hope valley, and a few Amy Butler prints. For the background, I’m using Essex cotton/linen blend in natural. I really like how the natural look of the linen works with the color palate I opted for. I can’t *wait* to get this quilt put together!

In other sewing news, I cut some fabrics for a new baby quilt I’m working on. I’m really liking these colors together lately– the baby quilt seems to match my single girl rings!

Last but not least, I’m working to finish putting together my sample blocks for April’s do. Good Stitches quilting bee. I’m still deciding on a final color scheme, but I’m aiming for something Springy, and I’ll be back later this weekend with a post about the blocks.

I hope everyone is excited for the weekend! I know I am!

Read Full Post »

My first bee blocks!

These are my first bee blocks for the Do. Good Stitches quilting bee for March. I was so excited to be asked by Rachel to join this virtual quilting bee, and I got right to work on this month’s blocks, which were very fun to make. In fact, I totally want to make a quilt using blocks like these! I think that may be the only downside to a bee like this– I will want one of everything for myself!
I sent the blocks off to the quilter this month, who will put the quilt together once all the blocks arrive. (If you’re interested, you can see some photos of blocks and quilts in progress at the Do. Good Stitches flickr group). All of the quilts are sent off to various charity and non-profit organizations once they’re finished, and I’m really happy to be a part of such a good group! Plus– next month I get to design the quilt, and I already have a million ideas about what to do… I’ll be making some test blocks for it this weekend!

Read Full Post »