Up North

My mom gave me this as an early Christmas present - it is hanging in my office. It is so beautiful! 

I'm dreaming of the day when I can look out my window and see a scene like this every day. 

she made it from a pattern called Up North,  by Sue Pritt

It's pretty big, measures 49" x 44"

it certainly makes a statement - perfect for my office as it needed a focal point of interest

the pattern is all fusible applique which does make it rather heavy when finished though

my mom said it was a bitch to quilt because of the heavy factor

but she did an awesome job

THANK YOU MOM!!!

the fat quarter shop is awesome!

I just wanted to say how great the customer service is at this online quilt / fabric shop .

they had alot of volume on cyber monday (due to a killer sale, I might add) and sent an email to me saying that my items are just being shipped out, sorry for the delay and here is a $10.00 off coupon code for my next order for the trouble. Most other online shops (including a chain store starting with the letter J) has  the same hold up with shipping on an every day basis and you don't hear a word from them, certainly not a discount. So I just wanted to give the fat quarter shop a big shout out of

THANK YOU FOR EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE!

fyi: I have no affiliation with them at all, I just like to give credit where credit is due just as much as I would call someone or a company that gives exceptional poor customer service. 

The quilter in your life wants this ;-)

If you are not a quilter and have received a link to this post, then you know have a quilter in your life that has sent you this as a not so subtle hint - she wants this for Christmas, so surprise her.

(And wrap it in fabric please, preferably a batik)

I've been quilting for 30 years and have tried every free motion quilting glove known to man (and woman).

I am here to tell you that I have finally found one that I LOVE!

Machingers can be found online at quite a few places, I got mine at joannes (online only) for about 8 bucks.

They fit snug but not tight, are very comfortable, have tips that grab the quilt perfectly

And the best part, you are still able to use scissors, pull pins in and out and most importantly, drink your coffee while quilting without having to keep taking your gloves on and off.

I have nothing to do with the company that makes these, I just want to share a "good find" with my fellow quilters and if you are reading this blog you must be a quilter.

Below is a couple of links for those that may have been sent this post by your quilter loved one that you can order them

Joannes

Amazon

Create for less

Happy Holidays!

wip wed 11/28 - pretty piecing

I'm not good at piecing or patchwork as one might call it, which is why I stick with the art quilts. I am just not  precise and I don't like to follow the rules. I know my strengths and weaknesses and roll with it.

With that being said sometimes I get the urge to make a nice comfy pieced quilt so when I saw the disappearing 9 patch on quilt cabana's blog, I just had to try it.

It looks quick and fairly easy and since I was going to my moms for thanksgiving I figured I could make my own charm squares from her huge (and I mean HUGE!) stash.

here is the finished 25" by 30" quilt with stipple quilting

I'm thinking a special dog might like this, its to small for a human, not sure what to do with it yet . right now I'm just enjoying the feel of it, the close stipple makes it oh so nice!

I have squares cut out for a couple more, hopefully soon.

now on to my WIP

 trying to find the right hands to fit the background or

visa versa (does anyone say that anymore)?

these (above)seem to white

so I went with these, at least they go with the blue background

                                   

look when I quilted them though, makes the hands look ice cold

maybe I should come up with some catchy name for this odd quilt.

any suggestions?

#BFSI giveaway

 

 

hope everyone had a wonderful  thanksgiving with the family but today  is the day to reward yourself for all that cooking and cleaning you did - send away that family and get your quilty on!!

If you tweet, join other quilters today for a sew in - the hashtag #BFSI.

Sandy from quilting for the rest of us is having a huge give away so check her blog out here.

I'm giving away a free downloadable pattern for this "welcome my little chickadee quilt" to two lucky winners picked at random.  Just leave a comment telling me what you are working on today quilt - wise and if it's nothing, then why the hell not???



WIP - Welcome My Little Chickadee

my mom started quilting her scrappy star and is using the teal thread in a chain design - it looks great!

the only thing I worked on and finished this week is this chickadee quilt and tutorial. I the put the quilt up on etsy this morning and someone bought it already, so I guess it's a hit.

I may just make another, they are pretty quick:-)

I finished my chickadee quilt and made a pattern tutorial to sell it on craftsy and my etsy shop.

Making the pattern is so much more time consuming than the actual quilt making but as long as I remember to take photos along the way, I'm good. I just bought the pages app for my I pad, so I can write up the tutorial while sitting around on the couch, so I'll probablly be doing more of them. This one came out so much better than the others I've made. Just like anything else, you improve and learn the more you do something. Of course I can't just let it be the pattern, I've got 7 pages of detailed tutorial complete with photos. I figure that way even a beginner could make this little chickadee.

You would need to know how to free motion quilt - note the pine cone scales are drawn with thread but you first trace the lines from the pattern so it's not hard.

His little eye is a bead. I like a bead or button better than just fabric or thread because its shines alittle.

Makes a good little Christmas quilt ;-)

Don't you like how I shamelessly promote my pattern?

How do you think I can afford to buy all the fabric I do? 

Happy Quilting!

WIP Wed 11/14/12

This week my mom is the first photo - it's a WOW WIP!

Love those jewel tones, if you look close you can see where she is going to quilt the black areas.

It's a Celtic braid design - nice.

And of course her mitered border is perfect (unlike mine would be)

Now that the fun part is done, we will see how long it takes for her to quilt it;-)

 

This is her finish - its from a pattern kit called "up north"

I love. It but she says its full of a lot of glue and layers of fabric and is really heavy.

She says she will never do another, apparently it's a different process than the usual fusible or freezer paper appliqué and she didn't like it. It came out good though.

 

 

I'm working on a new design (or two) hopefully to eventually make them into a PDF pattern and tutorial to sell on craftsy. Above is the first and I'm not thrilled with it - needs some tweaking. The creature in the tree is alittle weird but I may like it better once its quilting, that will add more definition. First I was going to make a honey pot but not sure. Also I think the background is not enough contrast. I will make another before I decide whether to go forward with a pattern. What do you think? I would love any input - constructive criticism is always a very welcome thing. I know there is something I don't like but can't figure out what it is.

 

 

The other is a chickadee that is still only in the beginning phase. I'll have more to show in that next week, so stay tuned!

 

Happy Quilting!

and happy national button day on November 16th (who knew!)

Check out sew excited quilts blog for a button giveaway