Five Shadows

Vicki put together a lovely palette for the October Color Palette Challenge sponsored by Judy Laquidara of Patchwork Times. I think it is my favorite to date.

Here is my block using the 2000 Basket & Blooms Block of the Month Patterns by Joined at the Hip.

It just makes me happy!

And here are my blocks for the Craftsy Block of the Month program with Amy Gibson. Paper piecing was the theme for October’s lessons. Here is Friendship Circle:

And here is Circle of Geese:

Two more blocks that just make me happy! I really like how the Circle of Geese turned out in a color wheel kind of way!

So excited! I have finally added a design wall to my studio! Thanks to a friend who was cleaning out her sewing room, I have inherited a spaceboard™ which is about 33″ x 51″ and covered with black felt on one side and a grid on the other. The board folds in half on the 24″ line with the felt side facing out, and has attached handles for easy carrying. I’ve hung the design wall onto a hook over a closet door by one of the handles.

Up to this point I’ve been using the floor to lay out quilts. The spaceboard™ will work for small projects and I’ll keep using the floor for the larger projects. Their website has an iron in the photo, so I assume the gird side is also a pressing surface.

Here is a quick use of three Charm Packs. Using one Charm Pack as the background, cut the 5″ squares in half twice to make 168 2 1/2″ squares. Use this squares to sew triangles in two opposite diagonal corners of a coordinating Charm Pack. When these are placed together you get the X and O design. Missouri Quilters have a great youtube tutorial for the X’s & O’s quilt.

Here are two I have made for Fabrics and Friends Quilt Shoppe, Roanoke, IN. Using 5″ packs cut by Fabrics and Friends and a Moda solid. I used Moda Marbles for the  4 1/2″ borders.

and Craftsy Block of the Month.

Here is September’s Color Palette Challenge :

My block:

Joined at the Hip 2000 BOM pattern.

And one of two blocks for the Craftsy Free Block of the Month program:

I have the parts for the second block cut out, need to get them sewn together. September we used Marti Mitchell’s Drunkard’s Path Templates. She has a unique way to cut out the pieces, that I really like!

I’ve been dreaming of pumpkins lately and came up with this little mug rug.

Then I got to thinking, what would it look like to insert flying geese into a pieced or applique pumpkin? This idea was generated from Gail Garber’s book Flying Colors, which I first heard about on Terri Stegmiller’s blog Stegart. I was intrigued by Terri’s design and bought the book from my local quilt shop Fabrics and Friends.

Playing, here is what I have so far:

And also an insert of triangles:

I am just having so much fun with this concept! And my mind is racing with other ideas of where to insert flying geese into quilts!

I’m taking a Machine Quilting Class through Craftsy with Wendy Butler Berns. I gave the machine quilting a go on this table runner.

I used Wendy’s Walking Foot method for the curves in the leaves and also used free motion quilting for the leaf stems. Heather of Trends and Traditions has a nice tutorial on her blog for doing the inside mitered binding corners.

Here is the pattern for the Falling Leaves Tablerunner. Please share a photo with me if you make the table runner!

Falling Leaves Tablerunner 2012.pages

Black & White

Ethnic Prints, front

Back

Pattern: Charm Party Tote by Penny Sturges

To stiffen the bottom, I used Pellon Peltex  72F Double-sided Fusible Ultra Firm Stabilizer. I have found using two pieces of 72F makes a nice firm bottom for purses and bags.

These are small blanket bits just 18″ square – more of a touch thing for little ones with satin on the back, pieced flannel for the front, and ribbons attached in the side seams. All very tactile.

August!

Craftsy BOM with instructor Amy Gibson. The blocks are star blocks this month.

I’m using Vicki Welsh’s monthly Color Palette Challenge when selecting the fabrics. Here is the palette for August:

And June – yes, I am behind.

New month, new color palette challenge!

August’s color palette:

My block for the challenge:

I’m using Joined at the Hip Baskets and Blooms Block of the Month from 2000 interpreted in Vicki’s color palette. I must say that this is my least favorite of the basket designs so far. What are those funky crown-like things coming off the center flower? I did try rearranging the elements, but decided to just go with the original design. But I am enjoying Vicki’s challenge! And incase you are just stopping by and have not heard, I’m using Misty Fuse for the fusible machine applique- love that stuff! And here is a helpful hint, you can use Parchment Paper if for some reason you have misplaced your Goddess Sheet or other teflon sheet when using Misty Fuse!