Rustic Stars

Finally finished!

Last year, at Thanksgiving, my husband's aunt, Nancy, let me know that she has plans to redecorate her bedroom.  She wanted to do it in Americana and she would really love to have a new "bedspread."  She mentioned how nice the one I made for her sister (my mother-in-law) was (hint, hint, hint.....).  Last month, my mother-in-law let me know that Nancy had taken down all of her 90's stick on wall borders and began painting that bedroom (again...hint, hint...).  Well, I guess they were letting me know that I had procrastinated long enough.  It was time to start working on Nancy's quilt.

I always planned to give it to her for Christmas this year.  This was a pattern that my old sewing circle picked to work on together in January and I really wanted to do it.  I thought about beginning to work on it every month since then...I just never did!  I decided to gather up all of the fabrics and take it to my in-laws house over Thanksgiving this year.  I figured that if I just got it cut out, I'd start sewing as soon as I got home...and it worked!  It was done a week later...just in time for Christmas!

This was a fun pattern and the only changes I made to it were:

• adding an extra row of stars (I needed about 12" more in length to fit Nancy's bed)
• using fusible stabilizer under the star points (I wasn't sure how Nancy would feel about alot of fraying, so the Wonder Under will keep it from being to frayed).  BTW, this Hunter's Star pattern is super easy as all of the start points are top stitched instead of pieced!

Rustic Stars
94x72"
Pattern Designer:  Lynne Hagmeier (American Patchwork & Quilting - Oct. 2014)

Quilting:  Freehand Meander (avoiding the bulk of those star points)

Quilting Thread:  Federal (Glide)

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Sunflower Song Duo

Busy days lately, but I thought it's about time I begin sharing some of the projects I've been finishing up over the last few months!  Today, these are a couple of small wall hangings I made for display at Jackman's Fabrics...

This is Sunflower Trio and the details are all below.  The ladies at the store really challenged me with this one as applique is not really in my repertoire, but I followed the directions (step-by-step exactly) for the raw edge applique and it seemed to work...well!  I really worried that I couldn't make a display worthy quilt, but I've pleased to say "I did it!"

Pattern:  Sunflower Trio

Designer:  Lynne Hagmeier (Kansas Troubles Quilters)

Size: 34x38"
Featured Fabric Line: Sunflower Song (Kansas Troubles)
Quilt Panto:  Flirtatious LG by Irene Steele

Quilting Thread:  Star Multi-Color

This one is Rising Sun, another applique project I was hesitant to take on for store display.  {Doesn't our pond look so pretty this time of year???}  Again, I followed the pattern directions and was able to accomplish a pretty decent hand turned applique.  My only regret is that my "V-points" aren't great, but I'll research a bit more about tackling them and hopefully do better next time.  Yes, I'm even willing to try again!  I found it really interesting to learn two different applique techniques on these two separate projects...another technique tried!  

Pattern:  Rising Sun

Designer:  Barabara Cherniwchan (Coach House Designs)

Size: 16x52"

Featured Fabric Line: Sunflower Song (Kansas Troubles)
Quilting:  freehand echo
Quilting Thread:  Aurifil Mako NE 50/2

Disclosure: I received supplies to make this project from Jackman's Fabrics in Fairview Heights, IL.  The quilt will be hung as a shop sample in their store to promote sale of both the pattern and fabric lines,  In exchange, the quilt will be returned to me at the end of the promotion.  They did not require me to write a positive review of any of the products.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Desert Sky

After taking this Judy Niemeyer, Desert Sky, class a few months ago, I knew I had to add this quilt to the UFO list or I would avoid getting back to it.  I seem to always send the "techniquey" projects to the "to do later" pile!  I'm so happy to have it completed!!!

The original pattern was pretty small and I really wanted to build it up to at least a throw size (without having to paper piece any more of those curve blocks).  I added the 2 yellow borders and the outer mottled batik to create a little extra length and width.

Desert Sky

68x75"
Pattern Designer:  Judy Neimeyer

Panto:  Fire Lily (Patricia Ritter)

Thread:  Aurifil Variegated Col. 5512

Q4 (Oct-Dec 15) List: 

4/15 completions

1.   String Spools

2.  Buttermilk Basin Wool Applique

3.  4-Patch Revisited

4.  Crumb Along

5.  A Wounded Warrior Quilt

6.  Elizabeth's Prairie Garden 

7.  Rustic Stars

8.  A Soldier Baby Quilt

9.  A Prairie Women project

10.  Desert Sky

11.  Pinwheel

12.  Labor Day Madness

13.  Fan Baby

14.  Road to STL

15.  Little House on the Prairie Quilt

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

UFO Goals - November

The Desert Sky top is ready to be quilted, so that's going to be top priority this month!

I'd like to make at least one baby quilt to donate for Soldier Babies.

When those are done, 4-Patch Revisited will take center stage because it would be nice to at least have that top done when Bonnie Hunter releases her first clues for this year's mystery, Allietare!

Q4 (Oct-Dec 15) List: 

3/15 completions

1.   String Spools

2.  Buttermilk Basin Wool Applique

3.  4-Patch Revisited

4.  Crumb Along

5.  A Wounded Warrior Quilt

6.  Elizabeth's Prairie Garden 

7.  Rustic Stars

8.  A Soldier Baby Quilt

9.  A Prairie Women project

10.  Desert Sky

11.  Pinwheel

12.  Labor Day Madness

13.  Fan Baby

14.  Road to STL

15.  Little House on the Prairie Quilt

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!

Pinwheel & October Finishes

Finally finished Pinwheel, the secondary project that was made after my class with Pat Speth!  This quilt is made with bonus units from the Labor Day Madness pattern.

Remember I mentioned that I didn't really want 2 quilts from the exact same fabric line?  Well, I talked my friend Debbie into doing these quilts with me and we swapped bonus units...and I totally lucked out because I LOVE the fabrics she chose!!!!

 Fun and easy quilting with the perfect shade of purple thread!

And best of all, I was able to use up the leftover hunks of fabric on the backing...hardly anything leftover...just a few scraps for the scrap bins!

Pinwheel
84x65"
Pattern Designer:  Pat Speth (Nickel Quilts)

Primary Fabric Line:  Enchanted Pond by Holly Taylor (Moda)
Panto:  Flirtatious LG (Irene Steele)

Quilting Thread:  Iris (Glide)

Here's more about my Labor Day Madness quilt that I finished earlier this month!

 Elizabeth's Prairie Garden  was also finished this month!

Q4 (Oct-Dec 15) List: 

3/15 completions

1.   String Spools

2.  Buttermilk Basin Wool Applique

3.  4-Patch Revisited

4.  Crumb Along

5.  A Wounded Warrior Quilt

6.  Elizabeth's Prairie Garden 

7.  Rustic Stars

8.  A Soldier Baby Quilt

9.  A Prairie Women project

10.  Desert Sky

11.  Pinwheel

12.  Labor Day Madness

13.  Fan Baby

14.  Road to STL

15.  Little House on the Prairie Quilt

For fun stuff happening today in the blog-o-sphere, check out the link-ups on my sidebar!