"Surf's Up" quilt

I'm calling this quilt "Surf's Up" because the turquoise reminds me of tropical ocean waters that are so clear you can see exactly where the continental shelf drops off, the white is for the finely powdered sand, and the loud red floral fabric is for the Hawaiian shirts and surf boards that most likely match the tourists' sunburns. I started this quilt one night after a stressful day with the kids as a way to unwind and relax before bedtime. Instead of finishing one of my WIP, I just wanted to sew, sew, sew those quarter inch seams without thinking about much else. It worked like a charm!

I had no plan in mind when I began this quilt...I simply grabbed a handful of turquoise squares I had cut months ago and paired them with some white 4" squares I also had cut ages ago and started sewing. When the quilt top wasn't large enough to be useful after I ran out of turquoise, I started in on the red, which I had left over from the "Lemonade Stand" quilt top I just finished (it's not yet quilted).

The quilt is crib size so I'm adding it to my collection of quilts available for the babies my friends are expecting this year. I like to have quilts on hand that friends can choose from because I'd rather they pick something they like and will use than something I made for them that they don't like or will never use. It doesn't hurt my feelings if someone doesn't like something I make (I don't like some of what I make!) but it does if someone doesn't tell me the truth.



The batting is pieced and the backing is pieced. This quilt used up all of my turquoise, all of my white, all of my white thread, and all of my red floral fabric as well. Ahh, it feels great to run out of something!



From a flat non-textured quilt top...



To a lovely crinkled textured quilt. I LOVE that step!



I quilted it with bright turquoise thread, which was fun. I like using colored thread since I have too much of it. I intended to make a wave pattern but I ended up having another stressful day and just wanted to "quilt" so the pattern is the more familiar meandering. I'm not sure about my color choices, but I think I like it...somehow they do seem to go in a "surf's up" kind of way.

Sneak peak

Here's a sneak peak at my current project:



I'm halfway through quilting it, my favorite part, so I should have the completed work to show soon!

Spring Blooms Mini Quilt Swap - Quilt Received

Look at the beautiful work that arrived in the mail for me today for the Spring Blooms Mini Quilt Swap!



Mini-quilt by Barbara Moore.

I love the traditional quilter's fabrics and the hand appliqued design. This quilt is a nice mix of traditional and whimsical. The sweet blue bird (state bird of New York) is great and I really like the unique shape of the flowers too. Also, I've never seen a quilter sign on the fabric sleeve before but I think this is a great idea that I'll plan to do on my next mini-quilt swap (and as soon as I find my fabric pens). Thank you Barbara! I love it.

Quilting works in progress

I'm so discouraged with my nine-patch quilt that I've been dying to complete it. It is going to charity and the purpose was to use up my fabric scraps before I bought anymore and to make a bright quilt for a good cause. I suppose I've met those goals but I don't like the quilt top very much.



I will probably piece the backing as well to use up more scraps.

In the meantime, I decided I wanted to work on something quick and easy. I'm using some Alexander Henry lemon fabric and a variety of others, mainly from JoAnns in this coin quilt. It's crib size. I'm calling it "Lemonade Stand".



Of course, my clever daughter saw my favorite fabric in it and said,

"It looks more like your lemon poppy seed bread; maybe you should call it "Lemon Poppy Seed" instead."

Maybe I will...

Brown paper packages tied up with string

Today William received a cute crew neck sweater from my friend Jess. It's hand knit in Rowan's all seasons cotton. I love the slate grey and can't wait for the next chilly day to see William in it. I've always been a shoe and sweater girl! If you're on Ravelry, you can look up Jess's other amazing knits under her name "midwifejess".

Jess also remembered big sister who received a beautiful sundress. She was very happy to model it right away. Jess also sent some tea biscuits cleverly shaped like the letter "T" so of course we had to have a tea party in Savannah's new sundress. Jess is also expecting a baby this year so I am adding a baby quilt to my list of projects.

I also received two interesting fabrics from Elizabeth in Holland who sent them as a surprise thank you for the baby fabric squares I sent her last month. She's making a surprise baby quilt for her sister's baby with fabrics from all over the world. Can't wait to see it!

Spring Blooms Mini Quilt Swap

Today I finished my mini quilt for the Spring Blooms swap. I changed my mind about a dozen times when it came to what I was going to make. Partly, I was anxious about having received a professional quilter to create for when my skills are more novice or intermediate level in the quilting department and partly, I was just occupied with other things; work, books, garden, recovering, baby...

In the end I decided to just play around and see what comes of it. I made a quilt that is totally "me", playful and imperfect with Kaffe Fassett and Martha Negley fabrics that I love and to me scream "spring". I quilted it with a meandering stipple.

I did use one new technique - I've never made yoyos before and I made two this time for the funky flower and its center. I also don't use applique very often so I hope it turned out well enough.


My favorite part is the tree. I love trees. This one is fun because the fabric I used had an enormous lettuce or cabbage print on it, so I fussy cut it out to serve as the foliage. There's a hole in the tree waiting for new tenants.



Maybe this bird lives there.



Tomorrow I package up and send out my mini-creation. I'll update this post on Friday with a link to my quilting partner's website so you can see her amazing quilt artwork. Until then, it's still a secret!