Beach Cabins Quilt from Chezzetcook

Such a fresh happy feature today from Adrienne of Chezzetcook Modern Quilts. I love it! Modern and oh so pretty.  Great colors, design and pretty photos!!  Chezzetcook Modern Quilts is a sewing/quilting fun blog, she has a great tutorial here on quilting as you go...a method I MUST try, it's been on the list for a while. And for some lovely quilty-eye candy see her finishes. To find our more about Adrienne and her blog name see here.  Thanks for sharing!

The eagle has landed. Beach Cabins reached it's new home in Ottawa and I have heard that her new family loves her :) So now I can share!

This quilt started with a couple of pieces of blue and red gingham that my client gave me. She wanted something "beachy" and then left me to my own devices. After adding some more reds, blues and grays to the Tilted Cabins Pattern (from From The Blue Chair), Beach Cabins was born, and if I do say so myself, I think this quilt fits the "Beachy" bill. So of course I took it to the beach for it's photo shoot. 

This project marked the first time that I used the Quilt As You Go method of quilting, so I talked about it a lot! You can read the previous posts here and here. When this baby came out of the dryer all crinkly and soft I was so happy!  

I am not going to say how long it has been since I had a finish (so embarrassing), but it is all worth it to have one like this!
Adrienne

Previous Posts related to this quilt:
Post 1
Post 2
Post 3

Patchwork Frames Quilt from The Sewing Chick

Great feature today from Tessa of The Sewing Chick!   I love this sweet quilt!  Excellent fussy cut quilt.  And it is from Tasha Noel's line Simple Life.  The sweet little floral in this collection is one of my favorite.  Ever.  Tessa is our fabulous friend who sent Heather this amazing collection of Heather Ross prints...I'm patiently waiting by my mail for my cut! :)  Stop by The Sewing Chick...great sewing blog with lots of impressive finishes and tutorials. Thanks again Tessa!!

This week, I quilted and bound the Patchwork Frames quilt. This pattern was created by Beth at Plum and June and is available for free here. It is a super way to highlight a cute novelty fabric as I have done here with Tasha Noel's The Simple Life. Beth's directions were easy to understand and her diagrams were clear. She also includes several layouts and the cutting directions for each. I wanted a baby/toddler size so just made nine frames (each measures 12" without the sashing). I mixed things up a little by varying the placement of the fussy cut center in each block.

I did an all over free motion quilting design of loops and hearts. You can see that they are kind of uneven and vary in size, but that's what I like best about free motion quilting. The irregularities are what gives it charm and that done by hand look that I love. Maybe that's just what I tell myself and I do try to get the design as even as I can, but I really do prefer it to not look like it was done by a computer.

For the back, I used this beautiful print from Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane collection. I am and will always be a huge HB fan - this collection reminds me of vintage sheets.

The binding is a red and white stripe from Timeless Treasures. I would have preferred to use the red gingham, but I didn't have enough left and sometimes you have to use what you've got! I machine stitched the binding, but this time I experimented with cutting the strips 2 1/4" instead of 2 1/2". I had some gaps so I think I will stick with the wider strip and a generous 1/4" seam allowance.

You can read more about the construction of the quilt top here and here.

I also thought it would be interesting to see Beth's pattern in all solids. Now, modern minimal is not my usual style, but I do love color so playing with all these solids was fun!

I utilized a bunch of Kona cotton charms that I got from a swap last year as well as a charm pack of Michael Miller Cotton Couture and leftover solid scraps. I spent waaaay too long deliberating over color choices but am pretty pleased with the gradient color effect. Don't you just love the way the same pattern can have a totally different look depending on your fabric choices and layout!! I know I do!

Reversible Chevron Quilt from My Fabric Relish

Today's feature is by Melissa from My Fabric Relish.  It is such a cute little personalized quilt she made, love it!  My Fabric Relish has some really darling posts for all of us sewing/fabric/quilt lovers.  I love this darling make-up pouch she made and this giant star quilt we featured yesterday on Fabric Tuesday.  Enjoy the feature and then stop by My Fabric Relish to see another darling blog!

Hi y'all! I was commissioned (by my mother...haha) to make a baby quilt for her co-worker's daughter, who is due in July, and so excited to share it with you. My mom loved the fabric I used for my niece's quilt from Christmas (Coquette by Chez Moi for Moda) and lucky for her I still had another layer cake just sitting pretty in my lovely stash. So I stewed on it for about a month (ok, two) trying to decide what I wanted to do with it. I wanted it to be simple but hip to a young mom. I decided to go with my easy peasy chevron on the front and then a 5 inch square patchwork on the back. This quilt only takes one layer cake, 12-10" squares for the white (less than 1/2 yard), and then less than 1/2 yard for the binding. I just took my white squares from my bella solid - white layer cake because I was too lazy to cut up the 10" squares. 

I decided to make a little cheat sheet/pattern for y'all! If you would like the cheat sheet pattern, you can download it here. 

Note: The 5" patchwork side (back) is a tad bit smaller than the chevron side. I recommend treating this as the front when you are basting but be sure to line up the front and back as straight as possible and in the center. You will have to trim off about an inch on each side of the chevron side. Make sense? 

My flower applique came from another pattern; therefore, I can't share that with you. Bummer and I'm sorry. However, you can easily replicate the image or just leave it off. I did a quick Google image search of flower color pages and got tons of hits like this one for example here! You can then print a letter in any font from your computer and trace both the flower and letter using freezer paper method to transfer. I just machine appliqued it on using a zigzag stitch. Pretty straight forward. 

I followed the chevron pattern for my quilting and then stitched-in-the-ditch for the vertical lines.

Finished size (make sure you make note on the cheat sheet since I forgot to put it on there...oops) is 37" x 50"!

And what is a photo shoot without my relishes bombing it! 

Bailey loves giving kisses to baby relish. Baby relish thinks it's funny.

Hope you enjoy and please let me know if you make one!

Melissa

Keep Calm and Graduate On from The Blueberry Moon

Keithena from The Blueberry Moon has a fabulous quilt and story to share today.  Absolutely LOVE this quilt, such a great idea!!  The British side of me is very inspired!!  The Blueberry Moon has some fun places to look around, her quilts, recipes, tutorials...so stop on by after her feature :)

Remember When I said London was calling?

Well look....It did. And it was for Brontë.

Quilt and pillow ..... Jolly good I'd say.   

    WARNING!!

        Here comes the quilt story....It's a bit long winded.

     When I was 19 I read "Wuthering Heights". Oh, I loved that book! I read it over the summer of 1986. It was a challenge for me. I love to be challenged. It remains as my all time favorite reads. The author of that great tale, Emily Brontë, I found fascinating also. I remember telling myself at the time. If I ever have a daughter. I will name her Brontë. 

     Eight years and two sons later, I did. And she, like the book, has been challenging. In the very best way possible. I have learned so much about who I am by raising her. She is fascinating, complicated, silly, kind, smart, thoughtful, creative, strong-willed and beautiful.

     On tuesday she begins her senior year of high school. She has plans to attend college. She is thinking photo journalism. I am thinking..... I never want her to leave !!!

      Senior years are so tough these days. The stress can be overwhelming for these kids. I have watched some of my son's friends get crushed under the pressure. And some achieve amazing things. I know what lies ahead for her. And it is a lot. The best and most challenging of times. As a mom I can only comfort her. The work and results are all up to her.

      So comfort her I will...

 With this pillow.

                               

 And this quilt.

    This idea came to me a while back.I was going to wait until graduation. 

But for all the reasons I will give. The time was now....

        I know in the days ahead, 

She will come home mad at something some dumb girl said....

"The Boy" will bruise her heart....

The testing will melt her brain....

The teacher just won't understand....

There are sure to be,

Rejection letters......

Failed awards....

Grades that didn't come out as planned......

Plans that seem like they will never succeed.....

But then again there will be,

Great test scores....

Amazing teachers....

Homecoming ........

The Prom .....

The acceptance letter...

Graduation celebrations....

The acceptance letter....

Saying goodbye to friends.....

For each of these moments in time. She can run home  cuddle up with these gifts of love. She can cry tears of anger, happiness or fear. Scream into the pillow. Hide under the quilt.

But she will know she has a Mom that loves here......

And the goal is to just......

Keep Calm and Graduate on !!!!

More pics....

 If any of you out there have a Senior in your life...... I think this makes a great gift idea. 

In the next few weeks, I will have the PDF template for the the letters and cap. Also included will be cutting and finishing instructions.  So keep a look out.......

Simply Charmed Quilt Top and Fabric Tuesday

 Quilt top finish!

Finished Size: 36.5" x 45.5"

This simple and sweet quilt top is made of Hello Luscious charm packs and a few pieced blocks. 

The blocks didn't stick out as much as I'd hoped.  But I am smitten with the color palette, so pretty!

If you wanted to make your own I'll give you a quick tutorial!  It's really easy so don't be intimidated.  You'd need two charm packs OR seventy-one 5" x 5" squares.  I made one small pieced block (the star), so the finished size for that would also be 5" x 5".  You could make as many of these as you want, just subtract from the seventy-one for each that you make!  Next I made two pieced blocks to replace 4 smaller blocks.  The finished size of those blocks would need to be 9.5" x 9.5".  Piece together as seen below.

It's fun to dress up simple blocks with a few pieced ones.  Can't wait to quilt it!  I'll share when I do :)

Fabric Tuesday #103

click here to see more about Fabric Tuesday

Teje's Baby Stars Quilt

Teje from Nero's Post and Patch is always posting and sharing such fabulous things, we constantly feature her on Fabric Tuesdays :)  And with a backdrop like Greece she always get great pictures.  Make sure to see Teje's shop, her finishes and some great tutorials too!

Hello my Dear Friends! I have a great day at home! Even lots of works are waiting still it’s so nice  not to go anywhere! Long time I was waiting to show you my latest quilt, but it was a secret so it had to wait till the little baby was born.

My dear friend is now grandmother for a sweet baby boy and when I returned from Finland with beautiful fabrics, I began this quilt. Still I had to wait if it’s a girl or a boy. For the girl I would have made orange binding and for the boy this green.

Because we didn’t know if it’s going to be a girl or a boy, I chose colours to be nice for both. I new that mom likes orange and green and they had used yellow for the baby-room. I saw that I do need more yellow fabrics for my stash!

I have seen so many beautiful quilts with different kind of star patterns and I really love these wonky stars! I had made few just to try these happy fabrics and then I realized they would be nice for this quilt. I have had in my  ‘to do list’ a quilt with this kind of squares so here they are now.

When I made these stars, I cut first stripes and then squares from them. There was some stripes left, so first time I used a little  colour also for the backing …

Now I understand better how you enjoy making the backing also like an other quilt. I only wish my fabric stash could be big enough for that! By the way, did you know that you can click photos to see them bigger.

Quilting by hand is one of the best parts! And again I was able to use different colours – even more fun! I have always loved stitching – every where – in bags, shoes, cloths any where!

Now the new born baby boy, my dear friends first grand child, has this quilt and all the family were happy and liked ‘Baby Stars’! And … I have a custom order for an other baby quilt … for a girl! I think I shall make it similar with this but perhaps not stars …

I think I could use few butterflies for the girly quilt! I have been also very lucky to sell the blue baby quilt ‘Ripples’ and two pillows from my etsy shop, ‘Jumping Dog’ and the ‘Pic Nic’ pillow! Thank you so much for the wonderful buyers!

Lucky Lucky Lucky me … again I have win! I won a jewellery from Emma’s give away! Emma is very talented artist and writes a beautiful blog ‘silverpebble’!She has etsy shop full of the most cute and beautiful creations! Thank you so much Emma! Emma was also featured in the latest ‘Country Living’ – the magazine we all enjoy so much!

Also I like to say big thank you for Maureen, who is one my favourite bloggers! She makes so unique,happy and colourful crafts! Her blog is ‘Maureen Cracknell Handmade’ and I won fabrics from her give away! Thank you Maureen! Only thing is that I won them just when I was shopping fabrics in Finland and still they haven’t arrived here … I’m so affraid that they have got lost! But I hope the best and perhaps they still come because Nero got also once his Christmas present from Ronja (from Finland) after 2 months!

Summer is the most busy time here in Crete! It’s the hot holiday season and fortunately we have lots of lots of tourists even the economical situation is difficult for us who live here. Some people say that they are affraid to come here, but everything is like it used to be. There are no difficulties for tourists, everything is working like always and Crete and Greece is one of the best holiday places! Beautiful beaches, friendly people, the most delicious food, lovely nature, warm (hot) weather and so much sunshine!

So you can guess that I am also very busy and unfortunately can’t see you so often. I don’t want to say that I shall take a brake from blogging, because I miss you a lot. So I do my best and now and then I hop here … or I think it’s better I’ll ask Nero to do that! He has again ‘adventure’ – now he has an infection between two toes. I think something has scratch there and then it got worse. No we have ‘therapy’ moment every morning and evening. Washing, betadine, bactroban, clean white cloth, clean sock, some tape to hold them, lots of ‘nami nami’ (Nero’s sweets) and antibiot. He is such a good boy when I have to take care of him, but in the vet he tries to eat his vet!

I leave you with Nelli’s surprised face, because this really describes my latest weeks!So many things has happened … oh I miss my slow boring (why I said boring, it’s never boring here with 3 dogs and a cat and so much sewing) winter life!

Could you guess from this link, who was eating from Nero’s plate last Sunday afternoon?! Yach!!!

Thank you so much for being the most wonderful friends and readers! I wish you the best ever summer and happy holidays! I shall visit you often … perhaps too tired to comment every time … but I’m there some where …

TEJE