Patchwork Breeze: June 2016

6/30/2016

Quilt Finished for Island Batik Challenge

My June Modern Batik Challenge is finally finished. I made the deadline!

I have always enjoyed Julie Hirt's paper piecing pattern titled Icky Thump.

I have used her free pattern to make a few table runners with various fabrics.

It is so versitile. I emailed Julie and asked if I could use her pattern for a challenge quilt.

Her response was "Absolutely" use it.

I worked in EQ with a number of layouts, some of which are pictured below.

Because of time constraints for me, I chose to create an elongated design using

Island Batik fabrics from the Wind and Sea collection.

The background is Kona white.

This sofa throw is a gift for friends who recently bought a lake cottage.

It measures 46" x 71".

I quilted the layers on my domestic sewing machine outlining the batik shapes first. I added a straight line between those rows and finished with curved lines using a wavy fleece ruler to mark the curves.

The binding is done in my usual way, sewing it to the back and wrapping it to the front.

I top-stitched it from the quilt front using my walking foot.

6/28/2016

18 Days Ago

Wow!
My last post was 18 days ago, but it really feels longer than that!
What have I been doing? Would you believe cleaning and purging?
A friend and I decided to have a garage sale of our excess, seldom used quilting (and some of my crafting) supplies on June 23, 24,and 25.

My friend included much of her mother's supplies, too.

After the sale ended, I read Val's post HERE about the re-organization of her sewing area. She had returned from a retreat and was inspired. Read her tip for organizing fabrics and threads. And she said that with re-organizing she can get back to creating.

I know I am more productive and creative when my area is organized. It is hard to work around piles or try to find tools that are not where they should be.
It was a good way to tidy up for me. And here it comes.....BUT......
I didn't realize it was going to take so long!

I have one room where I shelve my fabrics and craft supplies. I found my box of cross-stitch books, kits and canvas, which I no longer do; so those items were priced to go.

At the beginning of the June, I cut some fabrics and had not folded them neatly or returned them to the shelves. So I spent two weeks organizing the shelves by colors and folding the fabrics so they fit nicely. I chose to say good-bye to many fabrics because they did not inspire me as they once did.

I let go of my Christmas beading projects and ribbons and lace. There is only so much one can work on.

Yes, I admit I have a stash! I realized I may never find the time to make all the quilts I want to.

I am hoping to be back to sewing on Thursday.

I will be finishing my Island Batik project for the June Modern Batik Challenge.

Then I'll begin the Christmas in July project. There is a giveaway with this Challenge.

I also will be working on my pattern for The Road Home Row Along coming in September,

which is hosted by Marian of Seamstobesew.com and Amy of Sewincrediblycrazy.com

There will be giveaways for this online Row Along.

There is the August 1st project reveal for the Four-in-Art group.

The challenge is to quilt our representation of Purple Passion.

On July 1, Sherri will let us know the block to make for the Mid-Century Modern Bee.

Wow! I will be busy.

May quilting keep you busy, and happy.

6/10/2016

Debbie Grifka Workshop

This afternoon, our quilt guild had Debbie Grifka teach a workshop. We used her pattern Turnstile to make small quilt tops using 5" pre-cut squares and background fabrics. It was a great class with 16 ladies in attendance. In the evening, Debbie presented a trunk show and lecture titled "What Do They Mean By Modern Quilting?"

Here are some photos from our workshop:

Debbie was always moving around, checking on us as we worked.

Our cameras worked wonders as we tried various arrangements of our blocks.

Everyone made progress to varying degees. Some got the 9 blocks sewn together.

I was happy with my progress.

I thought her lecture in the evening was very interesting and informative.

I was surprised that I would hear the names and see the quilts of

some of the quilters I have participated with in bees

and various groups.

I enjoyed the day, but am so tired!

I am looking forward to posting this and going off to sleep under a cozy quilt.

6/03/2016

My Actual Day to Post Opposites Attract and Giveaway

Today is my day to post in the

Thanks to Marian at Seam To Be Sew who organized this blog hop.

She has so many ideas on how to get quilters involved with each other via the internet.

Also thanks to the sponsors who supplies giveaways to this event.

and

We were to design a block using 2 colors.

I saw the block in a quilt book I was looking at and decided to use it.

I didn't have much time left in May to make a large project.

I made one block and decided to make a table mat to give as a Christmas gift this December.

I drew the block in EQ7.

I made a few layouts and realized this block was used to make the Storm at Sea quilt.

Offset

Flower

Star

Standing Stars

I wanted to use my Accuquilt GO! Cutter with the Triangle in a Square die.

I do not have a die for the 4" finished Half Square Triangles in the corners, so I cut them myself.

(I have this on my wish list.)

The center baffled me for a moment. I printed the templates from EQ7.

The center square I cut with a rotary cutter, but the triangles in the corners could be cut with the triangles in the Economy die that came with the cutter. That helped save time.