Thursday, May 31, 2012

Free Styling

I am working on a quilt for a book review this coming weekend.  I can't say too much about which book and by who just yet, but can tell you that it instigated the making of this quilt top.   Snippets only today:
I LOVE patchwork and quilting books but don't take reviewing a book lightly.  I like to try out projects and see where they take me.  This one has certainly taken me out of my patchwork comfort zone and directly inspired my own creation.  I get a sense that this is exactly the intention of the book

More soon,
Rita

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

A Neutral Study ~ A Finished Quilt

And a Picture Post.
I have absolutely loved working with (what is for me) a limited color palette and I am quietly pleased with how it has turned out.  This quilt has a classy feel about it but also a little rustic in a homely kind of way.  


The "neutrals" in this instance include many shades of white, cream, beige and grey fabrics; all quality Robert Kaufman Kona Cottons as well as gorgeous Oakshott Cottons for texture and further variation in hue.    The layout is a basic log cabin design - alternating light and dark fabric placement.


The quilting design is simple; straight lines - vertical, horizontal as well as diagonal - creating an intersecting grid of lines which doesn't overwhelm the quilt but still adds interest.


For binding I have used a black and white stripe fabric, although it is not my standard "go to" binding fabric.  This stripe fabric is Lines White from the Word Play collection by Michele D'Amore (Benartex), a narrow and irregular black stripe on a white background that complements the hushed tone of this quilt.


If I had to choose a favorite part of this quilt it is quite possibly the section of solid red binding in the bottom right hand corner.  And by chance the placement of this section of bright color is perfectly balanced. 

As usual I have updated my Etsy Store.  You can find the listing here:  Modern yet Colorful Patchwork Quilt.  

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita
Relevant Links:

Monday, May 28, 2012

Sunday Stash #142 ...

... on Monday.  Better late than never, and because I think this is one collection too good to miss.
Quilt Blocks by Ellen Luckett Baker for Moda Fabrics

Quilt Blocks is Ellen Luckett Baker's debut fabric collection and as implied by the name of the collection it features traditional quilt blocks with a modern take on pattern and color.

Marine Flower Garden, Shade TicTac, Shade Ringlets
Marine Magnolia Road and Marine Wedding Rings

Quilt Blocks is available in three contemporary color palettes:  Marine, Spectrum and Shade

Spectrum:  Ringlets, TicTac, Flying Geese and Stars

There are also several prints that are great stash fabrics; those designs/colors that I think you will find easy to mix and mingle with prints from other modern fabric collections:

Flying Geese Stripe in Marine Blue, Shade Grey and Spectrum Yellow,
Hexagon Dots in Marine Blue, Shade Grey and Spectrum Chartreuse

The Flying Geese Stripe (left hand side - last image) is quite possibly my favorite design!

Enjoy Sunday! Monday!
Rita

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Thalia - A Finished Knit

Dear Fabic Stash,
I have been cheating on you, ignoring you even.  
Yep, it's the call of the yarn and the knitting needles. 
clickety clack


The Pattern:


The Yarn:
Madelinetosh Merino Light in Gilded


Truly, this impressive shawl is a quick and easy knit; one I can recommend for beginner lace knitters.  I followed the pattern verbatim and worried endlessly about running out of yarn (weighing and calculating often) without need.



For more pictures and all the details check out my Ravelry page:



Back to fabric and quilty programming for now.
Rita

Friday, May 25, 2012

[workinprogress] A Neutral Quilt

I already knew that I was going to struggle to maintain a completely neutral color palette for this quilt and so I allowed myself  go with the flow, adding pops of color and whimsy as it unfolded.

As much as this quilt isn't my usual strong color style, I am totally in love with it!  The quilt still features color boldly, but also has subtle undertones and a stillness that resonates.


FABRICS USED:  I have used numerous shades of grey, white and off white, including Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton in White, Snow, Natural, Sand, Ash and Medium Grey.   Also included are many shades of marble white Oakshott Shot Cottons which add not only variety in hue but also texture and luminosity.


The solids fabrics used are from the Pure Elements collection by Pat Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics :: Emerald, Tile Blue, Lemonade and Honey. These solid fabrics sparkle with saturated color!
Now ready for quilting!  I am in two minds as to how to quilt this quilt top : it's going to either quilted very minimally ("in the ditch") OR  densely quilted with a grid of intersecting lines.   I am leaning towards the dense grid ... more texture ...

Thank you for stopping by,
Rita

A tutorial for this basic Log Cabin design can be found here:  RPQ Traditional Log Cabin Tutorial



Wednesday, May 23, 2012

[Almost] Wordless Wednesday


Dear Stella - Play Date - Campgrounds in Multi

I couldn't resist sharing this new stash addition with you today. 

Rita 
Fabricaholic [adj. Fab-rik-a-hol-ik] One who feels a compulsive need for fabric and to enable like minded others.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Tuesday - Mail Day

Tuesday seems to be THE day for great parcel deliveries and today was no exception.


The Yarn:  Anzula Cloud - Hand Dyed Yarn
The Fabric:  Classic Moda  - Chicken Wire

This delivery inspired a rummage through my fabric stash and a flash of  the rotary cutter.


And so here is the start a new quilt project:


This one is a bit of a personal challenge.  I am turning down the volume on color/pattern; instead focusing on subtle shades highlighted by a a sprinkling of color.  The plan will undoubtedly evolve as I spend more time working on this project.

More soon,
Rita

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Sunday Stash #141

Vintage Modern by Bonnie and Camille for Moda Fabrics

Vintage Modern is the recently released collection by Bonnie and Camille. It is a complete collection of forty prints comprising bold, graphic designs, as well as quirky vintage based prints in lovely reds, aquas, pinks, greens and soft greys.  Here are some of my favorites which I think will also make great stash additions:

Vintage Modern - Hopscotch in Candy, Sky and Pebble

Vintage Modern Snickerdoodle in Candy, Pebble, Pear, Melon, Sky


Courtesy of Moda Fabrics I am today giving away a Layer Cake of Vintage Modern comprising 42 10 inch squares (includes 2 duplicate prints) to one lucky reader.

To be in the draw all you have to do is leave a comment on this post (please ensure that an email address is available on your profile or is included in your comment - NO EMAIL ADDRESS = NO VALID ENTRY). International visitors are very welcome to enter! One comment per person/email address will be eligible to enter the draw.

The draw will take place at 11pm (Australia - EST) on Monday 21 May 2012, at which time comments to this post will be closed. The winner will be announced by edit to THIS blog post, AND will also be contacted by email.

Enjoy Sunday and THANK YOU Moda Fabrics!

Rita
------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDITED TO ADD:

ENTRY HAS NOW CLOSED.

760+ entries ... and here I was starting to think that the Sunday Stash series was becoming a little mundane.   Thank you for all of your wonderful entries!

The winner of the Vintage Modern Layer Cake is:


Congratulations Jen!  Jen has been contacted by email.

Thank you also to Moda Fabrics!

Rita

Friday, May 18, 2012

Triple O ~ A Finished Quilt

I think it best to start with a warning of a blog post loaded with pictures.  I've finished my quilt featuring three circles in the lower left hand corner of the quilt.  I think I'll call it my Triple O Quilt (why is naming a quilt this hard?).
It's been a productive week.  The Bernina 820 arrived back from service and repairs on Monday and was immediately put to good use.  I am really comfortable on this machine now but it has taken almost two years to get to know just how it likes to be handled.  Let's just say that when things are good with this machine it's amazing.  
I am still thoroughly enjoying the straight-line quilting, and the modern and uncomplicated look created by the intersecting lines.


Taking photos is hard work (I'd rather be sewing), and when I head out with the camera Oliver is at my heels.  I take many photos while I am at it - for this shoot there were 80+ images - and take the camera off it's automatic setting to explore the other options.   I then choose the best images to edit.  I am still learning.

There happened to be countless good images of the quilt edges and binding this time around.  The striped binding fabric is from Sarah Fielke's From Little Things collection (Lecien).


I've listed this quilt in my Etsy Store. 
 The listing can be found here:  Modern and Colorful Patchwork Quilt
As always I am ever so grateful for your visit.

Rita

Thursday, May 17, 2012

[workinprogress]


A little home truth today.  I can imagine that it must seem like I am super organized and work to a schedule; that I know from one week to the next what I am going to be working on.  Not so, I'm afraid.   My  quilt design decisions and color choices are usually "in the moment" and evolve while I am working on a quilt.


This new project began as a Katie Jump Rope Quilt selecting only the red, orange and yellow prints from this range.  Almost immediately I revisited my fabric stash and started adding a wider range of prints in a similar color palette. 
Choosing fabric is definitely my favorite part of the quilt making process.  I don't hesitate to combine fabrics/colors and it never ceases surprise me how readily multiple fabric collections mix together.
And then ... at the last moment I decided to use the Drunkard's Path templates that have been lying on my cutting table waiting for inspiration to strike. The three circles are machine pieced (in quarters) and add a little "Oh!" factor to this otherwise basic quilt design.

More soon,
Rita

Fabrics of note:
Elephants:  Mod Basics Organic by Jay-Cyn Designs for Birch Fabrics
Amy Butler - Lotus - Wall Flower in Cherry
Large Scale Polka Dot :: Riley Blake - Sugar & Spice - Sugar Polka Dot in Red

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day Crafting

I had rather grandiose Mother's Day crafting plans, but I may have left it a little too late to get started.  Ooops!  


I did manage to make these patchwork potholders/placemats complete with insulation (Insul-Brite) to make them suitable for use as oven to table pot-holders.  
I enjoyed cutting and fussy cutting into my stash of text and cute Japanese prints.  Simple patchwork piecing, so relaxing!  The potholders measure 10.5 inches x 10.5 inches and each individual square was cut at 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches. 

The back of the potholders feature prints by Aneela Hoey from the Sherbet Pips range and a Riley Blake Chevron fabric, both in red/white.  I have also sewn tape into the binding at the top left hand corner for the purpose of hanging the potholders.  The binding strip was cut 2.25 inches wide, and unfortunately each potholder needed just a little more than 1 strip of binding fabric.

Happy Mother's Day to all mothers! 

I hope you get a chance to sit back and reflect quietly with a cup of tea,
 or better still a little time behind the sewing machine.

Enjoy Sunday!
Rita

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Friday, May 11, 2012

An Indian Summer Quilt

It's that time again!
A finished quilt and a reflection of the gorgeous Autumn weather we've enjoyed this week, although I hear it will be short-lived with much cooler conditions expected to arrive just in time for the weekend.


As you can see I've had a wonderful time not only with the fabric selection process but also with the quilting of this quilt.  I started by stitching the vertical lines just over a 1/2 inch apart and then continued on to also quilt horizontal lines, thereby creating a crisscross of parallel lines.   I wish I could easily convey to you the lovely texture and drape of this quilt created by the dense quilting grid.


For the back of the quilt I have used one of my favorite prints from the Flea Market Fancy Legacy Reprint fabric collection :: Leaf & Dot in Grey :: by Denyse Schmidt.  The grey complements the tone and feel of the quilt and is further completed by the use of grey/white stripe fabric for binding (From Little Things by Sarah Fielke).
This one is all about the fabrics, the colors, and the quilting. I have thoroughly enjoyed working from stash to create this quilt!  As usual, I have updated my Etsy Store.  The listing for this quilt can been can be found here:  Modern and Colorful Patchwork Quilt.  SOLD

Thank you for stopping by!
Rita
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