Quilt Photography 101

Aren't these flowers gorgeous?  We have two of these plants in our back garden.  Both are climbing clematises.  They always look so pretty in the spring and their blooms seem to last a long time.

Do you want to hear a funny story?  Well, wanting to take a great picture of my finished Bali Pops Batik Quilt, I decided to hang it on the fence.  This worked well when I photographed the finished top, but yesterday was a wee bit too windy!  I was so excited that I finished the quilt, so I threw caution to the wind and tried hanging it anyway.  Not a good idea.  My lovely quilt ended up blowing off the fence and into my neighbor's yard!  I prayed my neighbors were home AND their little dogs were not in the yard!  I went round and rang their bell a few times.  Finally, an answer.  I had to formally introduce myself and request entry to their back yard where I retrieved my quilt.  Awkward!  

I came inside and hung the quilt over the second floor banister.  The quality of the picture isn't great, but you can get an idea of the color and size of the finished blanket.  

   

I'm really happy with it.  I think the border and backing fabric ties all the strips together well.  I did simple straight line quilting.  It was actually easier than I expected.  I suspect because I made the quilt sandwich a lot better and I was able to roll up the excess as I quilted.

Even though I am a beginner quilt (this is my third real quilt), this was the first time I used a pattern.  This pattern is called, Blueberry Hill by Villa Rosa Designs.  I found the pattern easy to understand and would recommend it to anyone wanting to try using jelly rolls, or, in my case, Bali Pop pre-cut strips.  

I took this photo earlier today.  I decided not to risk the fence trick again, so I draped it over a bench that sits in front of our no longer blooming lilac bushes.  Doesn't it just look scrumptious?  

Thanks for stopping by.  I'm sorry I haven't been blogging as much lately.  I'm still trying to get into a routine with my new work schedule, etc.  My daughter calls me, "nocturnal."  It's taking some time to get used to!  Bear with me!

Tootles!

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The Sweet Smells of Spring

You know how some scents remind you of something, someone, somewhere, or even some time in your life?  Smelling cheap Stetson cologne reminds me of the teenage boys from my youth.  The odorous combination of fried food and diesel fuel makes me think of when I lived in England.  And the sweet, old-fashioned smell of lilacs reminds me of playing outside with my friends when I was kid growing up in Iowa.  I could smell these lilacs from my kitchen this morning.  My husband planted three bushes a few years ago in the far corner of our back garden.  I clipped this little bunch and smiled thinking of those playful times so many years ago.  

It wasn't easy going back to work after getting back from my Gulf Coast vacation.  Besides working at my day (I actually work nights) job, I have managed to finish my Blueberry Hill Bali Pops quilt top!  It actually came together rather quickly.  I chose the strips for each block randomly, however I was sure not to place like pieces next to each other.  

Blueberry Hill Pattern      Bali Pops in Watermelon Fabric

I hung it horizontally so I could take a better photo.  It measures 56" X 68."  I'm going to use the same fabric for the backing as used for the borders, which, I think, ties all the colors together a bit better.  I've got the batting and am ready to start quilting!  I know I said I wouldn't quilt my next quilt myself, but I think I can handle this size.  I am thinking about "stippling."  What do you think? 

I've got another project in the works as well.  I'm still in the planning stages of a wall hanging.  I want to do a  nautical themed art quilt to hang above a small antique dresser at the top of the stairs in my house.  I bought two "jellyfish" art glass pieces down on the coast and I've placed these, as well as a few other reminders of the trip on this dresser.

Boring wall above dresser

Aren't they cool?

Keeping the tentacles of the jelly fish in mind, I plan to transfer an octopus image onto fabric for the center.   I found this awesome octopus at The Graphics Fairy.

I'm still working on design, but I will most likely go with half square triangles.  I've chosen blue and cream for the main colors and have purchased my fabric, including this ticking remnant I found at JoAnn's for $5.00.

I'm also planning on getting some bags done for my nearly bare Etsy shop and also make myself a case for my new iPad!  Busy busy!

Tootles!
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Quilt Thrills On Blueberry Hill

Blueberries and watermelon.  Am I thinking Spring?  Well, yes.  It's 80 degrees in the big city today.  It seems the grass has turned green overnight and the trees are beginning to flower!  Kids are out riding their bikes.  And I am sitting here writing this wearing shorts!  Gentlemen:  Start your BBQ grills!  

I'm also thinking about the quilt I began sewing this week.  Originally I planned to do a log cabin quilt, but I changed my mind when I came across this pattern called, Blueberry Hill.  It's by Villa Rosa Designs.   

  

I decided this pattern would work well with the yummy Bali Pops I  found at the same shop.  This packet of 2 1/2" strips is called, Watermelon.

The purple fabric under the Pops is what I'm going to use for the border.  The quilt should (fingers crossed) end up to be 56" x 72."  I began the other night by pressing the strips and then cutting them into 3) 8 1/2" x 2 1/2" and 2) 6 1/2" x 2 1/2" strips.

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Now the hard part.  Selecting the strips for each block.  Honestly, I thought this would be much easier as these strips came from a coordinating set right?  This was frustrating, but, in the end, I just decided to be completely random and not put too much thought into it.  Each block is made by sewing three longer strips together lengthwise and then adding a shorter strip on each end.  There are 40 blocks in the finished quilt.  I've made 21 so far.  To get a sense of what the colors look like together, I've laid my blocks out according to the pattern.

Not exactly how I thought they'd look, but after the blocks are all there and the border is added, I think it'll look pretty cool!

I've learned a few things from this project.  First, I love batiks!  How cool is it that you can use either side?  Very cool!  Second, chain sewing is awesome!  Also, using that little piece of fabric at the start of the chain makes sewing so much smoother!

My family and I are going away for Spring Break!  We'll be heading for the beautiful (and warm-I hope) Gulf Coast this coming weekend!  I hope to finish sewing my blocks before the trip, but if not, they will be here when I get back!

Tootles!  

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