Quilting Gallery » Mishka’s Quilting Journey

Pat Sloan’s: Focus on the Center Blog Tour

Mishka — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:30:31 +0000

I’m thrilled to be participating in Pat Sloan’s Focus on the Center Book Tour. There are 10 quilters participating in the tour this week and we each have two copies of Focus on the Center to give-away to our lucky readers. See below to enter my give-away and for the links to the other participants.

Plus, visit Pat’s blog as she’s asked each of us some fun questions and her publisher’s blog too:

Focus on the Center features seven medallion-style quilts. Confession, I have never made a medallion-style quilt before, but I’m really tempted by this one called Lucky Charms:

I just adore the scrappy-ness of this quilt and the unique on-point borders around the center appliqué followed by rectangular borders. There’s lots of interest in this quilt! It finishes at 61″ square, but you could easily make it larger or smaller by adding more borders or removing some. I also love that it has flying geese .. I really need a quilt with lots of flying geese for myself.

I’m not really big on making Christmas quilts that only get enjoyed for a month, so I would do the alternate center that’s included in the book for this quilt, here it is:

For the center appliqué, I’d use solid white and then scraps of my other fabrics. I’ll also continue the white into the large half square triangles/flying geese units around the appliqué. Here are my fabrics:

The colourful fat quarters and yardage prints are Treasures and Tidbits by Piece O’ Cake Designs for Robert Kaufman fabrics. The black and white prints are a fat quarter bundle put together by Jodie of Fort Worth Fabric Studio.

The red yardage will be used similar to how Pat used red in her sample: inner thin border and triangles around the white appliqué, for the wider border around the entire on-point layout and for the binding.

For the green used in the sample, i.e. the setting triangles in the center and for the flying geese sky units, I’ll use the black and white prints. I’ll alternate between black on white vs. white on black prints for the flying geese sky units. It’ll still be very scrappy, but the black and white will add some calm to the wild colours in the prints… I think! The prints will be used for the flying geese body units, the two scrappy outer borders and the rectangles inside the on-point layout.

Can you picture it?? I really wish I had time right now to start something new as this quilt is calling me! Maybe later in the summer.

See that fabulous yellow flowered print beside the red one above, well I have a few yards of it and there will be enough fabrics left over from the above quilt to make a coordinating one.

I love this one from the book, Antique Mist, and would use that flowered print in place of the large blue aqua flower print that Pat used for the middle border. Black and white prints would replace the pinks and the coloured fabrics would be used in place of the off whites. Not sure if I’ll have quite enough red yardage for the pink striped borders, but if not, a solid from my stash would work well too. This medallion quilt finishes at 57″ square.

One of the things I love about Pat’s book, is that she’s included quick piecing methods such as making four flying geese units from squares of fabric.

I find when I’m browsing new books at the local quilt shop, I’m disappointed when I see authors not using the quicker methods we’ve all come to love from quilting tutorials from our blogging friends. Please tell me I’m not alone in this!

Give-Away

I have two copies of Pat’s Focus on the Center book to give-away. Leave a comment below answering:

Have you ever made a medallion-style quilt? If so, how many rounds did it have? If not, are you encouraged to do one now after seeing a few from Pat’s book?

Winners will be randomly chosen on May 7th.

Be sure to visit the other quilts in the tour too and enter their give-aways:

Tuesday

Our hostess: Pat Sloan
Carrie of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.
Vanessa Christenson of V & Co.

Wednesday

Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville
Michele Foster of the Quilting Gallery – that’s ME!

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

P.S. Here’s a flying geese tutorial from my friend Bradie. It is similar to the one Pat has in her book.

Winners:

Congratulations to #149 quiltmom anna and #138 Pam. Emails have been sent to you from Pat Sloan.

Garden Party Blog Hop: Patio Umbrella

Mishka — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:00:21 +0000

Today is my special day for Jennifer’s Garden Party Blog Hop. This month, 30 designers are creating 10″ paper pieced blocks. Links to download the free patterns are available here and you can see the blocks that have been created so far in the Flickr Group.

Patio Umbrella

Here’s my block: Patio Umbrella. Download it here.

My fabrics – the flower prints are from my 1930s stash of fat quarters. The two prints are from Feedsack by Sara Morgan for Blue Hill Fabrics. The blue sky fabric is from my hand dyes and the orange dot fabric is Arabella by Pat Sloan (I think!).

I prefer to measure my paper pieced segments, add 3/4″ for seam allowance and fudge room, and then pre-cut my fabrics into usable shapes in advance. I have included my measurements in the PDF file. This way, I have all of my pieces ready when I head to the sewing machine and I know that all of my pieces will fit the required sections.

Lately, I have been doing my paper pieced projects with freezer paper following the ideas presented in this tutorial: Freezer Paper Foundation Piecing.

I really like the C. Jenkins Freezer Paper Sheets that I can run through my printer. While the sheets of paper are more expensive, the leftover pieces not used in the printed diagram can then be used for appliqué.

Here is section B stitched, but not trimmed yet:

When trimming the pieces, with freezer paper foundation piecing, you need to add back the seam allowances that were cut off the paper templates. Here are the three sections:

When stitching the three sections together, I first joined sections B and C, being careful to match up the pole/trunk of the umbrella. I stitched with section B on the top, so that I didn’t accidentally cut off any of the points of the umbrella.

The completed block, unfinished it is 10.5″

Download Patio Umbrella!

If you complete the block, be sure to upload it to the Garden Party Flickr Group as Jennifer is giving away a prize each week to one lucky quilter.

Thanks so much to Jennifer for organizing this blog hop party. I have enjoyed seeing all of the blocks the talented designers have created.

Give-Away

In this week’s Learning Center post, Pat Sloan is exploring embroidery, crazy quilting and sashiko with two talented guests. Plus, Aurifil is giving away a Sashiko thread kit to one lucky reader.

Read the post and enter the give-away here!

Product Review: OLFA 5″ Precision Appliqué Scissors

Mishka — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:58:33 +0000

The kind folks at OLFA sent me their latest 5″ Precision Appliqué Scissors to try out and share with my readers. They are also giving away a pair to one of you too. See below for how to enter the give-away.

I’ll admit I was a little skeptical that I’d like these scissors. I already have many pairs and really how many do I need? Well, I tried the scissors a while back and must say they are one of my most favourite pairs now. Here’s what I love about them:

Light-weight .. I mean really light weight, so that they are very comfortable.
Large cushy handles that fit nicely in my hand and don’t cause strain when used for long periods .. no more pinched fingers.
The packaging claims that the scissors can be used to cut through up to six layers of fabric with little effort, and they DO! Without the fabric shifting either.
The tips of the blades are as sharp as the rest of the blades, so that trimming curves and V’s for appliqué is super easy and accurate.

I don’t have anything negative to say about these scissors. One recommendation would be to make a larger pair with the same qualities. You can read more about the scissors on OLFA’s web site.

My Project

Below is the project I was working on when I first tried the scissors. It’s the centre circles for my hearts row for my Robin Rowers partner. I’ll post more photos of that project soon.

For my stuffed circles, I needed 5 larger circles in black, 5 smaller ones in white and 5 pieces of light weight batting. I’m using Karen Buckley’s Perfect Circles templates and Erin’s tutorial.

I traced a large circle onto one piece of black fabric, layered the five pieces together, stuck them with a pin, and cut out all pieces at one time. I did the same for the white circles…

… and the batting too.

Quick and easy!

Here’s one of the heart flowers that the circles were for:

Give-Away

OLFA is giving away a pair to one of my readers. To enter, leave a comment below telling me what you did this past weekend. Any gardening or quilting?

Winner will be randomly selected Sunday, April 22, 2012. Thanks to OLFA for adding such a great product to my quilting tool box.

Congratulations to #33 Cheryl Hartzog .. check your email for a message from me.

UFO Progress

Mishka — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:34:41 +0000

I made myself a promise that I would/could not start anything new until I finished some of my UFOs. *SIGH!* The story of most quilters everywhere!

The past week, I set about getting ready to baste four large quilts this weekend. In order to baste quilts in my apartment, I have to move the furniture around to make room. I am thrilled that I got the four tops basted and one of the quilts actually quilted too. The bindings are all done as well.

First up, I added the green border to my postage stamp quilt. Here it is basted and ready for quilting:

I plan to stitch in the ditch the sashings and then do a cathedral window style pattern around each 1.5″ square. This is last on my list of to be quilted.

Here’s my Images from my Garden quilt that I completed five years ago:

This was the first quilt I did when I got back into quilting after my 10 or so years hiatus. I had signed up for a class at the local quilt shop, but the class was cancelled. I had already purchased the pattern, so did it on my own. It is a Turning 20 pattern. The border is very wonky, I hope I can quilt it out! I’ve already drawn the diamond-shaped cross hatching lines for the quilting:

Here’s my Summer Fun quilt:

I adore this quilt. I finished the top a couple of years ago. The fabric is Califon by Mark Lapinski. It’s the Disappearing 9-patch pattern. I plan to quilt the centre with a large meander, stitch in the ditch the borders and blue flange, and then meander the outer yellow border too.

I also basted and quilted my Wonky Scrappy Log Cabin quilt. This one is being donated to Victoria’s Bumble Beans Basics charity.

I managed to get this top quilted this weekend. For the quilting, I stitched in the ditch all blocks and then stitched a flower pattern in each block. To make the flower pattern, I turned to one of my applique books, copied a design onto cardboard, then traced it in each block. As I was trimming the backing and batting, Milo just had to get in on the action:

Glamour photos will be taken once the quilt has been bound and washed.

The bindings are done for the above quilts too .. and a few others that I can’t show yet!!

All in all, a very productive week and weekend. I’m exhuasted!! LOL It does feel great to move these four quilts on to the actual quilting phase.

It hasn’t been all FUN this weekend, my brand new only 5 weeks old computer died on Friday. To say I’m extremely annoyed would be an understatement. It is under warranty, so I’ll deal with that tomorrow.

My Postage Stamp Quilt

Mishka — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:20:13 +0000

It started as this, 50 or so lonely 2″ squares in a box:

Cutting scraps, it became this, about 150 squares:

Not enough! So back in January 2010, I asked quilting friends around the world to exchange squares with me. Then I had this:

And the sewing began:

The first 16 blocks:

Time to open Electric Quilt and plan the design:

Fourteen more blocks needed to complete the quilt. More sewing, ironing, pinning:

Blocks complete, time to add the sashing strips:

Two rows attached:

The completed top, so far:

Pretty colours:

The scrappy back:

The details:

2″ cut squares, finishing at 1.5″
8×8 rows per block, or 64 squares, finishing at 12″
30 blocks = 1,920 squares
Missing from photos: 3″ light green border still to be added
Sashing strips and cornerstones finish at 0.75″, cut at 1.25″
Finished size: ~70″ x 83″
Back is 72 – 10″ (finished) squares

I have been called both crazy and insane this weekend as I’ve shared the photos on Facebook and Twitter while putting this top together. I’d have to agree.

Even though it hasn’t been quilted and bound yet, I have no doubt this will be my favourite quilt for many years to come.

I’m not sure how it happened, but this is what’s still in my box of 2″ squares:

I think they multiply as I sleep! I’m going to have to come up with another pattern for using these up, but that’s for another year!!

Linking up this post here:

Milo’s New Bed

Mishka — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 12:54:26 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I posted this photo to Facebook with a caption something like “Please tell my mom, or my Nana, that I need a new bed!”.

My friend Tammy said she’d whip up a new bed for Milo. Really, I thought she was joking and was trying to guilt me into making one myself… LOL. Nope, she was serious, and she just so happens to live in the same town as my sister who was coming to visit me the next weekend. Imagine my surprise when I got a message from Tammy the day before my sister was leaving to come pick up the bed.

This is what she sent, isn’t it just fabulous.

My sister took the bed out of the box she had it in and tossed it on the kitchen floor. Milo wasted no time at all jumping on top.

He was very sleepy after my nieces were here playing with him for a couple of hours.

Sleeping in my office:

I’ll often find him stretched out on his new bed playing with his ball or chewing a bone:

In other news, I finished putting the binding on the two Milo’s Star mini quilts I made for my nieces.

Of course, Milo had to get into the action as I was trying to take a photo.

Last week, I was packing to go meet up with my folks for an overnight trip. Milo was a little worried I might leave him behind.

Milo’s six-month birthday, earlier this month: “Please mom can we go to the dog park now!”

We’re off to the dog park on this glorious sunny day. Is it really March?

Earlier puppy photos of Milo are here and here.

Bytowne Threads

Mishka — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:17:57 +0000

In addition to running this web site, I also have my own web development business. Most of what I work on I can’t share due to confidentiality agreements. However, when I do create a web site for a quilting-related client, I’m thrilled to be able to share it here.

This is the latest site I completed for Bytowne Threads. Mari Lyn is the owner and she’s also my Aurifil dealer, so we’ve known each other for several years.

On her site she sells spools of Aurifil threads including cotton, polyester (Aurilux), wool, invisible nylon and metallics. She also has all of the Aurifil thread kits too. While she is the Canadian distributor for Aurifil, she ships world-wide. I think you’ll find her prices to be fantastic and hard to beat elsewhere on the ‘net.

In addition to Aurifil, Mari Lyn is also the worldwide distributor for Mother Earth Studios’ patterns and kits designed by Hilary Rice.

Savings for Quilting Gallery Readers

For the month of March, make a purchase at Bytowne Threads and save 10% by entering the coupon code QG2012.

My Colourful Interview

Mishka — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:51:53 +0000

Victoria of Bumble Beans Inc. asked me to participate in her Colourful Interviews series. How well do you know me .. what’s my favourite colour now and what’s my happy colour?

Part of the exercise was to choose a colour palette for myself and also one that I think represents Victoria. Can you guess which one is mine and which one I chose for her?

Head over to read Victoria’s site to read my Colourful Interview.

A Home for the Birds – A Quilt-Along Block

Mishka — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:09:22 +0000

Today is my day to share a block with you for Kim’s Home Sweet Home Quilt-Along. Thanks to Kim for inviting me to participate. This is the 10th block in the QAL. Visit Kim’s site to see the other gorgeous blocks that have been designed and the Flickr group to see how others have made the blocks.

As part of the quilt-along, Kim sent me some questions to answer. Read my interview here.

My block is called A Home for the Birds and finishes at 12″ square. It is created with fusible web and a machine blanket stitch. You could use any appliqué method you like to complete the block.

Requirements:

Download the pattern pieces
2 rectangles 5.75″ x 12.5″ for background (sky fabric)
various fabric scraps for the birdhouses
8 – 2″ squares that will be pieced in between the background rectangles
fusible web

Instructions:

Trace two copies of each of the pattern pieces onto your preferred fusible web. You’ll also need two rectangles of fusible for the birdhouse trunks that measure 4.5″ x 0.75″. Audition your scraps.

Fuse the fusible web to the background of your chosen fabrics following the manufacturer’s instructions. Cut out all of the pattern shapes. I used a rotary cutter for the straight lines.

Fold and finger press your background fabric, right sides together, along the long side. Use this fold line to position your birdhouse in the centre of your background rectangle.

Use a ruler to align your pieces straight.

Once you are happy with the arrangement, fuse the pieces in place.

I chose to use a short, but thick, blanket stitch in a contrasting colour.

Piece your 2″ squares into a strip using a scant 1/4″ seam allowance. Press seams open with a dry iron. This strip should measure 2″ x 12.5″.

Layout your block to get the orientation correct. Stitch one background to the 2″ scrappy strip, press seam open. Then stitch and press the other side.

Completed block.

Be sure to visit Kim’s Home Sweet Home QAL page to see the other blocks. If you complete this block, please upload your version to the QAL Flickr group and also to the Quilting Gallery Flickr group or tag me in Facebook. I’d love to see your block.

Please vote for my Love-ly Garden and My Creative Space

Mishka — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:18:56 +0000

Please vote for me!

Remember the Love-ly Garden appliqué project I did last week?

I entered it in Melissa’s Valentine’s contest. If you’re so inclined, can you vote for me please. My project is #20. Vote here! Just click the “Like” button under the photo. Voting ends Thursday at 9pm Pacific time.

My Creative Space

I’ve been really inspired by the Studio Organization Series in the Learning Center that today I cleaned up my own creative space. I’m looking forward to a weekend of Nascar and sewing. Daytona baby!

This is the shot from the corner of my office. As you can see, the sewing area calls my name, loudly, while I’m working at the computer. Please ignore the &*!#** design wall that fell again. I’ll be replacing it in a couple of weeks. The grey table beside my machine is temporary, I only use it when I’m working on a large quilt and need the extra support it offers.

My hand-dyed fabrics, some I’ve dyed, but most were purchased as a lot from a shop that was closing.

Miscellaneous fabrics … they used to be organized more by colour, but that didn’t last too long. I seem to keep coordinates or lines of fabric together more. Could use some improvements, but it’s working for me at the moment.

You’re turn: From the Learning Center earlier this week, Share your stash to Win a set of “Mini Bolts” fabric organizers.

Pat Sloan’s Girls in the Garden Blog Hop

Reminder: Don’t forget to visit each of the designers in the blog hop. Check out their interpretation of Pat Sloan’s Girls in the Garden patterns and enter for a chance to win a pattern.

Tuesday, Feb. 21: My special day – Enter my give-away here
Wednesday, Feb. 22: Heather of Olive and Ollie
Thursday, Feb. 23: Dawn of Spring Water Designs
Friday, Feb. 24: Amy of Amy’s Creative Side
Saturday, Feb. 25: Heather of {House}of A La Mode Fabric