Hexagons and Hearts

I had to make some time for sewing and quilting this week - partially because I *needed* a creative fix at my sewing machine and partially because I needed to make several gifts for upcoming events. I have started working on some of my own original sewing/quilting design patterns that will be available on my new/updated website in the near future. The first one I have been finalizing is a stitching wallet...and I have been working on several prototypes. I finished one yesterday...it will be an upcoming gift for a very special friend...and I am just tickled with the results!

Instead of English Paper Piecing (EPP) hexagons for the outside of the wallet, I decided to fuse them in place on a background fabric and machine appliqué each hexagon place. I used my AccuQuilt GO! fabric cutter to cut the hexagons, playing with various sizes. Once I had the outside of my wallet complete, I started playing with ideas for the inside. I wanted a place to hold a pair of scissors, a wool piece for pins/needles and several pockets to hold a ruler, package of needles, and special stitching accessories. I used some fun Riley Blake cotton quilting fabrics (So Happy Together by Deena Rutter) for the inside...and added some adorable owl ribbon for a fun embellishment. I finished it off by adding red binding around the perimeter and an elastic with vintage button closure..

I have several more of these in the works with assorted fabrics - as my finished pattern will have several different options....and I may sew up a few for my Etsy shop (you know, in my spare time).

Finally today - a HUGE thank you to those who have been voting daily for my quilt block designs - I really appreciate your support and kindness - two of my blocks are currently in the top 25 (shown below), but I would love to boost them up even higher! I would really like to win some money for my charity (The Komen 3-Day)...so please consider voting (it's really easy - just click on the titles of my designs below or read my previous post for details)...and to those of you already placing votes daily - I heart you! Remember you can vote for all your favorite blocks once per day (per email address)...

Pinwheel Party

Blue Skies

Triangular Tuffets

I am in model stitching mode today, but I wanted to stop by quickly and show you the finished chair cushions I made over the weekend. I have two wooden chairs in my studio - one at my desk and one at my sewing/serger machines....these are really not the most comfortable chairs, but like many of you, I work with what I have. So, I decided to make a couple quilted tie-on cushions - to make the chairs prettier and to make my hiney happier. I used the Tuxedo Collection by Doodlebug Design Inc. for Riley Blake, as it matches my studio nicely...and some black grosgrain ribbon with white polka dots for the ties. The top is pieced 7" equilateral triangles and the bottom is a 7" hexagon...both cut on my Studio Fabric Cutter using Nested Bullseye Dies by AccuQuilt. I was able to accurately cut all the pieces in just a couple minutes and started sewing right away...I fused a piece of Pellon SF-101 Shape-Flex Interfacing to the wrong size of each hexagon, to make the bases nice and sturdy. I quilted the tops with cotton batting and muslin, then filled the tuffets firmly with fiberfill - in fact, I over-stuffed them, because I knew they would flatten out after I sit on them for hours. I added the grosgrain ribbon to tie the cushions in place...and I think they turned out perfectly! It only took me a couple hours to completely make both cushions and they are such a nice added touch to my studio...

I am headed back to my stitching nest for a few hours, then it is back to work on my website...the sun is shining (I will try not to focus on the 45 mph wind gusts - ugh!), so I will be taking both dogs on good walks to the park today, as well. Enjoy you day!

Sewing Stars

Today I am back to share another sample I created for AccuQuilt - the Bullseye Mosaic Triangle Quilt....along with a table runner I put together yesterday in the same style. Both the quilt and the table runner use Bullseye Hexagons and Bullseye Equilateral Triangles, cut with the Studio Fabric Cutter...using these two shapes and piecing in rows, completely removes the need for inset seams, making the piecing much easier than expected. Plus the Bullseye Equilateral Triangle dies have dog-eared corners allowing the cut shapes to line up perfectly!

Here is a close-up look at the two sets of Buyllseye Nested Dies needed for the quilt and the table runner. In the back in each photo, you see the Foam Boards (without blades for spacing)...and in the front you see the Blade Boards (with blades for cutting). Mix and match these two sets of die boards to cut a variety of shapes and sizes. You can read all about these Bullseye Nested Die Sets and see videos that show exactly how they work by visiting this link:
http://www.accuquilt.com/cutting-dies/studio-bullseye-nested-dies.html

Photo courtesy of AccuQuilt.com
Bullseye Equilateral Triangles-Odd-1", 3", 5", 7" Finished Sides for Studio

Photo courtesy of AccuQuilt.com
Bullseye Hexagons-1"-7" Finished Sides for Studio

....and here is a look at the Studio Mosaic Triangle Quilt that uses these two die sets...oh my goodness, how I love this quilt....it was so difficult to ship it to AccuQuilt - after it was complete, I REALLY wanted to keep it in my personal collection...in fact, I may have to make another, just for me! You can currently find this pattern for free on the the AccuQuilt website. It measures approximately 39" W x 48" H...and it does take a while to correctly piece all the equilateral triangles, but it is straight forward piecing with no inset seams! Having a design wall is quite helpful to make sure you keep all the pieces lined up correctly...

Bullseye Mosaic Triangle Quilt Pattern for Studio

For my table runner, I simply used one complete star row from the quilt pattern...I used 4 hexagons (3" finished) and 72 equilateral triangles (3" finished). I wanted a nice cheerful table runner to brighten up my living room coffee table and this size fit perfectly. The fabrics are from the retired line Oz by Sanae for Moda.

My schedule continues to be quite full, but I am doing my best to finish up a few more sewing/quilting projects. I also have new needlework designs I will be able to share with you soon, along with a plethora of other projects...and yes, I am still working away on my new website design with tons of new features...it should be another productive week!

AQS QuiltWeek in Des Moines

I actually took the day off yesterday to visit the 2013 AQS QuiltWeek being held at the Iowa Events Center (October 2-5). My dear friend Kimber and her husband Tom were kind enough to invite me along again this year to view the show with them...and it truly was a splendid day! We headed downtown bright and early, so we could see everything in one day - we actually arrived before the doors opened. We started by walking the vendor area, then we perused the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild 30th Annual Quilt Show...and finally we walked the AQS Quilt Contest Exhibit. It was sensory overload as we visited an array of fabulous vendors, then took in all the incredible quilts on display...I was so inspired by the creativity and talent, that I completely lost track of time and the day evaporated without a second thought. If you are in the Des Moines area or plan to be this week, this show is a MUST SEE. After we finished our visit to the quilt show, we headed to the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall to see the antique and vintage quilts, sewing notions, and sewing memorabilia vendors prominently placed about their booths...and yes, we did find a couple goodies. After our day of shopping, viewing, and walking, we had all built up quite an appetite...so we headed to The Drake Diner to refuel - a local favorite/landmark for a delicious late lunch. It was the perfect day off....and has quickly become a favorite annual event!

The show included an incredible merchandise mall with more than 280 Merchant Mall booths! Yes, there was shopping GALORE - aisles upon aisles of ways to spend your hard-earned money...in fact, the shopping mall was so large, it took us most of the morning to walk down each of the aisles. I must admit, I did very well at controlling my "urge" to spend and kept my purchases to a minimum...in fact, I only purchased a couple patterns (although I was tempted by MANY). I thought I would share a few of my favorite booths with you..and yes, these photos were all taken with the permission of the kind and creative vendors....

First up, Yellow Creek Quilt Designs...I love this vendor and their gorgeous designs! I seriously could live in this booth - each and every one of their quilt designs is incredible and every single one is on my "must make" list. They have a brand new book called "Kindred Spirits: Celebrating Pieces of the Past", and many of the projects were on display (BREATHTAKING!) - this book is another "must have" for me. One of the things I admire about their designs - you can use traditional fabrics (their style) or switch it up and use modern fabrics to give each piece an updated look...making them perfect for just about any quilter! They also had the most incredible hexagon quilts on display...using teeny tiny hexagons...the ones in the photo have hexagons that are 1/4" and 3/8"...but we were shown even smaller paper pieces (yes, they were itty bitty!)...I was awestruck by these models and their intricacy (I feel very blessed they allowed me to take a couple photos to share with you). Yellow Creek Designs has a quilt shop in Pearl City, IL...or visit their website for their online shop...you won't be disappointed...

Another very favorite vendor - From my heart to your hands: Quilt Designs by Lori Smith. I have adored Lori's designs for years - so much so, that there are a bunch (and I mean a bunch!) in my personal stash (and I hate to admit it, but I have purchased some of her designs twice, because they speak to me and I forget what all I have in my collection). Walking up to Lori's vendor booth, my eyes were immediately drawn to "Mrs. Lincoln's Sampler Quilt" (pattern shown right and model shown in the top photo below)...it is incredible...and was one of the two purchases I made in the vendor mall...I can't begin to tell you how much I love this quilt...it is so very "me". I can hear each and every one of her models calling my name and I could spend hours in this particular booth admiring each design...love, love, love! Visit the From my heart to your hands: Quilt Designs by Lori Smith website to see all these beauties and Lori's online shop...it is FULL of eye candy!

Finally, the Millie P's Quilt Shop booth...the fabulous models from this vendor stood out to me from the very start! It looks like I have a new shop to visit when I am in Minnesota in a couple weeks (even if I have to drag my husband kicking and screaming!). Millie P's Quilt Shop is located in Anoka, MN and is a "must visit" for me. I jut love their color and fabric choices...and their models make you want to purchase every pattern they have for sale. I also adored the white fixture holding fat quarters...it was such an inviting display. Everything was cheerful and beautiful and made me happy...

Up next...my view of the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild 30th Annual Quilt Show (through my camera lens, of course)...I truly took hundreds of photos - but here are some that stood out to me. This year's annual show was titled "Our Quilting Legacy" and included over 400 quilts made by guild members. The show also included a silent auction with over 100 small quilts...here is a slideshow...visit my Flickr page for sharper images and details of each photo (including entry information and quilter's names)...

Created with flickr slideshow.
Now for the 2013 AQS QuiltWeek Contest Quilts...and these were spectacular - there were over 170 AQS contest quilts vying for $44,000 in cash awards! One of my favorites was "On Your Mark" created by Barbara Barrick McKie in Lyme, CT...it was in the fabric art category...and it was a SQUIRREL quilt...and it looked completely realistic and 3D - the squirrel was jumping off the quilt - and although it was not a ribbon winner, I thought it was incredible! Take a look at the slideshow below to see all the quilts (including the squirrel)...and again, visit my Flickr page for sharper images and details of each photo (including entry information and quilter's names)...

Created with flickr slideshow.
I know I have given you plenty of inspiring images today...and I still have some more to share in the next several days...check back in a day or two if you would like to see more images from my day off!