Bottled Rainbows!

I've started!

 

Finally I had some time post-commissions and pre-auction quilt final rush

to start in on Rachel's Bottled Rainbows QAL.

I'm really excited to work on something I know a little bit about and love

(ticker tape quilts)

but really it's a way in to working on things I vowed I would work on this year

(color, quilt-as-you-go, different applique techniques)

 

I mean, look how cute! I'm trying pinking the edges instead of straight cutting.

I know it'll change once washed, but I'm hoping the "fray" will be 

a little easier to handle with the pinked edges.

 

Because I'm lazy and addicted to getting done faster, 

I free-motion around each piece instead of using my walking foot and turning,

and turning, and turning, and ...well you get the idea.

I know this makes for less straight lines, but I've found that

once washed, the stitching nearly disappears.

 

And I think it helps with the sort of cracked glass look.

This is such a fun project! I get to work on the precision of the color picking,

and improvise at the same time.

I've finished these two, red and violet.  I'm still looking for a couple of perfect colors.

I ordered the fat quarter packet from Whipstitch, made especially for this project,

but I didn't like a few of the colors, too bold and candy-like,

so I'm filling them in from my Kona stash,

and hunting for the rest on my (seemingly) daily pilgrimages to Joann's.

Meanwhile, I leave you with some latest pics of a few of the chucks.

I love them so.

Allison.

Moonlight

Sunny (sorry, girl, to interrupt your laying)

Happy Spring!

People's Light Auction Quilt

Here we go!

People's Light and Theatre's annual auction is coming up!

Which means my donation of a hand-crafted quilt is underway!

I picked up this bag of remnants from the costume shop.

They are from this fall's production of Legacy of Light by Karen Zacharias.

I was in this production and it was one of the most satisfying experiences 

I've ever had on stage.

So the idea of making an auction quilt from the fabric remnants thrilled me.

Even if working with silks and sheers and non-cotton fabrics is super challenging.

But I've learned a trick:

Sheer weight fusible interfacing!

I bought 10 yards of it ($1.99/yd and then 50% off at JoAnn's!)

and just stabilized big chunks (about a fat quarter or so) 

of all the pieces I wanted to use.

So much less fraying! So much easier to measure and cut,

needless to say, to sew!

So I'm making up a bunch of simple, improvised log cabin squares.

Trying to keep it simple, to let the elegance of the fabric do the talking.

 

Sweet, yes? And I think the simple elegance has a casual, easy-going feel, too.

I have 16 9" blocks so far.  I wanna make 24, maybe.

The finished quilt will end up measuring approx. 42" x 64".

And I think I want to do something easy and, well, more comfy

for the backing.  I was thinking a nice silver-gray linen

or polished cotton.  I think it'll go more with the modern elegance of the blocks, 

and make it more usable.

I always think it is such a shame to only use a quilt as a wall hanging, don't you?

So, stay tuned for the finished product...

starting...

... on the Bottled Rainbows project!  just starting....

I just couldn't wait for the complete pack of Kona Cottons to arrive from Whipstitch Fabrics. 

So I looked through my (vast) stash of Konas, and found 

several of the colors prescribed in 

Rachel's QAL!

I've only just begun to pull scraps and bits from my stash to go with the solids.

Oooh, boy.  This is gonna be fun!

Join us?

pip! pip! hooray!!

 

 I can barely contain myself!

It's Here!

 Aneela's sherbet pips!!

 when the Fat Quarter Shop announced it...

 I went right for it.  

During a 10 minute break from rehearsal. 

On my iPhone

 How could I wait any longer for that swinging girl?

 And I'm not a dog-girl. But I Love this dog.

 And the dots! and squares! and dots in squares!

 and scarves!?! I think they are my favorite...

but then I saw the snail crawling oh-so-quietly amoung the flora.

and you know (or maybe you don't) about my

forever-obsession with snails.

Thanks, Aneela, for giving this to us.

What should I make with this treasure?

how much is Too Much?

Can there be TOO many quilts?

 

or a quilt that is TOO big?

 If I can complete the quilting on this without committing hari kiri,

 it might be really cool!

 oh, and a sneak peek at an original quilt I'm making for friends

who gave me a box of fabric memories

(wool tartans, handkerchiefs, school uniforms, ties, tablecloths, etc)

and said: "Have Fun!"

 a twist on the "t-shirt quilt".

 another commission.  She wants three!

 And the restaurant across the street wants quilts to offer to

customers who want to eat their meal in the park.

 (eat your veggies!)

 The restaurant is called Yo Dogs, and they are the best dogs, burgers, and fries EVER!

These are all things I'm working on this moment.  

It doesn't even include the three (yes, THREE)

finished tops and backs (all twin size or larger)

waiting for their batting and quilting.

Have I gone off the deep end?

I am having a blast, so no worrying allowed.

:-)