dresden mini quilt

its no secret around here that i love me a mini quilt (or two or three) and since it has been a while since a new mini has graced my studio with its presence, i decided that this weekend would be for sewing and quilting. although there is no modern quilt guild anywhere in my area (can you believe it? i might have to remedy that), i've been inspired by the EZ dresden quilt challenge, held by the salt lake modern quilt guild.

mini quilts are a fantastic way to get a little instant gratification, play with interesting fabric combinations, or, like this one, try out new and sometimes challenging techniques. not only did i use my EZ dresden ruler for the first time with this project, i got to test out the six minute circle. while it might have taken much much longer than six minutes to sew this big circle, its a method that i'll tuck into my bag of tricks, to be used again in the very near future.

i'm loving this one. it feels fresh, modern, and clean. the combination of grey and turquoise has really inspired me as well - i can't wait to use this color palette in more projects soon. and since this dresden mini has me feeling oh so modern, i think it should be part of {sew} modern monday over at canoe ridge creations. its a good way to start the week!

it seems that its been mini quilt weather around these parts - rainy, quiet mornings and sunny afternoons lend an appealing air to my little sewing table by the kitchen window. though i miss my 'studio' in the bright sunroom we had in our home in maine, this will have to do. and it is.

mini quilts seem to be my distraction these days. i should be cutting triangles and wool felt, attaching zippers to linings and outers, designing a simple dolly that wears skirts or shirts or hats, and finally finishing that twin size quilt that's been hanging around forever. but instead i choose to experiment with new techniques and blocks, mixing fabrics that i never thought would compliment each other. not such a bad distraction if you ask me!

what a way to start of the week - one blog post down, three mini quilts done, one in progress, and the sun is shining! it would seem that quilting-all-day-with-frankie-as-helper rather than serving-food-while-family-is-home-without-me is agreeing with this mama. now, if i could get some better lighting in here i would show you the progress that i made this weekend - winter craft fairs, here i come!

 

a + b + c =

a new trio of mini quilts:

improv pieced,

patchwork letters,

meant to hang in a row.

i fully intend to continue on with this project - whether that means completing the alphabet or moving on to numbers. i love how freeing the patchwork became and the puzzle that improv piecing can be. the process of straight line quilting (i echoed the shape of the letters with a new line every 1/4") was a bit addictive as well. it became a chance to meditate on the work that i had done and the possibilities of what could be.

frankie insists that the letter 'a' quilt should be full size - she sits her little self down on the floor and tries to cover her  toes with a quilt that is just not big enough. maybe a 'frances mae' quilt is in the starts for my baby girl.

it would be an understatement to say that i am very much looking forward to october. i am going to organize my sewing table (the mess is a bit embarrassing at this moment), finish a few quilts, and get started on some new projects that have been brewing and stewing in my head all summer.

one of those projects involves mini quilts - this paper pieced star was made in one day and i oh so love it. wouldn't you like one to hang on your wall or keep on your dresser?

xo for now

spiderweb mini quilt: done!
oh how nice it is to both start and finish a project all in one day.
a nice sense of accomplishment on my end, thank you very much.

and now to gather the prettiest shells and stones i can find at the seashore, a good bar of local chocolate, and some other fancy vineyard goodies - wrap it all up in brown paper packaging, and send this baby to its rightful owner! (wink, wink. can you guess who you are!?)

mini quilt top is done! and i'm unsure -

don't get me wrong, i'm very proud of myself for how well all of my corners line up and for measuring everything correctly - in fact, measuring and sewing well enough that my quilt top is exactly the size i wanted it to be. its the fabric choices i made that i'm unsure of (good news is that the bed size quilt i have planned that is based on this will be much more calm color wise. so calm that i'm only using two fabrics). for the most part, i love how the blue stands out and contrasts against the green and orange prints. but there are two big blocks of orange that just stare at me. i don't like them. one bit. and if i could go back and re-cut and reposition, i would.

but its just an experiment. just a mini mock up.
and it will make a beautiful doll quilt for frankie's friends.
(after i piece together a back and quilt and bind, of course)

new mini quilt in the works -

i'm trying to decide if the bed size quilt i have planned would really work.
although it seems that i've taken this mini mock-up in a different direction than intended.

so far all of my triangle points are matching up (!!!) and even though i cut the wrong number of triangles from one specific fabric, i'm pretty excited to see how this one comes together. and the nicest thing about making a mini quilt? i might be able to get it made in a reasonable amount of time - considering i have a wild toddler and a full time job.

and it's done!

drum roll please...i met, neigh, beat a deadline. a little pat on the back is in order for myself - i was never once worried that i wouldn't be finished in time with this project. it just worked!

many thanks to the handsome johnny - table runner model extraordinaire.

the mission for this little sew-along (hosted by stumbles & stitches) was this: celebrate spring, and find inspiration in rashida coleman's zig zag table runner from her book i love patchwork.

now i love spring - the weather is just perfect (once it hits 78 degrees, i'm crabby), windows get cracked open for the first time in months, mud, and happy little flowers budding and blooming. purple and blue crocuses live in my yard - hence the purple and blue spring runner, complete with lots (and lots and lots) of white and some vintage daisies for binding.

and not mention some half square triangles that i'm finally happy with! matching corners and consistent size, be-still my heart. now if only i were brave enough to put it on our table - maybe white wasn't the best idea with a wild toddler who loves nothing more than to eat, both food and crayons.

spring sew along - process

so i agreed to do this thing -
by which i mean, i committed myself to a deadline.

let me start with this: on every one of my trips to the local craft supply store i pick up a copy of 'i love patchwork' by rashida coleman-hale. it is beautiful. perfect squares, lambs in aprons and oh! the detail! and when i happened to stumble upon this spring sew-along at stumbles & stitches i thought why not, right? couldn't hurt to have a project.

we move in one month and i have maybe (maybe) three boxes packed.
i'm not very good at this whole moving thing.

but i said that i would do it and by gosh - i am doing it!

i'm loving a simple color palette - black and white with some aqua and lavender and a little bit of pink - ready for spring. i thought this would be the perfect project to practice half square triangles (those pesky corners look best when they match!) and some improv piecing. it may look like i'm just at the beginning, but i loaded up the woodstove and i am awake far past my bedtime. but i just couldn't stop.

and its done.
and i couldn't be happier.
and i can't wait to make more.



can you imagine an entire gallery filled with these little quilts?
i can, and it would be beautiful.

stitching and stitching and stitching today.

sometimes with a baby on my lap, calmly watching what it is that i am doing.
sometimes i hunch my shoulders a little more than i should.
(must remember all of my yoga - deep breathing, too)
more often than not, my hands get achey and crampy from holding onto my work too tight.
the pad on my right index finger burns a little.

i'm still a little undecided on what this actually is. it could be a mug rug (i might not be a huge fan of the title, but i love this project) or it could be a mini quilt. but maybe before those things it will be a snack mat for frankie, along with some napkins and maybe a smaller mat for mama.

now to bind.
and then show off.