from my friend

I got some happy mail this week (and in record time from Canada too!)

One day, Krista (of Poppyprint fame) and I were lamenting the fact that we hadn't been paired with someone we knew in a swap...
*bing!* (that's the sound of a lightbulb)...
So we decided to do a little side swap of our own.



She asked me if I wanted a pillow or a doll quilt... I requested a pillow cover with binding so it could masquerade as a wall hanging if necessary.

But since it matches my couch quilt, and another French General quilt I have in the works, I have a feeling it will remain a pillow (though I do need to pick up a bigger pillow form)



A final note --
Should you ever see that Krista has signed up for a swap -- join that swap pronto, in hopes that she might be your partner.

Her work... flawless.

Even the back of this pillow is gorgeous, and with buttons!



Thank you Krista!  I adore this little quilty project... adore, adore, adore.

(Now you just need to come to Quilt Market with E and I). :)

pillow talk swap progress

I'm trying to get this finished well ahead of the Dec. 15 deadline (because I have a million Christmas gifts to make.)

Got the top pieced!



I've asked my partner if (s)he would prefer a hexagon shaped pillow, or for me to square it up.  I can't decide which I'd like to do more.

This was my starting stack of fabric.



I used a design idea from Material Obsession 2, ordered the template from here, and got busy.

It was my first time doing set-in seams, and they went really well thankfully.

You can kind of see in this picture, each of the sixty degree triangles are make up of thirds.  Then it's just about rearranging (I think I rearranged for over an hour, and have a nice stack of those little pieces cut in a spare box... waiting for me)



I do think it's funny that both my pillow talks so far have been in the orange and grey color scheme... I think it's quite popular these days.

Oh, and in case my partner doesn't respond -- what say you all?  Keep it a hexie, or square it up?

a doll quilt for a friend

I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner... but swapping with a friend really is more fun (at least some of the time).

This is the little doll quilt I made for miss Krista of Poppyprint creates.  If you haven't met Krista yet, you really should, because she is the perfect blend of artistic and scientific, sympathetic and realistic, and all kinds of encouraging and genuine.

My goal is to drive up the 5 to her land of Canada one day quite soon.

Originally, I was going to use a different design from Material Obsession 2, when I saw a little blog post of miss Krista's.

Thankfully, I knew a cheater way to make those lone star diamonds, and had even made one before, so this weekend, after adding a few new voiles to my collection, I got started.

And then I wanted to finish.

I made an error with a few of my measurements, and consequently had to change some of the fabric selections (I didn't want to waste Little Folks), but I still think it turned out beautifully.  

I also wasn't sure how to quilt it, and Krista, I hope you don't mind what I settled with... I really wanted the fabric to stand out on the quilt (because it's so pretty).

The border is one of my favorite parts of the quilt (that and the purple diamonds), so I chose my binding so as to enhance and not detract from the border.  

The linen is the heavy linen from Moda's French General.

I hope you love it!  No rush on the return Krista!  As soon as I get the label sewn on, I'll mail it your way.

(The reality is, I have a Christmas to make list a mile long, a couple more swap items, and just got our insurance changed over finally ;) ;)... Since I don't know how much sewing I'll be doing in a couple months, I wanted to get it done now!). :)

P.S.  Thank you everyone for all the love on "I Dance in Circles."

a little mug rug

...all ready to send. :)  For the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap.



I used templates from this magazine, with some of Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks, and some linen.



I'm thinking of resizing it to make a whole quilt. :)

the thing about swaps...

...they're addicting...
...they challenge you... and
...they're pretty fun. :)

I sent my Doll Quilt Swap quilt, and Jennifer has received it. :)




This magazine supplied the inspiration and templates, and I think I've said it before, but this piece was such a testament to  how my skills have grown... it's like I think in quarter-inches now, and can anticipate where the points will intersect.



See? ;)

The inspiration for this quilt was my partner's preferences.  She said she loved neon, stars, squared up quilts, and "chartreuse, magenta, and gray" in particular.

The backgrounds are Kona Ash and Kona Coal; there are some Kona solids mixed with a little Plume and Flora and Fauna.

She says she liked it.  I sure hope so.



I named it "80's rock star"

_________________

Interested in signing up for a swap?  The "Modern Swappers" is currently open for sign ups now.
If you browse around their flickr pool (linked above), you'll see their last round produced some pretty cool stuff.

Disclaimers: You need to be an active flickr member (if you're not yet -- it's free, and will get your ready for the next swap that comes up!), AND you need to not be a flake, AND you need to be conscientious of your partner's preferences. :)

___________________

I'll be back later today or tomorrow morning for the next step of the Chubby Stars Quilt Along. :)

Coloring in.

My friend Jenn, made a much prettier coloring page for you.

So for all you chubby star quilt makers/planners -- here you go.





----------------------------

Speaking of coloring in...

I've got a very clever partner, who has some particular tastes.  So I haven't posted photos of my progress from the Doll Quilt Swap 9 in much color yet (let's just say I was getting in touch with my inner 80s child)...

But here you can see what I've been up to.

The plan:



The progress:



The present state:



I'm trying to decide on how to quilt the stars... or whether to quilt the stars.  For now I've just started echo quilting in the negative space.  My machine is not good with free-motion, and those little pieces are quite small...  any thoughts?

(And I worked so hard on getting those points just right -- I have to say they are a testament to how my skills are growing.  I used the templates from this magazine.)

You know you've arrived when...

... the lovely Heather posts one of your creations in her inspiration mosaic!

Thanks Heather!



(some other people even followed suit... I feel so honored). :)
(Top left pic is mine, by the way...)



For {Urban} Home Goods Swap.

I want to make another Pretty Petal Clutch.  And I want to get this book too.

Layout ideas

I like to practice for my swaps before I jump right in.

So I took these.



And made some HSTs (half-square triangles)



And I'm trying a few lay-outs.



I've a feeling this will become a pillow.

Maybe I'll even make one for us.  Because Jay would be thrilled to not have to bring the pillow from the bed to the couch so he can have something upon which to rest his head.

Doll Quilt swap 9 - Dear Partner

Here's my Inspiration mosaic!



1. Doll Quilt Swap 8, 2. the back - full shot, 3. Lila's Quilt - Front, 4. scrappy crazy quilt, 5. dqs8 received, 6. Little Bouquet Quilt Along, 7. My Doll Quilt from katiejeanbags, 8. Circular logic ~ PTS3, 9. quilt dreams for spiced coffee, 10. option 3 raw edge DQS8, 11. Scrap block for Dorrie, 12. If it's a boy quilt - front, 13. Bridie's Zig Zag Quilt, 14. ruffle quilt, 15. tick tock, 16. Marion's Puppy, 17. Summer Bling quilt, 18. picking up the pieces 1, 19. Half Square Triangle Quilt, 20. Double Wedding Ring Quilt, 21. French General Pumpkin Seed, 22. dqs8 ALSO made by Nanci, received!, 23. Finished Cushion, 24. in a world full of quilts, 25. finished and all quilted

As you can see, I like circles, and circular things.  And I also love HSTs in a diamond design.

I think I will put your quilt in my sewing room area, so fun and colorful and handmade would be wonderful!

I love value quilts, and linen mixed with solids or pretty prints.

I'm not usually wild about zig-zags or what I think of as harsh geometry, but if it has the cool value/tonal changes like the one in the middle, then I love it!

I think of myself as sort of a happy blend between modern and traditional.  So have fun!