Flip and Stitch Table Runner

Recently, I used the 'Flip & Stitch' method to create a carrying case for my new laptop... it had been a while since I had used this method to create anything, and I had forgotten how much fun it is.  So I decided to use that method again when I wanted to make a new table runner for our dining room table.  I had just organized my fabric stash by colors, so it was fairly easy to select a group of fabrics I could use, and I had a piece of batting large enough, as well as some muslin for the backing.  Unfortunately, I didn't take any 'in process' photos, but here's how it turned out:

It has some stripped pieces I created last year after I got Rayna Gillman's book "create your own free-form quilts", which I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn to play with piecing.  At any rate, I used the pieces along with scraps of un-pieced fabrics, and decided to go with an angular layout.  And I had lots of fun figuring out what to do to quilt it - fairly simple mostly, although I did do some free-motion quilting on the blue leaf-motif batik and one of the strips with copper color and a flower and vine motif.  I like this well enough that I think I'll put together a couple of placemats with the same or similar fabrics... great way to use up some of my stash, isn't it? 

Nine patch finished/special order

Remember this?  Well, I finally finished it yesterday:

It now resides on our dining table... just the right size to cover the center where dishes are placed during dinner!  Meanwhile, I still need to finish the Split Rail lap quilt.  It's going to be a beauty when it's done... but it may take awhile.  I'm in the middle of a tie-dye special order for a friend in Washington State.  Here is one of the tops I have made for her:

This is a really neat asymmetrical tunic... very graceful, and a perfect display for my "Autumn Leaves" batik pattern.  But I will probably be doing other designs on this style as well.  I will post pix of the other two tops when they are done.  One is a light weight rayon poncho, the other a cotton woven "Bohemian" style shirt.

And as if I didn't have enough to do, I have taken a commitment to create a brochure for a fellow artist who makes jewelry... just a sideline that has evolved over the past couple of years.  Never a dull moment!  

Split Rail Quilt top

Yesterday, I finished assembling the Split Rail top for my quilting class:

The photo doesn't do the fabric justice!  It's all batik fabrics, and the colors are light and dark teal, light and dark gold, and a white with teal leaves.  This is my second split rail -- I did one about 5 years ago in another basic quilting class -- and putting this one together has been very easy!  I have one more class session where we make the border, get into pinning and quilting, quilt sleeve, label and binding.  Obviously, we won't finish the quilt in class, but my memory of the last one is that it isn't complex, just takes a little time.  I will post final pix when it is done.

Look Grandma, I'm quilting!

Well... it had to happen sooner or later. After all, I did inherit the quilting gene from both my paternal grandma and my paternal great-grandma... probably countless other ancestors as well. But for years I have been resistant to traditional quilting... too much measuring, too much precision, and really! How many bed quilts can you use? Well, the perfect opportunity has presented itself. As posted awhile back, my quilters' guild makes quilts for several organizations in the community, to be distributed and used by those less fortunate. Our guild has a committee that cuts and packages fabric and instructions for several items that are checked out by members, assembled, then turned back in to the committee. I have done several pillow cases over the past couple of years, but I finally decided to bite the bullet and try one of the quilt kits. It even gave instructions for how to put together a pattern (absoloutely essential in my book!). Anyway, I'm about 2/3 done with the quilt top:

When finished, it will be a lap quilt. I'm not totally thrilled with the colors selected to go with the print fabric, but I'm looking at this as a good learning experience. Maybe the next one I do, I'll grab fabric from my stash instead of checking out a kit... one way to reduce the overcrowding in the stash dresser! More to come...

New quilt

I have been working on a quilt for someone to give as a baby gift, and finally finished it and got it in the mail yesterday. Since they live in the mountains, she wanted a mountain scene, and I love doing those.

It was a little difficult to get a good picture because this is not a 'hanging' quilt', but I got my trusty step ladder out!

Had some difficulty with thread breaking for awhile, then gave up on using cotton quilt thread and pulled out some cotton/poly thread... no more problems!

Meanwhile, I've been hit with several sales from my ArtFire shop, which was nice! And I have a backlog of dyeing to catch up on... life is good!