New Quilt Pattern Tutorial! Portrait Gallery

Head on over to http://www.modabakeshop.com/ to check out my newest quilt pattern and tutorial called Portrait Gallery.  I used Sherbet Pips to make this double-bed sized quilt.

I also used Sherbet Pips to make this Doll Quilt:

I wanted to show you how great the Pips look with gray framing instead of black.  Love it!

Let me know if you have any questions or encounter any challenges with the pattern.  Meanwhile, please be sure to check out the Quilt-Along that I'm hosting over at http://www.aboveallfabric.com/!  Up next we will be making the bag that carries the quilt and all of your picnic goodies.

Finally, if you haven't already checked out my new quilting business, Cotton Pig, please do.  I am running a great kick-off sale on longarm quilting services for only the next couple of weeks.  Spaces are filling up fast!

Thanks to everyone who has already said wonderful things about these projects.  Without such a supportive quilting community, none of this would be possible!

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Stumped. And Three Finished Quilts.

I have just finally finished a huge project that has taken me a lot of long nights and ripped stitches.  More about that later.  In the meantime, I'm stumped about what to tackle next.  I'm on vacation all next week so part of me doesn't want to start something and leave it partially undone while I'm gone, trying to relax.

I have finished three project quilts this week!  Wooohoooo!  In case you're wondering why you haven't heard from me on Twitter, I've been either wrangling three kids on Spring Break, driving to and from tennis lessons, playing my own tennis matches, or binding and photographing quilts.

One finished project is my DQS10 (Doll Quilt Swap) quilt for my partner:

I used Aneela Hoey's Sherbet Pips fabric and Elizabeth Hartman's Kitchen Windows technique.  This is the third concept I tried but the only one that came together well.

The second project I finished is the AboveAllFabric.com Spring Quilt Along Quilt.  Come join us to see more! 

The third project I finished is an upcoming ModaBakeShop recipe.  Stay tuned for more info.

Finally, if any of you have recommendations for what to see/do/eat in Turks & Caicos, please let me know.  Hub and I are off on Monday for almost a week alone scuba diving, etc.  We've never been there before and would love advice, especially which dive shop to use.  Our ten year wedding anniversary was last September and we are finally able to celebrate it properly :-)  If you don't hear from me next week, you'll know what I'll be up to (and get your minds out of the gutter, there will be lots of BOOK READING AND NAPPING).

Cheers!

Chris

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February Finish - Week #1 DONE!

I finished this about 5 minutes before midnight last night.  Just made it under the wire!

I am going to wash and dry this today before taking some better pictures.  I will post them as soon as I get them snapped and uploaded.

I stitched the last of the binding during the Super Bowl.  Of course, I had to look up when the commercials were on ;-)

This quilt was made with two layers of batting so it is very substantial and heavy.  I love it so far and can't wait to see how it comes out of the dryer!

I am working on a big Moda Bake Shop project that is going to take a bit of my time in the next couple of weeks so my next February Finish week is going to be challenging!  I think I'm going to tackle the Michael Miller Christmas Quilt next.  It needs sashing, basting, quilting, binding.  So there is quite a bit of work left in it!  Right now it looks like this:



This quilt is part of the original Old Red Barn Co Quilt Along.  Why, yes, I do mean the one that started in 2009!  It's one of the most simple patterns too (Rail Fence) but when you make anything in holiday fabric, it becomes very difficult to work on when that holiday is nowhere near.  I need to get this WIP monkey off my back asap.  So that's what's coming up this week.  Stay tuned for updates!

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MODA BAKE SHOP!!!!

What an honor to be selected to present a project over at Moda Bake Shop!  Today you can click on over there to see my first Moda Bake Shop Recipe which is a set of 6 personalized holiday placemats.  I used charm packs of Kate Spain's 12 Days of Christmas fabric but this project is adaptable to any fabrics or themes.  Um, just in case you didn't know it, I'm Kate Spain's dedicated stalker fan.  I LOVE her designs and can't get enough of them!  And as for charm packs, don't get me started.  They are so easy, it's a little bit like cheating don't you think?  I love Moda pre-cuts.  Every time I pick up my rotary cutter I feel a bit like I'm playing Russian Roulette.  Either a three-year-old pops up underneath my arm or a cat tail swipes nearby just as I'm releasing the safety switch.  I'm sweating just thinking about it.  Should we repeat?  I LOVE MODA PRE-CUTS.

If you like what you see, don't forget to become a follower of my blog here at Frecklemama, follow Frecklemama on Twitter, or subscribe to feeds.  I would love some feedback! 

Also, just a reminder that my Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway is open through Friday.  Please be sure to comment on the Giveaway post for a chance to win your very own Holiday Placemat set!

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Pinwheels for Dummies?

Ok, I need help from you seasoned pinwheel makers out there. I posted this problem on Sew Mama Sew too.

I just assumed pinwheel blocks were simple. I'm making a quilt inspired by this one at the Moda Bake Shop. So I made two blocks last night and discovered that maybe pinwheel making is more complicated than it seems:Anyone see anything wrong? One is going "clockwise" and the other is going "counter clockwise". I am desperate for any tips to keep these straight and heading in the same direction while constructing my blocks! I am using the half-square triangle method where you put two 5" squares right-sides together, sew 1/4 inch on either side of a diagonal line and then cut apart.

Please, please make any suggestions that might help me keep things straight while making my blocks! I feel like I'm constantly checking and double checking to make sure my solids are all marching in the right direction now.

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