Wake Up to Kona on the Beach + Giveaway!

Posted on January 19, 2014 by nwquiltedcat

Happy Monday, everyone!

Today is my day to share the project that I made for the Wake Up to Kona blog hop, and I’m so excited! I’d like to give a big thanks to Madame Samm, our wonderful hostess and supporter of all things quilty and our great cheerleader, Carol, who inspires us all.

We have great sponsors for this blog hop – Amanda Murphy (author of Quilt Essentials), Robert Kaufman (all those delicious Kona solids), and Aurifil threads that keep us in stitches!

For my project, I started with Kona black as my background color and added this delicious grouping of colors:

Beautiful Kona solids!

The colors are: #110 Peony, #141 Carnation, #1062 Candy Pink, #1066 Cerise, #24 Petunia, #1484 Lupine, #1383 Violet, #188 Hibiscus, #1005 Aqua, #1009 Azure, #442 Capri, and #1064 Caribbean.

Next, I selected the Night Sky pattern by Jaybird Quilts for its striking beauty! This quilt uses her sidekick ruler to create the triangle and diamond shapes that are used in the construction of the quilt. Each starbust (or starfish?) has 4 different shades of a color group.

I pieced the entire quilt top using Aurifil threads, 50 wt (#2000 light sand color and #2692 black color).

I used Superior Threads So Fine #50 in Genoa Gray because I really wanted the quilting to stand out against the black background.

We took the finished quilt to the beautiful Oregon Coast this weekend to take some photographs. I had my hubby and son be my scouting location/photography assistants, and I think they did a wonderful job.

Since my cats aren’t too keen on traveling, my dog (and best hiking buddy) became my cat quilt inspector stunt-double. (Yes, he earned extra dog cookies for his hard work!).

Here are some pictures of my finished Night Sky quilt using Kona cotton solids:

Me and Hubby Holding Night Sky (dog legs too)

Night Sky with My Dog (cat quilt inspector stunt-double)

Me holding the quilt in the wind!

Night Sky Quilt – starbursts resemble starfish!

Night Sky Quilt – backside

These last two pictures show the free-motion quilting that I did using the Genoa Gray thread. The quilting alone took me 12 hours! I did a swirly pattern in the black background and did some straight-edge echo quilting in the colored starbursts.

While I was doing the quilting, I ran out of thread – yikes! I called local quilt stores within an hour of my house, but no one had the same thread in stock. Fortunately, I was able to order the thread from Superior Threads directly via 2-day shipping and completed it in time.

I really love how the free-motion swirls accent the Night Sky stars:

Night Sky Quilting Detail

Closeup of the quilting

I hope you enjoyed my project and please check out the other bloggers on the last 2 days of the hop!
January 20th
More Stars in Comanche
Buzzing and Bumbling
Quilting Quietly
Grammie Q’s
The Quilted Cat (you are here!)
The Quilting Queen Online
Lauraluvsloons
Sew Incredibly Crazy

January 21st
Just Sew Sue
Pigtales and Quilts
Miss Priss Quilts
Charlottes Creation
Childlike Fascination
Renee Luvs Quilting
Cherry Blossoms
Sew We Quilt

I am giving away 4 Kona cotton solid fat quarters! Just leave me a comment to enter. If you follow my blog, let me know how you follow for a second entry. I will ship internationally.

Wake Up to Kona Giveaway

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer

183 thoughts on “Wake Up to Kona on the Beach + Giveaway!”

farmquilter on January 20, 2014 at 7:56 pm said:

I happily follow you 🙂

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farmquilter on January 20, 2014 at 7:55 pm said:

ZOWIE!!! I about dove into my computer screen to see your quilt up close and personal!!! Love it!!! The stars are so beautiful set against the black – they just pop! Your quilting really enhances the quilt and I love the jagged border! A+ all the way around!!!!! And your photography…YUM!!! Love the Oregon coast and your “starfish” quilt looks so awesome against that background!!

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Kim S on January 20, 2014 at 7:49 pm said:

Your quilt is beautiful with those colors. This pattern is on my list when I first saw it from Jaybird Quilts before it went to quilt market last year.

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Carla on January 20, 2014 at 7:31 pm said:

The black is the perfect background to make those colors pop. Your quilting is so perfect for the quilt and I love the non-square shape of the quilt. Thank you for sharing your quilt with those wonderful pictures. I’m land locked here and appreciate coastal pictures, so much!

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Susan Stanton on January 20, 2014 at 7:07 pm said:

Your quilt is beautiful and it looks so pretty laying on the rock at the beach. Beautiful FMQ for a perfect finish!

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LJ on January 20, 2014 at 7:05 pm said:

That’s a totally gorgeous quilt but I wish you had been sitting beside me when I read your post. When I saw the first photo with the back showing, I actually drew in my breath it was just so marvelous!! Your FLQ skills are enviable.

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Angelia L. on January 20, 2014 at 7:03 pm said:

Your Night Sky quilt is gorgeous and the quilting is amazing!! Beautiful!!

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jessicak on January 20, 2014 at 6:26 pm said:

Gorgeous your piecing skills with all those points is amazing.

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oneenglishteacher on January 20, 2014 at 6:19 pm said:

The colors make the quilt look like it’s sparkling. And, your quilting is beautiful; I love what it looks like on the back of the quilt.

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Jan on January 20, 2014 at 6:18 pm said:

Jennifer – your quilt is gorgeous. The quilting makes it extra special. Thanks for sharing.
xo jan

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Lori Morton on January 20, 2014 at 5:58 pm said:

I’m a new follower thru WordPress

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Lori Morton on January 20, 2014 at 5:57 pm said:

Definitely a starry sky!! Beautiful job!!!

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Susan on January 20, 2014 at 5:55 pm said:

Your quilt is just lovely and is aptly named. It makes me think of a night sky as well. Thanks for sharing your creativity with us.

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Lisa in Port Hope on January 20, 2014 at 5:35 pm said:

I love the swirls, you did a fantastic job. I have never used black as a background, but if you checked out my project on Friday, you will have seen that I used dark blue 🙂

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cindy on January 20, 2014 at 5:31 pm said:

Your Night Sky quilt turned out so great. And the quilting is fantastic! Love it. And love your photo shoot location. Gorgeous.

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Cecilia on January 20, 2014 at 5:27 pm said:

Beautiful quilt!

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Kathy Gentry on January 20, 2014 at 5:26 pm said:

Your quilt is absolutely stunning! Beautiful, beautiful work!

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VickiT on January 20, 2014 at 5:22 pm said:

I am following via email.

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VickiT on January 20, 2014 at 5:21 pm said:

Very nice quilt. I love Julie’s quilt patterns. This is a very pretty one and the colors are just gorgeous.

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CeLynn on January 20, 2014 at 5:13 pm said:

Love the unique shape of your stars quilt,it really lets the Kona stars shine! The quilting is just stunning,you did an awesome job.

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M-R @ Quilt Matters on January 20, 2014 at 5:02 pm said:

Oooh, I love it! Great colour choices — they just pop against the background. Great job!

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Lisa E on January 20, 2014 at 4:57 pm said:

I love that quilt pattern and the colors that you picked. And the photoshoot location ain’t bad either.

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Beth on January 20, 2014 at 4:54 pm said:

Those colors just POP on that quilt. And the quilting on it is amazing! Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

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gail on January 20, 2014 at 4:54 pm said:

All I can say is WOW!! What a gorgeous quilt! 🙂

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jaao3 on January 20, 2014 at 4:41 pm said:

So striking! Must get this pattern.

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Saucy Chick Sherry on January 20, 2014 at 4:38 pm said:

Diamonds in the Night Sky is stunning. Your stitching really make this come alive. Kona solids are perfect for the stars in Night Sky. Thank you sew much for hopping…
It is easy to follow your creative talents.

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Sylvia on January 20, 2014 at 4:10 pm said:

What a magnificent quilt. The colors are gorgeous against the black and the setting is so beautiful. I also enjoy pairing the vibrant colors against a black background. Another reason I enjoy these Blog Hops so much is that we are introduced to so many talented people. What fun!
I just joined your Blog.

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The Sassy Quilter on January 20, 2014 at 3:57 pm said:

Following on WordPress:)

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The Sassy Quilter on January 20, 2014 at 3:56 pm said:

Oooh, that is delicious! I love it and the quilting is just beautiful. Great job!

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Margaret Parks on January 20, 2014 at 3:56 pm said:

I am a follower of your blog by email.
cheers
maggie
maggiemine42@gmail.com

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Margaret Parks on January 20, 2014 at 3:54 pm said:

I think that your quilt is just awesome! I love the quilting on it.Well done,
cheers
maggie

maggiemine42@gmail.com

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Colette on January 20, 2014 at 3:08 pm said:

Wow what a gorgeous quilt! Your quilting is fabulous also. Thanks for taking a trip to the coast. I am from Oregon and I sew miss the coast. Lovely pictures too.

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Cynthia Knapp on January 20, 2014 at 2:57 pm said:

Your quilt is beautiful. Great job! I am a new follower of your blog.

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maggielou on January 20, 2014 at 2:48 pm said:

Following by bloglovin

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maggielou on January 20, 2014 at 2:47 pm said:

What a gorgeous quilt. Thank you for sharing it with us. I love it.

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ritainalaska on January 20, 2014 at 1:26 pm said:

stunning! love your kona night sky!

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Jean M on January 20, 2014 at 1:23 pm said:

LOVE! This Jaybird pattern is wonderful. I just finished a twin size top in primary colors and now wish I had a beach to take it to. Have to wait until summer when the sand reappears. Thanks for sharing yours!

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HeatherK on January 20, 2014 at 1:02 pm said:

So beautiful. The quilting really emphasizes the pattern. Thanks for sharing today.

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Jackie on January 20, 2014 at 12:49 pm said:

Very pretty.

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kathy pfaltzgraff on January 20, 2014 at 12:35 pm said:

I, too am a fan of jaybird rulers, what a great way to use your sidekick ruler, that quilt looks great, the setting adds, but the quilt is the KEY. Keep up the good work, K

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nancyangerer on January 20, 2014 at 12:31 pm said:

I am a new follower

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nancyangerer on January 20, 2014 at 12:29 pm said:

I love your use of the stars for this project and your quilting sets it off.

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Lori Smanski on January 20, 2014 at 12:21 pm said:

wow this is truly stunning. you did such a fantastic job. and you used the solids together wonderfully. thanks for sharing and for the inspiration and for the give a way

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Rosie Davis on January 20, 2014 at 12:02 pm said:

Very striking quilt. I love the way the stars just pop on the black.

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Agnes B. Bullock on January 20, 2014 at 11:33 am said:

am a new email follower

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Agnes B. Bullock on January 20, 2014 at 11:32 am said:

Gorgeous! love the pattern and the colors- made for each other

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Debra Kay Neiman on January 20, 2014 at 11:05 am said:

I love EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS QUILT: colors, shape, pattern, quilting. GREAT JOB! As a new quilter I find solids less scarey to use. Lovin this hop. Happy New Year from Oklahoma, USA. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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Debra Kay Neiman on January 20, 2014 at 11:03 am said:

I am happy to follow you on Bloglovin and e-mail. Happy New Year from Oklahoma, USA. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com

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alexis on January 20, 2014 at 11:00 am said:

I’m a new follower by email.

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alexis on January 20, 2014 at 11:00 am said:

Just gorgeous!

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