2020 Mini Series SAL – Week 6

Posted on May 2, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone,

Happy weekend! We are getting some spring rain showers, which I’m sure the plants are loving. I planted a few color spots in some patio containers recently so all those tender roots are enjoying this mild weather. We are supposed to get some warmer sunny days later in the week, which I will love!

Today is the end of week 6 in the Mini Series sew-along, hosted by Giucy Giuce and Alison Glass. We made the Triangle Geese block this week, and it went together pretty fast!

I’m continuing to use my Kona cotton charm square pack called Mermaid Shores with a lovely batik background that reminds me of tiny beach pebbles.

Here’s a look at my Triangle Geese block with my friend, Victor. He’s wondering where the path might lead him . . .

Victor poses with my Triangle Geese block

Well, in Victor’s case, the Triangle Geese block was going to lead to the other blocks that I have sewn so far in the SAL, but my quilt inspector, Cow, had other ideas.

This picture is what happens when trying to photograph quilt blocks with a curious cat. Of course, as soon as I took the picture, he feigned disinterest and started to take a bath. Victor is quite shocked!

Cow, the quilt inspector, interrupts the photo taking

Eventually, Cow decided that taking pictures of miniature quilt blocks was too boring for him, and he strolled over to the grass to watch birds.

I got another picture of Victor with all 6 of my blocks. Victor is still miffed, but decidedly happier to have the blocks all to himself.

Victor with blocks 1-6

We now have just 2 blocks left in this SAL before creating a finished project. I’m still undecided on my project, but I have a few ideas that I’m pondering.

Happy quilting!

~Jen

Sea Glass BOM by Fig Tree, Block 4

Posted on April 28, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone,

I had a chance in the past few days to catch up on my Sea Glass BOM by Fig Tree & Co. This is a year long block-of-the-month that started in January.

I worked on the flying geese border units that we were supposed to make with the month 3 blocks, but I didn’t have time in March. We made 27 flying geese units, and we could mix and match the colors in whatever order we wanted.

The block for April is called “Ocean Coral,” and I really love the darker blue aqua print! I believe that print is from the Breeze line of fabrics by Zen Chic. I may have to get some more of this fabric for my stash!

Here’s a look at my 2 blocks this month plus the flying geese from last month:

Sea Glass BOM, Block 4 “Ocean Coral” and flying geese

I always like to take pictures of my blocks outside whenever possible because the lighting brings out the richness of the fabrics. I had the opportunity this morning where the weather was calm.

Ocean Coral blocks

The softness of this color palette is really appealing to me right now during our COVID-19 crisis. As I sew together more blocks, I can see the sea glass emerging! I need to find some real pieces of sea glass the next time I can go to the beach.

Sea Glass BOM, blocks 1-4

Stay safe and imagine soft ocean breezes soothing your worries away!

Happy quilting,

Jen

2020 Mini Series SAL – Week 5

Posted on April 24, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone,

Surprisingly, this week is going by fast for me. I’m balancing working from home with helping my teen with his schooling from home, and fitting in some sewing each evening. I’m also trying to keep anxiety feelings at bay with regular exercise, mostly in the form of long walks with my dog.

The block in our sew-along this week is one of my favorites. It is called Stretched Geese. I really like any form of the flying geese block, and this one is really fun!

This is my 4-inch block in progress:

Stretched Geese block during construction

I decided to alter the block slightly by adding little border strips to the sides of the flying geese using my one print fabric from Tula Pink. I’m working in a little bit of this fabric into each block.

Stretched Geese block, slightly modified

I love my growing group of little blocks! The beachy feel of the fabrics is quite soothing.

Mini Series SAL blocks, weeks 1 to 5

We now have 3 official blocks left to make in the SAL, plus I need to make the bonus block.

On one of my dog walks this week, I saw one of my favorite flowers, lupine, starting to bloom. Isn’t it pretty?

I just realized that the colors in my lupine photo below match the fabric colors in my SAL blocks! What a happy coincidence.

Lupine starting to bloom

I hope you are all staying healthy and making a little time to work on sewing projects other than face masks.

Take care!

~Jen

2020 Mini Series SAL – Week 4

Posted on April 17, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone,

The little block for this week is called Hexagon Step. This is another block that took about 2 hours to sew together.

When I first saw the block, it reminded me of radiation danger signs!

Hexagon Step Pattern cover

I decided to change up the look by not alternating my color strips with background strips in each row. Instead, I used full color row around the hexagon shape and then followed it with a full row of the background fabric.

Here’s a look at my Hexagon Step block with one of my antique toy sewing machines. Isn’t the little seahorse cute?

My Hexagon Step block with antique toy sewing machine

I’m enjoying piecing these little blocks each week. There are small but satisfying in these unusual times. We have four more blocks left to sew in the SAL, not counting the bonus block, and then we have a 2 week window to make and finish a project using the blocks.

Here’s a look at my first four blocks together:

Mini Series SAL blocks 1-4

Next week, I’ll post my Stretched Geese block for week 5.

Take care and happy quilting!

~Jen

2020 Mini Series SAL – Week 3

Posted on April 8, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi all,

Time sure feels different in this era of “sheltering in place.” I’m happy that, for my job, I’m able to work from home, but I’m missing outdoor activities like hiking and missing friends and family.

The Mini Series SAL, hosted by Alison Glass and Giucy Giuce, is a great help during these times because it is uplifting to be participating in a project with so many other quilters around the world. You can see my week 1 block here and my week 2 block here.

We are now on to week 3 in the SAL with the challenging Pineapple block. This block has many, many pieces, and it took me approximately 2 hours to sew a 4-inch block!!

I’m using a Kona cotton charm square pack called Mermaid Shores for my colors, and a wonderful batik with pebble like shapes for my background. I want to invoke all the beach feelings!

Here’s a look at my Pineapple block in my garden:

Pineapple block on a garden stone

Pineapple block with a little garden fairy statue

Here’s a look at the first 3 blocks all together (Log Cabin, Courthouse Step, Pineapple):

First 3 blocks with a little fairy garden statue

Let me know in the comments if you are participating in the SAL and your Instagram handle so I can give you a follow!

Enjoy!

~Jen

Tula Pink’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks Project, Part 1

Posted on April 6, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone,

In 2018, I participated in an Instagram challenge, hosted by Angie, @gnomeangel. For the challenge, we had to post one block per day for 100 days, starting in July, using the blocks from Tula Pink’s City Sampler: 100 Modern Quilt Blocks.

For my project, I used all Tula fabrics plus various solids. I kept up with the challenge and posted all the blocks to Instagram on the assigned days.

Here’s a look at one of my blocks that I made and posted in 2018. This block is on a mini design board.

One of my Tula blocks posted for the 100 days 100 blocks challenge in 2018

Fast forward to this year. In January, the registration opened up for Quilter’s Affair, which is a week of classes leading up to the big Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in July. I was able to snag a spot in one of Tula’s classes! I decided that I needed to pull out this old project and finish it so that I could take it with me to Sisters. Of course, all this happened before we really knew about COVID-19 and learned about social distancing.

Hopefully, the COVID-19 pandemic will crest before July and social gatherings will once again be able to take place. However, if not, then I hope everyone stays safe and healthy, and we can enjoy the quilt show in 2021.

I pulled out all of my blocks and my book to get started:

Tula’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks book, filled with my blocks

100 Modern Quilt Blocks book with my blocks, from the side

In the back of the book, there are several finishing layout designs. I decided to make the Trellis layout, which is a throw size using 64 blocks. However, I want to use all 100 of my blocks using this layout for a larger quilt.

I used Kona cotton in White for my block frames and Kona cotton in Lighthouse for the sashing.

I stitched together my first 3 rows in February:

First 3 Rows of my 100 Modern Blocks quilt

I’ve been working on this project little by little over the past 2 months. It helps to have such a bright and colorful quilt project to work on in these uncertain times.

I finished the top 5 rows recently, and my kitty quilt inspector gave it his approval:

First 5 rows of my 100 modern quilt blocks project

I have all 10 rows now completed, but I need to join them together. I will show you the finished quilt flimsy in part 2 soon!

Happy quilting!

~Jen

2020 Mini Series SAL – Week 2

Posted on March 30, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone!

Yesterday, quilters everywhere kicked off week 2 of the 2020 Mini Series hosted by Giucy Giuce and Alison Glass. You can read about my fabric selections and the first block, the Log Cabin, here.

The block this week is called the Courthouse Step, and it is very similar to the Log Cabin block with some minor differences. The Log Cabin took longer for me to sew because each piece slightly overlaps the prior piece, radiating outwards into the classic log cabin shape. Each piece must be pressed and trimmed separately before moving onto the next piece.

The Courthouse Step block sews together much quicker than the Log Cabin block because the little rectangle pieces on each step face each other, enabling me to sew two pieces before pressing and trimming.

For example, in the photo of my Courthouse Step block below, you can see each color is mirrored on the opposite side.

Courthouse Step block with a trillium

I love the look of these two blocks together. You can see the similarity between the blocks, but the differences really make them shine on their own.

Log Cabin and Courthouse Step with a trillium

While I was taking pictures of these blocks in a wooded area near my house, I saw a mama deer and her two fawns! Look closely in the background of this picture where you can see mama and one fawn.

Courthouse Step block with deer in background

Next week, I’ll post my completed Pineapple block. Are you participating in the SAL? It is completely free to join, but you do have to purchase the patterns either from your favorite quilt store or online at Alison’s website.

Happy sewing!

~Jen

2020 Mini Series SAL – Week 1

Posted on March 23, 2020 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone,

Have you heard about the 2020 Mini Series Sew Along hosted by Alison Glass (#alisonglass) and Giucy Giuce (#giucygiuce) ?

It’s a 10-week sew along with 8 tiny foundation paper-pieced blocks plus a bonus block for those participants who sign up on Alison’s website. The SAL is free; however, you do need to purchase the patterns. You can find the patterns on Alison’s website or from various quilt stores that she mentions

Here are my fabric selections for the SAL:

A Kona charm square pack called Mermaid Shores
A batik fabric for the background that reminds me of pebbles on a beach
A Tula Pink fat quarter from the Zuma line with little stars and seahorses

Fabric Selection for 2020 Mini Series SAL

I’m making the 4-inch blocks rather than the 8-inch blocks due to the length of my charm squares.

For week one, we are making the classic log cabin block. I’m an experienced foundation paper piecer so I already had an Add-An-Eighth ruler on hand as well as some very fine 80 weight piecing thread. The 80 weight thread is important with smaller blocks because it is less thick than 50 weight thread so your block presses flatter.

I fuzzy cut a little star for the very center of my block from the Zuma fat quarter. You can see it in the picture with the dime for scale.

Here are some pictures of my log cabin block:

Week 1: Log Cabin Block

Week 1: Log Cabin block with dime for scale

Week 1: Log Cabin Block on Tree

Week 1: Log Cabin block on a stump

I really love these colors together! I’m leaning towards making a small wall-hanging quilt with the blocks from this SAL. I may make a few extra of some of the blocks, but I have’t entirely decided.

Here’s a look at the back of the block. I will keep the paper on for stability until I sew the block to another block or sashing.

Week 1: Log Cabin back of block

Are you participating in the SAL? Leave me a comment below!

Happy stitching!

~Jen

Forest and Lake Finished Art Quilt!

Posted on April 10, 2016 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone!

After just over a year, I finished the binding on this epic foundation paper pieced quilt this week! This quilt combines the Forest art quilt and the Lake art quilt together by Quilt Art Designs.

For binding, I selected a fabric called Tick Tock Stripe in Mint from Tula Pink’s new line, Chipper. The blues, greens, red, and brown stripes accent the colors in my art quilt pretty well.

I did heavy custom quilting using my HandiQuilter 16 and a combination of Aurifil and Superior threads. The quilting alone took about 8 hours. I lost track of the time it took for the paper piecing!

The backing is also by Tula Pink from her Free Fall 108-inch wide collection in Sky.

Let’s take a look at the completed quilt! Thanks to my husband and son who are such wonderful photography assistants! We took these pictures today in slightly overcast weather in the Columbia River Gorge and Multnomah Falls.

Forest Lake Art Quilt Completed!

I love this finished quilt! It is the most ambitious paper-piecing project that I have done thus far. Thanks so much to Janeen from Quilt Art Designs for her beautifully detailed patterns. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me throughout the past year as I worked on this quilt, section by section.

Catch me on Instagram @nwquiltedcat for other photos and more frequent updates on my quilting hobby!

Enjoy!

~Jennifer

Forest and Lake Art Quilt Flimsy Finished!

Posted on February 10, 2016 by thequiltedcat

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

For the past year, I’ve been steadily working on what I call an epic paper piecing project! It’s comprised of 2 art quilt-a-long projects designed by Janeen of Quilt Art Designs. The top section is the forest QAL and the bottom section is the lake QAL. Each section is broken down into 12-week chunks.

Here’s a look at the completed flimsy:

Forest and Lake QAL together!

When I do foundation paper-piecing, I tend to keep the papers on for as long as possible for added stability. If the paper makes a seam too bulky, I will remove part of it. Otherwise, I wait until the project is completed, and then remove all the paper at once.

Here’s what the back of the quilt top looks like:

Paper backing on Forest and Lake QAL

Now, that’s a bunch of paper to remove!! I did make one mistake on the forest portion so I had to make an adjustment not on the pattern, but I think it still turned out fine.

I’m not sure how to quilt this project. I’m going to take my take and do a bunch of custom quilting, I think. Once finished, I hope to display it in a couple of local quilt shows.

Enjoy!

~Jennifer