Category Archives: Quilts

Technicolor Galaxy BOM, Block 1 Color Wheel

Posted on by
5

Hi everyone!

I’ve been posting regularly on Instagram under the name @nwquiltedcat. I’ve joined a few mini quilt swaps and have been busily working on those fun projects. I have 3 due by late March/early April so I’ll blog about them one my partners have received their packages.

In the meantime, I started working on a fabulous new block-of-the-month for myself. This BOM is called Technicolor Galaxy by Alyssa over at Pile O Fabric. It’s a stunning quilt that you can do in your choice of color scheme. I’m going with the rainbow color scheme because I really love the look right now.

The BOM is designed to teach new skills throughout the year. I’m also participating via the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, which has a discount code for the pattern if you are a guild member. If you are a member, send an email to the guild for the code.

For February, our assignment is to make the color wheel for block 1 using a bias tape applique technique. I’m using Kona Snow for my bias tape and a combination of 2015 Sun Prints by Alison Glass and Kona solids for the color wheel.

This is a quilt-as-you-go BOM so I used a Superior variegated King Tut thread on the top and Aurifil white in the bobbin. I did free-motion quilting using my Bernina.

Here’s a look at the front of my color wheel:

Technicolor Galaxy BOM, Color Wheel

Technicolor Galaxy BOM, Color Wheel

Close-up view of the free-motion quilting:

Color Wheel Close-up

Color Wheel Close-up

I really love how the Aurifil white thread blends into the Kona solid backing in this picture:

Color Wheel Back

Color Wheel Back

This is a vibrant and cheerful quilt that I’m excited to work on over the course of the year in addition to focusing on mini quilts.

Recently, I had some sad news. My best buddy and hiking dog, Brutus, was diagnosed with cancer. It’s an advanced form and pretty aggressive. I met with a veterinary oncologist today, but I fear that chemotherapy treatments will be too expensive. We’re probably going to focus on palliative care for him and give him the best last few months that we can. He’s not in pain currently so that’s great, and I’m also grateful he’s still active and enjoying life.

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer

We Support You blog hop!

Posted on by
46

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my blog where I’m happy to be participating in the We Support You blog hop to encourage, support, and inspire all those who have been touched by cancer, particularly breast cancer. My mother-in-law passed away several years ago from complications due to breast cancer so I definitely know this cancer touches so many lives.

Thanks to Madame Samm of Sew We Quilt for encouraging us to make something cheerful and beautiful in this hop using her pattern and to Pat, our wonderful cheerleader for this hop. You can purchase the “We Support You” friendship pattern for $12 from Madame Samm directly by emailing her at madamesamm@me.com.

I’ve been participating in quite a few Instagram mini swaps lately, and all the beautiful rainbow colored quilts inspired me in my project for this hop.

I started by selecting a text print for the block backgrounds. This text print has encouraging phrases such as “No regret” and “Dream big.” Next, I made 3 little bras in colorful print fabrics to applique to the text backgrounds. The bra straps and hangers are hand embroidered using DMC black embroidery floss.

Next, I pulled some Kona cotton solids in various rainbow hues to create the borders and bound the whole mini using black weave print. I used a Superior variegated thread to do the quilting, alternating wavy horizontal and vertical lines.

I had this really cute little wire heart hanger so I added a sleeve to the back for a perfectly finished little project!

We Support You Rainbow Mini Quilt (Outdoors)

We Support You Rainbow Mini Quilt (Outdoors)

I now have this little mini hanging in my sewing room, above a project table for inspiration.

We Support You Rainbow Mini Quilt (Indoors)

We Support You Rainbow Mini Quilt (Indoors)

Here’s a close-up photo of a block so you can see the text print background:

We Support You Close-Up

We Support You Close-Up

Please hop on over and visit the other ladies with projects today:

I hope my little mini quilt inspires you today! As a Gen-X’er, I encourage all my 30 and 40 something quilting buddies to get mammograms too!

Take care,
~Jennifer

Schnitzel & Boo Round 3 Mini Quilt Swap!

Posted on by
3

Hi everyone and Happy Monday to you!

I recently participated in my first Instagram (IG) mini quilt swap ! This swap was organized by Kristi (IG is schnitzelandboo) and you had to be an IG user to participate. My IG name is nwquiltedcat if you want to follow me.

My partner has received the mini quilt and extras that I made for her so I’m going to share them here. I haven’t yet received my mini in exchange but the mailing deadline isn’t until this Friday, the 23rd so I need to have patience!!

I used a pattern called “Candy Dish” by This & That Patterns and used April Showers fabric by Bonnie and Camille with a little white dot solid for the background by Michael Miller. I didn’t take a final measurement, but this mini quilt finishes at about 18 x 18 inches. The binding is also from the April Showers line. I did straight-line quilting using white Aurifil 50 weight thread.

Here’s the mini:

Schnitzel and Boo, Round 3 Mini Quilt

Schnitzel and Boo, Round 3 Mini Quilt

For extras, I used the free pattern “no guts” boxy pouch by So Chick. For this pouch, I used fabric from Violet Craft’s Brambleberry Ridge line and paired it with some pink polka-dot fabric for a contrasting zipper pull.

I also made a little pin cushion using Sweetwater fabric scraps and no pattern. I just winged it by starting with a 2.5 x 2.5 inch piece in the middle, and then adding little strips of fabric to the sides and tops.

Here are the extras:

Swap Extras: No Guts Boxie Pouch and a Pin Cushion!

Swap Extras: No Guts Boxie Pouch and a Pin Cushion!

I really had fun with my first IG swap! I’ve signed up for 3 more with 2 being due at the end of March and one in mid-April. I like using these mini quilts to help hone my skills and work from my stash!

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt + More

Posted on by
14

Hi quilty friends!

I hope that your 2015 is off to a great start! I have a few quilty goals in mind for this year so I hope to add those to a blog post soon.

One goal is to participate in some mini quilt swaps on Instagram. I’m now signed up for 4 this year, and I’ll send the first one out later this week. There is a vibrant quilt community on Instagram, and you can find me there as nwquiltedcat.

The other day as I was driving home from work, some late afternoon sun beams hit Mt. Hood with a striking intensity. The volcano seemed to glow, and I pulled over to take a picture (along with several other people!). Unfortunately, I just had a little point-and-shoot, and the pictures don’t do the scene justice.

Mt. Hood at Evening

Mt. Hood at Evening

I’ve been participating in Bonnie Hunter’s latest mystery called Grand Illusion. She released the final clue last week so I have been working on putting my top together. I went with a smaller quilt center and just a solid aqua border rather than a thin inner yellow border and pieced outer border. I used some of my leftover pieces on the back.

Here’s the quilt flimsy:

Grand Illusion Flimsy

Grand Illusion Flimsy

For the backing, I used units that would have gone into the pieced border along with some darker turquoise fabric that I had on hand. While trying to lay it out on the floor, someone jumped on the fabric!

Tiger on Grand Illusion back

Tiger on Grand Illusion back

After piecing the back, I framed it up on my HQ16 and just quilted an all-over meandering pattern with white Aurifil thread:

Grand Illusion on the HQ16

Grand Illusion on the HQ16

My Grand Illusion quilt (small version) is now quilted. I need to square it up and bind it. What do you think for binding – aqua or black or something else?

Grand Illusion quilted

Grand Illusion quilted


You can view other finished Grand Illusion quilts at Bonnie’s link up party here.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

A Free Table Runner

Posted on by
2

Happy Monday, quilty friends!

I hope that you are having a great week and enjoyed the holidays however you celebrate.

I finished up a Christmas themed table runner in time for the festivities last week by using some 2-1/2 inch precuts and a free pattern by Bonnie Olaveson of Bonnie and Camille. The pattern is called “Strippy and Bright” and you could really use any color combination to make a quick and easy table runner for any time of the year. You can find the pattern free at All People Quilt.

I used Aurifil 50 wt in white and free-motion quilted some swirls on the main blocks. For the white border, I free-motion quilted loopy lazy 8 shapes. The binding is completely scrappy from leftover pieces of my 2-1/2 inch strips.

Here’s a look at the finished table runner:

Strippy and Bright Table Runner

Strippy and Bright Table Runner

Strippy and Bright Closeup

Strippy and Bright Closeup

I found this fun ceramic red cardinal to place on the table runner. I just love him! We don’t have red cardinals here in Oregon so it is fun to bring in a decorative one this time of year.

Ceramic cardinal

Ceramic cardinal

Since the new year is almost here, it is time to pack away the holiday decorations. I plan to make 2015 the year of finishing up some UFOs!! How about you?

Enjoy,
~Jennifer

Merry Christmas and Grand Illusion, part 4

Posted on by
2

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope that you are enjoying the holiday and making happy memories with friends and family.

Here’s a picture of our Christmas tree this year, a noble fir:

Christmas 2014

Christmas 2014

Our son had fun opening presents this morning, and then we took the dog out for a nice Christmas day walk. The rain stopped and the cool temperatures felt good against our bright and merry cheeks.

My husband and I have repainted several rooms in our house and switched the guest room/play room and my sewing room. I’m slowly moving things into the new sewing room and organizing it.

I finished up part 4 of the Grand Illusion mystery quilt, hosted and designed by Bonnie Hunter. For part 4, we made 2 different Broken Dishes units.

Broken Dishes, part 4

Broken Dishes, part 4

We did make Broken Dishes units during part 1, but these units have the colors rotated a bit differently.

Here are all my clues together:

Grand Illusion, parts 1-4

Grand Illusion, parts 1-4

The next clue will be released tomorrow morning so I’m hoping that we’ll get instructions on how some of these units will be sewn together.

Merry Christmas!
~Jennifer

Grand Illusion – We Have Greens!

Posted on by
8

Greetings!

For those of you following along with Bonnie Hunter’s latest mystery quilt, Grand Illusion, we got to play with our green fabric this week for clue #3! The instructions are still available from now until spring on Bonnie’s blog if you want to join in at any time.

For my quilt, I am mostly using Moda Grunges. For the greens, however, I am adding interest by using 4 different bright greens which match to Bonnie’s color recommendation. For more on the recommendations, see my earlier post here.

These are my greens:

  • Green Google It from the Giggles fabric line by Me and My Sister Designs
  • Swirly Scroll Lime from Wilmington Prints
  • Just Color Lime from Studio E Fabrics
  • Celery from the Folklore line by Lily Ashbury for Moda

I mostly stitch on the weekends and in the evenings after work so I finished assembling these units for part 3 tonight.

As I turned around to grab my camera, my quilt inspector sneaked in behind me and decided to pose with the blocks.

Greens in part 3 of the Grand Illusion Mystery quilt!

Greens in part 3 of the Grand Illusion Mystery quilt!

I’m making half the total number of units for a smaller quilt. Since we’ve now finished three clues, here are my units together:

Tiger with the first 3 clues for Grand Illusion

Tiger with the first 3 clues for Grand Illusion

This is going to be a very bright and cheerful quilt! Tonight, I had hoped to go to a local quilt guild meeting, but hubby and I are in the process of repainting some rooms. One of those rooms is my quilting room so everything is quite hectic and unorganized. I can’t wait to get the new color on the walls and reveal it here soon.

Happy stitching!

~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM December Block + SMS Giveaway Winner

Posted on by
5

Happy Saturday, quilty friends!

Today, I stitched together my last block for the 2014 Aurifil BOM program. This month’s block is called “Not Afraid of Flying” designed by Carrie Nelson.

I kept to my theme of Kona Shadow as my neutral with some blacks, reds, and whites. The flying geese in this unit did give me some trouble. I could say it’s because I’ve been battling some strange vertigo lately, but I think I may have just rushed it. I think that I will redo this block before assembling the quilt top.

Here’s the December block:

Aurifil BOM December Block

Aurifil BOM December Block

And here are all 12 of my 2014 Aurifil BOM blocks together in random order. I haven’t decided on a final layout yet.

2014 Aurifil BOM Blocks

2014 Aurifil BOM Blocks

If you missed the BOM this year, Aurifil just announced their designers for 2015 here. So exciting!

This past week, I participated in Sew Mama Sew’s giveaway event for the first time. Let me tell you that I was blown away by all the lovely comments. I received over 250 in total! I love all your comments and read each one. I really enjoy being part of such a warm, caring, and creative worldwide quilting community.

The random winner is . . .

Farmquilter!

Congratulations! I’ve sent you an email with all the details.

Wishing you all the best,
~Jennifer

Grand Illusion Double Diamonds

Posted on by
5

Hi everyone!

I’m participating in Bonnie Hunter’s newest mystery quilt, Grand Illusion. You can read about my broken dishes units for part one here.

For part two, we are making double diamond units using our pink, black, and neutral fabrics. I’m mostly using Moda Grunge fabrics for my project because I love the texture and dimension of the Grunges!

I’m making just 1/2 of the number of units for a smaller quilt. You can still join in and get the free instructions for a limited time on Bonnie’s blog. She will retire these instructions sometime next spring.

Here are my double diamond units, being inspected:

Grand Illusion Double Diamond Units

Grand Illusion Double Diamond Units

Since this quilt is a mystery, we don’t know how the individual units will be sewn together. So the layout in my photo is a complete guess.

Here are the double diamonds with the units from part one:

Grand Illusion, parts 1 and 2

Grand Illusion, parts 1 and 2

I’m really loving the boldness of these units so far! On Friday, Bonnie will reveal the part three clue and we’ll be off stitching for another week. Hopefully, the greens will be used in the next clue.

Have you entered my giveaway as part of the larger Sew Mama Sew Giveaway? There are many fabulous prizes and fun blogs to check out as part of the giveaway so go check it out!

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Broken Dishes for the Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt!

Posted on by
6

Greeting quilty friends!

For those of you who follow Bonnie Hunter, you may know that she released the first clue in her latest mystery quilt, Grand Illusion. These clues will only be available for a short while, and Bonnie will retire them from her blog next spring for inclusion in a future book.

This quilt is named for the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan and draws its color inspiration from the hotel’s interior and grounds. I hope to visit it one day!

In October, Bonnie posted color recommendations in the form of paint chips. Although you can choose your own color scheme, I decided to stick with Bonnie’s choices as she has fabulous color sense, and I really wanted to see how these rich hues will play together in the quilt.

Here are my paint chips and fabric pulls. I’m using mostly Moda Grunge fabrics for the neutrals, black, turquoise, and pink. The yellow is Moda Marble Dot. I couldn’t find one grassy green that I really liked in a single fabric so I pulled a few fat quarter pieces into my pile.

Grand Illusion Mystery fabrics

Grand Illusion Mystery fabrics

We sewed broken dishes for part 1 this week. I’m making one-half of the normal amount of blocks so I can make a smaller sized quilt. I did buy enough fabric to make the full quantity of blocks so if I later decide to expand the quilt once the mystery is revealed, I can do so.

Here are my broken dishes units:

Grand Illusion Mystery, part 1

Grand Illusion Mystery, part 1

The colors really do pop, although my camera faded the intensity of the fabrics, particularly the turquoise. I really like how the turquoise Grunge fabric has yellow accents in it to play well with the Marble Dots.

The next clue will be released this Friday, December 5th on Bonnie’s blog so go check it out!

Happy stitching!
~Jennifer