Viewer’s Choice Finalist!

Posted on May 26, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Hi everyone,

The spring Blogger’s Quilt Festival voting is happening this week over at Amy’s Creative Side!

I’m happy to announce that my mini butterfly quilt made it into the Viewer’s Choice category as a finalist.

Viewer’s Choice Finalist!

If you have the chance, hop over to the site and check out all the quilts in many different categories. You can vote for up to 3 quilts in each category. Each photo takes you to the quilt maker’s blog so you can read about individual quilt details.

If you’re inclined, I’d love your vote!!

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer

Spring Blogger’s Quilt Festival: Art Quilt Entry

Posted on May 16, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Hi everyone!

I hope you’re having a great weekend and have a little time for sewing.

My regular readers will recognize my entry into the Art Quilt category for the Blogger’s Quilt Festival.

It is a penguin mini-quilt based on Charley Harper’s original artwork! I made this mini quilt for an Instagram-based, Charley Harper themed swap. I made the design up as I went along so there really isn’t a pattern for it.

I started by gathering up blue, aqua, and low-volume neutral fabrics. Some of the fabrics are from the Charley Harper fabric lines by Birch Organic. I created a background by stitching together 2.5-inch squares, with the darker blues in the upper left-hand corner fading towards the low-volume neutrals. The bottom piece represents the ground.

For the penguins, I was inspired by the Charley Harper Nurture penguin fabric. I made my own applique pattern and used individual pieces of fabric to represent the parent penguin and the chic. I then carefully stitched around each fabric piece. The yellow accent lines are straight-stitched using Aurifil thread.

For quilting, I used my Bernina and my walking foot and did some simple, straight-line quilting using white Aurifil thread. I really love the results!

Here’s a look:

Charley Harper Penguin Mini Quilt

Penguin close-up

The backing piece uses all Charley Harper fabrics plus a label:

Hop on over to Amy’s Creative Side and check out all of the wonderful entries in the festival. I’d love your vote in the Art Quilt category!

Happy stitching!
~Jennifer

Spring Blogger’s Quilt Festival: Mini Quilt Entry

Posted on May 15, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today, I want to reveal this beautiful butterfly mini quilt that I made for an Instagram-based quilt swap.

I used Cotton & Steel prints and Kona solids to create this stunning, paper-pieced butterfly. The pattern is called Take Wing by Lillyella Stitchery. It finishes at 24-inches wide by 15-inches high, but you could increase the size by adding borders.

I did free-motion quilting using my HQ16 and white Aurifil 50 weight thread. I think the wavy quilting adds to the fluid, fluttering nature of this pretty butterfly. For the antennae, I hand-quilted using purple Razzle Dazzle thread by Superior.

Here’s my completed butterfly:

Beautiful Butterfly!!

Beautiful Butterfly, Side Angle

Butterfly on a Lavender Bush

Beautiful Butterfly!

Here’s a look at the wings prior to assembling with the body. The Cotton & Steel fabrics work so wonderfully with the Kona solids!

Beautiful Butterfly wings with pins before attaching to body!!

I loaded it onto my HQ16 for the quilting (late at night, but a gal has got quilt when she can!!):

Quilting the Beautiful Butterfly!

I really enjoy paper-piecing and the process of making this beautiful mini quilt. In June, it will be winging its way to a new owner, and I hope she enjoys it as much as I do!

Please hop on over to Amy’s Creative Side and the 2015 Spring Blogger’s Quilt Festival and check out all the entries. I’d love your vote in the mini quilt category!

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Forest QAL, Weeks 7 and 8 plus Giveaway Winner!

Posted on April 27, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Hi everyone,

I hope that you had a great weekend! I had a little time in my sewing room to catch up on week 8 of the Forest QAL by Janeen of Quilt Art Designs. I call this an epic paper-piecing journey because it is a 12-week QAL with lots of pieces! If you are an intermediate paper-piecer, you can do this pattern! Plus, Janeen just announced on her blog that she will be adding a lake portion that is an optional add-on to attach under the forest portion. The lake portion will start this July!

Here’s my progress so far. I set a 24.5-inch by 6.5-inch ruler next to the flimsy for scale.

Forest QAL, weeks 1-8

I just love all those cute bird and forest critters. Did you notice the little mouse?

And, now for the Quiltmaker 100 Blocks, Volume 11 Giveaway! I used a random number generator to pick . . .

Pauline!

Congrats! I will send you an email with the details.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Volume 11 Giveaway!

Posted on April 20, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Happy Monday everyone!

I have some exciting news to share with you. My block, Snow Cat, is featured in volume 11 of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks magazine! This magazine will be on newsstands soon so you can pickup a copy!

My Snow Cat block is appliqued using white wool felt for the cat body and red Kona fabric for the scarf. I made the round, white snowflakes from Fairy Frost. I did a machine button-hole stitch using silver thread by Superior around the cat body, the scarf, and each round snowflake.

The cat’s facial features are hand-embroidered using black floss. The buttons are attached with the black floss as well.

Here’s a look at the whole block:

Snow Cat, Block 1001

Close-Up of Snow Cat’s face

For my blog readers, I’m giving away a free copy. To enter, just leave a comment on this post. I’ll pick a random winner on Thursday morning. You can have a second chance to win a copy over on Instagram (@nwquiltedcat).

Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Volume 11

Good luck!

Thanks,
Jennifer

Forest QAL, Weeks 5 and 6

Posted on April 15, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Hello, everyone!

I caught up on the Forest QAL this weekend by completing weeks 5 and 6. This QAL pattern is by Quilt Art Designs and you can buy the pattern from her and do the project at your own pace.

This project is entirely paper-pieced and there are some really tiny pieces. In week 6, we made a little frog with pieces almost too small to measure. I had fun challenging myself to make the frog, and I’m pleased with how he turned out, nestled in the lower portion of a tree.

Here’s a look at my project so far. I haven’t stitched weeks 5 and 6 to the weeks 1-4 piece yet.

Forest QAL, Weeks 1-6

The finished quilt will be 38-inches by 52-inches so a pretty good sized, landscape-oriented art quilt! Just look at all of those cute birds and animals!!

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let’s Bee Social. Check out her cute pigs and corn cobs!

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer

Dog Days of Summer Mini Quilt Swap Signups!

Posted on March 31, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Hi everyone,

I’ve decided to host my first Instagram mini quilt swap, using a dog theme! I recently participated in a cat themed swap so I think we need equal time devoted to our canine friends.

Dog Days of Summer SignUps Now!!

The signups for the “Dog Days of Summer” mini quilt swap are now live. This is an Instagram only swap so you need to have an account. My Instagram name is @nwquiltedcat so please visit me!

The URL to sign up is here.

I’ll leave signups open until April 15, 2015.

The rules:

Swap is open to everyone of all skill levels.
You are committing to making and sending a mini quilt to your partner by August 10, 2015.
This is a blind swap. Don’t tag your partner!
Mini quilts are typically no smaller than 12×12 and no larger than 24×24.
Use the tag #dogmini2015 for all IG posts.
Post an inspiration mosaic to IG for your partner to get ideas!
Post a minimum of 3 progress photos throughout the swap.
Be sure to post a pic of the mini you receive and thank your partner!
Additional details will be in the partner assignment emails.
Have fun! woof! woof!

If you have any questions, please email me!

Enjoy!

~Jennifer

Spring Break Adventures!

Posted on March 30, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Last week we had spring break here in Oregon. My husband and I were able to take Thursday and Friday off work to make a 4-day weekend getaway to the Oregon coast. We started in Newport and worked our way south to Gold Beach before returning home.

Here are some of my favorite pictures!

Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport, Oregon

Yaquina Head Lighthouse

Near Yaquina Head

Cape Blanco Lighthouse, Port Orford, Oregon

Cape Blanco Lighthouse

Near Cape Blanco

Near Gold Beach, Oregon

Ophir Wayside State Park

Gold Beach, Oregon

West Coast Game Park Safari, Bandon, Oregon

Black Bear Cub named Bonnie

11-month old, Tigger the Tiger

Wildlife Safari, Winston, Oregon

Peacock at Wildlife Safari

Lion brothers at Wildlife Safari (with mom, aunt, cubs in background)

Giraffe at Wildlife Safari

Deer and feeding cup at Wildlife Safari

We’re now back home and back to work! Can’t wait to get back sewing again.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Charley Harper Mini Quilt Swap

Posted on March 25, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Hi quilty friends!

I’ve got 4 Instagram mini quilt swaps due in late March and April. I’ve finished 3 out of 4 so I’m going to start sharing what I created.

For the Charley Harper inspired mini quilt swap, my partner indicated that she liked the penguins from the Nurture fabric line so I decided to create a penguin mini.

First, I started by creating a larger sized penguin and chick by making my own applique pattern. I used Kona snow, black, and yellow for the adult penguin body. For the chick, I used Kona black, snow, gray and a piece of medium blue Charley Harper fabric.

Next, I created the background piece by stitching together 2-1/2 inch squares, using some Charley Harper fabrics and adding in other fabrics from my stash. I decided to use aquas, blues, and neutrals with the aquas/blues starting in the upper left-hand corner and fading slowly into the all neutrals. The bottom gray portion resembles the ground and is also Charley Harper fabric.

Then I carefully added my penguin appliques to the background and used a blanket-stitch in matching Aurifil thread colors to secure all the individual pieces to the back. I used yellow Aurifil 40 wt thread to add some detail stitching o the adult penguin (mimics the Nurture fabric).

Here’s a look at the completed mini:

Charley Harper Penguin Mini Quilt

Closer look at the penguin:

Penguin close-up

I added a few extras to the swap package, including a open wide pouch that I made from the Charley Harper Nurture fabric. I couldn’t resist adding a little stuffed penguin plus some chocolates and wildflower seeds to represent my home state of Oregon:

I hope my partner loves this mini as much as I do! I had so much fun making this quilt, and it was very hard to take it to the post office yesterday for mailing.

I received a wonderful red cardinal Charley Harper mini in return. I’ll show pictures on my next post!

Until then, happy quilting!
~Jennifer

Forest QAL, Weeks 1 & 2

Posted on March 15, 2015 by nwquiltedcat

Hi everyone!

Hope you’re having a good weekend, and working in a little bit of sewing time. We’re having a windy and rainy Sunday afternoon in Oregon so it’s the perfect weather to sit in and sew.

I’ve joined a new quilt-along by Quilt Art Designs called the Forest QAL. This is a 12-week QAL, and I worked on weeks 1 and 2 this weekend. It costs $1 per week for the pattern, and there is still time to catch up if you want to join. This is a paper-pieced pattern, and I’d recommend that you have some paper-piecing experience since some of the pieces are small.

For week 1, we pieced together some trees and sky:

Week 1, Forest QAL

I’m using a combination of modern print fabrics and solids for my quilt. My goal is to work entirely from my stash for this project.

For week 2, we pieced together more trees plus a little red bird and a chameleon, both hiding in the trees. Look how tiny some of the pieces are in the chameleon’s face!!