Aurifil BOM December Block + SMS Giveaway Winner

Posted on December 13, 2014 by thequiltedcat

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

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

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

Aurifil BOM – November

Posted on November 12, 2014 by thequiltedcat

Greetings from a very windy Pacific Northwest!

We’re having a bit of a wind storm here proceeding potential snow and ice tomorrow. Last night before bedtime, my hubby and I heard a loud crack and thud. As we dashed outside, we noticed a large tree branch had fallen across the street and landed on a neighbor’s vehicle. Scary! We decided to do an impromptu shoving aside of stuff in our garage to park the car inside overnight just in case another tree or limb decided to fall.

I’ve been following along with the Aurifil BOM starting in January this year. I finished November’s block called Tossed Salad and designed by Scott Hansen over at Blue Nickel Studios. This block came together really quickly, and I love the interesting design.

Tossed Salad Block designed by Scott Hansen

You can find the free pattern for this block on the Aurifil blog. This block is the 11th one in this year’s BOM so we only have one more block to go! I love this gray, white, black, and red palette. My gray is Kona Shadow.

Here are the 11 blocks together in random order:

Aurifil BOM – 11 Blocks

I’m getting excited to reveal my block for Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, volume 10 issue. I hope you’ll join the blog hop starting next week on November 17th. I will have a post on November 17th to show a test quilt that I made, and then another post on November 18th to show my block plus a giveway.

Happy quilting and stay safe in this crazy early winter weather!
~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM, October’s Block

Posted on October 15, 2014 by thequiltedcat

Hi everyone!

On this first really raining evening of the season, I decided to work on my October block for the Aurifil BOM. I’ve been keeping up with this BOM since January and you can read about my last block here.

My constant color is Kona Shadow, and I’ve been picking different reds and blacks to make each block.

For October, the block is called “Circle of Love” designed by Jane Davidson. I used a little bit of Sweetwater’s new Elementary fabric for the black pieces and some Mama Said Sew fabric for the darker red. The red polka dot fabric is from a scrap bag that I picked up from a local quilt shop.

Here’s a look at my block for October:

Aurifil BOM, October Block, Circle of Love

I now have 10 total blocks with just 2 more to go:

Aurifil BOM Blocks, Months 1-10

You can still download all the free Aurifil BOM patterns from this year. Each month, one lucky winner wins a box of Aurifil thread!

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM, September’s Block

Posted on September 19, 2014 by thequiltedcat

I’m so glad that it is finally Friday! I hope to have more time for sewing this weekend, although we may have to take a drive one day to enjoy some of this extended warm weather here in the PNW.

The Aurifil BOM continues this month with September’s block, Stars of My Life, designed by Pat Wys. You can read about Pat’s inspiration for this block and find the pattern here.

I’m continuing with my color scheme using Kona Shadow as my background with blacks and reds as accent colors.

Here is my September block:

Aurifil BOM, September’s Block

This BOM and the Supernova Friendship swap seem to be the only ones that I have kept up with month after month this year. I’m several months behind on the Vice Versa BOM and really far behind on the Reach for the Stars quilt. I really hope to catch up this fall and winter.

Here are my first 9 Aurifil BOM blocks:

Aurifil BOM Blocks, 1-9

This weekend, I hope you enjoy some sewing time!

Happy quilting,
~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM – August

Posted on August 6, 2014 by thequiltedcat

Happy Wednesday, quilty friends!

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks, and I haven’t updated my blog as regularly as I’d like. I’ve been working on several projects with deadlines that are finally completed. Both projects will be in the mail tomorrow. One is a special quilt project for a magazine that I will be able to share with you in November. Until then, no sneak peeks!! 🙂

I have so many BOMs and other projects “in the works” right now, ha! I finished the August block for the Aurifil BOM. This month’s block is called “Aurifil Button” and is designed by Michele Foster.

Here’s a look at my August block with a beautiful 1919 Red Eye Singer that I found last week at a local Goodwill for $25!! (No, I didn’t sew the block on the Singer. It works, but I want to clean her up a bit first).

Aurifil BOM – August block with 1919 Singer Red Eye

Here is the block alone:

“Aurifil Button” – August Block

We have now made 8 blocks for the Aurifil BOM this year. Just 4 more blocks to go!

Aurifil BOM, Blocks 1-8

I’m really behind on my Vice Versa BOM. I need to finish up June, July and August – oops!

Hope you are enjoying some nice weather and getting some sewing time this summer.

Enjoy,
~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM for July + Mt. Jefferson at Sunset

Posted on July 16, 2014 by thequiltedcat

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I’m slowly getting caught up at home and at work after some vacation time last week for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. I hope to have my photos uploaded soon.

I did capture this picture of Mt. Jefferson from Smith Rock State Park at sunset one evening. Unfortunately, I did not have my tripod with me so this photo does not do justice to the explosion of color that we saw first-hand.

Mt. Jefferson from Smith Rock State Park at sunset

I’ve caught up on one of my BOM projects – the Aurifil BOM! The guest designer for July is Camille Roskelley of Thimble Blossoms. I have her Swoon pattern, and it is on my to-do list!

Camille’s block is called “On the Plus Side” and is great fun to stitch together.

Using my palette of Kona Shadow for my neutral combined with reds and blacks, here is my Aurifil July block:

Aurifil July BOM – On the Plus Side

I picked up the red batik in the border and the white/black print from the Stitchin Post in Sisters last week, and I think they’ve found a great home together in this block.

If you’ve been following along with this BOM, we’ve now completed 7 blocks. Here are my blocks together:

Aurifil BOM, Blocks 1-7

I think we have 5 more blocks to go in this BOM. It’s never to late to join in on the fun! I’m linking this post up with Lee’s WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Enjoy,
~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM, June’s Block

Posted on June 20, 2014 by thequiltedcat

Greetings everyone!

Well, I had a minor leg surgery this week, and am recovering slowly but surely. I have to limit my time spent sitting so I have only worked on 1 block this week. I hope to do some handwork on a quilt binding over the weekend.

I stitched together the June block for the Aurifil BOM called Chain Links by Heidi Pridemore. You can read more about Heidi and the Whimsical Workshop Studio on her blog.

For my Aurifil BOM, I’m using Kona Shadow as my neutral and my colors are all reds and blacks. I found a fabulous Japanese import at a local quilt shop in Portland called Cool Cottons several months ago. It features a black cat head – fabulous! It is from the Trefle line by Kokka. I plan to use the rest of my 1/2 yard piece to make a bag.

The other blacks and reds are pulled from my stash.

Here’s a look at June’s block:

Aurifil BOM, June Block, Chain Links

We’ve now completed 6 blocks:

Aurifil BOM, First 6 Months

I really am enjoying this color palette and stepping out of my comfort zone and really experimenting with colors and patterns.

Well, I’ll keep it short and will update the block soon with photos from the Supernova Friendship Block swap.

Happy quilting,
~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM, May Block

Posted on May 18, 2014 by thequiltedcat

The rain has returned to Oregon, and I spent a few hours sewing today. I worked on my Aurifil BOM block and finished up my Celtic Solstice top!

The May block for the Aurifil BOM is designed by Amy Smart, called Nine Patch on Point.

I’m continuing my theme of using black and red fabric scraps from my stash with Kona Shadow as my neutral.

Here’s my finished May block:

Aurifil BOM, May Block designed by Amy Smart

If you’ve been sewing along with this BOM, we’ve now finished 5 blocks!

Aurifil BOM, Months 1-5

Well, housework awaits on this rainy day so I will post again soon about my antique sewing machine find with pictures.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Aurifl BOM – April’s Block

Posted on April 6, 2014 by thequiltedcat

It looks like spring might have finally arrived here in Oregon! We expect sunshine and about 70 degrees tomorrow. I had a very sewful weekend, having spent about 5 hours each day on various quilting projects. I have so many going at once!

First up is the Aurifil BOM for April. This block is a fun take on the classic bear’s paw, designed by Angela Yosten. She has added a nice hand-embroidered touch to the block with stitches running around the inside of the bear paw. I am undecided if I should add this accent or not. I may wait until I get all the Aurifil BOM blocks completed to decide.

I’m using Kona cotton in Shadow for my neutral across the BOM. The other colors are various coordinating reds, blacks, and whites from my stash.

Here’s a look at my Aurifil BOM April block:

Aurifil BOM – April Block

And here are my first 4 blocks together:

Aurifil BOM – First 4 Blocks

I finished sewing about half of my rows together for the Triangle QAL. I hope to have these finished by Thursday in time for the latest photo linkup.

Finally, I worked on several more blocks for the Reach for the Stars quilt. I have 1 more block to finish for step 2 and I’ll show some pictures of my progress.

Hope you have a great week!
~Jennifer

Aurifil BOM, March Block

Posted on March 10, 2014 by thequiltedcat

The March block for the Aurifil BOM is called Borders and is designed by Emily Herrick.

In keeping with my color scheme of reds and blacks with Kona cotton in Shadow as my background, I went looking in my stash for a fun print to fussy cut for the block center. Many quilters have “assistants” or “inspectors” of the feline variety, and I have several myself! However, I also have a dog who offers his services as a stunt double for my cats when they are too busy to bother with quilt inspection. So when I found a nice dog print fabric, I just knew that I had to incorporate one of the little dogs into this block.

Most of the dogs were too large, but I did find this one little dog on the fabric that perfectly fit the inner square! I then pulled some other black and red prints from my stash to coordinate with the dog and sewed the block.

I used Aurifil in light sand (#2000) for my piecing. This is my go-to thread for all my piecing projects.

Here’s a look at the finished March block, Borders:

Borders, March Block for Aurifil BOM

Isn’t this a fun block? I just love the little dachshunds running around the black border.

Here are my Aurifil BOM blocks together. You can read about January’s block here and February’s block here.

Aurifil BOM Blocks: Jan, Feb, March

If you’d like to join in the fun, check out the Aurifil blog post here about Emily and the March block.

Although I didn’t get a picture (yet) of this block with my dog, one of my inspectors did wander into my sewing room when the block was finished. His expression seems to say, “I can’t believe you used dog print fabric!”