Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Volume 11 Giveaway!

Posted on April 20, 2015 by thequiltedcat

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

Celtic Solstice, Part 5

Posted on May 5, 2014 by thequiltedcat

Happy Monday, quilty friends!

I finished up all the individual block units for my Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt this past weekend by completing part 5, the split triangle units! This mystery quilt is designed by Bonnie Hunter and all the instructions for this quilt are available on her website until June 1, 2014. After that date, the instructions will be included in one of Bonnie’s future books.

Here are my completed split triangle units (100 of them) for the small quilt. I also stitched together 1 sample of each block that will form the body of the quilt: the Birthday Girl block (originally from Quiltmaker Magazine’s 100 Blocks, volume 2) and the 54-40 or Fight block.

Celtic Solstice, Part 5, Split Triangle Units

For this quilt, I’ve used scraps and pieces from my stash. I’m hoping that I have enough of the same fabrics left for the borders. The only fabric that I will probably need to purchase for this quilt is the backing, although maybe I can hobble something together using scraps. We’ll see!

I have about 1 month until I get to take 2 workshops with Bonnie! I really want to have the quilt top finished, at a minimum, so that I can take it to the workshop. This is my first large-size, all-scrappy quilt!!

In between sewing these split triangle units, I’ve been working on cutting out my fabrics for the Aviatrix Medallion quilt-along, designed and hosted by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson. I will post my fabric selections for this project soon.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

The Golden Ticket at the Portland Quilt Block Party!!

Posted on March 25, 2013 by thequiltedcat

On Saturday, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a class at the Block Party in Portland sponsored Quiltmaker.

Just before lunch, the class attendees learned that a quilt made by one of the instructors, Peg Spradlin, would be given away in a treasure hunt! The winner had to find a special golden ticket hidden somewhere on the lower level of the host hotel. With that announcement, I felt determined to win!!

After lunch, I started searching around for the ticket along with a few other quilters. I checked quite a few places, but just couldn’t come up with the prize. Then, I noticed a guy standing near several hanging display quilts with a quirky smile. I thought that maybe the ticket was pinned to one of the quilts behind him and sprinted towards him. As I got closer, the light hit a piece of paper in his pocket and looked golden. I grabbed the paper and discovered that it was the ticket! I’m so glad that it was the golden ticket since I was rather cheeky just plucking something from a stranger’s shirt, and it could have turned out to be an embarrassing situation.

Here are some pics of the beautiful quilt that Peg made using green, yellow, and blue batiks:

Prize Quilt with Golden Ticket

Me with Peg and the Prize Quilt

Prize Quilt in Sunshine

Prize Quilt Closeup

In my next post, I plan to write about the fun class that I attended called Boxed In by Julie Herman. I really hope that the Quiltmaker Block Party returns to Portland next year because it was such a great event!

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

“So Tweet” Bird Test Block for Guild Exchange

Posted on March 20, 2013 by thequiltedcat

My sister recently invited me to make 6 blocks for an exchange with her quilt guild. There are 3 basic rules:

must be 12.5 x 12.5 inches unfinished

must use bright primary colors

must have a bird on the block

I made up a test block using both piecing and applique techniques. This is block #555 (So Tweet) by Paula Stoddard from the Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks collector’s edition, volume 6.

I went with some birchy/aspen type fabric for the tree trunk. Instead of using green leaves, I keep with the primary color theme and used yellow tone leaves to suggest an aspen tree in the fall. While I do like the tree fabric, I think I may jazz it up on the next block and use a bolder fabric.

I machine-appliqued the bird and leaves to the pieced background and then added some fun thread accents by using Ricky Tims’ Razzle Dazzle thread #266 with a bobbin technique. I think it adds a nice touch of color and sparkle to the stitching.

The bird’s eye is a button which I did not sew down in case the block goes on a long-arm. I’ll probably include the buttons separately with the blocks so they can be added after quilting is completed.

Here’s a look at the block:

So Tweet Test Block

So Tweet Thread Close-Up

What do you think of the test block? A bird themed quilt seems like a fun spring or summer project.

Enjoy!
~Jennifer

Block Party with Quiltmaker Plus Ticklish by Moda

Posted on March 16, 2013 by thequiltedcat

I heard about the Block Party sponsored by Quiltmaker coming to Portland next week so I signed up for a class. Unfortunately, I was too late to sign up for Bonnie Hunter’s class called Talkin’ Turkey. Instead, I found another great class called Boxed In by Julie Herman that looks really fun! If you’re in the area, I think you can still register by visiting the Block Party website.

Since I’ve been doing quite a few seasonal and batik quilts the past year, I decided to change things up and go for some bright and cheerful fabrics for the class. I chose the Ticklish line by Moda. Isn’t the name fun? It just seems to evoke happy summertime gatherings and memories.

Here’s are some pics of the Ticklish jelly roll:

Ticklish – All Rolled Up!

A Ticklish Rainbow!

In the class, we should be able to sew some blocks so I will post another update to this project after the Block Party. I also plan on taking lots of photos during the event so you can have a look at quilters gone wild in Portland!!

Anyone else planning on attending?

Happy quilting!
~Jennifer