Quilty WIPs update and a favorite FO

I didn't intend to be away for so long, but I can tell you that three of the quilts in that stack from my last post are done (and additionally, another three quilts have been started and finished. Additionally, I went to Maine, experienced Harvey, got a new kitchen, and lots of other fun stuff.
So, today, I want to jump back in and share a very favorite finish.

I shared this project last year, and it was just so fun and scrappy to sew. I used lots of favorite prints and made flying geese and other triangles, and randomly pieced it all together.

A good friend asked me to finish it for a gift she needed, and although I was sad to do so, I am hopeful that the recipient will love it as much as I do.

Dimensions: 53" x 69"

FOs: Hearts and Pink Scrappy Leftovers

So, my original plan was to share this scrappy pillow (14" approx.) that I finished for my friend Amanda Jean. She loves pink, scrappy and tiny piecing, so it felt like a fun choice for her!
I really love the floating pink triangle. Also, binding on a pillow always makes me happy.

However, after trying to find the post about the original project that gave me these leftovers, I came up empty.

So, here you go, Hearts. This finish from last year was made from Cluck Cluck Sew's heart block in a couple of different sizes and lots of different pinks and purples.

And here's the back, scrappy as usual.

I really can't imagine how many other projects I have failed to share here.
Oh well. Baby steps!

WIP: Scrappy geese (and then some)

So, it's been awhile since I have shared anything here.

I'm back with a doozy, though!

About seven weeks ago, I posted this pile of fabric on instagram:

The stack happened by accident. I was rearranging my yellow fabrics, and then, well... If you have a fabric stash (or any other medium), you know what I mean.

I started by pairing fabrics and making flying geese in a variety of sizes, and then just started piecing things together. I'm using the HSTs made off the geese corners, as well as strips and scraps.

And of course, I had to add a few bear paws.

Olias and Fiztgerald (and Bella, too, although no photo here) helped, as cats do.

This project is really coming together now, although I didn't have a specific size planned when I started.

It won't be long now!

FO: Waypoint

My friend Jeni wrote an amazing book that came out last fall. Patchwork Essentials is a great resource, no matter your skill level. It has charts (Jeni loves charts!) for creating half square triangles of different size using various methods.

And it has patterns like Waypoint.

This quilt immediately grabbed me when I opened Jeni's book. Part of the reason is probably her color choices (she used a favorite line, Sugar Pop, with lots of orange and purple). The pattern also appealed to me, because it lets large focal prints shine.

The Alexander Henry floral print I used is a favorite from the stash. I never had a plan for that print, but I love the colors and the boldness, so it seemed like a perfect choice in this quilt.

I chose others from the stash, building on the floral, and the top came together in less than a week.

I finally quilted it a few weeks ago, and bound it in a lovely mustard.

As usual, I made a scrappy back for it, in grays and pinks with little yellow pops.

Elliott helped me with the photos, but as you can see, it was a windy weekend. We took the finished shots in Galveston, during a day trip on Saturday.

I've already got a second project in the works from Jeni's charts, and I hope to share that in the next few months.

HST + 1: Wild and Free

Sweet Maureen sent me an envelope of Wild and Free just before Quiltcon, and I started cutting into it on Friday. I had a thought of going one step further with some half-square triangles, and I'm really excited about how it's turning out.

The fabrics are fun and vibrant, and I added just a few solids to the mix.

I cut 4.5" squares and made a pile of HSTs (using the two-at-a-time method).

After trimming down the HSTs to 4" squares, I paired them with 4" squares cut from the same prints and solids to make an "HST plus One".

Simple, but awesome! These are then trimmed down to 3.5" blocks, and I'm using them with HSTs and plain 3.5" blocks to make a fun patchwork project.

I'm loving the woven look that is created by combining shapes of the same print.

I plan on building this WIP into a small quilt top soon, so I'll keep you posted!

In the works

My brain can't seem to focus this week.

I've been thinking about this pile of fabrics, which I've pulled together for Round 3 of the Wonky Bee. The wonky girls have decided to do a traveling bee for this round, partially inspired by the Traveling Quilts group.
I think it will be lots of fun, and I've gotten to know these girls so well over the past few years!
I'm still not sure what my "plan" (I use that term loosely) will be for the quilt, but I know my fabric will be in good hands. I'm supposed to get the quilt started before passing it on to the first person, which is Amanda!

This will be a fairly relaxed bee, with two months for each portion of the quilt, and next fall, we'll all have finished quilt tops to share!

I've also been steady trimming these little half-square triangles. These are being made from Swoon and Which Way leftovers (both of which are still NOT FINISHED). I find it relaxing to trim up a pile every new and then, when I need a break from sewing.

I also used the last of a gift certificate (I tend to savor those gift certificates; this one was from Christmas!) during Pink Castle's labor day sale.

I got a few new text prints.

And this fun pile as well!

I'm working to finish up this plus pillow for my friend Rhonda today.
After that, who knows??

What are you working on?

Fi's Mini and other things

Mini quilts have been on the brain lately. I've had a lot of gifts on the to-do list lately, and besides that, they're just fun to make. It's so gratifying to start and finish a project in a few days. A mini lets me play with a new technique or beloved scraps. The blog world has been equally enamored with mini quilts lately, and there's even a fun contest going on right now at Ellison Lane. I'm trying to finish the mini I hope to enter for her contest, but for today, I wanted to share the one I made for Fi. Fi is a fellow Houston Modern Quilt Guild member. For birthdays in the guild, each member makes a gift for the person who has the next chronological birthday.

I made this scrappy HST mini quilt for her gift, and included a S'mores chocolate bar and a charm pack of fabric.

I used a no-bind method to quilt this mini.

In a nutshell, you assemble the top, then quilt a few foundation lines through just the top and the batting, to secure it.
Then, you assemble (right sides together) the top/batting and back.
Leaving a gap to turn inside out, then flip right sides out, top stitch the perimeter to close the gap.
Then, quilt away! That's the last step! No binding!

A close up of the yellow stitching.

I got to use some fun fabrics in this piece. The HSTs are from my triangles on a roll trial run, and I used a small piece from my Pezzy Prints jelly roll (a prize from Brenda's blog!).

I'm linking up with Megan today!

I'm also excited to share that I now have a complete FQ set of Anna Maria's Good Folks fabrics! I love this line, and have tracked down all of the prints, bit by bit. The last several fat quarters are a result of a swap with Leslie. I cannot thank her enough!

Later this week, I plan on sharing a little wedding chatter with you. We're at the two month mark!
I've also got a few received goodies to share.

on a roll

I have received gifts from both Amanda and Nicke to share with you, but today, I just wanted to share a fun new tool I got in Birmingham. Triangles on a Roll is now my favorite way to make half-square triangles. I purchased the 3" finished square roll. Amanda and I tried it out Saturday night.

It's quick and makes very accurate pieces. I always have trouble getting my HSTs to be just the right size, but this helps me out! Plus, this roll will make 600 squares. I want to make lots of HSTs!

I will definitely be purchasing other sizes.

I even cut into some of the fabric I purchased while in Birmingham, like this Kaffe Fassett Spot and Malka Dubrawsky's A Stitch in Color. Love!

Okay, received gifts, coming up! Happy Friday, everyone! ETA: Here's the basic instructions on how to use this paper: you pick two square scraps, then sew the paper square to the scraps, following the dotted lines, and using a very tight stitch. Then, cut on the solid lines. Trim dog ears and press!

FO: Pips Baby Blanket

When I first started playing with my charm pack of Sherbet Pips fabric, I didn't know what I would do with the finished project. Then Weezalana posted that she was pregnant. I knew it would be a good gift for her, so I volunteered to send her something homemade. I just got word that she has received the quilt, so it's safe to blog about it now.

This was my first time working with half square triangles. They're pretty versatile. I loved rotating the triangles around, trying to pick a layout. I like the Kona Medium Gray with the bright Pips fabrics. It provides a little balance, I think.

To keep things simple, I decided to do some diagonal quilting in just one direction.

I had one difficulty when I was quilting (a little bit of bunched up backing), and the unfinished project sat in time out for a couple of weeks. After unpicking a few rows of quilting, I got back on track.

For the binding, I chose this Paula Prass print that I've had in the stash for a few years. I think it's a great binding choice (dots always work!).

I don't have a picture of the entire back, but it's mostly Kona Medium Gray with some of this Amy Butler Honeycomb print, which I used up making this backing.

All in all, I'm pretty pleased with this quilt, and I hope Christine and her new little girl enjoy it.